Media and News

Space Policy Pod

Examine events and ideas affecting the space sector. The Space Policy Pod podcast, jointly produced by MITRE, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Space Foundation, is available on Spotify and Apple. Listen to the Podcast

What Can the Pentagon Realistically Get from Its Advisory Boards?

February 2021

Eli Niewood, MITRE vice president of Intelligence and Cross-Cutting Capabilities and a former chair of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, says advisory boards provide a lot, could do better — and help weed out impractical or oversold ideas. Read the Article

U.S. Economic And National Security Require Robust Domestic GEOINT Industrial Base

January 2021

Real Clear Defense cites MITRE’s recent study that warns that the U.S. is in danger of allowing a serious gap to emerge in commercial GEOINT capabilities. Likewise, the study calls on the federal government to make a serious effort to create and maintain a world-class commercial GEOINT industrial base. Read the Article

How Space Became the Next ‘Great Power’ Contest Between the U.S. and China

January 2021

Greg Grant, CTNS director, offers insights about the threat that China poses to the American military in space. “There’s been a dawning realization that our space systems are quite vulnerable. The Biden administration will see more funding — not less — going into space defense and dealing with these threats.” Read the Article

Opinion: Bad Idea: All Sensors, All Shooters, All the Time

December 2020

How should a realistic, cost-effective JADC2 be shaped going forward? Mark Seip, CTNS Director of Strategic Development, explains how JADC2 is supposed to give U.S. forces a competitive advantage by connecting sensors to shooters. But centralizing data streams only makes a bigger target — one that U.S. adversaries are already planning to take down. JADC2 should instead be re-envisioned into a more flexible, bottom-up system. Read the Article

More Space Wargames, Please

November 2020

There’s no stopping the expansion of the great-power competition into space. A modest investment to boost the Department of Defense’s space wargaming would substantially improve survivability and overall effectiveness of military’s future space architecture, writes Shane Bilsborough, a lead analyst with MITRE’s Center for Technology & National Security. Read the Article

Report: Lack of Government Investment Hurting U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Industry

U.S. investment in commercial geoint has been relatively flat over the last five years, while foreign investment has “increased tremendously within the last two years,” says the MITRE study written by a team of analysts. Space News covers MITRE's recent findings. Read the Article

LaPlante Named in "Five Executives Impacting National Security"

August 2020

The Potomac Officers Club – a division of Executive Mosaic – has recently announced its five government and industry leaders making a difference in the United States' national security mission. Included is Dr. Bill LaPlante, senior vice president of MITRE national security who leads operations for the National Security Engineering Center and the National Cybersecurity FFRDC. Read the Article

Long-Range All-Domain Prompts Roles & Missions Debate

July 2020

Service rivalries over roles and missions are coming to the fore as DoD and Congress begin to assess what to build for all-domain operations — with a dust-up looming over whether the Army or the Air Force should make platforms for taking out over-the-horizon targets. Read the Article

Cost-Per-Effect Is Best Way to Compare Weapons’ Value

July 2020

Why should the Air Force should use metrics that account for weapons’ efficiency and effectiveness when calculating the cost of weapon systems? Hear from Dr. Bill LaPlante, MITRE senior vice president, who spoke at an online event hosted by AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Read the Article

Making the Most of the Air Force’s Investment in Joint All-Domain Command and Control

July 2020

Joint All Domain Command and Control is about more than just the technical connections between disparate systems. It's about decision-making — and who has the authority to make and implement decisions. Read the Article

MITRE Establishes Center for Technology & National Security Advisory Board

June 2020

MITRE’s Center for Technology & National Security (CTNS), created to enhance MITRE’s engagement with senior government leadership, named five highly esteemed national security officials to its newly established advisory board. Read the Press Release

Space News: Rocket Science Was the Easy Part

June 2020

What lessons can other domains teach us about space? MITRE’s Ben Poole discusses inspiration we can draw⁠—and pitfalls we can avoid ⁠—from mobile phones, cybersecurity, air traffic management, and more. Read the Article

Air Force Space Accelerator Will Nurture Tech Startups Focused on Cybersecurity

June 2020

Hear from Sam Visner, director of the MITRE-operated National Cybersecurity Federally Funded R&D Center, about improving cybersecurity for space systems and the impact that this can have on the U.S. economy. Read the Article

The Hill: Are we ready for China to control global communications?

March 2020

Comfortable with the idea of China controlling the flow of traffic over the Internet backbone? Charles Clancy, MITRE’s vice president for intelligence programs, recommends actions to check Huawei’s massive disruption of 5G before we become even more dependent upon China. Read the Article

Supporting Joint Warfighting with Mission-Level Simulations

March 2020

How can the United States develop confidence that defenses against hypersonic threats will be effective? How will the Pentagon’s 5th-generation aircraft perform against China and Russia? The only practical way to explore these questions is through computer simulation. But does the United States have the appropriate tools to perform the analyses? Read the Article

The Pentagon Is Sitting on a Chunk of Valuable Airwaves. Why?

February 2020

Charles Clancy, vice president for Intelligence Programs in MITRE's Center for Programs and Technology, provides insights about industry’s desire to build 5G networks using spectrum currently assigned to the military. Read the article. Read the Article

Pentagon Seeks Ramp Up in 5G Investment, What Does it Mean for Military Avionics?

February 2020

Charles Clancy, vice president for Intelligence Programs in MITRE's Center for Programs and Technology, offers his perspective on 5G funding in the DoD FY2021 budget request, which asks for requests $449 million in research and development for the 5G next generation information communications technology program. Read the Article

This App Wants to be the One That Curbs Election Chaos

February 2020

Voters need facts: how to register, what's on the ballot, when and where to vote. Social media can be an unreliable source. Using MITRE’s SQUINT allows state and local election officials to report this type of disinformation quickly, easily and comprehensively. Read the article. Read the Article

The End of Nuclear “Kick the Can”

February 2020

The US can postpone modernizing its nuclear deterrent forces no longer. Now comes the task of convincing the public this massive recapitalization must somehow be afforded, among many other national priorities. “Since the fall of the Berlin Wall and certainly after 9/11, nuclear matters have not gotten much attention,” said Bill LaPlante, MITRE senior vice president said. “There deserves to be a better understanding by the American public.” Read the Article

Military Facing Tight Deadlines to Modernize Nuclear Triad

January 2020

All three legs of the United States’ nuclear triad are rapidly approaching the end of their planned service lives. Officials from both the Air Force and Navy are racing against tight schedules to bring new platforms online to replace them. Hear what experts had to say at MITRE's recent Nuclear Modernization Seminar. Read the Article

Securing Elections Starts with Securing Voter Registration

January 2020

Sam Visner, director of the MITRE-operated National Cybersecurity Federally Funded R&D Center, explains how states can quickly protect their voter registration databases quickly and efficiently by following a few best practices. Read the Article

Space Industry Group Focused on Cybersecurity to Begin Operations in Spring 2020

January 2020

The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center, or Space ISAC -- of which MITRE is a founding member -- will launch an unclassified portal where companies can share and analyze cybersecurity information. There is growing urgency to bring in commercial space companies into the ISAC as massive new constellations get built, said Sam Visner, director of the National Cybersecurity Federally Funded R&D Center at the MITRE Corp. Read the Article

What Iran Can – And Won’t – Do In A Cyberwar

January 2020

A crippling cyberwar with Iran looms, but maybe not. In an interview with Karen Webster, Samuel S. Visner, director of the National Cybersecurity Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), separates fact from fiction as to what Iran can — and won’t — do when it comes to a tech-based response to the killing of a top general. It’s time for U.S. firms to examine where they’re most likely to get hit. Read the Article

A New Era of Acquisition

Winter 2020

After high-publicity failures, defense acquisition experts laud the Army for focusing on products and priorities over process, but bureaucracy remains a threat. Read remarks from Dan Ward, innovation catalyst at MITRE, about faster Army acquisition and contracting approaches. Read the Article

Facing the primary attack on democracy

January 2020

What will it take to maintain trust in our election results? We need to start by empowering those defenders at the tip of the spear—state and local officials. Emily Frye, director for cyber integration at MITRE, and Philip Reitinger, president and CEO of the Global Cyber Alliance, talk about how to defend against threats to election systems and address disinformation campaigns. Read the Article

Win the Race for Invisibility

October 2019

Infrared, radar, acoustic, and optical stealth are the new frontier in low-observability, and the winner of the metamaterial competition will have an enormous advantage in the next fight. Read an award-winning entry from the MITRE-sponsored Emerging & Disruptive Technologies Essay Contest, which requires entrants to describe innovative ways to harness new technologies and combine them with tactics, techniques, and strategies to maintain a pacing edge over U.S. adversaries. Read the Article

The Air Force’s Kessel Run Is the John Travolta of Defense Acquisitions

September 2019

People get excited when hype is high, then get disappointed when the thing fails to live up to expectations. It’s just as true for movie stars as it is about defense acquisition efforts, says Dan Ward, MITRE innovation catalyst, who talks about viewing the Air Force’s Kessel Run program through the lens of the peaks and valleys of John Travolta’s career. Read the Article

Bill LaPlante Joins Panel at CSIS' 21st Century National Security Innovation Partnership Conference

September 2019

Dr. Bill LaPlante, MITRE senior vice president, discuss the partnership between industry, academia, and industry on national security; their need to attract and retain top talent; and U.S. influence on driving new tech for societal benefit. Watch the panel discussion

C-SPAN: Dave Gerber Featured in Panel on Air Force’s 2030 Needs

September 2019

Dave Gerber, principal author of MITRE’s study of the U.S. Air Force’s 2030 needs, talked about the outcome during a Sept. 5 Mitchell Institute event on Capitol Hill. MITRE’s report was one of three independent studies of Air Force structure that similarly concluded that the service needs additional long-range airpower to meet the National Defense Strategy. The studies were mandated by the 2019 Defense Authorization Act. Gerber noted that much of today’s force structure will still be in use in 2030, so new upgrades, operating concepts, and basing options will all be important. View on C-SPAN

Experts Urge USAF to Hang on to the Bombers, Invest in Long-Range Systems

September 2019

In a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event on Capitol Hill on September 5th, David Gerber, MITRE senior principal systems engineer, joined Mark Gunzinger of the Mitchell Institute and Lt. Gen. Tim Fay, Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements Headquarters U.S. Air Force. They discussed the results of studies by MITRE and CSBA, which were undertaken in answer to Congress’ direction that an independent analysis of USAF’s was required to assess how big the service should be to meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy. Read the Article

MITRE Joins Space ISAC as a Founding Member

August 2019

The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) and National Cybersecurity Center announced that MITRE will become the Space ISAC's newest founding member, joining Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and Booz Allen Hamilton. Scott Kordella, MITRE’s executive director for space, will serve on the Space ISAC board of directors. The Space ISAC aims to "facilitate collaboration across the global space industry to enhance our ability to prepare for and respond to vulnerabilities, incidents, and threats; to disseminate timely and actionable information among member firms; and to serve as the primary communications channel for the sector with respect to this information." Read the Article

Air Force Needs New Aircraft, Basing Ideas to Win in Pacific

August 2019

IThe Air Force needs to rethink its procurement plans and spread its forces across more bases by 2030 to be a formidable opponent in the Pacific. ​A recent, congressionally mandated MITRE report on the Air Force's future inventory recommends arming Boeing's new T-X trainer jet to fly homeland defense missions and to export overseas. Read the Article

How Massachusetts made the Apollo 11 moon landing possible

July 2019

Fifty years ago, Neil Armstrong made history when he declared the lunar landing a "giant leap for mankind." But before he could speak those words from hundreds of thousands of miles away, MITRE engineers in Houston provided objective insight into the design of key parts of NASA's Apollo control systems. In the Boston Globe, John Quilty, one of the first eight MITRE engineers in the Houston office, reflected on MITRE’s work and his time in Houston. Read the Article

Virtually Defenseless: The national security establishment is woefully unprepared for the new era of cyber-warfare

June 2019

In this special edition of CQ, MITRE senior vice president Bill LaPlante shares remarks in a piece that address "how our national security establishment is woefully unprepared for the new era of cyber-warfare. Read the Article

We’re Not Playing Acquisition Pac-Man Anymore

June 2019

Dan Ward, innovation catalyst at MITRE, discusses how today’s defense acquisition officials have freedom of movement akin to an open-world game. They need to use it. The best way for an acquisition professional to earn a spot on the leaderboard is to move freely, decide quickly, use initiative, tailor the process, and exercise the full range of flexibilities granted by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Read the Article

Keynote Address from Resilient Space Conference

June 2019

Dr. Bill LaPlante, MITRE senior vice president, discusses smart risk-taking and the need for strong systems engineering at the Resilient Space Conference in Bedford, MA on June 11, 2019. Watch the Keynote

Kennedy Sees Growing Congressional Support for Space Development Agency

June 2019

At the 2019 Resilient Space: Emergent Technologies / Faster Implementation Conference in Bedford, MA, Space Development Agency Director Fred Kennedy discussed how the organization will accelerate the acquisition of space systems partly by using commercially developed technology. Bill LaPlante, MITRE Senior Vice President, talked about how a move to proliferated LEO systems requires a culture change in DoD. Read the Article

Four Ways to Reduce the Threat of Small Drones

June 2019

With all the benefits that small drones provide — everything from farming to rescue operations — they can also be dangerous. Their threats are more varied, complex, and potentially lethal than most people probably realize. Yosry Barsoum, vice president and director of MITRE's Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute and Andrew Lacher, autonomy integration and adoption lead discuss four ways to reduce the threat of small drones. Read the Article

Protecting Low Earth Orbit From Becoming the New Wild West

March 2019

Scott Kordella, Space Systems Director, explores the challenges facing the private commercialization of low Earth orbit (LEO) and how we can move forward to meet both economic and safety concerns. Read the Article

On a Quest to Field Better Cyber Awareness Tools for Warfighters

March 2019

Today, it's as likely warfighters will be fighting attacks within their networks as in the physical world. That's why an Army center partnered with MITRE on a cybersecurity tool that puts key data into a usable context, to consider for the field. Read the Article

ATT&CK Makes Defenders Stronger by Dissecting Cyber Adversary Behavior

March 2019

What do Russian spies, an organized crime gang, and North Korea have in common? One: they've carried out high-profile network intrusions. Two: MITRE ATT&CK™ is helping companies analyze intrusions like these to improve their defenses. Read the Article

MITRE's Patented Technology Benefits Government and U.S. Economy

February 2019

By patenting our inventions, we advance technology—in areas such as cybersecurity and satellite communications—to make the world safer. We also protect government’s right to the intellectual property, even as we share it with industry for broad benefits. Read the Article

Opinion: The Challenge Of 21st Century Nuclear Command-and-Control

February 14, 2019

Nuclear command, control, and communications systems (NC3) play a key role in enabling our strategic deterrent. But these systems, which are based on 1960s era technology, do not receive the same level of attention as the bombers, submarines, and missiles that deliver nuclear warheads. It is critical to upgrade the NC3 architecture now. Read the Article

Section 809 Report: Streamlining IT acquisition regulations

February 7, 2019

MITRE Senior Vice President and Section 809 Panel Commissioner Bill LaPlante outlines the panel’s recommendations to change IT acquisitions, and why parts of the Clinger-Cohen Act might not be relevant for the Pentagon anymore. Read the Article

Is it time for an international cyber court?

January 2, 2019

How can we address the explosive growth of digital data with the increased number of cyberattacks around the world? While the United States and other nations have responded to these attacks with sanctions and conversations around agreed-upon standards or norms around the world, it may be time for an international cyber court, as well as agreed-upon standard and norms, to better address cyber behavior. Read the Article