DefenseScoop

Back in 2015, then-Secretary of Defense Ash Carter launched the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, or DIUx, as small team of innovators and bureaucracy hackers to bridge the Valley of Death between Silicon Valley and the Beltway. Since then, the unit has expanded its team and portfolio, undergoing several evolutions and shedding its “experimental” designator along the way. Mike Madsen served as deputy and acting director of DIU during five of its more formative years. Madsen, now vice president of Obviant, joins Billy Mitchell and Meagan Metzger on CTRL + ALT + DEFENSE to recount the journey of DIU over the past decade and how it has transformed the business of innovation for the U.S. military. https://lnkd.in/dRrpp6jh Watch now. https://lnkd.in/esbmF2kg Subscribe and follow  🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/dJztTqzx  🟢 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ehtXCXAQ  📺 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/es49cQbu Dcode

The AIWeek Community Events Calendar is officially packed. With so many sessions to choose from, here are three can't-miss events to add to your schedule right now: 📅 Tuesday, April 14 | 8:00 AM #AITalks with AIScoop Waldorf Astoria, Washington, D.C. 📅 Wednesday, April 15 | 9:00 AM IBM’s Unlock the Power of Agentic AI with watsonx Orchestrate Innovation Studio DC 📅 Friday, April 17 | 11:00 AM GDIT’s The Future of Human Performance Optimization in the Department of War Virtual Webinar 🔗 Get your pass for AI Week and see full event line up: https://hubs.li/Q048wMb90

Commanders now responsible for cybersecurity training after Army cuts online course requirement to once every 5 years: https://hubs.li/Q0498WzN0

At least 348 U.S. military personnel have been wounded in the Iran war as of March 31, according to U.S. Central Command. via Brandi Vincent https://lnkd.in/eVUnCDyE

Pentagon eyes ‘more and more bunkers’ and other tech to shield troops in Operation Epic Fury: https://hubs.li/Q04981sr0

Pentagon preparing for drone swarm ‘crucible’ : https://hubs.li/Q0496DK10

The Navy is setting up a one-stop-shop for medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSVs) that carry swappable, containerized payloads in faster, multi-mission deployments, as it reshapes its model for buying autonomous watercraft that navigate, handle cargo and carry out certain military operations with little to no human input. https://hubs.li/Q0490W4z0

As part of a force-wide “rebalancing” and cost-saving effort, the Army started notifying thousands of civilian employees this week that their roles are surplus, DefenseScoop has learned, giving them days to accept offers to voluntarily fill open vacancies or separate, or be forced to move positions. https://hubs.li/Q0490PwP0

The Army is entering exclusive negotiations with the Carlyle Group and CyrusOne to build and operate commercial hyperscale data centers on military installations in Texas and Utah, the service announced Thursday. https://hubs.li/Q0490KN90

At the request of some of its units, the Army is looking to add “command and control on the move” capabilities to Infantry Squad Vehicles, according to a notice posted Thursday on a government contracting website. https://hubs.li/Q0490QXm0