Department of War Publishes Fourth Release of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Files on WAR.GOV/UFO

 July 10, 2026 |

Statement Attributable to Assistant to the Secretary of War for Public Affairs and Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell:

Today, the Department of War is publishing the fourth release of declassified and historical Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) files as part of the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE). The collection continues to be housed on WAR.GOV/UFO, and the Department will release additional files on a rolling basis.

The Department of War and our agency partners are actively working on the next release of UAP files. The fourth release of UAP files are available now on WAR.GOV/UFO.

Launch Your Cyber Career: Department of War Cyber Apprenticeship Applications Now Live!

July 6, 2026 |

Earn While You Learn and Defend the Nation's Digital Frontlines on USAJOBS

The U.S. Department of War (DoW) Office of the Chief Information Officer launched today one the most highly anticipated apprenticeship programs in modern defense history: applications for the DoW Cyber Apprenticeship Program (Cyber RAP) are now officially open on USAJOBS.

This groundbreaking initiative represents a critical step in forging a new generation of elite cyber professionals dedicated to defending the nation's digital frontlines and supporting the warfighter.

The application window for this round of applicants is now open and closes on July 17, 2026. Interested candidates will start their journey on USAJobs at: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/875318000.

Following its initial preview in late April, the program went "viral" across social media platforms, capturing the public's imagination and generating an unprecedented 70,000 + inquiries from candidates nationwide. This overwhelming surge highlights a massive, untapped demand for alternative, skills-based training pathways into national security roles.

"To maintain our decisive advantage and support the warfighter on the modern battlefield, the Department of War must recruit differently," said the Honorable Kirsten Davies, Chief Information Officer. "President Trump and Department of War Secretary Hegseth have issued a clear mandate to advance skills-based hiring. This program bypasses traditional academic gatekeeping to value what truly matters: raw aptitude, patriotic drive, and hands-on capability over traditional academic credentials. By unlocking this untapped potential, we are actively forging America's elite cyber workforce of the future from the ground up."

This pilot is a 12-month paid program designed to rapidly develop and employ cyber professionals within the DoW. Apprentices will receive rigorous, competency-based education that blends online learning, immersive hands-on labs, and on-the-job training under the guidance of senior DoW mentors. Successful completion provides industry-recognized certifications and direct pathways into high-demand DoW civilian cyber roles, such as Cyber Defense Analysts and Incident Responders. These professionals will be on the front lines, ensuring the cybersecurity of DoW operations and the broader Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

The Department of War is committed to skills-based hiring, offering pathways for talented Americans from all educational backgrounds. No prior professional cyber experience is required—only the raw aptitude and desire to learn. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance, and deeply committed to a cyber career.

To accommodate different agency missions and standards, the program offers two distinct developmental pathways. The core Technical Specialist Pathway focuses on rapid, hands-on technical skill acquisition for general DoW civilian cyber roles and explicitly does not require a college degree. Alternatively, the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) Agency Pathway is tailored for specialized placements within the DMDC and requires candidates to hold an accredited degree to meet that specific agency's qualification standards.

For more information on the program and eligibility requirements, applicants can visit the DoW Cyber Apprenticeship Webpage or contact the program office at osd.mc-alex.dod-cio.mbx.cyber-rap@mail.mil.

Department of War Launches New Website to Help Industry Partners Navigate Section 805 Supply Chain Requirements

June 30, 2026 |

The Department of War (DoW) today announced the launch of a new website to provide guidance and resources for industry partners on the implementation of Section 805 of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This provision restricts future DoW procurement from entities identified on the Section 1260H list of Chinese military companies.

The new website https://www.businessdefense.gov/805-waiver-request.html managed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy serves as a central hub for information regarding the upcoming prohibitions. It details the timeline for both the Entity Provision or "direct" ban, effective June 30, 2026, and the Goods and Services Prohibition or "indirect ban," effective June 30, 2027, which applies to supply chains.

The site provides critical resources for companies doing business with the Department, including a clear process for requesting a waiver. The waiver process is designed for partners who require additional time to transition away from suppliers on the 1260H list and requires a compelling justification and a detailed phase-out plan.

Industry partners are encouraged to visit the new website and email the Section 805 team with any questions at osd.805-waivers@mail.mil.

DOW Addresses Material Obsolescence Through Reverse Engineering Training

Feb. 9, 2026 |

The Department of War (DOW) announced today a two-year investment totaling nearly $1.8 million made in the Great Plains Innovation Network (GPIN) of Manhattan, Kansas for a reverse engineering activity for obsolescent defense-critical parts missing technical data packages.  This announcement was awarded on August 27, 2025, but this announcement was delayed due to the government shutdown. The project, funded through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP))'s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, will culminate with updated engineering documentation for manufacturability and low-rate initial production opportunities for at least three prototypes of critical obsolescent assemblies.

"This is an important effort as some of our most important legacy systems are to some degree unsustainable as the original equipment manufacturers are no longer in our industrial base," said the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi.  "At the end of the project, the United States will have a more resilient and competitive supply chain as a result of the collaboration we've made possible between GPIN and Kansas State University, and others across the Midwest as they forge new partnerships." 

GPIN will partner with Kansas State University (KSU) to train interns and non-traditional defense contractors on the process of generating technical data packages (e.g., bills of material, computer aided design models, and quality documentation) for defense-critical parts and components for which technical data no longer exists.  This will open more competitive opportunities across the defense industrial base (DIB) to a wider pool of performers by enabling them to bid on parts and assemblies' contracts with known data, while limiting design workaround requirements to support the manufacture of various platforms. 

Some companies working in the DIB have gone out of business and left no technical data packages behind to support future defense manufacturing needs.  This investment supports the Secretary of War's priority of Rebuilding the Military by leveraging the Defense Logistics Agency's parts catalog to target high-demand parts and assemblies that are no longer procurable to design data packages that will support future defense-critical manufacturing needs.   

Since the IBAS Program's inception in 2014, the Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office has invested over $2.6 billion across 204 projects to restore domestic manufacturing capacity and capability.  ICAM is part of OASW(IBP)'s Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience.  For more information on MCEIP, please visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/index.html.

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP))

The OASW(IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the warfighter, now and in the future.  The OASW(IBP)'s Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) Office, which manages the IBAS Program, provides DOW with key capabilities to achieve the strategic aims of Department priorities and Presidential Executive Orders.  These call for a strong, resilient, responsive, and healthy national industrial base that can respond at-will to national security requirements.

Department of War Awards $19M to Stimulate Academic Research in Underutilized States

Sept. 30, 2025 |

The Department of War today announced $19.2 million in awards to 29 collaborative academic teams under the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR). DEPSCoR is a capacity-building program designed to strengthen the basic research infrastructure at institutions of higher education in underutilized states/territories.

"The Department's technology progress relies on a network of creative and insightful academics in every state of the nation. DEPSCoR aims to enhance the science and engineering foundations for these researchers and their institutions, while encouraging more researchers to pursue investigations in DoW-relevant areas. It is crucial that we build defense research infrastructure that strategically develops and uses the vast capabilities found across the country," said Dr. David Montgomery, acting director of DoW's Basic Research Office.

Today's awards follow two fiscal year 2024 competitions – the DEPSCoR Research Collaboration competition and the DEPSCoR Capacity Building competition.

The DEPSCoR Research Collaboration competition is open to tenured and tenure-track faculty members with appointments in the 37 states/territories eligible to compete for program funds. The competition helps these prospects understand DoW's unique research challenges and introduces them to the Department's supportive research ecosystem.

DoW received over 120 white papers for the FY 2024 Research Collaboration competition. Subject matter experts in the military services selected the final 27 collaborative teams, led by universities in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawai'i, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Each team will receive up to $600,000 over a three-year period of performance to pursue science and engineering projects in areas relevant to DoW initiatives.

Click here for the list of winning Research Collaboration teams. 

The DEPSCoR Capacity Building competition supports the strategic objectives of institutes of higher education (either individually or in partnership with others) in DEPSCoR-eligible states/territories, enhancing their competitiveness as research and development centers.

DoW received over 30 white papers for the FY 2024 Capacity Building competition, from which DoW subject matter experts selected two finalists. The executive offices at Boise State University and the University of Iowa will lead the selected teams. Each team will receive up to $1.5 million over a two-year period of performance to pursue capacity-building activities that will help them achieve basic research excellence in areas relevant to DoW.

Department of War Awards $33.5 Million to Increase Solid Rocket Motor Capacity and Capability

Sept. 26, 2025 |

Today, the Department of War announced two Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III awards totaling $33.5 million to expand the solid rocket motor (SRM) industrial base. The awardees are Americarb. Inc. (Americarb) in Niagara Falls, New York and General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems (GD-OTS) in Lincoln, Nebraska. These awards support the Department of War's objectives to expand the munitions industrial base, bolster supply chain resiliency, and increase domestic production in strategic priority areas.

"To meet the evolving threats of tomorrow, we must expand our capacity to produce the critical subcomponents that underpin our munitions systems," said Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey. "By advancing resiliency in the solid rocket motor supply chain, we're not only strengthening our defense industrial base but also helping to ensure a reliable and scalable supply of the materials and components crucial to our national security."

Using DPA Title III funds, the two new awardees will strengthen SRM production capability by modernizing existing facilities and improving manufacturing processes:

• DOW awarded Americarb $12.6 million to develop a solution for converting woven rayon fabric into carbonized rayon phenolic (CRP). CRP is a crucial polymeric ablative material utilized for insulating rocket nozzles in SRMs that are key for tactical missile, hypersonic, and strategic programs. Americarb will provide a prototype process and demonstrate the production of CRP to enhance DoD's supply chain resilience for this critical material.
• DOW awarded GD-OTS $20.9 million to increase SRM nozzle production capacity and capability, becoming a new supplier for composite rocket nozzles and insulators. The main technologies supported by the investment are tape wrapping and high-rate material handling technologies. These technologies, supplemented with GD-OTS' wide knowledge base of composite processing, will focus on throughput and quality for nozzle fabrication. GD-OTS' ability to manufacture components in-house can bring overall system-level lead times down, increase industry annual production capacity, and assist in the replenishment of the nozzle supply chain.

This announcement brings the total number of DPA Title III awards made to the SRM industrial base under a recent Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (DIBC OTA) solicitation to six, for a total of $87.3 million.

These are two of 16 investments made by the DPA Purchases Office totaling $811.5 million since the beginning of fiscal year 2025. These investments are complemented by $88 million in total recipient cost shares since the beginning of FY 2025. The DPA Purchases Office is overseen by the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP)).

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP)

The OASW(IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the warfighter, now and in the future. OASW(IBP) also utilizes a new Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (DIBC OTA) to solicit new ideas for research or prototype project solutions for critical Supply Chain Resiliency Focus Areas. It underscores the Department's ongoing dedication to safeguarding the integrity of our crucial supply chain and furnishing our warfighters with materials and technologies promptly. To learn more about the DIBC OTA, please visit: https://www.dibconsortium.org.

Department of War Announces New Cybersecurity Risk Management Construct

Sept. 24, 2025 |

The Department of War (DoW) today announced the implementation of a groundbreaking Cybersecurity Risk Management Construct (CSRMC), a transformative framework to deliver real-time cyber defense at operational speed. This five-phase construct ensures a hardened, verifiable, continuously monitored, and actively defended environment to ensure that U.S. warfighters maintain technological superiority against rapidly evolving and emerging cyber threats.

Addressing Legacy Shortcomings

The previous Risk Management Framework was overly reliant on static checklists and manual processes that failed to account for operational needs and cyber survivability requirements. These limitations left defense systems vulnerable to sophisticated adversaries and slowed the delivery of secure capabilities to the field.

The CSRMC addresses these gaps by shifting from "snapshot in time" assessments to dynamic, automated, and continuous risk management, enabling cyber defense at the speed of relevance required for modern warfare.

The construct is composed of a five-phase lifecycle and ten foundational tenets.

The Five-Phase Lifecycle

The new construct organizes cybersecurity into five phases aligned to system development and operations:

1. Design Phase – Security is embedded at the outset, ensuring resilience is built into system architecture.
2. Build Phase – Secure designs are implemented as systems achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC).
3. Test Phase – Comprehensive validation and stress testing are performed prior to Full Operating Capability (FOC).
4. Onboard Phase – Automated continuous monitoring is activated at deployment to sustain system visibility.
5. Operations Phase – Real-time dashboards and alerting mechanisms provide immediate threat detection and rapid response.

Ten Foundational Tenets

The CSRMC is grounded in ten core principles:

• Automation – driving efficiency and scale
• Critical Controls – identifying and tracking the controls that matter most to cybersecurity
• Continuous Monitoring and ATO – enabling real-time situational awareness to achieve constant ATO posture
• DevSecOps – supporting secure, agile development and deployment
• Cyber Survivability – enabling operations in contested environments
• Training – upskilling personnel to meet evolving challenges
• Enterprise Services & Inheritance – reducing duplication and compliance burdens
• Operationalization – ensuring stakeholders near real-time visibility of cybersecurity risk posture
• Reciprocity – reuse assessments across systems
• Cybersecurity Assessments – integrating threat-informed testing to validate security

Delivering Cybersecurity at the Speed of War

By institutionalizing this construct across the Department, the DoW is ensuring cyber survivability and mission assurance in every domain: air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace.

"This construct represents a cultural fundamental shift in how the Department approaches cybersecurity," said Kattie Arrington, performing the duties of the DoW CIO. "With automation, continuous monitoring, and resilience at its core, the CSRMC empowers the DoW to defend against today's adversaries while preparing for tomorrow's challenges."

Department of War Awards $39.6 Million to Expand Solid Rocket Motor Industrial Base

 Sept. 12, 2025 |

The Department of War today announced three awards totaling $39.6 million to expand the solid rocket motor (SRM) industrial base via Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA). The awardees are Materials Resources LLC (MRL) in Xenia, Ohio; ICF Mercantile LLC (ICF) in Warren, New Jersey; and SPARC Research LLC (SPARC) in Warrenton, Virginia. These awards support the Department of War's objectives to expand the munitions industrial base, bolster supply chain resiliency, and increase domestic production in strategic priority areas.  

"These strategic investments in our solid rocket motor industrial base are crucial to ensuring the Department of War continues to have access to the munition propulsion systems required for our national security," said Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey. "By partnering with industry through the Defense Production Act, we are strengthening the resilience of our supply chains and growing domestic manufacturing capacity that is vital to maintaining our technological edge."

Using DPA Title III funds, the three new awardees will strengthen SRM production capability by modernizing existing facilities and improving manufacturing processes:

• MRL was awarded $25.2 million to demonstrate SRM prototype production capability that will provide the Department with agile production of SRM metallic cases via additive manufacturing using MRL's scalable manufacturing cells. MRL plans to use a phased approach to demonstrate agile, horizontally scalable SRM case manufacturing. The ability to switch materials and component designs routinely and quickly is a key feature of MRL's proposed manufacturing capabilities.
• ICF was awarded $9.3 million to establish the first domestic production source of rayon filament cellulose precursor rayon, which will in turn support the production of Carbon Phenolic Ablatives used in SRM and Re-Entry Body (RB) heatshields. ICF's solution is based on Ionic Liquid (IL) technology that is an environmentally safe precursor for fiber cellulose production. This will also increase the capacity for rayon fibers and lower material costs for SRM production.
• SPARC was awarded $5.1 million to establish a dedicated and affordable supply of rocket motor components for the SRM industrial base. The components produced will support improvements to high performance propulsion systems.  

This announcement brings the total number of DPA Title III awards made to the SRM industrial base under a recent Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (DIBC OTA) solicitation to four, for a total of $53.9 million.

These are three of 14 investments made by the DPA Purchases Office totaling $777.1 million since the beginning of fiscal year 2025. These investments are complemented by $88 million in total recipient cost shares since the beginning of FY 2025. The DPA Purchases Office is overseen by the Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) directorate in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP).  

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP) 

The OASW(IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the warfighter, now and in the future. OASW(IBP) also utilizes a new Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (DIBC OTA) to solicit new ideas for research or prototype project solutions for critical Supply Chain Resiliency Focus Areas. It underscores the Department's ongoing dedication to safeguarding the integrity of our crucial supply chain and furnishing our warfighters with materials and technologies promptly. To learn more about the DIBC OTA, please visit: https://www.dibconsortium.org.