* Engility CEO Anthony Smeraglinolo noted [Defense News] during a speech at the I/ITSEC tradeshow that the number of contractors active in the government services market had grown vastly beyond the market itself.
* USMC General (Ret.) and NDIA chairman Arnold Punaro is looking for someone [WaPo] willing to write a proper “38-page requirement to buy a chocolate-chip cookie.” Someone step up, it can be done! Three pages alone can be allocated to the vexing problem of whether raisins are an adequate substitute. The 81-page “comparison of nutrient intakes between a Ft. Riley contractor-operated and a Ft. Lewis military-operated garrison dining facility” [PDF] by the US Army’s Medical R&D Command is a good place to start.
* A USSOCOM C-27J and a USAF C-130H made contact on Monday while conducting reportedly separate flight training near Fort Bragg, NC. They were able to land safely without reported injuries, though both aircraft were damaged. 440th Airlift Wing | Fayetteville Observer.
* The US Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) merged 2 directorates last week into the new Advanced Systems and Development Directorate (SMC/AD). The new entity is in charge of developmental planning and demonstrations of space capabilities.
UK
* The Roland Berger consultancy released a review [PDF] of the UK’s 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) with recommendations ahead of next year’s post-election SDSR.
* This RUSI report [PDF] highlights a separate critical issue from Britain: properly planning and executing the “Whole Force” active/reserve mix issue. The best SDSR in the world won’t help if the entire organization is misaligned.
Middle East
* Iraq’s government reached a deal [BBC] with Kurds on oil exports. The Kurds will get a cut, a key step to get them to stick with the government in Baghdad.
Cyber at Sea
* Vice Admiral Jan Tighe spoke yesterday at the CSIS think tank to discuss the evolution of the US Navy’s Fleet Cyber Command missions, in the video below:
