Digital News Coverage of Government Contracting and Federal Policy Landscape
2016 > June
US, Jordan Militaries Complete Live Fire Exercise; Charles Canon Comments
US, Canada Armies Provide Bomb Disposal Training to Mongolia’s Armed Forces
USPS Unveils Stamps of NASA’s Pluto Exploration, Planet Images
DoD Proposes New Records System to Facilitate Insider Threat Data Management
Eric Fanning Cites Acquisition Reform, Emerging Threats as Immediate Priorities for US Army
DOT Freezes IT Procurements to Kick Off FITARA Implementation; Richard McKinney Comments
HASC Subcommittees Hold Joint Hearing on Navy’s Maintenance, Training Budget Shortfall
Reuters: Federal Reserve Records Reveal More Than 50 Cyber Breaches in 2011-15
LaVerne Council: VA Aims to Simplify, Secure IT Processes With Cloud Tech
Army Sets Up New Cyber Directorate Within G-3/5/7 Office
John Thompson: Census Bureau Selects ‘Hybrid’ Commercial, In-House Platform for 2020 Census
Rep. Suzan DelBene Proposes to Extend US Digital Services Agency for 10 Years
Lt. Col. Anthony Barbina: US Army Supports Counter-IED Programs in Africa
OPM Seeks CIO to Manage Agency’s Digital, IT, Cybersecurity Programs
CBO: House Bill that Would Require NSF to Audit Research Facilities Would Cost $10M Over 5 Years
NIEHS Picks 8 Recipients for Infectious Disease Response Training Grants
HHS’ ONC to Require Health IT Cost & Limitation Disclosures From Developers
GAO Recommends TSA Update Airport Security Risk Assessment Method
Dell’s Steve Harris: FITARA Implementation Depends on Agency CIOs, IT Revolving Fund Approval
GAO: Federal Air Marshal Service Should Consider Risk in Flight Deployment Strategy
Navy Adm. Kurt Tidd: Southcom Seeks Help to Disrupt Illicit Networks in Latin America & Caribbean
Reps. Will Hurd, Robin Kelly Ask GAO to Study VA’s Efforts to Update EHR System
House Committee Requests Briefing on DoD, DHS Silicon Valley Tech Offices
OPM’s Beth Cobert Urges Gov’t Workers to Participate in Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey
Defense Dept Launches Training Module for New Retirement System; Luther Thomas Comments
USCG Vice Commandant Charles Michel Promoted to Admiral Rank
Suzanne Tetreault Named Potential Deputy Chief of FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Rear Adm. Brian Antonio Begins Naval Aircraft Carriers PEO Work
NIST Seeks Industry Participants for Enterprise Data Integrity Project
US, UK Soldiers Seek to Facilitate Communications, Network Interoperability Through Signal Exercise
Christopher Hetner Named Cybersecurity Policy Senior Adviser to SEC Chair Mary Jo White
Treasury Department Seeks New Infrastructure Operations Associate CIO
Iron Mountain Survey: 52% of Federal Data Mgmt Professionals See Information Security as Most In-Demand Technical Skill
FCC to Move Electronic Comment Filing System to Cloud-Based Platform
NGA Finalizes St. Louis Site as New West Headquarters Campus
OMB Issues Category Mgmt Policy for Agencies’ Software License Acquisition Efforts
Navy Engineers Develop Divers Augmented Vision Display HUD System for Diving Helmets
GAO Reviews Quality, Frequency of CIO Ratings on Federal IT Dashboard
CBO: Annual Federal Spending on Hurricane-Related Relief, Recovery Efforts to Hit $24B by 2075
Ashton Carter: US Committed to APAC Security Network
Reuters: House Committee to Investigate SWIFT, N.Y. Fed Cyber Heist
Ernest Moniz: US Holds Talks on Clean Energy Collaborative Efforts With Canada, Mexico
Naval Research Lab Team Unveils New System for Graphene Film Fabrication
Defense News: NATO Warsaw Summit in July Will Focus on Cyber Issues
Army to Continue Test on UAV Sense and Avoid System in Fall
Army Picks Humvee Vehicle for Scout Units
Rear Admirals Ronald Boxall, Peter Fanta Assigned to OPNAV Directorial Roles
US Navy Deploys Strike Group to Combat Islamic State Organization; James Foggo Comments
German Defense Ministry Seeks C-130 Alliance with Partner Nations
GAO: DHS Should Specify Time Frames for Criminal History Info Sharing Implementation
Census Bureau Appoints Kevin Smith as Associate IT Director, CIO
GAO: Federal Reserve Should Address Info Systems General Control Security, Configuration Management Issue
Sen. John Cornyn Seeks to Authorize FBI to Access Electronic Records Without Court Order Via Amendment to ECPA
Colorado Springs Gazette: President Obama Opposes VA Privatization
FAA Seeks to Encourage Aircraft Owners to Install ADS-B Avionics Through Rebate Program
GAO: VA Worked to Manage Costs, Obligations to Prevent Funding Gaps
John Goolgasian: NGA Reaches Out to Private Industry for Satellite Accuracy Measurements
Merit Systems Protection Board Seeks New Chief Privacy Officer, Info Services Director
CDC Director Tom Frieden Calls On Congress to Support $1.9B Zika Emergency Package
GAO Asks VA to Develop Performance Standards for Sole-Source Affiliate Contracts Development
DOT IG Office Seeks New CIO to Oversee IT Resources
Reports: Senate’s Fiscal 2017 Defense Bill Faces WH Veto Threat
Sen. Ron Johnson’s Proposal Seeks to Eliminate Restriction on Navy’s Use of Funds for LCS Acquisition
IRS Relaunches Tax Return Online Service With Two-Step Authentication Process; John Koskinen Comments
Stayce Harris Nominated to Assistant AF Vice Chief of Staff Role
Tod Wolters Gets Nomination for Several Commander Roles
Commerce Department Appoints Members to Newly Established Investment Advisory Council
GSA’s 18F, FEC Add New Tools to Campaign Finance Data Website Through ‘Agile’ Methods, User-Centered Design
Federal News Radio: Air Force Establishes Office For Open Architecture Initiative
Rear Adm. Michael Gilday Nominated to Lead Fleet Cyber Command
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee OKs $2B NIH FY 2017 Budget Boost
Maj. Gen. Joseph Osterman Nominated Special Operations Command Deputy Leader
USA Today: FAA Warns Military Tests Could Impact GPS Availability in the West
Glenn Walters Nominated as Marine Corps Assistant Commandant
GovExec: OPM Looks to Extend Identity Theft Protection Services for Up to 10 Years
Beth Cobert: OPM Makes Strides in IT Cybersecurity
Air Force Begins Development Work on Mid-Air Collision Avoidance Tool for Fighter Jets
US, Japan Ink Reciprocal Defense Procurement Pact
National Cancer Institute Unveils Genomic, Clinical Data Platform
USPTO Issues Patent for Naval Research Lab’s Seawater Carbon & Hydrogen Extraction Process
EmeSec CEO Maria Horton: FedRAMP Changes Could Cut Approval Times
Maj. Gen. Stephen Fogarty Named Cybercom Chief of Staff
Fedscoop: OMB Cyber Adviser Cord Chase Named OPM CISO
House Panel OKs DHS Cyber Function Reorg Bill
House Passes Bipartisan IT Software License Mgmt Reform Bill
Vormetric’s Wayne Lewandowski: Federal Govt’s Cyber Strategy Should Prioritize Encryption, Access Controls
Debbie Fairbrother: NASA Reinstates Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility as Launch Site
House Panel’s FY 2017 DHS Funding Bill to Allocate $41B in Discretionary Budget
4 Senators Ask Sen. Mitch McConnell to Advance Beth Cobert’s Nomination as OPM Chief
Ashton Carter Proposes Additional Military, Civilian Personnel Mgmt Strategies
FBI Appoints Todd McCall as Operational Technology Division Assistant Director
Terry Halvorsen: Government-Industry Partnerships Could Help Address Cyber Challenges
Navy Survey Vessel Completes Maiden Voyage; Nick Vincent Comments
NASA to Launch Neutron Star Research Mission in February 2017
DoD’s Top Leaders Discuss Military Cooperation With Sweden, Montenegro Defense Ministers
Air Force Maj. Gen. Lind Urrutia-Varhall Assigned to NGA as Operations Director
Army Org Conducts Preclinical Research on Zika Vaccine Candidate
DoD’s Assistive Tech Center Marks 20-Year Anniversary; Stephen King Comments
US Army Redesigns Career Tracker Tool for Soldiers; Jeffrey Colimon Comments
Matthew Barrett: NIST to Update Cyber Framework, Eyes Initial Draft for Early 2017
GAO Reports Decline in DoD’s $20M+ Sole-Source Contracts to Small Biz
GAO Calls for Revision of US Navy Frigate Acquisition Strategy
Sputnik News: Russia Develops New Hypersonic Glide Vehicles
GAO: Census Bureau Lacks Processes to Manage Interdependencies Between CEDCAP, 2020 Decennial Census Programs
House Panel OKs $22B Financial Services, General Government Funding Bill
Chris Lynch: DoD Digital Service Continues Cyber Work Against Malicious Attacks
Brig. Gen. Thomas Geary Named Air Force Asst Deputy Chief of Staff for ISR
Army Research Lab Chemist Aims to Identify Warfighter Injuries with Gold Nanoclusters
Ashton Carter Announces New Members of Defense Innovation Board
NASA, UAE Enter Space Science Cooperation Agreement
House Committee Questions FDIC’s Transparency Amid Breach Investigation
Terrence O’Shaughnessy Appointed Pacific Air Forces Commander, Nominated for Promotion to General
CBO: Senate Panel’s FY 2017 Defense Bill to Increase Net Direct Spending By $11B Over 10 Years
Katja Seim Appointed FCC Chief Economist; Tom Wheeler Comments
GAO: GSA, OMB Should Update Goals, Performance Measures for Digital Services Projects
Vice Adm. Thomas Moore Takes NAVSEA Command Post
Reports: South Korea Links North Korea’s Cyber Campaign to Theft of 40K Defense-Related Files
Mary Davie: GSA, NASA, NIH to Conduct IT Hardware Buying Events Through September 2016
FAA Seeks Chief Data Officer to Manage Information Assets
Susan Rice: President Barack Obama Eyes New US Military Aid Pact With Israel
House OKs $3.5B Capitol Complex Maintenance Package; Hal Rogers Comments
Laura Bucheit Named Assistant Director for FBI’s Security Division
Army Times: US Army Cancels M4 Carbine Upgrade Effort
IRS Names Winners of Online Tax Info System Design Challenge
CBP Tests Updated Departure Data System at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport; John Wagner Comments
Army Program Pairs Active, Reserve Components for Tactical Exercises
ODNI Unveils First Intell Community Workforce Diversity Report
Ash Carter, Ng Eng Hen Talk US-Singapore Cooperation on Maritime Security, Counterterror
Canadian Defense Agency Moves to Refine Surface Combatant Procurement Strategy
Jens Stoltenberg: NATO Estimates 1.5% Increase in Defense Spending by Canada, European Allies
Ashton Carter: US Apache Helicopters Engage in Fight Against Islamic State Organization in Iraq
Reports: Mary Davie Succeeds Kim Luke as OMB IT Category Manager
Senate OKs FY 2017 Defense Policy Bill in 85-13 Vote
NASA Awards Cash Prizes to Sample Return Robot Challenge Winning Teams
DOE to Support Nuclear Energy Research Through $82M Investment; Ernest Moniz Comments
Washington Post: Hackers Stole DNC Research Data on Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump
Army Updates Flagship Website in Branding Campaign Push; Zack Kevit Comments
Gen. Daniel Allyn: Tech Modernization, Cybersecurity Among Army’s Near-Term Priorities
Terry Halvorsen: DoD to Replace Common Access Cards With Multifactor Authentication Systems
HHS Picks California Public Health Dept as Southwest Region’s Ebola Treatment Center
House Kicks Off Debate on Huey Helicopter Replacement, Base Realignment & Closure Amendments
Tony Scott: $3B in Federal IT Systems to Become Obsolete by 2019
Gen. Mark Welsh: Joint Force Needs to Prioritize Resources; AF Eyes Close-Air Support to Replace A-10
Ashton Carter: US Forces Granted Added Flexibility to Support Afghan Military
GAO: US Coast Guard Needs 20-Year Fleet Modernization Plan for Asset Acquisitions
National Archives & Records Administration Seeks New CTO
Former Northcom, NORAD Leader Bill Gortney Retires From Navy
Ray Mabus: Navy to Name Future Virginia-Class Attack Submarine ‘USS Arkansas’
DARPA Eyes ‘Very Low Frequency’ Signals For PNT Systems as GPS Backup
ISS, NASA 3-D Prints Student-Designed Multipurpose Tool; Niki Werkheiser Comments
GSA’s 18F Hub Selects FBI & Treasury For Digital Acquisition Initiative Pilot
Report: FEMA Plans App Redesign With Ambit Group
Joint Committee Starts to Tackle Military Construction, Veterans Programs, Zika Response Funding Bill
Mike McCord: DoD Moving Toward Auditability Goals
House Committee OKs Fiscal 2017 EPA, Interior Spending Bill
Glenn Fogg Named DoD Prototyping, Experimentation Deputy Director
Rep. Elise Stefanik Introduces Bill to Create Online Legislative Process Tracking System
White House: Federal Executive Actions, Private Sector Projects Eye Renewable Energy Integration With Power Grid
NASA’s Juno Spacecraft to Gather Data on Jupiter’s Origin, Structure
NSF’s Rebecca Ferrell & Fort Worth Police Sgt. Troy Lawrence to Join National Commission on Forensic Science
JFK, Newark Airports Adopt CBP Mobile Passport Control App
Thomas Murphy Named Acting VA Undersecretary for Benefits
NASA Selects 11 Educational Institutions for Science, Tech R&D Grants
WilmerHale Partner Shirley Woodward Nominated CIA IG
Space News: NASA’s Charles Bolden Calls For Continued European ISS Support
DHS, DOJ Release 4 Final Guidance Documents on Cyber Threat Data Sharing
DoD’s ‘4th Estate’ Agencies to Procure Professional Services Via GSA’s OASIS; Tiffany Hixson Comments
NIST Issues Cyber Threat Recovery Guide
House Approves $576B Defense Budget for Fiscal 2017
DHS Releases Advisory Bulletin on Homegrown Violent Extremism
Ashton Carter, Saudi Counterpart Discuss Security Matters at Pentagon Meeting
OPM Issues Hiring Preference Guide for Senior-Level National Security Posts
Stephen Wilson, VeraLinn Jamieson Nominated for New Air Force Roles, Rank Promotion
USAID, Ukraine Government Work Together on Energy and Judicial Reform Programs
CBO: Federal Investment’s Effects on Budget, Economy Depend on How Government Funds Spending
NASA Unveils X-57 Designation for Research Airplane; Charles Bolden Comments
Online Trust Alliance Names Top Consumer-Facing Sites in Data Security, Privacy
Michael Rogers: Cyber Guard Exercise to Teach Defense/Economic Sectors About Cyber Strategies
Navy Christens Second Zumwalt-Class Destroyer as USS Michael Monsoor
Senate Approves Federal Veteran Hiring Changes in Defense Policy Bill Vote
Army Corps of Engineers to Relocate Baltimore District Headquarters to Newly Leased Space
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus: Super Hornet Cost Could Rise Without Foreign Sales
Gen. David Goldfein: Air Force Should Disclose Value of B-21 Bomber Aircraft Devt Contract
Ashton Carter: Pentagon’s Bug Bounty Program Uncovers 138 ‘Legitimate’ System Vulnerabilities
FAA Panel Drafts Cybersecurity Standards for Commercial Aircraft Operators
NY Times: Physicist Neil Johnson Develops Mathematical Model to Predict ISIS Attacks
DoD Seeks Feedback on Enterprisewide Personnel Security Records System
Google’s Matt Cutts to Join US Digital Service Team at the Pentagon
National Technical Information Service Seeks Joint Venture Partners for Federal Data Platform Dev’t Effort
DoD IG: Naval Oceanographic Office Should Implement Procedures for Task Order Awards Under Multiple Award Contracts
Joe Dunford: UN Peacekeepers to Play Larger Role in Multinational Cooperation Against Threats
Ashton Carter: Security Networks Can Help US, Foreign Allies Counter Global Threats
Reports: DoD Lifts Recruitment Freeze on Civilian Jobs at ‘4th Estate’ Agencies
Former Census CTO Avi Bender Joins Commerce Dept as National Technical Information Service Head
IT Alliance for Public Sector Issues Cybersecurity Recommendations for State Govt Agencies
FBI Vet Mike Morgan Appointed Border Patrol Chief
DARPA Launches Program to Help Data Science Through Automated Empirical Modeling
GAO Asks FBI to Verify Face Recognition Service Accuracy
FireEye Study Shows Decline in China-Linked Cyber Intrusions Since Mid-2014
Air Force’s Randall Walden: B-21 Aircraft Dev’t Contract Value Should Remain Classified
Report: Virginia, Maryland Leaders Propose Infrastructure Investments for FBI HQ Relocation Project
Sens. Tammy Baldwin, Jerry Moran Co-Sponsor Bipartisan Reform Bill for Veterans’ ID Theft Protection
Coalition Asks Congress to Reject Rule 41 Changes That Would Authorize Warrants for Remote ‘Govt Hacking’
DoD Welcomes Eric Fanning as New Army Secretary
GSA, Research Institute Partner to Explore Sustainable Landscapes for Gov’t Properties
Ashton Carter, Israel’s Defense Minister Discuss Mideast Security Issues, F-35 Program
GAO: VA, NASA, OPM, NRC Should Address Lapses in Data System Access Controls
Norman Dong: GSA, CBP Accept 3 New Proposals for Port of Entry Infrastructure Upgrades
Gen. Daniel Allyn: Army to Budget For Apache Battalions, 11th Combat Aviation Brigade
FAA Issues Small Civilian UAS Operational Rule; Anthony Foxx Comments
DOE to Provide Commercialization Funds for 54 Energy Tech Projects; Lynn Orr Comments
NASA Launches Solar System Internet Tech on ISS
Federal Times: DHS to Take Video Proposal Submissions from Contractors
GSA Seeks to Collect Transactional Procurement Data Via Final Rule; Tom Sharpe, Anne Rung Comment
Army Missile Center Develops 6 Component Tools for Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile Systems
Mike Poth Offers Updates on FirstNet’s Acquisition Process for Public Safety Broadband Network at Senate Hearing
Reports: House, Senate to Begin Work on Fiscal 2017 NDAA Reconciliation
DoD Unveils Policy for Voluntary Phased Retirement of Full-Time Civilian Personnel
Lt. Gen. James McLaughlin Briefs House Committee on Cyber Mission Force Structure
House Committee Asks GAO to Assess OMB’s Management of Top 10 IT Priority Programs
Thomas Atkin: DoD Cooperates with Federal, Industry Partners to Secure Cyberspace
Lt. Gen. Joseph Lengyel: Current Global Threats Call For More Agile Forces
DISA Holds First Symposium on Command, Control Interoperability; Stephanie McMillan Comments
GSA Issues Final Transactional Data Reporting Rule; Tom Sharpe Comments
House Panel OKs $41B Homeland Security Discretionary Budget for FY 2017
Brig. Gen. Charles Moore: Cyber Mission Force to Challenge Adversaries’ Operations
FedRAMP Releases Cloud Security Requirements For High-Impact Unclassified Gov’t Data
Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado Undergoes Deployment, Departs Naval Base San Diego
Congressional Negotiators Agree on $83B Military Construction, Veterans’ Benefits and Zika Response Bill
CBO: Senate Bill on Licensing Framework for Updated Nuclear Reactors Would Cost $47M Over 5 Years
NSF, DOE Form Cyber Threat Profiling Working Group
US, Israel Ink Cyber Threat Data Sharing Pact; Alejandro Mayorkas Comments
Steven Basham Named Director of Legislative Liaison at Office of the USAF Secretary
Reuters: US, EU Amend Transatlantic Data Transfer Agreement
Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility Receives New Raytheon Air Defense Radar
USAID to Support 4 Global Entrepreneurship Programs Through $38M-Plus Investment
NASA Starts on Live Satellite Refueling Robotic Spacecraft; Frank Cepollina Comments
Phaedra Chrousos to Leave Tech Transformation Service Commissioner Post at GSA
GAO Asks DoD to Clarify Guidance on Facility Assessments, Ratings
GAO: VA SHould Modernize IT Systems for Interoperability with DoD
House Appropriators Release $52B FY 2017 State & Foreign Operations Bill
Army Updates Rule to Facilitate Sustainment of Software-Based Tools for Cyber Electromagnetic Operations
FBI Appoints Joshua Skule Intell Branch Executive Assistant Director
ACT-IAC Unveils Phase 3 of IT Acquisition Reform Implementation Project for OMB
Lt. Gen. Thomas Waldhauser Testifies on Priorities as Potential Africom Commander
US Forces Japan Commander John Dolan Nominated as Joint Staff Operations Director
CBP Unveils 29 New Partnerships for Reimbursable Ports-of-Entry Services Program
NASA, Partners Launch Airspace Tech Demonstration Lab; Charles Bolden Comments
CBP Seeks Feedback on Proposal to Add Social Media Question to Foreigners’ Arrival, Departure Forms
HHS Adds 9 Members to Health IT Advisory Committees
Defense News: AF Considers UTC’s ACES 5 For F-35 Ejection Seat Replacement
Jack Wilmer: DISA Needs Security Tools to Defend DoD Apps in Commercial Cloud
GSA Purchases Frederick County, VA Site for FBI Central Records Complex
Deborah Lee James: Conflicts on Earth Could Extend to Space
Global Defense Leaders to Address North Korean Ballistic Missile Launches
Army Times: Army Launches Final Deployment of Kiowa Warriors, Apache to Replace Helicopter Units
Peter Cook: DoD Continues Collaboration with Allies to Address Global Security Threats
White House Eyes Software Product Security Ratings System
GSA Works with Baltimore City to Sell Metro West Complex, Encourage Economic Growth
NOAA DSCOVR Space Weather Satellite to Launch in July
Iraqi Gov’t Recovers Fallujah from Islamic State Control, Coalition Forces Continue Manbij Operations
HHS to Support Brazilian Research Center’s Zika Vaccine Production Effort
Nextgov: OPM Hack Affected Victims’ Family Members
OPM Seeks to Streamline Info on Data Breaches Through Website Update; Beth Cobert Comments
Army’s AMRDEC Org Conducts Quality Assurance Test on Apache Helicopters for South Korea
USAF Tests Lockheed-Developed F-35A Combat Readiness Capacity, Aircraft Nears IOC Declaration
FBI, State Dept Join Illegal Diamond Trade & Threat Financing Forum
3 Army Events Seek to Assess Cyber Tools for Warfighters
2nd Marine Corps Attack Squadron to Transition to Lockheed’s F-35Bs
Gen. Mark Welsh: US Air Force Needs 60K More Airmen
Rose Gottemoeller to Become NATO Deputy Secretary-General in October
Health Center Partners of Southern California Members Org Receives Oral Health Care Services Grant
GAO: DoD Tests Homeland Response Force Capacity Through Mission Readiness Evaluation
NASA to Commence Bennu Asteroid Study Mission With Lockheed Spacecraft; Kevin Walsh Comments
Reps. Ted Lieu, Will Hurd: HHS Should Require Health Providers to Notify Govt Agencies of Ransomware Attacks
Zina Sutch Joins OPM as Diversity & Inclusion Director; Beth Cobert Comments
Lawmakers Goodlatte, Grassley Raise Legal Concerns Over NTIA’s Internet DNS Oversight Transfer Plan
DHS Sets $1.6B for FY 2016 Preparedness Grant Initiatives; Jeh Johnson Comments
Andrew Mayock Eyes Focus on Cyber, Background Investigations as OMB Nominee
Poland, Germany to Form Joint Submarine Command
DARPA Completes Integration of Live Data Feeds Into Space Surveillance Network; Jeremy Raley Comments