Digital News Coverage of Government Contracting and Federal Policy Landscape
2018 > August
Administration Officials Call for R&D Investments to Preserve National Security, Economic Competitiveness
Sen. Mark Warner Introduces Minibus II Amendment to Boost UAS Funds
NASA IG Offers Recommendations for Space Station Management, Utilization
Mike Pence: Senate Should Form New Cyber Agency at DHS Through Legislation
Lt. Gen. VeraLinn Jamieson: Air Force Should Leverage AI in Battlespace Decision-Making
Report: Senate Plans to Merge Defense Spending Bill With HHS-Labor-Education Measure
Kirstjen Nielsen: DHS Seeks to Encourage Threat Info Sharing via National Risk Mgmt Center
GAO: DoD Needs Data Sharing Strategy for Commercial Item, Price Reasonableness Determinations
ODNI Announces Release of Declassified Materials Related to Vietnam War’s Tet Offensive
Okla. Science & Tech Secretary Kelvin Droegemeier to be Nominated OSTP Director
DoD OIG Report Lists Open Recommendations for Department Program, Operation Management
Congress OKs Fiscal 2019 Defense Authorization Bill; James Mattis Comments
Lt. Gen. VeraLinn Jamieson: Sensors, Hypersonics Could Be Part of USAF’s Future ISR Grid
Two Bipartisan Bills Aim to Bolster US Election Security, Address Cybercrime
USDA Allocates $97M for 11-State Rural Broadband Connectivity Program
DISA Extends Unclassified Mobile Device Capability to All DoD Partners, Agencies
GAO: DOE’s NNSA Needs More Effective Contract Document Management Procedures
Lori Diachin Named Deputy Director of DOE’s Exascale Computing Project
NIST Releases Revised Handbook on Secure Access System for Mobile Devices
Air Force Releases New Strategy to Achieve ISR Dominance; Lt. Gen. VeraLinn Jamieson Comments
Gen. Carlton Everhart Eyes Orbiting Military Supplies Within 10 Years
Joanne Collins Smee to Step Down From GSA Role; Emily Murphy Comments
Chris Shank to Head DoD Strategic Capabilities Office
Gen. Paul Nakasone: NSA, Cybercom to Help Agencies Thwart Cyber Interference in Elections
GAO: OMB, Fed Agencies Should Address CIO Roles in IT Management
Trump Nominates Former NIC Vice Chair Vaughn Bishop for CIA Deputy Director
David Bassett Announces New Army Initiatives for Modernized Communication Networks
Report: Senate Committee Passes Bipartisan Commercial Space Bill; Sen. Ted Cruz Comments
NGA Releases Updated GEOINT Strategy; Robert Cardillo Comments
Office of Personnel Management’s OCIO to Hold IT Industry Outreach Day in September
Senate Passes NIST Bill to Support Small Business Cybersecurity
NASA Officials Address Challenges in Sustaining IT Systems of Space Assets
FY 2019 Defense Budget Compromise Calls for MDA to Pursue Space-Based Missile Defense Capabilities
Hill AFB’s F-35 Program Makes Headway
Sen. Ron Wyden Asks DHS for Update on Anti-Email Spoofing Measure Implementation
Report: Federal Agencies Aim to Transform Operations With Blockchain Tech
Navy Authorizes STRATCOM to Operate Narrowband Satcom Network; Carl Chebi Comments
GAO’s Dave Powner: Federal Govt Should Strengthen CIO Authorities
STRATCOM Software Testing System Seen to Meet Initial Operational Capability in October
Jason Klitenic Joins ODNI as General Counsel
SEC Seeks Cloud-Based System to Support Electronic Discovery Program
Report: DHS Appoints Bob Kolasky to Head National Risk Management Center
DoD Prohibits Department Personnel From Using Geolocation Tools in Operational Areas
Report: OPM Vet David Vargas Named GSA Service Management Office Director
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue: USDA Invests $345.5M in Electric Infrastructure
Ronald Vitiello to be Nominated ICE Director
Carol Harris, Nick Marinos to Assume FITARA, Census Responsibilities at GAO
Army to Update Enterprise Cloud Strategy; Thomas Sasala Comments
James Mattis: DoD Backs Formation of Space-Focused Combatant Command
Charles Phalen: DoD Likely to Absorb OPM’s National Background Investigations Bureau
DoD Selects Five University-Industry Teams for Pilot Innovation Research Program
Small Rockets, New Launch Companies to Help Preserve US Space Resiliency
Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves Talks MDA’s Space-Based Sensor Layer Concept for Missile Defense at Symposium
NOAA to Implement ‘Tiered’ Approach for Commercial Sensing Data Protection Review
GSA, OPM Reduce Contract Access Fee for Human Capital & Training Solutions Program
Vanessa Wyche Named NASA Johnson Space Center Deputy Director
GAO Urges DHS to Modify Development Process for Acquisition Requirements
Trump to Sign $717B Defense Policy Bill at Fort Drum
Report: Data Center Infrastructure Mgmt System Offers Path to Address Gov’t IT Efficiency Goals
Treasury Invites Agency CFOs to Enact Proposed Financial Mgmt Initiatives
USAF Uses Alpha Jets to Support Chase Plane Test Missions
DoD, NASA, GSA Seek Feedback on Standard Collection of Voluntary Contracting Comments
Retired USAF Gen. John Michael Loh: Aircraft, Weapons & Strategy Key to Air Campaigns
Defense Science Board Offers Recommendations on Cyberspace Protection
Pentagon Renames Defense Innovation Org
Federal Spending Spree Imminent in Remaining Months of Fiscal 2018; PSC’s David Berteau Comments
House VA Subcommittee for IT Modernization to Conduct First Hearing in September
Mike Pence Unveils Plans to Form New Combatant Command, Service Branch for Space
Carla Provost Assumes Role as Full-Time Border Patrol Chief
VA Adopts Secure Cyber Posture Across Multiple Cloud Vendors; Royce Allen Comments
Report: Federal Gov’t Plans Reskilling Efforts to Address Cyber, IT Skills Gap
NIST’s Ron Ross: Cyber Adversaries Thrive in Complexity
David Norquist: DoD-Wide Audit Results Could Come in Fall
GSA Launches Accelerated Contracting Process for Startups
GSA to Update Identity Protection, Breach Response SIN on Professional Services Schedule
Trump to Nominate Robert McMahon as DoD Assistant Secretary for Sustainment
Army-Backed Consortium Seeks to Accelerate Tech Delivery to Cyber Ops Force
DoD Plans to Include Product, Service Security as Acquisition Metric
Col. Bradley Barnhart Begins Work as DISA Chief of Staff
Gen. Paul Selva: DoD Should Leverage Commercial Space Tech Against Enemy Hypersonics
William Bookless to be Nominated NNSA Principal Deputy Administrator
Navy, Air Force Develop Laser Threat Protection Tech for Pilots
David Pekoske: TSA to Deploy More CT X-Ray Systems, Credential Authentication Tech at Airports
Trump OKs $717B Defense Spending Bill for Fiscal 2019
Defense Undersecretary Michael Griffin Criticizes Defense Industry for Being ‘Mired in Process’
Gen. Paul Selva Calls for US Nuclear Enterprise Modernization
VA Hires Retired Col. Pamela Powers in Series of Leadership Moves
Gen. John Hyten: Stratcom, SOCOM Depend on Intelligence, Data
Report: Kay Ely to Work With GSA-OPM Merger Task Force Prior to Retirement
Thomas McCaffery to be Nominated DoD Asst Secretary for Health Affairs
OIG: State Dept Failed to Perform OMB-Mandated Studies on New Programs
IARPA Deputy Director Stacey Dixon Promoted to Director
Amy Hess Named FBI Executive Assistant Director for Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Operations
Intelligence Community to Adopt New IT Practices in Second Modernization Era
Report: US Military Seeks to Modernize Intell Database, Processes
FAA Authorizes Northern Plains Test Site to Fly UAS Beyond Line of Sight
NIST, IEEE to Collaborate on Cloud Interoperability Standard Development; Robert Bohn Quoted
AHRQ Challenge Seeks New Apps to Facilitate Patient-Reported Outcome Data Collection
Sen McCaskill Raises Concerns Over Presidential 2019 Budget for OIG Funding Cuts
Stacey Dixon Stresses Importance of Machine Learning in Predicting Cyber Attacks
Wright-Patterson AFB Conducts Email Cloud Migration
Contracting Vet Carlen Capenos Named DISA Small Business Program Director
DHS Launches Security Initiative for US Telecommunications Infrastructure
Sean Heritage Offers Updates on DIU’s Progress, Commercial Solutions Opening Process
CBP Helps California’s Mineta San Jose Airport Implement Facial Biometrics
DISA’s Mission Assurance Branch Helps DoD Mitigate Risks to C4I Assets; Fred Ruonavar Quoted
DHS Conducts Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise to Prepare for Midterm Elections
WSJ: Trump Reverses Obama-Era Directive on Cyberweapons
CIA’s Andrew Hallman: Intell Community Should Use New Tools to Counter Cyber Threats
Maj. Gen. Garrett Yee: Army Needs Industry to Modernize Workflow Process
Report: DoD Supply Chain Risk Mgmt Policy ‘Not Fully Implemented’ for SBIRS
Report: Bill Zielinski to Serve as GSA Interim Asst Commissioner for IT Category
CBO Launches Military Operation & Support Cost Analysis Tool
AFRL Begins Development on Augmented Reality Systems for Aircraft Inspections
DoD Appoints IT Vet Michael Conlin as Chief Data Officer
GAO: Air Force to Deploy New Combat Rescue Helicopters to Active Component by FY 2020
OMB Updates Gov’t Cloud Migration Strategy; Bill Hunt Quoted
NASA Deputy Administrator Nominee James Morhard Highlights Priorities Prior to Confirmation Hearing
Rep. Don Bacon Pushes for US Electronic Warfare Capability
Global Hawk Aircraft Lands in Alaska for Reconnaissance Exercise
Jason Crusan: NASA Aims to Stage Deep Space Missions from ‘Gateway’ Platform
PBGC Executive Pamela Wise-Martinez: Federal Agencies Must Adopt Consolidated Hybrid Cloud
Report: OMB Issues Statement on Littoral Combat Ship Program
PSC Cites GovCon Provisions in FY 2019 NDAA; David Berteau Quoted
Defense Officials Express Concern Regarding Proposed Space Force
DoD: China Acquiring Tech for Military Modernization Through Legal and Illicit Means
ARCYBER’s Stephen Fogarty Joins Army Materiel Command Officials in Cybersecurity Discussion
DHS Sources for Info on ICT Vulnerability Detection Technologies
US Intelligence Community Announces Priorities for Intelligence Operations; Sue Gordon Quoted
Army to Review Additional Active Protection System Proposals
Report: GSA Decides to Shut Down Reverse Auction Platform
DoD’s Machine Learning Project Gets 580% Funding Hike in FY 2019 NDAA
Senators Raise Concerns About Potential Space Force Cost
Charles Phalen: NBIB Work With DoD Started in December
FY 2019 NDAA to Authorize $10M for AI National Security Commission
VA Appoints Karen Brazell as Chief Acquisition Officer
Report: Trump Likely to Nominate Lt. Gen. Richard Clarke as SOCOM Head in Series of Leadership Moves
Senate Resumes Debates on FY 2019 Minibus Spending Bill for Defense, Other Agencies
Report: HHS Appoints Ed Simcox as Acting CIO
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse Submits Proposals to Strengthen US Cybersecurity Posture
GSA Implements New Policies to Accelerate Acquisition Processes
DISA Works With Pentagon CIO to Help ‘Fourth Estate’ Agencies Migrate Apps to MilCloud 2.0
Col. Christine Beeler Assigned as Army Contracting Command Deputy Commander
CRS Report: Coast Guard Requests $750M in FY 2019 Funds for Polar Icebreaker Procurement Effort
Fleet Cyber Command, Information Warfare Training Group Synchronize Navy Cyber Inspections
CRS Describes Four Ways to Establish Space Force in New Report
DHS Begins More Intense Use of Stricter Cybersecurity Practices
DoD Acquisition Nominee Alan Shaffer Talks Workforce at Senate Confirmation Hearing
Lt. Gen. John Murray Confirmed as First Army Futures Command Chief
NASA Initiates Study on Physiological Effects of High-Performance Flights
DISA Offers Apple Device Enrollment Program for Mission Partners
Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford: Army Should Harness Data With AI, Cloud as Part of Network Modernization
Navy May Deploy Four Reorganized Littoral Combat Ships in 2019
Sylvia Burns to Join FDIC as Deputy CIO for Enterprise Strategy
DHS Proposes New Radar Tool to Inform Federal Agencies of Cybersecurity Threats
La’Naia Jones: Intelligence Community Aims Cyber Efforts at Hacking Capability Commoditization, Ransomware
DHS Official: Sharing of Unclassified Cyber Threat Indicators Getting Faster
Trump Nominates USMC Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie to Lead Central Command
Kelly Olson Named Acting Director of GSA’s Tech Acquisition Arm
NNSA, Tennessee Valley Authority Partner to Down-Blend Highly-Enriched Uranium for National Security
Space Commerce Director Kevin O’Connell to Prioritize Industry Advocacy, Regulatory Concerns
Army Delays Final Plans for Persistent Cyber Training Environment
Proposed Public-Private Research Center to Prioritize Data Management, Workforce Modernization
DARS Removes DFARS ‘Technical Interchange’ Requirement for IR&D Cost Reimbursement
Report: Matt Goodrich, Ashley Mahan to Assume New Roles at GSA
Kelvin Droegemeier Unveils Research and Regulatory Plans as Potential OSTP Director
FBI Employs AI, Big Data Analytics Systems to Identify Insider Threats
Michael Scott: DLA Uses Machine Learning-Based Tool to Safeguard DoD Supply Chain
Reports: Senate OKs Fiscal 2019 Appropriations Package With $675B for Pentagon
Coast Guard Sends First HC-130J to Air Station Kodiak
Gen. Stephen Lyons Assumes Transcom Leadership
Vice Adm. Lewis Commands Newly Reestablished Navy Second Fleet
Study: Drone Tech Proliferation Puts Regional, International Security at Risk
James Mattis Calls on National Guard, DoD to Strengthen Alliances, Lethality
David Chow Appointed as New HUD CIO
Army Opens Futures Command HQ in Austin, Texas; Ryan McCarthy Quoted
Julie Kramer White: NASA Leverages Apollo Program to Build Orion Capsule
Dana Deasy: DoD Explores Mission Applications for AI Tech
DHS Sets Allocations of $1.6M for FY 2018 Preparedness Grant Initiatives; Kirstjen Nielsen Quoted
Chief Master Sgt. Jason France Assigned as TRANSCOM Senior Enlisted Leader
Army to Employ New Cybersecurity Tool for Multidomain Missions; Col. Steve Rehn Quoted
Brig. Gen. Roy Agustin: Deployable Air Base System Essential in Theater Operations
DISA OKs Samsung Galaxy S9 for DoD Mobility Unclassified Capability
NARA Says Agencies on Track to Implement Electronic Record-Keeping Process
DHS’ Eric Cho: Oral Presentations Could Help Agencies Facilitate Vendor Selection Under EIS Contract
Report: Senate’s FY 2019 Minibus Measure to Appropriate $60M for Health IT Interoperability Efforts
NIST Seeks Feedback on Initial Guide on Trusted Cybersecurity Tools for Cloud Operations
Report: James Mattis Asks White House to Develop National AI Strategy
OMB Director Outlines Efforts to Automate, Simplify Procurement-Related Tasks
F-35C Operational Tests Conducted on USS Abraham Lincoln
Jack St. John Assumes Role as Full-time GSA General Counsel
Senators Call for GAO Review of New Military EHR System
House Panel Asks DHS, Mitre to Perform Biennial Reviews of Cyber Vulnerability ID Program
Navy Eyes Large Surface Combatant Procurement in 2023; Rear Adm. Ron Boxall Quoted
Army Officials Stress Impact of LOGCAP Contract in USACE Disaster Response Missions
James Mattis: DoD Moves Ahead With Plans for New Space Command
Education Department to Help GSA Release IT Organization Playbook
Federal CIO Suzette Kent: Federal IT Leaders Should Expect New Cybersecurity Reporting Metrics Before Year Ends
Matthew Travis: DHS’ National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center to Remain Amid National Risk Mgmt Center Establishment
ARCYBER Chief Seeks Convergence Between Cyber, Electronic Warfare
New USDA Website Aims to Improve Rural Connectivity
Interior Department to Implement New ‘Unified Regions’ in Reorganization Effort
AFRL Verifies Process to Extend Service Life of Aircraft Hydraulic Lines
Scott Tousley: Atlanta Ransomware Attack Should Warn Municipalities to Prepare for Similar Incidents
NIH Appoints Helene Langevin Director of National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Johns Hopkins APL, Army Researchers Test Military Robot Software
PSC’s David Berteau: DoD Aims to Incorporate Security Into Contracts With ‘Deliver Uncompromised’ Initiative
Rear Adm. Ron Boxall: Navy’s Large Surface Combatant to Have Space for Lasers, Railguns
Report: VA IT Nominee James Paul Gfrerer to Appear Before Senate Panel for Confirmation Hearing
Army Plans to Field New Vehicle Protection Systems Starting in 2020
NIST to Update Mobile Security Guidelines
Kevin Cox: DHS Seeks to Align Gov’t Mobile Mgmt Systems via CDM Program
Robert Wilkie: VA, DoD to Collaborate on EHR System Implementation, Interoperability Efforts
NASA Launches Competition to Develop Sugar-Based Energy Sources for Mars Missions
Ryan McCarthy: Army Futures Command to Help Military Keep Up With Technological Advancements
Former NATO Leaders Urge Alliance to Name Brussels HQ for Sen. John McCain
GAO Urges Census Bureau to Address Security Issues Ahead of Decennial Count
James Byrne Appointed VA Acting Deputy Secretary
Maxar’s Mike Gold Named Chairman of New NASA Advisory Council Panel
Lt. Gen. VeraLinn Jamieson: Air Force Eyes AI, Cloud Adoption as Part of ISR Flight Plan