Digital News Coverage of Government Contracting and Federal Policy Landscape
2019 > December
CISA, OMB Issue Draft Policies on Vulnerability Disclosure
Defense Digital Service Helps Army Streamline Cyber Training Via Pilot Program
Cyberspace Solarium Commission to Study DoD’s Defend Forward Concept
Retired Rear Adm. Charles Williams Nominated Navy Asst Secretary for Installations, Energy & Environment
Derek Tournear: SDA to Use LEO Satellites for GPS-Denied Environments
DOJ Releases Updated Policy on Use of UAS in Law Enforcement Activities
NASA to Assemble, Process Mars 2020 Rover
NASA Unveils Launch Communications Ground Segment to Support Artemis Mission
US Government Eyes Expansion of Two Rules to Further Restrict Foreign Shipments to Huawei
DoD Study Examines Compliance of Small, Large Firms With Cyber Standards; Kevin Fahey Quoted
Lisa Gordon-Hagerty: NNSA’s FY 2020 Funding Request to Help Improve Nuclear, Radiological Security
FBI Cites Potential Threat Posed by Russian Mobile Apps
DoD Seeks Industry Feedback on 5G Tech Dev’t Projects
DoD, Three Firms in Talks Over Electric Laser Demonstration Contracts; Thomas Karr Quoted
Dan Brouillette Confirmed to Lead DOE on Full-Time Basis
Perspecta Raises Over $320K for the American Heart Association; Mac Curtis Quoted
KBR to Install and Modernize Navy’s Shore-Based C4ISR Systems Worldwide; Byron Bright Quoted
USAF to Demonstrate New Battle Management System; Will Roper Quoted
House Bill to Boost Use of Detection Technology at US Borders
GSA OIG Reports on Semiannual Savings, Fraud Cases
EPRI Secures DOE Funds to Help Advance Solar Energy Tech
Anne Neuberger: NSA to Release Updated Guidance on Cloud Security
GSA Eyes New Functionalities for Beta Contracting Opportunities Website
Lucian Niemeyer: Navy Partners With DOE to Improve Energy Resiliency
AWS, Novaritis Partner to Digitize Business Operations; Bertrand Bodson Quoted
DHS S&T, U.S. Border Patrol Test New Air, Ground Surveillance Tech
Army Tests Electronic Warfare Tech for Rotary-Wing Aircraft
Christopher Scolese: NRO Looks to Deploy Smallsats, AI-Driven Ground Systems
USAID Plans Early 2020 Release for First Digital Strategy
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Stephen Wilson Discusses Simulators, SCARS Program at Industry Conference
DOJ to Launch ‘Zero-Trust’ Cybersecurity Pilot Projects
Kristina Littman to Lead SEC Enforcement Division’s Cyber Unit
Trump Administration Eyes Expanded Troop Deployment as Deterrent to Iran
Senators Launch Inquiry Into Bias in Health Care Algorithms
Adm. Michael Gilday Releases First Planning Guidance for Navy
Perspecta Wins Position on COMET, $16 Million Task Order, Rocky Thurston Quoted
BWXT Named Among Top 50 Best Companies for Environmental, Social and Governance Practices; Rex Geveden Quoted
ECS Achieves AWS Public Safety & Disaster Response Competency; George Wilson, John Sankovich Quoted
SpaceX Dragon Heads to Space Station with NASA Science, Cargo
Census Bureau to Pilot Data Science Reskilling Program in 2020
NASA Officials Highlight Importance of SLS for Future Lunar Missions
David Isaacson: 5G Can Support Army’s Training, Base Security Improvement Efforts
Bipartisan Lawmakers Talk Ransomware Threat Prevention, Cybersecurity Priorities
John Rood: DoD Pursues Plan to Purchase Low-Yield Naval Nuclear Weapons
House Lawmakers Call for Increased AI Collaboration Between Agencies
Oki Mek: Collecting Logs Could Help HHS Advance Cybersecurity Effort
Forcepoint’s George Kamis: Military Should Operationalize Data With Cross-Domain Technologies
VA Establishes National AI Institute to Advance Health Tech for Military Vets; Robert Wilkie Quoted
Trump to Nominate James McPherson as Full-Time Army Undersecretary
Adm. Michael Gilday Talks Joint Navy, Air Force C2 Network Dev’t Efforts
USAF, Northrop Conclude Critical Design Review of Polar Satcom Program
DoD Looks to Address Industry’s Risks of Intellectual Property Theft
GAO Seeks to Expand Science & Technology Assessment Team
DHS S&T Studies Use of K9 Teams in Active Shooting Events
CNAS Assesses US Competitiveness in Indo-Pacific Amid China Challenge
Adm. Michael Gilday on Challenge Posed by Lack of International Cyber Standards
Stuart Hazlett: Army Corps of Engineers to Test New Contract Writing System
Oracle Health Services to Use AI/ML to Improve Cancer Treatment; Steve Rosenberg Quoted
Bechtel, ENKA to Build 5G Motorway, Flood Defense System to Boost Serbian Economy; Mike Wilkinson Quoted
Defense Digital Service Seeks to Expand Staff at Satellite Office in Georgia
GSA, JAIC Partner to Integrate AI Into DoD Acquisition Process
Sens. Jim Risch, Angus King Write to Address Huawei Energy Security Issue
Marine Corps Begins Creation of Naval Expeditionary Warfare Force; David Berger Quoted
Gov’t Leaders Seek Declassification of US Space Programs
DOE Unveils Funding Opportunity for Biology Research Software Tools
Idaho National Laboratory Accepts New Supercomputer for Nuclear Modeling
Amy Hess to Assume FBI Chief of Public Services Post
Ryan McCarthy: Army Needs to Adopt Additive Manufacturing
KDHE, DXT Technologies Receives Stage 1 Medicaid Certification; Seema Verma Comments
Parsons Awarded $7.5B DoD IT IDIQ Contract; Veronica Kazaitis Quoted
Deltek Announces Upgrade to GovWin IQ Labor Pricing Analytics; Kevin Plexico Quoted
Mark Esper: DoD Saves $5B With New Budget Review
Nat’l Infrastructure Advisory Council Draft Report Details Cyber Attack Mitigation Strategies
Report: Bryan Ware to Join CISA as Assistant Cybersecurity Director
DoD Calls for Additional 5G Tech Dev’t Ideas
Army, Japanese Ground Self-Defense Troops Conduct Joint Cyber Warfare, Tactical Ops Exercise
GAO Releases Tech Assessment Design Handbook
USDA’s Francisco Salguero Named New FCC CIO
Gen. John Raymond: Space Force to Support Nation’s Satellite Security
AFGSC Chief Talks Critical Role of Long-Strike Precision Strike Capability
Technical Review on NSA Call Surveillance Program Nears Completion
National Reconnaissance Office Awards Study Contract to HawkEye 360; John Serafini Quoted
GovCon Expert Alan Chvotkin: Small Businesses Need New Cyber Compliance for DoD Contracting
House Committee to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation for Congress Reform
CSIS’ Todd Harrison: Federal Gov’t Needs to Update Budget Process
Former OMB Leader Matthew Cornelius Joins Alliance for Digital Innovation
Robert Pearce to Lead NASA Aeronautics Directorate Full-Time
Kevin Fahey: DoD Seeks Defensive Partnership with South Korea
NASA to Prepare SLS Core Stage for Potential 2021 Launch
VA Completes Healthcare-Focused AI Tech Sprint
University of Arizona Prepares for Next Phase of NEO Surveillance Mission
Jacobs Begins Trading as J” on NYSE; Celebrating 30th Anniversary on Dec. 15th”
Battelle Announces Paula Mabee as NEON’s Chief Scientist and Observatory Director; Mike Janus Quoted
CNSI Appoints Bob McCord as President and COO; Todd Stottlemeyer Quoted
United Technologies Appoints Members of the Board of Directors for Future Independent Otis; Greg Hayes Quoted
Ellen Lord: DoD to Focus on Counter-UAS Tech in 2020
Army Vet Jonathan Cofer Departs Director Role at DoD
Mitre, State Dept Help Developing Nations Establish Cyber Capacity
SOFWERX Tests Human-Machine Teaming Tech for Battlefield Operations
Three Agencies Receive A Grades on 9th FITARA Scorecard
Atlantic Council Issues Report on Aviation Cybersecurity
Tech-Focused GSA Office Tackles National Security, Intelligence
Army Uses New Procurement Method to Save Money
12 Organizations to Help FAA Develop Recreational UAS Aeronautical Test
Bipartisan Bill Would Grant CISA Supoena Authority for Critical Infrastructure; Sen Ron Johnson Quoted
Senate Committee OKs Public Safety Bill for T-Band Spectrum Comms
Suzette Kent: Gov’t IT Modernization to Increase in 2020
Dana Deasy: Pentagon to Move 14 Components to JEDI Cloud Environment in February
Nat’l Security Experts Cite Need to Revise DoD Directive on Autonomous Weapons Dev’t
New Earth Observation Plan Encourages National Collaboration; Lawrence Friedl Quoted
VA Looks to Create Gov’t-Wide Customer Experience Institute
GAO: Agencies Must Fully Implement FedRAMP Cloud Authorization Procedures
DHS Announces Winners of Opioid Detection Challenge
Strategic Capabilities Office Leads Ballistic Missile Test
US Reaches Phase One Trade Deal With China
GSA’s Gerard Badorrek on Community of Practice’s Planned Robotic Process Automation Playbook
NIST Unveils Biometric Research Data
Raytheon Receives $217M IDIQ Contract from USAF to Support ASARS Radar Systems; Chad Pillsbury Quoted
Greg Dixon Added to EverWatch Management Team; Fred Funk Quoted
LexisNexis, Bode Technology Partner to to Aid Police Investigations; Haywood Talcove Quoted
Jimmy Stewart Departs DoD Acting Undersecretary Post; Mark Esper Quoted
Jack Shanahan: US Military Needs AI Security Professionals
Report: DoD Faces Authority, Database Architecture Challenges in Counter-WMD Mission
GAO: GSA, OMB Must Establish Cost-Estimating Plan for Tech Modernization Fund
Mark Andress, Nand Mulchandani: NGA May Benefit From AI in the Future
NASA Chooses Sample Collection Site for Asteroid Mission
AFRL Conducts Initial Testing for ‘Ultra LEAP’ Long-Endurance UAS
DOE’s Argonne Lab, Army Research Lab Launch Effort to Support Advanced Helmet Dev’t
GSA Issues First, Second Set of Unique Entity Identifier Specifications
Maj. Gen. Thomas Murphy: DoD Task Force Aims to Elevate Security’s Importance in Acquisition
Data Projects Selected Via Census Bureau Prize Challenge Seek to Optimize 2020 Count
DOE Lab, Building Equipment Providers Aim to Develop Clean Energy Tech via Collaborative R&D Projects
Congress OKs Federal Civilian, Military Pay Raise in 2020 Spending Deal
Lt. Gen. Eric Smith on Marine Corps’ Unmanned Aerial Platform ‘MUX’
Tom Arseneault to Succeed Jerry DeMuro as President, CEO of BAE Systems; Roger Carr Quoted
Carey Smith Elected Vice Chair of PSC Board of Directors
Lawmakers Approve $425M Funds for Election Security Updates
Ramon Colon-Lopez Begins New Joint Chiefs of Staff Advisory Role
PSC Execs Talk Federal Workforce Training Provisions Under FY20 NDAA
Nat’l Technical Information Service Seeks Industry Partners for Data Science JV Program
RAND Report: DoD’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center Needs Five-Year Roadmap to Scale AI
Report: Commerce Dept Seeks to Restrict Sensitive Tech Exports With New Rules
Howard Whyte to Leave FDIC as CIO, Chief Privacy Officer
Industry, Gov’t Address Heavy-Lift Helicopter Engine Integration Issues
Navy Hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Cyber Lab
NASA Taps Four STEM Organizations to Promote Space Exploration
Air Force Command Hosts Virtual Pitch Day
DOE Eyes External Partnerships for Innovation Community Center Efforts
Senate Sends $738B Defense Policy Bill to White House
Steven Walker Steps Down as DARPA Director
FedRAMP Announces Milestone in Authorization Process Automation
MDA Eyes Regional Approach to Hypersonic Missile Defense
CNAS Report Presents R&D, Tech Talent Policy Recommendations to Ensure US Leadership in AI
2020 NDAA Conference Report Includes ‘Explainable’ AI Requirement
Transcom Requests Info on C5, IT Support Services for Joint Enabling Capabilities Command
Report: Navy Scraps Two UAS-Related Prize Challenges
Maj. Gen. Lee Payne: Military Health System Focuses on Quality, Security of New EHR Platform
Black Cape Announces Emergence from Stealth Mode; DiLeonardo, Abe Usher Quoted
Lawmakers Urge HUD to Address Facial Recognition Tech in Public Housing
NIST, Army Research Lab Conduct Quantum Computing Experiment
GAO: FAA Should Improve UAS-Related Cost Procedures
Margie Graves to Step Down as Federal Deputy CIO
Inspector General’s Office Audits OPM’s FISMA Compliance Efforts
GAO: NASA Should Document Rationale for Lunar Plans
DHS Requests for Info on Secret Service IT Sustainment
David Bottom Joins SEC as CIO; Jay Clayton Quoted
Jeffrey Voth Named USDA Chief Cybersecurity Architect
DHS Issues Solicitation for SBIR 20.1; William Bryan Quoted
USAF Gives Name to New Boeing-Made Helicopter for Nuclear Security
DOE Announces Radiation Detection Aircraft
Arizona State Univ’s Sethuraman Panchanathan Nominated for NSF Leadership Post
Joseph Kennedy Retires as HR Solutions Associate Director at OPM
Army Reinforces Troops With Drones, AI in Simulated Battle
Updated World Magnetic Model Offers New Info on Blackout Zones
DynCorp Earns Record $6.9B Backlog, New Awards in 2019; George Krivo Quoted
DoD Creates Space Force; Mark Esper Quoted
US, Japan Sign Joint Quantum Science R&D Agreement
Senate OKs Bill to Address Automatic Scam Calls; John Thune Quoted
Air Force, Army, Navy Conduct Joint Demo of Advanced Battle Management System
Air Force’s KC-46A Tanker Conducts First Global Flight
GAO: DHS Should Develop Program Oversight Process
CISA Opens Internet Security Guide Draft to Public
Navy Dept Blocks TikTok From Mobile Devices
OMB Releases Final Draft of Federal Data Strategy
White House Calls for Inclusion of Unmanned Vessels in 355-Ship Goal
House Panel Asks DHS to Shed Light on Face Recognition Tech’s Accuracy Issues
Cybercom Eyes Information Warfare Strategies Ahead of 2020 Elections; Paul Nakasone Comments
Air Force Plans C-21 Aircraft Modernization in 2020
USAF Cyber Resiliency Office to Assist Program Offices
JAIC Looks to Deploy AI for Disaster Relief, Medical Assessments
Army to Hold Tests for Communications Network Update
Education Department Opens Student Aid Portal, Phone Line
USAF Hosts Workshop on Digital Modeling
Ryan Vega: VA Harnesses AI, Other Emerging Tech to Improve Veteran Care
David Shahady on Air Force Small Business Innovation Research Program, Space Pitch Day
White House Names Robert Blair Special Representative for Int’l Telecom Policy
Proposed OPM Rule Seeks to Facilitate Hiring of Former Federal Employees
DoD Eyes New Data Processing Techniques for Battlefield Operations
Study Predicts Gov’t Counterrorism Expenses to Add by Trillion
Navy Honors WWII Battleships With New Submarine Naming
Air Force Demos AGR-20A Laser-Guided Rockets in Flight Test
FAA Plans Remote ID for UAS Operating in Nat’l Airspace
NSA Looks to Promote Access to Cyber Education
Air Force Taps Carnegie Mellon to Create Materials Science Research Center
Russia Fields Hypersonic Weapon ‘Avangard’
DHS Seeks New Acquisition Policy & Legislation Branch Director
Federal Reserve Examines Effect of 2018 Tariffs on Manufacturing Employment, Producer Prices
US Space Command Aims to Broaden Mission Through Allied Partnerships
FMG Earns Top Ranking in GreenBook’s 2019 Market Leaders Report; Ben Garthwaite Quoted
Maxar Technologies Selling MDA for $765M Northern Private Capital; Dan Jablonsky, Biggs Porter Quoted
US Launches Airstrikes in Iraq, Syria Targeting Iran-Backed Group; Mark Esper Comments
DHS Extends Feedback Period for Vulnerability Disclosure Program
USAF Conducts Air Operations Center Contingency Planning Exercise
Marine Corps Tests Amphibious Combat Vehicle Along California Coast