Digital News Coverage of Government Contracting and Federal Policy Landscape
2021 > June
Penn State Researchers to Help Navy Update Sonar Tech
Eric Lander Confirmed to Lead Science, Technology Policy Office
Biden to Nominate Army’s Kathleen Miller as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
CISA, FBI Issue Joint Advisory on Spearphishing Campaign Against Agencies, NGOs
Department of the Air Force Unveils $173.7B Budget Request for FY 2022; John Roth Quoted
Biden’s 2022 GSA Budget Plan Reflects Federal IT, Real Estate, Fleet Investment Priorities; Katy Kale Quoted
Gina Raimondo Appoints Amentum’s Jeff Kerridge to Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee
Fiscal Year 2022 President’s Budget to Provide $211.7B for Navy Pursuits
DOE, DHS to Jointly Address Climate Issues via Carbon Reduction; Kelly Speakes-Backman Quoted
AFRL Stands up Specialized Facilities for Airman Pressure Testing; Darrell Phillipson Quoted
Maximus Acquires Veterans Evaluation Services; CEO Bruce Caswell Quoted
Lockheed Martin Elects Patricia Yarrington to Board Of Directors; CEO James Taiclet Quoted
Accenture Federal Services to Acquire Novetta; John Goodman, Tiffanny Gates Quoted
NTIA Seeks Public Comments on Elements of Software Bill of Materials
BARDA, GHIC Form Venture Capital Partnership to Prevent Future Pandemics; Gary Disbrow Quoted
Justice Department Seizes Two Domain Names Used in Spearphishing Campaign; John Demers Quoted
Luis Cano Promoted to Census Bureau CIO
NNSA to Extend National Security Site Operation, Management Contract With CNS Team
Prometheus Federal Services, Atlas Research Receive Task Order to Support VHA Clinical Decision Support Training Efforts; Renée O’Brien Quoted
IBM Announces Center For Government Cybersecurity; Stephen LaFleche Quoted
DOD Releases Memorandum on Responsible AI; Kathleen Hicks Quoted
Dave Tremper: DOD Needs to Change Way of Managing Electronic Protection
NATO Trials U.S. Software Made to Support Aerial Refueling; Scott Willits Quoted
Booz Allen Hamilton Awarded $674M GSA Contract For Advana Data Analytics Platform Support; Leslie DiFonzo Quoted
FDA Seeks Food Supply Chain Traceability Platforms
CISA Releases Mitre ATT&CK Mapping Guide for Cyberthreat Intelligence Analysts; Eric Goldstein Quoted
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth: Modernization Efforts Remain a ‘Top Priority’
IBM’s Dan Chenok Highlights Recommendations in ‘Deploying AI in Defense Organizations’ Report
Gen. David Thompson: Space Force to Establish Commercial Space Services Organization
Dave Zvenyach: GSA Plans to Invest in FedRAMP Process Automation
Janus Global Operations, a Caliburn Company, Receives Spot on $240M MAMMS III Contract to Support U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; David Bell Quoted
Prometheus Federal Services, Atlas Research Awarded Communications Campaign Contract with VHA National Oncology Program; Principal Rebecca Hart Quoted
Colin Kahl: DOD Must Compete With China Through Collaborative Approach
NIST to Develop Software Best Practices Based on Stakeholder Input, Existing Framework; Kevin Stine Quoted
Army Hosts Competition in Search of New Military Tech; Rob Monto Quoted
Leidos Awarded Next-Phase USSOCOM Armed Overwatch Aircraft Prototype Program Contract; Gerry Fasano Quoted
Northrop Grumman Awarded $80M U.S. Army Contract For Visible and Infrared Spectrum Flares
SAIC to Acquire Halfaker and Associates; CEO Nazzic Keene, Baird’s Jean Stack Quoted
Chase Levinson: Automation Tech Helps Army Move Away From Legacy Financial System
OIG Report: DHS Should Update Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation Program Plan
White House Expands Ban on U.S. Investments in Chinese Defense, Surveillance Tech Firms
DOD Vet Caral Spangler Nominated for Army Comptroller Post
Army Backs Kent State’s Virtual Reality Lab to Study Small Soldier Group Dynamics; MILO GM Robert McCue Quoted
Dynetics Subsidiary Now Operates Largest Electron-Beam Welding System In The Western Hemisphere
Rep. Ted Lieu Presents Bill to Impose Vulnerability Disclosure Policies; Chris Painter Quoted
Navy Warfare Centers to Host Technology Exercise in September; Rodney Peterson Quoted
FirstNet: AT&T Announces ROG The Dog Animal Therapy For First Responders; Jason Porter Quoted
NSF, Czech to Fund Research Projects in New International Partnership; Kendra Sharp Quoted
House Panel to Consider $547B Surface Transport Investment Bill
House Lawmakers Ask IGs to Include Remote Access Software Vulnerabilities in FY 2021 FISMA Cyber Assessments
Space Force Named Lead Service for Rocket Cargo Vanguard Program; Gen. John Raymond Quoted
Georgia Tech’s Research Arm Secures $92M Air Force Contract for Analysis Documentation Support
10 Organizations Secure DOE Funds to Help Spur Clean Energy Innovation; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Navy Creates Office to Manage Next-Generation Destroyer Program
FBI Director Christopher Wray Calls for Coordination to Fight Ransomware Attacks
U.S. Navy And Boeing Successfully Conduct First-Ever Unmanned Aerial Refueling
Reps. Ted Lieu, Ken Calvert Present DHS-Centric Bill to Protect Space Infrastructure
NIST Needs Industry Feedback on Crypto-Cybersecurity
Marine Corps to Update Existing Intelligence System; Sgt. Travis Godley Quoted
Bechtel’s Mike Costas Named to ASCEND’s 2021 Guiding Coalition
Army-Led AI Study Identifies Collaborative Multiagent System Development Approach
Law Enforcement Officials Retrieve $2.3M in Ransomware Payments From Colonial Pipeline Hackers; Paul Abbate Quoted
NIH Taps Queen’s University Belfast for Cancer Research Data Management Services
Second Ghost Fleet Overlord USV ‘NOMAD’ Completes Transit to Pacific; Jay Dryer Quoted
DARPA Demos Drone Interceptor System Under Mobile Force Protection Program; Gregory Avicola Quoted
Federal Laboratory Consortium Elects NSA’s Linda Burger as Executive Board Chair
Air Force Works on Cloud-Based Aircraft Transit Planning System
DOE Commences Effort to Reduce Clean Hydrogen Costs; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Navy, HII Launch First Flight III Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer; Capt. Seth Miller Quoted
AFWERX Demos Kitty Hawk’s Electric Transportation Aircraft; Lt. Col. Martin Salinas Quoted
Caliburn International To Fund Scholarships For AUIS Students; Robert Stalick Quoted
Report: Paul Hertz to Step Down as NASA’s Astrophysics Lead, Transition to New Role
Tim Persons: GAO to Modernize Analytical Operations via Cloud, AI Tech
CISA Unveils Platform for Cyber Vulnerability Disclosure
Air Force Materiel Command Establishes Digital Transformation Office
Unisys Transfers $103M Swiss Pension Plan To A Multi-Employer Collective Foundation; CFO Mike Thompson Quoted
Ingalls Shipbuilding Division To Hire 3,000 Full-Time Shipbuilders
Pentagon Demos Prototype 5G Network for Smart Warehouse Project; John Larson Quoted
GAO: DOD Needs Reporting Strategy to Improve Weapon Systems Oversight
Messaging Platform Helps FBI Catch Transnational Criminal Networks; Randy Grossman Quoted
White House Seeks to Address Near-Term Supply Chain Challenges With New Task Force
Senate Passes $250B US Competitiveness Bill to Advance Research, Tech Development
Brig. Gen. Joseph Dziezynski Takes Charge of Military Intell Readiness Command
GAO Offers Recommendations for DHS’ Biometric Tech Replacement Program
DOE Announces $54M Clean Energy R&D Funding for 235 Small Businesses; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Mike White: Hypersonic Tech is a Key Part of DOD Modernization
NCCoE Drafts Document to Guide Ransomware Risk Management
CISA Issues Fact Sheet to Protect Operational Tech From Cyber Attacks
U.S. Cyber Command Requests $93.4M From Congress in Additional Funding; Gen. Paul Nakasone Quoted
INDOPACOM, MDA Request Additional Funding For Ballistic Missile Defense Systems; Vice Adm. Jon Hill Quoted
IPC’s John Mitchell: DOD Should Consider CMMC Compliance’s Impact on Small, Medium-Sized Enterprises
FedRAMP, NIST Release 1st Version of Open Security Controls Assessment Language
Lloyd Austin: New DOD Center to Strengthen Rules-Based Order in Arctic Region
Cyber Nominees Chris Inglis, Jen Easterly Talk Ransomware at Senate Confirmation Hearing
NASA Announces Three Payload Suites for Lunar Surface Research Efforts
DARPA to Host Proposers Day for Morphogenic Interfaces Program; Vishnu Sundaresan Quoted
Benjamin Griffin: DARPA’s New Tech Program Aims to Make Phased Array Resistant to Interference
GSA Fosters Discussion for Federal Fleet Electrification; Katy Kale Quoted
David Koch: Defense Logistics Agency Eyes Using AI to Predict Item Demands
Army Research Laboratory, University of Texas Create Algorithm Experimentation Platform; Jaime Acosta Quoted
Carlos Del Toro to be Nominated as Next Navy Secretary
Iridium Announces Operation Arctic Lynx To Test Arctic Satellite Communications
SOSi Awarded $43M MPE Contract to Enhance Information Sharing for USINDOPACOM; CEO Julian Setian Quoted
Maj. Gen. Matthew Glavy Nominated as USMC Deputy Commandant for Information
Hack the Army 3.0 Challenge Uncovers Over 200 Vulnerabilities; Maya Kuang, Johann Wallace Quoted
DOD Deploys MHS Genesis EHR System to 25 More Military Bases; Holly Joers Quoted
DARPA, Dynetics-Led Industry Team to Conduct Next UAV Swarm Demo in Q4
Accenture to Acquire umlaut; CEO Julie Sweet Quoted
Shift5 Adds Three Executives To Leadership Team; Josh Lospinoso Quoted
DHS Hosting Event to Find Next Generation of Facial Recognition Technology; Arun Vemury Quoted
VA Implements Use of Extended Reality Tech to Support Veteran Therapy
Ronald Moultrie: Government Should Boost Investment in Defense-Intelligence Info Sharing
BAE Systems Secures Potential $104.8M Navy Contract For USS San Diego Modernization
OMB Releases Guidance on Executive Order Implementation by Made in America Office
U.S., Albania Sign MOU to Advance 5G Security; Antony Blinken Quoted
Pentagon Seeks to Enable ‘All-Domain Advantage’ With New Cloud Strategy; DOD CIO John Sherman Quoted
USDA CISO Venice Goodwine Returns to Air Force as IT Director
DOE Allocates $200M for Electric Vehicle Tech Development; Kelly Speakes-Backman Quoted
Army-Supported MIT Research Explores How Clothing Fibers Can Transmit Data; James Burgess Quoted
FDA Encourages NIST to Consider Importance of 3rd-Party Software in Device Security
Atlas Research, Prometheus Federal Services Joint Venture Secures Contract to Support Integrated Research Enterprise Architecture
DOE National Lab Develops Cyber Decoy Tech to Trick Hackers; Thomas Edgar Quoted
U.S. Navy Program Trains Sailors on Onboard Fiber Optic Repairs While at Sea; Master Chief Terry Russell Quoted
Iron Bow Technologies Appoints Elliott Williams as VP of Strategic Alliances
National Guard Uses Verizon Tech at Annual Emergency Response Drill
Jennifer Granholm: DOE Aims to Elevate Cybersecurity Office
Navy Advances AI Development; Brett Vaughan Quoted
Tonya Ugoretz: FBI Needs Industry Cooperation to Address Cyber Incidents
GAO: VA Needs Comprehensive Supply Chain Management Strategy
U.S., EU to Coordinate on Critical Tech, Supply Chain Issues Via Trade and Technology Council
Bill Nelson: NASA Needs More Funds to Foster Competition in Lunar Lander Program
Lina Khan Sworn in as Federal Trade Commission Chair
DOE Invests in Direct Air Capture Projects to Reduce Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Alion Lands $72M U.S. Air Force Contract For UAS Program Support; Terri Walker-Spoonhour Quoted
Deltek And AIA Announce New Deltek Specpoint Design Automation Tool
Rob Joyce: NSA-Industry Collaboration Could Help Intell Community Gain More Visibility Into Foreign Hackers
House Lawmakers Propose Secure Equipment Act of 2021; Jessica Rosenworcel Quoted
TransUnion Study Shows Prevalence of Account Takeover Fraud in Public Sector; Jonathan McDonald Quoted
Maria Roat: Federal Adoption of Updated Internet Protocol Key for Zero-Trust Security
Space Force Embraces Digital Mindset via Tech Pilot Programs, Training & Partnerships
Gen. John Raymond Confirms U.S. is Developing Directed-Energy-Systems For Space Defense; Gen. James Dickinson Quoted
Leonor Tomero: DOD to Review Missile Defense Approach
House Representatives Introduce Bill to Establish National S&T Strategy; Rep. Michael Waltz Quoted
Army Demos Autonomous Missile Launcher for Multidomain Operations
Veritone Awarded Patent For AI Model Orchestration Using Deep Neural Networks; CEO Chad Steelberg Quoted
White House Allocates $3B for COVID-19 Antiviral Drug R&D Program
Gen. Lloyd Austin: U.S. Must Invest in New Tech for Future Fight
Senate Approves Richard Spinrad’s NOAA Administrator Nomination; Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo Quoted
Pamela Melroy Confirmed as NASA Deputy Administrator
ITIF Report: Congress Should Establish National Advanced Industry and Technology Agency
VA’s OIG Offers Recommendations to Improve Integrating Non-VA Records Into EHR System
Julie Dunne: Federal Acquisition Security Council Could Help Government Address Supply Chain Risk
Bipartisan Bill Would Create Semiconductor Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit; Sen. Ron Wyden Quoted
NSA Publishes Report to Boost Security of Call Processing Systems
AFRL Completes Service Life of Science Experiment Spacecraft; Michael Starks Quoted
SPA Selected as a 2021 Washington Post Top Workplace for Eighth Consecutive Year; William Vantine Quoted
Clarifai Names Ellen Lord As Senior Advisor And Public Sector Advisory Council Member
Accenture Federal Services Lands $112M CISA Task Order For FCEB Cybersecurity Support; Aaron Faulkner Quoted
NASA Moves to Address Contracting Barriers in Underserved, Underrepresented Communities; Bill Nelson Quoted
Air Force, Army to Conduct Joint Contracting Support Training; Lt. Col. Peter O’Neill Quoted
HHS Creates $80M Program to Build Up Public Health IT Workforce; Secretary Xavier Becerra Quoted
House Lawmakers Want CISA to Take Tougher Approach to Critical Infrastructure’s Cybersecurity; DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Quoted
Navy Puts Ford Aircraft Carrier Through Live Explosive Test
DOD Reviews Definition of ‘Prohibited Extremist Activities’ Among Troops; Gen. Lloyd Austin Quoted
USMC Approves 3D-Printed Vehicle Maintenance Tool; Capt. Matthew Audette Quoted
Air Force Releases Results of GBSD Missile Environmental Assessment
Adm. Linda Fagan Succeeds Charles Ray as USCG Vice Commandant
Ram Iyer: FDA Internally Pursues Data Modernization
ID Technologies Named Top 2021 Workplace for Washington Post; CEO Chris Oliver Quoted
GSA Updates Federal Acquisition Institute Logo
DOD Agencies, Space Force Eye Multiorbit Sensor Network for Hypersonic Missile Detection
Rear Adm. Francies Morley Nominated Military Deputy to Navy Acquisition
GAO Offers Recommendations for DLA to Improve Cybersecurity of Inventory Management Systems
Meyer Seligman Joins National Renewable Energy Lab as Government Relations Director
ODNI Absorbs National Intelligence University; Avril Haines Quoted
Kathleen Hicks: DOD Requests Budget Centered on Tech Innovation
Akima Named To Bloomberg Government’s BGOV200 List; CEO Bill Monet Quoted
Think Tank Finds Governors Mostly Use National Guard Cyber Response for Ransomware Cases
FAA, Air Force Department Partner to Implement Common Space Launch Standards; John Roth Quoted
Val Lyons Joins Octo’s Board of Directors; CEO Mehul Sanghani Quoted
NASA Tasks University of Michigan to Continue CYGNSS Satellite Mission; Karen St. Germain Quoted
Kathleen Hicks: DOD to Implement AI Acceleration Effort
DARPA Demos ‘PROTEUS’ Experimentation Software Tools With Marines; John Paschkewitz Quoted
DOE Awards $61M to Nuclear Energy Tech Projects; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
NATO Eyes 2023 Launch of Defense Tech Accelerator; David van Weel Quoted
Mitre Releases NSA-Funded Cyber Defense Framework
ViON Awarded Quantum Alliance Strategic Partner for Enterprise Solutions Business; Chairman, CEO Tom Frana Quoted
Former CISA Director Christopher Krebs Joins SentinelOne Advisory Board; COO Nicholas Warner Quoted
CISA’s Eric Goldstein on Countering Cyberattacks With New Authorities Under Executive Order
Senate Confirms Kiran Ahuja as OPM Director
U.S. Russia Foundation Head Celeste Wallander Nominated to DOD International Security Affairs Post
FCC Proposes Amended Rules for Telecom Provider Reimbursement Program
GAO: DOD Needs Data Strategies to Improve IT Acquisition Monitoring
Air Force Laboratory Applies DevSecOps to Support Battle Management System Development
Gen. Mark Milley Testifies Before House Panel on FY 2022 Defense Budget Request
Report: Space Force to Take Management Responsibility for Navy, Army Satcom Services
Brian Campo: DHS to Determine Most Suitable Uses of Different AI Applications
Former NSA Cyber Adviser Teddy Nemeroff Named to National Security Council
Air Force Research Lab Publishes Guidance on Cislunar Space
Iridium Awarded $30 Million Research & Development Contract From U.S. Army; CEO Matt Desch Quoted
DOE Labs, Companies Partner for Energy Technology Commercialization Projects; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
DOT Extends Space Advisory Panel Charter
Coast Guard Plans Biometric System Upgrade
Jesse Salazar Outlines 3 Goals of Pentagon’s CMMC Program Review
Gen. John Hyten Advances Joint Warfighting Concept With 4 ‘Strategic Directives’
White House Supports $1.2T Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson Announces Four New Senior Leadership Appointments
Marine Corps Breaks Ground for Future Wargaming Facility; Sharleene Prieur Quoted
Air Force-MIT Team Tests New Aircraft Data Link; Michael McAuliffe Quoted
U.S. Air Force Awards Leidos IDIQ Contract to Support ISR Mission; Mike Chagnon Quoted
Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton Nominated to Lead AF Global Strike Command
Christy Abizaid Confirmed to Lead National Counterterrorism Center; DNI Avril Haines Quoted
Capt. Gregory Petrovic Assumes Command of Navy’s Corporate Laboratory; Rear Adm. Lorin Selby Quoted
HHS Aims to Diversify Public Health Informatics, Technology Workforce via Funding Initiative; Elise Sweeney Anthony Quoted
Federal Officials Propose Creation of Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
CISA Lists First Entries in Catalog of ‘Bad’ Cyber Practices
New Bipartisan Bill Aims to Bolster Federal Cyber Workforce; Sen. Maggie Hassan Quoted
Mieke Eoyang: DOD Encourages Contractors to Adopt Stronger Cybersecurity
Census Bureau Helps Other Agencies Run Their Own Data Programs; Drew Zachary Quoted
Verizon’s Skyward, FAA to Test Cellular-Connected Drones; Matt Fanelli Quoted
DOD to Explore Ways to Address Small Business Concerns Over CMMC Program
GAO: HHS Should Strengthen Cyber Threat Information Sharing
Eric Hysen: DHS Seeks TMF Funding for Four IT Modernization Projects
VA Names 6 AI Tech Sprint Winners From Industry; Rafael Fricks Quoted
Matthew Gaston to Head AI Division at Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute; CEO Paul Nielsen Quoted
NASA Stands up Group to Explore Space Sustainability Efforts; Bhavya Lal Quoted
NIST Provides Funds for Phase 3 Comms Interoperability Project Under DHS SBIR Program
USAF, Navy Test New Approach for Airborne PNT Tech; Maj. Andy Cottle Quoted
Project Time and Cost Launch CostCenter Cloud-Based SaaS; Bob Stalick Quoted
DOE Awards $93M to University-Led Research Projects on High Energy Physics; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
NASA Software Catalog Offers Hundreds of Downloadable Applications For Public Use; Bill Nelson Quoted
Air Force Col. Amanda Kato Retires as Nuclear C3 Program Executive Officer; Gen. Arnold Bunch Jr. Quoted
Anne Neuberger: Microsoft Exchange Hack Attribution, Follow-Up Action Coming Soon
President Biden Commends House for Passing 2 Bills to Advance Investments in Science, R&D
GAO’s Gretta Goodwin: Agencies Should Monitor Employees’ Use of Facial Recognition Systems
Brig. Gen. Jeth Rey Wants to Hear Army Network User Feedback
Gen. Paul Nakasone: Navy-Marine Corps Integration Needed to Counter Cyberattacks
Army Develops New Autonomy Software Through Collaborative Program; Brett Piekarski Quoted
Air Combat Command Stands up New Spectrum Warfare Team; Maj. Gen. Case Cunningham Quoted
ASRC Federal Awarded $83M USSF Contract For Space Operation Services; CEO Jennifer Felix Quoted
Klas Government Announces C5ISR Tactical Communications Enabling Voyager 6 Chassis; CRO Chris Ericksen Quoted
Comcast Business Awarded $102M DISA Contract to Enhance Network Performance; Ken Folderauer Quoted