Digital News Coverage of Government Contracting and Federal Policy Landscape
2021 > July
GAO Develops Framework to Guide AI Accountability
NASA Promotes Acting Johnson, Kennedy Directors to Full-Time Roles; Bill Nelson Quoted
Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld Passes Away
Carnegie Mellon’s SEI Unveils White Papers on 3 Pillars of AI Engineering; Rachel Dzombak Quoted
DHS Taps Professional Engineering Association to Refine PNT Resilience Framework; Kathryn Coulter Mitchell Quoted
CISA’s Matt Hartman: Government Agencies Commence Zero Trust Planning
Peraton Supports Rapid SDA Satellite Launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9; Roger Mason Quoted
CSA Acquires Capstone LLC, Blue Delta Capital Partners Invests; CEO Amy Bleken Quoted
BigBear.ai and UAV Factory Form Partnership To Develop AI/ML Capable Unmanned Systems; GovCon Expert Dr. Reggie Brothers Quoted
Deloitte Report: Agencies Accelerate Digital Journeys in 3 Aspects to Meet Demand for Digital Services
SDA Launches Experimental Satellites, Payload for National Defense Space Architecture Goals; Derek Tournear Quoted
John Sherman: Cloud Computing Key Element in Global DOD IT Modernization Strategy
University Professor Susan Margulies to Serve as Head of NSF Engineering Directorate
Col. Timothy Lawrence Retires as AF Research Lab Information Directorate Head
Joint Advisory Sheds Light on Russian Intell Agency’s Brute Force Cyber Campaign
Jon Rychalski: VA to Conduct Enterprisewide IT, Physical Infrastructure Review for EHR Program
Air Force Plans Close-Air Support Transition With A-10 Retirement; John Roth Quoted
Senate Bill Seeks to Help Companies Directly Counter Hackers
SIEGE Technologies Appoints Tracie Davidson as VP of Contracts; Alex Clary Quoted
Cypress International Launches “The Cypress Perspective” Podcast; CEO David Halverson Quoted
NIST Seeks Public Feedback on Draft About Commercial Satellite Cybersecurity
A2LA Updates Requirements for FedRAMP Assessors
Attorney Rachel Jacobson Nominated to Oversee Army Installation, Environmental Programs
Sens. Gary Peters, Ron Johnson Introduce Supply Chain Security Training Act
FBI Works With CISA to Respond to Kesaya Ransomware Attack
FAA Issues $845M in Airport Improvement Grants; DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg Quoted
Spacecom Marks 100th Commercial Space Data Sharing Agreement; Gen. James Dickinson Quoted
VA Secretary Denis McDonough: Electronic Health Record Implementation to Continue With Changes
Marine Corps Achieves First FOC for F-35C Jets; Maj. Derek Heinz Quoted
DHS Asks Former SBIR Participants for Technology Ideas; Dusty Lang Quoted
SOS International Appoints Michael Garson as General Counsel, Kimberly Parker as VP for Contracts; CEO Julian Setian Quoted
Huntington Ingalls Industries to Acquire Alion Science and Technology For $1.65B; Andy Green Quoted
Pentagon Cancels $10B JEDI Cloud Contract; Acting DOD CIO John Sherman Quoted
Bob Newberry on Top Priorities of DOD’s Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate
GAO: Policymakers Should Support Increased Training on Use of Forensic Algorithms
NASA Seeks Tech Payloads Under Flight Opportunities Program
GSA Names Nina Albert Public Buildings Service Commissioner
DOE to Fund Wave Energy Conversion Projects; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Report: DHS Procurement Chief Soraya Correa to Retire July 31st; PSC CEO David Berteau Quoted
USAF Col. Jeffrey Phillips Adopts New Leadership Approach With Expanded Responsibility
Mathematician Bruce West Retires From Army Research Lab; Director Patrick Baker Quoted
NSWC Corona Uses Web-Based Tool to Track, Reduce Cannibalizations; David Drake Quoted
GSA Named One of the Federal Government’s Best Places to Work; Administrator Robin Carnahan Quoted
Jerry Ma: Centralized Approach Key for USPTO Emerging Tech Initiatives
NIST Seeks First Responder UAS Tech via Prize Competition; Dereck Orr Quoted
DHS, SecureLogix Enter NG9-1-1 Cybersecurity Program’s 2nd Phase; Kathryn Coulter Mitchell Quoted
G2 Ops Receives $154M SBIR Phase III Contract to Develop Cyber Resiliency Technology for the U.S. Navy
GovConPay Partners With Unanet GovCon ERP to Develop Robust API Integration for Payroll, HR Technology; Gene Gainey Quoted
GAO: DOD Must Reduce F-35 Costs to Achieve Affordability, Better Readiness Rates
DOD Inspector General: Five Sites Need Better 3D Printing Cybersecurity
NOAA Eyes Use of Small Satellites for Weather Forecasts; Greg Mandt Quoted
Biden Administration Mulls Ransomware Attack Response; Press Secretary Jen Psaki Quoted
Air Force Puts Hypersonic Missile Warhead Through Detonation Test
Maxar Technologies Providing WorldView Legion Satellite Capacity to International Defense, Intelligence Customers; Tony Frazier Quoted
Serco Awarded $70M U.S. Navy Contract for C5ISR Electronic System Support; Dave Dacquino Quoted
Andrew Malloy: DISA Explores Telework Enterprise Identity, Device Management Approaches
Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage Takes Charge of USMC Cyber Organization
27 DOE-Backed Projects to Study Earth’s Atmosphere in Face of Climate Crisis; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Researchers Develop Magnetic Memory Device for AI Applications Under NSF-Funded Study; Pedram Khalili Quoted
NASA, Northrop Set Launch of Next Cygnus Resupply Mission for Aug. 10th
Col. Timothy Sejba: Space Force Opens Center for On-Orbit Experiment and Prototyping Work
OIG Report: DOD Should Classify 3D Printers as IT Systems in Need of Cybersecurity Controls
DISA to Decommission Enterprise Defense Collaboration Tool as Pentagon Adopts Office 365 Cloud Service
DHS Unveils Results of Last Year’s Privacy Tech Event; Arun Vemury Quoted
New FAA Tech Tracks Space Launches, Reentries; Administrator Steve Dickson Quoted
SAIC Appoints Three New Executives In Human Resources, Finance; Michelle O’Hara Quoted
Netskope Evaluated at $7.5B After $300M Investment Round; Sanjey Beri Quoted
Treasury Unveils Digital End-to-End Efficiency Playbook; Craig Fischer Quoted
NIST Seeks to Improve Software Supply Chain Security With Two Guidelines
U.S. Air Force Moves 42 Systems to Virtual Cloud Platform; Gary Trautmann Quoted
Naval Surface Warfare Center Reaches Warfare Tech Security Compliance Milestone; Barney Mahaney Quoted
VA, Startup Accelerator to Host Health Care Tech Pitch Competition
Acting Secretary Thomas Harker Describes Navy’s Domain Investment, IT Modernization Initiatives
FireEye Appoints Erin Joe As SVP Of Strategy and Alliances; President, COO John Watters Quoted
NGA Adopts Bailment Agreements, Plans to Use More This Fiscal Year; Dave Gauthier Quoted
NNSA Explores Use of Non-Conventional AI for Nuclear Nonproliferation; Angela Sheffield Quoted
Maxar’s Lunar Gateway PPE Passes First Design Review; Chris Johnson Quoted
CISA Rolls Out Three Mobile Security Tools; Vincent Sritapan Quoted
Senate Unanimously Approves Jen Easterly as CISA Director; DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Quoted
NASA Appoints Stephen Koerner as Johnson Space Center’s Deputy Director
MDA Seeks to Demonstrate Enemy Missile Tracking Capabilities via 2 CubeSats; Walt Chai Quoted
Executive Order Calls for Agencies to Implement Pro-Competitive Regulations to Procurement, Spending
USAF Squadron Licenses Software Vulnerability Detection Code to 2 Companies; Rebecca Lively Quoted
Comcast Government Services Secures Two DISA CEG Contracts; Ken Folderauer Quoted
Missile Defense Agency Begins Experiment on Small Satellites
Army Organizations Seek Network Modernization White Papers for Capability Set 25
Octo Consulting Acquires Volant Associates; Mehul Sanghani Quoted
FCC Finalizes Rules for Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program
House Panel Offers Recommendations for Space Force via FY 2022 Budget Report
ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance Launches Credentialing Program for First Responders; Megan Samford Quoted
NASA Artemis I Mission to Launch Solar Sailing Spacecraft for Asteroid Study; Les Johnson Quoted
Lloyd Austin: AI Included in DOD’s Top Tech Modernization Priorities
Amentum Secures Spot on Potential $950M RISE Contract; Greg Ihde Quoted
Klas Government Opens 42,000 Square Foot Facility At Aberdeen Proving Ground to Support Army Programs; Wade Johnston Quoted
NNSA Finishes First Production Unit of Modernized W88 Nuclear Warhead; Acting Administrator Charles Verdon Quoted
Air Force Names Lt. Col. David Levene First Multi-Domain Test Force Commander
Verizon Named ‘Most Reliable Network’ In RootMetrics’ State of The Mobile Union Report; CTO Kyle Malady Quoted
Booz Allen Appoints Matt Tarascio as Strategic Innovation Group Senior Vice President; Steve Escaravage Quoted
Army Conducts Market Research for Common Hardware Systems-5 Program
FedRAMP Opens Draft Authorization Boundary Guidance for Public Comment
12 Teams Qualify for DARPA Virtual Robot Competition’s Final Stage
DHS, Partners Continue Autonomous Marine Vessel Evaluation
New GSA Community of Practice to Connect Innovative Employees Across Government
DOD Tasks Detroit Mercy to Establish Metro-Detroit Regional Vehicle Cybersecurity Institute
ID Technologies Acquires Attila Security; Chris Oliver Quoted
Peraton Awarded $483M In Classified Contract Awards; Mike King Quoted
Code-X Announces Lattice-Based Data Protection Platform; Darren LaCroix Quoted
NASA Ames Creates Maps of Moon’s Surface for ‘VIPER’ Rover’s Artemis Mission; Anthony Colaprete Quoted
Joseph Nogueira on CAPE Office’s Analytical Efforts Related to DOD’s Tactical Aircraft
Air Force Demos MQ-9 Takeoff, Landing System Readiness
DHS, Nonprofit IT Developer to Update First Responder Communication Platform
Air Force’s Kessel Run Shares ‘Chaos Engineering’ Practices to Navy’s Black Pearl; Omar Marrero Quoted
Gen. Glen VanHerck: AI-Based Decision Aids Could Support Deterrence Strategy Formulation
Capt. Eugene Cash: Robotic Process Automation Simplifies Navy Supply Chain Management
Denis McDonough: VA Rethinks EHR Project Management Strategy to Address User Concerns
Government Website to Serve as One-Stop Hub for Ransomware Resources; DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Quoted
Microsoft Partners With U.S. Army Engineers To Use Azure Cloud For Extreme Weather Modeling
Commerce Adds 6 Russian Institutions to Entity List
FBI Appoints James Brown as Operational Technology Division’s Assistant Director
Former NIST Official Laurie Locascio Nominated Commerce Undersecretary for Standards, Technology
DOE Funds 5 Supercomputer Research Projects to Advance Quantum, Chemical Studies; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Amanda Gentry Promoted to Lead Air Force Research Lab’s Sensors Directorate
Pentagon to Announce Transition Plan as Acquisition Office Faces Vacancies
CAES Secures Vinnova Contract For Space Computing Development; Mike Khan Quoted
DHS Allots $475M for Fiscal 2021 Competitive Grants; Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Quoted
AFRL Rolls Out Effort to Expand S&T Partner Network; Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle Quoted
Thomas Santucci: Agencies Must Take Pre-Migration Steps to Adopt Cloud
Bicameral Legislation Team Introduce Bill to Protect Sensitive Research; Sen. Angus King Quoted
L3Harris And International Partners To Develop NATO Surveillance Concepts; Dave Johnson Quoted
Millennium Engineering and Integration Awarded Potential $180M USSF and SMC Task Order; QuantiTech CEO Patrick Murphy Quoted
David Ziska: NSA Program Offers Pre-Vetted Commercial Tech Products for Classified Telework
FAA Opens New Field Office to Monitor Safety of Commercial Space Operations in Texas, New Mexico; Wayne Monteith Quoted
U.S. Government, Allies Link Microsoft Exchange Hack to China
Air Force Research Lab’s Spacecraft Completes MEO Test Mission; Robert Johnston Quoted
State Department Announces Reward Offer for Cybercrime Information
Lightbridge to Develop, Test Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing Process for DOE; President, CEO Seth Grae Quoted
GAO: FCC, NTIA Should Clarify Processes to Better Coordinate on Spectrum Management
Maximus Awarded Two IRS Task Orders Worth $151M For IT Support; President, GM Teresa Weipert Quoted
Judith Pryor Nominated for VP Role at Export-Import Bank
NASA, USGS to Launch Landsat 9 in September
Unanet Announces ERP Enhancements To Better Support Customers; Assad Jarrahain Quoted
BlueHalo Selects MaxQ Site For Innovative State-Of-The-Art Campus; CEO Jonathan Moneymaker Quoted
DISA Completes Joint Ops Center Upgrade; Capt. Rick Larson Quoted
President Biden Picks Jonathan Kanter for DOJ Antitrust Division’s Assistant Attorney General
Christopher Scolese: Commercial Systems Part of NRO’s Space Architecture
House Bill to Form Tech-Focused Executive Branch Agency, Increase Public R&D Funding; Rep. Ro Khanna Quoted
FedRAMP Issues Updated Guides for Developing Machine-Readable Authorization Packages
DOE Awards $127M in Grants to 110 Small Businesses for Clean Energy R&D Projects; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Adm. Michael Gilday: FY 2022 Budget Proposal Aligns With Navy’s Future Fleet Vision
Former Defense Exec Lisa Porter: U.S. Should Not Limit Microelectronics Supply Chain
Chief Human Capital Officers Council Now Fully Under OPM; Director Kiran Ahuja, Katy Kale Quoted
MetTel To Provide Internet Protocol Services To The SEC; Robert Dapkiewicz Quoted
Jacobs Announces Enhanced Sustainability Business Approach PlanBeyond 2.0; Chair, CEO Steve Demetriou Quoted
NIST Releases Data Exchange Security Guide
Rear Adm. Bill Houston on Navy’s Next-Gen Attack Submarine SSN(X)
Sen. Angus King, Tom Fanning Call for Government-Industry Collaboration to Protect Critical Infrastructure
Army Forms Partnership to Apply AI/ML in Military Aircraft Engine R&D
Senate Lawmakers to Consider Increase to White House’s Defense Budget by $25B
Bipartisan Senators Introduce Legislation to Require Cyber Incident Reporting; Sen. Mark Warner Quoted
NOAA Creates Council to Tackle Climate Issues; Administrator Rick Spinrad Quoted
Air Force Writes Document to Guide ABMS Activities
Lumen Technologies Secures Potential $54M Task Order To Provide High-Speed Connectivity To U.S. Army Recruiting Command; Zain Ahmed Quoted
XPO Logistics Appoints Karlis Kirsis as Chief Legal Officer For GXO Logistics; Chairman, CEO Brad Jacobs Quoted
Task Force Offers Recommendations to Help Pentagon Secure Defense Supply Chains; Rep. Elissa Slotkin Quoted
Anthony Iasso Named Xator CTO; CEO David Scott Quoted
Prometheus Federal Services, Atlas Research Awarded VA Contract to Optimize Women’s Healthcare; Susanne Larkins Quoted
Cynthia Mendoza: DOD Needs to Modernize IT Systems With Basics-Based Approach
Navy Plans Hypersonic Missile Tests With Zumwalt Ship; Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener Quoted
Senate Bill Would Require CISA to Help Companies With Industrial Control System Security
Former Sandia Director Jill Hruby Confirmed as NNSA Administrator; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Guy Cavallo Named Full-Time OPM CIO
Senate Armed Services Panel OKs $740B Defense Budget for Fiscal 2022; Sen. Jack Reed Quoted
Army Launches Online Portal for Small Biz Contracting Opportunities; Matthew Willis Quoted
AT&T, Air Force Association Launch Caregiver Cyber Education Program; Nick Greene Quoted
DOD States Position on Drones From Chinese Tech Company DJI
CBP to Terminate 2 Border Barrier Construction Contracts
Rep. Rick Larsen Highlights Need for U.S. Investment in Military Software Capabilities
DOE Allocates $73M to Research Projects for Advancing Quantum Information Science; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Commerce Department to Invest $3B in Local Community Restoration; Gina Raimondo Quoted
NSA’s Jason Wang: Intelligence Community to Need AI in the Future
Army Demonstrates Missile Interception in Electronically Contested Environment; Col. Philip Rottenborn Quoted
NASA Finishes High-Voltage Testing of Integrated Systems Onboard All-Electric X-57 Maxwell Aircraft
KBR Secures Contract for Lithium Concentration Process from Neo Lithium Corp.; Doug Kelly Quoted
Army, 2 Universities Team Up to Explore New Materials, Manufacturing Processes; Bryan Cheeseman Quoted
PSC to Host Forum to Address Industry Concerns With Afghanistan Drawdown; Stephanie Kostro Quoted
Joe Bryan: DOD Works to Become More Energy Efficient in Response to Climate Change
Michael Weiskopff: DOD Helps Defense Industrial Base Identify Cybersecurity Gaps
Gen. John Hyten on ‘Expanded Maneuver’ Concept
Tyto Athene Receives $43.5M DOE Contract to Support Oak Ridge Federal-Integrated Communications Network; Operations VP Jason Alexander Quoted
CAES Wins Multiple Contracts to Advance Missile Seeker Technology; CEO Mike Kahn Quoted
OPM Provides Guidance to Help Agencies Reenter Work Environments
Rep. Bill Foster Presents Bill to Update DOE National Laboratories
DOE Invests $60M for Assessments Helping Manufacturers Become Energy-Efficient; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
New NASA Drill to Look for Water Traces in Moon’s South Pole; Janine Captain Quoted
Air Force Team Launches AI Assistant for Aircrew Chief Fundamentals Course; Maj. Jesse Johnson Quoted
DHS S&T Releases Third Wave of Public Safety Tech Showcase; Kathryn Coulter-Mitchell Quoted
House Subcommittee Schedules FY 2022 NDAA Markup
GAO: TSA Launches Efforts to Address Weaknesses Related to Pipeline Cybersecurity
Lt. Gen. John Thompson to Retire as Space & Missile Systems Center Commander; Gen. John Raymond Quoted
VA Begins Efforts to Create Pool of Candidates for Undersecretary for Health Position
Air Force Tests Vidisco-Built Digital Imaging Platform for Explosive Ordnance Disposal
NASA Clears Boeing Starliner Spacecraft for 2nd Uncrewed Flight Test
Navy’s Prize Competition Seeks Expeditionary USVs for Waterside Security; Steve Bordonaro Quoted
Noblis Launches Noblis MSD Following McKean Defense Acquisition; CEO Amr ElSawy Quoted
Cyber Command Sees Procurement Opportunities After Budget Limit Removal
Gen. James Dickinson: Spacecom has a More Operational Role In Space Defense
GAO: Federal Government Needs Comprehensive Cybersecurity Strategy
NAVWAR’s DevSecOps Pipeline to Serve as Digital Environment for Classified Mission Applications
Isabel Guzman: Federal Govt Exceeds FY 2020 Small Biz Contracting Goal With $13B Increase
JAIC Announces Responsible AI Procurement Pilot; Alka Patel Quoted
4 Agencies Show Improvement in Letter Grades on 12th FITARA Scorecard
Inmarsat Unveiled Plans for ORCHESTRA to Integrate GEO, LEO, Terrestrial 5G Into One Solution; CEO Rajeev Suri Quoted
James Beutel: 5G May Help Air Force Unlock Modern Data Applications
US, UK, Australia Agencies List Common Vulnerabilities in Joint Advisory; CISA’s Eric Goldstein Quoted
Gen. Glen VanHerck: DOD Tests Collaborative Communications in Connectivity-Limited Places
DOE Provides $60M to Passenger Car, Vehicle Decarbonization R&D; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Army Researchers Develop New ML Framework to Improve In-Vehicle Network Cybersecurity
NASA Tests Imaging System Designed for Moon Landing Safety; Ron Sostaric Quoted
Army, IBM, University Researchers Pen Book on Network Performance Management Techniques
GSA Announces April 2022 Transition to New Entity Verification System
GAO Offers Recommendation to OMB Over Contractor Paid Leave Reimbursements
Report: US Eyes Sanction Campaign Against Iran’s Precision-Strike Capabilities
Air Force Concludes 5th Architecture Demo, Evaluation for Increased Domain Awareness; Preston Dunlap Quoted
DOD to Develop Additive Manufacturing Tech Guide; Robert Gold Quoted
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Vows to Focus on Mission Fulfillment
John Plumb Nominated for Space Policy Leadership Role at DOD
NSF Taps Georgia Tech to Lead AI Research Institutes
DOE Unveils New Carbon Reduction Initiatives; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted