Digital News Coverage of Government Contracting and Federal Policy Landscape
2021 > August
Vice Adm. Robert Sharp: US Needs ‘Steady Stream’ of Geomatics Professionals
Senators Offer Cybersecurity Recommendations for Commerce Department, NIST
Margaret Vo Schaus Confirmed as NASA Finance Chief; Administrator Bill Nelson Quoted
Ivanti Acquires RiskSense to Revolutionize the Patch Management Market, Combat Cyber Threats; CEO Jim Schaper Quoted
Senate Passes Bill to Support Small Business Federal Contracting; Sen. Gary Peters Quoted
DHS S&T Unveils Research Strategy for Artificial Intelligence; Kathryn Coulter Mitchell Quoted
CISA Launches New Online Vulnerability Disclosure Platform; Cybersecurity Official Eric Goldstein Quoted
President Biden Eyeing to Nominate Alex Wagner as US Air Force Assistant Secretary For Manpower, Reserve Affairs
US Navy Holds Christening for Virginia-Class USS Hyman G. Rickover; James Geurts Quoted
Navy Flight Tests MQ-4C With New Multi-Mission Sensor for First Time; Capt. Dan Mackin Comments
USAF Provides 2 Boeing-Built Chinook Helicopters to Australia as Part of Foreign Military Sales Program
White House Appoints Chirag Parikh as National Space Council Executive Secretary
Rear Adm. Carl Chebi Nominated as NAVAIR Commander
Chris Inglis Backs Creation of Cyber Statistics Bureau Within DHS
Bipartisan Bill Would Require AI Training for Federal Acquisition Professionals
Gen. Mark Milley: AI, Other Emerging Tech Needed to Deter Aggressors, Win Future Wars
Day & Zimmermann Receives $311M IDIQ for the U.S. Army Grenade and Consolidated Fuze Contract; Michael Quesenberry Quoted
NASA Deploys Imager to Study Sun’s Corona; Amy Winebarger Quoted
Navy Test-Fires Northrop-Made Anti-Radiation Extended-Range Missile; Captain A.C. Dutko Quoted
Air Force Establishes New Division Overseeing Nuclear Infrastructure Modernization Work
Acting U.S. Navy Undersecretary James Geurts Announces Retirement
BAE Systems Accelerates Development of Military Applications With Advanced Electronics; Chris Rappa Quoted
USSPACECOM Commander James Dickinson: Space, Naval Operators Must Cooperate in Defending US Communications
DARPA Pursues Machine Learning Program to Boost the Adaptability of Defense Systems; John-Francis Mergen Quoted
NSA & CISA Jointly Provide Guidance on Kubernetes Security
NSF Invests $50M in STEM-Focused Inclusion Alliances; Sylvia Butterfield Quoted
Senate Committee Releases Federal Cybersecurity Report
Coast Guard Outlines 3 Lines of Effort in Cyber Strategic Outlook; Rear Adm. Michael Ryan Quoted
GSA Seeks to Automate Validation of FedRAMP Security Authorization Packages
Stacey Dixon Confirmed as ODNI Principal Deputy Director; Avril Haines Quoted
CBP Starts Wearable Camera Tech Deployment
OPM Director Kiran Ahuja Aims to Develop ’21st Century’ Federal Personnel Policies
Alion Science and Technology Awarded (OUSD(R&E)) Task Order to Provide Munitions Advanced Technology Analysis; Alan Dietrich Quoted
CACI International Awarded $96M Task Order to Modernize Diplomatic Security Information Systems for the State Department; CEO John Mengucci Quoted
Paul Blahusch: Labor Department Develops Zero Trust Architecture Strategy Following Cybersecurity EO
DARPA’s David Honey Nominated to DOD Research, Engineering Undersecretary Role
AFMC Now Designated Servicing Command for Space Force-Attached Airmen; Commander Arnold Bunch Quoted
Shawn Barnes: Space Force Should Handle Contracts by Portfolio
DHS Taps Two Companies to Support Fire Sensor Research Program; Jeff Booth Quoted
Army Stands up Center of Excellence to Support Small Business Program; Matthew Willis Quoted
DHS S&T to Host Tech Showcase for Silicon Valley Innovation Program Startups; Melissa Oh Quoted
NAVAIR Program Officials Highlight Aircraft Fielding, Sustainment Efforts
Northrop Grumman to Provide U.S. Air Force with Countermeasure Flares; Charlie Precourt Quoted
XPO Logistics Appoints Ravi Tulsyan as Chief Financial Officer; Chairman, CEO Brad Jacobs Quoted
Air Force Closing In on New Force Generation Model; Gen. Charles Brown Quoted
Gen. David Berger: Marine Corps Must Leverage Logistics to Boost Artificial Intelligence Technologies
DOE to Finance AI-Driven Research Projects on Environmental, Material Science; Barbara Helland Quoted
PSC Wants Section 3610 Extended, Retained Following Positive Contractor Response; EVP David Broome Quoted
Col. Eric Felt: Space Force Needs Balanced Strategy to Produce Short-Term Results
NIST Seeks Comments for Draft Publication on Cyber-Resilient Systems
DSCA Looks to Promote Asset Transfer Option in Foreign Military Sales Program
1st TH-73A Training Helicopter Lands at Naval Air Station in Florida
Senate Bill Aims to Improve US Cybercrime Data Collection
Air Mobility Command OKs Interim Use of KC-46A Boom Refueling Mission Set
Navy to Adapt Boeing-Built Airborne Early Warning Aircraft for Pilot Training
DARPA Picks 3 Teams for Antimicrobial Therapeutics Development Program
Gen. Charles Brown: Air Force Must ‘Rightsize’ Capabilities to Confront Global Security Threats
FCC Announces 2 New Innovation Zones to Advance Open RAN, 5G Tech Research Efforts
Melissa Dalton Nominated as DOD Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense, Global Security Affairs
CISA Unveils Training Guide for Cybersecurity Workforce; Eric Goldstein Quoted
Army AI Research Seeks to Mitigate Uncertainty in Combat Decision-Making; Maggie Wigness Quoted
FCC Unveils Mobile Broadband Map; Jessica Rosenworcel Quoted
AFRL Receives Quantum Info Science Research Center Designation; Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle Quoted
Public-Private Collaboration Highlighted in DHS R&D Showcase; Kathryn Coulter-Mitchell Quoted
Rep. Adam Smith: White House Must Take a Hard Look at Nuclear C2 System in Posture Review
Dave Young Named SVP of Strategic Sales for Lumen Technologies; Zain Ahmed Appointed Public Sector SVP
NSWC Carderock Awards Systems Planning and Analysis–Envisioneering Prime Contract; CEO William Vantine Quoted
AFLCMC Develops IDIQ Contract to Speed Up FMS Competition Process; Lt. Col. John Kosobud Quoted
Space Force to Demonstrate New SmallSat Transport Tech
Flight Software Now Installed on Space Launch System Rocket; David Beaman Quoted
Navy Concludes Gerald R. Ford Carrier’s Shock Tests; Capt. Brian Metcalf Quoted
State Department Appoints Former Diplomat Amos Hochstein to Energy Security Advisory Role
Samuel Walsh to Rejoin DOE as General Counsel After Senate Confirmation
OMB Seeks to Ensure Critical Software Security With New Memo
Sasha Baker Nominated DOD Deputy Undersecretary for Policy
Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill Sans Amendment to Add $50B in Defense-Related Spending
Sev1Tech Secures Spot on GSA ASTRO IDIQ Contract; Joe Re Quoted
GovExec Acquires GovTribe to Expand Services for Government Contractors; CEO Tim Hartman Quoted
Gen. Glen VanHerck: U.S. Needs Domain Awareness, Information Dominance to Address Future Threats
Space Development Agency to Study Earth’s Infrared for Missile Defense
NASA Extends Support to Vertical Lift Research COEs for Next Five Years; Susan Gorton Quoted
Air Force Test-Fires Infrared-Guided Missile From F-15C Aircraft; Maj. Brian Davis Quoted
OPM to Field Human Capital Dashboard in Phases; Jason Barke Quoted
Air Force Puts Minuteman III ICBM Through Operational Test
Air Force Department’s New Innovation Arm to Focus on Space Tech Development; Lt. Col. Walter McMillan Quoted
DOE Invests in Clean Energy-Power Grid Integration
Army Seeks to Advance Human-AI Synergy With Theoretical Construct; Jason Metcalfe Quoted
Gen. John Hyten: DOD Considers Sensors for Missile Threat Detection No. 1 Capability
Inmarsat Unveils Inmarsat ELERA to Support Global Network for IoT, Safety and Mission Critical Connectivity; CEO Rajeev Suri Quoted
Two New Customers Subscribe to Maxar Technologies Rapid Access Program; Tony Frazier Quoted
Adam Tarsi: DOD’s Mobile Autonomous Indoor Capabilities Challenge Seeks to Showcase Military AI Innovations
NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby Commences Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s New Office, Conference Annex
Army Tests Combat Capability of Directed Energy Prototype; Director L. Neil Thurgood Quoted
NASA Tests Autonomy Software for Space Robots; Trey Smith Quoted
House Panel Asks Chris Inglis to Help Clarify Roles of Federal Cybersecurity Leaders
Sonny Bhagowalia: CBP Moves Agency Apps to Cloud, Implements Workflow Bots
FedRAMP Seeks to Expedite Security Package Reviews With OSCAL Validation Rules
Cyberspace Solarium Commission Issues Progress Report on Implementation of 2020 Recommendations
Navy Moves Forward With Mine Countermeasure UUV Modernization Push
Army Research Lab Launches Virtual Testing Ground for Emerging Capabilities; Stephen Russell Quoted
Lockheed, Navy Surface Warfare Centers Collaborate to Deploy High-Energy Laser Tech; Tyler Fitzsimmons Quoted
Adm. Charles Richard: Integrated Deterrence Needed to Remain Ahead of China, Russia
MDA Director Jon Hill: AI Can Help Military Address Information Gap in Testing
NASA Asteroid Deflection Spacecraft Now in Finishing Touches; Betsy Congdon Quoted
AFRL to Fund High-Power Microwave Tech Projects; Robert Torres Quoted
Lt. Gen. James Richardson: Army to Evaluate Joint Interoperability Tools, Methods During 2021 Project Convergence
DOE Awards $83M to Building Energy Efficiency Projects; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Army, NGA Leaders Discuss Collaboration to Bring GEOINT Data to Future Military Operations
Oak Ridge National Lab Develops Modeling Tool to Support Urban Planning of Buildings; Joshua New Quoted
Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein to Lead USSF’s New Space Systems Command
DHS Seeks to Advance Assessment of Industry Compliance With Cyber Hygiene Requirements
John Costello Joins National Cyber Director Office as Chief of Staff
FTC’s Lina Khan Responds to Senator’s Queries Over Vertical Deals in Defense Sector
Alion Awarded Task Order for Spectrum Management Research and Analysis for Air Force AFSMO; Alan Dietrich Quoted
Leonard Zentz Named SPA’s Technical Fellow for Hypersonic Systems; CEO William Vantine Quoted
Vice Adm. Jon Hill: MDA Pursues Defensive Hypersonic Interceptor Development Effort
Penn State’s Research Arm Wins $50M Navy Electronics Manufacturing Tech Contract
Treasury, Code for America Seek to Drive Child Tax Credit Enrollment With New Tool; Wally Adeyemo Quoted
Robin Carnahan Wants GSA to Use Data to Improve Service Delivery, Inform Decisions
GRSi Secures 5-Year NIH Biomedical Tech Support Contract
Agriculture Department Proposes Cloud-Based Civil Rights Complaint Tracking System
CISA Updates Land Mobile Radio Guidance Documents
Paul Courtney Appointed Full-Time DHS Chief Procurement Officer
Guidehouse, RELI Group Launch FedInnov8 Consulting LLC; CEO Scott McIntyre Quoted
Andrew Rabinowitz Named New Co-CEO of K2 Integrity; Jules Kroll Quoted
John Somplasky Named VP of Program Excellence for DSA; Chairman Fran Pierce Quoted
Shanna Webbers: Expanded IRS Procurement Workforce Focuses on IT Priorities
DHS S&T Conducts Market Study for Laser-Protective Eyewear
Ligado Names Former NASA Head Charles Bolden as Board Member
Shawn Skelly on Pentagon’s Move to Strategic Readiness
DOD’s Lloyd Austin, Canadian Counterpart Issue Joint Statement on NORAD Modernization
U.S., UK Defense Labs Host ‘Capture the Flag’ Competition for Autonomous AI Agents; Mick Hitchcock Quoted
NASA OKs IMAP Mission’s Transition to Implementation Phase
NNSA Seeks to Connect With Nuclear Tech Industry via New Website
Airgility Selected for the AFWERX Revolutionizing USAF Flight Line Operations Challenge
Amentum Receives $90M Research and Development Contract to Support Maritime Electronic Warfare, Above-Water Sensors; Jill Bruning Quoted
VA Transitions Medical Centers to New Research Platform; Molly Klote Quoted
Air Force Adopts Hub to Consolidate, Organize Minuteman III Program Data; Col. Erik Quigley Quoted
GSA Backs USDA’s IT Modernization Project, Helps Transform Digital Experience; Gary Washington Quoted
State Department Eyes Cloud Service Providers for Enterprise IT Modernization
Col. Daniel Holland: Army Looks to Mount Attritable Sensor on High-Altitude Platform
DOE Issues Progress Report on Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Initiative
GAO: DOD Should Define Specific Roles for New Nuclear Enterprise Oversight Entity
Mitre Unveils Action Plan to Strengthen Biopharma Industrial Base; Monique Mansoura Quoted
Jay Bonci Assumes CTO Role With U.S. Air Force
Accenture Federal Services Completes Acquisition of Novetta; Tiffanny Gates, John Goodman Quoted
Sehlke Consulting Named to Inc. Magazine’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies List; CEO Chad Sehlke Quoted
NAIRR Task Force Extends Deadline for Roadmap Public Comments; Erwin Gianchandani Quoted
NASA Announces Winners of Competition for Lunar Ice-Digging Tech
Oshkosh Tests Missile Firing From Unmanned Ground Vehicle
Brig. Gen. Paul Stanton: Army Cyber Center to Create Doctrine Publication
Army Eyes Intelligence Community Campus at Fort Belvoir North Area
Brandi Vann: DOD Changes Approach to CBRN Defense
DOE Awards $61M in Research Funding for Quantum Internet, Device Development; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Serco Named to WayUp’s Top 100 Internship Program List; Nicole Caliri Quoted
Col. Joshe Raetz: Army Special Forces Seek More Frequent Integration With Conventional Units
NASA Eyes Commercial Partnerships for Next Space Station Development; Phil McAlister Quoted
Kevin Stine: NIST to Update Cybersecurity Practices for President Biden’s EO
NAVSEA Partnership Inaugurates Cyber-Physical Systems Lab; Anne Fields Quoted
NGA Offers Update on Construction of St. Louis Campus
Space Force Establishes Space Training & Readiness Command
NASA, Psionic Sign Lidar Tech Licensing Deal
Army Inches Closer to Deploying Laser Prototypes for Strykers in FY 2022; Col. Scott McLeod Quoted
DOD Taps Intel for Semiconductor Foundry Project; Pat Gelsinger Quoted
Trade Groups, Federal Officials Discuss Efforts to Evacuate Federal Contractors From Afghanistan; David Berteau Quoted
Noblis Launches RunAcquisitions Solution to Streamline Acquisition and Contract Management Process; Mile Corrigan Quoted
Dewberry Promotes Lauren Hite, Audrey Rhoads, Heather Kircher, Caroline Whitehead to New Roles in Federal Marketing Team
Angelica Phaneuf Leads Army Software Factory’s Information Security
DHS Seeks Technologies to Perform Crowd Counting, Analysis; Tyler Mackanin Quoted
NASA Tests Vibration Modes of SLS Rocket; Chief Engineer John Blevins Quoted
DHS Taps Oceanit to Develop Sensor Spoofing Detection Tech; Kathryn Coulter Mitchell Quoted
STARCOM Launches as Space Force’s Final Field Command; Gen. John Raymond Quoted
US, Singapore Strengthen Cybersecurity Cooperation; Jen Easterly Quoted
IG Offers Recommendations for State Dept’s Office of Science and Technology Adviser
OIG Calls for USAID to Implement Additional Privacy Controls to Protect Personal Data
Planet Lab’s Federal Arm to Integrate Basemaps Into NASS Agricultural Monitoring Process
Victoria Coleman: USAF Must Adopt Zero-Trust Approach for Microchip Security
4 Space Execs Added to Slingshot Aerospace’s Advisory Board; Melanie Stricklan Quoted
Octo Secures DISA Contract for Teleport Integration and Implementation; CEO Mehul Sanghani Quoted
Brillient to Deliver Digitalization Solutions for IRS EDCMO; Ed Burrows, Richard Jacik Quoted
Baird Continues Hot Streak With Recent Novetta, Salient CRGT & Trusted Concepts Acquisitions; Managing Director Jean Stack Quoted
CISA Releases Cybersecurity Guidance Against Ransomware
CISA Eyes Industry Partners for 2021 President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition
Meredith Berger to Perform Duties of Navy Undersecretary
Blue Origin Rocket to Launch Tech Demo Payloads Under NASA
Navy Completes Performance Test of Minesweeping Unmanned Surface Vehicle; Capt. Godfrey Weekes Quoted
DHS, CBP to Deploy Planck-Built Small UAS For Additional Test & Evaluation
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Details Reorg Plans for Space Development Agency, Acquisition Office
FedRAMP Revises Cloud Security Package Training Materials
CGI Secures $34.4M Contract at CMS’ Center for Program Integrity; Steve Sousa Quoted
Gen. James Dickinson: Space Command Reaches Initial Operational Capability
DOD Picks Army Supercomputing Research as One of FY 2022 Frontier Projects; Luis Bravo Quoted
2 Congressmen Propose Bill on Special Emergency Reimbursement for Contractors
10 DOE-Backed Projects Target Energy Efficiency in Microelectronic Tech Production
Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting: Space Force Needs More Sensors to Track Satellites, Debris
GAO Reports on Federal Use of Facial Recognition Tech Systems
Draft House NDAA Provisions Seek to Address Gap Between R&D, Acquisition
Danielle Metz: DOD to Revamp IT Portfolio Management Framework
John Sherman: Release of New DOD Cloud Solicitation Still on Schedule
Paradigm Hornet 100GX Terminal Secures Inmarsat Global Xpress Commercial and Military Ka-band Approval; Matt Wissler Quoted
Noblis MSD Wins Prime $68 Million IDIQ Contract From NIWC Pacific; President Glenn Hickok Quoted
Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein: Space Systems Command Adopts Digital Engineering
Navy to Apply Space Awareness Tech Across Ships; Rear Adm. Michael Bernacchi Quoted
AFRL Stands up Collaborative Tech Development Facilities; Timothy Tobik Quoted
Marines Launch Raytheon-Made Cruise Missile to Reach Target Ship During Exercise
Frank Kendall OKs Infrastructure Plan for Grand Forks Air Force Base to Support ISR Missions
DHS Seeks Comments on Cybersecurity Talent Management System
Derek Tournear on Space Development Agency’s Move to Space Force
FBI IDs ‘OnePercent Group’ Launching Ransomware Attacks
NASA, Northrop Complete Webb Telescope’s Final Testing Regimen
Navy Conducts Second Stage Rocket Motor Test for Hypersonic Missile Development
Sev1Tech Achieves AWS Advanced Consulting Partner Status; Matt Jordan Quoted
StandardAero Wins Cloud Based Predictive Engine Maintenance Contract; Marc Drobny Quoted
DOD Presents Strategy to Address Industrial Workforce Challenges
Adm. Charles Richard: U.S. Needs to Refine Operating Concepts Amid Chinese, Russian Threats
NNSA, NorthStar Sign Cooperative Agreements for Non-Uranium Isotope Production; Jill Hruby Quoted
DOJ Unveils Cyber Fellowship Program; Lisa Monaco Quoted
OMB Creates Maturity Framework for Event Log Management
Gen. Anthony Cotton Assumes Air Force Global Strike Command Leadership
Peraton, AFRL Launch X-ARBITOR Cross-Domain Platform
PAE Receives Counterdrug Surveillance Systems Task Order on DOD Counternarcotics and Global Threats Contract; PAE Interim CEO Charlie Peiffer Quoted
Noblis MSD Awarded $72M IDIQ Navy Contract to Enhance the Operability of Naval Surface Ships; Glenn Hickok Quoted
Federal Acquisition Security Council Issues Final Rule on Supply Chain Risk Info Sharing
John Porcari Named Port Envoy to White House’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force
US, South Korea Formalize Space Security Partnership
Johns Hopkins APL Receives Task Order to Support Space Systems Command Program
Air Force Squadron Undergoes Rescue Training for Commercial Spaceflight Missions
Lt. Col. Kristin Saling: Army Employs AI, Automation in Talent Management Efforts
White House Cites Climate Change, Emerging Tech as R&D Priorities for FY23 Budget
Leidos Invests in Facility Construction of Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering
U.S. Completes Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan; Antony Blinken Quoted
GovernmentExecutive Continues Industry Consolidation Effort
ECS Receives Multiple Contract Awards on ASTRO IDIQ; COO John Heneghan Quoted
VA Exec Neil Evans Named Department’s Acting CIO
U.S. Agencies Partner to Expand Federal Digital Workforce; Clare Martorana Quoted