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Scott Bessent Confirmed as Treasury Secretary
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Scott Bessent Confirmed as Treasury Secretary

The Senate on Monday voted 68-29 to confirm Scott Bessent as secretary of the Department of the Treasury.

Reuters reported that Bessent will play a key role in shaping the Trump administration’s policies concerning spending and tax cuts and managing international economic relations.

The billionaire hedge fund manager is expected to face numerous challenges as the president’s top economic official, including managing federal cash flows under the debt ceiling.

Scott Bessent’s Career History

Bessent founded and served as chief executive of investment firm Key Square Capital Management.

He also served as chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management.

The Yale University graduate previously worked at several firms, including Brown Brothers Harriman, Kynikos Associates and Protege Partners.

The 79th Treasury secretary spent four years at Yale University as an adjunct professor of economic history.

Bessent has been a frequent speaker on investment and economic panels and is a well-known investor in the macro space for more than 20 years.

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Michael McCabe Tapped as Data, AI Chief for DOD Office
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Michael McCabe Tapped as Data, AI Chief for DOD Office

Michael McCabe has been appointed as the new chief data and artificial intelligence officer at the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, bringing to the post over three decades of experience in government service.

In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, McCabe announced his new role, wherein he’ll develop data, analytics and AI strategic guidance and policy that align with his organization’s digital transformation objectives.

McCabe’s Defense Sector Credentials

The new appointee was most recently the deputy chief data officer at the Department of Defense, which he first joined in July 2007 as head of developing key technologies. Over the years, McCabe rose through the ranks and held several leadership posts, including deputy chief technology officer and chief of data engineering.

McCabe’s career in the defense sector started in March 1988 when he enlisted as a part-time Army soldier. After more than seven years, he became a full-time soldier and served for over 12 years before heading to Washington, D.C., for a tech job at the Pentagon.

McCabe earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and history from King’s College and studied national security strategy at National War College.

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USRA Appoints Elsayed Talaat as New President and CEO
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USRA Appoints Elsayed Talaat as New President and CEO

The Universities Space Research Association has announced the appointment of Elsayed Talaat, a former office director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as its president and CEO. 

Talaat conveyed excitement for his new role, noting USRA’s “rich history of innovation, customer focus and community impact.”

“Together, we will continue to push boundaries, deliver exceptional results and create lasting value for our stakeholders,” he said.

Career Background and Experience

Talaat served for more than six years at NOAA, with his last position as director of the Office of Space Weather Observations in the agency’s National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service. He also previously worked with NASA for over five years and with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory for 15 years. 

He brings to USRA experience in programmatic and technical coordination with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, non-federal agencies, industries and international partners. While OSWO director, Talaat oversaw the procurement and adoption of elements for NOAA’s satellite systems.

He earned a doctorate degree in atmospheric and space science from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering degree from the University of Washington.

Talaat replaced Jeffrey Isaacson, who retired on January 1 after 10 years of service in USRA.

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Executive Order Calls for Next-Gen Missile Defense Shield Deployment
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Executive Order Calls for Next-Gen Missile Defense Shield Deployment

President Donald Trump on Monday signed a new executive order to deploy and maintain a next-generation missile defense shield to protect the country and critical infrastructure from foreign aerial attacks.

Secretary of Defense’s Responsibilities

The White House said Monday the EO titled The Iron Dome for America will direct the secretary of defense to submit within the next two months a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements and an implementation plan for the missile defense shield.

According to the EO, the reference architecture should include plans for U.S. defense against hypersonic, ballistic, advanced cruise missiles and other next-generation aerial attacks from adversaries; acceleration of the deployment of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer; and development and fielding of a custody layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

The secretary should review relevant authorities of the Department of Defense to build and deploy capabilities; work with the director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit a plan on how to fund the initiative; and cooperate with U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Northern Command to provide an updated assessment of the strategic missile threat and a prioritized set of locations to defend against a countervalue attack by nuclear adversaries.

Theater Missile Defense Review

The EO mandates that the DOD secretary order a review of theater missile defense posture and related efforts to identify ways in which the U.S. and its allies can improve theater missile defenses of U.S. troops and allied territories and enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation on the development of missile defense technologies, among others.

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SDA Seeks Input on Planned PWSA Optical Terminal Standard Changes
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SDA Seeks Input on Planned PWSA Optical Terminal Standard Changes

The Space Development Agency is seeking industry feedback on the upcoming updates for its Optical Communication Terminal, or OCT, standard to reduce risk in future Tranche 3 solicitations of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

The request for information, or RFI, will inform plans to revise the OCT standard between versions 3.1.0 and 4.0.0, SDA said in a Friday notice posted on SAM.gov. For instance, the effort would involve critical updates from version 3.1.0 and new requirements outlined in version 4.0.0 not specific to the burst-mode waveform implementation.

Feedback for Planned OCT Standard Changes

Specifically, SDA invites vendors to provide input on the OCT standard version 3.2.0, which the agency envisions as the benchmark for the PWSA Tranche 3 modifications. SDA also wants comments on version 4.0.0, which will be the compliance standard for a select number of Tranche 3 optical terminals.

Interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback on how the standard changes could affect the hardware, firmware, software, cost and schedule of the PWSA space vehicles and optical terminals. Vendors can also discuss the potential interoperability constraints with the non-burst waveforms for OCT standard versions 3.1.0, 3.2.0 and 4.0.0.

Recommendations for Extra OCT Requirements

In addition, recommendations for additional optical communication requirements in the OCT standard revision to advance the SDA mission will be welcomed. Responses to the RFI will be accepted until Feb. 4.

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NSWC Philadelphia Unit Signs New EPA With Rowan University
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NSWC Philadelphia Unit Signs New EPA With Rowan University

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division, or NSWCPD, has deepened its collaboration with Rowan University of Glassboro, New Jersey, with the signing of a new education partnership agreement, or EPA. NSWCPD said Friday that its EPA with Rowan University is one of seven agreements with colleges around the U.S.

Potential Benefits of the Agreement

The new EPA is anticipated to help bolster Rowan University’s research capabilities and enrich its students’ educational experience. The agreement makes it possible for NSWCPD to loan to the university various resources, including unique and specialized hardware, for use in research to address challenges unique to the U.S. Navy. The agreement will also give subject matter experts from NSWCPD the opportunity to develop and assist in teaching science and engineering courses at the higher education institution.

Cultivating Innovators

Commenting on the new EPA, Steve Mastro, deputy chief technology officer at NSWCPD, said, “The U.S Navy’s partnerships with universities are essential for cultivating the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem solvers. By forging this education agreement with Rowan University, we ensure a continuous pipeline of highly skilled individuals equipped with the knowledge and adaptability to meet the evolving challenges of national security. These collaborations not only strengthen the Navy’s capabilities but also contribute to the broader advancement of science, technology, and global diplomacy.”

Encouraging Interest in S&T

For his part, Nigel Thijs, technical director at NSWCPD, said, “Our functions at NSWCPD span the engineering spectrum from science and technology to research and development to acquisition and sustainment through the life of ship or ship system. Integral to long-term health are partnerships like this that develop our public-private relationship, create pipeline opportunities to future employment and encourage interest in science and engineering.”

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Dataminr’s Paul Tierney on Public Sector Use of AI in 2025
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Dataminr’s Paul Tierney on Public Sector Use of AI in 2025

Paul Tierney, senior vice president of North America public sector at Dataminr, expects artificial intelligence to be put to use by government agencies to address cybersecurity risks in 2025.

Cybersecurity Applications

Tierney made this projection in an article published Thursday, where he discussed the areas in which AI would likely be applied by the public sector in the coming year and beyond. Concerning AI’s cybersecurity applications, Tierney said the technology could be used by agencies to address risks emanating from external vendors and partners. AI could also be used to defend against cyber attacks launched by malicious actors wielding the same technology.

Agency Coordination

The Dataminr SVP believes AI would be used by the government to improve coordination and response to various scenarios, including disasters and national security events. AI could power systems that facilitate information-sharing. Additionally, he suggests, it could work to synthesize data from various sources to deliver insights that could help hasten decision-making.

Government Efficiency

AI is also a key element in the operation of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which President Donald Trump established via executive order on Jan. 20. According to the EO, AI will help the organization as it works to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity through the modernization of federal technology and software. For Tierney, the use of AI by DOGE may even encourage other agencies to find creative ways to apply the technology.

AI ‘An Essential Tool’

The Dataminr executive went on to describe AI as “no longer just an experiment” but “an essential tool for efficient and adaptable governance.”

“As we move forward in 2025, I look forward to seeing how governments and public sector organizations worldwide will further explore ways to harness AI’s benefits while addressing persistent challenges, such as security and privacy concerns and ethical considerations,” Tierney said.

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US SPACECENT to Open Campus at Qatari Air Base
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US SPACECENT to Open Campus at Qatari Air Base

The U.S. Space Forces – Central Command is advancing operations at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with the construction of a campus at the base. The campus is meant to the base’s space operations and capabilities in the Middle East, according to Friday’s U.S. Space Force announcement of the facility’s groundbreaking.

The SPACECENT campus will host state-of-the-art equipment for joint support on space-related activities at Al Udeid, USSF said. The American forces at the base include elements from the U.S. Air Forces Central Command and the Combined Air and Space Operations Center. The United States and Qatar agreed in January 2024 to extend U.S. military presence at the base for another 10 years.

Collaborative Foundation in the Middle East

Col. Frank Brooks, Space Forces Central Command deputy, said at the campus’ recent groundbreaking ceremony that the complex will be “a beacon for the vital space systems and operations” of U.S. CENTCOM’s mission to promote security and partnership across the Middle East. He added that in establishing the new facility, the United States and Qatar are demonstrating an “ever-growing partnership” that began in the 1990s, noting that the Al Udeid Air Base has been “a foundation for collaboration and mutual respect.”

In 2018, Qatar launched a $1.8 billion project to upgrade the base, the biggest facility that U.S. military forces use in the Middle East. The base expansion was reported as part of Qatar’s cooperation with the United States in fighting terrorism. 

In another cooperative effort, U.S. Space Command entered into a space situational awareness data sharing agreement with the Qatar Armed Forces in October 2023.

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IBM Center Calls for Careful Adoption of GenAI by Government
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IBM Center Calls for Careful Adoption of GenAI by Government

The IBM Center for The Business of Government released last month a document offering guidance on how agencies can implement digital technologies, including generative artificial intelligence, Nextgov/FCW reported Monday.

Adopting AI Carefully

According to the document, titled “Digital Modernization for Government: An Implementation Framework,” GenAI can be key to technological modernization and transformation for the government but its adoption should be handled carefully. The document underscored the need for compliance with regulations and adherence to principles of ethical AI use.

Avoiding Bias

Efforts should also be taken to mitigate the potential harms the technology could bring about, especially when processing large amounts of potentially private or sensitive data. While agencies can use AI to generate actionable insights from such information, agencies should also avoid producing output that could result in unfairness or bias, the think tank said.

It should also recommends that agencies work to ensure that AI tools are compliant with data governance regulations.

Additional Recommendations

The document’s other recommendations for the careful implementation of AI include ensuring that the output of an AI tool can be explained and establishing a process by which AI outputs can be challenged. Furthermore, the document proposed fostering AI-human collaboration.

IBM Center Calls for Careful Adoption of GenAI by Government

Register now for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 AI Summit, which will provide participants with insights on how to harness artificial intelligence within their organizations.

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GSA Installs Private Sector Execs in Leadership Positions
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GSA Installs Private Sector Execs in Leadership Positions

The General Services Administration has announced the appointment of industry executives Michael Peters and Josh Gruenbaum as commissioners of the Public Buildings Service, or PBS, and the Federal Acquisition Service, or FAS, respectively.

GSA said Friday that Thomas Shedd took on the role of director of Technology Transformation Services, or TTS, while legal executive Russell McGranahan assumed the position of general counsel.

Michael Peters

The newly appointed PBS commissioner recently served as vice president of corporate strategy at Honeywell International. He served as chief operating officer of KOS Services and had an extensive career in investment banking.

Josh Gruenbaum

The new FAS commissioner has served on numerous boards across different industries and has specialized in mergers and acquisitions, governance, investing and complex restructurings. Gruenbaum previously worked at KKR & Co. and Moelis & Co.

Thomas Shedd

In addition to his role as director of TTS, Shedd will serve as deputy commissioner of FAS.

He is a mechanical engineer who spent eight years at Tesla, where he developed software that operates vehicle and battery factories.

Russell McGranahan

The newly appointed general counsel at GSA has over three decades of experience at investment companies Focus Financial Partners and BlackRock and at law firms Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and White & Case.

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