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Gen. James Dickinson: Spacecom has a More Operational Role In Space Defense
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Gen. James Dickinson: Spacecom has a More Operational Role In Space Defense

Gen. James Dickinson, who leads U.S. Space Command, said Spacecom has a more operational role than the U.S. Space Force in military activities.

He said at the McCrary Institute/Space Policy Institute's "Securing Space" event that the Space Force is in charge of planning, training and arming the U.S. military's space component, and Spacecom puts those preparations to use.

"Space-based capabilities enable virtually every element of our national power, including diplomacy, economics, finance and information," he said, noting that most U.S. citizens don't understand the importance of space assets.

Dickinson said Spacecom's mission is to prevent conflict from reaching space and, if unavoidable, engage in space combat.

Gen. James Dickinson: Spacecom has a More Operational Role In Space Defense

If you are interested in the Department of Defense's space goals, check out GovConWire’s Space Acquisition Forum on Sept. 14th. Register here.

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Cyber Command Sees Procurement Opportunities After Budget Limit Removal
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Cyber Command Sees Procurement Opportunities After Budget Limit Removal

Congress lifted U.S. Cyber Command's $75 million spending limit and USCYBERCOM leaders believe this action would allow for creative procurement strategies, C4ISRnet reported Wednesday.

Sharothi Pikar, the command's acquisition executive, said fully removing the procurement ceiling would allow USCYBERCOM to more flexibly address operational requirements. 

She made this statement Tuesday at the Cyber Command virtual industry forum, which aimed to inform the private sector about the command's needs. Congress lifted the procurement limit through the recent National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). 

The command's newly established cyber-dedicated Program Executive Office (PEO) to manage federally funded programs, which cover programs of record, cyber national mission force capabilities and ongoing operations.

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Noblis Launches Noblis MSD Following McKean Defense Acquisition; CEO Amr ElSawy Quoted
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Noblis Launches Noblis MSD Following McKean Defense Acquisition; CEO Amr ElSawy Quoted

Noblis announced on Wednesday that the company has launched Noblis MSD, a new rebranded subsidiary made up of the recently acquired McKean Defense Group and Cabrillo Technologies, to deliver solutions that drive new levels of scale, agility, efficiency and innovation for the defense clients.

As a Noblis subsidiary, Noblis MSD will bring the complementary capabilities of both organizations together to deliver solutions that drive new levels of scale, agility, efficiency and innovation for the U.S. Navy and other defense clients.

“Noblis MSD combines decades of specialized defense mission domain knowledge with the latest technological innovation, and the resulting synergies will directly benefit both our clients and our employees,” said Amr ElSawy, president and CEO of Noblis, and a two-time Wash100 Award recipient.

Noblis MSD will focus on supporting the unique needs of its defense clients and U.S. service branches by combining decades of domain expertise with emerging capabilities in artificial intelligence, machine learning, cyber, robotic process automation, autonomy and model-based systems engineering.

“We are strongly positioned to deliver more comprehensive, agile solutions at scale, to help drive our clients’ readiness and transformation initiatives—while empowering our employees with exciting opportunities for growth,” ElSawy added.

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Navy’s Prize Competition Seeks Expeditionary USVs for Waterside Security; Steve Bordonaro Quoted
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Navy’s Prize Competition Seeks Expeditionary USVs for Waterside Security; Steve Bordonaro Quoted

A Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) division has launched a $50,000 prize challenge for technology companies to design an unmanned surface vehicle for waterside security operations.

The U.S. Navy is interested in a USV platform that can carry various payloads, be assembled in less than two hours and be reused with minimal maintenance, Naval Sea Systems Command said Tuesday.

NUWC Division Newport partnered with Rhode Island-based nonprofit organization 401 Tech Bridge to organize the competition, which the Navy said is open to both domestic and international entities.

"These Prize Challenges are a way to crowdsource a solution to a Navy problem with a rapid timeline for a response, an evaluation and money going to companies who best meet the Navy’s requirements," said Steve Bordonaro, director of NUWC Newport's Northeast Tech Bridge.

Navy officials will use the written challenge submissions, due Sept. 13, to select sources for a potential follow-on other transaction prototype award valued at up to $1 million.

Division Newport concluded a prize challenge for 3D-printed ship handwheels on July 13th.

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NASA Clears Boeing Starliner Spacecraft for 2nd Uncrewed Flight Test
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NASA Clears Boeing Starliner Spacecraft for 2nd Uncrewed Flight Test

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft has passed the launch readiness review phase, clearing the way for the company to launch its second uncrewed flight to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

Starliner is scheduled to liftoff on Friday at 2:53 p.m. Eastern time at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket, the agency said Tuesday.

NASA expects the Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) mission to provide data the agency will use to evaluate the capability of the crew module to ferry astronauts to space.

The spacecraft will carry an anthropometric test device, nicknamed Rosie the Rocketeer, to study what astronauts would experience during flight and over 400 pounds of cargo and supplies to the orbiting laboratory.

During OFT-2, Starliner will test various spacecraft capabilities such as a vision-based navigation system, an automated retreat feature and avionics, electrical power and propulsion technologies.

Five to 10 days after docking with the ISS, Starliner will aim to bring over 550 pounds of cargo back to Earth and land in the western U.S. NASA said that a manned flight test could take place at the end of 2021 should Starliner complete the objectives of the upcoming mission.

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Air Force Tests Vidisco-Built Digital Imaging Platform for Explosive Ordnance Disposal
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Air Force Tests Vidisco-Built Digital Imaging Platform for Explosive Ordnance Disposal

The U.S. Air Force's explosive ordnance disposal technicians have tested a portable imaging system Vidisco developed to help military users view X-ray images of homemade and unexploded bombs.

The 22-pound Guardian 12 Digital Radiographic device has a compact case that can be carried for flyaway operations and is designed to function even in extreme temperatures, the Air Force said Tuesday.

USAF expects to receive 331 Guardian 12 systems from Vidisco's U.S. subsidiary through 2026 under a $30 million contract and plans to distribute the systems together with training events over a five-year period.

The branch procured the DR technology to replace three interim commercial off-the-shelf products that support its EOD missions and noted that AFCEC collaborated with the AF Installation Contracting Center’s 772nd Enterprise Sourcing Squadron in the procurement effort.

Guardian 12 X-rays are intended to work via both wired and wireless connections.

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VA Begins Efforts to Create Pool of Candidates for Undersecretary for Health Position
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VA Begins Efforts to Create Pool of Candidates for Undersecretary for Health Position

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun its search for candidates as part of efforts to fill the role of undersecretary of health. VA said Tuesday that it is looking for a health care leader to oversee the Veterans Health Administration as it moves to modernize the department’s health care delivery initiatives.

The undersecretary for health should have experience with VHA programs and ability in health care administration, financial management and policy formulation.

VA is establishing a pool of candidates for consideration by the U.S. president. The presidential appointee would have to be confirmed by the Senate, according to a posting on USAJOBS. 

Candidates should have knowledge of VHA’s four statutory missions: developing, maintaining and operating a national health care delivery system for eligible veterans; administering an education and training program for health care personnel; leading a health care research and development program focused on improving the well-being of veterans and providing contingency support for the country’s health care in times of national emergency.

The department is looking for candidates with experience overseeing the operations of a large health care enterprise. Candidates should also implement the VA secretary’s vision to transform the department and serve as an accountable steward of VHA’s financial and human capital resources, according to the job posting.

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Lt. Gen. John Thompson to Retire as Space & Missile Systems Center Commander; Gen. John Raymond Quoted
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Lt. Gen. John Thompson to Retire as Space & Missile Systems Center Commander; Gen. John Raymond Quoted

Lt. Gen. John Thompson, the longest-serving three-star commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), is set to retire on Aug. 1st, culminating his 36 years of service at the U.S. Air Force.

Senior leaders from the Department of Defense joined SMC and 61st Air Base Group members in a ceremony to celebrate Thompson’s career, which included leadership roles across acquisition, strategic systems and life cycle management programs, USAF said Tuesday.

During his command, Thompson managed a $9 billion annual budget, 85 percent of which was allocated for space funds, and ushered over 6,300 military, government and contract employees.

“If you look at what has happened since JT took command, he has completely reorganized SMC, has been instrumental in establishing the U.S. Space Force, and now, he has planned the establishment of the Space Systems Command,” said Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, chief of space operations at USSF and a 2021 Wash100 Award recipient.

Thompson, in the past year, focused on the preliminary works for the newest field command of the Space Force to facilitate the development and acquisition of space warfighting systems.

“Heading into this next chapter in space history, I look forward to the establishment and activation of the Space Systems Command and how that takes this organization, our processes and our people even further,” Thompson said.

Lt. Gen. John Thompson to Retire as Space & Missile Systems Center Commander; Gen. John Raymond Quoted

GovCon Wire, sister site of ExecutiveGov, will host a virtual forum on the military’s space technology acquisition goals and programs. Visit the GovCon Wire Events page to sign up for the Space Acquisition Forum.

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GAO: TSA Launches Efforts to Address Weaknesses Related to Pipeline Cybersecurity
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GAO: TSA Launches Efforts to Address Weaknesses Related to Pipeline Cybersecurity

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) made 15 recommendations for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to deal with weaknesses concerning its oversight of U.S. pipeline systems and found that TSA has addressed most of them, such as enhancing monitoring of security review performance, clarifying parts of its Pipeline Security Guidelines and evaluating staffing needs.

TSA has yet to fully address two previously identified weaknesses associated with pipeline cybersecurity as of June 2021 and those are incomplete information for pipeline risk assessments and failure to update protocols for responding to pipeline security incidents, GAO said in a report published Tuesday.

The congressional watchdog said TSA issued this July a cybersecurity directive requiring pipeline operators and owners to carry out cyber architecture design review annually, come up with a cybersecurity contingency response plan and implement cyber mitigation measures, among others.

“TSA officials told GAO that a timely update to address current cyber threats is appropriate and that they anticipate updating the Guidelines over the next year,” the report reads.

Supply Chain Cybersecurity: Revelations and Innovations

ExecutiveBiz, sister site of GovConDaily and part of the Executive Mosaic digital media umbrella, will host a virtual event about securing the supply chain on Oct. 26. Visit ExecutiveBiz.com to sign up for the “Supply Chain Cybersecurity: Revelations and Innovations” event.

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House Subcommittee Schedules FY 2022 NDAA Markup
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House Subcommittee Schedules FY 2022 NDAA Markup

The House Armed Services’ cyber, innovative technologies and information systems subcommittee is set to meet Wednesday for the markup of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2022.

The subpanel's proposed NDAA would direct the secretary of the Department of Defense (DOD) to launch a five-year pilot program to help advance the transition of DOD's science and technology initiatives into full-scale implementation and to work with the secretaries of service branches to perform pilot initiatives to move Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs into Phase III, the House Armed Services Committee said Tuesday.

The bill would require DOD’s deputy secretary to submit a report identifying the barriers that prevent the Pentagon from scaling technologies and direct the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering to report on current investment efforts in gaming and modeling and simulation. 

DOD should come up with report on the state of digital twin practices within the Pentagon.

The measure also includes provisions aimed at strengthening DOD’s digital engineering and testing, improving the department’s oversight of cyberspace activities and access to tech talent, ensuring electromagnetic spectrum advantage and enhancing the department’s capability to compete in the information environment.

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