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Octo Forms Joint Venture with Tyto Athene; CEOs Mehul Sanghani, Chris Melihammer Quoted
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Octo Forms Joint Venture with Tyto Athene; CEOs Mehul Sanghani, Chris Melihammer Quoted

Octo Consulting and Tyto Athene announced on Friday that the two federal IT service providers will create a Joint Venture (JV) that will operate as Octo-Athene, LLC to deliver enhanced network modernization capabilities, data conversion services and other innovative technology solutions to the U.S. Federal Government.

“The full spectrum modernization and transformation capabilities brought to bear by this JV make us a force to be reckoned with in the marketplace,” said Mehul Sanghani, CEO of Octo.

Octo-Athene will serve the defense, national security, intelligence, space, health and civilian sectors with years of expertise in emerging key areas such as 5G, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data interoperability, blockchain, defensive cyber operations and network modernization.

Both Sanghani and Chris Melihammer, CEO of Tyto Athene, cited previous successful collaborations between the two companies and expressed excitement about the future of the new Joint Venture.

Melihammer continued, “We look forward to delivering our combined capabilities for the benefit of our customers and their respective business objectives.”

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NSF Announces Convergence Accelerator Phase 2 Teams, Invests $50M Into Quantum Computing, AI Work
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NSF Announces Convergence Accelerator Phase 2 Teams, Invests $50M Into Quantum Computing, AI Work

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has invested $50 million to 10 multidisciplinary teams for quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies under the Convergence Accelerator research and development program.

The teams must use a convergent approach to convert concepts and proposals from the program's phase one into real-world applications that address societal concerns and challenges in phase two, NSF said Thursday.

For 24 months, the participants will undergo an innovation and entrepreneurial curriculum that will teach them lessons about product development, intellectual property, financial resources, sustainability planning and other business-related topics to help in producing prototypes.

Among the projects selected for phase two include hardware for quantum internet, quantum-enhanced inertial measurement unit, an AI-powered collaborative fire management platform and a machine-learning software for hydrologic scenario generation.

Launched in September 2020, the Convergence Accelerator 2020 program first included 29 teams that worked on initial quantum and AI concepts for a concluding phase one proposal and pitch event.

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Carnegie Mellon’s Nickolas Guertin in Line to Become Next Defense OT&E Director
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Carnegie Mellon’s Nickolas Guertin in Line to Become Next Defense OT&E Director

Nickolas Guertin, a senior software systems engineer at Carnegie Mellon University, has been nominated by President Biden to become the Department of Defense's (DoD) director of operational test and evaluation (DOT&E). 

The Reading, Connecticut native was a former U.S. Navy serviceman with experience in ship construction and maintenance, systems engineering, weapons testing and development, and submarine operations, the White House said Thursday.

Once confirmed as DOT&E by the Senate, he will be responsible for ensuring that major acquisition programs across the Pentagon conduct proper operational tests and evaluations. He will also assist the Defense secretary on all matters relating to agency-wide OT&E.

During his four-decade combined military and civilian career, Guertin led organizational transformation, competition improvement and modular open system adoption efforts, including as a top official focusing on rapid prototyping and research, development, test and evaluation for the Navy.

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NGA to Have Agencies Prioritize Commercial GEOINT Services; Dave Gauthier Quoted
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NGA to Have Agencies Prioritize Commercial GEOINT Services; Dave Gauthier Quoted

Vice Adm. Robert Sharp, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and two-time Wash100 Award winner, plans to formalize a new strategy that would urge agencies to prioritize using commercial services over government-owned systems, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

Dave Gauthier, the agency’s director of commercial and business operations, said the strategy would allow agencies to explore new geospatial technologies and services offered by the private sector.

Gauthier said the agency has focused on commercial analytic services and, over the past six months, launched new contracts for commercial radar and radio frequency alerts.

“It is changing the way our analysts and operators think about how to solve problems,” he told Federal News Network regarding the shift to commercial services.

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NDU Foundation Adds Sharon Dunbar, 2 Other Former Defense Execs to Board
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NDU Foundation Adds Sharon Dunbar, 2 Other Former Defense Execs to Board

The National Defense University Foundation (NDU) has added Sharon Dunbar, Madelyn Creedon and Angela Ambrose, who all have national security experience, to its board of directors.

Dunbar, a retired U.S. Air Force major general, is the vice president of cross-company business initiatives at General Dynamics' mission systems business, the NDU Foundation said Thursday.

She ended her USAF career in 2014 as commander of the Air Force District of Washington. Dunbar is also a member of the Potomac Officers Club. Creedon serves as president of Green Marble Group and holds nearly four decades of federal government experience.

Her government experience includes work with the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), where she was principal deputy administrator. She also served as the Pentagon's assistant secretary of defense for global strategic affairs.

Ambrose, GM Defense's vice president of government relations and communications, previously served as the Department of Defense's deputy director of congressional affairs. She was also a senior legislative liaison under the director of national intelligence and holds a private-sector career with work at Northrop Grumman and Accenture Federal Services.

"With their substantial national security expertise and senior federal service experience, the Honorable Madelyn R. Creedon, Major General Sharon Dunbar (USAF, Ret.) and Angela M. Ambrose will make an enormous and measurable impact on the NDU Foundation Board's ability to contribute to NDU excellence," said retired Rear Adm. Michael Manazir, chairman of the NDU Foundation.

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FBI, CISA, Coast Guard Report Cyber Vulnerability in Password Management Platform
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FBI, CISA, Coast Guard Report Cyber Vulnerability in Password Management Platform

The FBI, Coast Guard Cyber Command and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have jointly reported a cyber vulnerability in a self-service password management platform made by Zoho.

Cyber actors capitalizing on advanced persistent threats (APT) are likely to exploit a vulnerability found in Zoho's ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, CISA said Thursday.

The vulnerability, when exploited, may risk critical U.S. infrastructure providers, universities, infrastructure companies, defense contractors and other users of the platform.

Cybercriminals have reportedly used the vulnerability to dump user credentials, decode information, steal database copies, delete users and perform other unauthorized activity.

The joint report, titled APT Actors Exploiting Newly Identified Vulnerability in ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, features recommendations on how to mitigate the issue.

The three agencies are now conducting investigations and response efforts to address the malicious activities based on the vulnerability.

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CBO: Navy’s FY22 Shipbuilding Plan to Cost $25B to $33B Per Year Over 30 Years
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CBO: Navy’s FY22 Shipbuilding Plan to Cost $25B to $33B Per Year Over 30 Years

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report estimates that the U.S. Navy’s fiscal year 2022 shipbuilding plan to increase its fleet size to between 398 and 512 crewed ships and unmanned vessels would cost approximately $25 billion to $33 billion in 2021 dollars annually over three decades.

CBO said Thursday the figure reflects an increase from the average annual shipbuilding cost of about $23 billion over the past five years.

According to the report, the Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan would lead to a reduction in the number of vertical launch system cells used for holding and firing missiles on naval ships, but the number of crewed ships and unmanned vessels capable of carrying such VLS cells could jump by nearly 70 percent.

CBO analyzed the Navy’s shipbuilding plan submitted by the Department of Defense to Congress and found that the number of manned vessels would increase to between 321 and 372. The service branch also envisions a force of between 77 and 140 unmanned vessels.

Under the FY 2022 plan, the Navy’s future fleet of aircraft carriers would include 9 to 11 ships. The service also envisions a force of 12 ballistic missile submarines and a fleet of between 66 and 72 attack submarines.

The military branch would increase its force of small surface combatants to up to 45 ships, up from the current fleet of 31 littoral combat ships and mine countermeasures vessels.

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US, Australia, UK Announce Trilateral Security Partnership; Gen. Lloyd Austin Quoted
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US, Australia, UK Announce Trilateral Security Partnership; Gen. Lloyd Austin Quoted

The U.S., Australia and the U.K. have agreed to further strengthen collaboration on defense and security capabilities under a trilateral security partnership.

The AUKUS alliance will provide the Royal Australian Navy with at least eight nuclear-powered submarines and the Australian government said Thursday it plans to construct the submarines in Adelaide.

DOD News reported the new submarines will help the Australian navy maintain the peace in the Indo-Pacific amid China’s destabilizing efforts in the region.

DOD Secretary and 2021 Wash100 Award winner Lloyd Austin said the submarines will enhance the Australian navy’s defensive capabilities and reach.

“It will also help contribute to what I call 'integrated deterrence' in the region — the ability for the United States military to work more effectively with our allies and partners in defense of our shared security interests,” Gen. Austin added.

Under the AUKUS partnership, the three countries will collaborate over the next 18 months to assess the requirements in support of nuclear stewardship with a focus on design, safety, force structure, workforce, disposal and environmental protection, among others.

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Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan Poses Questions to DOJ Over Cryptocurrency
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Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan Poses Questions to DOJ Over Cryptocurrency

Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan, D-N.H., has asked the Department of Justice about authorities used by agencies within DOJ to regulate U.S. cryptocurrency exchanges, kiosks, over-the-counter cryptocurrency trading desks and their users.

Hassan wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland Thursday asking if additional civil or criminal penalties could help DOJ agencies prosecute and prevent the criminal use of cryptocurrency. 

The senator made the inquiry amid the increasing use of the new financial technology for criminal purposes.

She asked Garland whether a requirement for an additional waiting period to convert fiat money into cryptocurrency could help DOJ agencies retrieve funds before they are converted and become unrecoverable and whether such a requirement is allowed under existing authorities.

Hassan also highlighted the importance of having more stringent know-your-customer requirements in improving transparency in U.S. and international cryptocurrency markets.

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Air Force Develops Expeditionary, Amphibious Capability for Commando II Aircraft; Lt. Col. Josh Trantham Quoted
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Air Force Develops Expeditionary, Amphibious Capability for Commando II Aircraft; Lt. Col. Josh Trantham Quoted

The U.S. Air Force's Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is working on a new capability to make the C-130J transport aircraft more suitable for expeditionary missions in watery environments.

AFSOC said Wednesday it partnered with the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop the MC-130J Commando II Amphibious Capability, also known as MAC.

This effort comes as AFSOC places its focus on littoral regions where shores are abundant. The technology would also allow aircraft to be less reliant on runways.

“This capability allows the Air Force to increase placement and access for infiltration, exfiltration and personnel recovery, as well as providing enhanced logistical capabilities for future competition and conflict,” said Lt. Col. Josh Trantham, deputy division chief for science, systems, technology and innovation at AFSOC.

The command and its industry partners are now testing MAC prototypes via digital and virtual methods.

"We believe MAC will be able to be used by our sister services, allies and partners on various C-130 platforms," Trantham said.

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