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DHS S&T Unveils Research Strategy for Artificial Intelligence; Kathryn Coulter Mitchell Quoted
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DHS S&T Unveils Research Strategy for Artificial Intelligence; Kathryn Coulter Mitchell Quoted

The Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology (DHS S&T) Directorate has unveiled a strategy that would guide S&T's research pursuits in the areas of artificial intelligence and machine learning. 

DHS said Friday that its new AI/ML strategic plan defines research efforts that aim to increase S&T's understanding of opportunities and risks across the dynamic AI landscape.

The directorate wants to drive next-generation AI/ML technologies, apply these technologies to homeland security missions and develop a workforce of interdisciplinary professionals skilled in AI.

“This actionable plan lays out how S&T will build and apply cutting-edge expertise to help the department harness the opportunities of AI/ML technologies while mitigating the associated risks," said Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, who serves as DHS's undersecretary for S&T on an acting basis.

The plan supports the DHS-wide Artificial Intelligence Strategy released in December 2020.

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Senate Passes Bill to Support Small Business Federal Contracting; Sen. Gary Peters Quoted
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Senate Passes Bill to Support Small Business Federal Contracting; Sen. Gary Peters Quoted

The Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) has passed a bill that aims to help U.S. small businesses pursue contracting opportunities with the federal government. 

The Promoting Rigorous and Innovative Cost Efficiencies for Federal Procurement and Acquisitions (PRICE) Act would task the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to help federal procurement leaders make government contracting suitable for small businesses, HSGAC said Friday.

OMB will share best practices to update contracting processes in a way that supports small businesses.

The PRICE Act — introduced by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa — seeks to address the reluctance of some agencies towards the Small Business Administration’s programs.

“This commonsense legislation will give small business owners a fair shot to win federal contracts and grow their businesses," Peters said.

The legislation now awaits the House's approval.

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Ivanti Acquires RiskSense to Revolutionize the Patch Management Market, Combat Cyber Threats; CEO Jim Schaper Quoted
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Ivanti Acquires RiskSense to Revolutionize the Patch Management Market, Combat Cyber Threats; CEO Jim Schaper Quoted

Ivanti announced on Monday that the company has acquired RiskSense, a pioneer in risk-based vulnerability management and prioritization, in an undisclosed transaction to drive the next evolution of patch management.

“Ivanti has been a leader in patch management for many years, but the acquisition of RiskSense will take our capabilities to an even higher level,” said Jim Schaper, Ivanti chairman and CEO.

Ivanti and RiskSense will provide security and IT teams with context and adaptive intelligence regarding what their organization’s exposures are to vulnerabilities that are being actively exploited, including whether those vulnerabilities are tied to ransomware, and then enable them to quickly remediate those threats.

This combination will enable organizations to shrink their attack surface, prioritize vulnerabilities to remediate, and reduce their exposure to cyber threats and ransomware attacks by taking a proactive, risk-based approach to patch management.

“This combination will allow us to provide our customers with a holistic view of vulnerabilities and exposures, and then enable them to take fast action through Ivanti Neurons for Patch Intelligence,” Schaper added. “Customers will be able to greatly reduce their attack surface and risk of breach because of the vulnerability intelligence and the resulting remediation prioritization based on actively trending exploits and ransomware attacks.”

Ivanti has already integrated the RiskSense Vulnerability Intelligence and Vulnerability Risk Rating, which prioritizes and quantifies adversarial risk based on factors such as threat intelligence, in-the-wild exploit trends, and security analyst validation, into Ivanti Neurons for Patch Intelligence.

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Margaret Vo Schaus Confirmed as NASA Finance Chief; Administrator Bill Nelson Quoted
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Margaret Vo Schaus Confirmed as NASA Finance Chief; Administrator Bill Nelson Quoted

The Senate on Friday voted to confirm Margaret Vo Schaus, a career member of the Senior Executive Service, as NASA’s next chief financial officer.

Vo Schaus, who received nomination for the space agency’s CFO role in April, said that the agency’s budget is not only meant to support space exploration work, but also to expand educational opportunities, create jobs and encourage future astronauts and scientists.

“As we continue to explore the universe, expand critical Earth science research to combat climate change and maintain the world’s most talented workforce, I am fully committed to helping ensure the president and administrator’s vision is carried out here at NASA,” she added.

She has served as director of business operations in the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering since August 2019 and previously held various positions at the Department of Energy (DOE).

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that the agency needs steady management of the budget to support its upcoming efforts such as the deployment of the first woman and person of color to the Moon and preparation for human spaceflight to Mars.

“Margaret will be integral to determining future missions and help turn program dreams into reality,” Nelson added.

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Senators Offer Cybersecurity Recommendations for Commerce Department, NIST
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Senators Offer Cybersecurity Recommendations for Commerce Department, NIST

Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., have called on the Department of Commerce (DOC), including the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to further build up efforts to protect digital systems, connected technologies and the country from cybersecurity threats amid the recent ransomware attacks.

In a July 28th letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, the two lawmakers urged the department to demonstrate new and existing cyber capabilities, develop the cybersecurity workforce and ensure resilient supply chains.

DOC should also expand research in emerging technologies, such as quantum technology, artificial intelligence, advanced communications and internet of things (IoT), to help address cybersecurity challenges, according to the letter.

Cantwell and Wicker also called on the department to update and advance the adoption of software supply chain best practices in compliance with the Biden administration’s executive order on cybersecurity.

They said DOC, including NIST, should deepen its critical cybersecurity role with “funding that matches the seriousness of the threat.”

“The President’s Budget Request to level-fund NIST cybersecurity programs, while requesting significant increases across the agency, is insufficient to meet the need,” the letter reads.

Cantwell is chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and Wicker is the Senate panel's ranking member.

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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Vice Adm. Robert Sharp: US Needs ‘Steady Stream’ of Geomatics Professionals
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Vice Adm. Robert Sharp: US Needs ‘Steady Stream’ of Geomatics Professionals

Vice Adm. Robert Sharp, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, said the U.S. should develop the next generation of geomatics scientists, mathematicians and engineers to maintain U.S. national security, support NGA’s Moonshot strategy and safeguard the country’s advantage in the field.

“We need people to develop and manage cutting-edge geomatics methods and technology. To do that, we need students studying in this field now at our colleges and universities, and even delving into geomatics at the high-school level,” he wrote in an opinion piece posted Sunday on C4ISRNET.

He described geomatics as the “science of determining the ‘where’ and ‘when’ — either in, on or above the ever-changing Earth’s surface.”

Sharp said the U.S. should initiate actions to “create a steady stream” of geomatics professionals in order to compete with China and other countries that are investing in geomatics technology and students’ education.

He said NGA launched a strategy to employ college graduates in science, technology, engineering and math and educate them in the field of geomatics through the agency’s distance learning program.

“This enables our graduates to increase their knowledge while serving the mission,” Sharp added.

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DOE Unveils New Carbon Reduction Initiatives; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
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DOE Unveils New Carbon Reduction Initiatives; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted

The Department of Energy (DOE) has launched two initiatives that aim to reduce the U.S. manufacturing and industrial sectors' carbon emissions under the larger Future of Manufacturing campaign.

DOE said Thursday it will invest $42.3 million in new projects under a funding opportunity to achieve cleaner and more efficient manufacturing.

The funding opportunity will support projects that tackle carbon footprint reduction, energy efficiency-boosting materials and energy storage, conversion and utilization systems.

The second initiative will provide technical assistance valued at $300,000 to five commercial companies for industrial technology validation projects. The companies will use this support to test the performance of clean energy technologies in industrial environments.

DOE's national laboratories will lead experts to formulate assessment plans and produce reports on technology projects under the second initiative.

“With these investments, the Department of Energy is helping reestablish U.S. manufacturing leadership while scaling up the technologies needed to reduce our collective carbon footprint and address climate change," said Jennifer Granholm, secretary of energy.

The Future of Manufacturing campaign now has a total of $130 million for technology initiatives announced over the week.

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NSF Taps Georgia Tech to Lead AI Research Institutes
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NSF Taps Georgia Tech to Lead AI Research Institutes

Georgia Institute of Technology has received $40 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish two research institutes that will drive artificial intelligence research over the next five years. The institute said Thursday that it will hire 100 new researchers and bolster its studies on machine learning through the awards.

The first institute, called the NSF AI Institute for Collaborative Assistance and Responsive Interaction for Networked Groups or AI CARING, will focus on AI systems designed to improve caregiving for the elderly. Sonia Chernova, an associate professor of interactive computing at Georgia Tech, will lead this institute.

The second one, named the NSF AI Institute for Advances in Optimization or AI4Opt, will combine AI with mathematics to produce intelligent systems. The institute is also intended to involve more teachers and students in AI development. Pascal Van Hentenryck, an engineering professor at Georgia Tech, will lead this institute.

“These NSF awards recognize Georgia Tech’s vast expertise in machine learning and AI and will help us further develop our resources and amplify our impact in these crucial fields," said Angel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech.

The foundation also awarded an additional $20 million grant to the Georgia Research Alliance, which Georgia Tech supports as an academic institution. GRA will lead the NSF AI Institute for Adult Learning and Online Education or ALOE, which will drive AI education through online learning. 

NSF leads a total of 11 new AI-focused research institutes, including the three newly established ones with Georgia Tech's involvement.

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John Plumb Nominated for Space Policy Leadership Role at DOD
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John Plumb Nominated for Space Policy Leadership Role at DOD

President Biden has nominated John Plumb, formerly the director of defense policy and strategy at the National Security Council (NSC), to become the assistant secretary of defense for space policy.

Plumb brings expertise in the areas of nuclear technology, missile defense and space, with more than a century’s quarter of national security experience, the White House said Thursday.

His Pentagon career includes work as the acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for space policy, a role similar to the one he is now nominated for. The defense professional is also a submarine force commanding officer for the U.S. Navy Reserve.

He currently serves as principal director and chief of government relations at the Aerospace Corporation, and prior to that, was an engineer at RAND.

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Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Vows to Focus on Mission Fulfillment
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Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Vows to Focus on Mission Fulfillment

Frank Kendall, a former acquisition chief at the Department of Defense (DOD) and a three-time Wash100 Award winner, was sworn in Wednesday as secretary of the Air Force.

“I will be totally focused on ensuring that our Air and Space Forces can fulfill their missions to defend the nation against our most challenging threats, today and into the future,” Kendall said.

He succeeds acting SecAF John Roth two days after the Senate voted in favor of his confirmation and will be working on his agenda in the coming days as the Department of the Air Force’s highest-ranking civilian leader.

A U.S. Army veteran, Kendall previously served as undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics; tactial warfare program director; and assistant deputy undersecretary for strategic defense systems at the DOD.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Vows to Focus on Mission Fulfillment

GovCon Wire, sister site of ExecutiveGov, will hold its Space Acquisition Forum on Sept. 14th. Sign up for the virtual forum to hear from defense officials as they give their perspectives on military acquisition reform and modernization efforts.

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