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Blue Origin Rocket to Launch Tech Demo Payloads Under NASA
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Blue Origin Rocket to Launch Tech Demo Payloads Under NASA

A reusable launch vehicle made by Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space company, will carry six payloads from NASA, universities and commercial entities for space demonstrations.

The 17th New Shepard mission will launch on Thursday from a Blue Origin site located in West Texas, under NASA's Flight Opportunities program, the space agency said Wednesday.

The payloads will demonstrate precision landing technologies, propellant gauging, space-based trash recycling, suborbital biological imaging and other space applications.

NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate provided one of the payloads developed as part of the Safe and Precise Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) project.

The SPLICE payload is a navigation system designed the determine the precise landing location as a spacecraft approaches a planetary surface. The system uses various sensors, lasers and a high-performance computer to perform navigation.

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Meredith Berger to Perform Duties of Navy Undersecretary
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Meredith Berger to Perform Duties of Navy Undersecretary

Meredith Berger — assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment — has succeeded the retiring James Geurts to serve as the U.S. Navy’s undersecretary.

Berger formerly served as the deputy chief of staff to the secretary of the Navy, a role she held from 2014 to 2017, the Navy said Monday. Her career includes work with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and the state of Florida’s financial services department.

Geurts will retire on August 28th, ending a 34-year career in government service. This career includes 22 years of work across U.S. Air Force procurement functions before he joined U.S. Special Operations Command as an acquisition executive.

“The Department of the Navy has been strengthened by the wisdom and leadership generated by Mr. Geurts,” said Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy.

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CISA Eyes Industry Partners for 2021 President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition
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CISA Eyes Industry Partners for 2021 President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is exploring potential sources of support services for a national competition that aims to recognize the best cybersecurity professionals in the federal government. 

Specifically, CISA wants information from interested companies that can assist CISA and its cybersecurity division and capacity building subcomponent to facilitate the President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition, according to a request for information notice posted on SAM.gov.

The program features individual and team competitions covering cyber defense, cyber exploitation, forensics and other areas under the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.

The Department of Homeland Security implemented the annual event in 2019 to comply with Executive Order No. 13870, “America’s Cybersecurity Workforce.”

The RFI is requesting vendors to provide information on their experience in hosting online contests, developing cyber training materials, video games and the organization’s cybersecurity knowledge based on the elements under the NICE Framework. 

The notice also asks for the responder’s video editing capabilities, familiarity with Azure cloud environment and capacity to deliver 24/7 participant support. Responses are due Sept. 8th.

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CISA Releases Cybersecurity Guidance Against Ransomware
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CISA Releases Cybersecurity Guidance Against Ransomware

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a set of procedures organizations can follow when facing ransomware, a form of malware that blocks user access to a system until money is paid.

CISA said it advises against paying money to ransomware and recommends organizations instead follow security measures listed in the publication.

Organizations must secure network operations and prevent further loss of data by isolating affected systems. Further steps include triaging the affected systems and engaging stakeholders.

To keep systems secure against ransomware, CISA advises limiting stored data and implementing best practices for both cyber and physical security.

The U.S. government also launched a new centralized website designed to provide information and guidance on ransomware threats. The CISA publication featured the StopRansomware.gov website as an additional reference.

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Baird Continues Hot Streak With Recent Novetta, Salient CRGT & Trusted Concepts Acquisitions; Managing Director Jean Stack Quoted
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Baird Continues Hot Streak With Recent Novetta, Salient CRGT & Trusted Concepts Acquisitions; Managing Director Jean Stack Quoted

Robert W. Baird & Co. announced its participation in the most recent acquisition of Trusted Concepts by Two Six Technologies on Tuesday.

“There are significant commonalities between the two companies as both leverage technology to enable their customers’ missions,” said Jean Stack, managing director of Baird and 2019 Wash100 Award winner, about the acquisition. “The cultural alignment and highly complementary skill sets are so compelling between the two companies.”

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Baird acted as the exclusive financial advisor for the transaction, which is the latest deal in the hot streak that Baird has been on over the course of 2021.

Prior to Tuesday’s acquisition announcement for Two Six Technologies, Baird had recently acted as the advisor and representative for Salient CRGT in July as the company was acquired by GovernmentCIO. The combined company will operate as GovernmentCIO with over approximately $700 million in 2021 revenues and more than 2,200 employees.

In June, Baird was instrumental as an advisor for Parsons’ BlackHorse Solutions acquisition for $203 million to broaden its client base and expand its digital, artificial intelligence, machine learning and cyber capabilities.

In addition, the company was also pivotal as the exclusive financial advisor in Science Applications International Corp.’s (SAIC) acquisition of Halfaker and Associates for approximately $250 million.

“It is such a privilege to work with someone for whom you have such admiration,” Jean Stack commented. “From Dawn’s distinguished military career to her relentless dedication to support veterans and wounded warriors, she has built such an amazing company with Halfaker and Associates. It takes a special company like SAIC to take Dawn’s vision and passion to the next level.”

Most notably, Baird was involved with Accenture Federal Services’ (AFS) acquisition of Novetta from The Carlyle Group in early June. The high profile acquisition that became official last week will provide the highly specialized, mission solutions that clients turn to for expertise in the converging domains of analytics, intelligence expertise, cloud engineering, and cyber.

The summer of 2021 has been a hot stove for Baird as the firm continues to make significant deals that have led to major shifts in the government contracting (GovCon) sector and federal landscape.

Baird said its government and defense team has closed 23 transactions valued at $7.7 billion since January 2020 With the appointment of Jonathan Kirkland to Baird’s Government and Defense Team on Aug. 13th, the company’s influence over the GovCon sector continues to grow and more deals will be announced in the coming months.

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Brillient to Deliver Digitalization Solutions for IRS EDCMO; Ed Burrows, Richard Jacik Quoted
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Brillient to Deliver Digitalization Solutions for IRS EDCMO; Ed Burrows, Richard Jacik Quoted

Brillient Corporation announced on Tuesday that the company has received a new contract to deliver digitalization solutions to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Enterprise Digitalization and Case Management Office (EDCMO) for the Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Solution Challenge. 

"The IRS EDCMO is at the forefront of digital transformation in the federal government. Brillient is delighted to provide a solution that uses the best technology available to extract machine-readable data from low resolution, poor quality digital images and make them compliant with IRS systems," said Ed Burrows, vice president of Intelligent Solutions. 

Brillient will provide a range of full-spectrum digital transformation solutions to assist the IRS in extracting machine-readable data from existing low-resolution digital images. The company will also deploy its AI-enabled intelligent data capture solutions to integrate digital source data into analytics-ready repositories for the Pilot IRS Solution Challenge. 

"Our solutions engineering approach is designed to identify quantifiable returns for advanced technology solutions. Our solution for IRS is built on years of experience transforming and automating federal processes with emergent technologies. We're pleased to expand our support of Treasury with this important initiative,” Richard Jacik, Brillient's Chief Digital Officer added. 

About Brillient

Brillient is an award-winning Full-Spectrum Digital Transformation company enabling clients to transform through the continuum of analog, to digital, to analytics leading to insight-driven decision making and mission execution. We help clients achieve better efficiencies and lower costs in their digital government and IT modernization initiatives enabling friction-free interaction with citizens and business.

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Octo Secures DISA Contract for Teleport Integration and Implementation; CEO Mehul Sanghani Quoted
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Octo Secures DISA Contract for Teleport Integration and Implementation; CEO Mehul Sanghani Quoted

Octo Consulting announced on Tuesday that the company has been awarded, alongside prime partner Kingfisher Systems, a potential five-year, $14 million Teleport Program Integration and Implementation (I&I), Logistics, and Configuration Management Support contract by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). 

“DISA and DoD warfighter support missions make our nation safer. That Octo can contribute to this effort by implementing the power of cutting-edge technology is a true honor that reflects our technologists’ expertise and dedication to service,” said Octo CEO Mehul Sanghani. “We look forward to working with Kingfisher to ensure access to critical satellite communication.” 

Octo combined its satellite integration expertise with Kingfisher’s leadership in Mission Information Technology to support DISA at Fort George Meade, Maryland, DISA Headquarters Campus, DISA Field Command locations, and Department of Defense (DoD) Gateways.

DISA provides critical DoD Teleport System Gateway support to deployed forces by delivering seamless access to worldwide satellite communication services. In support of this program, Kingfisher’s operational and technical subject matter experts will provide program management, configuration management, information management, life cycle logistics, and implementation and integration services.

We are excited that we can continue to serve DISA in support of this critical mission. With Kingfisher, we combine our operational and subject matter expertise to deliver state of the art modernization,” James Vant, general manager of Octo's Defense Business Unit. “We look forward to helping DISA keep up with evolving technology and provide worldwide support to the DoD Teleport System.”

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4 Space Execs Added to Slingshot Aerospace’s Advisory Board; Melanie Stricklan Quoted
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4 Space Execs Added to Slingshot Aerospace’s Advisory Board; Melanie Stricklan Quoted

Slingshot Aerospace has named four executives with industry, government and academia experience to join its advisory board as the simulation and analytics company works to deliver space domain-focused technologies to customers.

The company said Monday the new advisors are Dan Berkenstock, founder and former CEO of Skybox and former research associate at NASA; Kathleen Howell, a Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University; Kevin O’Connell, fomer director of the Office of Space Commerce; and Mandy Vaughn, former president and CEO of Virgin Orbit subsidiary VOX Space.

Melanie Stricklan, co-founder and CEO of Slingshot Aerospace, commented that the new appointees will help the company achieve its goal of creating space sustainability. "Each person will be invaluable to our team as we build technologies that provide a full, dynamic picture of the space domain, allowing our customers to make decisions at the speed of relevance," she added.

Berkenstock will bring his over two decades of industry experience to his new role, while Howell will cotribute insight gained from serving at Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics since 1982.

O’Connell, on the other hand, is an entrepreneur and business leader who also has 35 years of government and research organization experience. As the director of the Office of Space Commerce, he led space commerce policy activities within the Department of Commerce.

Meanwhile, Vaughn was responsible for overseeing VOX Space and its delivery of satellite launch services. She has over two decades of experience in the space industry.

Slingshot Aerospace also appointed Belinda Marchand as director of astrodynamics and research and development, and Alonso Segura as senior director of space systems accounts. Marchand has almost three decades of industry and academia experience while Segura is the former deputy chief of Rapid Development Division for the U.S. Space Force.

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Victoria Coleman: USAF Must Adopt Zero-Trust Approach for Microchip Security
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Victoria Coleman: USAF Must Adopt Zero-Trust Approach for Microchip Security

Victoria Coleman, chief scientist of the U.S. Air Force, has urged the service branch to adopt a zero-trust approach for securing microprocessor chips in military computing and weapon systems, FedScoop reported Monday.

The former Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency director noted that a zero-trust architecture has the potential to avert the domino effect that a compromised part could have on a whole system.

“You don’t have to wait too long before another news story comes out about another vulnerability that was just discovered,” Coleman said at a Hudson Institute-hosted virtual event Monday.

USAF began migrating some mission-critical applications to a zero-trust environment in January as part of its push for tighter network security amid remote work arrangements.

Separately, the Defense Information Systems Agency released DOD’s initial zero-trust reference architecture in May to help military branches prevent unauthorized access to mission-critical assets.

The Hanscom AF Base in Massachusetts recently teamed up with the Air Combat Command’s cyberspace and information dominance unit to develop a software-based perimeter with zero-trust tools.

Victoria Coleman: USAF Must Adopt Zero-Trust Approach for Microchip Security

ExecutiveBiz, sister site of ExecutiveGov, will host the “Supply Chain Cybersecurity: Revelations and Innovations” forum on Oct. 26. Join the virtual event to hear from experts in industry as they share insights on the security challenges facing both the public and private sectors.

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Planet Lab’s Federal Arm to Integrate Basemaps Into NASS Agricultural Monitoring Process
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Planet Lab’s Federal Arm to Integrate Basemaps Into NASS Agricultural Monitoring Process

The federal business of Planet Labs has secured a contract to provide satellite imagery products to the Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service for use in crop production assessments at the state and country level. 

NASS will incorporate basemaps into its data collection and analysis workflows as the agency is seeking spatial and temporal granularities for this year's domestic farming season, Planet said Monday.

The company intends for its satellite data to help NASS analyze observations of disaster response scenarios that are hard to do with a medium-resolution optical system.

Rick Mueller, head of the spatial analysis research section at NASS, said using datasets from Planet will allow the agency to "understand and quantify trends in upcoming growing seasons, identify regions prone to drought stress and natural disasters, and provide high resolution assessments of crop production.”

“It’s encouraging to see this group integrate commercial datasets and products into their workflows, and we’re eager to see how accurate and timely Planet data contributes to their 2021 growing season assessment," said Vince Hurley, the company's federal civilian account executive.

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