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Johns Hopkins APL, Intuitive Machines Build Communications, PNT System for Cislunar Missions
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Cislunar space. Johns Hopkins APL and Intuitive Machines are working to advance cislunar communications and PNT technology.

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and Intuitive Machines are working to advance technology for public and private-sector missions between Earth and the moon. The collaboration, established in 2024, responds to U.S. priorities for sustaining activity in cislunar space, Johns Hopkins APL said Wednesday.

Why Is US Prioritizing Cislunar Infrastructure Now?

As government and commercial activity expands beyond Earth’s orbit, various organizations see the area between geosynchronous orbit and the moon as essential to future national security and space exploration. According to APL, plans for cislunar robotic systems, crewed missions and commercial services will require a dependable way to communicate, navigate and maintain awareness far from Earth.

What Capabilities Are APL and Intuitive Machines Developing?

Under the collaboration, APL and Intuitive Machines are working to build an advanced communications and positioning, navigation and timing infrastructure that will serve as the foundation for a future cislunar network designed to enable autonomous operations in the region. Their efforts include technology that could support multiple missions and allow different operators to exchange information, helping ensure safe coordination across future missions, including those conducted under NASA’s Artemis program.

The partnership is leveraging APL’s PNT and space communications experience that includes the development of technology prototypes, such as a common overlay router, a time transfer modem and an antenna assembly, supporting the U.S. space exploration ambitions.

“This collaboration brings together Intuitive Machines’ proven lunar access and data services with APL’s decades of excellence in space systems engineering,” said Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus. “Together, we’re helping shape the future of lunar operations and ensuring that NASA and the nation have the infrastructure needed for long-term exploration.”

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Commerce Dept Names Taylor Jordan as Director of Office of Space Commerce
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OSC Director Taylor Jordan. The Commerce Department has appointed Taylor Jordan as director of the Office of Space Commerce.

The Department of Commerce has appointed Taylor Jordan as director of the office of space commerce.

OSC said Tuesday Jordan will remain as assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“I am deeply honored to lead the nation’s principal office dedicated to promoting commercial space activity,” said Jordan. “Strengthening America’s leadership in space is a top priority of this Administration, and I look forward to working with industry and government partners to advance U.S. commercial interests in the space domain.”

Who Is Taylor Jordan?

Jordan is a veteran space policy leader with over 15 years of experience. He previously spent nearly five years at Innovative Federal Strategies as principal and director of policy.

Before that, he served as a senior policy adviser at NOAA for over three years. In this role, he supported the agency’s satellite programs and provided strategic oversight of major space-system acquisitions. The senior government official also worked for seven years with the committee on science, space and technology at the U.S. House of Representatives, serving on the staff of its environment and energy subcommittees.

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NASA, Industry Partners Eye 2027 Launch for Fly Foundational Robots Demo Mission
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Artist concept of the FFR mission's robotic arm. NASA plans to launch the Fly Foundational Robots mission in late 2027.

NASA and industry partners plan to launch a demonstration mission in late 2027 to operate a commercial robotic arm in low Earth orbit as part of a push to advance in-space operations in support of future exploration and scientific discovery missions.

The space agency said Tuesday it will collaborate on the planned Fly Foundational Robots, or FFR, demo mission with Astro Digital and Motiv Space Systems.

“Today it’s a robotic arm demonstration, but one day these same technologies could be assembling solar arrays, refueling satellites, constructing lunar habitats, or manufacturing products that benefit life on Earth,” said Bo Naasz, senior technical lead for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing, or ISAM, in the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. ”This is how we build a dominant space economy and sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars.”

What Is NASA’s Fly Foundational Robots Mission?

Funded through the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate’s ISAM portfolio, the FFR mission will fly and demonstrate a Motiv Space Systems-built robotic arm that can perform dexterous manipulations, use tools autonomously and move across spacecraft structures in zero or partial gravity.

The agency expects the mission to pave the way for refueling and repairing spacecraft, building habitats and infrastructure in space, assisting astronauts during extended missions and maintaining life support systems on Mars and the lunar surface.

Astro Digital will provide a hosted orbital test for the mission through NASA’s Flight Opportunities program.

Motiv will supply the robotic arm under a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III award with the space agency.

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GSA, SAP to Offer Discounts on IT Products Under OneGov Deal
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IT modernization. GSA and SAP signed a OneGov agreement to make the latter’s IT products available to agencies.

The General Services Administration and SAP have signed an agreement to make the latter’s database, analytics, integration and cloud platforms available to federal agencies. 

GSA, SAP to Offer Discounts on IT Products Under OneGov Deal

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GSA said Wednesday the OneGov agreement allows agencies to acquire SAP’s products at discounted prices.

“The OneGov agreement with SAP gives federal agencies access to new tools as they accelerate technology modernization, transition away from legacy systems, and unlock significant taxpayer savings,” said Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. 

“Through this and other OneGov agreements, GSA is providing federal agencies with essential IT tools, such as cloud services, to support the White House’s AI Action Plan,” added Gruenbaum, a 2025 Wash100 Award recipient.

What Are the Terms of the GSA-Perplexity OneGov Agreement?

The OneGov agreement makes SAP’s license-based products, including SAP HANA, ASE, SQL Anywhere, IQ, Replication Server and PowerDesigner, available for agencies at an 80 percent discount for 18 months.

Agencies can also access SAP’s cloud services, including SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP Business Technology Platform and HR Payroll, at a 35 percent discount.

Through the agreement, the company will provide agencies with a $1-for-$1 first-year modernization incentive, dedicated SAP Enterprise Architect support and waived data egress fees across government-certified hyperscaler environments.

According to GSA, the agreement is available to SAP’s existing customers for expansions, renewals or modernization projects.

“The OneGov model enables agencies to adopt modern capabilities more efficiently. We look forward to working together to accelerate IT modernization by leveraging the AI-powered SAP Business Suite to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce operating costs, and empower agencies to move faster, operate smarter, and maintain a persistent state of innovation,” said David Robinson, president of SAP Cloud ERP and managing director of SAP U.S. Public Services.

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Navy Awards JWCC Task Orders to Google, Oracle for Cloud Capabilities
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Karen Dahut, CEO of Google Public Sector. Dahut comments about Google's new JWCC task order from the Navy

The Department of the Navy’s Program Executive Office Digital and Enterprise Services, or PEO Digital, has awarded Google Public Sector and Oracle America competitive task orders under the Joint Warfighting Capability Cloud, also known as JWCC, contract vehicle to support secure and rapid cloud migration and digital transformation.

DON said Monday that the companies will provide Google Cloud Platform, or GCP, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, or OCI, landing zones, expanding its cloud portfolio.

“As part of DON’s multi-cloud strategy, this Google Cloud landing zone will expand the DON’s cloud portfolio, giving Sailors and Marines – from headquarters to the tactical edge – access to industry-leading capabilities and services to support secure, rapid cloud migration and optimization,” Karen Dahut, CEO of Google Public Sector and a four-time Wash100 winner, wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Navy Awards JWCC Task Orders to Google, Oracle for Cloud Capabilities

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What Cloud Capabilities Will Google & Oracle Offer DON?

The GCP and OCI landing zones will introduce cross-cloud communications and multi-cloud interoperability, secure cloud computing across classification levels through Impact Level 6, and air gapped options for edge operations. Google and Oracle will also provide private infrastructures and dedicated connections designed to increase resiliency and reduce network disruptions. Additional access to artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, including generative AI, is also included in the task orders.

“As we work to enhance and modernize our cloud computing infrastructure, a multi-cloud strategy with GCP and OCI is essential to increasing DON’s technical and warfighting capabilities,” commented Genoese Zerbi, deputy director of the Neptune Cloud Management Office, a.k.a. CMO. “This collaboration with Google and Oracle enhances our existing capabilities by combining powerful cloud-native services with mission-critical performance, directly supporting sailors and marines from headquarters to the tactical edge.”

What Is the Role of Navy’s Neptune CMO?

PEO Digital’s Neptune CMO was stood up in 2023 to serve as a hub for the acquisition and delivery of cloud services across DON. Neptune CMO previously partnered with Microsoft for the Azure Government Secret cloud offering.

INL Receives First Project Pele Nuclear Fuel Delivery From BWXT
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Idaho National Laboratory logo. INL received BWXT's TRISO fuel

Idaho National Laboratory has confirmed the first delivery of tri-structural isotropic, or TRISO, particle fuel at its Transient Reactor Test Facility, marking a milestone in the development of a mobile microreactor for the Department of War under Project Pele.

What Is TRISO?

TRISO, an advanced nuclear fuel, is produced from uranium, carbon and oxygen formed into a small kernel coated in multiple layers, creating a structure able to withstand high heat, radiation and corrosive environments, INL said Tuesday. Thousands of kernels, each the size of a poppy seed, are combined into compact fuel forms intended to power nuclear reactors.

INL Receives First Project Pele Nuclear Fuel Delivery From BWXT

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BWX Technologies, which secured a Pentagon contract in 2020 to support Project Pele, manufactured the fuel from its facilities in Lynchburg, Virginia.

“This is real nuclear microreactor fuel delivered at its final destination, rather than some letter or memorandum promising to make fuel at a later date,” noted Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment.

“When it comes to fuel fabrication, to reactor design, engineering and manufacturing, BWXT continues to lead because we are not only performing that work day-in and day-out for our customers, but we are also delivering,” added Joe Miller, president for government operations at BWXT.

How Will Project Pele Support War Department Missions?

Project Pele aims to construct a 1.5-megawatt transportable power system to supply the energy needs of the U.S. military. The reactor is designed to fit into four standard-sized shipping containers to be easily transportable.  

BWXT is currently building the Pele prototype, which INL is expected to begin testing by early 2027. The Department of Energy, the U.S. Army and the War Department’s Strategic Capabilities Office are partnering on the project.

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Lawmakers Revive AI Civil Rights Act to Prevent Algorithmic Discrimination
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US Capitol. Democrats reintroduced the AI Civil Rights Act to prevent discriminatory algorithms.

Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., have reintroduced the Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act, which seeks to stop companies from using biased algorithms that influence decisions affecting civil rights and access to essential opportunities. The reintroduction was announced Tuesday by the office of Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., one of the House co-leaders for the proposed legislation.

Lawmakers Revive AI Civil Rights Act to Prevent Algorithmic Discrimination

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What Types of Algorithmic Decisions Would the AI Civil Rights Act Cover?

The legislation applies to companies developing or using algorithms in critical decision-making areas, including housing, employment, lending, healthcare and education. It would prohibit algorithmic discrimination based on protected characteristics and require independently audited impact assessments before and after algorithm deployments.

The bill also requires transparency about when an algorithm is involved in a decision.

Why Are Guardrails on Algorithms Needed?

Bill sponsors referenced cases highlighted by civil rights organizations in which algorithms reflect inequities in the data used to build them. They said automated decisions are already shaping major life outcomes, and oversight is needed to ensure those systems do not replicate discrimination.

How Are Civil Rights Advocates Responding?

Supporting groups said many algorithms incorporate data influenced by longstanding inequities, which could result in unfair outcomes when applied at scale. They pointed to concerns involving mortgage approvals, hiring decisions and other processes where discrimination has been documented.

According to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the bill establishes accountability and transparency measures to help ensure algorithms do not automate bias. Other national advocacy organizations, labor groups and civil rights associations also voiced support for the standards included in the proposal.

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Army Issues RFI for CAML Munitions Pallet Development
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US Army logo. The Army's PAE Fires CAML Product Office seeks industry input on CAML pallet production.

The U.S. Army’s Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher Product Office has started seeking industry feedback on potential vendors capable of designing, building and testing munitions pallets for CAML, an autonomous or optionally crewed, highly mobile, air-transportable fires launcher.

Army Issues RFI for CAML Munitions Pallet Development

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According to the request for information published on SAM.gov Monday, interested contractors have until Dec. 15 to send their responses.

What Are the Army’s CAML Pallet Requirements?

The selected contractor should have the technical skills, facilities, tooling and personnel to develop and produce a munitions pallet for CAML within 12 months of contract award. 

The pallet must integrate all munitions and launcher electronics without hindering autonomous loading or unloading onto a separately developed mobility platform. It must not exceed 60,000 pounds and should be capable of being raised and lowered electronically. Palletized missiles must also be able to be erected to the required firing angle on command.

In addition, the pallet should support command-and-control launch functions through external interfaces, draw its primary power from a separately developed mobile power unit and include any necessary environmental conditioning.

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David Bottom Departs SEC, Joins Consulting Services Group as CISO
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David Bottom. The former SEC CIO has joined Consulting Services Group as CISO.

David Bottom has stepped down as chief information officer at the Securities and Exchange Commission to join Consulting Services Group as chief information security officer.

“It has been an honor to serve at the SEC with colleagues dedicated to protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation,” Bottom wrote in a LinkedIn post Monday. 

In his announcement, the former CIO at SEC highlighted his new focus at CSG, a company that provides consulting, global telecommunications, DevSecOps, IT, intelligence analysis and logistics support services for public and public sector customers.

“At CSG, I look forward to advancing the company’s cybersecurity strategy and capabilities, applying my experience at the SEC, DHS, White House and Intelligence Community to enable our current and future clients to meet the complex challenges they face. I welcome opportunities to collaborate on future initiatives that drive innovation, resilience, and stronger security across public and private sectors,” Bottom noted.

Who Is David Bottom?

Bottom served as CIO at SEC between January 2020 and September 2025, according to the agency’s website.

Before joining the commission, he was on special assignment to the CIO in the Office of Management and Budget, where he led federal cloud and artificial intelligence deployment efforts.

His government career also included time serving as CIO and chief data officer at the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, as well as director of the IT directorate and deputy director of enterprise operations at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

He previously served as chief innovation officer within IBM’s federal intelligence practice.

The Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduate has a master’s degree in information systems management from George Washington University.

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HHS Appoints Martin Kulldorff as Chief Science Officer for ASPE
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Martin Kulldorff. The biostatistician and epidemiologist has joined HHS ASPE as chief science officer.

The Department of Health and Human Services has named Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist, chief science officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, or ASPE.

HHS Appoints Martin Kulldorff as Chief Science Officer for ASPE

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In a statement published Monday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he is pleased to welcome Kulldorff to his team “to help develop bold, evidence-based policies to Make America Healthy Again.” 

What Does ASPE Do?

ASPE provides policy advice to the HHS secretary. The department’s in-house think tank coordinates research and evaluation efforts, oversees special initiatives and planning processes across HHS, and generates cost estimates and analyses for policy options across public health and human services.

Who Is Martin Kulldorff?

Kulldorff most recently served as chair of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP.

The former Harvard Medical School professor helped create the CDC and Food and Drug Administration vaccine and drug safety surveillance systems by developing epidemiological and statistical methods for the Vaccine Safety Datalink and Sentinel systems. 

He previously served on the ACIP COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Technical Work Group and on the FDA Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee.

Kulldorff has over 200 peer-reviewed publications.

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