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CESER, Lawrence Livermore National Lab Unveil AI Cybersecurity Testbed
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Artificial intelligence. CESER and LLNL have launched an AI cybersecurity testbed for the energy sector.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have introduced an artificial intelligence testbed designed to evaluate the cybersecurity and reliability of AI models used in the energy sector.

CESER, Lawrence Livermore National Lab Unveil AI Cybersecurity Testbed

DOE’s latest push to strengthen AI cybersecurity in the energy sector highlights the growing urgency around securing advanced technologies that support critical infrastructure. Sign up now for the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 to hear experts discuss the use of AI in high-security federal environments, mission engineering, enterprise IT and other topics shaping the digital landscape.

What Is the Mjölnir AI Testbed?

DOE said Tuesday the Mjölnir AI Testbed is an AI model assurance platform designed to help utilities, technology providers and researchers assess how AI models that support grid operations and management perform under adversarial conditions and identify potential vulnerabilities.

The testbed enables users to upload AI models and conduct adversarial testing to evaluate how systems respond to cyberattacks. The platform measures the likelihood that a model will behave incorrectly or unsafely, expose sensitive or proprietary data, or degrade under failure or compromise scenarios.

Test results provide insights into each model’s security posture and allow for direct comparisons across models. The platform is intended to help stakeholders understand model risk and support decisions on deploying AI in critical energy infrastructure.

The system advances DOE’s Genesis Mission and is designed to support electric utilities, grid operators, energy tech vendors, AI developers, national labs and research institutions.

What Is Genesis Mission?

The Genesis Mission is a DOE-led national initiative that aims to develop a scientific platform to drive energy innovation, accelerate discovery science and strengthen national security. Formed through a November executive order, the mission seeks to connect leading supercomputers, AI systems, experimental facilities and unique scientific datasets to double the research productivity and impact of U.S. research and innovation within 10 years.

In March, DOE issued a $293 million funding call under the Genesis Mission, inviting interdisciplinary teams to apply AI to address 26 science and technology challenges.

In December, the department signed agreements with Accenture, NVIDIA, Amazon Web Services, Google, Oracle, Microsoft and 18 other organizations to advance the Genesis Mission and announced a $320 million investment to accelerate the development of AI capabilities in support of the initiative.

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DARPA Advances HARQ With Performer Teams, Dual Workstreams for Hybrid Quantum Systems
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DARPA logo. DARPA advanced HARQ with MOSAIC and QSB workstreams to enable scalable, multi-qubit quantum systems.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has advanced its Heterogeneous Architectures for Quantum, or HARQ, program with 19 performer teams from 15 organizations tasked with developing software and hardware frameworks that enable different quantum computing technologies to operate within a single system.

The effort is organized around two parallel workstreams, DARPA said Tuesday. The Multi-qubit Optimized Software Architecture through Interconnected Compilation, or MOSAIC, track focuses on building software frameworks and circuit compilers that optimize quantum algorithms by assigning tasks across multiple qubit types. The goal is to produce more efficient “mosaic” circuits than those generated by single-platform systems.

The second track, Quantum Shared Backbone, or QSB, addresses the hardware challenge of enabling communication between different qubit technologies. Teams will develop high-fidelity interconnects to link disparate quantum systems within a single architecture.

Performers will spend the next 24 months collaborating through co-design efforts to develop the architectural principles, tools and components needed to support heterogeneous quantum systems.

Why Is DARPA Focusing on Multi-Qubit Architectures?

“Qubit technologies each have their own distinct advantages, but no single approach can deliver everything needed for large-scale, high-performance quantum systems,” said DARPA Program Manager Justin Cohen. “HARQ is asking the community to shift away from a ‘one-qubit-to-rule-them-all’ mindset.” 

Quantum computing developers are pursuing various qubit technologies, including superconducting circuits, trapped ions, neutral atoms and photonic systems, each offering distinct advantages but also tradeoffs. DARPA launched HARQ earlier this year to address the challenge of integrating these technologies, with a focus on developing the interstitial components needed to connect them.

“We aim to define what a truly heterogeneous quantum architecture looks like and to develop the interconnects that make those systems possible. If successful, this approach could provide a far more efficient path to scaling quantum computing and unlock applications that remain out of reach today,” Cohen explained.

Who Are the Selected HARQ Performers?

The selected teams span academia and industry across both workstreams.

For the MOSAIC track, participants include Infleqtion, MemQ, Q-CTRL, the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania.

The QSB track includes the Australian National University; Carnegie Mellon University; École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne; Harvard University; IonQ; Stanford University; the University of California, Berkeley; and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

DARPA said most teams are already on contract, with additional agreements in progress.

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GAO Urges Navy to Address Gaps in Navy Financial System Migration, Audit Readiness
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GAO logo. The Government Accountability Office has urged the U.S. Navy to address gaps in financial system migration.

The Government Accountability Office said the Department of the Navy has made progress in modernizing financial management systems but needs to strengthen planning practices to meet audit objectives.

GAO Urges Navy to Address Gaps in Navy Financial System Migration, Audit Readiness

Sign up for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit on Aug. 27 to learn how emerging technologies and modernization strategies are shaping the future of naval operations.

What Progress Has the Navy Made?

According to the GAO report published Tuesday, the Navy began efforts to modernize and consolidate financial IT systems after acknowledging in 2020 that it had spent billions maintaining outdated platforms. The initiative has led to the termination of at least 11 legacy systems and generated more than $100 million in savings. The service also reported completing the migration of remaining commands to its Navy Enterprise Resource Planning system, which serves as its financial system of record.

What Challenges Did GAO Identify?

Despite progress, GAO found the Navy did not fully follow leading practices for strategic and migration planning. The agency met some planning criteria but only partially implemented performance measurement approaches tied to fiscal 2025 goals.

Moreover, GAO identified at least 111 changes to consolidation plans, including 49 schedule delays. These issues could affect the Navy’s ability to meet Department of War auditability targets.

What Recommendations Were Issued?

GAO issued five recommendations to the Navy, primarily focused on strengthening strategic and migration planning and assessing schedule delays affecting the path to a clean audit opinion by 2028. The Navy concurred with one recommendation, partially concurred with two and did not concur with two.

The agency urged Navy leadership to enhance performance monitoring of financial systems, develop a comprehensive enterprise migration roadmap, improve tracking of audit-relevant system migrations through regular Systems Consolidation Action Plan updates, implement a process to manage migration-related issues and evaluate the impact of system delays on audit readiness.

How Is GAO Expanding Oversight Across Navy Programs?

Beyond financial systems, GAO is also examining broader Navy operations. In a separate January 2026 report, the watchdog identified gaps in how the service plans and conducts operational testing to validate new vessels’ ability to counter adversary threats.

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FCC Names ioXt Alliance Lead Administrator for Cyber Trust Mark Program
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ioXt Alliance logo. ioXt was selected as the lead administrator for the FCC’s Cyber Trust Mark program.

The Federal Communications Commission has selected the ioXt Alliance as the new lead administrator for the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program, advancing implementation of the agency’s voluntary cybersecurity labeling initiative for consumer Internet of Things devices.

The FCC said Monday ioXt will work with stakeholders to help operationalize the program, designed to provide consumers with clearer security information when purchasing connected products and to incentivize stronger cybersecurity practices across the IoT ecosystem. 

FCC Names ioXt Alliance Lead Administrator for Cyber Trust Mark Program

Register now for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 to join high-level discussions on cybersecurity standards and initiatives shaping the protection of connected systems and devices.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the designation ensures the program will be implemented in a way that supports consumer awareness while advancing national and cybersecurity priorities.

The agency’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau determined that ioXt meets the program’s requirements.

What Responsibilities Will ioXt Take On?

“Our responsibility as Lead Administrator is to ensure that this program delivers measurable security outcomes. We are committed to strengthening trust across the entire IoT product for everyone,” said Gary Jabara, CEO and founder of ioXt.

In said role, ioXt will recommend cybersecurity standards and testing procedures, develop a consumer outreach strategy, and serve as a liaison between the FCC and cybersecurity labeling administrators. The organization will also support label design updates and ongoing stakeholder engagement as the program matures, provide cost estimates for program operations, and participate in a cost-sharing structure with other administrators.

According to ioXt, the designation supports alignment with federal guidance and emerging international IoT security frameworks, positioning the program to reduce fragmentation across global markets.

The FCC will retain oversight of the initiative, including final authority on standards and implementation decisions.

How Does the Cyber Trust Mark Program Work?

Under the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program, qualified devices will carry a standardized label intended to help consumers identify products that meet baseline cybersecurity requirements. The program builds on prior public- and private-sector efforts and is modeled, in part, on initiatives such as ENERGY STAR, which use labeling to influence market behavior. It is designed to strengthen transparency, encourage manufacturers to adopt stronger security practices and reduce risks associated with connected devices in homes and businesses.

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NTIA Completes Key Review to Advance Spectrum Availability for Commercial 6G
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NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth. Roth commented about NTIA's review of 2.7 GHz relocation plans from federal users

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has advanced its efforts to repurpose the 2.7 GHz band for commercial use and advance U.S. leadership in 6G.

The agency said Tuesday that it completed key technical reviews of spectrum relocation plans and cost estimates from federal users of the band, marking a step toward making the spectrum available for next-generation wireless services.

The approval also reportedly enables the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration, two primary users of the band, to begin implementing spectrum repurposing in future procurement of radar systems for weather monitoring and aviation safety.

Why Is the 2.7 GHz Band Important for 6G?

The 2.7 GHz band is considered highly valuable because it offers a balance of coverage and capacity. According to NTIA, its signals can reach wide geographic areas and penetrate indoor environments. The band also supports the large, contiguous channels needed for high-throughput use cases for next-generation wireless networks.

Why Is NTIA Evaluating 2.7 GHz Spectrum for Repurposing?

In 2025, Congress directed NTIA to identify 500 MHz of federal spectrum for commercial use within five years. President Donald Trump expanded the effort by mandating studies on additional bands, including 2.69-2.9 GHz.

“President Trump delivered a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize federal systems, improve spectrum efficiency and unlock high-power commercial access to advance American wireless innovation,” Arielle Roth, assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information and  NTIA administrator, said. “NTIA is executing on that mandate with urgency. This milestone brings us one step closer to ensuring the American people realize the full benefit of this spectrum as quickly as possible.”

The Federal Communications Commission previously unveiled plans to auction up to 180 megahertz of spectrum in the 3.98-4.2 GHz range to support next-generation wireless services in a notice of proposed rulemaking issued in December. 

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Space Force Selects Blue Origin for Potential Use of Vandenberg’s SLC-14
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Space Force logo. The Space Force selected Blue Origin for a potential SLC-14 lease at Vandenberg SFB

The U.S. Space Force is advancing negotiations with Blue Origin to provide heavy and super-heavy launch capabilities at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The service said Tuesday that it has selected Blue Origin for a potential lease agreement to develop and operate Space Launch Complex-14.

Space Force Selects Blue Origin for Potential Use of Vandenberg's SLC-14

The Space Force is expanding its partnership with industry to support missions. The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30 will feature Space Force and Department of War leaders to discuss potential collaboration opportunities with industry. Register today.

How Did the Space Force Select Blue Origin for SLC-14?

The selection follows a request for information the Space Force issued in December 2025 to identify launch service providers capable of developing heavy and super-heavy launch infrastructure at SLC-14.

According to the service, respondents were evaluated based on several criteria, including technical capability, financial maturity and alignment with U.S. government requirements.

Blue Origin will now enter discussions with Space Launch Delta 30, Vanderberg’s host unit, to finalize the terms and conditions of a real property use agreement.

Before any construction or launch activities begin, the project must also complete safety assessments and environmental impact analyses.

“The down-selection of Blue Origin to continue in the process for final determination of a lease at SLC-14 represents a critical milestone at the Vandenberg Spaceport,” USSF Col. James Horne III, commander of SLD 30, stated.

Why Is SLC-14 Critical to Space Launch Expansion?

SLC-14, located at the southernmost point of Vandenberg, has been identified as the most suitable site for supporting large launch operations. The Space Force said increasing launch capacity will support the deployment of larger satellites, improve the resilience of space architectures and accelerate the reconstitution of satellite constellations.

“By taking the next steps to further develop heavy and super-heavy space launch capabilities at SLC-14, we’re continuing to unleash our capacity to execute full-spectrum space operations for the nation,” Horne added.

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Could Microservices Help the Space Force Make Faster, Better Quality Decisions?
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Col. Jonathan McCall. The Space Force deputy director for space believes microservices could give it a decision advantage.
  • The Space Force seeks faster, better decision-making to give it an advantage over adversaries in future warfare.
  • It believes offloading human cognitive decision-making onto machines via microservices could give it this decision advantage.
  • Hear directly from Col. Jonathan McCall, Space Force deputy director for space and the Air Battle Management System cross-functional team, during a panel at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22!

The Space Force believes making faster and better decisions than its adversaries will bring it success in future warfare. It believes microservices will give it this decision advantage similar to its technological advantage in other warfare domains.

Col. Jonathan McCall, Space Force deputy director for space and the Air Battle Management System cross-functional team, told ExecutiveGov in an exclusive interview ahead of his panel discussion at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 that the Space Force believes future combat will involve machines talking to machines to make decisions. The service, he said, wants to offload the cognitive work typically performed by humans onto machines and improve the speed, scale and quality of its decision-making.

What Is a Microservice?

McCall defined a microservice as the opposite of an “all-in-one monolithic” software tool. Instead of modern command-and-control visualization tools that package and present data inside a closed and proprietary ecosystem, microservices have inputs, outputs and transformation specifically defined by the Space Force.

Hear directly from McCall during his panel discussion on Operationalizing AI in High-Security Federal Environments at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22! Dive into scaling cloud and artificial intelligence without disrupting operations and accelerating delivery in 24/7 operational environments. Secure your seat today!

The service, McCall said, expects to call that microservice function from any other software tool or microservice and visualize it in a way that makes sense for a particular mission. The goal is to have open architectures between software tools performing specific decisions.

McCall said this is because there’s a lot of overlap between the types of decisions made when fighting a sea, air or space domain battle.

“We don’t need to be paying for visualizations for each one of those, when the underlying math is basically the same,” McCall said.

He said while ubiquitous data is an enabler, it doesn’t constitute decision advantage. The Space Force, instead, needs to be able to transform that data in a cognitive-like way. The service is looking for microservices and software tools that perform those transformations and don’t just present “prettier dashboards” to operators to make the decisions themselves.

How Is the Pentagon Experimenting With Microservices?

The Air Force has been performing experiments with microservices called Decision Advantage Sprint for Human-Machine Teaming, or DASH. A DASH experiment held in mid 2025 in Las Vegas brought together U.S. and Canadian warfighters, industry and Shadow Operations Center-Nellis software developers to prototype microservices in high-tempo battle management scenarios.

The DASH experiment demonstrated how machine support can dramatically slash decision time while improving quality for air battle managers working in complex operational environments, according to a USAF statement. The service described the DASH experiment as a step toward future C2 capabilities.

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How Do DASH Experiments Work?

McCall said these DASH experiments demonstrate the measured utility of offloading cognitive decision work usually performed by humans onto machines. Instead of a human having six screens to view and four headsets on trying to transform data, why not have the human monitor a set of microservices transforming that data?

In this scenario, the machines can monitor the headsets and screens, and provide a suite of options that the human operators can pick from. There are three more DASH experiments planned so far in 2026: ones in May, July and in the fall that will focus on specific decisions, and collections of decisions, that work synergistically and measure the impact of offloading that cognitive work to machines.

“[DASH experiments] are opportunities to experience firsthand what successful decision advantage [via] microservice implementation looks like,” McCall said. “That’s pretty valuable for these businesses.”

McCall said future business opportunities in microservice implementation will come from the Air Force’s Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management, aka C3BM, program acquisition executive as requirements solidify. The C3BM PAE had a classified industry day in Marc and is hosting an unclassified engagement day on May 13 in Dayton, Ohio. A request for comment was left with Air Force Material Command, home of the C3BM PAE, about future industry days.

Could Microservices Help the Space Force Make Faster, Better Quality Decisions?
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Trump Signs SBIR-STTR Reauthorization Bill Into Law
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Kelly Loeffler. The SBA administrator commented on Trump’s move to sign the SBIR-STTR reauthorization bill into law.

President Donald Trump on Monday signed into law a bill that seeks to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs through fiscal year 2031.

Trump Signs SBIR-STTR Reauthorization Bill Into Law

Federal agencies continue to play a key role in advancing innovation and supporting small business participation across government programs. Sign up now for the 2026 FedCiv Summit, where experts will discuss federal priorities, including AI adoption, cloud and compute infrastructure, and mission-driven investments.

What Did SBA Director Kelly Loeffler Say About the SBIR-STTR Reauthorization Bill?

In a statement published Monday, Kelly Loeffler, administrator of the Small Business Administration, said the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act will sustain support for startups developing advanced technologies and contributing to the U.S. industrial base.

“Driven by innovative startups, the United States leads the world in scientific breakthroughs and transformative technology – and thanks to this law, SBIR and STTR will continue to power entrepreneurs who are building the industrial base of the future,” said Loeffler, a 2026 Wash100 awardee.

“Amid intense global competition and America’s reindustrialization, this law reinforces the Administration’s commitment to accelerating American ingenuity. I applaud lawmakers for advancing this critical measure and am grateful to President Trump for signing it into law to unleash the potential of the next generation of innovators,” she added.

What Are the Provisions of the Small Business Innovation & Economic Security Act?

The measure reauthorizes the SBIR and STTR programs through Sept. 30, 2031, and includes provisions to strengthen program integrity and safeguard research from foreign adversaries.

The law also expands access for new entrants, enhances oversight and modernizes program operations to ensure measurable outcomes from federal investments.

According to congressional records, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act will expand requirements for federal agencies to evaluate national security risks posed by small business applicants. If an agency denies an application on security grounds, it must provide the applicant with the basis for that determination.

It also requires agencies to set a maximum number of proposals a small business may submit per fiscal year in response to Phase I and Phase II solicitations.

In addition, the legislation expands training requirements for contracting officers and the acquisition workforce related to Phase III awards, which focus on the commercialization of SBIR and STTR-supported technologies.

The law also establishes strategic breakthrough allocations for critical technology areas, providing additional Phase II awards to small businesses that demonstrate effective technologies and secure matching funds.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, sponsored the measure, which was carried in the House by Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, chairman of the House Small Business Committee.

What Are the SBIR & STTR Programs?

According to SBA, the SBIR and STTR programs, known collectively as America’s Seed Fund, have provided more than $81 billion in funding to over 34,000 small businesses since 1982. The programs operate across multiple federal agencies, including the Department of War, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Companies such as Anduril, Biogen, Qualcomm, Illumina and iRobot received early-stage support through the SBIR program.

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USSF Front Door Adds Space Command to Industry Engagement Effort
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U.S. Space Force logo. USSF Front Door has partnered with U.S. Space Command to facilitate industry engagement.

The U.S. Space Force Front Door has partnered with U.S. Space Command to serve as an entry point for industry to share technologies and ideas that could help advance national space capabilities and accelerate technology delivery to warfighters.

USSF Front Door Adds Space Command to Industry Engagement Effort

As collaboration between government and industry continues to accelerate across the national security space ecosystem, leaders are placing greater emphasis on innovation and partnership. Secure your seat at the 2026 Air and Space Summit and join leaders and experts as they examine advanced technologies and strategies shaping the future fight across two critical domains.

What Is Space Force Front Door?

Space Force Front Door is a commercial engagement initiative launched by Space Systems Command in 2023 to connect startups, nontraditional partners and vendors with the Space Force, SSC said Monday.

Front Door allows companies to submit innovations through a centralized portal, where personnel review, vet and track submissions using automation and customer relationship management tools before sharing relevant solutions with appropriate experts across Space Force and partner organizations, including USSPACECOM.

In September, the initiative was renamed to reflect its expansion across all three Space Force field commands.

Front Door operates within SSC’s Commercial Space Office, which focuses on accelerating partnerships to deliver capabilities in support of warfighter needs.

Since deploying its customer relationship management system in September 2023, Front Door has received more than 2,300 submissions from over 1,850 companies and facilitated more than 2,000 connections with mission owners across the Space Force and other government organizations.

The initiative has also supported more than 100 industry engagement events, including industry days, to connect government and commercial stakeholders.

Companies that register with Front Door receive “Orbital Watch,” an unclassified threat report from Headquarters Space Force Intelligence designed to help commercial partners mitigate threats and improve system resilience.

What Did Space Force Officials Say About Front Door?

Vic Vigliotti, director of USSF Front Door, said the expansion broadens access for industry and government stakeholders.

“With the addition of U.S. Space Command, visitors to the Front Door portal can now connect with a broader range of military space organizations,” Vigliotti said. “Likewise, USSPACECOMM will now have the opportunity to connect with the broader universe of commercial solutions providers engaging with Front Door.”

Vigliotti added that the initiative creates a searchable database of commercial capabilities that Space Force can use to identify and integrate technologies.

“Front Door offers the comprehensive platform and process that we require for tapping into the many ideas, products, and technologies that our commercial and industrial sectors are bringing to the table,” said U.S. Navy Cdr. Heather Thomas, lead for commercial integration at USSPACECOM. “In support of the DoW’s Commercial-first strategy, the opportunity to utilize one system eliminates duplicity and is a win for industry as well as a win for government.”

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NASA Awards $76M Data Engineering Support Contract to Development Seed
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Development Seed logo. Development Seed will support NASA’s data science office under a $76M IDIQ contract.

NASA has awarded Development Seed a potential $76 million contract to provide data engineering, informatics and artificial intelligence support services to the agency’s Office of Data Science and Informatics, or ODSI, at Marshall Space Flight Center.

The performance-based, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract includes a phase-in period beginning May 15, a two-year base ordering period and three one-year option periods that could extend work through June 2031, NASA said Monday.

What Will Development Seed Support?

Under the contract, Development Seed will deliver research and development services across ODSI initiatives, including system architecture, operations and maintenance of agency-developed tools and platforms, and structured approaches to data curation, management and stewardship.

The company will also provide subject matter expertise in informatics, data science and information management, along with support for the development and deployment of AI and machine learning capabilities to enhance NASA science data systems.

Based on the draft request for proposals released in 2024, work also covers scalable data architectures, interoperability across science data platforms, and life cycle management of large, complex datasets.

What Previous Work Has Development Seed Performed for NASA?

Development Seed previously supported NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center under a separate contract focused on improving scientific data processing and expanding access to Earth observation data.

That effort included support for scientific information systems and collaboration initiatives designed to integrate Earth science datasets into broader application workflows.

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