The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has issued its annual statistical transparency report on the U.S. intelligence community’s use of national security surveillance authorities. The report offers information on the government’s use of National Security Letters and authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, ODNI said Friday.

“The Intelligence Community remains committed to providing the public with information about how we apply important national security authorities,” said Ben Huebner, chief of the office of civil liberties, privacy and transparency at ODNI.

“The information in today’s report will help foster continued public dialogue regarding how the Intelligence Community protects national security, our privacy, and our liberty,” added Huebner.

The eight annual statistical transparency report also offers insight into the oversight framework -including oversight performed by independent legislative and judicial entities – that protects the privacy and civil liberties of U.S. persons and non-U.S. persons whose information is collected in accordance with national security authorities.

Titles I and III and Sections 703 and 704 of FISA resulted in 524 “probable cause” court orders with an estimated total target of 451 in the calendar year 2020, according to the report.

The total number of National Security Letters issued in 2020 reached 9,682, while requests for information hit a total of 24,225 in the previous calendar year.

Members of the U.S. Marine Corps have augmented their simulation-based training with an approach based on online gaming.

Marine aviators from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing connected with each other from different simulators during the Cope Javelin exercise, which took place last month in Cherry Point, North Carolina, USMC said Thursday.

Participants accomplished the simulated mission and cross-communicated with one another without having to use actual aircraft. The integrated approach saved Marine Air Control Group 28 a large number of training resources such as fuel and maintenance work.

“Cope Javelin will ideally lay the foundation for the MAW to utilize both simulated and virtual training methods to increase overall combat readiness," said Capt. Tony Megliorino, MACG-28's lead planner for Cope Javelin.

The U.S. Army's new Texas-based Software Factory is accelerating software development through the power of cloud computing, C4ISRnet reported Thursday.

Capt. James Cho, the facility's platform product manager, said cloud technology allows users to harness more computing power as demanded. Leaders from across the military have expressed interest in using cloud computing to speed up software deliveries and maximize cost efficiency, the report noted.

The Department of Defense wants to use the cloud as a software production suite that grants developers access to needed tools and resources for cybersecurity and quality assurance testing.

Cho said the technology lessens the workload required to scale software applications and have them deployed service-wide.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will establish a new office dedicated to applying data across DHS operations, FedScoop reported Thursday.

DHS's future Office of the Chief Data Officer (CDO)will oversee the department's data activities in eight areas including cybersecurity, law enforcement and immigration.

The department determined the need to create a CDO office during DHS's COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which required a large amount of data collection and management work.

“Data must be interoperable and easily shareable by default, and the work we’re doing standing up our CDO office will help us get there,” Eric Hysen, the department's new CIO, said at the IT Modernization Summit.

Carlene Ileto, acting DHS CDO, is working to organize a team of executives who will work in alignment with the future office's focus areas.

AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), today announced that Steven A. Gitlin, chief marketing officer and vice president of investor relations, will present at the 2021 Virtual Wells Fargo Industrials Conference on Wednesday, May 5 at 11:40 a.m. PT / 2:40 p.m. ET.

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available in the Events and Presentations section of the AeroVironment website at https://investor.avinc.com/events-and-presentations. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days.

ABOUT AEROVIRONMENT, INC.

AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) provides technology solutions at the intersection of robotics, sensors, software analytics and connectivity that deliver more actionable intelligence so you can Proceed with Certainty. Celebrating 50 years of innovation, AeroVironment is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems and tactical missile systems, and serves defense, government and commercial customers.