NOAA Teams up With Southern Mississippi University to Further Uncrewed System R&D
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NOAA Teams up With Southern Mississippi University to Further Uncrewed System R&D

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will work with the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) to advance research and development of uncrewed systems and enable enhanced operation of the platform for better environmental data collection.

The agency said Thursday the 10-year agreement with USM also includes UxS testing and evaluation and serves as a framework for collaborative work between scientists from NOAA and operators of the said sensor-equipped vehicles.

NOAA uses UxS to inform extreme event forecasting with information gathered through at-sea observations. The vehicles are also capable of assisting the agency in marine mammal and fishery stock assessments, ocean exploration and seafloor and habitat mapping efforts.

"The use of uncrewed systems increases safety and productivity and allows us to expand coverage and access of ocean space, especially in remote, hazardous or extreme environments," said Kelly Lucas, associate vice president for research, coastal operations at USM.

Lucas also noted the possibility of uncrewed systems transforming data collection and processes if augmented with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Rear Adm. Nancy Hann, deputy director for operations for NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and deputy director of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, said the agency will help drive innovation in Mississippi. The state could be "a major hub for ocean research and innovation," according to her.

The partnership is in line with NOAA's efforts to work with the U.S. Navy, other federal agencies, industry and academia on UxS research, testing and acquisition as required by the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology Act.

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Idaho National Laboratory Introduces Engineering-Based Cybersecurity Approach
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Idaho National Laboratory Introduces Engineering-Based Cybersecurity Approach

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) created an approach that employs engineering design principles to mitigate cyberattacks on utility operations.

Developed by INL in partnership with industry, government and the academia, the Consequence-driven Cyber-informed Engineering (CCE) method is a think-like-the-adversary approach that recognizes gaps on online services and technologies, the laboratory said Tuesday.

INL Cybersecurity Researchers Sarah Freeman and Andy Bochman released a book that tackles the approach in an effort to train employees at public utilities in defending from cyberattacks.

INL received $20 million in funds from Congress and the Department of Energy (DOE) in 2018 to continue the development of the CCE method. The laboratory supported hands-on security activities with large utilities and worked with utility operators to help enhance understanding of targeted cyberattacks and create mitigation measures.

The laboratory provided California-based firm West Yost a license to use the CCE method.

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DOD Unveils Regional Sea Level Database for Coastal Facilities Engineering
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DOD Unveils Regional Sea Level Database for Coastal Facilities Engineering

The Department of Defense (DOD) has publicly released a database that features information on regional sea levels to help engineers and designers develop coastal facilities. 

DOD said Wednesday its Coastal Assessment Regional Scenario Working Group developed the DOD Regional Sea Level database and a complementary report titled “Regional Sea Level Scenarios for Coastal Risk Management.”

The database is meant to inform engineering activities at DOD-owned coastal sites with respect to changing sea levels across the globe. The department released the database under the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and Environmental Security Technology Certification Program.

Thadd Buzan, assistant director for military construction at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, said DOD's Unified Facilities Criteria program requires the information to help planners and designers who work on coastal installations.

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GISS Director Gavin Schmidt to Temporarily Serve as NASA’s Senior Climate Adviser; Steve Jurczyk Quoted
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GISS Director Gavin Schmidt to Temporarily Serve as NASA’s Senior Climate Adviser; Steve Jurczyk Quoted

NASA has appointed Gavin Schmidt, director of he Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), to advise the agency on climate science in a new, acting-basis role. 

Schmidt will serve as NASA's acting senior climate advisor, a role through which he will promote climate-related investments and support efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. He brings a research career focused on modeling climate change across past, current and future events, with over 150 co-authored research papers. 

The climate expert, who has been GISS' leader since 2014, is also a recipient of the American Geophysical Union's Climate Communication Prize and NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal.

“This position will provide NASA leadership critical insights and recommendations for the agency’s full spectrum of science, technology, and infrastructure programs related to climate,” said Steve Jurczyk, acting NASA Administrator.

Schmidt's acting role will remain effective until NASA appoints a full-time senior climate advisor.

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New Subcommittee to Tackle Issues on Cybersecurity, IT Systems
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New Subcommittee to Tackle Issues on Cybersecurity, IT Systems

Rep. James Langevin, D-R.I., and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., have introduced a new subcommittee that will focus on various areas such as information technology, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Formed and organized for the 117th Congress, the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems will encompass policies on computer software acquisition, electronic warfare, electromagnetic spectrum, AI, science and technology programs, the Armed Services Committee said Wednesday.

The subcommittee will also tackle IT and cybersecurity operations and systems. Langevin is slated to lead the subcommittee as its chair.

"As technology continues to advance at an incredibly rapid rate – from artificial intelligence to biotechnology and everything in between – it is critical that the Armed Services Committee redoubles our efforts to bridge the gap between current capabilities and future requirements," said Langevin and Smith.

The two representatives noted the Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee funded defense research projects and implemented retention practices for science and engineering personnel.

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Space Force Eyes Satellite Imaging for Beyond-Line-Of-Sight Targeting; Gen. John Raymond Quoted
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Space Force Eyes Satellite Imaging for Beyond-Line-Of-Sight Targeting; Gen. John Raymond Quoted

The U.S. Space Force is in the early stages of studying the use of imaging data from small tactical satellites to detect targets beyond line of sight, C4ISRnet reported Wednesday.

Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations and 2021 Wash100 Award winner, said during a recent call with the Defense Writers Group that the Space Force seeks to closely coordinate with intelligence sector partners to explore the use of tactical satellite imaging,

He noted that his office has begun efforts to assess potential design concepts for satellite-based BLOS targeting.

The use of satellite imagery for tactical applications traditionally fall under the intelligence community, specifically the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), according to C4ISRnet.

Previously, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the U.S. Navy earmarked funding for commercial GEOINT software and synthetic aperture radar technology, the report states.

“I do think as technology has allowed for smaller satellites to be more operationally relevant and you can do so at a price point that is cheaper, that there is a role for operational level tactical satellites as you described and that the Space Force would have a role in that,” noted Raymond.

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Col. Marc Pelini: DOD Considers AI Decision Making Without Human Intervention
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Col. Marc Pelini: DOD Considers AI Decision Making Without Human Intervention

Col. Marc Pelini, division chief for capabilities and requirements at the Joint Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Office, said the military is looking to develop a method that allows for artificial intelligence decision making without direct human intervention, when necessary.

He said at a teleconference the Department of Defense (DOD) considers this approach in response to enemy unmanned aircraft system swarms, a threat that may require military operations to move faster, DOD News reported Wednesday.

The Army still does not have the authority to have human involvement out-of-the-loop in AI operations, but the rising threat has led to discussions on potential, alternative approaches.

"When you're starting to see swarming activities of hundreds or potentially thousands [of UAS] in the future, obviously you want your system to operate as fast [as possible] to provide those weaponeering solutions to the operator, or operate within a set of parameters," Pelini said.

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Dr. Joe Mignogna of Caliburn Joins National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee
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Dr. Joe Mignogna of Caliburn Joins National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) acting secretary recently appointed Dr. Joe Mignogna, chief medical officer with Caliburn International, to a three-year term on the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee, Caliburn reported on Thursday. 

“It’s really been a pleasure and a professionally rewarding experience working with Coast Guard leadership and the committee’s team of dedicated maritime professionals representing Caliburn,” Mignogna said.

The National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee is composed of nine healthcare professional members and five professional mariners. The committee works in tandem to advise the DHS secretary on matters relating to medical certification determinations. 

Specifically, Mignogna will advise on issuance of licenses, certification of registry and merchant mariners’ documents, including medical standards and guidelines, medical examiner education and medical research. 

Mignogna has consecutively served on the committee since 2014. In the position, he has contributed to and led several task statements. He has also authored an article for the U.S. Coast Guard Proceedings magazine devoted to mariner health and wellness.

Mignogna has served with Caliburn for nearly two decades. The company provides consulting, engineering, medical, and environmental services as well as large scale program management in support of our core markets of national defense, healthcare, international diplomacy, and homeland security client readiness.

The company’s workforce health management services supports the health and well-being of civilian and military workforce partners, and is one of the largest providers of medical management and on-site exam services to the federal government, as well as international and commercial clients. 

Before joining Caliburn, Mignogna served as the medical director with Nissan North America, and as director of Occupational Health with GlaxoSmithKline. He received his Master of Public Health (MPH) from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Temple University School of Medicine.

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ViON Forms Strategic Partnership with Cyemptive Technologies to Advance Enterprise Cloud; Tom Frana Quoted
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ViON Forms Strategic Partnership with Cyemptive Technologies to Advance Enterprise Cloud; Tom Frana Quoted

ViON Corporation has entered into a strategic partnership with Cyemptive Technologies to provide a secure high performance Enterprise Cloud solution, ViON reported on Thursday. ViON and Cyemptive support all stages of implementation, including Proof of Concept (POC), staging, on-site installation and Professional, Managed and Support Services.

“Cyemptive provides a revolutionary approach to detecting and handling bad actors in seconds,” said Rob Pike, founder and CEO of Cyemptive Technologies. 

ViON's experience processing, storing, managing and protecting data in the federal, state, local and commercial markets has enabled the company to deliver complex solutions to the market. Cyemptive preemptively detects cyberthreats and provides an increased, comprehensive level of cyber protection.

“Both ViON and Cyemptive have a passion for solving the most complex cybersecurity, enterprise IT and HPC challenges while at the same time understanding the criticality of protecting their customers’ cyber environments,” said Tom Frana, chairman and CEO of ViON and two-time Wash100 Award recipient. 

ViON’s partnership with Cyemptive Technologies builds on the company’s history of delivering innovation solutions to its customers. In July 2020, ViON collaborated with Scality to integrate RING8 as a core technology to power ViON's predefined cloud service offerings, including Object Storage-as-a-Service (OSaaS) and the long-term Archive-as-a-Service (AaaS). 

"RING8 is the perfect fit to extend our as-a-Service (aaS) solutions into object storage," said Frana. "As our first pre-defined private cloud offering, Scality's core technology for object storage is best-in-class." 

RING will provide comprehensive, native AWS S3 API compatibility to ensure all cloud applications that run on AWS can also run on RING. RING will also support object storage with a native Azure Blob API to further expand application compatibility. 

ViON also selected RING8 to power long-term data archiving. The cloud services are components of ViON’s Enterprise Cloud (VEC) Infrastructure Services. The merger of ViON's U.S. federal market experience and Scality's unstructured data technology will address storage challenges for some of the largest federal agencies.   

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GAO: DOD Must Assess Impact of Fixed-Price-Incentive Contracts on Major Acquisition Programs
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GAO: DOD Must Assess Impact of Fixed-Price-Incentive Contracts on Major Acquisition Programs

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report stating that the Department of Defense (DOD) must evaluate its use of fixed-price-incentive (FPI) awards for major programs including the procurement of key weapons systems.

GAO said Wednesday that the DOD’s FPI contract awards, which offer a profit incentive to contractors for performance and cost control, increased significantly since fiscal year 2010. FPI contracts represented almost half of the $65 billion in obligations for major defense acquisition programs (MDAP) for FY 2019, the report states.

According to GAO, the DOD has not analyzed the extent of the FPI contracts’ contribution to achieving cost, schedule and performance goals.

The Pentagon must evaluate FPI use and assess contract elements such as Better Buying Power acquisition initiatives that help achieve program goals, the watchdog noted. GAO analyzed the DOD’s contracts for 101 MDAPs in FY 2010 through 2019 as part of the study.

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