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Adm. Michael Gilday’s CNO Navigation Plan to Focus on Multidomain Ops, Hybrid Fleet
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Adm. Michael Gilday’s CNO Navigation Plan to Focus on Multidomain Ops, Hybrid Fleet

Adm. Michael Gilday, the chief of naval operations, has released his navigation plan to help the U.S. Navy expand its sea control capacity as well as its projected power in all domains.

Gilday's Navigation Plan to the Fleet, which falls under the Navy's Tri-Service Maritime Strategy, was announced during the recently held Surface Navy Association Symposium.

The plan details Gilday’s strategy on establishing a “dominant naval force”, ensuring Navy readiness and deploying a Naval Operational Architecture by the middle of the decade.

Under Gilday's blueprint, the Navy will use the operational architecture to synchronize multidomain lethal and nonlethal activities through directed-energy missile defense technologies and counter-command, control, computers, communications, cyber, intelligence and reconnaissance systems.

The strategy also directs the expansion of a hybrid fleet to include both manned and unmanned platforms. In addition, Gilday's plan seeks to deliver the Columbia-class submarine on schedule and field Distributed Maritime Operations technologies.

“Joining with the Marine Corps and Coast Guard, we will generate decisive Integrated All-Domain Naval Power,” said Gilday. “There is no time to waste; our actions in this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of the century.”

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NSA Releases Report on 2020 Cybersecurity Initiatives; Anne Neuberger Quoted
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NSA Releases Report on 2020 Cybersecurity Initiatives; Anne Neuberger Quoted

The National Security Agency (NSA) has issued its 2020 Cybersecurity Report that details progress on the agency’s initiatives focused on integrating threat intelligence, cryptographic knowledge, vulnerability analysis, defensive operations and technical expertise.

NSA’s Cybersecurity Year In Review report covers efforts under the agency’s Cybersecurity Directorate that was created in 2019 to address threats to sensitive U.S. systems and critical infrastructure including the defense industrial base.

According to the report, NSA was able to help the Department of Defense (DoD) modernize encryption procedures and mitigate attacks resulting from quantum systems and “adversarial computational advances”.

NSA also worked to establish a Twitter handle for cybersecurity operations and support COVID-19 vaccine development as well as 2020 election security efforts together with the FBI, U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

“As we began our first year, we took a deliberate approach to building trust by sharing unclassified threat and cybersecurity advice,” said Anne Neuberger,  director of NSA’s Cybersecurity Directorate and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, in the report.

“We forged deeper relationships with our U.S. government and industry partners to deliver better outcomes than any of us could achieve alone.”

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DoD Increases 5G Testing with New Competition; Michael Kratsios Quoted
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DoD Increases 5G Testing with New Competition; Michael Kratsios Quoted

The Department of Defense (DoD) has introduced a new competition to build open “5G protocol stack software,” a core component for using the physical network hardware, which is currently being tested by the department, FedScoop reported on Tuesday. 

DoD’s competition will work to build out software and endpoints that will use the 5G wireless telecommunications capabilities. The competition will collaborate with the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and consider comments from industry on how to run the competition.

The competition will also expand DoD’s partnerships with private sector companies. In addition, the department recently announced its 5G implementation plan. The plan has outlined DoD’s strategy for advancing 5G technology and applications, as well as securing 5G capabilities.  

“With these testbeds, the Department of Defense is at the forefront of cutting-edge 5G research that will strengthen America’s warfighting capabilities and accelerate advancements in commercial 5G technologies,” said Michael Kratsios, DoD acting head of research and engineering and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient. 

DoD Increases 5G Testing with New Competition; Michael Kratsios Quoted

Potomac Officers Club recently hosted its 5G Summit, featuring Dr. Joe Evans of DoD, on Jan. 7th. During the summit, notable federal and industry leaders discussed emerging programs, priorities and challenges within the integration process of the new 5G framework. 

If you missed the event, you can still register to watch the OnDemand footage by visiting Potomac Officers Club’s Event Archive. As emerging technologies continue to become an integral part of business and innovation, leaders across all divisions must stay ahead of the curve to tackle national and global issues.  

Watch Potomac Officers Club 5G Summit to learn about the impact that innovative technologies and 5G integration have on the private and public sectors, the steps the federal agencies have taken to remain up to speed with the rapid advancement of technology, and the future programs, plans and priorities as the nation aligns with emerging technology.

If you missed the event, you can still register to watch the OnDemand footage by visiting Potomac Officers Club’s Event Archive. 

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GSA Selects Everbridge to Provide CEM Platform; Mike Mostow Quoted
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GSA Selects Everbridge to Provide CEM Platform; Mike Mostow Quoted

The General Services Administration (GSA) has selected Everbridge’s Mass Notification platform to secure the agency’s employees, facilities and operations, the company reported on Monday.

“The threats that organizations face are constantly evolving. Leveraging a unified solution with situational awareness to know where your people and assets are, combined with the ability to coordinate and communicate across all stakeholders, could be the difference between success or failure,” said Mike Mostow, vice president of Federal at Everbridge.

Everbridge’s CEM platform will help keep employees safe and informed across a variety of threats such as a global pandemic, hurricanes, wildfires, cyberattacks, IT outages and more.

The company’s platform supports more than 70 federal agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Departments of Defense (DoD), Commerce, Energy (DOE), Interior, Justice (DOJ), and Health and Human Services (HHS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others.

With the selection, Everbridge will expand its Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Agency Authorization. The FedRAMP Program Management Office (PMO) has certified that Everbridge meets the standards for the 325 controls in the FedRAMP Moderate baseline and passed the security and risk management renewal process required to support the operational resilience needs of federal agencies.

Everbridge received its FedRAMP authorization in 2018. “Our FedRAMP initiative has been a multi-year, strategic project with the goal of expanding our overall addressable market for our broad Critical Event Management suite,” said Jaime Ellertson, executive chairman of Everbridge’s Board of Directors.

“We are proud to enter into a partnership with the General Services Administration to help them mitigate risks quickly and decisively,” Mostow added.

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Avaya Extends AWS Relationship to Support AI Capabilities
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Avaya Extends AWS Relationship to Support AI Capabilities

Avaya has extended its Amazon Web Services (AWS) relationship, to expand artificial intelligence (AI)-powered customer experience capabilities for Avaya OneCloud CCaaS customers, Avaya reported on Tuesday. Avaya will serve as an AWS Partner offering AWS Contact Center Intelligence (CCI) solutions. 

“Avaya continues to expand AI capabilities that are evolving the contact center into what is now the customer experience center,” said Eric Rossman, VP of Technology Partners and Alliances for Avaya. 

In partnership with AWS, Avaya can enable customers to leverage AWS AI Services and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities to enhance customer and employee experiences across voice and digital channels. Avaya will integrate natural, conversation-driven interactions, leveraging AI and ML.

Avaya’s integration with AWS CCI will strengthen its portfolio of contact center solutions by providing enhanced customer engagement through greater insights, building brand preference and improving operational efficiency. 

The integration with AWS CCI will extend Avaya’s AWS-based cloud efforts and grow Avaya’s vision for AI in the contact center. AWS is also a member of A.I.Connect, an Avaya-led initiative that unites vendors and developers that develop AI-driven solutions. 

“With AWS, Avaya delivers new AI and machine learning innovation that improves the performance and efficiency of customer experience teams, but more importantly, enables deeper and more meaningful human connections between organizations and their customers,” Rossman added. 

About Avaya

Businesses are built by the experiences they provide, and everyday millions of those experiences are delivered by Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE: AVYA). Avaya is shaping what's next for the future of work, with innovation and partnerships that deliver game-changing business benefits. 

Our cloud communications solutions and multi-cloud application ecosystem power personalized, intelligent, and effortless customer and employee experiences to help achieve strategic ambitions and desired outcomes. Together, we are committed to help grow your business by delivering Experiences that Matter. 

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MetTel-Geotab Partnership to Deliver IoT Solutions for Government Vehicles
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MetTel-Geotab Partnership to Deliver IoT Solutions for Government Vehicles

MetTel has partnered with Geotab to deliver government vehicles access to a suite of managed services that provide critical intelligence, MetTel reported on Tuesday. The suite will help streamline compliance and reporting; reduce total cost of ownership and improve citizen and employee safety; and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

“Government agencies are looking for ways to provide more transparency, while providing the tools to help reduce costs and increase the safety of government employees and the citizens they serve. MetTel-enabled IoT solutions help provide that, through an easy to use “single pane of glass,” said Robert Dapkiewicz, senior vice president and general manager of MetTel Federal.

Under the partnership, Geotab will leverage its telematics and MetTel will provide its full service fleet management portal to enable government fleets to increase visibility into their vehicles to create efficiencies and help reduce overall costs.

The MetTel-Geotab team will help managers of government vehicles have access to critical intelligence that will deliver enhanced visibility into MetTel-enabled vehicles. The companies’ offerings will include reduced costs; improved driver safety; streamlined compliance and reporting; GHG and EV battery reporting and compliance; and increased efficiency.

The offering will provide a configurable dashboard and reporting software to reduce mundane processes of manual reporting for government regulations, odometer readings and fuel economy. Featuring increased visibility into the availability of vehicles will enhance data-based decisions concerning vehicle and driver utilization.

“We are excited to add our leading telematics platform to MetTel’s expansive technology offering for the U.S. Federal Government,” said Jean Pilon-Bignell, vice president of Business Development, Government and Smart Cities, Geotab. “We are committed to connecting Federal agency vehicles and integrating them into broader IoT strategies.”

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NOAA Lays Out Plan for Recommended Geo-XO Satellite Constellation; Pam Sullivan Quoted
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NOAA Lays Out Plan for Recommended Geo-XO Satellite Constellation; Pam Sullivan Quoted

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recommended operating three satellites over the U.S. as part of the proposed Geostationary and Extended Orbits satellite constellation, SpaceNews reported Monday.

NOAA’s national satellite, data and information service considers the Geo-XO constellation as a potential replacement to the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R Series and expects it to help track ocean color and air quality in addition to obtaining lightning observations and imagery.

NOAA expects to equip the GEO-East and GEO-West satellites with ocean color instruments, lightning mappers and infrared imagers. A hyperspectral infrared sounder, atmospheric composition sensor and a partner payload would fly on the GEO-Center satellite.

“The approximate investment that would be needed for the Geo-XO constellation is that GOES-R $12 billion number inflated to the Geo-XO timeframe,” Pam Sullivan, GOES-R system program director, said Monday during the virtual American Meteorological Society meeting.

The agency intends to carry out the first technical review of its plan for the Geo-XO constellation in March 2020 with plans to conduct a system requirements assessment by 2022, preliminary design review by 2025, critical design evaluation by 2027 and initial launch by 2032.

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Michael Brown Offers Update on Defense Innovation Unit’s Tech Projects
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Michael Brown Offers Update on Defense Innovation Unit’s Tech Projects

Michael Brown, director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), told Defense News in an interview published Monday about technology projects DIU plans to transition into service in the near term and those include work on predictive maintenance and time indications and warning.

“That’s a combination of rapid launch capability, which we’ve been helping with some of the prototyping efforts,” Brown said of DIU’s work on time indications and warning. “And then the analysis of the commercial satellite imagery that comes from that, we’re working with some of the vendors that are looking at artificial intelligence- and machine learning-infused algorithms so you can analyze that and enhance what you might be seeing. 

So that’s an incredible capability if you think about putting all those together, in terms of getting a more real-time view, globally, of what’s happening." Brown discussed the organization’s efforts to improve its transition rate for tech projects and encourage contractors to work with the Department of Defense (DoD) . 

He also mentioned the Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure and Clean Sweep as some of the projects that DIU started as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked about how DIU incentivizes vendors to work with the Pentagon, he said the unit should work on “commercial time frames.”

“We need to be evaluating commercial vendors. And we need to think about how do we work in their world — not ask them to conform to ours,” Brown added.

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FEMA Chief Pete Gaynor to Serve as Acting DHS Secretary
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FEMA Chief Pete Gaynor to Serve as Acting DHS Secretary

Pete Gaynor, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will serve as acting secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), CNN reported Monday. He will succeed Chad Wolf, who announced his resignation Monday in a letter obtained by the publication.

Gaynor was confirmed by the Senate as administrator of FEMA in January 2020. He has more than a decade of emergency management experience and previously served as director of Rhode Island’s Emergency Management Agency and director of the Providence Emergency Management Agency. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 26 years as an infantry officer.

Gaynor told his staff he will take over as interim secretary of homeland security and serve in that capacity through Jan. 20th. He added that Bob Fenton, administrator of FEMA Region 9, will perform the duties of FEMA administrator until the agency’s next chief is confirmed.

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OMB Urges Federal Agencies to Pay More Attention to Contract Type Selection
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OMB Urges Federal Agencies to Pay More Attention to Contract Type Selection

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a memo reminding agencies to practice caution when it comes to selecting the type of federal contracts they award. OMB Director Russell Vought wrote in the Jan. 5 memo that agencies should be vigilant when considering cost-reimbursement contracts for support beyond research and development work.

“Cost-reimbursement contracts require only that the contractor provide its best efforts to deliver the service or product at the negotiated price. They do not require delivery of a finished product or service without any price adjustments, as is required under a fixed-price contract,” Vought wrote.

The document states that fixed-price contracts awarded through a competition could help agencies reduce risk and maximize value for taxpayers because such contracts “provide the contractor with the greatest incentive for efficient and effective performance while minimizing the administrative burden on both parties.”

OMB suggested several steps agencies should take when it comes to considering the contract type: documenting contract type rationales in business cases; reviewing and clarifying policies that support risk reduction in relation to contract type decisions; and supporting the use of tools that could assist agency acquisition, budget and program officials in making contract type decisions.

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