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Bipartisan Law Seeks to Improve FEMA’s Advance Contracting Process; Rep. Bennie Thompson Quoted
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Bipartisan Law Seeks to Improve FEMA’s Advance Contracting Process; Rep. Bennie Thompson Quoted

President Trump signed into law a bipartisan bill to improve the process of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for awarding contracts before disasters strike to ensure readiness, Government Executive reported Monday.

The Federal Advance Contracts Enhancements Act was introduced in Congress to amend the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 and incorporate the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recommendations in a 2018 report.

The measure will direct FEMA to provide state and local governments with updated information on available advance contracts, enhance its programs to track major acquisitions, inform specific congressional panels on how it is implementing recommendations from GAO and update acquisition guidance for agency personnel.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced the bill in the lower chamber.

"After years of systemic flaws, it was clear we needed to make necessary reforms to FEMA’s advance contracting process so the country will be able to tackle recovery from future disasters more effectively…I look forward to working with FEMA as they improve their advance contracting," Thompson said.

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Marine Corps Fields Rifle Suppressors Under Large-Scale Defense Logistics Program; Maj. Mike Brisker Quoted
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Marine Corps Fields Rifle Suppressors Under Large-Scale Defense Logistics Program; Maj. Mike Brisker Quoted

The U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) has begun the large-scale fielding of rifle suppressors as part of the service’s goal to deploy 30,000 of the small-arms components by fiscal year 2023. The Marine Corps Systems Command said Wednesday the silencers will be fielded to reconnaissance, special operations and infantry units for use on M4A1, M4 and M27 rifles.

MCSC’s Program Manager for Infantry Weapons partnered with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to acquire 6,700 suppressors under the Tailored Logistic Program and was able to purchase over 7,000 more units on the initial delivery order.

Billy Epperson, infantry weapon capabilities integration officer at the Marine Corps Combat Development and Integration unit, said the service conducted Limited User Evaluations to identify commercially available suppressors in 2019.

CWO4 David Tomlinson, infantry weapons officer at MCSC, said the suppressors are meant to improve Marines’ inter-platoon and inter-squad communications while enabling lateral coordination in combat.

“We’ve never fielded suppressors at this scale. This fielding is a big moment for the Marine Corps,” said Maj. Mike Brisker, weapons product manager at PM IW.

MCSC collaborated with the Marine Corps' Fleet Marine Force, CD&I and Plans, Policies and Operations components to organize and optimize suppressor distribution.

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Air Force Stakeholders Discuss Future Airman Mgmt, Training; Maj. Gen. William Spangenthal Quoted
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Air Force Stakeholders Discuss Future Airman Mgmt, Training; Maj. Gen. William Spangenthal Quoted

Air Education and Training Command (AETC) held a virtual event to discuss efforts on airman development in the age of great power competition.

AETC's Total Force Airmen event gathered stakeholders from active duty, civilian, national guard and reserve components of the U.S. Air Force to discuss how airmen can be improved via data-informed approaches, the service branch said Wednesday.

“These airmen must have agility of thought, understand mission-type orders and be able to execute the mission,” said Maj. Gen. William Spangenthal, deputy commander of AETC.

Col. Raymond Platt, A3/6 deputy director for force development at AETC headquarters, said USAF must use data to develop and understand the force, and match the right airman with the right job. Platt added he seeks to develop an enterprise that integrates and delivers training and education across all devices used by airmen.

“This talks to learning management systems that connect learners, instructors and content, as well as data analytics and advanced technology like artificial intelligence," he stated.

Major USAF commands and Air Force Institute of Technology presented during the two-day event.

Army to Deploy Support Units for Planned Stryker-Mounted Electronic Warfare System
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Army to Deploy Support Units for Planned Stryker-Mounted Electronic Warfare System

The U.S. Army plans to establish electronic warfare groups for brigade combat teams that will be responsible for a proposed integrated electronic-attack system designed for the service branch’s Stryker fighting vehicles, C4ISRnet reported Friday.

Lockheed Martin and Germantown, Maryland-based manufacturer Digital Receiver Technology are producing prototypes of the Terrestrial Layer System Brigade Combat Team platform which is designed for signals intelligence, cyber and electronic warfare functions.

Col. Daniel Holland, capabilities manager for electronic warfare at the Army, told the publication that the service plans to deploy a SIGINT network support teams and electronic warfare platoons that will handle TLS-BCT.

He noted that the Army intends for the platoons to be in place ahead of TLS-BCT’s delivery to warfighters. The 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division slated to receive the first system in 2022. 

Most units will continue receiving the platform through fiscal 2027, said Holland. The Army also plans to create electronic warfare companies at the corps- and division-level to operate the TLS-Echelons Above Brigade platform, according to the report.

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Army’s Standards-Compliant Universal Encryption Chip Enters Final Testing
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Army’s Standards-Compliant Universal Encryption Chip Enters Final Testing

The U.S. Army has commenced final testing for a reprogrammable cryptographic module that works as a universal chip that can support communications for computers, satellites, radios, unmanned aerial systems and ground infrastructure, AFCEA reported Wednesday.

The REprogrammable Single Chip Universal Encryptor (RESCUE) utilizes encryption algorithms from the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and National Security Agency (NSA) to ensure baseline compliance. The Army’s Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center leads the RESCUE program.

Brian Lyttle, chief of the cybersecurity and information assurance division at the C5ISR Center, said RESCUE is designed to support the installation of updates in the field to mitigate the need for depot-level maintenance. The team is concluding initial testing activities for RESCUE and is modifying its design to address potential issues, he noted.

According to Lyttle, RESCUE has dual-use potential and can support industry operations such as power, energy, healthcare and finance. He added that he envisions cooperative research and development or licensing agreements for the encryption technology in the future.

In July, the Army released the draft solicitation for Next-Generation Load Device-Medium program which seeks a technical data package for RESCUE that meets cryptography requirements for the platform’s subcomponents.

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FAA Celebrates 2020 Record of Licensed Space Operations; Elaine Chao Quoted
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FAA Celebrates 2020 Record of Licensed Space Operations; Elaine Chao Quoted

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved 41 commercial space launches and reentries in 2020, breaking a new record in the area. FAA said Thursday that it expects the number of licensed commercial space activities to reach 50 this year.

“This record-setting year in launches, and the new streamlined launch and reentry licensing regulations, bode well for continued rapid growth of America’s commercial space sector,” said Elaine Chao, secretary of Transportation.

The agency also reorganized its commercial transportation office to update how commercial operations are licensed. Multiple regulatory FAA segments combine into one licensing system for launch and reentry activities.

FAA attributed its 2020 milestones to this organizational change that helped the agency streamline space operations licensing. The Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Council (COMSTAC) will help FAA implement new rules to further boost licensing efficiency.

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Constellis Names Rick Tye as President of Crisis Mitigation; Tim Reardon Quoted
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Constellis Names Rick Tye as President of Crisis Mitigation; Tim Reardon Quoted

Constellis has appointed Rick Tye as president of Crisis Mitigation within the Crisis Response business, where he will lead the company’s COVID-19 Response, Fire and Emergency Services, Emergency and Disaster Response, and other priority programs, Constellis reported on Monday.

Constellis’ Crisis Response business provides organizations and communities with a full range of response and planning services to reduce risk, prepare for hazards and recover from crises. The business delivers rapid, targeted and adaptable crisis management, communications and response solutions.

In his new role, Tye will oversee Constellis’ Crisis Response business, including services that provide rapid response capabilities to enable business continuity. He will also work to mitigate risks that threaten the safety of personnel, property, critical infrastructure and reputation.

Tim Reardon, CEO of Constellis and 2020 Wash100 Award Winner
Tim Reardon, CEO of Constellis and 2020 Wash100 Award Winner

“Rick’s new position as President, Crisis Mitigation, was established to address the need for rapid crisis response solutions within our customer sets,” said Tim Reardon, CEO of Constellis and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient. “This is an important new role for Rick and a vital service in today’s environment.”

In addition to Tye’s appointment, Constellis named Darryle Conway as the company’s chief growth officer, effective immediately, to drive strategy and growth for the company’s customers.

About Constellis

In an ever-changing and complex world, security enables innovation, leads to opportunity, and drives progress. Constellis provides end-to-end risk management and humanitarian solutions to safeguard people and infrastructure globally. Our team of strategic problem solvers has a steadfast moral compass and unwavering dedication to creating a safer world. Constellis is fiercely committed to the success of our customers and partners.

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Zscaler Launches Security Assessment Program; Jay Chaudhry Quoted
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Zscaler Launches Security Assessment Program; Jay Chaudhry Quoted

Zscaler has launched a security assessment program to enable organizations to assess the SolarWinds supply-chain attack, analyze potential impact on their organization and provide adherence to Zscaler’s recommended best practices, the company recently reported.

“SolarWinds will be remembered as a historic cybersecurity event. It highlights that as organizations embrace digital transformation, they have increased exposure to risk if they rely on traditional approaches to security,” said Jay Chaudhry, CEO, chairman and founder, Zscaler.

Zscaler’s Zero Trust Exchange Platform will modernize enterprise security by reducing the attack surface, preventing attackers from moving freely across the organizations and stopping command-and-control activity to limit the impact supply chain attacks.

The company’s cloud security platform will deliver comprehensive visibility into enterprise internet traffic. It processes over 150 billion daily requests to prevent threats. The Zscaler Security Assessment will also help organizations gain immediate visibility into their security posture and provide support to protect enterprises.

In addition, the Zscaler Security Assessment Program will educate organizations on attacks, leveraging security experts to guide companies through Zscaler’s recommended best practices and how to implement them.

Zscaler’s security experts will also provide advice for securing workload to Internet traffic and perform a security policy audit to ensure organizations adhere to recommended best practices for protection.

“Zscaler is leading the way to transform legacy network security to a  zero trust architecture where you securely connect people and applications. As a trusted advisor, we help our customers and partners securely protect themselves from the threat activity today, and the attacks of tomorrow,” Chaudhry added.

About Zscaler

Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 150 data centers globally, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.

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Maria Roat on Upcoming Federal Data Strategy 2021 Action Plan
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Maria Roat on Upcoming Federal Data Strategy 2021 Action Plan

Maria Roat, deputy federal chief information office and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, said the 2021 Action Plan of the Federal Data Strategy is expected to put emphasis on efforts to advance data skills training, mature data management and strengthen cross-agency collaboration, GovernmentCIO Media and Research reported Tuesday. Roat said agencies will continue efforts to mature data governance in 2021.

“Even though 2020 was a foundational year, we’re building on that foundation in 2021,” Roat said. “We recognize the agencies have diverse needs, resources; they have different missions. So even as we’re looking at the execution of all of those milestones, we have to keep in mind that agencies are at different levels of maturity.” 

Roat said she hopes agencies will set a goal of coming up with master data management programs and that agencies will continue to advance efforts to address the data skills gap.

“Whether it’s just data skills in general or overall data science, there’s going to be continued emphasis, because regardless of your job, you use data, and understanding the importance of that data, the quality of data and what could be done to improve it,” Roat said. “Increasing staff data skills is going to continue to be a push.”

She also called on agencies to assess the quality of their data assets and their inventories to inform their strategic planning efforts.

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EMURGO Academy Partners with INTELLEQ to Drive Blockchain Ecosystem
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EMURGO Academy Partners with INTELLEQ to Drive Blockchain Ecosystem

EMURGO Academy and INTELLEQ have partnered to deliver Blockchain ecosystem across the nation by providing training and consulting services. The companies will work to build capacity through awareness programs and training initiatives. The partnership will also mentor and consult with start up’s in Blockchain.

“IntelleQ, in partnership with Emurgo Academy, are providing a wide range of courses on Blockchain. These courses are surely going to help transform business processes and enhance mission delivery in the Commercial and Federal Government sectors in the USA,” said Chandra Sabbavarpu, Member, INTELLEQ.

The partnership will offer training courses to developers, students, universities, professionals and leaders to help expand blockchain technology. “This collaboration will also help immensely to build a complete Blockchain Ecosystem in the USA,” Sabbavarpu added.

This strategic business expansion aligns with both EMURGO’s and INTELLEQ philosophy and mission to drive the adoption of blockchain ecosystem.

“EMURGO would be able to leverage its expertise in blockchain and AI/ML to ensure that we are able to train and do capacity building and mentor young aspirants to foster blockchain adoption in USA,” said E. Venkatesan, CEO EMURGO Academy.

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