Maj. Gen. Kimberly Crider, acting chief technology and innovation officer (CTIO) for the U.S. Space Force, said space is at the center of the Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.

“Space depends on information from other domains so that we can assure our space assets and we can understand where there might be threats that could impact space coming from other domains, to include the cyberspace domain. … So, space is fully a partner in the Joint All-Domain Operations and significant contributor to Joint All-Domain C2,” Crider told the publication in an interview.

She added that JADC2 is “grounded in space” and noted that the service will continue to improve and evolve the Unified Data Library (UDL).

“It’s a kind of capability that will never be ‘quote, unquote’ done,” Crider said of UDL. “We’ll always be adding new sensors and new services and new features … because JADC2 is never done. We need to ensure that we can always stay ahead of the threat; we stay ahead of our adversaries.” 

Crider also discussed the Space Force’s digital transformation efforts and use of machine learning techniques to aid in decision-making processes.

Maj. Gen. Crider will be featured as a keynote speaker for Potomac Officers Club's upcoming 5G Summit on Jan. 7th, 2021. 

Join Potomac Officers Club 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.

Don’t miss out on this must see event! Register here for Potomac Officers Club's 5G Summit on Jan. 7th, 2021. 

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is seeking comments on “remote user” provisions in the Trusted Internet Connections 3.0 guidance and the second volume of the National Cybersecurity Protection System Cloud Interface Reference Architecture.

The draft Remote User Use Case provisions build on the TIC’s Interim Telework Guidance, which covers multiboundary and network security recommendations for agency personnel working remotely. CISA released an updated version of TIC 3.0 in July.

Modifications in the remote-user use case include expanded definitions of mobile devices to include Bring Your Own Device provisions.

NCIRA Volume 1 standards on common cloud telemetry-based reporting patterns will be used as a basis for the draft NCIRA Volume 2 guidance.

Matt Hartman, acting assistant director of CISA's cybersecurity division, said the draft use-case guidances are meant to help agencies ensure the security of their systems upon their transition to telework approaches.

CISA also seeks to improve user experience by subjecting remote user connections to internal agency services as well as agency-sanctioned cloud services, he noted.

The agency will accept feedback on the draft TIC updates through Jan. 29, 2021.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun the scoping period for a planned environmental review of SpaceX’s Boca Chica site in Texas that will house launch operations for the company’s Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket.

FAA said Tuesday that the scoping period is meant to help the FAA assess potential environmental issues at the site as well as alternative operational approaches.

The agency noted that SpaceX’s proposed operational updates at Boca Chica fall beyond the company’s latest Environmental Impact Statement and require additional reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act.

SpaceX is preparing a draft environmental assessment and is slated to complete safety assessments as part of its clearance application princess.

FAA is also seeking public comments on its plans to prepare a programmatic environmental assessment for Boca Chia operations.

Interested parties must submit feedback through Jan. 22, 2021.

In September 2019, SpaceX submitted its application to the FAA to allow data-exchange operations at Boca Chica for the Starship Mk1 vehicle.

FAA approved suborbital missions for Starship at the South Texas location in mid-2020.

Accenture recently published a report that found chief financial officers (CFO) and financial executives need more real-time data to create value. In conducting the report, the company surveyed 450 CFOs and other finance leaders at companies with at least $1 billion in annual revenue. 

“CFOs have more data at their fingertips than anyone else in the company,” said Manish Sharma, group chief executive of Accenture Operations. “Operating with real-time data puts the CFO in a unique position to drive positive change for the business, pivoting the finance function from measuring value to creating value and driving growth.”

Accenture’s report found that 99 percent of respondents believe operating with real-time data is critical to navigating disruptions, such as COVID-19 or recession, and 16 percent of respondents are being informed by such data at the scale that’s needed.

49 percent of respondents stated that the potential impact of rising interest rates is the greatest area of concern to their business for 2021, while 47 percent noted disruption from the pandemic was the greatest concern. Economic recession and hiring and retaining the right talent were also cited as a concern, moving into 2021. 

Accenture’s report noted that 68 percent of the surveyed CFOs believe that a real-time financial model, which integrates AI/ML algorithms and real-time data sets, will be critical to enabling better business decisions, more-accurate forecasting models and improved data accuracy. 

Respondents noted that they will invest in building real-time operations and processes in 2021. 44 percent of respondents said they plan to have nearly all finance processes and operations in real-time over the next three years. 

“Not only do finance leaders need to outmaneuver uncertainty, but also leverage an intelligent finance operating model that draws upon data, applied intelligence, digital technologies and human talent to give them the speed they need to make the enterprise succeed,” said Dr. Christian Campagna, Ph.D., who leads Accenture’s CFO and Enterprise Value network.