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Baird Serves as Financial Advisor to ProModel Government Services Under NuWave Acquisition; Jean Stack, GovCon Expert Reggie Brothers Quoted
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Baird Serves as Financial Advisor to ProModel Government Services Under NuWave Acquisition; Jean Stack, GovCon Expert Reggie Brothers Quoted

NuWave Solutions has acquired ProModel Government Services, provider of analytic software solutions for federal agencies, from the ProModel Corporation. With the purchase, NuWave will gain access to ProModel Government Services’ innovative and adaptable custom model-based software solutions.

“ProModel Government Services is uniquely qualified to help federal government agencies with their decision making, and help ensure that their processes are more efficient and resources are better managed,” said Dr. Reggie Brothers, CEO of NuWave and GovCon Expert. 

ProModel Government Services’ solutions offer near real-time situational awareness of the current environment and a predictive view of the future, enabling government organizations to make rapid, informed decisions that impact defense readiness.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for our team to join NuWave, a national security focused advanced analytics  company that deeply understands the unique challenges and opportunities of our sector,” said Carl Napoletano, senior vice president and general manager of ProModel Government Services.

Akerman served as legal advisor and Ernst & Young served as financial advisor to NuWave. Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg served as legal advisor and Baird served as the financial advisor to  ProModel Corporation. 

“There is a strong strategic focus on companies that operate in data intensive environments, helping the government make better decisions in real time,” Jean Stack, managing director for Baird and  2019 Wash100 Awardee, told ExecutiveGov.

The purchase ProModel Government Services marks the second NuWave acquisition since it was acquired by AE Industrial Partners (AEI) in June 2020. Earlier this month, NuWave acquired BigBear to grow its portfolio in data computing and analytics, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, geospatial information systems, data mining and systems engineering.

“NuWave has done a great job in focusing on companies that have high-end, advanced analytics capabilities with its acquisitions of BigBear and now ProModel Government Services,” Stack added. 

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Boeing, US Navy Test Super Hornet Capabilities; Thom Breckenridge Quoted
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Boeing, US Navy Test Super Hornet Capabilities; Thom Breckenridge Quoted

Boeing and the U.S. Navy have recently tested the F/A-18 Super Hornet capabilities, proving that the aircraft can operate from a “ski jump” ramp, Boeing reported on Monday. The recent tests, which were conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., have demonstrated the aircraft’s suitability for India’s aircraft carriers.

“The first successful and safe launch of the F/A-18 Super Hornet from a ski jump begins the validation process to operate effectively from Indian Navy aircraft carriers,” said Ankur Kanaglekar, India Fighter Sales lead for Boeing. 

Boeing’s test proved that the Super Hornet would work well with the Indian Navy’s Short Takeoff but Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system. Additionally, the testing proved results from Boeing’s earlier simulation studies.

“The F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will not only provide superior war fighting capability to the Indian Navy but also create opportunities for cooperation in naval aviation between the United States and India,” added Kanaglekar.

If the Super Hornet is selected by the Indian Navy, it would benefit from investments in new technologies, including advanced networking, longer range through conformal fuel tanks, infrared search and track, and a new advanced cockpit system, by the U.S. Navy and others. 

“This milestone further positions the Block III Super Hornet as a versatile next-generation frontline fighter for decades to come,” said Thom Breckenridge, vice president of International Sales for Strike, Surveillance and Mobility with Boeing Defense, Space & Security. 

Boeing will work to deliver advanced technologies and create value in the Indian aerospace sector by developing local suppliers and shaping academic and research collaborations with Indian institutions.

“With its proven capabilities, affordable acquisition price, known low documented life-cycle costs and guaranteed delivery schedule, the Block III Super Hornet is ideally suited to meet fighter aircraft requirements of customers in India, North America and Europe,” Breckenridge added. 

The Boeing-Navy demonstrations follow the delivery of two Block III flight-test aircraft to the U.S. Navy. In June 2020, the Navy received a pair of F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet jets Boeing manufactured for flight testing use. Boeing delivered one single-seat E variant and a two-seat F variant of the modernized fighter aircraft to the service branch. 

The tests aim to get pilots acquainted with the new touchscreen display and networking systems of the Block III configuration, which includes modifications to aircraft range, radar signature, communications equipment. The U.S. Navy ordered 78 new Super Hornets from the company through a contract award last year.

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Scot Currie: NGA Explores Commercial RF Data Integration With Agency’s Analytics Platforms
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Scot Currie: NGA Explores Commercial RF Data Integration With Agency’s Analytics Platforms

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is examining the potential of analytics technology with commercial radio frequency data to support GEOINT applications as part of a pilot program that commenced in September 2020.

NGA said Wednesday it works with combatant commands to determine how insights from the experimental effort can help the U.S. military increase awareness across the maritime domain and share unclassified information with regional allies.

“This pilot is an example of NGA’s commitment to exploring how we can integrate new and emerging commercial data sources into our analytic platforms to better support our mission partners’ needs," said Scot Currie, director of the agency's source operations group.

Herndon, Virginia-based analytics company HawkEye 360 helps the agency fuse RF data through the Predictive GEOINT Prototype under an integration study contract. The agency noted it wants to know the use of such information in mapping activity associated with radar imaging satellites and electro-optical sensors.

“Moving forward, we want commercial industry to develop automated imagery exploitation algorithms, bringing multiple sources together, including RF geolocations, so we have a stream of information and activity updates feeding our national security algorithms," said Dave Gauthier, director of NGA's source commercial business and operations group.

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Navy, General Dynamics Assess Flight IIA Destroyer Systems, Delivery Readiness
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Navy, General Dynamics Assess Flight IIA Destroyer Systems, Delivery Readiness

A Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class destroyer ship General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works subsidiary built for the U.S. Navy underwent in-port and at-sea assessments as part of builder's trials.

The Navy said Monday that its future USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 120) features Baseline 9 of the Aegis combat system – which supports firepower, electronic countermeasures and quick reaction time — and is scheduled to undergo acceptance tests in early 2021.

The branch's inspection and survey board will inspect and evaluate all systems of the guided missile ship in the upcoming trials to ensure operational readiness before delivery.

Efforts are underway at the Bath Iron Works shipyard to build future destroyers Patrick Gallagher, Harvey C. Barnum, John Basilone, Carl M. Levin and Louis H. Wilson, Jr., the first Arleigh Burke-class vessel that will incorporate the Flight III configuration.

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Pentagon Seeks Comments on National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual
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Pentagon Seeks Comments on National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual

The Department of Defense (DoD) has published a final rule that seeks to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of classified information by establishing requirements to protect such data developed by or disclosed to contractors, grantees, certificate holders or licensees.

Contractors must comply with the requirements set in the final rule titled “National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM)” no more than six months from the effective date, DoD said Monday NISPOM will take effect Feb. 24th.

A Federal Register notice published Monday says the final rule adds NISPOM to the Code of Federal Regulations and integrates the requirements of Security Executive Agent Directive 3, which directs contractor personnel with access to classified data to “report specific activities that may adversely impact their continued national security eligibility, such as reporting of foreign travel and foreign contacts.”

Cognizant security agencies under the National Industrial Security Program should carry out an analysis of reported activities to determine if they pose a national security threat.

In accordance with the provisions of Section 842 of Public Law 115-232, the final rule eliminates the need for a National Technology and Industrial Base entity that operates through a special security agreement to secure a national interest determination in order to gain access to proscribed data.

Comments on the final rule are due Feb. 19th.

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USAF Completes Airworthiness Report for Joby Aviation Aircraft
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USAF Completes Airworthiness Report for Joby Aviation Aircraft

The U.S. Air Force has wrapped up the airworthiness evaluation for the design of Joby Aviation's S4 aircraft as part of the Agility Prime effort. USAF may carry out flight tests for the aircraft once it completes all phases of the airworthiness process, the service branch said Wednesday.

The service branch will use the flight tests to yield data that may support S4's Federal Aviation Administration certification as well as evaluate the aircraft's utility in various operations such as medical evacuation and disaster response activities.

Joby and BETA Technologies joined Agility Prime in February as its initial partner companies.

The Air Force has announced its intent to explore other uses cases and deploy organic resupply buses in 2023. The military service will also launch the Space Prime at an undisclosed date.

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Will Roper: Next-Gen Aircraft to Utilize AI for Pilot Support
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Will Roper: Next-Gen Aircraft to Utilize AI for Pilot Support

Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics and three-time Wash100 Award winner, said the service branch's future sixth-generation aircraft will feature an artificial intelligence co-pilot, Breaking Defense reported Friday. 

The Next-Generation Air Dominance program will apply AI as a support platform for human pilots aboard the future aircraft. Roper said the service will have to determine how to certify the AI platforms for this envisioned human-AI teaming approach.

“We have a process to train and equip people today, and determine that they are ready to go into operations, and now we need to do that for AI,” he said.

The U.S. Air Force is also working on the Skyborg program that aims to develop low-cost, attritable, autonomously flying drones.

Independent Expert Panel Issues Report on Social Security Administration’s IT Modernization Progress
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Independent Expert Panel Issues Report on Social Security Administration’s IT Modernization Progress

The Social Security Administration's (SSA) advisory board has released a report from an independent panel that details progress and areas of improvement for SSA’s information technology modernization plan.

The Social Security Advisory Board said Friday that the IT Systems Expert Panel’s report details recommendations encompassing areas such as IT modernization strategy, governance infrastructure, operating model and customer experience.

The report states that while SSA’s efforts to update its IT infrastructure is commendable, the agency must align its operating model with its strategic vision to put focus on critical business lines and customer-driven interactions.

SSA must also establish a “well-defined governance infrastructure” and clearly define program management procedures for accommodating agile development, according to the report.

In addition, SSA must include metrics in its goal-setting approach for the IT modernization plan and consider governance issues with cross-agency stakeholders in the planning process, the report states.

Other recommendations include strengthening the use of emerging technologies, creating a stakeholder engagement blueprint and assigning agency components for organization-wide customer experience improvement. SSAB will hold a webinar to discuss audit results on Jan. 29, 2021.

Created in August 2019, the IT Systems Expert Panel is headed by Alan Balutis who currently serves as senior director for North American public sector at Cisco’s business solutions group.

SSAB works to provide advisory support to the president, Commissioner of Social Security and Congress on SSA and supplemental security income programs.

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CISA Report: ICT Supply Chain Task Force Helped Create Supplier Info Sharing Standards
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CISA Report: ICT Supply Chain Task Force Helped Create Supplier Info Sharing Standards

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a report stating the progress of its task force on protecting the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) supply chain over the past two years. 

CISA said in the report that the ICT Supply Chain Risk Management Task Force was able to develop reference material for information sharing across the industrial base and create a working group focused on assessing COVID-19 impacts on the ICT supply chain.

The task force also updated its Threat Evaluation Report for identifying and mitigating threats to suppliers, established SCRM compliance assessment templates and reached out to supply-chain programs suitable for task-force coordination.

Other SCRM developments include helping build the foundation for vendor assurance mechanisms such as lists for qualified manufacturers and bidders. CISA noted in the report that it seeks to strengthen partnerships with the government, industry and other relevant entities in ICT security moving forward.

“[ICTs] are integral for the daily operations of the American economy and national security,” the report states. 

“Vulnerabilities in the ICT supply chain, composed of hardware, software, and services from third-party vendors, suppliers, service providers, and contractors, could affect all users of that technology. ICT components are also the foundational building blocks of a broad range of critical infrastructure systems.”

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USSF Chief Gen. John Raymond Joins Joint Chief of Staff
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USSF Chief Gen. John Raymond Joins Joint Chief of Staff

Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, has been inducted into the Department of Defense's (DoD) Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), DOD News reported Friday. 

Raymond, as mandated by law, joins the chief of naval operations, the U.S. Marine Corps commandant and the U.S. Army's and U.S. Air Force's corresponding chiefs of staff in the joint organization.

The Joints Chiefs of Staff consist of the most senior military officers and function to advise the secretary of defense and the U.S. president on military matters. The U.S. military held a ceremony on Dec. 11th to commemorate Raymond's induction.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and fellow four-time Wash100 Award winner, said the organization recognizes space as a warfighting domain and the U.S. needs to maintain technologies in space for continued peacekeeping.

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