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CBP Unveils Website for Consolidated Biometrics Vetting Operations; Diane Sabatino Quoted
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CBP Unveils Website for Consolidated Biometrics Vetting Operations; Diane Sabatino Quoted

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has launched a website to modernize the agency’s biometrics-based entry and exit passenger vetting operations. CBP created the website as part of its Biometric Entry-Exit initiative focused on verifying personal identities at ports of entry, Nextgov reported Wednesday.

The new site presents information on the CBP program including 3D models and data on the designated ports where the agency’s biometrics technologies are deployed. CBP’s announcement of the website comes after the agency said its Privacy and Diversity Office is assessing potential privacy impacts in the Traveler Verification Service (TVS) program.

“The application of the facial recognition technology as we apply it, it’s in an environment where an individual would normally expect to have to present themselves for identity verification purposes,” said Diane Sabatino, deputy executive assistant commissioner for CBP's field operations.

Sabatino added that the platform is meant to automate the vetting process and not raise concerns on biometrics-driven privacy breaches.

"Knowing that we're also in an environment where we're vulnerable to cyberattacks, we do use cloud-based technology that only that image for the purposes of identity verification is in that cloud environment,” she stated. 

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NGA Names Winners of Recent Geomagnetic Field Competition
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NGA Names Winners of Recent Geomagnetic Field Competition

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has unveiled the winners of an 18-month, $2.1 million challenge for technologies designed to measure or quantify the planet Earth’s magnetic field.

“The importance of the World Magnetic Model cannot be overstated: It is critical to keeping everyday navigational systems running,” said NGA senior GEOINT authority J.N. Markiel, Ph.D. “MagQuest has advanced scientific and technical innovations that could be key to the future of geomagnetic data collection, specifically approaches that are both sustainable and scalable.”

The first place winner, Iota Technology, will be awarded $350K, NGA said Tuesday. MagQuest seeks innovative technologies that could support the World Magnetic Model, a standard that guides navigation and referencing done through Earth’s geomagnetic field.

A Spire Global-SB Quantum team and University of Colorado Boulder will each receive $225K as the competition’s second placers. NGA plans to use MagQuest’s results as input for the future procurement of a global magnetic field data collection system. The agency seeks to operate the sought technology by 2027.

“We are thrilled by how open innovation has allowed us to bring pioneering ideas to life and spur novel technological advancements,” Markiel said. “The competition has not only driven new approaches to geomagnetic data collection, but also shows how open innovation can be used to support the future of critical scientific infrastructure.”

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DoD to Test-Fly 5th Gen Target Drone This Month; Michael Crisp Quoted
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DoD to Test-Fly 5th Gen Target Drone This Month; Michael Crisp Quoted

The Department of Defense (DoD) has planned to perform the maiden test flight of a new aerial target drone in late Oct. 2020 after the department completed ground-based tests. The initial flight of the Fifth Generation Aerial Target will take place at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, following ground test completion in the middle of Sept. 2020 at Michael Army Airfield.

5GAT units will represent or act as fifth-generation aircraft threats during exercises. Prime contractor Sierra Technical Services designed 5GAT as a low-observable air vehicle constructed via lower-cost soft tooling.

“With 5GAT, we’ve reinvented the typical acquisition process and have aggressively used innovative program management and contracting processes to accelerate new capability development and ensure cost savings,” said Michael Crisp, a retired U.S. Navy aircraft pilot and deputy director for air warfare under DoD’s director of operational test and evaluation.

DoD seeks to demonstrate the new aerial target’s subsystems, automatic functions and flight characteristics in the initial test flight.

“We pulled in expertise from ‘greybeards,’ both industry and military, and the vision of our next generation of pilots, U.S. Air Force Academy cadets. We gave STS the freedom to explore cutting-edge design and manufacturing techniques, and got an even bigger bang for the taxpayer buck by recycling government-owned assets,” Crisp added.

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USMC Team Completes 3D Printing Project for Raiding Craft Handle
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USMC Team Completes 3D Printing Project for Raiding Craft Handle

The U.S. Marine Corps’ Combat Logistics Battalion 31 has utilized additive printing technology to produce a prototype handle for a Combat Rubber Raiding Craft.

The team scanned a handle from the vessel and refined the model via the Cura software tool prior to printing, USMC said Wednesday. CLB-31 will upload the design to a Marine Corps database to allow other units to download and produce the model.

“They are going to use the lessons learned in this successful prototype to manufacture two more units and are confident that the effort will ensure that all 20 CRRCs maintain fully operational status,” said Maj. Richard Jahelka, executive officer at the Fox Company’s Battalion Landing Team.

Staff Sgt. Jack Hubbard, a communications electronics maintenance chief at CLB-31, said the U.S. Navy asked the team to produce a knob for forklift batteries.

“The benefits of using a 3D printer are endless,” said Hubbard added. “The cost of the entire unit is $45,000, but it only cost us three dollars to print the knob ourselves.”

After the completion of the task, CLB-31 printed handles to augment sailors’ protection in the delivery of the batteries.

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Northrop Grumman AESA Radar Designated Operational Air National Guard F-16s; Mark Rossi Quoted
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Northrop Grumman AESA Radar Designated Operational Air National Guard F-16s; Mark Rossi Quoted

Northrop Grumman has announced that its AN/APG-83 SABR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar has met the U.S. Air Force’s Full Operational Capability (FOC) readiness on Air National Guard F-16s, the company reported on Thursday.

“SABR enables F-16 pilots to detect, track, identify and target a greater number of threats faster and at longer ranges from outside the threat envelope,” said Mark Rossi, director, SABR programs, Northrop Grumman. “This upgrade will keep the multirole F-16 fighter relevant and capable for decades to come.”

The designation has proven that the AESA radar has met a U.S. Northern Command Joint Emergent Operational Need (JEON) for homeland defense. The U.S. Air Force began installation of APG-83 radars on Air National Guard F-16s on Sept. 7, 2020.

Northrop Grumman’s radar upgrade of Air National Guard F-16s has extended the operational reliability of the fleet and has provided pilots with 5th-generation fighter radar capabilities to defend our nation’s airspace.

The AN/APG-83 has integrated all-weather, high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping to provide a large surface image for more precise target identification and strike compared to legacy systems.

Northrop Grumman’s design has included proven hardware and advanced operating modes from the company’s fifth-generation F-35 and F-22 AESA radars. The advanced radars will drive efficiencies and affordability improvements across the suite of Northrop Grumman’s AESA radar programs.

With the announcement, the AN/APG-83 AESA has been labeled as an official program of record for the active and reserve U.S. Air Force and the Guard.

About Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.

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SOSi Partners with UiPath to Expand Automation Technologies; Julian Setian, Jim Walker Quoted
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SOSi Partners with UiPath to Expand Automation Technologies; Julian Setian, Jim Walker Quoted

SOS International (SOSi) has partnered with UiPath to automate high-volume, repetitive business processes to support critical U.S. Government missions, SOSi reported on Thursday. 

Under the partnership, SOSi will leverage process automation technologies to support digital transformation objectives. UiPath will provide an end-to-end hyper-automation platform, which has helped the government become faster and more agile. 

UiPath’s platform has expanded the technology development lifecycle by leveraging process discovery tools and employee crowdsourcing to scale automation across a large system enterprise. The partnership will advance sophisticated analytics to measure automation's business impact. 

"The UiPath end-to-end platform for hyper-automation is a proven force multiplier that scales to meet the needs of any federal agency, from on-prem to their agency's enterprise cloud," said Jim Walker, CTO for the UiPath U.S. Federal business. 

The UiPath platform combined with its training and expertise have been leveraged by  government agencies to develop a host of software robots capable of executing routine tasks in IT, finance, accounting, human resources, supply chain and customer service. 

SOSi has supported federal customers, such as the U.S. Department of State, that have integrated UiPath robots to enhance financial and payroll systems. SOSi's UiPath partnership follows the company’s investment in AppTek, a leader in AI-driven automatic speech recognition and machine translation. 

Both partnerships reflect SOSi's strategy to become a leader in AI-driven applications in the federal market.

"We continue to invest in disruptive technologies that are reshaping the market," said Julian Setian, SOSi's CEO and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient. "Our partnership with UiPath will enhance our ability to offer state-of-the-art solutions on ongoing projects and position us for future opportunities."

About SOSi

Founded in 1989, SOSi is the largest private, family-owned and operated technology and services integrator in the aerospace, defense, and government services industry. Its global portfolio includes military logistics, intelligence analysis, software development, and cybersecurity.

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FCC, USAID Sign Agreement on Int’l 5G Deployment; Ajit Pai Quoted
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FCC, USAID Sign Agreement on Int’l 5G Deployment; Ajit Pai Quoted

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed an agreement to drive U.S. efforts to deploy 5G connectivity to developing countries.

The memorandum of understanding dated Oct. 14 states that FCC and USAID will work to “promote open, interoperable, reliable, and secure” 5G infrastructure in developing nations in line with the FCC’s 5G FAST Plan.

FCC noted that it also seeks to update its regulations on 5G connectivity to ensure competitiveness in U.S. communications services.

The agency noted that it is also prohibiting the allocation of Universal Service Funds (USF) to procure telecommunications services and associated equipment from “any company that poses a national security threat to the integrity of U.S. communications networks”.

“As Chairman, I’ve met with my counterparts from other countries and industry stakeholders and I know that our international partners look to us for 5G leadership in terms of technology, best practices, public policy, and establishing international standards,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

“This agreement will help ensure we can continue to meet those expectations, especially in developing countries.”

FCC, USAID Sign Agreement on Int'l 5G Deployment; Ajit Pai Quoted

Join Potomac Officers Club for its 5G Summit on Oct. 27, 2020 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.

Hon. Ellen Lord, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense (DoD) and four-time Wash100 Award recipient, will be featured as the keynote speaker.

Don’t miss out on this must see event! Register here for the 5G Summit on October 27th.

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Boeing Expands Renewable Energy Initiative; Chris Raymond, Beth Schryer Quoted
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Boeing Expands Renewable Energy Initiative; Chris Raymond, Beth Schryer Quoted

Boeing has entered into a multi-state agreement to purchase carbon-neutral power for its Chicago headquarters and sites in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the company reported on Thursday. The purchase will expand Boeing’s  initiative to power worksites and manufacturing facilities using 100 percent renewable electricity.

“This announcement is another major step in Boeing’s drive to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations by procuring more carbon-neutral electricity in the United States,” said Boeing’s chief sustainability officer Chris Raymond. “These actions reflect Boeing’s commitment to innovate and operate to make the word better.”

Boeing appointed Raymond as chief sustainability officer to enhance environmental stewardship efforts, social progress and values-driven governance. Boeing has also expanded its procurement of renewable energy. 

The company’s recent agreement will help Boeing achieve its 2025 environmental goals, which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent. Under the contract, Boeing will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 thousand metric tons per year.

The carbon-neutral electricity will be distributed to several Boeing sites, joining others across Boeing that currently use carbon-neutral electricity, including locations in Washington state, Oregon, South Carolina and Arizona, as well as several sites in Texas. 

Boeing headquarters has already achieved the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rating, the system used by the U.S. Green Building Council to measure a building’s sustainability and resource-efficiency.

“As we celebrate U.S. Energy Awareness Month, we are thrilled to demonstrate that reliable, renewable energy to power our factories and worksites is a sustainable solution for the environment,” said Beth Schryer, vice president of Boeing Facilities & Asset Management.

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Lockheed Martin Names Subcontractors for OpFires Program; Steven Botwinik Quoted
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Lockheed Martin Names Subcontractors for OpFires Program; Steven Botwinik Quoted

Lockheed Martin, prime contractor on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Operational Fires (OpFires) program, has announced the company’s subcontractors on the program to advance hypersonic technologies, Lockheed Martin reported on Thursday. 

“OpFires and its unique throttleable booster make it a versatile platform to launch a variety of payloads over varied ranges and for this reason, OpFires is well-suited to address the Army’s Medium Range Strategic Fires needs,” said Steven Botwinik, director of Tactical and Strike Missiles Advanced Programs. 

Lockheed Martin has named three subcontractors to assist on the Weapon System Integration program: Northrop Grumman, Dynetics and Electronic Concepts & Engineering, Inc (ECE).

Northrop Grumman will develop the stage one solid rocket motor; Dynetics will deliver the cannister, all up round and fins, and support integration and test; and ECE will provide the booster power pyro module.

Lockheed Martin will develop an innovative ground-launched system to enable a hypersonic boost glide missile system to defeat modern enemy air defenses and rapidly engage time-sensitive targets.

Lockheed Martin currently leads Phase 3 of the OpFires initiative, which includes finalizing system architectures and vehicle integration as well as design, development and maturation of first-stage booster and launcher components.

The OpFires program may also cover full-scale static fire tests and subsystem assessments ahead of integrated flight tests, according to the agency. Lockheed secured the $31.9 million contract for the Phase 3 OpFires effort in Jan. 2020. 

Lockheed Martin has made significant investments in key technology and capability development, including hypersonic strike capabilities and defense systems against emerging hypersonic threats. The company has also supported the military across multiple hypersonic programs.

The company expects to complete its first live fire in 2021.

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BAE Systems Wins US Army Contract to Provide IT Services to ARCYBER; Peder Jungck Quoted
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BAE Systems Wins US Army Contract to Provide IT Services to ARCYBER; Peder Jungck Quoted

The U.S. Army has awarded BAE Systems a one-year, $11.7 million contract to provide information technology (IT) services to the Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) to assist with the operation, maintenance, and technical aspects of the ARCYBER enterprise IT environment, the company reported on Thursday.

“We’re pleased to continue supporting ARCYBER’s G-6,” said Peder Jungck, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems’ Intelligence Solutions business. “Our trusted, cleared IT and cyber experts are dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers and ultimately assisting warfighters with the defense of cyberspace and information operations missions.”

Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide system integration and management, including network and systems administration, as well as cyber and IT engineering support at ARCYBER Headquarters in Fort Gordon, Georgia.

BAE Systems will leverage its Federated Secure Cloud approach and processes to implement and maintain ARCYBER’s Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) virtual desktop infrastructure.

The company will operate and maintain the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information Management/Enterprise Information Technology Service Management environment for ARCYBER.

The contract award will expand BAE Systems’ history of IT support within the federal government. In Feb. 2020, the company secured a contract from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update information technology infrastructure and maintain enterprise systems.

BAE Systems has supported the agency’s Office of the Chief Information Officer over the past two decades and will expand the scope of support through the FEMA Operations and Maintenance contract, which includes network, help desk and telecommunications services.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a leading systems integrator supporting militaries, governments, and U.S. intelligence community members across the globe. The company’s advanced technologies and services protect people and national security, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.

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