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Dewberry Names Jay Harper, Former FEMA Senior Advisor, VP & BD Director
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Dewberry Names Jay Harper, Former FEMA Senior Advisor, VP & BD Director

Dewberry has appointed Jay Harper, former senior advisor to the administrator with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as a vice president and business development director in the company’s federal group, Dewberry reported on Tuesday.

In his new role with Dewberry, Harper will work alongside the firm’s federal executives and coordinate with clients across the federal market, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and FEMA.

Harper will bring more than 15 years of experience working in state and federal government agencies, including FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He is experienced throughout emergency management, government affairs, federal procurement, strategic communications, grants management, regulatory compliance, private-sector engagement and interagency coordination.

Harper earned his bachelor’s degree in general business studies from Louisiana State University.

About Dewberry

Dewberry is a nationwide firm of planning, design, and construction professionals. We create responsible and innovative solutions for those who own, operate, and maintain natural and built environments. We value lasting relationships, achieving our clients’ visions, and celebrating in their success.

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Comcast NBCUniversal Tops Best for Vets: Employers 2020 List; Carol Eggert Quoted
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Comcast NBCUniversal Tops Best for Vets: Employers 2020 List; Carol Eggert Quoted

Comcast NBCUniversal has been recognized as the top employer for veterans by Military Times in its Best for Vets: Employers 2020 list, marking the fifth consecutive year the company has been recognized on the list and the first time Comcast NBCUniversal was named at the top of the list.

“We’re thrilled Comcast NBCUniversal  was recognized with this distinguished honor, “ said Carol Eggert, senior vice president of Military and Veteran Affairs (VA) at Comcast NBCUniversal. “It reflects the combined dedication of our leaders, business units, and employees to creating an inclusive and empowering workplace for our military community teammates.”

The Best for Vets list is an annual ranking of the country’s best employers and organizations with military-connected employment programs, benefits and support efforts. Comcast NBCUniversal’s rise to first place was achieved by the company’s ongoing initiative to create a military-friendly and military-ready environment for our employees.

Comcast NBCUniversal has offered programs that foster an innovative workplace culture that has supported the company’s military employees, including the military active workforce.  The company has launched programs including an active duty health benefits plan, military spouse transfer assistance and 15 days paid time off annually for military training, in addition to normal paid time off.

Additionally, Comcast NBCUniversal has supported the military concierge service team that has assisted with needs such as the transition of working military and civilian careers simultaneously. The company’s continued support of the military workforce has increased physical, emotional and financial aspects of the organization and its employees.

“We’ve worked diligently across the company to make our support for our military teammates stand out, and it’s incredibly rewarding to know that our efforts are recognized by Military Times – a well-respected publication,” Eggert added.

About NBCUniversal 

NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses.

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Jacobs Completes Test of KeyRadar in AgilePod for AFLCMC; Steve Arnette Quoted
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Jacobs Completes Test of KeyRadar in AgilePod for AFLCMC; Steve Arnette Quoted

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) has certified Jacobs’ KeyRadar in AgilePod for flight testing on commercially operated aircraft under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness criteria. The certification adds to Jacobs’ flight campaign with the AFLCMC for certification of Jacobs' newest version of its proprietary KeyRadar product in an aerial system pod. 

"The integration of KeyRadar into an aerial system pod brings unique capabilities for ISR and time-critical detection/recognition applications," said Jacobs Critical Mission Solutions senior vice president Steve Arnette. 

The flight activity includes technical maturation phase for the AFLCMC, a program to integrate KeyRadar into an aerial system pod and provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and target detection/recognition capabilities from manned and unmanned aircraft. 

Jacobs’ KeyRadar is a multi-mission, multi-mode system built on a software-defined radio/radar architecture. The system has integrated multiple bands with sophisticated processing and detection/recognition software to find concealed targets in challenging operational environments. 

Jacobs' modular open system architecture will enable users to field new capabilities to operational systems. The program also demonstrated the utility of Jacobs' KeyPAD software has been integrated in KeyRadar for automated human-made object detection to improve system performance. 

The radar was packaged in the pod system to meet Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) standards.

The radar and pod were operated in an unpressurized environment, varying between extreme warm and extreme cold temperatures, to include moisture saturating weather, and were evaluated against engineering, performance and environmental specifications.

"The completion of this flight campaign and certification represents a successful collaboration between our newly integrated team since acquiring KeyW and our partnership with the Air Force in delivering advanced technical solutions to the intelligence mission," Arnette added. 

About Jacobs

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. 

With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 55,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector. 

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Aerion Supersonic Awards BAE Systems Contract to Provide Flight Control System
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Aerion Supersonic Awards BAE Systems Contract to Provide Flight Control System

Aerion Supersonic has awarded BAE Systems a contract to provide the flight control system for Aerion’s AS2 supersonic business jet, BAE Systems reported on Wednesday. 

“We are leveraging decades of expertise and advanced technologies to architect a flight control system that will enable the future of flight,” said Ehtisham Siddiqui, vice president and general manager of Controls and Avionics Solutions for BAE Systems. “We are proud to be collaborating with Aerion Supersonic on this next-generation flight control system for the AS2 aircraft.”

BAE Systems will design, develop and integrate a fly-by-wire flight control system, including active inceptors, for the aircraft. BAE Systems will leverage smaller and lighter components to allow for integration on the AS2 aircraft. The flight system will comprise active inceptors, primary flight control computers, actuator control units and remote electronics units.

BAE Systems’ active inceptors will provide AS2 pilots with static and dynamic tactile force feedback, and will include electronic controlled actuators that send tactile feedback to the pilot through the flight stick. The feedback will warn pilots of structural or aerodynamic operating limits, improving situational awareness to maintain a safer, more stable flight.

Aerion's AS2 private jet is the first supersonic aircraft to use only synthetic fuel and reach supersonic speeds without the need for an afterburner. The business jet will enhance point-to-point travel. 

“We are delighted to expand our long-standing relationship with BAE Systems and for them to join our growing team of globally-renowned technical partners who will support bringing the AS2 to production,” said Tom Vice, chairman, president and CEO at Aerion. 

The flight control system development will be conducted at BAE Systems facilities in Endicott, New York and Rochester, U.K.

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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GSA Awards Deloitte, Esper Contract to Advance AI Technology; Julie Dunne, Bob De Luca Quoted
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GSA Awards Deloitte, Esper Contract to Advance AI Technology; Julie Dunne, Bob De Luca Quoted

The General Services Administration (GSA) has awarded its multiple year, $9.9 million contract to Deloitte Consulting and Esper through GSA’s Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) authority.

“The Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is pleased to offer an innovative acquisition solution to support our agency partners as they continue their work in support of the Administration’s regulatory reform activities,” said GSA FAS commissioner Julie Dunne. “This award is another gratifying example of our FAS team providing innovative solutions and acquisition support, allowing our agency partners to focus on their core missions.”

The Centers of Excellence (CoE), within the agency’s FAS Technology Transformation Services (TTS) office, and the Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM) have collaborated to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology solutions to conduct regulatory review and improve the rule-making process for federal agencies.

The contract was awarded to support the White House’s Executive Order on Regulatory Reform, which has pushed to apply AI solutions to government business challenges. The CoE used GSA’s Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) authority to increase the agility of the acquisition process and acquire innovative and commercial solutions in an expedited manner.

The CoE initiative has worked to advance IT modernization at federal agencies by leveraging private sector innovation and government services. The center will also integrate best practices and expertise for holistic transformation, which will make GSA services more accessible, efficient. GSA’s CoE will also promote modern applications, platforms, processes, personnel and software solutions.

“Applying AI to a manual review many agencies encounter can increase operational efficiency for agencies throughout the federal government and the CoE has been an integral part of the process to help scope opportunities,” said acting FAS deputy commissioner and TTS director Bob De Luca. “This award announcement illuminates the ongoing strong collaboration occurring between offices within GSA, which has allowed the CoE to provide agency partners improved acquisition capabilities.”

GSA Awards Deloitte, Esper Contract to Advance AI Technology; Julie Dunne, Bob De Luca Quoted

GovConWire Events will host its “Winning Business and FY21 Opportunities Forum” on October 20th. Click here to register for the event. 

Featuring Brian Barnes, associate administrator for the Office of Small Business Utilization with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), as the keynote speaker, the event will educate and inform small to midsize GovCon professionals on the current Federal Marketplace and FY21 opportunities. 

The event will also include an expert panel hosting federal and industry executives that will discuss how to navigate the GSA schedule and what industry can do to help. Join GovConWire’s virtual event to learn all about the latest topics within the federal marketplace.

Click here to register for GovConWire’s “Winning Business and FY21 Opportunities Forum” on October 20th.

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Keith Nakasone: GSA Integrates Cyber, Supply Chain Risk Mgmt Requirements Into Contracts
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Keith Nakasone: GSA Integrates Cyber, Supply Chain Risk Mgmt Requirements Into Contracts

Keith Nakasone, deputy assistant commissioner for acquisition within the Office of Information Technology Category (ITC) at the General Services Administration (GSA), said GSA’s office of ITC is adding supply chain risk management and cybersecurity requirements to old and new federal contracts to ensure that vendors comply with certain requirements, FedScoop reported Tuesday.

“We’re not only going through the process, where the contractors are delivering commodities and services, but also the follow-through,” Nakasone said Tuesday during a GSA webinar. “So after they go through a self-certification process, there’s a compliance piece that we’re working on that we’ll monitor to ensure that they are following their SCRM plan.”

ITC, for instance, integrated some of the language of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program into the 8(a) STARS III governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC) for IT platforms to ensure the GWAC has the basic cyber requirements for CMMC Level 1 vendors.

“We’re trying to build more flexibility into our major contracts so that we will be able to move forward as innovation, emerging technologies and as regulations, policies and procedures change over time,” Nakasone said.

Keith Nakasone: GSA Integrates Cyber, Supply Chain Risk Mgmt Requirements Into Contracts

GovConWire Events will host its “Winning Business and FY21 Opportunities Forum” on October 20th. Click here to register for the event. 

Featuring Brian Barnes, associate administrator for the Office of Small Business Utilization with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), as the keynote speaker, the event will educate and inform small to midsize GovCon professionals on the current Federal Marketplace and FY21 opportunities. 

The event will also include an expert panel hosting federal and industry executives that will discuss how to navigate the GSA schedule and what industry can do to help. Join GovConWire’s virtual event to learn all about the latest topics within the federal marketplace.

Click here to register for GovConWire’s “Winning Business and FY21 Opportunities Forum” on October 20th.

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Air Force Develops Prototype of Next-Gen Fighter Aircraft; Will Roper Quoted
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Air Force Develops Prototype of Next-Gen Fighter Aircraft; Will Roper Quoted

The U.S. Air Force has built and flown a prototype of a new fighter aircraft using virtual tools as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance program (NGAD), Defense One reported Tuesday.

“The announcement isn’t that we just built an ‘eplane,’ and have flown it a lot of times in our virtual world, which we’ve done, but that we have built a full-scale flight demonstrator and flown it in the real world,” Will Roper, chief acquisition executive at the Air Force and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, told reporters Tuesday.

The report said the service developed a virtual prototype and a physical aircraft using data from the T-7 trainer and F-35 fighter jet programs under the NGAD program.

“What having the ‘eplane’ will allow us to do is get much faster through design, much faster through assembly, get out to test faster and be able to go after the data we need to anchor models,” Roper said. 

“So these digital threads that are pulled through the life cycle of the program, appear to accelerate everything. The windfall of accelerating everything is getting to focus on what actually matters because the digital model is allowing you to convey things that you already know.” 

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Mark Sirangelo Succeeds Eric Schmidt as Defense Innovation Board Chair
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Mark Sirangelo Succeeds Eric Schmidt as Defense Innovation Board Chair

Mark Sirangelo, entrepreneur scholar in residence at the University of Colorado, has succeeded Eric Schmidt as chairman of the Defense Innovation Board (DIB), Inside Defense reported Tuesday.

Sirangelo announced Tuesday that Schmidt, former CEO of Google, and several other members of the DIB, including LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Aspen Institute President Walter Isaacson, ended their four-year terms on the board.

Sirangelo joined DIB in 2018 and currently leads the board’s newly established space advisory committee. He most recently worked at Sierra Nevada Corp. as head of space systems division and was the former chairman and CEO of SpaceDev.

The report noted that DIB named Drew Endy, a professor at Stanford University and president of BioBricks Foundation, to the board.

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DHS to Conduct Chemical Hazard Support Efforts
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DHS to Conduct Chemical Hazard Support Efforts

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) is set to provide chemical hazard support in preparation for Hurricane Sally's landfall.

CSAC is identifying chemical facilities within Sally's predicted path that may be vulnerable to chemical release due to loss of power or building damage, DHS said Monday. The center will also remain on standby to assess potential hazard on chemical surface transport, piping systems and other facilities.

DHS will transmit the results of the analysis to Joint Task Force – Civil Support Team and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center.

CST and FEMA/IMAAC reached out to CSAC in August in response to a chemical fire at Biolab following Hurricane Laura's landfall.

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DHS Overrules TSA Concerns on CLEAR’s Expanded Airport Security Authorities
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DHS Overrules TSA Concerns on CLEAR’s Expanded Airport Security Authorities

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rejected objections from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on a bill to expand the traveler vetting authorities of security technology maker CLEAR.

Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of homeland security, wrote in a letter dated Sept. 9 that the DHS overruled the concerns of TSA Administrator David Pekoske on CLEAR’s expanded operations, Bloomberg Government reported Monday.

In May 2020, Pekoske wrote a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee stating that allowing CLEAR to have additional authorities “would be a bridge too far” and place critical transportation and national security functions “in the hands of private firms that are not directly accountable to the U.S. Government.”

CLEAR currently serves as a sole partner in TSA’s Registered Traveler initiative and is under contract to provide screening services at 35 airports. A company spokesperson told BGOV that the legislation would ensure that security procedures and traveler assessments “would remain with TSA where they belong.”

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