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Glenn Dean Named Army Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems
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Glenn Dean Named Army Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems

Col. Glenn Dean III has been tapped to assume the role of program executive officer for ground combat systems at the U.S. Army.

Dean currently serves as deputy for acquisition and systems management at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

Prior to ASAALT, Dean worked as project manager for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

He also served at the Tank-Automotive Research Development & Engineering Center as military deputy and supported the Bradley and Armored Knight programs as product manager.

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NASA Postpones Solicitation Procedures for ‘Free-Flying’ LEO Station
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NASA Postpones Solicitation Procedures for ‘Free-Flying’ LEO Station

NASA is terminating plans to develop a “free-flyer” commercial station as part of the agency’s long-term effort to commercialize operations in low-Earth orbit (LEO), SpaceNews reported Thursday.

In October, the agency issued a draft solicitation for the standalone station in LEO as part of Appendix K under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnership (NextSTEP) program.

NASA intends to use NextSTEP technologies to eventually transition commercial operations from the International Space Station (ISS) to industry-built LEO platforms.

Angela Hart, manager for LEO commercialization at NASA, told attendees at the recent ISS Research and Development Conference that the agency is reevaluating its Appendix K solicitation and planning to develop a strategy for related efforts.

“I can’t promise any specific timelines associated with that, but we are definitely working on the free flyer and intend to release a solicitation soon on that once we get our strategy all agreed to internally,” she noted.

Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight programs at NASA, noted that the agency’s long-term goal is to have more than one commercial platform in orbit.

Hart and McAlister’s comments come after NASA awarded Axiom Space a potential $140M contract in March to build a habitation module that will be attached to the ISS.

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GAO: DoD Must Improve Info Sharing Among Military Branches’ Maintenance Depots
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GAO: DoD Must Improve Info Sharing Among Military Branches’ Maintenance Depots

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending the Department of Defense (DoD) to improve information sharing among its repair depots through the implementation of working groups and best practices aimed at meeting weapons system maintenance goals.

GAO said in a blog post published Thursday that although the DoD has experienced challenges in meeting weapons repair objectives in recent years, the department also reported benefits through the sharing of lessons learned.

According to the watchdog, the U.S. Navy is “struggling to complete maintenance on time” for submarines, aircraft carriers and fixed-wing aircraft from fiscal years 2014 through 2019.

GAO noted that the Navy was on track to meet maintenance deadlines “about 50 percent of the time”, with the service branch’s aircraft spending over 62,000 additional days in maintenance depots since FY 2014.

The agency recommends the Navy to address its workforce issues and identify “more accurate turn-around target times” for aircraft maintenance.

The U.S. Army, Marine Corps and Air Force largely met depot maintenance goals during the same period, GAO noted. However, the Army and Marine Corps need to improve their respective metrics for progress and workflow management.

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Robyn Gatens Takes Acting Director Role at ISS
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Robyn Gatens Takes Acting Director Role at ISS

Robyn Gatens, a 35-year NASA veteran, has been appointed acting director at the International Space Station (ISS). Gatens will collaborate with ISS Program Manager Joel Montalbano in overseeing the space station program's strategy, policy, integration, and stakeholder engagement, NASA said Friday.

She will also manage potential risks and deliver technical insights under her new role. Gatens served as deputy director at the ISS and helped the NASA carry out strategic planning for a low-Earth orbit commercialization effort.

She also worked as systems capability leader for environmental control, life support, crew health and performance systems at the agency. Former ISS Director Sam Scimemi has taken the role of special assistant at NASA's human exploration and operations mission directorate.

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NNSA’s Supply-Chain Center Marks $1B Taxpayer Savings Milestone; Lisa Gordon-Hagerty Quoted
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NNSA’s Supply-Chain Center Marks $1B Taxpayer Savings Milestone; Lisa Gordon-Hagerty Quoted

The Department of Energy (DOE) has recognized the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) supply chain management center in Kansas City for saving $1 billion in taxpayer dollars since its establishment in 2006.

DOE said Thursday that the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) SCMC serves as NNSA’s official acquisition program responsible for over $5 billion in annual spending.

SCMC implemented a centralized approach to managing and consolidating supplier contracting procedures including proposals, bids and quotes to meet DOE’s cost-saving goals, according to the department.

“Working together, the NNSA and DOE sites across the country utilizing this acquisition program are eliminating inefficiencies, improving operational cost management, and contributing to a resilient, more agile and effective supply chain,” said Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, administrator of NNSA and DOE undersecretary for Nuclear Security.

SCMC’s program savings will be used at other NNSA sites to support national security, environmental management and safety-related programs.

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Alion Wins Task Order to Support USAF ANT Development; Eric Wright Quoted
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Alion Wins Task Order to Support USAF ANT Development; Eric Wright Quoted

The U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology has awarded Alion Science and Technology a 60-month, $20 million task order to provide Autonomy and Navigation Technology (ANT) Development, the company reported on Friday.

"Alion has some of the greatest engineering and technology minds in industry partnering side-by-side with our customers to face challenging issues and create technologies, solutions and advancements in innovation to keep our nation ahead," said Eric Wright, Alion's vice president of the Integrated Solutions Operation within the Advanced Technology Group. 

Under the task order, Alion will research, assess, analyze and develop the ANT Center's research in autonomous and cooperative systems, non-Global Positioning System (GPS) precision navigation and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation/Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR). 

Alion’s work efforts will support the AFIT's mission to advance air, space and cyberspace capabilities through defense-focused research. The task order will develop navigation and autonomy technologies for weapon systems across the Department of Defense (DoD). 

The ANT Center is a research based division within the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). The ANT Center's goal is to develop navigation technology that will enable DoD to navigate and to improve the department’s ability to conduct autonomous operations.

The task was awarded under the DoD Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract (IAC MAC) issued by the Air Force Installation Contracting Center. 

“We are privileged to be working with the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology to achieve the goals of the ANT Center," Wright added. 

About Alion Science and Technology

Solving some of our nation's most complex National Security challenges, Alion works side-by-side with our Defense and Intelligence communities as we design and deliver advanced engineering solutions to meet current and future demands. 

We go beyond the superficial and dive deep into the root of the engineering complexities, and bring innovation to reality. With global industry expertise in Big Data, Analytics, and Cyber Security; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Live, Virtual, and Constructive Training; Electronic Warfare and C5ISR; and Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Alion delivers mission success where and when it matters most. 

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Mike Knowles to Head Cubic’s Streamlined Defense Business; Bradley Feldmann Quoted
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Mike Knowles to Head Cubic’s Streamlined Defense Business; Bradley Feldmann Quoted

Mike Knowles, senior vice president of Cubic Corporation and former president of Cubic Global Defense (CGD), has been appointed to lead the company’s newly established Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions (CMPS) as president of the division. 

“His military background in C4ISR systems coupled with a strong track record of more than 25 years of experience in military and commercial simulation and training make him ideally suited to head this combined defense business,” said Bradley Feldmann, chairman, president and CEO of Cubic Corporation.

In Knowles’ new role, he will be responsible for the strategic direction and business management of the company’s C4ISR and training solutions in the global defense and commercial markets. Knowles has more than two decades of experience in the aerospace, defense, military and commercial training fields. 

Knowles has served as president of CGD since 2018. In his previous position, he improved operations and employee engagement as well as expanded the company’s strategic priorities. Knowles was promoted to CGD president after serving as vice president and general manager of CGD’s Air Ranges business since joining Cubic in 2014.

Before joining Cubic, he served as the senior director of Air Transport and Mission Solutions for Rockwell Collins, where he was responsible for the company’s simulation and training business which included training devices, visual systems, technical publications, re-hosted avionics and desktop training for the fixed wing commercial, military air transport and mission aircraft markets.

A retired U.S. Navy commander, Knowles has served as a Naval flight officer on the EC-130 and E-6 aircraft, as well as the Aerospace Engineering duty officer. 

“While serving as President of CGD, Mike Knowles has greatly improved operations and employee engagement, in addition to further advancing our strategic priority to deliver leading edge capabilities for the multi-domain environment, enabled by Live, Virtual and Constructive training solutions,” Feldmann added. 

The CGD segment was merged with the Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS) segment and placed under his leadership in August 2020.

About Cubic Corporation

Cubic Corporation is the parent company of three major businesses, Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS), Cubic Global Defense (CGD), and Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS). CTS is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions worldwide. CGD is a leading provider of realistic combat training systems, secure communications and networking and highly specialized support services for military and security forces of the U.S. and allied nations. CMS provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security, and commercial missions. 

All three of our businesses provide innovative technologies and an integrated approach to systems and services for government and commercial customers around the globe. This integration ensures our customers receive streamlined operations and strategy, cost-efficiency and speed to market.

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US Navy Post RFI for Hardware Factory to Enhance Computing Platforms
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US Navy Post RFI for Hardware Factory to Enhance Computing Platforms

The U.S. Navy has published a request for information (RFI) to develop a “hardware factory and hardware pipeline” that will continue modernization and enhancements of the service branch’s computing platforms, C4ISRNet reported on Friday.  

“The Navy envisions a transition to a HW Factory and HW Pipeline Process continuously delivering IaaS to pace technology, eliminate obsolescence, and enable continuous design and development of [computing infrastructure] solutions that meet ship needs with minimal deviation from commercial standards and practices,” the RFI states.

Posted by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the division expressed that the factory would be integrated as part of a broader effort to architect, implement and migrate to a universally managed, infrastructure as a service environment for the sea service’s surface fleet. NAVSEA has projected that the pipeline and factory will be ready for use by fiscal year 2023.

The Navy will use the hardware factory and hardware pipeline concept to leverage agile development to accelerate the development of its computing infrastructure. The new model is part of the Navy’s effort to transition away from technology insertions and move toward continuous hardware refreshes aboard its current and future surface fleet.

The request is for a program called Future Integrated Combat System Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Computing Infrastructure (FICS-CI), managed by NAVSEA’s Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS), and is part of an effort by the NAVSEA’s PEO IWS to migrate systems to a “common, scalable intermittently connected edge cloud architecture” using IaaS to enable platform as a service.

“The HW Factory and HW Pipeline will streamline component selection, qualification, integration, life cycle support and training for the Fleet, leading to accelerated infrastructure development and fielding,” the RFI states. “The Navy envisions a continuous CI refresh cycle rapidly delivering improved Lethality, Combat Capability and Capacity to the Surface Navy Fleet to confront an increasing array of Strategic, Operational, and Tactical Challenges.”

Potomac Officers Club will host its 2020 Navy Forum on September 30th. Click here to register for the event. 

James Geurts, Assistant Secretary for Research, Development, and Acquisition with the U.S. Navy and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient will serve as a keynote speaker during the event. Geurts will discuss how the U.S. Navy has continually worked to decentralize, differentialize and digitize the service branch’s work as well as develop its talent in the field. 

The Navy has also accelerated acquisition channels, modernized emerging technologies and increased research and development to become more effective in warfare. As the Navy continues to evolve to meet the growing demands, challenges still remain. 

Join Potomac Officers Club’s 2020 Navy Forum to hear notable industry and federal leaders discuss the initiatives, efficiencies and challenges the service branch faces as well as how to join together to improve the future of warfare. Click here to register for the 2020 Navy Forum.

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DARPA Awards New Contracts to Advance Modeling & Simulation
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DARPA Awards New Contracts to Advance Modeling & Simulation

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced two new multi-million dollar contract awards that will develop an advanced modeling and simulation environment to increase the speed at which military leaders make decisions, C4ISRNet reported on Friday.

“This capability would enable rapid analysis supporting senior-level decisions for concept of operations development, force structure composition, resource allocation and targeted technology insertion,” the contract announcement said.

DARPA has awarded a $10.1 million contract to Huntsville to Radiance Technologies and a $9.1 million contract to Cole Engineering Services as part of its Secure Advanced Framework for Simulation and Modeling (SAFE-SiM) program.

SAFE-SiM, processed through DARPA’s Adaptive Capabilities Office (ACO), has made efforts to develop a government-owned and controlled, faster-than-real time, all-domain modeling and simulation environment at the mission level.

Currently DARPA only has the capabilities to model a limited amount of domains or areas, which has caused challenges across cyber and electronic warfare.  The agency has also faced obstacles while accounting for the “factorial increase” in inter-relationships in a multi-domain kill-web. 

The contract will solve some of the current issues within the federal sector’s modeling and simulation architectures and will expedite the processing and dissemination of data across classification levels.

Work is anticipated to be completed on both contracts in August 2021. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds totaling $3.75 million were obligated at the time of the award. Cole Engineering received fiscal 2021 RDT&E funds amounting to $3.31 million were obligated at the time of the award. The contract was competitively awarded with 10 solicitations received.

In addition, the ACO will continue development of an all-domain, Multi-Level Security (MLS) enabled Modeling and Simulation (M&S) environment to perform mission-level M&S for senior-level military decision makers, technology developers, and acquisition professionals for use in concept of operations (CONOP) development. 

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VMware Reports Q2 FY 2021 Financial Results; Pat Gelsinger, Zane Rowe Quoted
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VMware Reports Q2 FY 2021 Financial Results; Pat Gelsinger, Zane Rowe Quoted

VMware has announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2021, reporting revenue for the second quarter as $2.88 billion, an increase of 9 percent from the second quarter of fiscal 2020. 

“In light of these uncertain times, we delivered solid execution and financial performance in Q2 FY21,” said Pat Gelsinger, VMware CEO. “With our Any Cloud, Any Application, Any Device strategy, we are helping customers solve their hardest technology challenges and meet and exceed their business objectives.”

VMware announced that the combination of subscription and SaaS and license revenue was $1.35 billion, an increase of 11 percent from the second quarter of fiscal 2020, and Subscription and SaaS revenue for the second quarter was $631 million, an increase of 44 percent year-over-year. 

The company’s GAAP net income for the second quarter was $447 million, compared to $5.30 billion, or $12.47 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter was $766 million, up 18 percent per diluted share compared to $650 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

GAAP operating income for the second quarter was $534 million, an increase of 15 percent from the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Non-GAAP operating income for the second quarter was $950 million, an increase of 20 percent from the second quarter of fiscal 2020. VMware’s operating cash flow for the second quarter was $719 million. Free cash flow for the second quarter was $643 million.

VMware reported the RPO for Q2 totaled $10.3 billion, up 17 percent year-over-year; total revenue plus sequential change in total unearned revenue grew 2 percent year-over-year. The combination of subscription and SaaS and license revenue plus sequential change in unearned subscription and SaaS and license revenue grew 12 percent year-over-year.

Within VMware’s business highlights, the company reported that it has continued to expand the multi-cloud strategy with advancements across the cloud platform and ecosystem. VMware made available the second generation of VMware Cloud on Dell EMC, a VMware service that delivers simple, more secure and scalable infrastructure as-a-service to customers’ on-premises data center and edge locations.

Microsoft Corp. also previewed the next generation of Azure VMware Solution, a first-party solution designed, built and supported by Microsoft and endorsed by VMware. VMware announced new capabilities designed to further improve the economic value of VMware Cloud on AWS while meeting an evolving set of requirements for application modernization, business continuity and resiliency, and cloud migration.

“Our performance in Q2 reflected strength in our Subscription and SaaS product offerings, which grew 44% year-over-year,” said Zane Rowe, executive vice president and CFO, VMware. “We plan to accelerate certain product initiatives through the remainder of the year, which will further support customers’ digital transformations and grow our Subscription and SaaS product offerings.”

About VMware

VMware software powers the world’s complex digital infrastructure. The company’s cloud, networking and security, and digital workspace offerings provide a dynamic and efficient digital foundation to customers globally, aided by an extensive ecosystem of partners. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough innovations to its global impact.

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