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U.S. Navy Working to Expand Fleet to 355 Ships; RADM Tom Anderson Quoted
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U.S. Navy Working to Expand Fleet to 355 Ships; RADM Tom Anderson Quoted

The U.S. Navy and Defense Secretary and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient Mark Esper have made recent efforts to expand the service branch’s fleet to at least 355 ships to keep pace with Chinese military modernization. However, the Navy has faced recent challenges to keep up with the capacity, Breaking Defense reported on Tuesday.

The Navy has faced recent obstacles in performing scheduled maintenance work. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recently reported delays, noting that carriers are averaging 113 days late, while subs are coming in 225 days late.

To combat the challenges as the service branch works toward modernization James Geurts, Navy Acquisition Chief and 2020 Wash100 Award winner, has developed plans for the shipyards and shipbuilders in the case of  American ships damaged by the Chinese or Russian fleets.

Geurts established the Wartime Acquisition Scalable Plan, to look at the US industrial base “beyond the traditional defense companies and its suppliers in order to meet the national defense strategy and the department of Navy’s readiness priorities to build and sustain a lethal naval force,” said Navy spokesman Capt. Danny Hernandez.

Geurts’ team will continue to expand how the Navy could rapidly increase shipbuilding. RADM Tom Anderson, program executive officer-ships,  said “how prepared are we to go to the fight, and what would we do and how do we get better prepared,” to rapidly push ships out to sea and repair them when they came back.

Under the Wartime Acquisition Scalable Plan, Geurts will also establish how Congress will provide the proper personnel to enact these plans, and create a national capacity to enact modernization.

Anderson has researched smaller commercial shipyards that haven’t traditionally worked with the Navy, which could lead to newfound progress. The shipyards would introduce a number of large shipbuilding companies that could deliver repair and overhaul work.

Anderson recently visited a number of small, commercial shipyards in the Gulf Coast to potentially build the kinds of smaller manned and unmanned vessels for the Navy and Pentagon as part of the revamped 30-year shipbuilding plan.

U.S. Navy Working to Expand Fleet to 355 Ships; RADM Tom Anderson Quoted

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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SpaceX to Launch MM1 to Deliver NASA Experiments; Sean Mahoney, Stephanie Bednarek Quoted
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SpaceX to Launch MM1 to Deliver NASA Experiments; Sean Mahoney, Stephanie Bednarek Quoted

Masten Space Systems has chosen SpaceX to launch Masten Mission One (MM1), which will deliver nine NASA science and technology demonstration experiments and several commercial payloads to the lunar south pole, Masten Space Systems reported on Wednesday. 

“Having SpaceX’s proven launch success behind us is not only great for us, but it’s great for our customers,” said Masten chief executive officer, Sean Mahoney. “We share a common vision with SpaceX and that makes this more than a partnership. It’s more like a dream team.”

MM1 was developed under collaboration with NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Project Office. The Masten XL-1 lunar lander is scheduled to touch down on the lunar south pole in 2022, carrying a suite of NASA-sponsored scientific instruments and various payloads from commercial space customers.

“We are thrilled to be launching Masten’s Mission One to the Moon in 2022,” said Stephanie Bednarek, senior director of commercial sales or SpaceX. “SpaceX was founded upon the goal of extending humanity’s reach beyond Earth, and it’s exciting to take part in a mission with many partners who share the same vision.”

NASA selected Masten Space Systems to deliver the administration’s payloads in April 2020. The $75.9 million contract was awarded to Masten under the terms of NASA’s (CLPS). The agency’s initiative has provided opportunities for NASA to order lunar delivery services from commercial providers. In 2018, Masten was one of the first delivery providers that NASA put on its CLPS list.

About NASA’s CLPS Program

NASA is working with several American companies to deliver science and technology to the lunar surface through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. These companies of varying sizes will bid on delivering payloads for NASA, including payload integration and operations, launching from Earth and landing on the surface of the Moon. Under the Artemis program, early commercial delivery missions will perform science experiments, test technologies and demonstrate capabilities to help NASA explore the Moon and prepare for human missions.

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QTS Launches Bandwidth IG to Expand Atlanta Network; Jim Nolte, Sean Baillie Quoted
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QTS Launches Bandwidth IG to Expand Atlanta Network; Jim Nolte, Sean Baillie Quoted

QTS Realty Trust has launched its Bandwidth Infrastructure Group (IG) a metro dark fiber network provider in QTS' Atlanta Metro mega data center campus, the company reported on Tuesday.

"We are pleased to establish our core presence in QTS, one of the most important data center operators in Atlanta," said Jim Nolte, CEO of Bandwidth IG. "Bandwidth IG's metro dark fiber rings interconnected with QTS' flexible connectivity ecosystem offers unlimited solutions for solving high capacity broadband needs with diversity, speed and scalability." 

Bandwidth IG will support mission critical data centers, hyperscale customers and enterprises with high capacity dark fiber services. Bandwidth IG recently announced that it will deploy a metro dark fiber network in Atlanta intentionally placed to ensure minimal overlap with other networks. 

Bandwidth IG will deliver a diverse, low-latency, high-count fiber network through high-density cables, serving QTS’ Atlanta network of more than 40 newly built route miles and 75,000 fiber miles. 

QTS’ network has 16 data centers, representing nearly 400 megawatts of IT load. Bandwidth IG will deploy eight separate fiber rings that all interconnect in the QTS Atlanta Metro data center campus.

The QTS network features connectivity for cloud and hybrid colocation such as carrier-neutral cloud interconnection, multiple fiber routes and IP providers, including IP networks, multiple dark and lit fiber providers, transport paths and access to cloud providers. 

"The introduction of Bandwidth IG's high count, diverse fiber rings into our Atlanta Metro facility adds additional value to the dense ecosystem already in place and gives our customers yet another compelling connectivity option," said Sean Baillie, EVP, Connectivity Strategy, QTS. "Bandwidth IG's dark fiber rings all converge and interconnect at our Atlanta campus making QTS the epicenter of next generation fiber connectivity in Atlanta."

About QTS

QTS Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: QTS) is a leading provider of data center solutions across a diverse footprint spanning more than 7 million square feet of owned mega scale data center space within North America and Europe. Through its software-defined technology platform, QTS is able to deliver secure, compliant infrastructure solutions, robust connectivity and premium customer service to leading hyperscale technology companies, enterprises, and government entities.

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Salesforce Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results; Marc Benioff Quoted
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Salesforce Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results; Marc Benioff Quoted

Salesforce has announced results for its fiscal second quarter ended July 31, 2020, reporting tha the total second quarter revenue was $5.15 billion, an increase of 29 percent year-over-year, and 29 percent in constant currency.

“It’s humbling to have had one of the best quarters in Salesforce’s history against the backdrop of multiple crises seriously affecting our communities around the world,” said Marc Benioff, chair and CEO of Salesforce, on Wednesday.

Salesforce stated that the subscription and support revenues for the quarter were $4.84 billion, an increase of 29 percent year-over-year. Professional services and other revenues for the quarter were $0.31 billion, an increase of 23 percent year-over-year.

The company’s second quarter GAAP diluted earnings per share was $2.85, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $1.44. Salesforce announced that the mark-to-market accounting of the company’s strategic investments positively impacted GAAP diluted earnings per share by $0.55.

GAAP diluted earnings per share was also benefited by $2.17 as the company changed its international corporate structure, which included the consolidation of intangible property, resulting in a $2 billion net tax benefit related to foreign deferred tax assets.

Salesforce reported that the cash generated from operations for the second quarter was $0.43 billion, a decrease of 2 percent year-over-year. Total cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities ended the second quarter at $9.28 billion.

The company’s remaining performance obligation ended the second quarter at approximately $30.6 billion, an increase of 21 percent year-over-year. Current remaining performance obligation ended the second quarter at approximately $15.2 billion, an increase of 26 percent  year-over-year.

“Salesforce was founded on our belief in stakeholder capitalism and our core values of trust, customer success, innovation and equality. Our success in the quarter brought all of this together with the power of our Customer 360 platform, the resilience of our business model, putting our customers first and doing our part to take care of all of our stakeholders. We know that together we have an opportunity to emerge from these times even stronger,” Benioff added.

About Salesforce

Salesforce is the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bringing companies closer to their customers in the digital age. Founded in 1999, Salesforce enables companies of every size and industry to take advantage of powerful technologies—cloud, mobile, social, internet of things, artificial intelligence, voice and blockchain—to create a 360-degree view of their customers.

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KBR Wins Contract to Support Energy & Technology Advancements; Doug Kelly Quoted
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KBR Wins Contract to Support Energy & Technology Advancements; Doug Kelly Quoted

KBR has been awarded two contracts by Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group for its 500KTA coal to olefins project & 500KTA C2-C5 comprehensive utilization project in Ningdong Town, Lingwu City, Ningxia, China, KBR reported on Monday. 

"We are proud that Baofeng Energy has selected KBR for this breakthrough world-scale MTO complex," said Doug Kelly, president of Technology Solutions for KBR. 

Under the contract, KBR will provide process technology licensing and process design packages, which will have an annual production capacity of one million tons of olefins. Once completed, the complex will be the largest single-train methanol to olefins (MTO) plant in the world.

KBR will leverage its SCORE steam cracking and MTO recovery technologies to achieve Baofeng Energy's project objectives of highest yields and lowest capital investment. The SCORE steam cracking unit will convert the ethane and propane feedstock into ethylene and propylene. 

The conversion products will later be separated and further purified in the MTO recovery section to ensure the quality needed to produce polymer grade ethylene and propylene. The MTO recovery process will utilize KBR's technology that will provide CAPEX and OPEX advantages over other technologies.

"This award is a reaffirmation of our continued commitment to helping our clients maintain their competitive edge through technological advancements and delivering the best return on their investments," Kelly added. 

The contract award follows KBR’s integration of its KTA solutions in Ulsan, Korea. KBR announced the successful completion of the ethylene plant revamp project for Korea Petrochemical Ind. Co., Ltd (KPIC) in 2018.

Under the terms of the contract, KBR provided its proprietary SCORE technology license, basic engineering design and proprietary equipment supply services to expand KPIC's existing plant ethylene capacity from 486 KTA to 800 KTA.  

The revamp included the addition of two new highly selective SC-1 proprietary furnaces and targeted product recovery system modifications to provide superior yield, energy and operational performance.

About KBR

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and solutions across the asset and program life cycle within the government services, technology and industrial sectors. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries.

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

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FCC Raises $4.6B in First 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction; Ajit Pai Quoted
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FCC Raises $4.6B in First 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction; Ajit Pai Quoted

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has wrapped up the first mid-band spectrum auction for 5G networks and raised approximately $4.6 billion in gross bids.

Auction 105 freed up 70 megahertz of spectrum in the 3,550-3,650 MHz band and enabled bidders to secure more than 91.1 percent of available 22,631 priority access licenses, FCC said Tuesday.

“This auction has been a key part of our 5G FAST Plan and our ongoing push to make more mid-band spectrum available for 5G,” said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “And I look forward to the Commission making available 280 more megahertz of mid-band spectrum for 5G in the C-band auction beginning on December 8.”

FCC kicked off Auction 105 in July 2020.

FCC Raises $4.6B in First 5G Mid-Band Spectrum Auction; 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.

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

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Gen. Paul Nakasone, Michael Sulmeyer on Cyber Command’s ‘Defend Forward’ Strategy
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Gen. Paul Nakasone, Michael Sulmeyer on Cyber Command’s ‘Defend Forward’ Strategy

Gen. Paul Nakasone, head of U.S. Cyber Command and a 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, and Michael Sulmeyer, senior adviser to the commander of Cybercom, wrote in an article published Tuesday on the Foreign Affairs magazine that aside from implementing proactive defense measures, the command needs to advance the “defend forward” strategy through persistent management.

“This doctrine of persistent engagement reflects the fact that one-off cyber operations are unlikely to defeat adversaries. Instead, U.S. forces must compete with adversaries on a recurring basis, making it far more difficult for them to advance their goals over time,” they wrote.

Gen. Nakasone, who also serves as director of the National Security Agency (NSA), and Sulmeyer wrote that persistent engagement highlights the need for Cybercom to support its government partners by sharing warnings and indications and an example of that is the “9-line” incident reporting standard supporting National Guard units.

They also discussed Cybercom’s partnership with NSA, adoption of the zero trust approach and how it works with the private sector through the DreamPort facility.

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Four Agencies Eye October Launch for IT Vendor Management Office; Michael Wooten Quoted
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Four Agencies Eye October Launch for IT Vendor Management Office; Michael Wooten Quoted

The General Services Administration (GSA), NASA, Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) and the NIH Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center plan to unveil an IT vendor management office in October to help agencies make informed decisions when it comes to IT procurement, Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

“Launching the ITVMO is an important step in our category management evolution,” OFPP Administrator Michael Wooten told the network in a statement. “The ITVMO will further sharpen the government’s IT acquisition intelligence capability. It will allow us to leverage our collective expertise, turn data into information, and increase engagement with our important vendor partners.”

A fact sheet on ITVMO says the proposed office will use IT category management, governmentwide procurement data, shared acquisition knowledge and technical contracting expertise to advise and support agencies when it comes to their IT purchases.

ITVMO will provide services across five areas to support agencies’ IT procurement decisions: data analytics; vendor relationship management; subject matter expertise; IT security and risk management; and best-in-class solutions management.

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Army Demos Human-Robot Teaming Technology; Christopher Reardon Quoted
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Army Demos Human-Robot Teaming Technology; Christopher Reardon Quoted

The U.S. Army performed a demonstration of a small autonomous mobile ground robot designed to trace physical changes in the environment and transmit information to a human teammate via augmented reality technology.

The service branch said Monday it equipped the robot with laser ranging sensors while a warfighter wore AR glasses to test the technology's capacity to build a 3D representation of the environment.

The robot compared its current and previous observations while on patrol to determine possible changes in the area. The warfighter then viewed the changes instantly through the eyewear.

"This could let robots inform their Soldier teammates of changes in the environment that might be overlooked by or not perceptible to the Soldier, giving them increased situational awareness and offset from potential adversaries," said Christopher Reardon, a researcher at the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.

Reardon added the robots could trace improvised explosive devices and camouflaged enemy soldiers.

The Army noted it will perform studies to explore methods that could augment teaming capabilities between humans and robots.

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VA Launches Patient Scheduling Tech
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VA Launches Patient Scheduling Tech

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has rolled out a new tool meant to help care providers and patients schedule appointments efficiently. VA said Monday that it will deploy the Centralized Scheduling Solution at various health facilities to speed up patient-care coordination activities.

Users may use CSS to schedule appointments by viewing color-coded time slots and checking out resources such as rooms, equipment and clinicians.

Pamela Powers, acting deputy secretary at VA, said the tool will help users flag canceled appointments as well as identify and mitigate double bookings.

The tool is a part of VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization effort, an initiative that seeks to consolidate the department’s healthcare facilities into a single platform.

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