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NASA Confirms Integration Schedule of Lucy Asteroid Probe Mission
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NASA Confirms Integration Schedule of Lucy Asteroid Probe Mission

NASA has concluded the systems integration review of a space probe mission that will explore Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, verifying the spacecraft's components for integration.

The review evaluated the integration schedule of the Lucy spacecraft's subsystems, electrical components, scientific instruments, navigation systems and communications, NASA said Monday.

The assessment confirmed the availability of plans, personnel and facilities required for the on-schedule integration of these components. The review ran from July 27 to 30.

NASA had to delay some of Lucy's production activities due to COVID-19 restrictions and made a new schedule that still accommodates the planned October 2021 launch date. The space agency can proceed to Lucy's assembly and test activities with Lockheed Martin next month.

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Gen. John Raymond: Commercial Partners, Resilient Industrial Base Key to Driving Space Efforts
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Gen. John Raymond: Commercial Partners, Resilient Industrial Base Key to Driving Space Efforts

Gen. John Raymond, chief of Space Operations and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, has said the U.S. must leverage the space industrial base’s commercial expansion to retain the nation’s global leadership, DoD News reported Monday.

According to Raymond, the recently released report on the state of the U.S. space industry offers valuable input on how the nation can drive commercial space efforts through actions such as increasing the resilience of the space supply chain and accelerating the development of human spaceflight technologies.

''By working with commercial partners, we will harness the best of both civil and government technology to further accelerate capabilities and expand the overall space economy,'' he noted.

The report, titled ''State of the Space Industrial Base 2020: A Time for Action to Sustain U.S. Economic and Military Leadership in Space”, includes feedback from stakeholders during this year’s State of the Space Industrial Base Workshop held in May.

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DSCA’s Charles Hooper: FMS Procedures Progressed Since FY 2017
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DSCA’s Charles Hooper: FMS Procedures Progressed Since FY 2017

Lt. Gen. Charles Hooper, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and a former Wash100 Award recipient, has said that U.S. foreign arms sales increased and acquisition procedures improved since fiscal year 2017.

In a Defense News interview published Monday, Hooper said the Department of Defense (DoD) seeks to improve its technology acquisition and development approach to ensure rapid response to constantly evolving threats. He added that interoperability between systems is “the key to success” and the DoD aims to prevent delays when introducing new technologies.

According to Hooper, actions such as the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the National Defense Strategy and revisions in government arms transfer policies helped DSCA “strengthen alliances and attract new partners.” He also cited efforts like the establishment of the Defense Security Cooperation University to train a new workforce of foreign military sales personnel.

“Defense exports are driven by a rapidly evolving security environment and emerging threats," said Hooper. "And so we can’t really predict this system or that system, or this category of systems. In the past, there was a lag between when the United States would introduce a system and when our allies and partners would ask for us to export it, and those days are behind us.”

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Rep. Steny Hoyer Seeks Consolidated TMF Funding for IRS System Modernization
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Rep. Steny Hoyer Seeks Consolidated TMF Funding for IRS System Modernization

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is urging the U.S. government to consolidate technology modernization policies outlined in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act and the Senate Republicans’ COVID-19 recovery bill.

Hoyer’s office said Friday that the HEROES Act earmarks $1 billion in Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) allocations while the GOP bill seeks $2 billion for technology updates specifically for the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) systems.

In his letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin dated July 31, the House majority leader proposed that the $2 billion be funneled into TMF efforts for the IRS. Hoyer noted that the consolidated funding would help eliminate barriers to the implementation of COVID-19 relief programs and streamline the modernization of government systems.

“Since the funds will be administered through the TMF, the long-term cost savings resulting from the IRS upgrades would be reinvested through the TMF’s competitive revolving fund model into other urgently needed federal technology upgrades, including the Treasury Department, the Small Business Administration, and other agencies,” Hoyer said.

"That TMF model has already proven effective through three years of success."

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Army Official Jonathan Moak Nominated for New Financial Management Role
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Army Official Jonathan Moak Nominated for New Financial Management Role

Jonathan Moak, principal deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Army for financial management and comptroller, has been selected by President Trump for a higher-level role.

President Trump intends to nominate Moak for the role of assistant secretary of the Army for financial management and comptroller, the White House said Monday.

Moak concurrently serves as assistant secretary of the Army on an acting basis. The nominee also serves as an infantry officer for the Army National Guard, and formerly worked as a program analyst with the U.S. Army.

His over fifteen years of service as a member of the Army National Guard includes an operation in the Middle East and has received the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Ranger Tab, and Expert Infantryman Badge.

He was also a consultant for government, public sector and defense engagements at Deloitte Consulting, having contributed work to the company's finance and enterprise performance business.

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Cyxtera Collaborates with NVIDIA to Provide AI/ML Compute Service Offering; Russell Cozart, Charlie Boyle Quoted
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Cyxtera Collaborates with NVIDIA to Provide AI/ML Compute Service Offering; Russell Cozart, Charlie Boyle Quoted

Cyxtera has launched its Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) compute as a service offering to deliver data center platform capabilities enabling AI-powered workloads, the company reported on Tuesday.

“Launching our DGX-based AI/ML compute as a service offering reinforces our continued focus on providing enterprise customers with a rich variety of leading-edge infrastructure options across our global footprint,” said Russell Cozart, SVP of Marketing and Product Strategy for Cyxtera. 

Cyxtera has utilized the NVIDIA DGX A100 system to provide organizations with improved agility and faster deployment and a flexible OpEx model to reduce large capital outlays and over provisioning.

The solution will simplify maneuverability of the cloud, with an enhanced infrastructure. The flexible infrastructure will leverage point-and-click provisioning through the company’s data center services exchange.

In addition, customers will also have direct access to an ecosystem of service providers and technology solutions, including storage/Storage as a Service (StaaS), interconnectivity and security. Enterprises will be able to provision NVIDIA DGX A100 systems via Cyxtera’s service exchange. 

NVIDIA DGX A100 systems will provide the security and control and dedicated infrastructure as well as flexibility and agility of cloud. The NVIDIA DGX A100 offering will also enable managed service providers to focus on service delivery by eliminating large, upfront capital investments in data center infrastructure. 

“Cyxtera’s AI/ML compute-as-a-service offering makes it easy to leverage the performance, flexibility and efficiency of DGX A100 in a cost-effective model, enabling more businesses to succeed in the race to deploy AI,” said Charlie Boyle, VP, General Manager of DGX Systems at NVIDIA.

About Cyxtera

Cyxtera is a global leader in data center colocation and interconnection services. The company operates a footprint of 62 data centers in 29 markets around the world, providing services to more than 2,000 leading enterprises and U.S. federal government agencies. Cyxtera brings proven operational excellence, global scale, flexibility and customer-focused innovation together to provide a comprehensive portfolio of data center and interconnection services.

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CNSI Secures $123M Contract to Support Medicaid System for Wyoming DoH; Todd Stottlemyer Quoted
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CNSI Secures $123M Contract to Support Medicaid System for Wyoming DoH; Todd Stottlemyer Quoted

CNSI has been awarded an 11-year, $123.2 million contract by the Wyoming Department of Health, Division of Healthcare Financing, to design, implement and operate a new Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) for the state’s Medicaid program, CNSI reported on Tuesday. Work began in March 2020.

“In providing a modern, flexible and configurable payment system and solution, along with full fiscal agent services, Wyoming Medicaid will be able to more nimbly adapt to changes in Federal and state policies and meet emerging issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said CNSI CEO and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, Todd Stottlemyer.

Under the contract, CNSI will support the claims processing and resolution, financial, third party liability, call center, mailroom services and provider training and outreach. CNSI’s healthcare platform is regarded as the most advanced Medicaid platform in the market supporting Medicaid modernization efforts across seven states.

CNSI’s MMIS solution will replace Wyoming’s legacy system, which functions primarily as a financial and accounting system for paying provider claims. CNSI’s solution will provide Wyoming Medicaid with a more efficient, modern system that will reduce the administrative burden on providers and lower costs.

“Our mission, in the simplest terms, is to be a trusted partner to Wyoming Medicaid to help the agency achieve its goals of improving the quality of care and ensuring payment accuracy and integrity,” added Stottlemyer.

About CNSI

CNSI delivers a broad range of health information technology enterprise solutions and customizable products to a diverse base of state and federal agencies. We align, build, and manage innovative, high-quality, cost-effective solutions that help customers achieve their mission, enhance business performance, reduce costs, and improve the health for over 50 million Americans.

With locations throughout the U.S. and in India, CNSI employs a world-class team of technologists, healthcare subject-matter experts and program managers, all of whom have experience with large scale mission-critical information technology implementations.

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Phil Thiel, Dewberry EVP, Joins Esri PAC as Representative; Robert Laudati Quoted
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Phil Thiel, Dewberry EVP, Joins Esri PAC as Representative; Robert Laudati Quoted

Dewberry has announced on Tuesday that Phil Thiel, the company’s executive vice president, has been appointed as a representative on Esri’s Partner Advisory Council (PAC) to serve a three-year term. 

“Our PAC members are carefully selected to serve a very important role in our partner community,” says Robert Laudati, director of Esri’s global partners and alliances. “As the voice of the Esri Partner Network, they provide valuable input and act as a sounding board on the development of our programs. I’m pleased to welcome Phil Thiel to this position.”

As a PAC representative, Thiel will support Esri’s senior leadership, current engagement in Esri’s partner ecosystem, business strategy, and technology alignment. Thiel will also advocate for the community and provide feedback on the strategic direction of the partner program to optimize business. 

A consulting industry executive with nearly 35 years of experience, Thiel directs and broadens Dewberry’s engagement with federal agency clients throughout the enterprise.

Thiel currently serves as principal-in-charge for Dewberry’s major geospatial contracts with the U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others. 

In his role, he provides a variety of services, including surveying, remote sensing, GIS and IT services. He has been with Dewberry nearly 20 years. Prior to Dewberry, Thiel worked in academia and state government environments.

About Dewberry

Dewberry is a leading, market-facing firm with a proven history of providing professional services to a wide variety of public- and private-sector clients. Recognized for combining unsurpassed commitment to client service with deep subject matter expertise, Dewberry is dedicated to solving clients’ most complex challenges and transforming their communities. Established in 1956, Dewberry is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with more than 50 locations and 2,000+ professionals nationwide.

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Leidos Reports Q2 Financial Results for FY 2020; Roger Krone Quoted
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Leidos Reports Q2 Financial Results for FY 2020; Roger Krone Quoted

Leidos Holdings has reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, noting that revenues were $2.91 billion, increasing 6.8 percent compared to 2019, the company announced on Tuesday. 

"Leidos' second quarter results demonstrate the resiliency of our business model, the value of our market diversity and the strength of our team as we delivered on commitments through the most challenging quarter I have seen in my career,” said Roger Krone, Leidos chairman and CEO and seven-time Wash100 Award recipient. 

Leidos’ revenues for the quarter included $206 million and $80 million related to the acquisitions of Dynetics and L3Harris Technologies' security detection and automation (SD&A) businesses, respectively.

The company reported that the operating income for the quarter was $249 million, compared to $210 million in the prior year quarter. The operating income margin increased to 8.5 percent from 7.7 percent in 2019.

Leidos’ non-GAAP operating income margin for the quarter was 11.2 percent, compared to 9.4 percent in the prior year quarter. The company’s diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $1.06, compared to $0.93 in the prior year quarter. 

The non-GAAP diluted EPS for the quarter was $1.55, compared to $1.16 in the prior year quarter. Leidos’ weighted average diluted share count for the quarter was 144 million compared to 146 million in the prior year quarter.

Within Leidos’ Defense Solutions division, revenues for the quarter of $1,757 million increased by $197 million, compared to the prior year quarter, due to $206 million of revenues related to the acquisition of Dynetics and program wins.

Defense Solutions operating income margin for the quarter was 6.8 percent, compared to 7.2 percent in the prior year quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income margin for the quarter was 8.1 percent, compared to 8.3 percent in 2019. 

Leidos’ Civil revenues for the quarter of $758 million increased by $91 million. The revenue increase was primarily attributable to $80 million of revenues related to the acquisition of the SD&A Businesses and program wins. The division’s operating income margin for the quarter was 10.3 percent, compared to 8.4 percent in the prior year quarter. 

On a non-GAAP basis, operating income margin for the quarter was 12.9 percent, compared to 11.1 percent in 2019. 

Leidos reported that its Health division revenues for the quarter were $399 million decreased by $102 million. The revenue decrease was primarily attributable to timing of program execution due to COVID-19, the impact from the sale of our health staff augmentation business in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019 and the completion of certain contracts.

Health operating income margin for the quarter was 0.3 percent, compared to 12.2 percent in the prior year quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income margin for the quarter was 5.3 percent, compared to 14.4 percent in the prior year quarter. 

“We exited the second quarter with a strong business capture win rate, record-setting backlog, resilient cash position and improved capital structure. These factors galvanize our optimism for the future despite the extended effects of the current pandemic," Krone added. 

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil and health markets. The Company's 37,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020.

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GSA Awards Octo Consulting Task Order to Support Agile Transformation; Thomas Lee, AJ Rowland Quoted
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GSA Awards Octo Consulting Task Order to Support Agile Transformation; Thomas Lee, AJ Rowland Quoted

Octo Consulting has been awarded the five-year, $11.8 million Joint Product Team Task Order under the General Services Administration (GSA) CIO Modernization and Enterprise Transformation (COMET) blanket purchase agreement (BPA).

“This is a key win for our GSA team, further demonstrating the valuable work the team has been doing for this customer over the last several years,” said Thomas Lee, SVP of Octo’s Federal and Civilian Business Unit. “We are pleased to continue to support GSA by providing top talent and technology to help them meet mission objectives.”

Under the task order, Octo will provide Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and business and technical architecture for GSA’s Integrated Award Environment (IAE) to transform the administration’s System for Award Management (SAM).

In addition, Octo will deliver business, technical and scaled Agile leadership to support GSA’s IAE Agile Release Train, address program challenges and drive business value. Octo will also provide a variety of technologies, partnerships, processes and employees to support the modernization efforts. 

“We are excited to continue our successful partnership with GSA through this contract that enables us to impact the entire IAE program through architecture, governance, DevOps, and Agile process enhancements,” said Octo director for GSA Programs AJ Rowland. 

About Octo

Octo challenges the status quo, empowering federal agencies to leap IT hurdles by using emerging technologies to create transformative solutions that enable rapid modernization, enhance citizen engagement, and maximize human impact. We continually explore ways to transform IT, producing results vital to national security, intelligence, health care, and more.

Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Octo is a technology firm dedicated to solving the Federal Government’s most complex challenges with Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Agile DevSecOps, Cloud Engineering, Open Source, Cybersecurity, and Data Science solutions. Octo enables the government to modernize faster and meet the needs of rapidly changing missions with agility. Our approach is collaborative, and our outcomes are superior.

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