//
Executive Director Bridget Bean Departs CISA
Published on
Amid drastic changes at CISA, Bridget Bean has stepped down as the agency's executive director.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Executive Director Bridget Bean has announced her retirement, ending her nearly four-year service. 

Her role was responsible for the internal operationalization of the agency’s priorities and resources to meet mission requirements. In a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, Bean confirmed her departure, noting that her time at CISA “has been truly remarkable.” 

Bridget Bean’s Career Highlights

In the last five months, she also served as acting director of the cyber agency, during which she defended CISA’s budget and workforce cuts at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing.

Before she was named executive director and acting head of the agency, Bean was CISA’s chief integration officer, who led the integration of the agency’s operations and ensured its regional staff supported U.S. critical infrastructure.

Her public sector career also included time spent as acting deputy administrator for resilience at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where she led a team of 1,600 employees and directed an annual budget of $600 million, and as deputy chief operating officer and chief human capital officer at the Small Business Administration.

Prior to joining CISA in 2021, Bean briefly served as president of Via Stella.

Series of Top-Level Turnovers at CISA

Bean’s retirement is the latest in a string of departures of top officials from the agency. In May, Matt Hartman stepped down from his role as the deputy executive assistant director for cybersecurity.

Bridget Bean was a keynote speaker at two Potomac Officers Club events in the last year: its November-hosted 2024 Homeland Security Summit and its 2025 Cyber Summit, held on May 15.

/
House Appropriations Panel OKs $831.5B FY26 Defense Spending Bill
Published on
Aerial shot of the Pentagon building

The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday passed a bill that would appropriate $831.5 billion in defense funding for fiscal year 2026.

Defense Procurement 

The FY 2026 defense appropriations bill, which was introduced Monday, would allocate $174 billion for the Department of Defense’s procurement initiatives.

The measure includes $8.5 billion for 69 F-35 fighter jets; $1.2 billion for four E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft; $2.02 billion for 19 CH-53K heavy transport helicopters; $3.8 billion for B-21 procurement; and $2.7 billion for 15 KC-46s. 

The proposed legislation would spend $36.9 billion for 28 ships, including one Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine, two Virginia-class fast attack submarines and two DDG-51 guided missile destroyers; $1.5 billion for the Maritime Industrial Base to invest in supplier capability and capacity; and $1.6 billion for productivity enhancements to improve shipbuilder capability.

R&D, Test and Evaluation

DOD and military services would receive $148 billion in research, development, test and evaluation funds under the bill.

The measure proposes $4.2 billion for 6th-generation aircraft, $2.1 billion for the continued development of the B-21 bomber and $1.8 billion for the Air Force’s Survivable Airborne Operations Center.

DOD Operations & Maintenance

The appropriations bill would provide $283 billion for DOD’s operations and maintenance support.

The legislation includes $9.6 billion for U.S. Special Operations Command’s operation and maintenance requirements; $55 million for U-2 programmed depot maintenance; and $70 million for Apex Accelerators.

/
GAO Issues Report on CISA’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation Program
Published on
GAO has published a report on DHS and CISA's Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program with a few warnings.

The Government Accountability Office has called on the Department of Homeland Security to craft network security and data protection guidance for its Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation, or CDM, program. 

In a new report, the congressional watchdog warned that the lack of guidance has negative impacts on data protection and quality across several agencies. 

Launched in 2012, CDM aims to strengthen government cybersecurity by providing tools and integration services to federal agencies. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency oversees the program. 

CDM Progress and Persistent Challenges

GAO pointed out that CDM has already met two goals: to minimize exposure to insecure configurations and known vulnerabilities at 22 out of 23 agencies and implement incident response capability. 

However, officials from 21 of 23 agencies admitted that they have yet to fully implement network security and data protection capabilities. 

CDM has automated Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002, or FISMA, reporting, but seven agencies also reported that data quality issues are preventing them from streamlining the process, forcing personnel to conduct manual updates and correct errors. 

CISA also has not met the Office of Management and Budget’s expectations on endpoint detection and response and cloud asset management. GAO said implementing an endpoint solution and updated guidance on cloud asset management for all agencies would improve their cybersecurity posture. 

DHS and CISA concurred with all of GAO’s recommendations.

/
Sandia Labs Joins National Effort to Boost Semiconductor Production
Published on
Aiming to centralize chip production in US, Sandia National Labs has partnered with the National Semiconductor Tech Center.

Sandia National Laboratories has joined the National Semiconductor Technology Center as part of efforts to re-establish the U.S. as a leader in semiconductor production.

The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based national laboratory said Thursday the partnership aims to bolster U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, enhance research and development, and strengthen national security production. Sandia Labs also intends to develop novel technologies through its collaboration with NSTC, a consortium established under the CHIPS and Science Act to fast-track the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies.

Sandia’s Role in the Future of Chip Production

Around $3 billion of the $12 billion in funds invested in R&D under the CHIPS program will be used to develop an advanced platform for packaging chiplets. These chiplets mirror the performance of large chips and are utilized by modern commercial AI processors. Sandia intends to lead efforts to extend its availability to small businesses and national security uses.

The national laboratory also has the potential to contribute to developing the future STEM workforce. With the government investing billions of dollars in building new semiconductor facilities, expanding the STEM workforce is critical.

According to Rick McCormick, Sandia’s senior scientist for semiconductor technology strategy, the Semiconductor Industry Association estimates that 60,000 to 70,000 additional personnel will be needed in the future.

In the 1990s, the U.S. manufactured over 35 percent of semiconductors in the world. That figure is down to 12 percent today. Furthermore, the nation is not among the top producers of advanced chips essential for smartphones, self-driving cars, quantum computers and artificial intelligence-powered devices.

//
DISA’s DOD Cloud Infrastructure as Code Works to Boost Cloud Adoption
Published on
The Defense Information Systems Agency's DOD Cloud Infrastructure as Code tool is trying to transform cloud adoption at DOD.

The Defense Information Systems Agency revealed that it has developed the Department of Defense Cloud Infrastructure as Code, a framework created by its J-9 Hosting and Compute team to fast-track DOD cloud adoption.

Cloud Adoption Acceleration

DISA said Wednesday that 60 customers are currently using the DOD Cloud IaC to streamline their cloud adoption process. The platform expedites infrastructure deployment by reducing the time and effort needed to create a secure infrastructure, enabling teams to deploy cloud capabilities rapidly.

Furthermore, users can leverage the platform’s ready-to-use automation feature to quickly set up DOD-compliant environments that the DISA Risk Management Executive pre-authorizes.

DOD Cloud IaC Impacts So Far

The DOD Cloud IaC has significantly reduced partners’ cloud adoption process by an average of seven months, which translates to 35 years saved since the tool’s release. In addition, around $24 million in total savings have been reported by DOD agencies.

Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability cloud service providers, particularly Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, can access the tool at Impact Levels 4, 5 and 6.

//
LLNL, AWS Unveil AI Partnership to Advance National Ignition Facility Operations
Published on
Amazon Web Services logo

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has announced a collaboration with Amazon Web Services to integrate artificial intelligence into the operations of the National Ignition Facility, a center for laser-based fusion research.

The AI integration project aims to solve anomalies in real time to ensure the reliability of mission-critical operations while easing growing operational demands, and enhance efficiency, improve responsiveness and support NIF operations into the 2040s and beyond, LLNL said.

While the laboratory already uses AI for various tasks, the new initiative advances AI adoption further by developing an AI-driven troubleshooting and reliability system.

Semantic Search Capabilities

The project is currently in the first phase, with AWS providing its latest generative AI services, featuring intelligent search, summarized large-language-model response and Retrieval-Augmented Generation chatbot functionality using AmazonSageMaker.

Deploying advanced semantic search capabilities across 22 years of operational history, comprising over 98,000 archived problem logs, helped staff resolve issues rapidly and keep experiments on track, said NIF Operations Manager Bruno Van Wonterghem, noting that the facility has been executing approximately 350 high-energy-density physics experiments annually.

The implementation of AWS’s generative AI capabilities is seen as a model for adopting the technology at other national laboratories.

/
DARPA’s Greg Avicola on Autonomous Capabilities for Future Navy
Published on
Headshot of Greg Avicola, program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Tactical Technology Office

Greg Avicola, a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Tactical Technology Office, said he envisions a Navy strike force built of a “heterogeneous” mix of robotic platforms, Defense One reported Wednesday.

“I could imagine the battle group eventually becoming completely autonomous,” Avicola said Tuesday at the AWS Summit in Washington, D.C.

He noted that there could be “a lot of experimentation” in design and operation.

“If I make the vehicle look like this, and I make the ship look like that, how does that pair? And how do I do the logistics? How do I do the refueling? How do I do the assured comms between those platforms?” Avicola stated at the event.

DARPA's Greg Avicola on Autonomous Capabilities for Future Navy

To learn more about the latest tech advancements, policies and trends shaping the future of naval operations, attend the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Navy Summit on Aug. 26.

Deploying Robotic Warships

The DARPA official acknowledged that barriers to deploying robotic combat ships are not only bureaucratic but also practical. Autonomous warships, for instance, must be able to return to port in case of a malfunction.

“How do you make sure when it goes to sea, if it starts breaking down, it can still get home on its own so you don’t have to divert assets to tow it back?” Avicola asked. “If you have an autonomous ship and it’s working with the destroyer, and the autonomous ship breaks, and the destroyer has to go off-mission to escort or tow that ship home—guess what? [The Navy] isn’t going to buy any more autonomous ships for decades.”

Fielding robot ships equipped with intelligence and surveillance payloads may be a safer bet for now.

“If somebody boarded the ship and took the payload, you could live with it. If you’re carrying missiles, you may not want—or Congress might not want—that ship to be boarded,” Avicola stated.

/
MITRE Says US Government Should Invest in AI Research Grand Challenges
Published on
In response to a OSTP request for information, MITRE said the U.S. government should invest in AI research grand challenges.

MITRE has highlighted the importance of investment and public-private partnerships in research and development to promote invention and drive innovation in the field of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit company said Wednesday the U.S. government should invest in AI research grand challenges, enable investments in “federal frontier labs,” advance AI assurance research for trusted innovation and secure American AI research.

The recommendations were in response to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s request for information to help inform the development of its 2025 national AI R&D strategic plan.

AI Research Grand Challenges

MITRE has recommended that the AI strategic plan establish AI Grand Challenges that will align federal research investments with national interests and bring together government, industry and academia. Grand Challenge problems could help unite key stakeholders around critical missions.

Research focus areas of AI Grand Challenges should include biotechnology, semiconductors, domestic energy, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, national security, and efficient and effective government.

Federal Frontier Labs

According to MITRE, federal frontier labs, or FFLs, could serve as hubs for public-private partnerships designed to position the U.S. as a leader in next-generation AI innovation and facilitate academic partnerships focused on research critical to U.S. long-term competitiveness.

FFLs should prioritize open science, defense and intelligence. In defense, such labs could help improve predictive maintenance, supply chains and cyber operations.

AI Assurance for Trusted Innovation

The nonprofit corporation noted that AI assurance research should focus on creating reusable methods for discovering assurance needs; characterizing and prioritizing risks; evaluating risks; and managing risks.

AI Research Security

To protect AI research and advancements, the U.S. government should implement several security measures such as implementing robust cybersecurity to safeguard AI research, data and emerging intellectual property from theft, breaches and other cyber attacks; securing infrastructure to protect large facility investments underpinning frontier AI research; collecting science and technology intelligence on adversary AI programs; and understanding vulnerabilities, threats and risks to AI tech adoption.

//
DISA Leads DODNet Modernization Efforts for Operational Efficiency
Published on
Logo of the Defense Information Systems Agency

The Defense Information Systems Agency has announced the modernization of DODNet operations in anticipation of large-scale migrations of defense agencies and field activities.

The agency said Wednesday it aims to integrate advanced technologies to strengthen the network through data-driven, cloud-based management, automation platforms, zero trust cyber compliance and enhanced user experience. The modernization initiative is designed to ensure that warfighters, DISA and the DODNet community are more capable of addressing emerging threats and safeguarding national security through reinforced cyber defenses and reliable network operations.

DODNet’s Strategic Partnerships and Key Advancements

DISA has forged strategic partnerships to accelerate the advancement of DODNet operations. The collaborations have reportedly resulted in strengthened network security, automation-driven efficiencies and AI-driven observability. They also bolster cyber resilience, meeting Defense Department zero trust mandates. Furthermore, the integration optimizes resources and processes and minimizes IT complexity and manual workloads.

The agency collaborated with Infoblox to enhance automated network management, reducing trouble tickets by 65 percent since its deployment. Inflobox’s technology reinforced DODNet’s cybersecurity and network availability and enabled real-time threat intelligence.

DISA leveraged Ansible’s intelligent automation technology to bolster network operations by optimizing provisioning, configuration and patching. It also minimized repetitive tasks by 40 percent and fast-tracked deployment by 50 percent.

By utilizing ScienceLogic’s intelligent and secure IT operations platform, the agency enhanced the network’s real-time visibility and system reliability. It has managed to boost situational awareness through proactive issue detection and resolution.

//
NOAA OSC Selects 8 Awardees for TRACSS COLA Gap Pathfinder
Published on
To tackle its TraCSS Commercial Collision Avoidance Gap Pathfinder project, NOAA OSC awarded eight companies contracts.

The NOAA Office of Space Commerce has awarded eight companies for the Traffic Coordination System for Space program’s $10.1 million Commercial Collision Avoidance, or COLA, Gap Pathfinder project.

OSC said Wednesday the companies selected include five data providers, namely, LeoLabs, Slingshot Aerospace, Maxar Intelligence, Turion Space and Silentium Defense. SpaceNav and a.i. solutions [sic] were chosen as the data quality monitors, while GMV Innovating Solutions was selected as the orbital determination provider.

Closing the Cola Gap

The COLA Gap Pathfinder project is intended to close the “COLA gap,” or the high-risk period right after launch, when there is a lack of positional data on new satellites that may cause collisions. The awardees were selected for their advanced commercial approaches to addressing this operational blind spot, a space situational awareness challenge.

“These awards mark meaningful progress toward enhancing U.S. space situational awareness capabilities for safer space operations in support of industry through focused commercial engagement,” said Janice Starzyk, acting director of the Office of Space Commerce.

“The selected awardees represent a diverse range of technical solutions, and we’re excited to work closely with them to evaluate these capabilities for future integration with TraCSS,” said Dmitry Poisik, TraCSS program manager.

1 … 132 133 134 135 136 … 2,698