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625th Strategic Operations Squadron Unveils New Offutt AFB Virtual Training System
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625th Strategic Operations Squadron Unveils New Offutt AFB Virtual Training System

The 625th Strategic Operations Squadron (STOS) has installed a new virtual trainer system designed to help airmen at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska carry out in-house training activities.

The Virtual Airborne Processing Trainer aims to expose trainees on the weapons system that will launch intercontinental ballistic missiles from an airborne E-6 Mercury aircraft, the U.S. Air Force said Sunday.

USAF noted the training platform is purely virtual and resembles air launch control system personnel's battle staff compartment area. The 625th STOS is slated to resume initial qualification training following the completion of the platform's installation and acceptance tests.

Offutt AFB's traditional trainer unit was damaged by a flood in 2019, prompting 625th STOS to seek alternative training methods.

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Army Launches C5ISR-Focused Network Modernization Experiment in New Jersey
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Army Launches C5ISR-Focused Network Modernization Experiment in New Jersey

The U.S. Army has commenced this year’s Network Modernization Experiment (NetModX) in New Jersey to support the service branch’s command, control, communication, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) tool development efforts, C4ISRnet reported Sunday.

Field testing activities under the third annual NetModX began last week at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and are slated to conclude by Oct. 2. As part of the event, Army personnel will utilize simulated environments to assess C5ISR technologies that were previously evaluated through laboratory-based experiments.

The theme for this year’s exercise, mission command and command-post survivability, will cover network resiliency technologies intended to withstand electronic threats in various environments. The Army plans to test the technologies ahead of preliminary design review activities in April 2021.

“What resiliency means to us is the network bends, it doesn’t break,” said Michael Brownfield, chief of the C5ISR Center’s future capabilities office within the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. “And the commanders have the information they need and the coordination that they need to fight the battle.”

Technologies being developed for NetModX 2020 include a distributed system for mission command and a modular “system of systems” involving radio-frequency functionalities.

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NASA Completes Preliminary Design Review of New Space Telescope’s Ground System; Ken Carpenter Quoted
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NASA Completes Preliminary Design Review of New Space Telescope’s Ground System; Ken Carpenter Quoted

NASA has concluded the preliminary design review of a ground system that would support a new space telescope designed to capture high-detail images depicting space.

The space agency said Saturday that its Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is designed to help scientists pursue studies that may unlock new findings on the cosmos, including what goes beyond the solar system. The ground system will link Earth's scientists to data gathered by the new space telescope.

“We are on track to complete the data system in time for launch, and we look forward to the ground-breaking science it will enable," said Ken Carpenter, the ground system's project scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

The new telescope is expected to generate panoramic images with the same resolution quality produced by Hubble Space Telescope but with a greater field of view. Roman is also designed to collect data at speeds roughly 500 times beyond Hubble's.

Roman will explore locations further than the moon after a five-year primary mission. The telescope will also support the microlensing survey to discover planetary activities taking place outside the solar system.

NASA plans to launch Roman within the coming decade.

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Space Force Reorganizes Field Command Structure; Gen. John Raymond Quoted
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Space Force Reorganizes Field Command Structure; Gen. John Raymond Quoted

The U.S. Space Force has launched a reorganization effort in a push to realign previous Air Force command structures into the new service branch’s field organization framework.

The Space Force said Friday that the new command structure will include three subunits, namely field command, delta or garrison with regards to focus and squadron requirements.

As part of the reorganization, the Space Force established a Space Training and Readiness Delta Provisional unit ahead of the launch of the STARCOM unit. STARCOM will focus on the development of space warfighting technologies to support all-domain operations and lethality applications.

Meanwhile STAR Delta Provisional will handle education, training, test and evaluation operations on an interim basis. Other field commands to be launched include the Space Operations Command (SpOC) and Space Systems Command (SSC). 

SpOC will oversee the deployment of technologies to space forces to support coalition partners, joint forces and combatant commands. SSC will handle the development, sustainment and fielding of “lethal and resilient space capabilities” for warfighters.

“Today we take action, an important and significant step, towards the development of a 21st century service purpose-built to achieve speed, agility, and unity of effort,” said Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, in a prerecorded address. “Your charge is simple – to lead, inspire, and prepare our space forces to win in an era of contested space operations.”

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NDAA Announces New Cybersecurity Position, Training for DoD Contractors; Mark Esper, Jim Langevin Quoted
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NDAA Announces New Cybersecurity Position, Training for DoD Contractors; Mark Esper, Jim Langevin Quoted

The Pentagon has announced plans to develop a top cybersecurity position, National Cyber director, within the White House under an amendment to the House version of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will create a National Cyber Director within the executive office of the president, Federal News Network reported on Monday.

“They would be the person that is coordinating defensive cyber policy to protect the country from cyber incidents of significant consequence… you really need somebody at the top and helping to coordinate that to begin with and that has both policy and budgetary authority to reach across the government to see where the cyber vulnerabilities exist,” said Jim Langevin, chairman of the House Armed Services Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee.

The position would serve as the principal advisor to the president on cybersecurity strategy and policy. The role would also consult with federal departments to develop the U.S. national cyber strategy and supervise its implementation. The provision will also create two deputies, one for strategy, capabilities and budgets, and another for plans and operations.

In addition, defense secretary and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient Mark Esper has ordered a new OPSEC training for all Department of Defense (DoD) employees and contractors. The training requirement will apply to military members, civilian employees and contractors working for the DoD, and  will consist of four mandatory courses, all focusing on operational security.

“Unfortunately, poor OPSEC practices within DoD in the past have resulted in the unauthorized disclosure or ‘leaks’ of controlled unclassified information (CUI),” he wrote. “Unauthorized disclosures jeopardize our DoD personnel, operations, strategies, and policies to the benefit of our adversaries. Unauthorized disclosures also distract from mission priorities by redirecting the attention and resources of military commanders.”

DoD employees and contractors have until Sept. 18 to finish the training, which was developed by the Center for the Development of Security Excellence, part of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).

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Forcepoint Launches SASE Solutions to Enhance Remote Work Offerings
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Forcepoint Launches SASE Solutions to Enhance Remote Work Offerings

Forcepoint has introduced its Dynamic Edge Protection suite of cloud-native SASE solutions, featuring Cloud Security Gateway and Private Access offerings, to address work-from-home security challenges across network security, threat protection, secure access and data protection, the company reported on Monday.

The Forcepoint Dynamic Edge Protection suite of SASE solutions enables enterprises to use the cloud to transform their network and security architectures, simplify connectivity and unify security policy enforcement throughout their distributed application and network environments. 

Forcepoint’s converged cloud services, Cloud Security Gateway and Private Access, will provide visibility, control and protection for users and data against threats and loss, wherever people are working.

Forcepoint Cloud Security Gateway will integrate the company's Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) and Data Loss Prevention (DLP) technologies into a single centrally-managed cloud service. 

The solution will provide full visibility and control for remote workers, sites and on-premises facilities. Forcepoint’s service is available as a single SKU to simplify purchasing, administering and supporting multiple products or solution bundles.

Forcepoint Private Access will provide true zero-trust remote access and a built-in Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) to protect internal applications without the complexity, bottlenecks and risks of VPNs. 

The company’s offering will enhance control without exposing internal networks and enable remote users to access high-speed cloud performance. Forcepoint Private Access protects internal applications and networks against potentially compromised remote devices and networks while also preventing the loss of sensitive information or intellectual property.

About Forcepoint

Forcepoint is the global cybersecurity leader for user and data protection. Forcepoint's behavior-based solutions adapt to risk in real-time and are delivered through a converged security platform that protects network users and cloud access, prevents confidential data from leaving the corporate network, and eliminates breaches caused by insiders. 

Based in Austin, Texas, Forcepoint creates safe, trusted environments for thousands of enterprise and government customers and their employees in more than 150 countries.

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Leidos Selects 4 Companies to Join Leidos Alliance Partner Network; Bob Gemmill, Todd Gustafson Quoted
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Leidos Selects 4 Companies to Join Leidos Alliance Partner Network; Bob Gemmill, Todd Gustafson Quoted

Leidos has selected four new companies for the Leidos Alliance Partner Network (LAPN) to drive innovation, enhance program performance and build efficiency for suppliers, the company reported on Monday.

"We are excited to welcome Dataiku, HP, Palo Alto Networks, and Splunk to our growing team. Their next-generation innovations, coupled with our intimate understanding of the customers' needs, will only accelerate the adoption of important new technologies," said Bob Gemmill, Leidos' chief procurement officer.

Leidos has selected HP, Palo Alto Networks, and Splunk for the company’s Technology Alliance Partners, and Dataiku has been selected as an Emerging Technology Partner. Under the agreement, the companies will work in a mutually beneficial and cooperative environment to enhance their ability to compete and perform in government and commercial markets. 

"These new relationships have played a crucial role in integration, business capture, and new program start-ups," added Gemmill. 

The LAPN consists of three partner levels: corporate strategic, technology alliance and emerging technology. Partner companies will utilize Leidos' integration expertise and customer relationships to deliver mission success for their customers.

"We're very excited to advance our relationship with Leidos as a Technology Alliance Partner," said Todd Gustafson, president HP Federal LLC. "This is a great opportunity for us to exhibit HP innovation, and we look forward to collaborating with Leidos on new customer-focused solutions and technologies that equally benefit our businesses and customers."

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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Hughes Invests $50M in Consortium to Acquire OneWeb; Pradman Kaul Quoted
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Hughes Invests $50M in Consortium to Acquire OneWeb; Pradman Kaul Quoted

Hughes Network Systems will participate in the winning consortium that will acquire OneWeb, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite operator, out of bankruptcy by investing $50 million in principle, the company reported on Monday.

“Our continuing and strengthened involvement with OneWeb extends naturally from our position as a leading geostationary satellite operator and ground network innovator, along with a meaningful partnership with Bharti and longstanding relationship with the U.K. through our business operations in both countries,” said Pradman Kaul, president, Hughes.

Hughes will continue as a trusted technology and distribution partner to OneWeb. Through its Hughes Europe division and sister company EchoStar Mobile Limited, Hughes has worked closely with the U.K. Government.

“This global consortium brings the right players together to fulfill the promise of the OneWeb constellation in deploying low-latency services for communities, enterprises, governments, airplanes and ships… that will serve growing bandwidth demand around the world,” added Kaul.

Hughes Communications India Ltd, (HCIL) and Bharti Airtel Limited, a leading Indian telecom provider, will combine their satellite broadband operations in India. The merger, announced in 2019, is expected to bring greater scale, operational efficiencies and market reach to deliver solutions for enterprise and government networks.

“We look forward to doing our part in developing this groundbreaking technology and bringing those services to market,” Kaul concluded.

About Hughes Network Systems

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in broadband satellite technology and services for home and office. Its flagship high-speed satellite Internet service is HughesNet®, the world’s largest satellite network with over 1.5 million residential and business customers across the Americas.

For large enterprises and governments, the company’s HughesON™ managed network services provide complete connectivity solutions employing an optimized mix of satellite and terrestrial technologies.

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William Evanina: US Public Should Maintain Vigilance Against Foreign Election Interference
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William Evanina: US Public Should Maintain Vigilance Against Foreign Election Interference

William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), has issued a statement urging the U.S. public to be vigilant against foreign influence to help ensure the security of the 2020 presidential elections.

“At this time, we’re primarily concerned with China, Russia and Iran — although other nation states and non-state actors could also do harm to our electoral process,” Evanina said in the statement released Friday.

He said China is broadening its efforts to influence the U.S. policy environment, while Russia is using internet trolls and other proxies to spread disinformation. Iran is promoting disinformation on social media to weaken the U.S. democratic institutions.  

Evanina noted that the U.S. intelligence community prioritizes election security and is committed to supporting the efforts of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to counter foreign interference of U.S. elections.

“With just over 100 days until the election, it is imperative that we also share insights with the American public about foreign threats to our election and offer steps to citizens across the country to build resilience and help mitigate these threats,” he said. “We will strive to update Americans on the evolving election threat landscape, while also safeguarding our intelligence sources and methods.”

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Nicolas Chaillan on Pentagon’s Platform One
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Nicolas Chaillan on Pentagon’s Platform One

Nicolas Chaillan, chief software officer of the U.S. Air Force, shared his insights on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Platform One and how the team supports DoD’s Enterprise DevSecOps initiative, Nextgov reported Friday. He told the publication how Platform One can help establish a DevSecOps environment on a cloud.

“These bigger teams often need specific tools, they need access to a classified cloud environment, so Platform One can instantiate a DevSecOps environment on demand and customize it to their needs, get the licenses they need, get the talent support they need,” Chaillan said.

“Instead of a program spending something like twelve and a half million and a year to build that by themselves, we can do it in a few weeks for much cheaper and benefit from the continuous [authority to operate] at the same time.”

Chaillan cited Platform One’s use of open-source technologies like Kubernetes and containers to avoid vendor lock-in and how it works to address cyber vulnerabilities.

“We have real-time access to all the bounty and hackathons and have essential teams that can update these lego blocks which are then spread across DOD, across teams, so that if there’s a zero day or a new exploit in one of the containers, we can patch across DOD within a few hours,” Chaillan said.

“We can push the containers across all classification levels so in effect that gives us the ability to fix and address issues in a matter of four hours maximum. We can really react to these kinds of events with a central team instead of having 20, 50 or 100 teams do the same thing.”

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