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Voyager Space Holdings Announces Acquisition of Pioneer Astronautics; Dr. Robert Zubrin, Matthew Kuta Quoted
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Voyager Space Holdings Announces Acquisition of Pioneer Astronautics; Dr. Robert Zubrin, Matthew Kuta Quoted

Voyager Space Holdings has announced its acquisition of Pioneer Astronautics, a hands-on research and development company, in a cash and stock transaction, Voyager reported on Monday. 

“Our goal of inventing and proving new technologies to advance humanity’s reach into space has remained the same,” said Dr. Robert Zubrin, founder and president, Pioneer Astronautics. “Now, with the innovative environment Voyager provides us, we’re able to confidently accelerate toward this goal, knowing we have the support of long-term, permanent capital.”

With the acquisition, Voyager will advance its mission of creating the world’s first vertically integrated and publicly traded NewSpace company. Pioneer Astronautics has invented and delivered new technologies that have advanced space and Earth research. 

Pioneer Astronautics has delivered a series of innovations that have created new capabilities for space exploration systems. The company has focused on making sustainable life beyond Earth by building systems that transform local materials found in space into resources that support exploration and settlement. 

The company was recently one of four businesses selected by NASA to help mature a range of lunar technologies for sustainable exploration of the Moon under the Artemis program. With its selection, Pioneer Astronautics will build and demonstrate hardware that can produce oxygen and steel from lunar regolith, helping support sustainable lunar operations.

Voyager seeks to increase vertical integration and mission capability to enable humanity’s most ambitious projects. The firm’s portfolio features Pioneer Astronautics and Altius Space Machines. Voyager will continue to support the commercial space companies by offering an alternate solution to traditional private capital models. 

“The space industry is entering a new era, and it’s one that will drive creativity and innovation of technology at lightning speed,” said Matthew Kuta, Voyager president and COO. “The permanent capital model of Voyager is well suited to support NewSpace companies in all types of markets to include both up and down markets.”

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MITRE Creates MITRE Labs & Appoints Executives to Lead the Unit; Jason Providakes Quoted
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MITRE Creates MITRE Labs & Appoints Executives to Lead the Unit; Jason Providakes Quoted

MITRE has restructured its research and development (R&D) capabilities and has created MITRE Labs to further extend its impact across federally funded R&D centers and in collaboration with academia and industry, the company reported on Tuesday. 

“The creation of MITRE Labs will position our R&D capabilities and world-class talent to anticipate future disruptions and business innovations to better deliver on our mission of solving problems for a safer world,” said said Jason Providakes, president and CEO.

MITRE has appointed Charles Clancy as senior vice president, chief futurist and general manager of MITRE Labs. Clancy is a notable expert on topics at the intersection of wireless, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). 

Clancy will be responsible for leading innovative disruption, accelerating discovery and delivering technology capabilities. He joined MITRE in May 2019 and previously served as vice president for Intelligence Programs.

MITRE has also named John Wilson to serve as vice president and chief information and security officer (CISO). He has served in an interim capacity since Nov. 2019. He will continue to lead MITRE’s Enterprise Computing, Information and Security organization.  

Wilson is responsible for advancing MITRE’s intelligent enterprise and information security. He also supervises MITRE’s business transformation. Wilson joined MITRE in 1983 and most recently was vice president for the company’s technical centers.

Additionally, the company has promoted Christina Orfanos to vice president of Talent Experience and Total Rewards. In the role, she will be responsible for managing the strategy, planning, development, implementation and administration of MITRE’s talent program. 

“MITRE has been tackling complex threats facing our nation throughout our history. With crises and world events unfolding in ways that nobody expects, we pivot quickly, and proactively lead in the public interest,” added Providakes.

About MITRE

MITRE’s mission-driven teams are dedicated to solving problems for a safer world. Through our public-private partnerships and federally funded R&D centers, we work across government and in partnership with industry to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation.

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KBR Secures Contract to Support VAM Project in China; Doug Kelly Quoted
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KBR Secures Contract to Support VAM Project in China; Doug Kelly Quoted

KBR has been awarded a catalyst supply contract for a Vinyl Acetate Monomer (VAM) project by Shenghong Refining Petrochemical (Lianyungang) Co. Ltd., China to provide proprietary catalyst for Shenghong's grassroot 300 KTA VAM unit. 

"This award underscores KBR's emerging leadership in the VAM market and strengthens our successful partnership with Shenghong," said Doug Kelly, KBR president, Technology Solutions.

Shenghong's grassroot 300 KTA VAM unit is the first commercial VAM technology license and engineering contract under an alliance agreement between KBR and Showa Denko K.K.(SDK). The KBR-SDK VAM technology has been supported by SDK’s ethylene based VAM unit at the Oita Petrochemical Complex in Japan. 

VAM is a key intermediate for the production of polymers and resins for adhesives, coatings, paints, films, textiles and other products. The contract award has added to KBR’s extensive experience in supporting petrochemical manufacturers. 

Recently, KBR signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering Ltd (LTHE) for refinery and petrochemical projects. KBR and LTHE will collaborate to develop new business opportunities, where KBR will license proprietary technology and engineering services and LTHE will be the EPC provider.

LTHE will exclusively bid for projects globally, with specific focus in India, South East Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The bids will specifically involve KBR's solid acid alkylation technology (K-SAATTM), solvent de-asphalting technology (ROSE) and catalytic olefins technology (K-COTTM).

About KBR, Inc.

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life cycle within the Government Services and Energy sectors. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses: Government Solutions, Technology Solutions, Energy Solutions.

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AAR Elects Robert Leduc to Board of Directors; John Holmes Quoted
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AAR Elects Robert Leduc to Board of Directors; John Holmes Quoted

AAR has elected Robert Leduc, retired president of Pratt & Whitney, to its Board of Directors, making him the 13th director to join the Board, AAR reported on Tuesday. 

"Bob brings significant industry and leadership experience as well as a deep knowledge of the aviation market from his time at United Technologies," said John Holmes, president and chief executive officer of AAR.

Most recently, Leduc served as president of Pratt & Whitney from Jan. 2016 to 2020. Previously he served in a number of senior executive roles for more than 38 years at United Technologies Corporation, including president of Sikorsky Aircraft. 

He began his career in aerospace engineering at Pratt & Whitney, serving in a variety of senior leadership roles in program management, strategy and customer support. He was named senior vice president of Engine Programs & Customer Support in 1995. 

In 2000, Leduc was appointed president of Large Commercial Engines and chief operating officer. Leduc also served in leadership roles at Boeing during his three-year tenure. He was president of Boeing 787, Space Systems & U.S. Government Classified Programs from 2010 to 2012, and president of Boeing Programs & Space beginning in 2012.

Leduc is a member of the board of the Connecticut Science Center, and he established the Robert and Jeanne Leduc Center for Civic Engagement at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He earned a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth) and an honorary doctorate in business from the University of Massachusetts.

"We are very pleased to welcome Bob to our Board of Directors and look forward to his contributions,” added Holmes. 

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. 

AAR’s Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AAR’s Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems and Composite Manufacturing operations.

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VMware Publishes “Extended Enterprise Under Threat” Cybersecurity Report; Rick McElroy Quoted
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VMware Publishes “Extended Enterprise Under Threat” Cybersecurity Report; Rick McElroy Quoted

VMware has released a cybersecurity threat report, “Extended Enterprise Under Threat,” based on a survey of 250 U.S. chief information officers (CIOs), chief technology officers (CTOs) and chief information security officers (CISOs), the company reported on Tuesday. 

“The 2020 survey results suggest that security teams must be working in tandem with business leaders to shift the balance of power from attackers to defenders. We must also collaborate with IT teams and work to remove the complexity that’s weighing down the current model,” said Rick McElroy, Cybersecurity strategist at VMware Carbon Black. 

VMware’s research has reported an increase in both cyberattack volume and breaches during the past 12 months in the U.S., which has prompted increased investment in cyber defense, with U.S. businesses already using an average of more than nine different cybersecurity tools. 

97 percent of respondents said that their business has suffered a security breach in the last 12 months. The average organization said they experienced 2.7 breaches during that time. Additionally, 84 percent stated that attacks have become more sophisticated, and as a result, 95 percent have plans to increase cyber defense spending in 2021.

Cybersecurity professionals said they have used an average of more than nine different tools or consoles to manage their cyber defense program, indicating a security environment that has evolved reactively as security tools have been adopted to tackle emerging threats.

Concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, 83 percent of respondents reported gaps in recovery planning, ranging from slight to severe and 83 percent said they had uncovered gaps in IT operations. 84 percent said they encountered problems around enabling a remote workforce, while 83 percent said they’ve experienced challenges communicating with employees. 

“These figures indicate that the surveyed CISOs may be facing difficulty in a number of areas when answering the demands placed on them by the COVID-19 situation,” McElroy explained. Risks directly related to COVID-19 have also quickly emerged, the survey found. This includes rises in COVID-19 malware which was seen by 89% of U.S. respondents.

“By building security intrinsically into the fabric of the enterprise – across applications, clouds and devices – teams can significantly reduce the attack surface, gain greater visibility into threats, and understand where security vulnerabilities exist,” McElroy concluded. 

Katherine Arrington, chief information security officer (CISO) for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition (OUSDA) for the Department of Defense (DoD) and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, served as a keynote speaker during Potomac Officers Club’s (POC) CMMC Virtual Forum 2020, where she gave her perspective on cybersecurity threats and how COVID-19 has shifted the views on cyber threats on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). 

If you missed the virtual event, you can still register to watch the footage in Potomac Officers Club’s Event Archive.

As she discussed the RFIs, she noted that a level 3 certification would require an in person audit. Arrington elaborated on the ways COVID-19 has presented new issues with the auditing process due to social distancing and the new regulations that have become the “new normal.” However, once the auditors graduate in approximately a month, DoD will release RFIs.

“We can’t take proprietary information off of a contractor’s site, so we would have to be able to look at your SEP at your physical location, Arrington explained. “We in the government are going to be right there with the industry. We are going to stick with you all to get this right.”

In case you missed the event, click here to replay POC’s CMMC Virtual Forum.

About VMware

VMware software powers the world’s complex digital infrastructure. The company’s cloud, app modernization, networking, security, and digital workspace offerings help customers deliver any application on any cloud across any device. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough technology innovations to its global impact.

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Alan Shaffer on Pentagon’s Support to Defense Supply Chain During Pandemic
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Alan Shaffer on Pentagon’s Support to Defense Supply Chain During Pandemic

Alan Shaffer, deputy undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense (DoD), said the Pentagon has made contract actions worth nearly $4.5 billion through the Defense Production Act Title III and other assistance programs to support the industrial base during the COVID-19 pandemic, National Defense reported Monday.

Shaffer said progress payments offered to contractors reached approximately $3.3 billion and about 90 percent of the payments flowed down to sub-tier suppliers.

“The actions the department took to accelerate payment to our suppliers, sub-tier, actually allowed them to stay in operation,” he said Monday during the NATSEC 2020 virtual conference. “If you ask me what the measure [of success] is, it's the number of companies that were able to continue to do their job through the pandemic and the crisis, and continue to provide product for national security.”

Shaffer said DoD is working with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress to seek additional funds in the next stimulus measure to help cover approximately $10 billion in pandemic-related costs.

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GSA Advances MAS Consolidation Phase 2 Via Mass Modification; Jessica Salmoiraghi Quoted
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GSA Advances MAS Consolidation Phase 2 Via Mass Modification; Jessica Salmoiraghi Quoted

Approximately 85 percent of vendors have accepted the Mass Modification ahead of the July 31 deadline as part of the second phase of the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Multiple Award Schedules consolidation effort, FedScoop reported Monday.

Mass Mod seeks to align contract terms and conditions with GSA’s new single governmentwide vehicle, which consolidates 24 contract schedules to streamline the procurement process for agencies. GSA issued a solicitation for the consolidated schedule on Oct. 1, 2019.

Jessica Salmoiraghi, associate administrator of GSA’s office of governmentwide policy, said vendors failing to accept the Mass Mod will have their products removed from the e-Tools system. She also presented an example how the Mass Mod benefits an information technology company seeking to add to its offerings hospital air filters to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since the IT contractor had already accepted the Mass Modification, they could easily add the product to their contract and deliver the product via prime-sub relationship,” Salmoiraghi said during a recent Professional Services Council (PSC) virtual conference. “Prior to the consolidation, the hospital air filter manufacturer would have had to go through the offer process for a different contract for air filters, so it’s really shortening that timeline.”

The MAS Consolidation effort’s final phase is scheduled for the second half of fiscal year 2020.

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Richard Donoghue Appointed DOJ Principal Associate Deputy Atty General
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Richard Donoghue Appointed DOJ Principal Associate Deputy Atty General

Richard Donoghue, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, has been named principal associate deputy attorney general at the Department of Justice.

Donoghue handled several cases including MS-13 racketeering cases and is currently overseeing prosecutions on Huawei and its subsidiaries, DOJ said Friday.

Prior to his current capacity, Donoghue held the role of associate U.S. attorney at the Eastern District of New York and served as a member of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.

He also performed missions as a paratrooper at the 82nd Airborne Division.

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State Dept Issues Q1, Q2 FY20 Report on IT Modernization Goals, Milestones
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State Dept Issues Q1, Q2 FY20 Report on IT Modernization Goals, Milestones

The State Department has released its fiscal year 2020 agency priority goal action plan detailing information technology modernization objectives the department seeks to achieve over the next year.

In a document posted on Performance.gov, the State Department said it aims to satisfy baseline levels for field-based IT performance, update mission-aligned IT systems, incorporate a “Cloud Smart” approach and establish continuous cyber risk diagnostics and monitoring capabilities by Sept. 30, 2021.

The State Department noted that it also seeks to provide a “diverse set of IT services” to support its global IT users while improving data quality and cybersecurity.

The report additionally highlights the department’s milestones for the first two quarters of 2020 including the deployment of a cloud-based identity, credential and access management system and the launch of projects involving robotic process automation, hyper automation and artificial intelligence.

Most bureau executives also certified the completeness and accuracy of the State Department’s data on IT investments during Q1 and Q2 of FY 2020, the report states.

According to the department, most of its Q3 milestones are “on track for successful completion” despite potential impediments amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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SETI Institute Awarded New NASA Contract to Support Planetary Protection
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SETI Institute Awarded New NASA Contract to Support Planetary Protection

California-based SETI Institute has secured a contract to help NASA implement standards across the space agency's planetary protection efforts.

SETI Institute will help the agency's Office of Planetary Protection report on biological cleanliness, review technical matters, administer training, inform the masses about these efforts and develop implementation guidelines, NASA said Saturday.

NASA's planetary protection efforts aim to prevent biological contamination between Earth and planets explored during missions.

“The depth of mission experience and breadth of knowledge on the SETI Institute team will help NASA meet the technical challenges of assuring forward and backward planetary protection on the anticipated path of human exploration from the Moon to Mars,” said Lisa Pratt, planetary protection officer at NASA.

SETI has contributed its microbiology expertise to NASA's planetary protection over the past decade. Efforts with SETI's involvement include the Curiosity rover and the New Horizons flyby mission.

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