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Army Issues Second Sources Sought Notification for Company-Level SUAS
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US Army logo. The Army issued its second sources sought notification for the Company-Level Directed Requirement SUAS program.

The U.S. Army has released its second sources sought notification for the Company-Level Directed Requirement, or CoLvl DR, Small Uncrewed Aircraft System program.

Army Issues Second Sources Sought Notification for Company-Level SUAS

Join industry leaders and government officials at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18. Attendees will gain insights into how the revitalized Army is modernizing technology, streamlining contracting and strengthening a unified network.

The Army said Monday the SSN seeks to leverage industry innovation to advance SUAS technologies and fast-track their deployment to troops. The solicitation aims to determine how vendors’ software supports the Army’s Uncrewed Vehicle Control and Software Product Development Services initiatives, enabling integration with future programs like Medium Range Reconnaissance and building more adaptable SUAS systems.

What Is the CoLvl DR Program?

The CoLvl DR program, which supports the Army’s Transformation in Contact strategy, provides commercially available SUAS capabilities to brigade combat teams for urgent operational needs. It treats the UAS as a full system rather than just an aircraft, enabling maneuver units to employ modular, reconfigurable and expendable payloads for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition.

What Is the Role of the UAS Marketplace Strategy?

The UAS Marketplace Strategy identifies vetted commercial systems for the Army’s Marketplace Storefront, which is intended to optimize SUAS procurement processes and delivery of advanced capabilities, while fostering competition for SUAS technology. Industry responses to the SSN will help populate the Marketplace Storefront.

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NASA Restructures Boeing Starliner Crew Transport Contract
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Starliner. NASA has revised its commercial crew contract with Boeing.

NASA has revised its commercial crew contract with Boeing, changing the number of committed Starliner flights and shifting the program’s next mission to an uncrewed demonstration as certification work continues.

What Has Changed in the Boeing Commercial Crew Contract?

NASA said Monday that under the modified Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract, it will order four Starliner flights to the International Space Station, with two additional flights retained as options. The original 2014 contract had envisioned up to six crewed rotations.

The Starliner-1 mission will now launch without astronauts on board and carry cargo to the station while validating propulsion system upgrades and other changes. NASA and Boeing are targeting no earlier than April 2026 for that flight, pending the completion of testing, certification activities and mission readiness reviews.

Why Was the Starliner Mission Plan Adjusted?

The June 2024 Starliner crew flight test revealed several propulsion anomalies, including multiple helium leaks in the service module and failures in reaction control thrusters during approach to the ISS. Follow-on ground work determined that a Teflon seal had expanded under heat, likely constricting propellant flow and contributing to the thruster issues.

As NASA and Boeing evaluated the findings, the vehicle’s return was delayed and ultimately completed without a crew on board while additional certification work began.

What Comes Next for Starliner?

Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said the contract modification allows the program to focus on safely completing certification in 2026 and planning future missions based on station needs through 2030.

If Starliner-1 is successful and the spacecraft is certified, Boeing would then conduct up to three crewed flights under the revised order.

NASA emphasized that bringing Starliner to full operational status remains essential to its long-term strategy for maintaining a continuous human presence in low Earth orbit and preserving dissimilar redundancy in commercial crew access.

Currently, NASA is using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the ISS.

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NIST Seeks Feedback on Second CSF 2.0 Quick-Start Guide Draft
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Cybersecurity. NIST will accept public comments on the second CSF 2.0 quick-start guide until Jan. 7.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published a second public draft of its Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 quick-start guide focused on aligning cybersecurity, enterprise risk management and workforce management practices. The updated document, NIST Special Publication 1308 2pd, is open for public comment until Jan. 7, 2026.

NIST Seeks Feedback on Second CSF 2.0 Quick-Start Guide Draft

NIST’s new draft guidance reinforces the urgency of preparing for rising cyber risks. At the 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21, federal and industry leaders will outline how they’re confronting the threats facing U.S. networks and critical systems. Register now to join this vital cybersecurity discussion.

What Is the Purpose of the Updated CSF 2.0 Quick-Start Guide?

NIST said the guide outlines how organizations can strengthen communication about cybersecurity risks and plan workforce actions based on real risk conditions and intended mitigation strategies. It emphasizes that cybersecurity workforce capacity and competency should be treated as core elements of cyber risk, not separate personnel issues.

How Does the NIST Draft Support CSF 2.0 Implementation?

Part of a resource series released since February 26, 2024, the latest publication joins the portfolio of CSF 2.0 quick-start guides. According to NIST, the resources provide customized pathways for various audiences to effectively engage with the CSF 2.0.

The new draft draws from three primary resources: the CSF 2.0, the NICE Workforce Framework and the NIST Interagency Report 8286 series on cybersecurity-ERM integration. It presents a streamlined process that begins with scoping organizational mission context and critical assets, and then aligning ERM, cybersecurity and workforce inputs to create current and target CSF profiles.

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Johns Hopkins APL Taps Patrick Stadter Tapped as Mission Area Executive for Theater Defense
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APL's Patrick Stadter. Patrick Stadter was appointed the mission area executive for theater defense at Johns Hopkins APL.

Patrick Stadter has been appointed mission area executive for theater defense within the air and missile defense sector at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

What Will Patrick Stadter Focus on as JHU APL Mission Area Executive?

He will oversee the development of advanced technologies that enhance air and missile defense, Johns Hopkins APL said Monday. He will leverage his background in aerospace and national security to help laboratory teams develop technologies to counter advanced regional threats to U.S. and allied forces.

“Patrick brings a deep understanding of missile defense and related operational challenges, and he is well regarded within the sponsor community,” said Vishal Giare, head of the air and missile defense sector at Johns Hopkins APL.

Patrick Stadter’s Career Path

Stadter was most recently the general manager of the agile acquisition division in the defense systems group at Aerospace Corporation. He initially worked for over three decades at APL, where he held various leadership roles in missile defense, space control and other national security programs. The executive served as deputy mission area executive for air and missile defense, where he oversaw programs and research that delivered capabilities for the Navy and Missile Defense Agency. During his first stint at APL, Stadter served as program area manager for advanced concepts and warfighter engagement and for Aegis ballistic missile defense.

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DHS Secretary Announces $1B Airport Security Investment Ahead of Holiday Travel Surge
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Kristi Noem. The DHS secretary announced a $1B upgrade to U.S. airport security systems.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, a 2025 Wash100 Award recipient, has unveiled a $1 billion investment to modernize aviation security technology across U.S. airports, pledging a smoother and more secure travel experience as Americans head into the Thanksgiving and Christmas travel seasons.

Speaking at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, as seen in a video posted on social media platform X, Noem characterized the investment as the largest increase in airport screening technology in years. 

How Will DHS Use the $1B Investment?

The funds will be used to deploy updated screening devices across the national airport network, with upgrades coming to multiple U.S. airports, including Las Vegas. The investment will also support the expansion of training programs for Transportation Security Administration officers, using new training techniques designed to better detect potential threats. 

According to Noem, new equipment and capabilities are set to roll out in the coming months. DHS will increase the deployment and training of K9 screening units to bolster checkpoint security as the new systems come online, she added.

How Did TSA Staff Support Airports During the Shutdown?

During her Las Vegas visit, Noem met with 28 TSA employees and distributed bonus checks to officers who continued to work without pay during the recent government shutdown.

She noted that checkpoint personnel maintained operations for 43 days without compensation, emphasizing their professionalism and service despite financial strain.

Noem recently spoke at Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit.

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Hanna Kim Departs Login.gov, Joins Microsoft as Senior Director for Responsible AI
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Hanna Kim. The former Login.gov director joined Microsoft.

Hanna Kim has departed Login.gov after two years with the program, where she most recently served as director of the federal digital identity platform. Kim announced her departure in a post on LinkedIn, describing the move as a difficult decision following a period of rapid capability development within the organization.

During her tenure, Login.gov advanced several major initiatives, including the launch of Identity Assurance Level 2, the expansion of in-person identity proofing through U.S. Postal Service retail locations and the rollout of passport verification services.

Kim credited the Login.gov team and its agency partners for advancing secure access to federal services. “I am deeply thankful first and foremost to the Login.gov team and to the 50+ agencies across government who trusted us as partners,” she said. “I also want to acknowledge our partners in industry who taught me so much about identity through sharing lessons and providing honest product feedback.” 

“I’ll always look back on this chapter as my compass for what good public service looks like, and I am certain that my path will lead me back to public service,” Kim continued.

Why Did Hanna Kim Leave Login.gov?

Kim said she has joined Microsoft as senior director for responsible AI product and strategic initiatives within the company’s CoreAI engineering organization. In that role, she will lead work to operationalize responsible AI practices and support the development of tools to help organizations evaluate and monitor AI systems.

Who Is Leading Login.gov Now?

A spokesperson of the General Services Administration, which operates Login.gov, confirmed that Matt Pritchard, the program’s deputy director, is now acting director of the federal digital identity platform, Nextgov/FCW reported.

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DOD Updates Policy for Managing Contractor-Prepared Data
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The Department of Defense's logo. The Defense Department issued DOD Manual 5010.12

The Department of Defense’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on Friday issued DOD Manual 5010.12, which updates its policy and processes for acquiring and managing contractor-prepared data across all defense components and throughout the contract lifecycle, from planning to post-award activities.

What Information Does Manual 5010.12 Offer?

Titled Acquisition and Management of Contractor-Prepared Data, the 102-page document applies broadly across all organizational entities within the DOD, including military departments and combatant commands. The scope covers both traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, also known as DFARS, contracts, as well as non-FAR agreements.

The manual, which takes effect on Nov. 21, amends DOD 5010.12-M, or Procedures for the Acquisition and Management of Technical Data, issued in 1993.

Among the information provided in DOD Manual 5010.12 are the roles and responsibilities of defense officials. The program manager, for instance, is responsible for developing the program’s intellectual property strategy and modular open systems approach. The data manager, on the other hand, advises the program manager on data management best practices and verifies that data deliverables meet contractual requirements.

Additionally, the manual includes adaptable guidance on preparing the contract data requirements list, or CDRL, which details data requirements.

The manual follows a broader organization-wide restructuring that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a 2025 Wash100 winner, announced in early November.

Hegseth explained that the overhaul prioritizes speed to capability delivery, which he said is “the decisive factor in maintaining deterrence and warfighting advantage.”

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OSC Commits $700M to Vulcan & ReElement for NdFeB Magnet Production
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Under Secretary of Defense Emil Michael. The OSC has committed $700 million in loans to Vulcan and ReElement.

The Office of Strategic Capital has announced a joint $700 million conditional loan commitment with Vulcan Elements and ReElement Technologies to expand domestic Neodymium Iron Boron, or NdFeB, magnet production.

OSC Commits $700M to Vulcan & ReElement for NdFeB Magnet Production

Hear keynote speaker Emil Michael at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29, where top defense leaders, researchers and innovators will explore the technologies shaping future warfighting. Register now!

How Will Vulcan Elements & ReElement’s OSC Loan Impact US Magnet Supply Chain?

The funding will expand U.S. capabilities in advanced rare earth element separation, metallization and magnet production, the Department of Defense said Friday. Vulcan will receive $620 million and ReElement $80 million to expand domestic manufacturing. The loans will enable the companies to produce up to 10,000 metric tons of NdFeB magnet material in the coming years, addressing a significant gap in the U.S. magnet supply chain.

How Are the OSC Loans Funded & Supported?

The conditional loans are funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which authorizes up to $100 billion for critical minerals projects. Under the agreement, the Department of Defense will receive warrants from Vulcan and ReElement. The Commerce Department’s CHIPS Program Office also signed a preliminary, nonbinding letter of intent for $50 million in equipment purchase incentives and will receive $50 million in equity from Vulcan Elements.

Remarks From DOD R&E Under Secretary Emil Michael

“These OSC conditional commitments build on the swift and decisive actions taken by the Trump Administration to secure a domestic supply chain for the magnets used in chip manufacturing, drones, electric vehicles, fighter jets, industrial motors, nuclear submarines, and satellites,” said Emil Michael, under secretary of defense for research and engineering.

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Space Force Plans Prototype Request for Space-Based Interceptors
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USSF seal. The Space Force plans to issue a request for prototype proposal for level of effort 2M space-based interceptors.

The U.S. Space Force, through its Space Systems Command and the Program Executive Office for Space Combat Power, announced plans to issue a request for prototype proposal by Dec. 7 for level of effort 2M space-based interceptors, or SBIs.

What Is the Focus of the Space Force’s RPP for Space-Based Interceptors?

According to the pre-solicitation notice posted on SAM.gov Thursday, the RPP specifically targets proposals for kinetic energy space-based interceptors designed to neutralize adversary missiles during their orbital flight phase, enhancing midcourse missile defense. SSC intends to pursue hit-to-kill systems rather than directed-energy platforms.

What Are the Other Details of the SBI RPP?

SSC expects to award multiple fixed-price other transaction agreements by February 2026, building on the service’s earlier initiative for boost-phase SBIs. The awards may also include prize competitions. Interested parties can request bidding materials through Dec. 4.

What Are the Advantages and Challenges of Midcourse Interceptors?

A constellation of midcourse interceptors would give the Space Force an extra layer of defense against enemy intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, that evade boost-phase SBIs, Breaking Defense reported. Midcourse interceptors benefit from shorter strike distances and the absence of atmospheric effects, making targeting easier. However, they face challenges from decoys released in orbit, which can make it hard to distinguish the real missile from fake targets.

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House Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Restrict CHIPS Funding Recipients From Buying China-Made Equipment
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A semiconductor. The Chip EQUIP Act aims to ensure that federal investments support U.S. semiconductor manufacturing

Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., have introduced a bipartisan bill to prohibit companies receiving CHIPS Act funding from purchasing specialized semiconductor manufacturing equipment made by entities owned or controlled by the Chinese government and other U.S. adversaries.

The Chip Equipment Quality, Usefulness and Integrity Protection Act of 2025, or Chip EQUIP Act, aims to ensure that U.S. investments to revitalize its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity do not inadvertently subsidize state-backed companies.

Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., plan to introduce a Senate companion to the Chip EQUIP Act in early December.

How Might the Chip EQUIP Act Strengthen US Microchip Industry Security?

The Chip EQUIP Act bars companies that have secured funding through the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors, or CHIPS, and Science Act from purchasing specialized manufacturing tools made by Chinese, Russian, North Korean or Iranian firms.

According to an overview of the bill published by Lofgen’s office, while China trails the United States in manufacturing advanced semiconductor tools, Beijing is ramping up manufacturing of legacy technologies that are not covered by export controls.

“The CHIPS and Science Act made historic investments to surge production of American-made semiconductors and address the supply chain vulnerabilities created by decades of offshoring in the semiconductor industry,” stated Lofgren, a ranking member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

“It is no surprise that other nations have taken note of these investments and are working to grow their own domestic capacity. We must continue to put American manufacturing first and strengthen our supply chains to remain ahead of our adversaries, like China. This common-sense bill will ensure CHIPS investments are not used to support our adversaries’ capacity to develop semiconductor manufacturing equipment,” she continued.

This restriction is set for 10 years, though the commerce secretary may grant exemptions if equipment is unavailable from the U.S. or allied nations or is needed for national security purposes.

How Is the US Working to Bolster Its Semiconductor Supply Chain?

The CHIPS and Science Act was signed into law in 2022 to authorize a nearly $53 billion investment in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, research and development and workforce.

In May, the Senate passed the Securing Semiconductor Supply Chains Act, a bipartisan bill that increases investments in American manufacturing of semiconductors to reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign suppliers. 

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