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Mark Berman on CMMC Accreditation Body’s Role in Supply Chain Cyber Posture Maintenance
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Mark Berman on CMMC Accreditation Body’s Role in Supply Chain Cyber Posture Maintenance
Mark Berman
Mark Berman

The accreditation body (AB) for the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is authorized to offer cybersecurity services and Mark Berman, chairman of the communications committee within the body’s board of directors, said the AB is also tasked with helping certified vendors in the defense supply chain improve their cybersecurity posture, Nextgov reported Monday.

“A continuous monitoring capability could provide benefits to organizations in the defense supply chain by increasing their awareness of changes to their current cybersecurity posture,” Berman said. “This initiative is a potential avenue where we can provide value add to enhance and maintain the security posture.”

He noted that classifying the accreditation body as a monitoring or training institution “does not capture the full breadth of our mission which includes the development, maintenance, validation, protection of the CMMC Standard and using it to accredit entities, provide research, training, assessments, measurements, testing and more.”

Berman said the body wants to employ tools that could allow companies that have completed a CMMC assessment to increase their cyber awareness.

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Private Equity Vet Louis Bremer to be Nominated DoD Special-Ops Asst Secretary
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Private Equity Vet Louis Bremer to be Nominated DoD Special-Ops Asst Secretary
Louis Bremer, Managing Director of Cerberus Capital Management
Louis Bremer, Managing Director of Cerberus Capital Management

Louis Bremer, a managing director of Cerberus Capital Management, is set to receive nomination to be assistant secretary for special operations and low intensity conflict at the Department of Defense (DoD).

His nearly two-decade industry experience includes work on national security and defense investments across the U.S. and emerging markets, the White House said Monday.

Bremer previously held leadership positions at Bain Capital, Windage Capital and Veritas Capital. He worked as an investment banker at J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley earlier in his career.

The private equity veteran was part of the 2007-2008 White House fellowship class under the George W. Bush administration and served on the Executive Office of the President’s Homeland Security Council, where he directed strategy and resources as well as helped craft the 2007 National Strategy for Homeland Security.

The U.S. Air Force Academy graduate spent eight years as a U.S. Navy SEAL before joining the private sector in 2002.

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NOAA Picks California-Based Univ to Develop Solar Ion Measurement Tool
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NOAA Picks California-Based Univ to Develop Solar Ion Measurement Tool
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a $7.5 million award for the design and development of a sensor that would quantify solar ions or energy particles, Space News reported Friday.

The University of California, Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory will produce and test the Supra Thermal Ion Sensor that would measure solar ions and notify operators if these particles generate a shockwave targeting Earth. Davin Larson, the project’s principal investigator, said these shockwaves may disrupt communications links.

The sensor would support NOAA’s Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange-1 mission that aims to provide continued observation-based space weather forecasting in alignment with the existing Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite. The agency’s Office of Projects, Planning and Analysis manages SWFO L-1.

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CDC Launches Consortium for Genome Sequencing Research
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CDC Launches Consortium for Genome Sequencing Research

CDC Launches Consortium for Genome Sequencing Research

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has established a consortium focused on driving research into genomics sequencing to better understand SARS-CoV-2 transmission and develop contact-tracing resources.

CDC said Friday the SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing for Public Health Emergency Response, Epidemiology and Surveillance consortium includes national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, companies and institutions that will work to accelerate whole-genome sequencing studies and provide real-time data to aid COVID-19 response efforts.

SPHERES will additionally develop best practices for genomic sequencing research and submit data to open repositories such as the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data and National Library of Medicine’s National Center for Biotechnology Information.

“The U.S. is the world’s leader in advanced rapid genome sequencing,” said Robert Redfield, director of the CDC. “This coordinated effort across our public, private, clinical, and academic public health laboratories will play a vital role in understanding the transmission, evolution, and treatment of SARS-CoV-2. I am confident that our finest, most skilled minds are working together to help us save lives today and tomorrow.”

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USAF Launches Effort to Engage in Vertical Flight Market; Will Roper Quoted
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USAF Launches Effort to Engage in Vertical Flight Market; Will Roper Quoted
Will Roper
Will Roper

The U.S. Air Force has commenced a program to foster industrial collaboration for further promotion of the vertical flight aircraft market. USAF said Friday that it virtually launched the Agility Prime program to promote the emerging market that the military is interested in adopting.

The vertical flight aircraft market poses the potential of flying cars to the commercial sector, and USAF seeks to apply its expertise to testing and further development of the technology. The service branch believes it can help the industry potentially reduce aircraft testing hazards.

Agility Prime’s kick-off included activities that aimed to promote USAF’s interest in expanding the market via partnerships with other federal entities, companies and investors.

“Despite COVID-19, we’re still very optimistic about the future, specifically around flying cars and how they might help the military and the world produce better logistics, better medical support and better disaster relief,” said Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics and a 2020 Wash100 Award recipient.

USAF wants to begin purchases of this new vertical flight technology by 2023. Roper announced Agility Prime’s kick-off in the middle of last month.

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Jeff Seaton to Fill Chief Information Role on Acting Basis
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Jeff Seaton to Fill Chief Information Role on Acting Basis
Jeff Seaton
Jeff Seaton

Jeff Seaton, deputy chief information officer at NASA, has been appointed to fill Renee Wynn's old role as the space agency's CIO on an acting basis, SpaceRef reported Wednesday.

Seaton helped Wynn oversee the information technology efforts required for NASA's missions and corporate activities during his time as deputy CIO.

His NASA career includes work as Langley Research Center's CIO and previously as its chief technology officer. Seaton, a recipient of the agency's Outstanding Leadership Medal, spearheaded digital and technological transformation across Langley during his time with the center.

He first joined NASA in the early 1990s to support robotics research as an electrical engineer. 

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Douglas Loverro: NASA On Track for SLS Inaugural Flight in 2021
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Douglas Loverro: NASA On Track for SLS Inaugural Flight in 2021
Douglas Loverro
Douglas Loverro

Douglas Loverro, associate administrator of NASA’s human exploration and operations mission directorate, said the agency is confident that the Space Launch System’s first flight will push through in November 2021, Spaceflight Now reported Friday.

NASA is currently preparing the launch system’s Boeing-built core stage for test-firing activities at the agency’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

According to Loverro, NASA plans to resume work on the facility’s B-2 test stand in a few weeks to support “green run” testing after the agency terminated operations in March due to COVID-19 concerns.

“It won’t be at full speed, but it will be done in a safe manner so we can protect our Boeing and NASA workers down there,” said Loverro. “And we will work on the engine section, we’ll work on the thermal protection system. Each element will be started when we have the plans and the gear ready to protect those workers.”

The SLS inaugural flight is designated as Artemis I and will send an uncrewed Orion capsule to lunar orbit. The second Artemis mission is scheduled for late 2022 or early 2023, while Artemis 3 is aimed at sending humans to the moon by 2024.

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Richard Grenell Directs Intell Community Review of Personal Data Protection
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Richard Grenell Directs Intell Community Review of Personal Data Protection
Richard Grenell
Richard Grenell

Richard Grenell, acting director of national intelligence, has issued a memo directing all 17 intelligence agencies to assess their handling of information on U.S. citizens and individuals with permanent residency, CBS News reported Saturday.

Grenell said in the memo titled  “Protecting the Privacy and Civil Liberties of U.S. Persons” that he is mandating a broad review of the transmission of sensitive information among agencies to ensure that data collection procedures comply with strict privacy policies.

The memo directs entities such as the CIA, National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security to submit a report detailing findings and specific courses of action within a 30-day period.

According to Grenell, all IC elements should characterize U.S. identities in intelligence reports in a “sufficiently generic manner to mask their identity” moving forward.

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PW Singer, Strategist at New America, to Serve as Keynote Speaker at Potomac Officers Club’s AI Just Beyond Tomorrow Virtual Event on May 28th
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PW Singer, Strategist at New America, to Serve as Keynote Speaker at Potomac Officers Club’s AI Just Beyond Tomorrow Virtual Event on May 28th
PW Singer, Strategist at New America, to Serve as Keynote Speaker at Potomac Officers Club’s AI Just Beyond Tomorrow Virtual Event on May 28th

Peter Warren Singer, strategist at the New America organization and author of "Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution," will serve as a keynote speaker at  Potomac Officers Club’s “AI Just Beyond Tomorrow” virtual event on Thursday, May 28th. Register here for POC’s AI Just Beyond Tomorrow Virtual Event.

Singer has been named by the Smithsonian as one of the nation’s 100 leading innovators, by Defense News as one of the 100 most influential people in defense issues, by Foreign Policy to their Top 100 Global Thinkers List, and as an official “Mad Scientist” for the U.S. Army’s Training and Doctrine Command.

He is considered one of the world’s leading experts on changes in 21st century warfare. Singer has published more books on the military professional reading lists than any other author and has consulted for the service branches, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and FBI.

Singer also served as coordinator of the Obama campaign’s defense policy task force and was named to the US Military’s Transformation Advisory Group. In addition, he is an Associate with the US Air Force’s China Aerospace Studies Institute. 

POC’s virtual event follows a congressionally mandated panel of technology experts issue of its first set of recommendations for the government, including doubling the amount of money spent on artificial intelligence (AI) outside the defense department in response to the global competition surrounding emerging technologies. 

Government agencies have experienced more cyberattacks than ever before, at a time when the nation is facing a 40 percent cybersecurity skills talent shortage. As attacks become more advanced and adapt to the evolving IT environment and new vulnerabilities, AI/ML and automation are rapidly becoming necessities.  

At AI Just Beyond Tomorrow, Singer will discuss the challenges and priorities that revolve around AI integration.  Join the virtual event to learn about the impact that AI has on the private and public sectors, the steps that leaders in the field have taken to remain up to speed with the rapid advancement of technology, and the future programs, plans and priorities as the nation aligns with the rapid advancements.  

Register here for Potomac Officers Club’s AI Just Beyond Tomorrow on Thursday, May 28th.

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BAE Systems Completes Acquisition of Raytheon Technologies’ Airborne Radios Business; Dave Logan, Jeff Jones Quoted
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BAE Systems Completes Acquisition of Raytheon Technologies’ Airborne Radios Business; Dave Logan, Jeff Jones Quoted
BAE Systems Completes Acquisition of Raytheon Technologies’ Airborne Radios Business; Dave Logan, Jeff Jones Quoted

BAE Systems has completed the acquisition of Raytheon Technologies Corporation’s Airborne Tactical Radios (Airborne Radios) business, to extend BAE’s products and capabilities into the company’s extensive Electronic Systems portfolio, the company reported on Monday. 

“The Airborne Radios business and its people are a great fit for BAE Systems. Together, we are excited about delivering game-changing electronic mission and control solutions to our collective customer base,” said Dave Logan, vice president and general manager of C4ISR Systems at BAE Systems. “We are proud to have this unique combination of people, products, and technologies as part of our BAE Systems family.”

With the acquisition of the Airborne Radios business designs, manufactures and supplies mission-critical communication systems, BAE will expand its offerings to the U.S. Department of Defense, allied governments and large defense aircraft manufacturers. 

The Airborne Radios business has secure, battle-proven communications solutions installed on a broad range of military airborne platforms. The purchase will augment BAE Systems’ portfolio in airborne communications with broad-spectrum, multi-band, multi-channel radios that feature robust anti-jamming and encryption capabilities. 

BAE Systems’ acquisition will also expand the company’s waveform expertise to the Electronic Systems Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Systems business. 

“Moving forward, our focus will be on the successful integration of our businesses to maximize the value we offer to our customers,” said Jeff Jones, director of Airborne Radios. “We look forward to exchanging ideas and learning from each other to foster a culture of innovation that will further enhance our technologies and product offerings to support our shared commitment to the warfighter.”

The purchase will drive BAE Systems’ mission in its sustained commitment to the national security and defense of the U.S. and its allies. The company announced its intent to purchase Airborne Radios in Jan. 2020. 

BAE Systems said that the company will purchase the military GPS business of UTC’s Collins Aerospace for $1.925 billion in cash and Raytheon’s airborne tactical radios business for $275 million in cash and will integrate the two units into its electronic systems sector upon the deal’s closure.

The asset purchase agreements include associated tax benefits of approximately $365M for the GPS business and about $50M for the ATR business, subject to the completion of the UTC-Raytheon deal and other customary closing conditions.

Jerry DeMuro, CEO of BAE Systems Inc. and a three-time Wash100 award winner, said the products of the two businesses will extend and complement BAE’s existing portfolio, build up its capabilities as a defense electronics and communications systems provider and further aligns the company with the modernization priorities of the U.S. military and its partners.

Collins Aerospace’s military GPS business is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and provides M-code, anti-spoofing systems, anti-jamming technologies and other GPS receiver platforms. Raytheon’s Florida-based ATR business produces and supplies mission-critical communications platforms to the Pentagon, allied governments and defense aircraft makers.

About BAE Systems

A career at BAE Systems will ignite your passion to improve security, defend freedom and make the world a safer place. BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services.

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