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Oak Ridge Lab Facility Needs Quantum Computing Data to Advance Research
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Oak Ridge Lab Facility Needs Quantum Computing Data to Advance Research

The Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, or OLCF, in Tennessee is gathering information for the Department of Energy’s Quantum Computing User Program to determine hardware availability, software solutions and user engagement potential in quantum computing. 

The OLCF issued the request for information to establish the readiness of quantum computing resources to meet scientific research requirements, according to Travis Humble, the director of the facility housed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“We are asking for input from users, vendors and developers to gain insights into how future capabilities will impact the user program,” he said.

Cloud-Based Computing Access

A competitive, merit-based access program, OLCP collaborates with vendors of quantum computing resources to deliver cloud-based access to the technology, as well as facilitate user interactions and resource management.

The facility hosts the two fastest U.S. supercomputers—Summit and Frontier—to pursue its mission of accelerating scientific discovery and advancement in engineering. One of OLCP’s projects for its Quantum Computing User Program involved comparing and validating the performance of 24 quantum computers offered by companies such as IBM, Quantinuum and Rigetti. 

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DOD Releases FY2024 Financial Audit Results, Receives Disclaimer
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DOD Releases FY2024 Financial Audit Results, Receives Disclaimer

The Department of Defense received a disclaimer of opinion from its inspector general regarding its financial statements, which means the agency has yet to achieve a clean audit, according to Mike McCord, chief financial officer of the DOD.

Scope of the FY2024 DOD Financial Audit

McCord made the remarks following the release of the latest agency-wide financial statement audit, the DOD reported Sunday. The audit for fiscal year 2024 is the agency’s seventh since 2018.

The examination was carried out by the DOD Office of Inspector General and teams of independent public accountants. The work covered 28 different reporting entities, with each undergoing stand-alone financial statement audits.

Results of the Audit

Of those standalone assessments, nine entities received unmodified audit opinions, including the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, for which the achievement was a first. One reporting entity received a qualified opinion while 15 others received disclaimers of opinion.

The remaining three opinions are pending.

Despite the disclaimers, McCord expressed optimism about the DOD’s performance in the audits, saying, “I believe the department has turned a corner in its understanding of its challenges, and more importantly in addressing them.”

“Momentum is on our side, and throughout the department there is strong commitment — and belief in our ability — to achieve an unmodified audit opinion,” he added.

Cost of the Audit

The FY2024 audit is estimated to have cost the DOD about $178 million. The agency nevertheless considers the expense “a highly positive investment in transparency, accountability, and efficiency for the American people.”

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DIU Initiates INDUS-X Satellite-Tracking Challenge
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DIU Initiates INDUS-X Satellite-Tracking Challenge

The Defense Innovation Unit has announced the opening of the Dual Horizons: U.S.-India Satellite Tracking Challenge, aimed to enhance capabilities to detect satellite movements in contested environments in low Earth orbit.

DIU said Thursday the bilateral challenge was launched in partnership with the U.S. Space Forces-Indo-Pacific, or USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC, the Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications, & Processing Lab, or SDA TAP Lab, and India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence, or iDEX. The purpose of the challenge is to develop technologies that can track satellites trying to avoid detection in near real-time over the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.

The India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem, or INDUS-X, was established in 2023 to boost defense industrial cooperation between the two nations and to accelerate innovation in manufacturing and technology.

Challenge Parameters & Expectations

The Dual Horizons challenge is open to U.S. or India-owned and operated non-traditional companies at their early-to-mid stage. Interested parties may submit their proposals until Jan. 9, 2025. An information session will be held on Dec. 4, while the virtual final pitch event will be in February. Winning companies will receive $150,000.

Aditi Kumar, deputy director for strategy, policy and national security partnerships at DIU, stated, “This challenge will help both governments to identify best-of-breed technologies that our militaries need to maintain advantage in the space domain.”

Steve Butow, director of space portfolio at DIU, added, “Tapping into the technological advancements from our partners and allies gets us closer to the critical integration of our efforts in the space domain.”

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Flight Tests to Probe Aircraft Contrails’ Effect on Climate
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Flight Tests to Probe Aircraft Contrails’ Effect on Climate

A partnership between GE Aerospace and NASA is scheduled to start a series of flight tests on Monday to research new technologies for reducing non-carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. The tests will study how weather is affected by the contrail clouds of ice particles that airplanes emit and ways to reduce them, GE Aerospace said Friday. 

Dubbed as the Contrail Optical Depth Experiment, the tests will involve the NASA Langley Research Center’s G-III aircraft trailing GE Aerospace’s 747 flying test bed in flight and using light detection and ranging, or LiDAR, technology to scan the aircraft’s contrails.

The tests, which will be flown from Virginia, seek to advance NASA’s LiDAR capability for 3-D contrail imaging for a better understanding of contrail formation and behavior over time.

Propulsion System Evaluations

The tests will initiate new operating methods for GE Aerospace’s flying test bed that advance the performance evaluation on the company’s new commercial engine technologies. The company’s new Open Fan engine architecture, advanced combustion designs and the propulsion systems under development through aerospace company CFM International’s Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines program are among the technologies to be evaluated in the tests.

Arjan Hegeman, GE Aerospace’s general manager of future of flight technology, conveyed the company’s pride in collaborating with NASA on innovative technological approaches on more sustainable aircraft flights. “These tests will provide critical insight to advance next generation aircraft engine technologies for a step change in efficiency and emissions,” he added.

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NUWC Keyport Unveils Future Capabilities Office
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NUWC Keyport Unveils Future Capabilities Office

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport has launched its Future Capabilities Office to address gaps in warfighter capabilities.

The Naval Sea Systems Command said Friday the FCO is a department-level organization that will be responsible for developing innovations that meet the critical needs of warfighters. These include weapons delivery, fleet sustainment and subsea warfare.

How the FCO Will Work

The FCO integrates the NUWC Division, Keyport’s science and technology portfolio, warfighter and fleet support portfolio, special projects team, and on-site representative field team. This combination will focus on emerging technologies and experimental demonstrations.

The office, composed of a small core staff, will function as an incubator for innovative ideas and technologies. It will tap into different resources, including industry experts, academic researchers, students or hire through contract vehicles, for personnel and support.

The FCO will collaborate with partners across the Navy’s research and development enterprise, industry and academia to identify projects with potential, develop them and transition them to other departments, industry partners or organizations for further development.

Scott Shimizu, department head of the FCO, stated, “The idea is to bring projects in and transition them out, look at new technologies and explore different possible solutions to meet warfighter capability gaps. The FCO will serve as a vetting process for future work while also addressing near-term warfighter needs.”

Register now to join the Potomac Officers Club at the 2025 Defense R&D Summit and engage in thought-provoking discussions, gain firsthand insights from key defense technology players and forge valuable connections at this day-long summit.

NUWC Keyport Unveils Future Capabilities Office
President-Elect Donald Trump Reveals Additional Cabinet Picks
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President-Elect Donald Trump Reveals Additional Cabinet Picks

Following Donald Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election, he has not shied away from revealing who he wants to fill his cabinet once he’s back in the White House.

Cabinet nominees range from household names like Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, who was picked to serve as a leader of a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, to U.S. legislators like South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who was selected to oversee the Department of Homeland Security as the potential secretary of the agency.

With Republicans now holding a majority of the Senate and the House of Representatives, it is expected that many of the President-elect’s cabinet picks are likely to be confirmed, CBS News reported Thursday.

Additional Cabinet Nominees

Matt Gaetz

Matt Gaetz has been nominated as Trump’s attorney general for his upcoming administration. Until resigning on Nov. 13 due to the announcement, Gaetz served as the U.S. representative for Florida’s first congressional district, where he was set to serve another term after defeating opponent Gay Valimont in the Nov. 5 election.

“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump noted in a statement.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy was unveiled as Trump’s choice to oversee the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as secretary. In this role, the president-elect said he believes Kennedy will challenge “industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation and disinformation.”

Kennedy has said he will combat an “epidemic” of chronic diseases and reportedly feels that some drug and food companies are to blame for the increased amount of ailments throughout the nation.

Learn more about the future of the healthcare industry at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Healthcare Summit on Dec. 11. Secure your ticket to the 2024 Healthcare Summit before it’s too late. 

Marco Rubio

Trump has tapped Florida Senator Marco Rubio to serve as secretary of state in his next administration. Rubio is widely considered a foreign policy hawk, having challenged China and Iran on several geopolitical issues.

Currently serving as the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio has extensive experience dealing with international adversaries and allies.

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DIU Leads DOD Personnel Data Protection Initiative
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DIU Leads DOD Personnel Data Protection Initiative

The Defense Innovation Unit has issued commercial vendor success memos in recognition of the companies that developed prototypes for technologies that safeguard the data of Department of Defense personnel, as part of the Enhanced Protection of Information Capabilities, or EPIC, project.

DIU said Thursday four companies were selected to tackle different aspects of the EPIC project. Kinetic Data and Grey Market Labs are working on automating complex data administration and workflow processes. They will also address data protection and digital identity management workflow automation challenges.

Ridgeline International is focused on quantifying and analyzing the “digital exhaust” or digital footprints of organizations. Its work involves detecting threats and mitigating risks through specialized workforce training. Gnosko Associates also offered specialized training that enabled DOD personnel to understand personal digital signature management, technical surveillance threats and secure communication tactics.

EPIC Project

The EPIC project was launched in 2022 in partnership with the U.S. Army with the goal of protecting the digital data of service members throughout their careers. It aims to address challenges in digital fingerprint security gaps.

EPIC received an Authority-to-Operate from the DOD for its management system in under two years. The ATO means the prototype can continue to function within the mission partner’s digital suite.

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DHS Publishes AI Use Guide for Critical Infrastructure
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DHS Publishes AI Use Guide for Critical Infrastructure

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a set of recommendations for critical infrastructure operators to ensure the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence tools. The Roles and Responsibilities Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Critical Infrastructure is a resource designed for each layer of the AI supply chain, from digital services providers to public sector organizations, DHS said Thursday. 

The framework recognizes that more critical infrastructure operators are deploying AI tools to ensure reliability, boost efficiency and improve services. Among the most common uses of the emerging technology in the sector is to quickly detect earthquakes and predict aftershocks. 

“AI offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the strength and resilience of U.S. critical infrastructure, and we must seize it while minimizing its potential harms,” commented Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of Homeland Security and a Wash100 awardee. 

“The choices organizations and individuals involved in creating AI make today will determine the impact this technology will have in our critical infrastructure tomorrow,” he added.

Mitigating AI Risks

The framework identifies three categories of AI vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure: AI-powered attacks, attacks targeting AI systems and AI design or implementation failures. 

For critical infrastructure owners and operators, the document recommends adopting cybersecurity practices and protecting consumer data when deploying AI. DHS also encourages organizations to maintain transparency whenever the emerging technology is employed to deliver goods or services. 

In addition, the framework calls for active monitoring of systems performance and cooperation between developers and critical infrastructure operators to understand the real-world outcomes of AI. 

Evolving Government Guidelines

In a recent interview, Mayorkas told reporters that the guideline would be a living document that would change depending on industry developments. It might also evolve based on new policies.

When asked how the recent presidential election results will affect the framework, Mayorkas stressed that the guideline implements policies under the current administration. He noted that the president-elect will decide “what policies to promulgate and implement.”

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SwRI Secures $60M NASA Space Weather Program Contract
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SwRI Secures $60M NASA Space Weather Program Contract

The Southwest Research Institute, a nonprofit applied research and development organization, has booked a $60 million contract with NASA to build critical components for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Next program.

Expectations of the NASA Contract

The San Antonio, Texas-based organization said Thursday the cost-plus-fixed-fee contract covers the development of three coronagraphs for the Lagrange 1 Series project. SwRI will execute the design, analysis, development and fabrication of the instruments. The contract also covers integration, testing, verification and evaluation of the coronagraphs.

SwRI will also provide launch support, supply and maintenance of ground support equipment and post-launch instrument operations support at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility.

The project will be conducted at the SwRI facility in San Antonio. It will run from November 2024 to January 2034. Two of the coronagraphs will be launched aboard a NOAA spacecraft while the third one will serve as flight spare. The launch of the second coronagraph marks the end of the contract.

What Are Coronagraphs?

Coronagraphs are instruments utilized by NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center to gather critical data necessary for making forecasts, warnings and alerts. These instruments monitor the sun’s outer atmosphere and detect coronal mass ejections directed toward Earth. This allows early warnings for geomagnetic storms and gives time for public and private entities to protect their assets.

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ARPA-E Seeks to Accelerate Industrial Catalyst Development
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ARPA-E Seeks to Accelerate Industrial Catalyst Development

The Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy recently announced a new program called Catalytic Application Testing for Accelerated Learning Chemistries via High-throughput Experimentation and Modeling Efficiently, or CATALCHEM-E.

Objective of CATALCHEM-E

The program seeks to create workflows that accelerate the discovery and development of industrial catalysts, which have historically required sophisticated and time-intensive processes, ARPA-E said Thursday. Catalysts are a kind of substance used to transform raw materials into various commodities, including aviation fuel.

Innovation Using AI, Automation

To achieve its goal, the program intends to use artificial intelligence and machine learning in tandem with high throughput experimentation platforms like autonomous laboratories. The target is to bring down the time it takes to produce new catalyst materials from 10 to 15 years to 12 to 18 months.

Notice of Funding Opportunity

ARPA-E has issued a notice of funding opportunity for CATALCHEM-E. $35 million is being allocated for the effort. Interested parties have until Dec. 17 to submit concept papers.

The full application submission deadline has yet to be determined.

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