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Maj. Gen. Michael Fantini, Lt. Col. Jake Sotiriadis: US Military Needs to Address ‘Digital Connection Deficit’
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Maj. Gen. Michael Fantini, Lt. Col. Jake Sotiriadis: US Military Needs to Address ‘Digital Connection Deficit’

Maj. Gen. Michael Fantini, Lt. Col. Jake Sotiriadis: US Military Needs to Address 'Digital Connection Deficit'

Maj. Gen. Michael Fantini and Lt. Col. Jake Sotiriadis of the U.S. Air Force wrote in a commentary piece published Monday on Defense News that the U.S. military should address its “digital connection deficit” to achieve the decision advantage needed to win against potential adversaries.

“Decision advantage — or what I would call the collection, interpretation and use of information required to win in tomorrow’s conflicts — will default to the side that is most connected across all domains — air, land, sea, space and cyberspace,” they wrote.

Fantini and Sotiriadis discussed how the Advanced Battle Management System could help warfighters compete in the digital information age and stressed the importance of having a digitally connected joint force.

They also cited how the Joint All-Domain Command and Control operating concept could facilitate the use of decision advantage to win against rivals.

“JADC2 will leverage machine-learning algorithms to sift and fuse massive amounts of information and employ real-time edge processing from the battlefield to target according to commanders’ priorities,” Fantini and Sotiriadis wrote “Doing so will allow joint and combined forces to distribute access to information more widely, empowering commanders at all echelons with decision advantage at every level.”

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NAPA to Study Potential Outcomes of OPM-GSA Merger
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NAPA to Study Potential Outcomes of OPM-GSA Merger
NAPA to Study Potential Outcomes of OPM-GSA Merger

The National Academy of Public Administration announced that a five-member panel would direct NAPA research personnel to look at the potential outcomes of the proposed merger of the Office of Personnel Management with the General Services Administration, FCW reported Monday.

NAPA will examine OPM’s statutory mandates, views of stakeholders on the merger, the impact of the move on labor management relations and the potential impact of the merger on agency functions and costs and benefits.

NAPA entered into a contract with OPM to conduct the study and is expected to hand over the report to Congress by March 2021. The study is part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 202 for fiscal year 2020.

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Military Tests DARPA-Made Geopolitical Event Analysis Tools
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Military Tests DARPA-Made Geopolitical Event Analysis Tools

Military Tests DARPA-Made Geopolitical Event Analysis Tools

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s new event analysis tool underwent testing with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in December.

DARPA said Thursday its Collection and Monitoring via Planning for Active Situational Scenarios or COMPASS toolset works to help the military determine whether a geopolitical event connects to an adversarial strategy.

“Indo-Pacific Command provided great support for this experiment, and their feedback and insights remain invaluable as we continue to develop the AI technologies and the user interface,” said Fotis Barlos, a program manager with DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office.

COMPASS uses artificial intelligence, among other drivers, to analytically support military decision making with regard to an adversary’s geopolitical interests.

The tool suite produces a number of hypothetical suggestions based on data input, Barlos noted.

“COMPASS has potential to be an extremely useful tool in the world of mission assurance, and demonstrates that we can discover patterns of activity at the ‘speed of need’ and then act upon them,” said Col. Joseph Musacchia, critical infrastructure protection, anti-terrorism and mission assurance division chief at Indo-Pacific Command.

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NIST Releases Guidance on Federal Infrastructure Cybersecurity
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NIST Releases Guidance on Federal Infrastructure Cybersecurity
NIST Releases Guidance on Federal Infrastructure Cybersecurity

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued a guidance to help federal agencies implement a cybersecurity framework developed by NIST in partnership with the private and public sectors.

NIST’s guidance states that the Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity is meant to help agencies streamline their efforts focused on information security risk management. The guide includes use cases encompassing enterprise risk management, cybersecurity program management, acquisition procedures and risk reporting.

The agency noted that the framework aligns with requirements under the Federal Information Security Management Act to prevent “unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of a federal information system or federal Information.”

Using a risk-based approach also enables agencies to determine risks relevant to the operational lifecycle and allocate appropriate resources to “treat those risks to an acceptable level,” according to NIST.

“It is vital that agency personnel at all levels manage their assets wisely and address cybersecurity risks effectively,” NIST said. “To do that, agencies need a holistic approach to their enterprises’ risk management that includes timely, streamlined approaches and automated tools.”

NIST noted that the new guidance complements its prior publications focused on risk management for information systems and information security risk.

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Lora Shiao Named National Counterterrorism Center Acting Director
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Lora Shiao Named National Counterterrorism Center Acting Director
Lora Shiao
Lora Shiao

Lora Shiao, executive director at the National Counterterrorism Center, has been appointed to lead NCTC as a whole on an acting basis, Bloomberg reported Saturday.

She will direct the center before Christopher Miller, deputy assistant secretary for special operations and combating terrorism at the  Department of Defense, receives confirmation as NCTC's leader.

President Donald Trump nominated Miller for the post last week.

Shiao holds over 20 years of intelligence community experience, having worked on various anti-terrorism efforts.

Richard Grenell, acting director of national intelligence, announces Shiao's appointment Monday, the report noted.

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OMB Urges Agencies to Consider Contractor Flexibilities, Digital Service Updates Amid Coronavirus Concerns
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OMB Urges Agencies to Consider Contractor Flexibilities, Digital Service Updates Amid Coronavirus Concerns
OMB Urges Agencies to Consider Contractor Flexibilities, Digital Service Updates Amid Coronavirus Concerns

The Trump administration is calling on agencies to leverage their authorities and technologies "to the greatest extent practicable” in an effort to continue operations amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Margaret Weichert, deputy director of management at the Office of Management and Budget, said in a memo issued Sunday that agencies must update their “.gov” websites and user accessibility features in citizen-facing interfaces to streamline the delivery of digital and telephonic services to users.

Other suggestions include updating technologies to support virtual private networks, preparing help desk support for information technology assistance and providing employee guidance on information security and privacy controls.

In a separate memo, Weichert called on agencies to consider telework flexibilities for contractors and reassess current contract requirements which may be "retooled for pandemic response consistent with the scope of the contract".

The memo also urges agencies to use special emergency procurement authorities such as increasing the micro-purchase threshold to “reduce friction for contractors” and drive rapid response.

Agencies are additionally recommended to extend performance periods if contractors are "unable to perform in a timely manner due to quarantining, social distancing, or other COVID-19 related interruptions."

DoD Sets Space Acquisition Council Meeting for April
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DoD Sets Space Acquisition Council Meeting for April

DoD Sets Space Acquisition Council Meeting for April

The Department of Defense plans to hold the first meeting of a Congress-mandated acquisition body for space technologies on April 8 or 9, Defense News reported Saturday.

The fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act directed the creation of the Space Acquisition Council, which will handle all procurement operations for disparate DoD space entities such as the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, Space Development Agency and Space and Missile Systems Center.

Shawn Barnes, acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, told Defense News in an interview that the DoD is “still looking at April as a target” despite concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak.

“But we’ll adjust accordingly,” he said. “We may end up doing that, frankly, as a virtual meeting if we need to.”­­­

The Space Acquisition Council’s members include Air Force leaders, the director of the National Reconnaissance Office, the assistant secretary of defense for space policy, the commander of U.S. Space Command and chief of space operations.

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Battelle Donates $250K to Support Food Banks During Coronavirus Pandemic; Lou Von Thaer Quoted
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Battelle Donates $250K to Support Food Banks During Coronavirus Pandemic; Lou Von Thaer Quoted
Battelle Donates $250K to Support Food Banks During Coronavirus Pandemic; Lou Von Thaer Quoted

Battelle is donating $250 thousand to food banks and food rescues in several communities where it has a significant presence in lieu of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the company announced on Monday.

“As we rapidly research and develop tools and diagnostics to fight this virus, we’re going to financially support those among us who are at greatest risk. When the country has most needed us during our 90-year history, Battelle always has risen to the challenge, and this time will be no different,” said Battelle President and CEO and five-time Wash100 Award recipient, Lou Von Thaer. 

Battelle’s donations will be made in $50,000 allotments to five different agencies: the Mid-Ohio Food Bank in Central Ohio; the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington D.C.; the Community Food Bank of New Jersey’s Egg Harbor Township location; the Boulder Food Rescue in Colorado; and the Maryland Food Bank in Aberdeen.

The Mid-Ohio Food Bank serves Central Ohio, location of Battelle’s headquarters as well as research facilities in West Jefferson and Hilliard. “We are incredibly grateful to Battelle, an extraordinary organization that has been on the journey of connecting food to our hungry neighbors with Mid-Ohio Foodbank for decades,” said Matt Habash, President & CEO, Mid-Ohio Food Collective. 

In the Washington D.C. metro area, Battelle has four offices where employees conduct research and develop technology for a variety of federal agencies including those in the areas of defense, health, cyber and transportation. “This generous contribution simply could not have come at a better time,” said Capital Area Food Bank President and CEO Radha Muthiah.

Boulder is home to the National Ecological Observatory Network, which Battelle manages and operates for the National Science Foundation. The Battelle Eastern Science and Technology Center (BEST) is located in Aberdeen and performs research and provides support to a variety of federal agencies including the Department of Defense. 

In Egg Harbor, Battelle’s employees work on aviation security including screening technology used by the TSA to keep airports safe throughout the country. Community Food Bank of New Jersey President and CEO Carlos Rodriguez said the COVID-19 pandemic presents a new confluence of challenges.

About Battelle

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries.

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Raytheon Partners with Uptake to Provide Predictive Maintenance to M88 Fleet; Matt Gilligan, Brad Kewell Quoted
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Raytheon Partners with Uptake to Provide Predictive Maintenance to M88 Fleet; Matt Gilligan, Brad Kewell Quoted
Raytheon Partners with Uptake to Provide Predictive Maintenance to M88 Fleet; Matt Gilligan, Brad Kewell Quoted

Raytheon Company and Uptake, a leader in the development of industrial-use artificial intelligence software, have partnered to bring predictive maintenance capabilities to the U.S. Marine Corps teams using M88 armored recovery vehicles, the company announced on Monday. 

"Commanders should have data-driven confidence that the vehicles chosen for a critical operation are not trending toward an issue right when it matters the most," said Matt Gilligan, vice president of Raytheon's Intelligence, Information and Services business. "These kinds of decisions don't just save dollars and ensure mission success– they save lives."

With the partnership, Raytheon will provide the technical ability for onboard recording, processing and transfer of large quantities of sensitive data over secure Wi-Fi. Uptake will supply a suite of advanced artificial intelligence software that offers actionable insights at the component level.

Current maintenance and logistics decisions are event based or timeline driven, but militaries are increasingly using advanced data analytics and condition-based monitoring to identify problems and provide alerts before they happen. The M88 will ensure predictive maintenance strategies to improve long-term vehicle health and maximize availability.

Raytheon's partnership with Uptake will help improve the Department of Defense’s (DoD) processes by leveraging commercial best practices in support of national security.

"To shift from reactive to predictive maintenance requires advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies," said Brad Kewell, Uptake's Founder and CEO. "We want to radically improve mission readiness, success and safety for deployed Marines at the tactical edge."

In addition to Raytheon’s partnership with Uptake, Raytheon also partnered with IronNet Cybersecurity in Feb. 2020. The companies will continue to develop cyber platforms that could be used to defend operational and information technology systems against threat actors.

The cyber tools would include managed security services with threat sharing and analysis tools and would be part of the companies’ collective cyber defense offering for national security systems and critical infrastructure.

"Protecting critical infrastructure is no longer a private sector concern, but a national security imperative,” said John DeSimone, vice president of cybersecurity and special missions at Raytheon’s intelligence, information and services unit. “This partnership offers the integration of advanced cyber products and operations experience to the global market."

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2019 sales of $29 billion and 70,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 98 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I® products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries.

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Honeywell Expands Face Mask Manufacturing Operations in Regards to COVID-19 Pandemic; Darius Adamczyk Quoted
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Honeywell Expands Face Mask Manufacturing Operations in Regards to COVID-19 Pandemic; Darius Adamczyk Quoted
Honeywell Expands Face Mask Manufacturing Operations in Regards to COVID-19 Pandemic; Darius Adamczyk Quoted

Honeywell has announced that it will immediately expand its manufacturing operations in Smithfield, Rhode Island, to produce N95 face masks in support of the U.S. government's response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the company announced on Monday. 

"Our Rhode Island facility already produces industry-leading safety gear and soon will play a critical role in supplying the Strategic National Stockpile with N95 masks," said Darius Adamczyk, Honeywell chairman and chief executive officer.

Honeywell has projected that the addition of the new mask production line in Smithfield will create at least 500 new jobs. The company will begin recruiting, hiring and training manufacturing workers immediately.

The N95 face masks will be delivered to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to contribute to the American stockpile for use to support health, safety and emergency response workers. Honeywell's production expansion will support additional American businesses that are part of the supply chain, including industrial equipment providers and raw materials suppliers. 

The company has also collaborated with state and local officials to ramp up production efforts and support recruiting and training for workers. Honeywell's Smithfield factory was established in 1980 to produce UVEX-branded eye protection products, which include safety glasses, safety goggles and protective face shields. 

Honeywell will utilize its intelligent safety solutions and personal protective equipment to help organizations keep their workers safe and healthy on the job. The company's offerings additionally include hazardous gas detectors, safety software solutions and personal protective equipment such as gloves, protective eyewear, respiratory protection, safety suits, hard hats and boots.

"We are honored to support the U.S. government's efforts to protect Americans with personal protective equipment made right here in the United States," added Adamczyk.

About Honeywell

Honeywell is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.

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