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BlackBerry Launches QNX Black Channel to Provide Safe Data Communication Exchanges; Grant Courville Quoted
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BlackBerry Launches QNX Black Channel to Provide Safe Data Communication Exchanges; Grant Courville Quoted

BlackBerry Launches QNX Black Channel to Provide Safe Data Communication Exchanges; Grant Courville Quoted

BlackBerry Limited has launched QNX Black Channel Communications Technology, a new software solution that OEMs and embedded software developers can use to ensure safe data communication exchanges within their safety-critical systems, the company announced on Tuesday.

“We are seeing an increase in functional safety requirements for automotive systems as the electronic architecture of the car undergoes a shift to fewer and more powerful electronic control units (ECUs). As a result, our technology is increasingly being selected as the foundation for things like chassis control and battery management ECUs in addition to the traditional QNX-based systems in the vehicle,” said Grant Courville, VP, Product Management and Strategy, BlackBerry QNX.

QNX Black Channel Communications Technology is certified to ISO 26262 ASIL D has been based on the safe data communication requirements identified in IEC 61508 and mitigation measures defined in AUTOSAR End-to-End communications protection profiles.

The technology will develop the countless nodes of data communication in embedded systems functionally safe. The solution will protect data communication from systematic software faults, random hardware faults and transient faults while helping in the automatic prevention of damages from these failures.

BlackBerry’s solution will also provide a safety layer to protect data being passed from point to point while being agnostic of the underlying communication software and hardware. The technology will enable automakers and other embedded software developers to accelerate their development timelines and reduce the cost in moving projects from research to production.

Select OEMs and Tier 1’s are currently utilizing QNX Black Channel Communications Technology in their development of next generation automotive technology. The solution is scheduled for general availability in April 2020.

“Our new QNX Black Channel Communications Technology product not only ensures that the communication exchanges with safety-critical systems are safe, but also that the data being exchanged is not altered or impacted in any way during its transmission. This provides peace of mind to automakers as well as many other embedded manufacturers in Industrial, Oil & Gas, Medical, and other markets who continue to face the task of delivering ‘safety-first’ systems,” added Courville.

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including 150M cars on the road today. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security management, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry’s vision is clear – to secure a connected future you can trust.

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KBR Receives $128M NOAA Contract to Provide Weather Data Services; Byron Bright Quoted
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KBR Receives $128M NOAA Contract to Provide Weather Data Services; Byron Bright Quoted

KBR Receives $128M NOAA Contract to Provide Weather Data Services; Byron Bright Quoted

KBR has been awarded a five-year, $128 million contract by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) to provide key weather data services through the National Mesonet Program, the company announced on Tuesday. This firm-fixed-price contract is a recompete of a contract the company previously won in 2017.

“KBR’s work will help the NWS more accurately forecast future weather events and equip decision makers with the right information to protect the planet and the people on it,” said Byron Bright, President, KBR Government Solutions U.S. and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient.

Under this contract, KBR and its public and private partners will supply local weather data from more than 50,000 surface-based, mobile and aircraft-based weather observation platforms in the U.S. and globally to the National Mesonet Program. The program is a central clearinghouse for non-federal weather data.

“The program is a model public-private partnership and we look forward to continuing this important program with KBR and all the partner networks,” he said.

KBR will partner with Synoptic Data PBC, Earth Networks, WeatherFlow and the University of Oklahoma, KBR will carry out this work over the next five years. The data that KBR will collect and analyze will play a critical role in the nation’s numerical weather forecasting and local monitoring infrastructure and will improve weather prediction, severe weather watches and warnings and emergency response for all regions of the country.

“The National Mesonet Program, now having grown to include four dozen networks since 2009, provides a valuable source of observations for improving National Weather Service warning and forecast operations,” said Dr. Curtis Marshall, the National Weather Service’s National Mesonet Program Manager.

For more than 30 years, KBR has worked with government agencies, including NOAA, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NASA, to cement their Earth science and data visualization operations.

In Feb. 2020, KBR was awarded a potential eight-year, $400 million contract by NASA to support research and development of intelligent systems at the agency’s Ames Research Center in California.

The company will provide the center with resources and technical services for the facility’s intelligent systems division to perform scientific research and develop technologies and applications. According to KBR, it will also help NASA integrate modern information platforms into agency missions and other federal government-backed projects.

“This contract award reflects the company’s stellar performance over the last decade. Through it, we will continue to assist Ames in propelling space exploration,” said Stuart Bradie, KBR president and CEO.

KBR recently partnered with NASA Johnson Space Center to provide human spaceflight operation services to commercial companies, becoming the first company to provide such support with the use of the agency’s facilities and platforms.

In addition, NASA asked the company to train private astronauts in various spaceflight tasks such as operation of onboard International Space Station systems, ISS crew integration, routine operational task performance, health maintenance and emergency response.

The company will also provide medical operations and services before, during and after spaceflights, as well as mission planning, training and execution. KBR will train astronauts for private space travel to the ISS.

KBR currently trains and provides medical support to NASA and ISS international partner astronauts and supports all planning and execution aspects of mission operations. The company will additionally provide specialized services to support the agency’s astronauts.

“This historic agreement is a testament to KBR’s long-standing partnership with NASA. We will continue to work together to propel NASA’s mission to fuel a low-Earth orbit economy and advance the future of commercial space,” Bradie said.

About KBR, Inc.

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program lifecycle within the Government Solutions and Energy sectors. KBR employs approximately 38,000 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, Energy Solutions and Technology Solutions.

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Quantum Names James Mundle as Global Channel Chief to Expand Company Growth Strategy; Elizabeth King Quoted
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Quantum Names James Mundle as Global Channel Chief to Expand Company Growth Strategy; Elizabeth King Quoted

Quantum Names James Mundle as Global Channel Chief to Expand Company Growth Strategy; Elizabeth King Quoted

Quantum Corp. has appointed James Mundle as global channel chief to grow global partner strategy, the company announced on Tuesday.

“James brings a wealth of experience to Quantum, including success developing unique solutions bundles for partners, enhanced partner compensation models, partner contribution analytics, and innovative approaches to channel programs…He will play a pivotal role as we continue to enhance the Quantum Alliance Program and extend our leadership delivering compelling and innovative solutions that address the challenges of explosive video and unstructured data growth,” said Elizabeth King, Chief Revenue Officer, Quantum.

In his new role, Mundle will be responsible for Quantum’s global partner strategy, programs and execution, and serve as an executive advocate for the company’s channel partners worldwide. He will join Quantum as the company expands its leadership in storing video and unstructured data through the recent acquisitions of ActiveScale in March 2020 to build Quantum’s archive and data protection.

Mundle will bring more than 35 years of experience leading channel strategy and programs at storage and cloud solution companies to Quantum. Most recently, Mundle served as vice president of Worldwide Channel Programs with VEEAM.

Prior to VEEAM, he was vice president of worldwide channel sales for Seagate’s Cloud Systems and Solutions business. In the role, Mundle built out the overall channel strategy and route to market for a Software-Defined Storage initiative. He also completed market analysis and competitive review, routed to Market and Partner profile definitions with segmentation and integrated the Cloud-based Evault business to leverage Seagate’s Cloud Systems and Solution portfolio.

Previously, Mundle spent 10 years at Hewlett Packard Enterprise in increasingly senior roles, leading its storage and industry-standard services business in the Americas.  He was responsible and accountable for indirect revenue and partner sales out revenue, set revenue goals, targets and objectives. He also linked Regional Business Unit Business plans and goals with Partner Business plans and goals and analyzed ROI and developed channel contribution to meet/exceed revenue goals.

Adding Mundle’s industry experience to help grow Quantum’s revenue and global reach through partners is another step in the company’s transformation, and will further accelerate Quantum’s progression to new software-defined, hybrid- and multi-cloud architectures, as well as recurring subscription and as-a-Service business models.

“Quantum is a very channel-centric company with a robust channel ecosystem, and our partners expect us to be predictable, transparent and engaging. Investing more in the partners who are committed and want to grow with Quantum will be one of my top priorities. I am deeply passionate about the channel and am excited to be the lead advocate for our channel partners in this newly-created role at Quantum,” Mundle commented.

About Quantum 

Quantum technology and services help customers capture, create and share digital content – and preserve and protect it for decades. With solutions built for every stage of the data lifecycle, Quantum’s platforms provide the fastest performance for high-resolution video, images, and industrial IoT. That’s why the world’s leading entertainment companies, sports franchises, researchers, government agencies, enterprises, and cloud providers are making the world happier, safer, and smarter on Quantum.

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Gene Dodaro: GAO Hotline Allows Public to Report Misuse of CARES Act Funds
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Gene Dodaro: GAO Hotline Allows Public to Report Misuse of CARES Act Funds
Gene Dodaro
Gene Dodaro

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has urged the general public to report through its hotline any fraudulent, wasteful or abusive activities regarding the use of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds. FraudNet works to process allegations of misuse of federally funded programs by telephone or via the internet, GAO said Friday.

Users may submit reports anonymously and are advised to provide details on their cases thoroughly. The congressional watchdog typically refers the allegations it received to the Department of Justice, government  inspector general offices or an investigative agency.

Gene Dodaro, comptroller general of the U.S. and head of GAO, said the federal government's stimulus package authorizes $2T for public health emergency and economic initiatives.

"The public can play a critical role in helping to identify improper activities or weaknesses in programs that warrant scrutiny. And FraudNet can play an important role in alerting GAO, potentially early on, to questionable uses of CARES Act funds," Dodaro added.

GAO data showed that the public sent 10,989 complaints to the agency's hotline during fiscal 2018 and roughly 1,200 of those reports were deemed worthy of pursuing.

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NIST Offers Manufacturing Extension Partnership Funds for COVID-19 Response
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NIST Offers Manufacturing Extension Partnership Funds for COVID-19 Response

NIST Offers Manufacturing Extension Partnership Funds for COVID-19 Response

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has earmarked $50M in coronavirus-recovery grants for small and medium-sized manufacturers that are part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership network.

MEP centers throughout the U.S. and in Puerto Rico can apply for a portion of the funds authorized under CARES Act by submitting applications on grants.gov, NIST said Monday.

The funding opportunity is meant to help manufacturing firms access government resources, file insurance claims, Small Business Administration loans and recover from business interruptions amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Potential recipients can also use the money to establish peer-to-peer manufacturing groups, address operational requirements and look for manufacturers that can supply medical products.

“The MEP centers have the expertise to help client companies make the products needed to fight this pandemic, and to help manufacturers across the supply chain to weather this storm,” said Walter Copan, director of NIST and undersecretary for standards and technology at the Department of Commerce.

NIST is scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday to conduct webinars on the application process.

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Pentagon Releases Guidance on Use of Zoom Videoconferencing App
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Pentagon Releases Guidance on Use of Zoom Videoconferencing App

Pentagon Releases Guidance on Use of Zoom Videoconferencing App

The Department of Defense (DoD) released new guidance on the use of Zoom, a videoconferencing application, as more government employees telework due to the coronavirus pandemic, Voice of America reported Friday.

“DoD users may not host meetings using Zoom’s free or commercial offerings,” a spokesman for the Pentagon told VOA in an email Friday.

The spokesman said the DoD document allows the use of a paid-tier service – Zoom for Government – hosted in a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program-certified cloud platform when videoconferences deal with “publicly releasable DoD information not categorized as ‘For Official Use Only.’”

The FBI announced on April 1 that cyber adversaries could take advantage of vulnerabilities in Zoom and other videoconfencing apps to “steal sensitive information, target individuals and businesses performing financial transactions, and engage in extortion.”

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DoD Creating New Space Advisory Group
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DoD Creating New Space Advisory Group

DoD Creating New Space Advisory Group

The Department of Defense (DoD) is establishing a space advisory committee as part of the Defense Innovation Board to provide insights and advice on space innovation, technology and strategy, SpaceNews reported Monday.

David Norquist, deputy DoD secretary and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, wrote in an April 4 memo obtained by the publication the new advisory group will help address existing and future challenges in space and implications of technology platforms being created for space. The group will also ensure that DoD leaders are current on commercial innovation in space.

Mark Sirangelo, former CEO of Sierra Nevada’s space systems business, will chair the new advisory group. Norquist asked Mike Griffin, defense undersecretary for research and engineering and a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, to form the advisory panel no later than April 30.

About The Wash100

This year represents our sixth annual Wash100 Award selection. The Wash100 is the premier group of private and public sector leaders selected by Executive Mosaic’s organizational and editorial leadership as the most influential leaders in the GovCon sector. These leaders demonstrate skills in leadership, innovation, achievement, and vision.

Visit the Wash100 site to learn about the other 99 winners of the 2020 Wash100 Award. On the site, you can submit your 10 votes for the GovCon executives of consequence that you believe will have the most significant impact in 2020.

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GAO: DoD Should Fully Implement Cyber Hygiene Initiatives
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GAO: DoD Should Fully Implement Cyber Hygiene Initiatives

GAO: DoD Should Fully Implement Cyber Hygiene Initiatives

The Government Accountability Office has recommended that the Department of Defense fully implement its three cyber hygiene initiatives and designate components that would help monitor the implementation of cyber hygiene practices and related tasks.

GAO said in a report published Monday that it assessed the department’s implementation of the 2015 DOD Cybersecurity Culture and Compliance Initiative, Cyber Awareness Challenge training program and the 2015 DOD Cyber Discipline Implementation Plan and found that the Pentagon has yet to fully implement the tasks in the programs.

In addition to the initiatives, DoD has created lists of methods frequently used by cyber adversaries and determined practices to safeguard its systems and networks against such techniques. According to the report, the “department does not know the extent to which these practices have been implemented.”

The congressional watchdog called on the Pentagon to ensure that its senior leaders receive information on cybersecurity initiatives and implementation of cyber practices. “Such information would better position leaders to be aware of the cyber risks facing DOD and make more effective decisions to manage such risks,” GAO noted.

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DHS Issues New Award for Object Detection Engine Dev’t
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DHS Issues New Award for Object Detection Engine Dev’t

DHS Issues New Award for Object Detection Engine Dev't

Analytical AI, an Alabama-based business, has secured a $199,500 award to help the Department of Homeland Security bolster the Transportation Security Administration’s detection technology via artificial intelligence.

The company will use deep learning algorithms to create a new engine for object identification under DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program, the department said Friday.

The sought object identification engine would allow security personnel to detect common items within the “stream of commerce,” a concept that makes a person liable for market items that cause public harm.

DHS S&T filed the effort under the program’s Object Recognition and Adaptive Algorithms in Passenger Property Screening solicitation.

“Analytical AI has proposed to develop robust, network-ready screening tools that would meet current TSA requirements with the flexibility to adapt to future TSA mission priorities,” said Melissa Oh, managing director of SVIP.

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Army Continues Prototyping Work for Autonomous Combat Vehicles
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Army Continues Prototyping Work for Autonomous Combat Vehicles

Army Continues Prototyping Work for Autonomous Combat Vehicles

The U.S. Army plans to assess the capacity of robotic combat vehicles to operate with mission-enabling technologies demonstrator vehicles as part of a multiyear prototyping effort, National Defense Magazine reported Friday. The program’s first phase was initially slated to take place in Colorado within the March to April period.

Phase one comes after the Army announced plans to select Textron and QinetiQ’s North American arm for other transaction agreements focused on RCV development. QinetiQ will produce four light RCVs while Textron will build four of the vehicles with a medium-sized configuration.

QinetiQ also partnered with Pratt Miller to perform systems integration activities for an expeditionary modular autonomous vehicle, which has a 7,000-pound capacity and a speed of up to 30 mph.

Jon Hastie, director of unmanned systems products at QinetiQ NA, said the team intends to use government-owned autonomous technology and open-systems architectures for the EMAV effort.

Phase two of the RCV program is slated to take place in 2022 ahead of manufacturing and development activities scheduled for fiscal years 2023 through 2024.

The Army may also opt to solicit purpose-built vehicles from industry for the program’s third phase if the service decides to move forward with maturation work.

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