The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has established a joint center for web-based military information support operations (MISO) as part of efforts to ramp up implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning, National Defense Magazine reported Tuesday.

Gen. Richard Clarke, commander of SOCOM, told attendees at a virtual National Defense Industrial Association event that the command intends to continue integrating AI and ML into ints programs and that it intends to leverage MISO for the “war for influence” against U.S. adversaries.

“We’re committed to rolling out specific things in the near term,” he said. According to the SOCOM head, efforts are already in place to deploy AI for predictive maintenance and edge-level mission execution.

Jim Smith, acquisition executive at SOCOM, added that the command is also interested in automated capabilities for precision fires, mobility, biotechnology, network communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

He cited other potential applications such as sensor fusion for operations with unmanned aerial vehicles as well as autonomous navigation and radio frequency countermeasures.

KBR has been awarded a Master Service Agreement (MSA) and Feasibility Study by JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration Corporation, a leading integrated energy, resources and materials group in Japan, the company reported on Wednesday. 

"Being given the opportunity to work on this study is indicative of KBR's capabilities and skillsets across complex industrial assets and demonstrates our strategic commitment to sustainability, decarbonization, and the development of blue/green hydrogen as both the clean energy for the future, and foundation of a green chemical and product supply chain," said Jay Ibrahim, KBR president, Energy Solutions.

KBR's study will assess options for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), alongside blue hydrogen production relating to oil and gas fields in South East Asia, a region where JX Nippon will expand on its global track record of CCS/CCUS projects.

Under the project, KBR will provide technical consultancy services in relation to developing concepts and technology recommendations for the capture of CO2, reinjection, and production of blue (i.e. carbon free) hydrogen.

The company will also evaluate the feasibility of conversion and transport of hydrogen in other forms for sale into the market, including liquified cryogenic hydrogen, liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), ammonia, and methanol (utilizing CO2).

The project will be led primarily from KBR's consulting hub in Singapore, leveraging on the specialist skills of its wider strategic and advisory consulting and engineering groups, including a world leading cryogenic hydrogen team which works with NASA extensively on the storage, training and safe handling of hydrogen at extreme temperatures.

"We are excited to be a part of this significant project which is indicative of the global transition to more sustainable energy supplies and our ambition to grow and maintain a substantial presence in Asia Pacific," added Ibrahim. 

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 37,000 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, Technology Solutions, Energy Solutions.

Maximus has partnered with Genesys to offer the Maximus Genesys Engagement Platform, an integrated, cloud-based omnichannel contact center solution, Maximus reported on Wednesday. 

“Maximus is delighted to help government agencies improve the Citizen Journey by transitioning contact center infrastructure to the cloud so they can take advantage of the security, scalability and flexibility it offers,” said Bruce Caswell, president and CEO of Maximus and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient. 

Now federal, state and local agencies can adhere to government mandates to improve citizen experience using a U.S. Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP)-authorized solution leveraging technology from Genesys, a long-time global leader in cloud customer experience and contact center solutions.

“This partnership with Genesys combines the power of our trusted solution platform, long utilized by government agencies for contact center operations, with enhanced features of the Genesys technology, and an integrated support and engineering team. The Engagement Platform will enable agencies to deliver an optimized, omnichannel experience to citizens through a singular platform solution, focusing on end-user outcomes with the peace of mind FedRAMP authorization provides,” added Caswell. 

The Engagement Platform will provide a rapidly scalable solution designed to help agencies hindered by aging technologies that can no longer meet the expectations of citizens, siloed infrastructures that have grown too complex to manage and scale. The solution will enable agencies to handle surges in inquiry volumes and equip a remote workforce.

“The cloud solution gives agencies the flexibility, scalability and rapid innovations they need without the hassles of upgrades and maintenance. In addition, it makes it easier for agencies to adopt artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and automation applications so they can deliver truly remarkable experiences,” said Tony Bates, CEO, Genesys. 

Powered by Genesys Engage, the Engagement Platform will support an integrated set of features and functionalities that employees need to serve customers seamlessly across channels through a single voice and digital user interface. 

The solution will also provide the ability to integrate calls, emails, chats, messages and social comments into one uninterrupted conversation, including leveraging more than one channel at once for multi-modal communications and customer convenience, without losing critical context. 

“We’re proud the MAXIMUS Genesys Engagement Platform has met the high bar of security requirements that MAXIMUS provides to government agencies,” added Bates.

About Maximus

Since 1975, MAXIMUS has operated under its founding mission of Helping Government Serve the People®, enabling citizens around the globe to successfully engage with their governments at all levels and across a variety of health and human services programs. MAXIMUS delivers innovative business process management and technology solutions that contribute to improved outcomes for citizens and higher levels of productivity, accuracy, accountability and efficiency of government-sponsored programs. With more than 35,000 employees worldwide, MAXIMUS is a proud partner to government agencies in the United States, Australia, Canada, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the United Kingdom. 

James “Hondo” Geurts, assistant secretary for research, development and acquisition at the U.S. Navy and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, said the service is increasing the number of technology collaboration centers to 12 to create networks, facilitate collaboration and award contracts to nontraditional defense contractors and small businesses, FedScoop reported Tuesday.

“This is not the end, I see expanding this further,” Geurts said of the Tech Bridges program during a virtual press conference held Tuesday.

Tech Bridges are collaboration spaces organized through the Naval Expeditions Agility Office and allow the Navy to work with the private sector and academic institutions to address challenges facing the service. The military branch has six Tech Bridges and plans to establish six additional centers across the country.

Machine learning, advanced data analytics, high-powered computing and other emerging technologies are some of the focus areas of the Tech Bridges program.

A Department of Defense (DoD) task force is using advanced modeling and data analytics to strengthen military readiness and facilitate response during the coronavirus pandemic, Nextgov reported Tuesday.

Capt. Kimberly Elenberg, head of modeling and analytical support for DoD’s COVID-19 task force, said CVTF introduced an interagency simulation and modeling community of interest to allow stakeholders to exchange insights and achieve alignment of best practices in support of pandemic response efforts.

“This was really a bridge between the academic side and the epidemiologists, and those folks who have to make sure that the military can meet its mission every single day,” Elenberg said at a Booz Allen Hamilton-hosted federal health virtual forum.

She said the task force turned to history in support of its efforts following the creation of a common digital platform to offer data management support and host models.

“So we did a lot of looking through the literature to help inform some of our efforts today, and our initial coordinated and integrated disease modeling insights looked at impacts on people, facilities and supplies by locality,” Elenberg said. “This includes the continental U.S. and outside the continental U.S. because we are all over the world.”

Elenberg also shared insights on infectious disease models identified by the department’s task force, including the “classic” SEIR model.

Lt. Gen. David Thompson, vice commander of the U.S. Space Force, said the Department of Defense (DoD) is collaborating with the White House and intends to work with Congress to find ways how to help commercial space firms facing bankruptcy during the coronavirus pandemic, SpaceNews reported Tuesday.

“We want to see what we can do in terms of securing the capabilities we need for national security, number one, and ensuring that our adversaries don’t have the opportunity to acquire those capabilities,” Lt. Gen. Thomspon said Tuesday during an online interview with David Deptula, dean of the Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

Thompson cited the Space Acquisition Council’s efforts and said that the planned discussion with Congress will identify, among others, investments that could be offered immediately to space companies in order for them to “provide capabilities we know we need, in areas we need to be more aggressive that are also going to help the commercial and national security space sector.”

DoD has expressed concerns that China could make a move to acquire national security-related assets of space companies facing financial setbacks.