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Mark Esper on Pentagon’s Efforts to Address China Threats
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Mark Esper on Pentagon’s Efforts to Address China Threats
Mark Esper
Mark Esper

Mark Esper, secretary of the Department of Defense and a 2020 Wash100 Award winner, said DoD has launched efforts to counter the threats posed by China and one of those is the creation of the Space Force as the sixth service branch, Army News Service reported Friday. 

"Much like NASA was a breeding ground for a wide array of high-tech breakthroughs, we believe the Space Force will be an incubator for a whole new generation of technologies," Esper said Friday in his speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Global Security Forum in Washington.

Esper said the Pentagon is also developing hypersonic weapons and works with industry on artificial intelligence, 5G network and long-range precision fires. He also discussed China’s human rights violations and economic piracy and the need for the U.S. to unite and work with allies to address such threats.

"Addressing these threats requires us to unite the nation around our competition with China," Esper said. "Our success is contingent upon a cohesive approach across public and private sectors. For the department, this means overhauling our policies and reshaping the culture within the department; between the department and industry; and among our allies and partners around the world."

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Army Demos Integrated Air Defense With F-35 Jets
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Army Demos Integrated Air Defense With F-35 Jets

Army Demos Integrated Air Defense With F-35 Jets

A U.S. Army-owned system demonstrated the use of U.S. Air Force F-35 aircraft as sensors for air and missile defense in multi-domain operations.

Two F-35 units provided a situational awareness boost to the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System against multiple flying targets during a test in White Sands Missile Range, Lockheed Martin said Tuesday.

The company provided equipment, such as an IBCS adaptation kit, in support of the experiment.

“This test validated the F-35’s capability to serve as an airborne sensor and extend the range of critical Integrated Air and Missile Defense interceptors,” said Greg Ulmer, a Lockheed Martin vice president who also serves as the F-35 program’s general manager.

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Army’s Enterprise Cloud Office to Begin Operations in March
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Army’s Enterprise Cloud Office to Begin Operations in March
Army's Enterprise Cloud Office to Begin Operations in March

The U.S. Army is slated to begin operations at its new Enterprise Cloud Management Office by March to support the implementation of an Army-wide cloud environment as well as the use of operational data.

The Army said Wednesday it reprogrammed $730 million last year to establish the office with the aim of accelerating cloud programs through fiscal 2023.

Paul Puckett, previously the chief technology officer of Pivotal Software‘s federal unit, was appointed in November to serve as ECMO’s director. He is responsible for managing the delivery of cloud resources and services to support the Army’s efforts to “turn information into a global strategic asset," according to a prior news release.

"We needed to centralize all things cloud," noted Lt. Gen. Bruce Crawford, the Army chief information officer, at an AFCEA event. "The ECMO is designed to better Army commands through a centralized office, and improve the ability to facilitate cloud projects and oversee migration to the cloud network."

NSA Recognizes University of Illinois as Featured School for Research Partnerships
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NSA Recognizes University of Illinois as Featured School for Research Partnerships
NSA Recognizes University of Illinois as Featured School for Research Partnerships

The National Security Agency has designated the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a featured school and Center of Academic Excellence after over two decades of partnerships for research efforts.

NSA said Thursday it first designated the university as a CAE in cyber defense in 2000 as part of a sponsorship effort with the Department of Homeland Security. The school also received a CAE research designation in 2008, with the aim of fostering higher education and research in cybersecurity.

The agency additionally awarded grants totaling $600,000 to the university over the past five years and enlisted students for the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program.

George Barnes, deputy director of the NSA, said Illinois is one of the first schools to host an NSA Science of Security Lablet, which has been "instrumental in stimulating basic research to create scientific underpinnings for security and advocating for scientific rigor in security research.”

NSA’s partnership with Illinois is currently featured on websites such as NSA.gov, IntelligenceCareers.gov and social media platforms.

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DOE Invests $300M in Transportation Energy Research Work
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DOE Invests $300M in Transportation Energy Research Work
DOE Invests $300M in Transportation Energy Research Work

The Department of Energy has awarded almost $300 million in funds to support research projects in sustainable transportation. The three projects support DOE's mission to develop affordable, clean energy alternatives for consumers, the department said Thursday.

“Under this announcement, DOE is focusing our efforts on three areas of transportation to further spur innovative breakthroughs in this sector," said Mark Menezes, undersecretary of energy.

The first funding opportunity announcement, valued at $133 million, focuses on the development of battery, fuel, mobility, engine and other transportation applications with the Vehicles Technologies Office. The second, valued at $64 million, supports the Fuel Cells Technologies Office's efforts to study hydrogen applications. The last, bringing $100 million in funds, would address topics on bio-based energy resources under DOE's Bioenergy Technologies Office.

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Noblis Appoints Deborah Drake Vice President, CPO; Amr ElSawy Quoted
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Noblis Appoints Deborah Drake Vice President, CPO; Amr ElSawy Quoted

Noblis Appoints Deborah Drake Vice President, CPO; Amr ElSawy Quoted

Deborah Drake has been appointed vice president and chief people officer (CPO) of Noblis,  a leading provider of science, technology and strategy services to the federal government, the company announced on Friday.

“Debbie has significant experience in our industry and demonstrated success building environments that foster collaboration, growth and development. Our talent management strategy is central to our ability to deliver exceptional results to our clients. We are looking forward to having Debbie work as an integral member of the Noblis leadership team,”said Amr ElSawy, Noblis president and CEO.

In her new role, Drake will lead the Noblis human resources and organizational development organizations including, talent recruitment, total rewards system, professional and organizational development and employee engagement.

Drake will bring over 20 years of experience to Noblis. Prior to joining the company, Drake served as the vice president of Human Resources and Talent Acquisition at ManTech International Corporation between July 2017 and Jan. 2020. She also served as senior vice president and chief human resources officer for Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc. from Nov. 2013 to July 2017.

Additionally, Drake worked for Leidos as vice president and human resources director between April 2003 and Nov. 2013. She began her career at DynCorp in 1993 and served as human resources manager until 2003.

Throughout her past positions, Drake has accumulated a proactive and innovative approach in all areas of human resources, including recruitment, training, compensation and recognition, employee relations, benefits, communications, organizational development, international deployment, succession planning, affirmative action, policies and procedures and HRIS/analytics.

She will bring her ability to make decisions that produce high-quality solutions and results, and will serve as a strong collaborator, communicator, change agent, and project manager.

“I am thrilled to be part of such an exceptional culture that values our mission-focused people,” said Drake. “I look forward to engaging with such a dynamic workforce.”

About Noblis 

Noblis is a dynamic science, technology, and strategy organization dedicated to creating forward-thinking technical and advisory solutions in the public interest. We bring the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Noblis works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Together with our wholly owned subsidiary, Noblis ESI, we tackle the nation’s toughest problems and support our clients’ most critical missions.

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SAIC Names Elaine Solomon Senior Account Executive; Bob Genter Quoted
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SAIC Names Elaine Solomon Senior Account Executive; Bob Genter Quoted
SAIC Names Elaine Solomon Senior Account Executive; Bob Genter Quoted

Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) has appointed Elaine Solomon as the senior account executive over business development for the FBI, Department of Justice (DOJ) and federal law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Prisons, Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service, the company reported on Friday.

“Elaine brings a passion for working with people and understanding their goals and targets. I am confident that she will help us to solve our customers’ toughest problems,” Bob Genter, executive vice president and general manager of the Civilian Markets Customer Group.

Solomon brings decades of invaluable experience in both private and government contracting business development to SAIC. In her new role, she will supervise the departments and lead  BD efforts within the Federal Civilian Law Enforcement markets for IT Modernization, Cyber, Cloud, AI, IoT, Software and Enterprise IT aligning to Mission Support including: Engineering and Integrations, Analytics, Training  and Mission Solutions including Program Management.

Prior to joining SAIC, Solomon served as vice president of strategic alliances and channel partner business development with IO Data Centers from Nov. 2017 to Nov. 2018. She was an instrumental leader in developing key external partnerships with systems integrators, master service providers, master agents, and other critical data center customers.

Solomon also worked at Hewlett Packard (HP) as principal to the U.S. Public Sector from Aug. 2010 to Aug. 2016. In the role, she was instrumental in justifying the full scope of IT consulting services for HP customers, which provided support in cybersecurity, software, AI, data center planning and a wide range of other IT capabilities. 

Additionally, Solomon served as vice president of Western Region Science and Technology Business Development at HDR between 2005 and 2010. She was responsible for Business Development for a large national architecture and engineering firm focused on the Science & Technology market which included Data Centers and other Federal Intel Community and Civilian agency contracts.Solomon began her career at Bonsignore Brignati & Mazzotta, in New York City.

“I am excited to be joining a growing SAIC team that is at the forefront of delivering solutions to government customers,” Solomon said. “Law enforcement agencies do such important work protecting our nation; I’m eager to help them meet their critical missions.”

About SAIC

SAIC® is a premier technology integrator solving our nation’s most complex modernization and readiness challenges. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian, and intelligence markets includes high-end solutions in engineering, IT, and mission solutions. Using our expertise and understanding of existing and emerging technologies, we integrate the best components from our own portfolio and our partner ecosystem to deliver innovative, effective, and efficient solutions

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Leidos Joins Team to Provide Mission Critical Research for NSF, Antarctica; Pete Hoene, Ed Spitler Quoted
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Leidos Joins Team to Provide Mission Critical Research for NSF, Antarctica; Pete Hoene, Ed Spitler Quoted
Leidos Joins Team to Provide Mission Critical Research for NSF, Antarctica; Pete Hoene, Ed Spitler Quoted

Leidos has announced on Friday that the company has teamed with Artel and SES GS to deliver vital connectivity solutions to Palmer Station, Antarctica, operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF).  The satellite-based service will share year-round scientific research from the field to the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) data center.

"The Antarctic Treaty provides the framework for scientists from all over the world to peacefully come together and better understand our planet. We're glad to follow suit and collaborate with our industry partners to provide crucial and resilient satellite connectivity to Palmer Station," said Pete Hoene, President & CEO of SES Government Solutions. 

Leidos will help integrate Artel’s newly engineered solution into NSF’s research base. Artel has leveraged the C-band coverage provided by the SES-14 satellite, with backhaul from the SES Government Solutions Teleport through terrestrial circuits also engineered by Artel. 

The rapid data connection ensures the reliable transfer of data for the scientific community. The software will also allow scientists to investigate and present the far reaches of Antarctica for the public through their station and penguin webcam live streams.

"We look forward to supporting the Leidos team in continuous delivery of mission-critical satellite-based data connectivity services to Palmer Station," said Ed Spitler, head of SATCOM Programs at Artel.

Palmer Station's location on the Antarctic Peninsula, due south of Argentina, has given the USAP a unique perspective to provide leading research on global issues such as climate change and the effects on wildlife and surrounding ecosystems. The transmission of this data from the isolated environment to the global population has become pertinent to the NSF and USAP mission. 

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 34,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $10.19 billion for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2018.

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NASA Names Dennis Andrucyk Director of Goddard Space Flight Center; Ben Cardin, Jim Bridenstine Quoted
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NASA Names Dennis Andrucyk Director of Goddard Space Flight Center; Ben Cardin, Jim Bridenstine Quoted
NASA Names Dennis Andrucyk Director of Goddard Space Flight Center; Ben Cardin, Jim Bridenstine Quoted

Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator ans 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, has appointed Dennis Andrucyk director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, effective immediately, the agency reported on Thursday. 

"Dennis brings leadership skills to this job that are critical as NASA enters a new era of exploration," said Bridenstine. "His experience in NASA's science and technology spheres and his continual pursuit of excellence will serve Goddard and the agency well as we work together to return America to the Moon and then to Mars." 

Prior to his appointment, Andrucyk served with NASA as deputy associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) since Aug. 1988, bringing over 30 years of experience to his new role. As deputy associate administrator, he was responsible for developing new partnerships with other government agencies, academia, industry and international organizations. 

Andrucyk has also assisted to streamline policies and procedures and reduce the overhead required for achieving the agency’s scientific goals. He has also created new processes for lower cost missions that ultimately increase SMD’s scientific return on investment.

He served as NASA’s acting chief technologist while working as deputy associate administrator between March 2010 and April 2015. In the role, he provided overarching leadership of Goddard’s Engineering Directorate. This 1300 civil servant organization represents 40% of the Goddard workforce and is supported by 2000 contractors. 

He was also responsible for end to end engineering capability for all Goddard’s mission, spacecraft, instrument, ground system, and science processing developments for orbital and suborbital missions. He supervised the center’s engineering technical division, ensuring project technical capability and performance requirements are met.

Before joining NASA in 1988, Dennis served at the National Security Agency, Naval Research Laboratory, Westinghouse, Northrop and General Electric.

Andrucyk has twice been the recipient of the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Presidential Rank Award, the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the Goddard Outstanding Leadership Honor Award, and the Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award in Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity. 

"I look forward to working with fellow Terp Dennis Andrucyk in his new role as the director of the Goddard Space Flight Center. We are glad to have him back in Greenbelt," said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland. "Strong, thoughtful leadership at Goddard is essential for its 10,000-strong workforce of employees and contractors, who play such an important role in the exploration projects that are at the heart of NASA."

About Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center is a major U.S. laboratory for developing and operating unmanned scientific spacecraft. The center manages many of NASA's Earth observation, astronomy, planetary science and astrophysics missions. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is home to the nation's largest organization of scientists, engineers and technologists who build spacecraft, instruments and new technology to study Earth, the sun, our solar system and the universe.

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Leidos Appoints Michael Jackman as New Health Group COO; Jon Scholl Quoted
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Leidos Appoints Michael Jackman as New Health Group COO; Jon Scholl Quoted

Leidos Appoints Michael Jackman as New Health Group COO; Jon Scholl Quoted

Leidos has announced Michael Jackman, healthcare information technology industry veteran, will serve as the Health Group chief operating officer (COO), the company announced on Thursday.

“Michael is a growth-minded leader with decades of executive experience in healthcare systems optimization,” said Jon Scholl, Leidos Health Group president. “His previous administration of digital transformation and healthcare R&D initiatives will be instrumental in our long-term growth strategy.”

As COO with Leidos, Jackman will oversee the daily operations of the Health Group and work in close collaboration with the group’s leadership team to deliver a range of solutions and services designed to meet today’s healthcare challenges.

Prior to his position at Leidos, Jackman served as an operating partner with Ardan Equity since March 2019. In the position, he collaborated with health executives to build platforms designed to accelerate company growth.

He also worked with Mach7 Technologies from Aug. 2017 to April 2019. His primary responsibilities in the role include the delivery of an intelligent software workflow platform and consolidation of patient data to improve patient care, reach compliance goals and deliver clinical and operational support enterprise wide.

Additionally, Jackman served in a variety of senior leadership roles with GE Healthcare between Dec. 2011 and Jan. 2017. In his most recent role with GE, Americas Region CEO of Healthcare Digital HCIT, Jackman supervised advanced visualization, radiology, cardiology and perinatal and high acuity solutions including workflow software and services. He was also responsible for customer success organization and all commercial resources for the Americas region.

Before he began his career with GE, Jackman served as executive vice president of Global Operations with ISOFT Health Group from Dec. 2009 to Dec. 2011. He was responsible for research and development with product management, program management, CIO and global services.

Between Dec. 2005 and Nov. 2009, Jackman served in multiple presidency roles with Carestream Health. Most recently, he served as president of global sales and services where he  was responsible for the full $1.8 billion that came from the sale and service of medical films, printing solutions and digital medical solutions. The Global Sales organization also is responsible for the sales of Dental Solutions in Japan, China, Asia and Latin America.
Jackman worked as chief technology officer (CTO) with Eastman Kodak from Dec. 2002 to Jan. 2005 and began his career at IBM where he worked as vice president of System Technology for the Personal Systems Group between 1980 and 1998.

“I am thrilled to join an organization that leverages technology to enhance the continuum of care from research laboratory to patient bedside,” said Jackman. “I look forward to introducing expertise that will further improve clinical, operational, and financial outcomes for our customers’ important work.”

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company’s 34,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $10.19 billion for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2018.

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