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VA’s Beth Ripley: Joint Effort With NIH, FDA Fills Health Equipment Supply Gaps
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VA’s Beth Ripley: Joint Effort With NIH, FDA Fills Health Equipment Supply Gaps

VA's Beth Ripley: Joint Effort With NIH, FDA Fills Health Equipment Supply Gaps

The Department of Veterans Affairs, Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health are working with nonprofit organization America Makes to accelerate the manufacture of personal protective equipment, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

Beth Ripley, director of the Veterans Health Administration’s 3D printing network, said in an interview with the publication that the three entities partnered with America Makes to serve as a “matchmaker” between U.S. manufacturers to facilitate large-scale PPE production and deployment.

Ripley noted that the VA, NIH and FDA’s joint 3D printing effort is meant to fill gaps in the supply of equipment such as face shields and protective suits while traditional manufacturers work to catch up with current demands.

“So we bring clinical expertise within the VA, regulatory expertise and understanding what’s safe with the FDA, and the ability to share large datasets such as 3D printable files that the NIH 3D print exchange brings,” said Ripley. She added that she hopes to deploy new 3D printing concepts that can be integrated with traditional production in the coming weeks.

Ripley’s comments come after the VA, NIH and FDA announced the joint research and development initiative earlier this month.

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James Geurts Talks Navy’s $88.5B Increase in Contract Awards Amid Disruptions
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James Geurts Talks Navy’s $88.5B Increase in Contract Awards Amid Disruptions
James Geurts
James Geurts

James Geurts, assistant secretary of the U.S. Navy for research, development and acquisition, said the service has so far awarded over $88.5 billion in contracts despite the current health crisis, USNI News reported Thursday. Geurts, a 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, told the publication that the Navy increased its contract obligations from $66.3 billion in 2019 all while 95 percent of staff are teleworking.

“Everything I’m trying to do here in accelerating work, coming up with new business approaches is to create stability, a stable demand signal,” said Geurts. “I think one of our keys to steepen that recovery and reinvention ramp is going to be having steady work there as fast as we can.”

According to Geurts, the Navy is studying potential telework-based aviation maintenance work as well as remote training, installation and technology support. The Navy is also working to identify new opportunities for aircraft and ship repair activities, he added.

The Navy acquisition head noted that the service is continuing efforts to “manage our way through delay and disruption” that may impact operations within the defense industrial base.

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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Bill Marion to Step Down as Air Force CIO
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Bill Marion to Step Down as Air Force CIO
Bill Marion
Bill Marion

Bill Marion, deputy chief information officer of the U.S. Air Force, is slated to depart from the service branch by the end of the month to take on an industry role, FedScoop reported Thursday.

Marion will step down from his role after over 28 years of government service to be replaced by Associate Deputy CIO Arthur Hatcher on a temporary basis.

In an interview with FedScoop, Marion said that Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and David Goldfein, the service’s chief of staff and 2020 Wash100 Award winner, are “truly driving and understand the need for a digital Air Force and Joint All Domain Operations.”

He noted that he hopes the service will continue to prioritize cybersecurity and zero-trust implementation following his departure.

“We’ll continue to look at cybersecurity from a larger picture and not just a very technical perspective,” he said. “People get comfortable in compliance, and it gets really uncomfortable when we’re accepting risk because it’s a little bit more subjective.”

Marion also discussed needs to implement technologies such as cloud and 5G as well as teleworking and other workforce operations.

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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Sens. Marco Rubio, Richard Blumenthal Want NASA Artemis to Expand Industrial Collaboration
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Sens. Marco Rubio, Richard Blumenthal Want NASA Artemis to Expand Industrial Collaboration

Sens. Marco Rubio, Richard Blumenthal Want NASA Artemis to Expand Industrial Collaboration

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., wrote a letter to Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, to promote industrial collaboration as the space agency plans to revive manned exploration.

Rubio and Blumenthal want NASA’s Artemis exploration program to demonstrate safety measures, produce information on lunar resources and develop technologies for future explorations, with the U.S. space industry, the senators said in a letter posted Tuesday.

“America’s commercial space industry is a key enabler of our nation’s endeavor to return to the Moon and journey on to Mars,” the joint statement said.

The letter also put emphasis on the Human Landing System program that calls for the development of technology to facilitate the descent of astronauts to the lunar surface. The senators further noted the need for cargo deliveries to support the country’s activities and presence on the lunar surface.

Artemis aims to bring back human presence on the Moon by 2024 in preparation for future manned missions on Mars.

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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Envistacom Secures $11M Task Order to Provide Satellite Communications Systems for GTACS; Alan Carson Quoted
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Envistacom Secures $11M Task Order to Provide Satellite Communications Systems for GTACS; Alan Carson Quoted

Envistacom Secures $11M Task Order to Provide Satellite Communications Systems for GTACS; Alan Carson Quoted

Envistacom has been awarded a $11 million task order to provide satellite communications systems through the U.S. Army Global Tactical Advanced Communications Systems (GTACS) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract, the company announced on Tuesday.

“Envistacom is proud to partner with the US Army and the US Navy on this important program. It will enhance communications operations to better meet dynamic mission and training demands,” said Alan Carson, president, Envistacom.

Under the task order, Envistacom will work to accelerate the acquisition of hardware, software, services and data in support of the U.S. Army. As a GTACS prime contractor, Envistacom will design, engineer, install and commission two SATCOM earth terminals to support theater reach-back communications.

The new terminals will provide additional capacity and resilience for all service branches in support of missions and exercises within the theater. The scope of work will include the preparation of the sites as well as the installation, commissioning, training and support of the systems.

“We are proud the Department of Defense recognizes our broad SATCOM expertise and our ability to execute programs anywhere in the world,” Carson added.

Envistacom’s $11 million task order will add to the company’s continuous support to the U.S. Army. In Dec. 2019, Envistacom received a three-year, $47.8 million task order to integrate multi-band features and other modifications into the U.S. Army’s satellite communication terminals designed to support the U.S. Central Command and African Command’s international communications.

The Atlanta-based defense and intelligence firm said Wednesday it will provide installation, relocation and training support for the Deployable Ku Band Earth Terminal and assist the Army’s Product Manager Satcom in updating current and existing DKET “lite” and mobile versions.

Work under the task order also includes the delivery of spares and terminals as well as antennas with expanded capacity for Ku, Ka and X-band transmissions.  Nelson Santini, senior vice president of sales at Envistacom, said the company intends to implement virtualization techniques and new technologies as part of the effort.

He added that Envistacom has been providing satcom support for the Department of Defense’s global networks for over two decades. Envistacom secured the task order through the Deployable Adaptive Global Responder Support indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, which has a potential value of $480 million for a five-year period.

About Envistacom, LLC

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Envistacom provides communications, cyber and intelligence operations solutions to the U.S. DoD and coalition partners in the aerospace, defense, and intelligence communities. Customers rely on Envistacom for rapid-response, secure technology solutions and subject-matter expertise to support mission critical operations.

With an elite team of former military leaders and domain experts located around the world, and multiple indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicles worth over $62B, Envistacom is a trusted partner in protecting military, civilians and critical infrastructure around the world.  Envistacom is a Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business (DWOSB).

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NTT DATA Partners with City of Austin to Improve COVID-19 Tests; Mark Escott, Chris Merdon Quoted
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NTT DATA Partners with City of Austin to Improve COVID-19 Tests; Mark Escott, Chris Merdon Quoted

NTT DATA Partners with City of Austin to Improve COVID-19 Tests; Mark Escott, Chris Merdon Quoted

NTT DATA and the City of Austin have partnered to release a new digital tool that will allow citizens to electronically schedule COVID-19 tests, the company announced on Friday.

“The launch of the Public Testing Enrollment Form is a pivotal point in the testing capability for our community,” said Dr. Mark Escott, Austin-Travis County Interim Health Authority. “As we gather more data through widespread testing, we are provided a bigger picture in the impact of COVID-19 in Austin-Travis County.”

The joint application will also enable the city to securely trace anonymized positive results to assess testing demand and identify high-risk areas for proactive response. Citizens will be able to access and use the Public Testing Enrollment Form, effective immediately.

Based on responses to common symptoms of COVID-19, citizens may be eligible to electronically schedule a test within a 15-minute window at one of five city-wide locations. Once a test is scheduled, citizens will securely receive a one-time-use QR code on the application’s portal to facilitate quick identification and check-in at the testing sites and securely obtain test results.

If a citizen who uses the application tests positive for COVID-19, they will receive an automated email message directing them to the portal that contains instructions on how to mitigate additional community spread of the virus, as well as guidance on how to monitor symptoms to determine if additional medical supervision is necessary.

NTT DATA and Austin will utilize the anonymized data to develop a COVID-19 heat map, which will indicate areas having a greater need of resources, such as tests and hospital beds. In addition, Austin will provide an automatic exposure questionnaire on the portal for citizens who test positive.

The partnership will gather details on how the virus might have spread, including travel and visits to high-traffic areas. The application will also be able to send follow-up emails or text messages asking citizens to check the portal and report on their well-being so medical care can be escalated if necessary.

“This digital tool will give the City of Austin a clearer picture of how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting citizens. They can then proactively allocate health resources to harder hit areas,” said Chris Merdon, SVP, Public Sector, NTT DATA Services, a global IT services provider with its U.S. headquarters located in Texas.

The portal will also include information on COVID-19 and automated chatbots to help answer questions, as well as a community chat feature that allows citizens to connect to each other electronically.

The application portal will be hosted on a FedRamp-secured platform engineered by the city. NTT DATA and its partners will maintain compliance with applicable privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

“NTT DATA is well-positioned to help any government entity leverage the latest technology to fight this pandemic, and we expect to roll out what we developed and implemented with the City of Austin to other communities to help combat this horrible virus,” Merdon added.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA partners with clients to navigate and simplify the modern complexities of business and technology, delivering the insights, solutions and outcomes that matter most. We deliver tangible business results by combining deep industry expertise with applied innovations in digital, cloud and automation across a comprehensive portfolio of consulting, application, infrastructure and business process services.

NTT DATA Services, headquartered in Plano, Texas, is a division of NTT DATA Corporation, a top 10 global business and IT services provider with 120,000+ professionals in more than 50 countries, and NTT, a partner to more than 85 percent of the Fortune 100.

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FBI, Secret Service Team Up to Address Illegal Activities Amid Pandemic
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FBI, Secret Service Team Up to Address Illegal Activities Amid Pandemic

FBI, Secret Service Team Up to Address Illegal Activities Amid Pandemic

The FBI and the U.S. Secret Service have partnered in efforts to safeguard people in the country against fraudulent schemes and other crimes during the COVID-19 crisis.

Federal law enforcement organizations have observed criminal activities such as online scams and cyber threats that prey on coronavirus-related public anxiety, Michael D’Ambrosio — assistant director of the U.S. Secret Service’s investigations office — and Terry Wade — executive assistant director of the FBI’s criminal, cyber, response and services branch — said in a joint statement published Wednesday.

D’Ambrosio and Wade noted that fraudsters are targeting financial aid for individuals, communities and businesses from the 2T stimulus package known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The law enforcement community is working with multiple government agencies, U.S. Attorney offices and private companies to address criminal activities that threaten COVID-19 response efforts.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Communications Commission, Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission stepped up to also prevent crime amid the pandemic.

“We are working aggressively to enforce the law and are devoting unprecedented resources to pursuing those who seek to undermine the nation’s response effort,” D’Ambrosio and Wade added.

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Spirit Aeronautics Secures USAF FFP Contract, Celebrates 20th Anniversary; Rick Ochs Quoted
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Spirit Aeronautics Secures USAF FFP Contract, Celebrates 20th Anniversary; Rick Ochs Quoted

Spirit Aeronautics Secures USAF FFP Contract, Celebrates 20th Anniversary; Rick Ochs Quoted

Spirit Aeronautics has been awarded a firm-fixed price (FFP) contract from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to provide complete technical support services including all engineering, kitting and aircraft modifications in 2 active duty E-9A Widget aircraft, the company announced in Feb. 2020.

“These modifications will increase the Mission Readiness Rate by enhancing the reliability and functionality of the onboard communications systems of these high-value assets for Air Combat Command,” said Spirit’s CEO Rick Ochs.

Spirit Aeronautics award resulted from a competitive, small-business acquisition and is a sub-contracted through the Contractor Logistics Support team, ATSA based in Oklahoma City, OK. Spirit Aeronautics has previously modified these same aircraft almost a decade earlier with new cockpit technologies to enhance the aircraft’s safe operations.

The work will include all Ground and Flight testing and airworthiness certification services and will be performed in Columbus, Ohio. The program is expected to be completed by mid-2020. “We are honored to be able to provide our services again to the E-9A community and the U.S. Air Force,” Ochs added.

The contract was awarded a month before Spirit Aeronautics 20th anniversary. The company has provided maintenance, avionics, certification and engineering since March 2000. The team of highly skilled and dedicated aerospace professionals will continue to provide high-level expertise to business aircraft owners and operators.

Spirit Aeronautics customers include many U.S. military branches and federal government agencies operating research and development and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance airborne platforms.

The company will continue to operate as an authorized service center and dealer for all major avionic manufacturers. Spirit Aeronautics will supply leading-edge solutions using its deep OEM resources and support for the company’s clients’ best interests

Spirit Aeronautics’ team will continue to provide its resources of experience, integrity and resourcefulness to enable our clients to succeed in aircraft modification projects.  The company has expected that within the next 20 years, Spirit Aeronautics will incorporate NextGen technologies to enable air travel to become even safer than today and to operate with greater time and fuel savings.

About Spirit Aeronautics 

Spirit Aeronautics was founded by Rick Ochs, a talented avionics technician who possessed a strong desire to open his own business. He realized that local pilots and aircraft operators were in need for highly skilled and honest avionics support and in the famous words of Norman Peale, “find a need and fill it”, he started Spirit Avionics.

Initially, Rick was alone providing professional avionics support to a multitude of customers who were quickly impressed by his technical abilities, dedication and honesty. They were also impressed by his tenacious love for aviation. He founded the company in March of 2000 and upon the one year anniversary of beginning the business, Spirit Avionics purchased Capital Aircraft Electronics located at Port Columbus airport (KCMH) in Columbus, Ohio.

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USAID Unveils Five-Year Digital Strategy
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USAID Unveils Five-Year Digital Strategy

USAID Unveils Five-Year Digital Strategy

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has mapped out a plan to implement and ensure responsible use of digital platforms in humanitarian and development assistance programs.

USAID said Wednesday that it aims to update internal processes, equip agency personnel, empower partner organizations and increase the effectiveness of programs as part of its five-year Digital Strategy. The agency added it seeks to work with communities located in partner countries to establish open and secure ecosystems for the digital age.

USAID estimates that 4 billion people, or almost 50 percent of the global population, do not have internet access. According to the agency, digital technology can help development organizations across the globe to provide  assistance and transmit information amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Brig. Gen. Steven Whitney to Lead Space Programs in Air Force Acquisition Office
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Brig. Gen. Steven Whitney to Lead Space Programs in Air Force Acquisition Office
Steven Whitney
Steven Whitney

Brig. Gen. Steven Whitney, executive director of operational support in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, has been assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force for Acquisition as director of space programs.

USAF Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein announced Whitney’s new assignment in a Department of Defense press release published Thursday.

Whitney concurrently served as acting deputy assistant for logistics at the DoD and a principal adviser to its  assistant secretary for sustainment. In this capacity, he managed an approximatelty $100B inventory as well as asset visibility, disposal, obsolescence inventory management and anti-counterfeit measures.

His previous assignments include service as program executive officer for space production and director of global positioning systems at the Space and Missile Systems Center; chief of the space C4 branch and space lead at the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and commander of the enterprise operations squadron at the National Reconnaissance Office’s mission operations directorate.

Whitney earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at University of Minnesota, where he also completed the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program.

He is a recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among other military decorations.

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