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Microsoft Partners with USAF to Provide New IT Infrastructure to Airmen; William Marion Quoted
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Microsoft Partners with USAF to Provide New IT Infrastructure to Airmen; William Marion Quoted

Microsoft Partners with USAF to Provide New IT Infrastructure to Airmen; William Marion Quoted

Microsoft has partnered with the U.S. Air Force to utilize new cloud capabilities and create  modern services to enable airmen to advance the mission through more effective collaboration, the company announced on Tuesday.

Cloud One is the U.S. Air Force’s “path to the cloud, but further it is fundamental to the Digital Air Force and the future of Multi-Domain Operations. It enables our teams to achieve unprecedented cost efficiencies and productivity through automation, agile software development at scale, and a streamlined process for moving applications to production,” said William Marion, U.S. Air Force Deputy chief information officer (CIO).

The Air Force will integrate Microsoft technology to enable airmen to collaborate and execute their missions with modern technology best practices. Microsoft will help the Air Force deploy targeted workloads that allow airmen to focus on missions instead of managing IT infrastructure, which will allow the division to achieve global access, persistence, and awareness.

Microsoft will supply advanced capabilities for cloud infrastructure, allowing the U.S. Air Force to refocus resources. The company will also drive IT enhancements that provide moe efficiency and effectiveness to airmen. The company will utilize its core functions, including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive and other capabilities delivered through the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity applications.

The Air Force has expedited the integration of Microsoft’s multi-cloud factory Cloud One. Additionally, the Air Force will use the platform as a service (PaaS)-first approach and secure systems boundary to transform legacy systems into modern apps and exploit the agility, scale and global presence afforded by the cloud through Microsoft’s AiCloud One.

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Enterprise IT and Cyber Infrastructure Division (AFLCMC/HNI) at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts has already planned, tested and started deployment of Microsoft Teams to improve project management and teamwork.

With Microsoft 365 Government and Azure Government, the Air Force will obtain the scale and performance of modern cloud tools while maintaining compliance with the strict compliance requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD), including DoD Impact Level 5.

About Microsoft 

Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.

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Jacobs Names Caesar Nieves as Cyber Team SVP to Expand Cyber Influence; Dawne Hickton Quoted
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Jacobs Names Caesar Nieves as Cyber Team SVP to Expand Cyber Influence; Dawne Hickton Quoted
Jacobs Names Caesar Nieves as Cyber Team SVP to Expand Cyber Influence; Dawne Hickton Quoted

Jacobs has appointed Caesar Nieves as senior vice president (SVP) of Critical Mission Solutions (CMS) cyber business to strengthen cyber influence and grow the sector’s strategic division, the company announced on Tuesday. 

"Growing Jacobs' cyber business is a key element of our Critical Mission Solutions line of business strategy," said Dawne Hickton, Jacobs executive vice president, chief operations officer (COO) of Critical Mission Solutions and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient. "Caesar's strong leadership experience directly supports our growth and continued development and deployment of innovative solutions across an ever-expanding client base."

With Jacobs, Nieves will provide senior leadership, strategic vision and focus for Jacobs' cyber business as the company expands its cyber footprint across the rapidly growing sector. He brings more than 20 years of senior-level experience as a business and technical leader and has directly supported U.S. Government clients and expanded the cyber business.

In his previous role, Nieves served as vice president (VP) of CALIBRE Systems between March 2019 and Dec. 2019. He was responsible for creating growth strategy and led growth teams across the corporation, including market intelligence, business development, capture operations, solution development, proposal management and competitive pricing.

He also served as VP of Engility Corporation from Jan. 2017 to Jan. 2019. He supervised the Army, Air Force and Joint Services business unit with P&L responsibility focused on SETA, Readiness & Training, Cyber, Enterprise Modernization, Mission Support and Systems Engineering. 

Nieves worked with Unisys in the role of VP between July 2012 and Jan. 2017. Caesar led the transformation of the business unit to include taking measures to support a profitable business, realignment of resources and restructuring of the business unit.

Before his tenure with Unisys, Nieves served as sector leader with Dell between 2010 and 2012, where he managed the full lifecycle of customer service, including business consulting, strategic planning, growth, direction, marketing, sales, delivery and profit and loss. He had multiple supervised the Department of Defense and Homeland Security led the efforts for operational excellence focused on right sizing business units and setting strategic direction.

Between 2002 and 2010, Nieves served as a senior associate with Booz Allen Hamilton. In the role, he was responsible for leading the strategy and capture efforts for developing and operating the Army and MHS Cyber Security line of business. He also balanced program management, business development, and executive leadership responsibilities between a variety of clients, programs and accounts.

In addition, Nieves served as senior IA analyst with AT&T Government Solutions between 2000  and 2002 and as research program analyst from 1998 to 2000. He began his career with the U.S. Air Force in 1992 and remained in the IT and Communications division until 1998. 

"I am encouraged by Jacobs' commitment to strengthen and grow its cyber business," said Nieves. "Jacobs challenges conventional cyber approaches by applying deep domain and mission understanding with creative solutions to meet the continuously evolving cyber threats facing national government and private sector clients globally."

About Jacobs 

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. With $13 billion in revenue and a talent force of approximately 52,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of professional services including consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery for the government and private sector.

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GSA Centers of Excellence Helps JAIC Establish Joint Common Foundation
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GSA Centers of Excellence Helps JAIC Establish Joint Common Foundation

GSA Centers of Excellence Helps JAIC Establish Joint Common Foundation

The General Services Administration’s Centers of Excellence is helping the Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center form and launch the Joint Common Foundation as part of a partnership announced in September that seeks to accelerate AI adoption.

GSA’s CoE will provide deliverables to JAIC in strategy and acquisition modernization areas and will begin the effort by conducting meetings with stakeholders, JAIC said Thursday.

For the strategy component, the CoE team will help JAIC conduct a technical analysis of the JCF design, review acquisition strategies and offer recommendations to better achieve the JFC strategy.

GSA will also help JAIC come up with an acquisition modernization plan and develop procurement management processes in support of mission initiatives.

“Our role is to help accelerate IT modernization in the government. The JAIC is already leading the way on AI in DoD. So we’re aiming to learn everything we can from each other about the strategy and infrastructure needed for AI development and from the lessons learned by different teams,” said Matthew Rose, GSA site lead for the JAIC CoE engagement.

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David Norquist on DoD’s $705.4B Budget Request for FY 2021
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David Norquist on DoD’s $705.4B Budget Request for FY 2021
David Norquist
David Norquist

Deputy Defense Secretary and 2020 Wash100 Award winner David Norquist said the Pentagon’s proposed budget of $705.4 billion for fiscal year 2021 seeks to prepare the U.S. armed forces for “high-end” warfare, DoD News reported Monday.

"The FY2021 budget request is the next step in implementing the National Defense Strategy and focuses on all-domain operations," Norquist said Monday during a briefing at the Pentagon.

He said the budget proposal seeks to increase investments in artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons and autonomous platforms, build up missile defense, recapitalize the country’s capabilities in nuclear deterrence and sustain readiness.

The department’s FY 2021 budget request includes a 3 percent pay increase for service personnel and intends to earmark $28.9B in funds for nuclear modernization, $18 billion for space, $20.3 billion for missile defense, $9.8 billion for cyber space initiatives.

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Four Chinese Military Officers Indicted on Equifax Hacking Charges
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Four Chinese Military Officers Indicted on Equifax Hacking Charges
Four Chinese Military Officers Indicted on Equifax Hacking Charges

A federal grand jury in Atlanta has indicted four Chinese military members on charges of hacking into credit-reporting firm Equifax and conspiring to steal personal data on nearly 150M U.S. citizens, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

“This was a deliberate and sweeping intrusion into the private information of the American people,” Attorney General William Barr said Monday. “We collect information only for legitimate national security purposes; we don’t indiscriminately violate the privacy of ordinary citizens.”

The Chinese nationals allegedly exploited a software vulnerability associated with Equifax’s online dispute portal and used 34 servers across nearly 20 countries to gain access into the credit-reporting agency’s network, according to the nine-count indictment. The cyber breach started in May 2017 and continued through July of that year.

Compromised data included driver’s license and Social Security numbers, birthdays and addresses. Officials said the breach also involved theft of trade secrets from Equifax.

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GSA Announces Results of Post-Award Communications Pilot
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GSA Announces Results of Post-Award Communications Pilot
GSA Announces Results of Post-Award Communications Pilot

The General Services Administration has announced results of a pilot program designed to gather feedback on the agency's post-award communications.

GSA said Friday its IN-depth Feedback through Open Reporting Methods of INFORM program garnered positive results and feedback on how to better perform post-award communications.

INFORM revolved around the hypothesis that GSA's industrial partners would submit better proposals if given more information on the agency's selection process.

The program engaged with industry to gain feedback on a new INFORM communications model. Industry participants generally preferred the new model over the traditional approach with regard to fairness and information quality.

GSA plans to further expand the INFORM program in April.

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Experts at NSF Event Discuss Federal Research Issues
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Experts at NSF Event Discuss Federal Research Issues
Experts at NSF Event Discuss Federal Research Issues

Experts spoke at the National Science Foundation’s 70th anniversary symposium to tackle issues on federal research and development, FCW reported Friday. Discussions revolved around the importance of collaboration to address these issues.

Robert Conn, president and CEO of Kavli Foundation, said philanthropic investments often address the government's financial gaps in supporting scientific efforts.

He said at the National Science Foundation’s 70th anniversary symposium that projects, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite effort, relied on private investment.

NASA, at that time, did not have the funds to finance the MIT-led project, but came back to offer support after Kavli Foundation's initial investment, Conn noted as an example.

Paul Dabbar, the undersecretary of energy for science, also shared insight on issues faced by government researchers. Dabbar said they often are affected by barriers that limit the sharing of ideas.

He cited the Human Genome Project as an example of how collaborative work helped researchers overcome these barriers.

"It started off behind a fence, but [researchers] ultimately ended up working with [the University of California] Berkeley, the National Institutes of Health and others to get it done on a partnership basis," the undersecretary said.

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AFRL Taps Purdue University to Develop Mach 8 Wind Tunnel
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AFRL Taps Purdue University to Develop Mach 8 Wind Tunnel
AFRL Taps Purdue University to Develop Mach 8 Wind Tunnel

The Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded Purdue University with a $9.5M contract to build a quiet wind tunnel that will work to gather data at a speed of Mach 8.

The quiet wind tunnel will serve as an experimental facility and is planned to implement various security levels in line with proprietary research activities between industry and the government, Purdue said Tuesday.

Steven Schneider, a lead investigator for the project, said the university will employ risk reduction and research efforts to allow the tunnel to reach operational capability status within five years.

“This award is one of a growing number of large-scale research programs enabled by Purdue’s ongoing commitment to national security research and the efforts of its Institute for Global Security and Defense Innovation,” said Theresa Mayer, executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue.

The university currently houses one of two working Mach 6 wind tunnels in the U.S. Purdue noted that gathering data at high Mach speeds will potentially allow optimized comprehension in flow physics.

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DOE to Allot $64M for Cost-Shared Coal Tech Projects
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DOE to Allot $64M for Cost-Shared Coal Tech Projects
DOE to Allot $64M for Cost-Shared Coal Tech Projects

The Department of Energy is investing $64M in cost-shared projects on the development of new coal power plant technologies.

A new funding opportunity announcement, titled Critical Components for Coal Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, Transformative Power Plants of the Future, would support research and development of coal-based approaches that support the U.S. energy grid, DOE said Friday.

“The evolving U.S. energy mix requires cleaner, more reliable and highly efficient plants,” said Steven Winberg, assistant secretary for fossil energy.

DOE will seek projects on power plant concepts, critical components and coal-fired systems under the program's seven areas of interest.

The program will tackle pressurized fluidized bed combustion, direct and indirect supercritical carbon dioxide power plants, gasification-based poly-generation, coal-fired direct injection combustion and flameless and modular pressurized oxy-combustion.

“Coal is a critical resource for grid stability that will be used in developing countries around the world well into the future as they build their economies,” said Dan Brouillette, secretary of energy.

The department plans to pursue 14 projects under the effort.

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Navy Receives Future USS St. Louis
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Navy Receives Future USS St. Louis
Navy Receives Future USS St. Louis

An industry team led by Lockheed Martin delivered a littoral combat ship to the U.S. Navy at Fincantieri Marinette Marine's shipyard facility on Thursday.

Codenamed LCS 19, the future USS St. Louis will be stationed at Naval Station Mayport in Florida and is the 10th Freedom-class littoral combat ship built by the Lockheed-led team, the Navy said Friday.

The ship will serve as the seventh naval vessel to carry the name of St. Louis, Mo., and is slated for commissioning later in the year.

Littoral combat ships are built to carry out missions in near-shore areas and support maritime security, forward presence, sea control and deterrence missions. FMM is currently building the future USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21), while LCS 23 is scheduled for christening later in February.

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