DHS S&T Backs Public Safety Comms Framework Modernization Project
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DHS S&T Backs Public Safety Comms Framework Modernization Project
DHS S&T Backs Public Safety Comms Framework Modernization Project

Georgia Tech Applied Research Center has received $704K in funds from the Department of Homeland Security's science and technology directorate to update a public safety communications framework.

GTARC will modernize the information sharing and safeguarding Trustmark framework's federated identity, credential and access management capability to help address the lack of software tools that can support emergency communications interoperability, DHS said Tuesday.

Robert Dew, a senior technologist adviser at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the effort will augment public safety agencies' coordination and communication capacities during emergency situations.

The Trustmark framework establishes a set of standards, software tools, artifacts and approaches in IS&S and federated ICAM activities.

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GSA’s Mary Davie to Assume NASA Leadership Post; Emily Murphy Quoted
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GSA’s Mary Davie to Assume NASA Leadership Post; Emily Murphy Quoted
Mary Davie
Mary Davie

Mary Davie, director of the General Services Administration’s program management office for human resources shared services, will step down from her role to assume a leadership position at NASA, Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

Davie, who is also a former Wash100 winner, will support organizational transformation efforts at NASA’s Mission Support Directorate as part of her new role. 

Throughout her more than 30-year career at GSA, Davie held deputy and assistant commissioner roles with responsibility over Federal Acquisition Service initiatives. She also helped lead efforts to merge the Office of Personnel Management’s operations with GSA activities last year.

Emily Murphy, the GSA administrator and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, said in an email to staff that Davie led governmentwide efforts such as category management, strategic sourcing and various cyber and information technology programs during her tenure.

Davie will begin in her new role at NASA on Feb. 3.

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ACT-IAC Reveals AI Playbook to Assess AI Implementation; David Wennergren Quoted
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ACT-IAC Reveals AI Playbook to Assess AI Implementation; David Wennergren Quoted
ACT-IAC Reveals AI Playbook to Assess AI Implementation; David Wennergren Quoted

The American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) has released  the "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Playbook for the U.S. Federal Government," which has assessed and operationalized AI implementation for federal agencies, the company announced on Wednesday.   

The AI Playbook has been designed for advanced practitioners and those who are new to AI in the federal government. ACT-IAC has stated the importance of separating reality from marketing when agencies compare which use cases can benefit from an AI solution.

"The AI Playbook is designed to help the United States Federal Government achieve successful outcomes and reduce risk in its understanding and application of AI technologies," said David Wennergren, CEO of ACT-IAC.

ACT-IAC has reported that AI has accelerated government services, including  medical research and disaster recovery, to help improve and expedite federal services. AI has also helped the government reduce errors and costs of paper-intensive processes, while encouraging cross divisional collaboration. 

The Playbook has provided more efficient and effective ways to service citizens through adapting AI  into government agencies, which will provide new value-added services and serve as a catalyst to modernize IT. The company has introduced a new process and series of phases consisting of assessment, organization readiness, selection, implementation and integration.

ACT-IAC has designed the guide to help organizations understand necessary actions to deliver minimally viable product (MVP), proof of concept (POC), pilot/limited fielding, initial operational capability (IOC) and a fully operational system to support their overarching objectives.

"This important work directly supports the President's Management Agenda (PMA), Cross Agency Priority (CAP) Goal 6 – Shifting from Low-Value to High-Value Work," Wennergren added.

The report was produced through a collaborative, volunteer effort by a working group of 133 leaders from government and industry plus academia and associations, hosted by the ACT-IAC Emerging Technology Community of Interest (COI). It also follows the General Service Administration's Office of Government-wide Policy Modernization and Migration Management (M3) framework used for Shared Services.

About the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC)

The American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) is a non-profit educational organization created to provide a safe haven for collaboration and the only place where government and industry can work together as true partners towards a shared vision of a more effective, efficient and innovative government.

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Jacobs Gives Water for People $467K to Secure Water Sanitation Services; Steve Demetriou, Eleanor Allen Quoted
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Jacobs Gives Water for People $467K to Secure Water Sanitation Services; Steve Demetriou, Eleanor Allen Quoted
Jacobs Gives Water for People $467K to Secure Water Sanitation Services; Steve Demetriou, Eleanor Allen Quoted

Jacobs has donated $467,230 to the Water For People nonprofit organization to help end the global water crisis with sustainable solutions, the company announced on Wednesday. 

"Destination 2030 is Water For People's inspirational 10-year vision," said Jacobs chair and CEO, Steve Demetriou. "With Jacobs support, we will help Water For People find new ways to scale their work to meet Destination 2030 and elevate their Everyone Forever model to positively impact millions more people in the next 10 years."

Jacobs’ inaugural contribution will help drive Water For People's journey to Destination 2030. The 10-year initiative to support low and middle-income countries obtain United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6. The goal will ensure available and sustainable management of water and sanitation.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has named water crises to its Global Risks Report 2020, making it a major global risk and impact. Jacobs’ donation will help the organization develop high-quality drinking water and sanitation services in nine countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia. 

A partner of Water For People since 1991, Jacobs has donated over $3 million and thousands of volunteers to cement the company’s vision and  create global access to reliable and safe drinking water and sanitation.

"One in three people globally don't have access to safe water. One in two people, more than half of us walking the planet, don't have access to adequate sanitation," said Water For People CEO Eleanor Allen. "This startling statistic equates to 266 million hours lost every day by women and girls looking for a place to go to the bathroom. That's enough time for 46,000 women to get a college degree every single day!"

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. Visit jacobs.com and connect with Jacobs on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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NGA CIO Mark Andress to Serve as Keynote Speaker for Potomac Officers Club’s CIO Forum 2020 on Jan. 23rd
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NGA CIO Mark Andress to Serve as Keynote Speaker for Potomac Officers Club’s CIO Forum 2020 on Jan. 23rd
NGA CIO Mark Andress to Serve as Keynote Speaker for Potomac Officers Club’s CIO Forum 2020 on Jan. 23rd

Mark Andress, chief information officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), will be featured as a keynote speaker during Potomac Officers Club’s CIO Forum 2020 on Thursday, Jan. 23rd.

Click here to register for POC’s CIO Forum 2020.

Alongside Nand Mulchandani, CIO of the Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and panelist during POC’s CIO Forum, Andress recently argued that the agency could benefit greatly from the use of AI. He said that AI could help the agency collect and analyze data for safety and navigation efforts that require processing through networks of varying classifications. He concluded that AI would support NGA in the future.

Join Potomac Officers Club to hear more about Andress’ thoughts on artificial intelligence influencing the NGA during his keynote speech and more during the CIO Forum. Juliane Gallina, CIO of the CIA, will also serve as a keynote speaker to speak about the latest priorities, initiatives and challenges that are facing CIOs across all sectors.

POC will also feature an expert panel of top GovCon executives from across the federal government and industry. In addition to Mulchandani, Erin Hawley of DataRobot and Jim McLaughlin of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will appear as panelists during the forum with Bob Schumm of the Oracle Corp. – National Security Group serving as the panel’s moderator.

In today’s fast-changing business landscape, chief information officers have the daunting task of staying ahead of the curve in digital innovation and information technology. A CIO’s leadership is pivotal for a top company in the industry to implement an effective business strategy, drive growth in a competitive market and build a strong culture to support innovation.

Don’t miss the chance to learn about how CIOs drive success and innovation in an ever changing landscape. Register here for Thursday’s CIO Forum before it’s too late.

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SAP Joins CEO Carbon Neutral Challenge to Support Global Business Initiatives; Marco Bizzarri, Jennifer Morgan Quoted
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SAP Joins CEO Carbon Neutral Challenge to Support Global Business Initiatives; Marco Bizzarri, Jennifer Morgan Quoted

SAP Joins CEO Carbon Neutral Challenge to Support Global Business Initiatives; Marco Bizzarri, Jennifer Morgan Quoted

SAP has joined the CEO Carbon Neutral Challenge, created by Gucci President and CEO Marco Bizzarri, to support global business in the transition to a low-carbon economy, the company reported on Wednesday.

“As businesses, we must all own up to the total GHG emissions our activities generate and, at the same time, invest in nature-based solutions to protect our world’s critical forests and biodiversity, simultaneously helping to mitigate climate change,” said Bizzarri.

The CEO Carbon Neutral Challenge has addressed the need for companies to take action and issue an all-encompassing climate strategy to create positive results for global health and business. Businesses have been challenged to take full responsibility and accountability for the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions they generate, deliver nature-based climate solutions that mitigate emissions and drive positive change.

“Marco Bizzarri’s CEO Carbon Neutral Challenge is complementary to our own commitment to helping businesses use innovative technology to achieve their most ambitious climate goals so they can take responsible actions and make a positive difference,” stated Jennifer Morgan, SAP’s Co-CEO and member of the Executive Board.

SAP will help companies tack carbon emissions from the upsteam supply chains to downstream logistics, including procurement, operations, and manufacturing. The company has also created a team of innovation services and solutions professionals that will enable customers to transform disruption to innovation through intelligent technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain and advanced data analytics.

Additionally, SAP will invest in CO2 offsets to receive CO2 credits from the sponsored projects so that the company can avoid compat the excess emissions. SAP will focus on high-quality projects to improve the livelihoods of rural communities. The project will fulfill the Gold Standard of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

About SAP

As the Experience Company powered by the Intelligent Enterprise, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 77% of the world’s transaction revenue touches an SAP® system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers’ businesses into intelligent enterprises.

SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want – without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables more than 437,000 business and public customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference.

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DoD Grants CenturyLink Learning Network EIS Award to Provide Secure Connectivity for DoDEA; David Young Quoted
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DoD Grants CenturyLink Learning Network EIS Award to Provide Secure Connectivity for DoDEA; David Young Quoted
DoD Grants CenturyLink Learning Network EIS Award to Provide Secure Connectivity for DoDEA; David Young Quoted

CenturyLink has won a task order from the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide secure connectivity to the Department of Defense’s Education Activity (DoDEA) learning network, the company announced on Wednesday. 

The award will be provided through the General Services Administration's Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) program. The contract has an initial base period of one year, with 12 additional option periods.

"DoDEA put its trust in CenturyLink to provide its staff and tens of thousands of school-aged children of military families with a reliable, robust and secure network that will support desktop computers, printers, mobile devices and video collaboration services in a 21st century learning environment that spans the globe," said David Young, CenturyLink’s senior vice president of its public sector and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient.

CenturyLink will provide more than 85 DoDEA locations with virtual private networking, internet, voice and video services. The company will supply government agencies with the security and reliability they need to carry out their important missions, including cybersecurity, cloud, managed hosting and information technology (IT) services over its carrier-class network.

"We're focused on modernizing and updating DoD's learning network so DoDEA can concentrate on its mission to educate, engage and empower military-connected students to succeed in a dynamic world," added Young. 

Additionally, CenturyLink has received another EIS task order from the Department of the Interior on Jan. 16 2020.  Under the potential $1.6 billion task order from the EIS contract, the company will provide managed network services to support DOI's information technology modernization efforts.

CenturyLink has announced that it will design, engineer, build, secure, operate and maintain an enterprise network at the department, including software-defined wide area network, virtual private network, private line and ethernet transport services.

The company was the first supplier to receive authority to operate under GSA's 15-year, $50 billion EIS program in March of last year. EIS is a multiple-award contract vehicle, which allows federal government agencies to purchase information technology (IT) and telecommunications infrastructure services. The EIS program will enable federal agencies the ability to adapt modern communications and IT services to meet the newly evolved government security standards.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity, and security solutions to customers around the world. Through its extensive global fiber network, CenturyLink provides secure and reliable services to meet the growing digital demands of businesses and consumers. CenturyLink strives to be the trusted connection to the networked world and is focused on delivering technology that enhances the customer experience.

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US Space Force’s Counterpart in Japan to Start in April
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US Space Force’s Counterpart in Japan to Start in April
US Space Force's Counterpart in Japan to Start in April

Japan is establishing its own space force as part of the country’s air force, The National Insterest reported Tuesday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the new space domain mission unit will begin operations in April as part of the country’s air self-defense force and would collaborate with the U.S. Space Force.

Abe told parliament the country needs to build up capability in space and cyber space amid threats posed by China and Russia.

In December, President Trump authorized the creation of the Space Force as the sixth service branch by signing the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.

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SDA Eyes New Acquisition Approach for National Defense Space Architecture; Derek Tournear Quoted
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SDA Eyes New Acquisition Approach for National Defense Space Architecture; Derek Tournear Quoted
Derek Tournear
Derek Tournear

The Space Development Agency plans to launch the first batch of dozens of satellites by fiscal year 2022 to provide initial capabilities and have a thousand satellites by FY 2026 in low-Earth orbit as part of its proposed National Defense Space Architecture, C4ISRNET reported Tuesday.

“We have a completely different model for doing space acquisitions than the department has historically done. We’re going to fly new tranches every two years. Tranche 0 is the prototype for Tranche 1, which is the prototype for Tranche 2, etc.,” SDA Director Derek Tournear told reporters Tuesday at a media roundtable. “We’re taking technology that is available to fly within 18-24 months, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do for each of the tranches.”

Tournear said the agency expects to have enough orbiting satellites by FY 2024 to provide regional persistence. “The satellites are designed to last for five years, so you won’t replace all of the satellites on those two year tranches, but you’ll add new capabilities and then the satellites will be replenished basically in two and a half tranche cycles,” he added.

The space architecture is composed of seven layers: transport; battle management; tracking; custody; navigation; deterrence; and support layers. SDA expects to release solicitations for the transport and tracking layers this spring with plans to award contracts by the summer of 2020.

SDA issued a broad agency announcement Tuesday asking industry to submit executive summaries and proposals for novel concepts and capabilities in support of the NDSA.

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State Dept Stands Up New Data Analytics Center
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State Dept Stands Up New Data Analytics Center

State Dept Stands Up New Data Analytics Center

The State Department has launched a new hub that helps employees and diplomats make decisions based on analyzed data.

The Center for Analytics offers tools that allow State Department employees to tackle a range of diplomatic challenges such as case prioritization and resource management, the department said Friday.

A chief data officer leads CfA’s operations in support of congressional efforts, 5G security forecasts, threat tracking and foreign policy.

The center’s establishment is part of the department’s plan to lead data analytics in the federal government and use the technology in support of foreign policy.

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