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GAO: GSA, OMB Must Establish Cost-Estimating Plan for Tech Modernization Fund
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GAO: GSA, OMB Must Establish Cost-Estimating Plan for Tech Modernization Fund


GAO: GSA, OMB Must Establish Cost-Estimating Plan for Tech Modernization Fund

The Government Accountability Office released a report on Thursday stating that the General Services Administration and Office of Management and Budget need to develop a plan for recovering costs for the Technology Modernization Fund.

The fund covers modernization efforts for legacy information technology systems and requires agencies to provide repayments within five years. According to GAO, the fund earmarked $89 million to seven projects as of August but the projects were unable to implement best practices for cost-estimating.

GSA covered $1.2 million in expenses for the projects but collected only around 3 percent of the expenses. The agency will not fully recover expenses until at least fiscal year 2025, according to the report.

The watchdog noted that agencies are “at risk of continuing to provide unreliable cost information in their proposals” if GSA and OMB do not clarify requirements for cost-estimating as part of the modernization program.

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Report: DoD Faces Authority, Database Architecture Challenges in Counter-WMD Mission
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Report: DoD Faces Authority, Database Architecture Challenges in Counter-WMD Mission


Report: DoD Faces Authority, Database Architecture Challenges in Counter-WMD Mission

A Department of Defense official said DoD needs increased authority to address information gaps in efforts to eradicate weapons of mass destruction, FCW reported Sunday.

An executive order may allow DoD to track, facilitate and coordinate WMD-related documents across the government, said Ed Lawson, director of integration for the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense.

“Catastrophic is the way WMD is characterized,” he said last Wednesday at an event co-hosted by FCW.

The department also requires a common data architecture that would allow for interoperability between legacy and newer data.

“So I have data … you have data, we all have data, but getting it into a form that we can use in a single tool is a pipe dream at this point,” said Amanda Richardson, chief of operations at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Research and Development Directorate.

These gaps hinder DoD from adopting a data-driven approach in counter-WMD efforts, the report noted.

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Jack Shanahan: US Military Needs AI Security Professionals
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Jack Shanahan: US Military Needs AI Security Professionals

 

Jack Shanahan
Jack Shanahan

Jack Shanahan, director at the Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, said the U.S. military needs security professionals who can validate the benefits and limitations of artificial intelligence technology.

Shanahan discussed how AI can potentially help optimize decision-making capacities during a forum with the U.S. Naval War College students and instructors, the U.S. Navy said Friday.

“Like electricity, AI is a transformative, general-purpose enabling technology capable of being used for good or for evil – but not a thing unto itself,” said Shanahan.

Shanahan added the Chinese military has implemented AI into various platforms.

“They are sprinting to incorporate AI technology in all aspects of their military, and the Chinese commercial industry is more than willing to help.”

Shanahan also noted that academic institutions must seek various approaches in the application of AI technologies.

 

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Jimmy Stewart Departs DoD Acting Undersecretary Post; Mark Esper Quoted
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Jimmy Stewart Departs DoD Acting Undersecretary Post; Mark Esper Quoted


Jimmy Stewart
Jimmy Stewart

Jimmy Stewart, the acting undersecretary for personnel and readiness at the Department of Defense, has left his post on Friday, Military Times reported Saturday. Matthew Donovan, undersecretary at the U.S. Air Force, will succeed Stewart in the acting administrator role.

Prior to his previous role, Stewart worked as an assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs at DoD. He also served under the Air Force for 37 years and has logged more than 4,700 mission hours as a command pilot.

“Jimmy, who was confirmed as the assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs in October 2018, has been filling the undersecretary role since then, a role that is critical to the National Defense Strategy, in support of our families and readiness,” said Mark Esper, DoD secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient. 

Shon Manasco, assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs at USAF, will replace Donovan on a temporary basis.

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LexisNexis, Bode Technology Partner to to Aid Police Investigations; Haywood Talcove Quoted
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LexisNexis, Bode Technology Partner to to Aid Police Investigations; Haywood Talcove Quoted


LexisNexis, Bode Technology Partner to to Aid Police Investigations; Haywood Talcove Quoted

LexisNexis Risk Solutions has formed a partnership with Bode Technology to assist police investigations by providing person-of-interest information from more than 600 million public records and the largest law enforcement contributory database for the results of forensic genealogy leads, LexisNexis announced on Monday. 

Through the partnership, the LexisNexis’ Public Safety Special Investigations Unit (SIU) will team with Bode’s Forensic Genealogy Service (FGS) to help agencies with surname research and investigative analysis based on data provided from Bode FGS. 

“We have created a unique relationship that matches DNA leads with hard-to-find information,” said Haywood Talcove, CEO, Government, LexisNexis Risk Solutions and LexisNexis Special Services Inc. “This is the latest and greatest way to use data for good to quickly create a link chart showing connections based on shared addresses or crime reports to help law enforcement agencies bring justice to victims of violent crime.”

The combination of Bode FGS and Accurint Virtual Crime Center provides law enforcement with the tools needed to conduct up-front analysis, giving agencies a head start as they navigate the new reality of forensic genealogy investigations. 

Forensic genealogy is utilized by law enforcement agencies to develop investigative leads in cold case homicides and rapes, as well as to identify unknown remains. The pool of candidate cases continues to expand due to the continued nationwide focus on backlogs of unanalyzed sexual assault kits and the need for timeline DNA testing to support investigations. 

”Bode FGS has the potential to make a substantial impact on public safety.  Bode Technology alone has processed hundreds of thousands of violent crimes for DNA,” said Mike Cariola CEO, Bode Technology. “This partnership enhances our ability to quickly provide investigative information to our clients on serial or violent offenders.”

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions

LexisNexis Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. We provide data and technology solutions for a wide range of industries including insurance, financial services, healthcare and government. 

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Greg Dixon Added to EverWatch Management Team; Fred Funk Quoted
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Greg Dixon Added to EverWatch Management Team; Fred Funk Quoted


Greg Dixon Added to EverWatch Management Team; Fred Funk Quoted

EverWatch announced on Monday that Greg Dixon, retired Lieutenant Commander of the U.S. Navy, has joined the company’s management team as the president of EverWatch’s Computer Network Operations (CNO). 

EverWatch’s CNO practice is focused on rapid development and prototyping of cyber capabilities supporting network operations & analysis, cyberspace warfare, network defense, and interconnected information warfare & ISR operations. 

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Greg at Essex-Windermere and KeyW, and I am looking forward to partnering with him again as EverWatch works to solve some of the Community’s most difficult cyber problems,” said Fred Funk, Chief Growth Officer of EverWatch. 

With more than 15 years experience in the sector, Dixon has extensive knowledge of cybersecurity, intelligence system development, integration and operations as well as extensive experience leading and growing high functioning CNO businesses in support of national security. 

Dixon served KeyW Corporation’s CNO and cyber operations practice for over a decade. He was a kay factor in Jacobs Engineering acquiring the company. In addition, Dixon has also worked for Northrop Grumman and served in the U.S. Navy for almost 22 years. 

As a leader in the industry, he has served on the Executive Committee of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) and is an active member of the Association of Old Crows (AOC) and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA).

“As we continue to grow and scale the EverWatch platform, it is critical that we add new capabilities in high growth markets,” said Jason Rigoli, Partner of Enlightenment Capital, which backs EverWatch. “CNO is one of those areas, and Greg is an industry leader capable of building EverWatch’s presence in that space,” Rigoli added. 

About EverWatch

EverWatch is a government solutions company providing advanced defense, intelligence, and deployed mission support to our country’s most critical missions. The company has approximately 400 employees, nearly 100% of which hold government security clearances. Primary customers include the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSDI), the Intelligence Community, the Air Force, the Department of State, and the Department of Justice. The company is headquartered in Ashburn, VA with operations in Columbia, MD and Aurora, CO and has employees deployed in five continents.

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Raytheon Receives $217M IDIQ Contract from USAF to Support ASARS Radar Systems; Chad Pillsbury Quoted
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Raytheon Receives $217M IDIQ Contract from USAF to Support ASARS Radar Systems; Chad Pillsbury Quoted


Raytheon Receives $217M IDIQ Contract from USAF to Support ASARS Radar Systems; Chad Pillsbury Quoted

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has awarded Raytheon a potential five-year, $217 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) to support and sustain the sensor and processor for the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System 2-A (ASARS-2A) through 2024, Raytheon announced on Monday. 

The ASARS-2A utilizes ground moving-target indicators, search and spot modes to locate stationary targets and collect precise target location data in approximately-real time. The system will allow decision makers to process targeting data faster than they would relying on ground stations. 

“With ASARS-2A, the Air Force can detect ground targets day or night, no matter the weather condition,” said Chad Pillsbury, director at Raytheon Secure Sensor Solutions. “And, it’s reliable. The Air Force just completed ASARS-2A’s 9,000th tactical mission in Korea this year.”

In addition, ASARS-2A provides the U-2 aircraft with long-range, high-resolution intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities over large areas, from as high as 70,000 feet above Earth.

Raytheon continues to develop their missile and threat detection technology. Recently, the company secured a $97.3 million contract modification in November to support production and integration of radar systems designed to protect U.S. Navy vessels against multiple threats. 

The company’s efforts to build, integrate and engineer AN/SPY-6(V) air and missile defense radars is an ongoing process with the Navy and other branches of the U.S. military to continue expanding the company’s integrated defense systems business. 

Raytheon’s development shows their continued innovation on threats against the U.S. and integration of new radar systems to improve detection, to ultimately produce the quickest, most reliable defense technology. 

About Raytheon

Raytheon is a major leader in defense, technology, and cybersecurity, providing state-of-the-art solutions in mission systems integration. They provide C5I products that assist in sensing, effects, and mission support in over 80 countries.

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NIST Unveils Biometric Research Data
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NIST Unveils Biometric Research Data


NIST Unveils Biometric Research Data

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released facial photographs, fingerprints, iris scans and other biometric research data designed for testing systems used to validate an individual’s identity prior to granting access.

“The data will help anyone who is interested in testing the error rates of biometric identification systems,” Greg Fiumara, computer scientist at NIST, said in a statement published Thursday.

The datasets are categorized into three special databases and can be accessed through the NIST website. Two of the databases contain information collected during the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity-funded Nail to Nail Fingerprint Challenge.

SD 301 is NIST’s first multimodal dataset linking various biometric markers, while SD 302 is a collection of fingerprint data from a few hundred individuals gathered through eight commercial prototype devices. SD 300 is a database of fingerprints collected from 900 old ink cards.

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GSA’s Gerard Badorrek on Community of Practice’s Planned Robotic Process Automation Playbook
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GSA’s Gerard Badorrek on Community of Practice’s Planned Robotic Process Automation Playbook


Gerard Badorrek
Gerard Badorrek

Gerard Badorrek, chief financial officer at the General Services Administration, said a new community of practice is gathering agency best practices and use cases related to robotic process automation to help inform an RPA playbook that is set for release in January, Federal News Network reported Friday.

Badorrek said the new playbook will guide agencies through the process of selecting and overseeing RPA projects.

The RPA community of practice, which was established in April, now has over 700 members from more than 50 agencies and has been identifying challenges faced by agencies as they implement RPA applications.

The community’s efforts come as GSA works to advance the use of RPA to help civilian agencies free up productive time worth $1B. Badorrek said that goal is achievable with approximately 2M federal employees.

US Reaches Phase One Trade Deal With China
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US Reaches Phase One Trade Deal With China


US Reaches Phase One Trade Deal With China

China has agreed to structural changes across technology transfer, intellectual property, financial services, foreign exchange and currency and agriculture areas under a phase one trade agreement with the U.S. government.

The White House said Friday that the U.S. government has agreed to change its Section 301 tariffs under the deal, which could benefit U.S. manufacturers, farmers, service providers and inventors.

China committed to making significant purchases of U.S. agricultural products, manufacturing goods, energy products and services. The trade deal also includes the implementation of a new dispute resolution system to help ensure effective enforcement.

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