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ACT I Names Nedim Kirimca as EVP to Lead Program Management Strategies; Claudio Monticelli Quoted
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ACT I Names Nedim Kirimca as EVP to Lead Program Management Strategies; Claudio Monticelli Quoted
ACT I Names Nedim Kirimca as EVP to Lead Program Management Strategies; Claudio Monticelli Quoted

Advanced Concepts and Technologies International, L.L.C. (ACT I) has appointed Nedim Kirimca as executive vice president of Operations with the company, ACT I announced on Wednesday.  

“Nedim’s strong program management pedigree, along with business and operations experience directly aligns with ACT I’s business model and strategic priorities,” said chief operating officer, Claudio Monticelli.  “We’re delighted he is joining our ACT I Leadership Team.”

In his new role, Kirimca will develop the company’s program management strategies and provide expert leadership to ACT I’s program managers, partnering with corporate leadership to ensure continued success across the organization’s customer base. 

Kirimca brings more than 30 years of experience in program management, engineering and procurement roles to ACT I, including 26 years as an Air Force Officer and six years of project management leadership.  

At the service branch, Kirimca held senior acquisition, program management and contracting roles between 1988 and 2014. In his most recent role, director of F-35 Production, Kirimca directed a portfolio of contracts providing acquisition and technical support as well as medical research services to several clients, including the United States Coast Guard, Air Force Air Combat Command Cyberspace Capabilities Center, Joint Improvised Threat Defeat Organization, and more.

As senior manager and secretary of the Air Force Technical and Analytical Support (SAFTAS), he managed 90 personnel, providing acquisition advisory assistance to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (SAF/AQ). 

Kirimca also supported the SAF/AQ Directorates of Contracting, Information Dominance, Acquisition Integration, Space Programs, Acquisition Career Management, Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and Transformational Innovation and provided congressional expertise and munition export license analysis across SAF/AQ.

Kirimca holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Polytechnic University and Master Degrees from the University of Dayton, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and Air Command and Staff College, in addition to completing advanced studies in Program Management from the Defense Acquisition University. 

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DoD OIG Evaluates Pentagon Components’ Cyber Vulnerability Mitigation Measures in Follow-up Audit
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DoD OIG Evaluates Pentagon Components’ Cyber Vulnerability Mitigation Measures in Follow-up Audit
DoD OIG Evaluates Pentagon Components' Cyber Vulnerability Mitigation Measures in Follow-up Audit

The Department of Defense's office of the inspector general has found in its follow-up audit that DoD components failed to mitigate cyber vulnerabilities in a consistent manner because they were not able to evaluate the impact of such vulnerabilities on their mission.

The Pentagon did not come up with a unified approach to prioritize and support the missions of the department’s cyber red teams and failed to develop processes to hold the components responsible for the mitigation of cyber issues, according to an OIG report publicly released Tuesday.

The inspector general’s office recommends that the DoD secretary designate an organization that will review reports of cyber red teams for systemic vulnerabilities, develop baseline tools that cyber red teams need to carry out missions and ensure that DoD components create and implement a risk-based process to evaluate the impact of vulnerabilities identified by cyber red teams.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should advance the inclusion of requirements for addressing vulnerabilities identified by cyber red teams by revising its manual 6510.02 and instruction 6510.05, according to the report.

The OIG conducted the follow-up audit to determine whether the DoD components and cyber red teams initiated measures to address problems identified in a December 2012 report.

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Senate, House Panel Chairmen Aim to Meet Deadline for FY 2021 NDAA Markup
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Senate, House Panel Chairmen Aim to Meet Deadline for FY 2021 NDAA Markup

Senate, House Panel Chairmen Aim to Meet Deadline for FY 2021 NDAA Markup

The chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees still hope to meet the deadline for the markup of the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic, Defense News reported Tuesday.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), chair of HASC, plans to conduct the NDAA markup scheduled in April.

“Barring a material change, the Committee plans to proceed with the previously identified mark up date and deliver the NDAA for a vote on the House floor by mid-May,” Monica Matoush, a spokesperson for HASC’s Democratic majority, said in a statement. “While we are exploring other options to coordinate member involvement in the mark up process, no decisions have been made at this time.”

SASC Chairman Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) intends to hold a markup of the defense policy bill by the end of May.

The Senate panel “is continuing to take every step needed to meet this deadline, while also taking necessary precautions” as per the advice of the upper chamber’s attending physician and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” said a spokeswoman for SASC.

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Dale Cabaniss Steps Down as OPM Director
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Dale Cabaniss Steps Down as OPM Director
Dale Cabaniss
Dale Cabaniss

Dale Cabaniss, director of the Office of Personnel Management, immediately resigned from her post Tuesday, Politico reported.

Michael Rigas, deputy director at OPM, will lead the agency on an interim basis, according to a spokesperson for OPM.

Cabaniss was confirmed by the Senate in September. She previously served as chairwoman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority and spent more than two decades in Senate and civil service roles.

Her resignation comes as OPM works to find ways how to handle the federal workforce as the government deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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DARPA Tackles Photonics-Driven Data Processing in New Program
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DARPA Tackles Photonics-Driven Data Processing in New Program
DARPA Tackles Photonics-Driven Data Processing in New Program

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is pursuing an effort to study and develop optical signaling technology for defense use.

DARPA said Monday its Photonics in the Package for Extreme Scalability program aims to produce data transfer technology that keeps up with modern applications.

PIPES would address system architecture and scalability needs in support of commercial and defense applications that require intensive data activity.

The effort would incorporate new high-bandwidth photonics and optical signaling technology into programmable gate arrays and application-specific integrated circuits.

“The integration of photonics within the package will have enormous benefits for commercial and defense applications, but it comes with considerable challenges," said Gordon Keeler, DARPA's program manager for PIPES.

The agency has chosen Sandia National Laboratories; University of California, San Diego; University of California, Santa Barbara; Columbia University; and the University of Pennsylvania to perform work under PIPES.

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NIST Revises Information Security Publication; Ron Ross Quoted
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NIST Revises Information Security Publication; Ron Ross Quoted
Ron Ross
Ron Ross

The National Institute of Standards and Technology wants to update guidance on operational and asset cybersecurity.

NIST said Monday it listed hundreds of system protection measures, services and products in the fifth revision of the publication titled "Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations."

The new revision tackles privacy, supply chain and state-of-the-practice controls.

The agency seeks public feedback as it revises the document after the last update seven years ago. The guidance covers all types of cyber-affected systems including internet of things devices and industrial control systems.

“Our objective is to make the information systems we depend on more resistant to cyberattacks,” said NIST Fellow Ron Ross, who also contributed author duties to the publication.

Interested parties may submit comments on the publication through May 15.

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Air Force Eyes Unified Center for Global Info Warfare Operations
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Air Force Eyes Unified Center for Global Info Warfare Operations
Air Force Eyes Unified Center for Global Info Warfare Operations

The U.S. Air Force plans to stand up an information warfare operations center that will coordinate cyber, weather, electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities across 178 global units, C4ISRnet reported Monday.

The new center will combine the functions of the 616th, 624th and 625th Operations Centers and initially process data from units such as the 16th Air Force’s information warfare cell in Texas. The cell handles activities on behalf of the U.S. Cyber Command for European Command.

Col. James Weaver, commander of the 616th Operations Center, told C4ISRnet that the center will serve as a “focal point” for bringing key warfighting capabilities together.

“By working those multidomain operations and converging on problems identified by air components on behalf of combatant commanders, and/or both, we think that we will be able to provide capabilities, options and even maybe expose malign actors influence across the globe as we work,” said Weaver.

 “As we work problems that cross combatant commands, or whether it be Russia or even China in some cases where it crosses combatant commands, we will have a role in deconfliction,” he added.

NASA Picks 4 Astrophysics Research Proposals for ‘Explorers’ Program
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NASA Picks 4 Astrophysics Research Proposals for ‘Explorers’ Program
NASA Picks 4 Astrophysics Research Proposals for 'Explorers' Program

NASA has chosen four astrophysics studies for the Explorers Program meant to support low-cost space access and provide insight into stellar flares, planetary atmosphere, cosmic explosions and the resulting debris.

The agency said Tuesday it selected two studies on ultraviolet flare analysis and spectrometer-based imaging of the Milky Way for the “Small Explorer” increment of the program. Each proposal will receive $2 million to conduct research for nine months.

The second program increment, Missions of Opportunity, will allocate $500,000 to two teams that will work on a nine-month conceptual study.

The first proposal involves UV capabilities and small satellites that visualize gravitational waves from stars, while the second would be sent to the International Space Station to assess gamma-ray phenomena resulting from the death of stars.

"From studying stars and planets outside our solar system to seeking answers to the largest cosmic mysteries, I look forward to the breakthrough science from these modest size missions,” said  Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

NASA plans to select two among the four proposals that will become official missions slated for 2025. SMEX costs may reach up to $145 million each, while MO missions may each incur a maximum of $75 million.

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GAO: DoD Needs Redesign Strategy for F-35 Logistics Info System
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GAO: DoD Needs Redesign Strategy for F-35 Logistics Info System

GAO: DoD Needs Redesign Strategy for F-35 Logistics Info System

The Government Accountability Office has discovered that the Department of Defense is yet to establish a strategy for redesigning a logistics system that handles operations and maintenance activities for the F-35 fighter jet.

GAO said in a report published Monday that the Autonomic Logistics Information System⁠—which helps users manage missions, training and maintenance activities⁠—performs well and quickly processes data at the five locations the agency visited.

However, GAO found that ALIS sometimes produces inaccurate and insufficient data that may lead to challenges such as grounding flight-ready aircraft.

According to the watchdog, DoD “has not answered critical questions about the future system” and should establish performance metrics for ALIS as well as methods for determining the impact of system challenges to fleet readiness.

GAO noted that a good program strategy will help DoD “coordinate various ALIS design-improvement initiatives” that could support long-term system modernization efforts.

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William Lietzau to Lead Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency
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William Lietzau to Lead Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency
William Lietzau
William Lietzau

William "Bill" Lietzau, who leads the Department of Defense's Personnel Vetting Transformation Office, has been appointed to serve as director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.

Lietzau will succeed Charles Phalen who has been filling the role on an acting basis since 2019, DoD said Monday.

Phalen led National Background Investigations Bureau's transition from the Office of Personnel Management to DCSA.

Lietzau's experience includes work with DoD where he supported implementation of detainee policy and addressed related issues such as law development, arms control, contractor accountability and anti-corruption.

“Bill’s leadership experience within the military, government and industry, combined with his role leading DCSA transformation efforts, make him the ideal candidate to hit the ground running and lead the DCSA,” said Joseph Kernan, undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security.

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