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Steve Jurczyk: NASA Eyes First Space Launch System Flight in Second Half of 2021
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Steve Jurczyk: NASA Eyes First Space Launch System Flight in Second Half of 2021
Steve Jurczyk
Steve Jurczyk

NASA Associate Administrator Steve Jurczyk said he expects the Space Launch System's initial flight to occur in mid-2021 or late 2021, SpaceNews reported Monday.

Jurczyk said the SLS core stage is expected to arrive in late summer or early fall at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to facilitate the integration in preparation for the Artemis 1 mission launch.

He noted that NASA is advancing development work on the modules and related platforms for the lunar Gateway and is preparing to award a contract for Gateway-related logistics services.

Jurczyk offered updates on the Human Landing System program in support of the Artemis 3 mission, which aims to bring astronauts to the lunar surface by 2024.

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DoD Kicks Off Hypersonic Industrial Base Study; Mark Lewis Quoted
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DoD Kicks Off Hypersonic Industrial Base Study; Mark Lewis Quoted
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis

The Department of Defense has begun a study to identify weaknesses in the industrial base for the development of hypersonic weapons, Defense News reported Monday.

Mark Lewis, director of research and engineering for modernization at DoD, said he and Kevin Fahey, assistant secretary of defense for acquisition, are leading a new “hypersonic war room” tasked with identifying “critical nodes” in the supply chain.

“What is the state of our base, is it positioned to produce at the scales we’re anticipating? [There are] a lot of moving parts to that,” Lewis told reporters Monday. “We want to make sure we’re not just at the tier-1 suppliers, but we’re looking at other suppliers necessary to provide at scale.”

He noted that the study group is expected to release an initial report in the next few months and cited the need to further build up the workforce by providing universities with research funds to advance hypersonic development.

The Pentagon requested $3.2B in fiscal 2021 funds to support hypersonic research, development, testing and evaluation work.

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Christian Becker Talks OTA, Cloud Migration Benefits in Navy Info Warfare Modernization
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Christian Becker Talks OTA, Cloud Migration Benefits in Navy Info Warfare Modernization
Christian Becker Talks OTA, Cloud Migration Benefits in Navy Info Warfare Modernization

Rear Adm. Christian Becker, commander of the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, said that “great communication” with industry and new other transaction authority approaches helped the service speed up acquisition efforts, C4ISRnet reported Saturday.

Becker told the publication that the U.S. Navy recently established an information warfare research project OTA consortium that resulted in 41 prototype awards worth over $52 million. He added that 60 percent of awards issued through the consortium represented nontraditional contractors.

According to Becker, the development of capabilities in a cloud environment is a priority for his office as he seeks to lead the modernization of Navy information warfare operations. He noted that the service’s efforts to transition its enterprise resource planning tool to the cloud required a lot of commitment and preparation.

“A lesson to take away from the experience with ERP [is] that when you get your applications cloud ready, then you can move there and start to achieve those benefits of operating in this flexible architecture," he said.

Becker added that the Navy is working on improving machine learning capabilities in its carrier strike fleet and modernizing cybersecurity platforms for the Combined Afloat Network Enterprise Services program. 

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CBP Tests Blockchain Use for Intellectual Property Security
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CBP Tests Blockchain Use for Intellectual Property Security
CBP Tests Blockchain Use for Intellectual Property Security

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is looking into the use of blockchain technology for the security of intellectual property rights. CBP said Friday that the agency is testing an integrated platform to protect the IPR of products imported from the U.S.

Blockchain works to encrypt data for an added layer of security, and CBP intends to use this technology for data exchanges across importers, retailers, manufacturers and IPR owners. The agency used an interoperability approach that allows all participating organizations to externally communicate with unique blockchain platforms, regardless of software differences. This approach helped companies identify technologies that address unique requirements.

“We are excited to be applying these innovative solutions to the protection of intellectual property rights," said James Byram, executive director at CBP’s Trade Transformation Office.

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Brian Whittaker Talks Plans for GSA’s 18F Digital Services Arm
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Brian Whittaker Talks Plans for GSA’s 18F Digital Services Arm
Brian Whittaker
Brian Whittaker

Brain Whittaker, acting director of the General Services Administration’s 18F unit, said he seeks to promote collaborations between the digital services component and other GSA efforts, Fedscoop reported Friday. The 18F arm operates under the agency’s Technology Transformation Service.

Whittaker, previously the deputy executive director of GSA’s Centers of Excellence initiative, was named to his current role last month. According to Whittaker, his experience as CoE head will help him foster partnerships across the agency.

“I want to find the ideal partner agency that’s all in on a digital transformation and really open to us bringing all of what TTS, [the Federal Acquisition Service] and GSA has to bear in this domain,” he noted. “The opportunity to collaborate across organizations has me excited, and the opportunity to build on the foundation that 18F leadership has provided for me.”

Whittaker added that he is working on establishing “remote-first” approaches that will streamline operations with staff in various locations.

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T-Rex Solutions Ranks No. 14 on Inc. 5000 Series: D.C. Metro List; Marc Steining, Scott Omelianuk Quoted
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T-Rex Solutions Ranks No. 14 on Inc. 5000 Series: D.C. Metro List; Marc Steining, Scott Omelianuk Quoted
T-Rex Solutions Ranks No. 14 on Inc. 5000 Series: D.C. Metro List; Marc Steining, Scott Omelianuk Quoted

T-Rex Solutions has placed No. 14 on Inc. 5000 Series: D.C. Metro List on its inaugural award, the company announced on Monday. 

“We have been very focused on doing mission-critical IT Modernization work for our customers the last several years, which is feeding our growth. We are still getting used to the recognition that comes with that,” said Marc Steining, COO of T-Rex Solutions.

The award list comprises the fastest-growing private companies in D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. Companies on the list have demonstrated major growth rates across all industries in the D.C. metropolitan area.

"It is an honor to appear alongside this list of neighboring companies we know and respect,” added Steining.

The 2020 Inc. 5000 Regional Series is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2018. To qualify, companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit and independent.

“Across every single industry, these businesses have posted revenue and growth rates that are beyond impressive, further proving the tenacity of their founders and CEOs”, says Inc. editor in chief Scott Omelianuk.

In addition, T-Rex Solutions’ Seth Moore, CEO of the company, has received the Wash100 Award in Feb. 2020 for  his dramatic improvement in company sustainment and expansion in addition to the progress he has made in T-Rex Solutions’ cloud technology and integration.

Moore has demonstrated his expertise and led the company through a tremendous growth period where T-Rex Solutions saw an increase of 550 percent in revenue.

“Seth is a great leader with vision, a deep understanding of our business and industry, and the confidence of our customers and stakeholders. He embodies our core values, leads by example, represents quality, integrity, and accountability in all that he does, and inspires others to do the same,” said Trevor Wilby, T-Rex Solutions’ founder.

About Wash100 

The Wash100 Award, now in its seventh year, recognizes the most influential executives in the GovCon industry as selected by the Executive Mosaic team in tandem with online nominations from the GovCon community. Representing the best of the private and public sector, the winners demonstrate superior leadership, innovation, reliability, 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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George Wilson, President and CEO of ECS Federal, Receives Third Consecutive Wash100 Award From Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic
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George Wilson, President and CEO of ECS Federal, Receives Third Consecutive Wash100 Award From Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic
George Wilson, President and CEO of ECS Federal, Receives Third Consecutive Wash100 Award From Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic

Jim Garrettson, founder and CEO of Executive Mosaic, presented George Wilson, president and CEO of ECS Federal, his third consecutive Wash100 Award as a part of the 2020 selection. 

Executive Mosaic recognizes for leading the drive for innovation in cybersecurity, information technology modernization and emerging technologies in the government contracting (GovCon) sector.

In April, ECS opened a new facility to deliver technology capabilities to support both government and commercial customers against cyber threats. The “Cybersecurity Innovation and Technology Operations Center” in Northern Virginia will house its cyber range and laboratories. 

“We made the investment in the CITOC so that our developers and engineers had physical and virtual workspaces to share solutions, foster communities of interest and facilitate research, development, testing and operations of cutting-edge tools in cyber, digital and cloud,” said Wilson. 

The company also received a Platinum Technology Partner designation from Attivo Networks as part of a partnership aimed at introducing a deception platform to the government and commercial cybersecurity markets.  

“Our focus on machine learning, cybersecurity and innovation is in lockstep with the work being done at Attivo,” said Wilson. “We’re committed to bringing these powerful tools and strategies to our customers.”

Elsewhere, Wilson helped orchestrate a potential four-year, $116 million contract from the Naval Information Warfare Center's defense health IT division to update the Military Health System's information technology infrastructure. 

DHS and other government health agencies can seek technical planning, requirements development and system design, production, testing and maintenance support through the ECS-led Federal HIT Infrastructure Service Modernization effort.

“As ECS continues to innovate within the areas of infrastructure service and health information technology, we look forward to serving NIWC and DHA in this critical modernization endeavor,” said Wilson. 

Executive Mosaic congratulates ECS Federal and George Wilson on his third consecutive Wash100 Award win. Wilson’s efforts to advance cybersecurity, defense, IT modernization and emerging technology have led to achievement and growth for the company. His influence over the GovCon sector is undeniable. 

About Wash100 

The Wash100 Award, now in its seventh year, recognizes the most influential executives in the GovCon industry as selected by the Executive Mosaic team in tandem with online nominations from the GovCon community. Representing the best of the private and public sector, the winners demonstrate superior leadership, innovation, reliability, 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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DARPA Unveils Research Effort for Ambient Thermal Emissions
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DARPA Unveils Research Effort for Ambient Thermal Emissions
DARPA Unveils Research Effort for Ambient Thermal Emissions

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is slated to issue a solicitation to seek input on the capacity of ambient thermal emissions to house information in a move to enable active illumination at night.

DARPA said Friday that it aims to develop passive 3D sensors and algorithms that will employ data from thermal emissions through the Invisible Headlights program. Joe Altepeter, a program manager at DARPA's Defense Sciences office, said the agency eyes to build passive navigation capacities within pitch dark environments.

“In the depths of a cave or in the dark of a moonless, starless night with dense fog, current autonomous systems can’t make sense of the environment without radiating some signal—whether it’s a laser pulse, radar or visible light beam—all of which we want to avoid," added Altepeter.

DARPA will host a webcast and proposer's day on March 16 to discuss more details in line with the project.

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Kenneth Braithwaite Nominated for Navy Secretary Post
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Kenneth Braithwaite Nominated for Navy Secretary Post
Kenneth Braithwaite
Kenneth Braithwaite

President Trump has nominated Kenneth Braithwaite, a more than two-decade veteran of the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve, as the military branch’s new secretary replacing two-time Wash100 Award winner Richard Spencer. The White House said in a notice posted Friday that Braithwaite currently serves as the U.S. ambassador to Norway. Trump first announced plans to nominate Braithwaite in November.

Throughout his military career, Braithwaite held various leadership positions and was deployed to Pakistan to serve as strategic communications director in support of the U.S. embassy. He retired from military service in 2011 in the role of vice chief of information for the Navy.

He also served as group senior vice president for Irving, Texas-based healthcare firm Vizient and held executive positions at the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council and Ascension Health.

About Wash100 

The Wash100 Award, now in its seventh year, recognizes the most influential executives in the GovCon industry as selected by the Executive Mosaic team in tandem with online nominations from the GovCon community. Representing the best of the private and public sector, the winners demonstrate superior leadership, innovation, reliability, 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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Robin Kelly Introduces Transparency Bill for Acting Security Officials
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Robin Kelly Introduces Transparency Bill for Acting Security Officials
Robin Kelly Introduces Transparency Bill for Acting Security Officials

Robin Kelly, a member of the Oversight National Security subcommittee, has unveiled a bill to drive accountability for acting senior national security officials. The National Security Transparency Act will require acting senior national security leaders to appear regularly before Congress to maintain oversight on their respective departments, the office of Robin Kelly said Thursday.

The bill will also push acting secretaries from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, National Security Agency and CIA as well as the acting director of national intelligence to appear at Congress every 45 days prior to their confirmation by the Senate.

“Congress must hold these individuals and any Administration accountable to the highest level of oversight and transparency to protect our national security,” said Kelly.

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