Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane held a three-day event that sought to foster collaborative activities and optimize shipbuilding processes for undersea vehicles.

Jointly facilitated by the University of Rhode Island, General Dynamics' Electric Boat subsidiary and the University of Connecticut, the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology effort focused on technology transition, research and workforce development activities, the Naval Sea Systems Command said Wednesday.

Efforts under the event are intended to build the workforce and capabilities required to speed up research initiatives in undersea vehicle systems. Representatives from various U.S. Navy organizations such as the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and NavalX Tech Bridges attended the three-day activity.

“At NSWC Crane we are very fortunate to have incredible support for our mission through an expansive network of external partner organizations that contribute to workforce development and attraction, cutting edge defense research, technology transfer, and defense-oriented economic development," said Kyle Werner, director of engagement at NSWC Crane.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued a draft framework for ensuring compliance with ethical standards for data privacy, Federal News Network reported Wednesday.

NIST aims to use the draft data privacy guidance to support the implementation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, internet-of-things and biometrics. The agency also wants to establish standards for privacy techniques and other risk assessment procedures.

In addition, NIST will work with its National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education component to establish skills requirements for positions involving privacy assessment.

Walter Copan, director of NIST and undersecretary of commerce for standards and technology, told attendees at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event that NIST also plans to work with small businesses for the initiative.

“Over the next few months, we’ll be reaching out to these innovative smaller companies with their resource constraints understood to better have a sense of how the privacy framework can help enhance their work and their operations,” he said.

The Transportation Security Administration is working to implement new policies and capabilities to ensure the seucrity of airport systems such as screening platforms, FCW reported Wednesday.

Previously, the TSA launched an effort called the Capability Acceptance Process intended to help the aviation sector streamline its procurement of technologies like boarding pass scanners, explosives detection systems, X-ray machines and other advanced imaging capabilities.

"What this means is we qualify the equipment, we say this equipment meets our detection standards and our operational testing standards," said Patricia Cogswell, acting deputy administrator of TSA, at an  Armed Forces and Communications Electronics Association event. "If it meets both of those, you may buy it and gift it to us."

Cogswell noted that TSA should incorporate the mindset of U.S. intelligence agencies when it comes to stringent background checks that also cover trusted employees.

In 2018, TSA established an executive steering committee that oversees programs focused on insider threats.

The Department of Labor is investing almost $100M in grants under a public-private apprenticeship program for multiple industries.

The program, known as "Apprenticeship: Closing the Skills Gap," would support 28 apprenticeships in a range of industries such as information technology, health care and manufacturing, DOL said Tuesday.

"This funding will bolster America's competitiveness by adding more skilled workers to fill millions of open jobs today and in the future," said Eugene Scalia, secretary of labor.

Apprenticeships under the program include work-based learning and instructional activities.

Awardees are:

• Aerospace Machinist Joint Training Committee
• AFL-CIO Working for America
• Alamo Community College District
• American Association of Port Authorities
• Argentum
• Arkansas Division of Higher Education
• Arizona Board of Regents, on behalf of Arizona State University
• Colorado Community College System
• Electrical Training ALLIANCE
• Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association
• Goodwin College
• H-CAP 
• Idaho State Board of Education
• Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
• Missouri Chamber Foundation
• North Carolina State University
• Oakland Community College
• Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner, State of Rhode Island
• Regents of the University of Colorado/UOC-Colorado Springs
• SHRM Foundation
• Southern Utah University
• Southwest Tennessee Community College
• The Regents of the University of California (Davis)
• The Regents of the University of California (Riverside)
• University of Louisville Research Foundation
• University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
• Wireless Infrastructure Association
• Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership

The U.S. Army has saved over $1.2 billion after cutting legacy programs to shift focus into addressing top modernization goals.

The Army said Wednesday it presented a list of eliminated and reduced programs during its “night court” budget assessment to address priorities under the service’s fiscal year 2021 budget proposal.

According to the service branch, it saved over $869.9 million after reducing 39 programs and 324.1 million following 41 program eliminations. The Army seeks to save $9 billion over the next five years to meet requirements under the Future Years Defense Program.

"The [fiscal 2021] budget of $178 billion will ensure the Army will remain the most lethal ground fighting force in the world now, and in the future," said Army Secretary and 2020 Wash100 winner Ryan McCarthy. According to McCarthy, precision fires are the main modernization priority for the service which is also investing over $800 million for hypersonics technology.

The Department of the Navy recently announced a similar cost evaluation effort to support its goal of reinvesting $8 billion annually or $40 billion in five years.

Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, has funded the last $4.8  million installment to expand the Pensacola Airport, including modernizing infrastructure, adding three hangers, a warehouse and offices, the governor reported on Wednesday. 

“The Governor, along with county and city leaders support for infrastructure investment will result in over a 1,000 new quality jobs, increasing the demand for a highly skilled workforce in the rapidly growing aviation sector of the local Pensacola community,” said  Tom Vecchiolla, President and CEO of ST Engineering North America.

DeSantis funded the upgrade to support his platform of lowering unemployment and is projected to add 1300 new employees. As part of his Florida Job Growth Job Fund, the infrastructure enhancements will include taxiways and ramps that will support additional maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities and other development.

That will “allow the airport to support ST Engineering’s plans to build one of the biggest MRO operations in North America,” DeSantis Said. “I think that this is really going to help drive not only in Escambia, but really throughout the region,” he added.

Other funding pledged for the project includes $15 million each from Escambia County and the City of Pensacola, $66 million from Triumph Gulf Coast and $20 million from the Florida Department of Transportation.

About the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund

The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund is an economic development program designed to promote public infrastructure and workforce training across the state. Proposals are reviewed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) and chosen by the Governor to meet the demand for workforce or infrastructure needs in the community they are awarded to.

Workforce training projects will provide Floridians with transferable, sustainable workforce skills applicable to more than a single employer, and for equipment associated with these programs.

Accenture Federal Services (AFS) has been awarded Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) authorization for Managed Detection and Response cyber capability, a threat monitoring and incident response cloud solution, the company announced on Thursday. 

“Our MDR solution combines the latest automation, artificial intelligence and cloud technologies to provide next-generation cybersecurity capabilities so clients can be more resilient in the face of changing threats,” said Aaron Faulkner, Accenture Federal Services’ cybersecurity lead. 

MDR will support federal agencies, state and local governments, and critical infrastructure provides defense against cyber threats as well as enact a quick response. MDR has been compliant with Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) requirements.

AFS has integrated highly scalable centralized security operations center, available on a 24x7x365 basis into MDR, and the cybersecurity technology. The company will offer the development to any agency, regardless of size, to protect against threats and secure its infrastructure. 

“It brings advanced security monitoring, response and remediation at machine speed, using the latest technologies and techniques to catch attacks before they affect an organization’s IT environment,” added Faulkner.

The authorization is a federal government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. FedRAMP authorization follows a successful security audit via an accredited third-party assessor. 

“Our fully integrated best-of-breed service, built around the MITRE ATT&CK framework, allows federal agencies and others to capitalize on advanced defenses, with the full backing of highly trained teams with critical skill sets. FedRAMP authorization will further streamline integration of this recognized service into our clients’ security fabric,” David Dalling, Accenture Federal Services’ MDR lead, concluded. 

About Accenture Federal Services

Accenture Federal Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Accenture LLP, is a U.S. company with offices in Arlington, Virginia. Accenture’s federal business has served every cabinet-level department and 30 of the largest federal organizations. Accenture Federal Services transforms bold ideas into breakthrough outcomes for clients at defense, intelligence, public safety, civilian and military health organizations.