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Michael Wooten: Data Sharing Needed Between Government, Cloud Providers
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Michael Wooten: Data Sharing Needed Between Government, Cloud Providers


Jeff Brody
Michael Wooten

Michael Wooten, administrator of the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Federal Procurement Policy, said he intends to expand the practice of data sharing between federal agencies and cloud service providers, FCW reported Tuesday.

Wooten compared each agency to a tenant in a condo data center and cited the lack of association of tenants that could help establish requirements and rules.

“The landlord has a responsibility to keep the condo safe from intrusion, and the tenant should be able to alert other tenants when they see a threat,” he said Tuesday at a FedInsider talk. “We need to clarify the responsibility of each tenant and the landlord for the federal government.”

At a Professional Services Council-hosted event, Wooten outlined his priorities to modernize the federal acquisition process and one is to build on current efforts to leverage the purchasing power through category management.

Gen. David Goldfein Introduces USAF’s Multi-Domain Ops Strategy
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Gen. David Goldfein Introduces USAF’s Multi-Domain Ops Strategy


Jeff Brody
David Goldfein

Gen. David Goldfein, chief of staff at the U.S. Air Force, unveiled the service branch’s plans to incorporate networked multi-domain capabilities.

“Victory in future combat will depend less on individual capabilities and more on the integrated strengths of a connected network available for coalition leaders to employ,” Goldfein said in a statement published Tuesday. Goldfein noted that the Air Force intends to refine its multi-domain operations to deter potential adversaries.

“If we’ve done our jobs right as leaders organizing, training and equipping our service for multi-domain operations and selecting and developing the leaders needed for this future fight, our Airmen will excel at multi-domain operations because we will have built it into every exercise scenario and war game.”

Goldfein added that USAF needs to update its nuclear weaponry and invest in a capacity that can defend itself, endure in enemy areas and optimize other technologies that can cause confusion to adversaries.

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Jim Ullmann Receives 2019 Air Traffic Controller of the Year Award from Raytheon; 2019 Wash100 Award Winner Dave Wajsgras Quoted
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Jim Ullmann Receives 2019 Air Traffic Controller of the Year Award from Raytheon; 2019 Wash100 Award Winner Dave Wajsgras Quoted


Jeff Brody

Raytheon announced on Wednesday that the company has chosen Jim Ullmann, director of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association’s Director of Safety and Technology, as the 2019 Air Traffic Controller of the Year.

Established by Raytheon, the award honors controllers for outstanding efforts to improve air traffic control quality, safety or efficiency. The announcement was made during the annual NATCA Communicating for Safety conference, which took place Sept. 16-18.

“For more than two decades, Jim has worked tirelessly to improve our nation’s air traffic system,” said Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services and 2019 Wash100 Award winner. “Our skies are safer today because of his efforts across the community.”

Ullman spent 26 years as an air traffic controller with the Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center. He is recognized for his contributions to the quality and efficiency of America’s air traffic system, as well as his leadership in representing the technology and safety interests of over 20,000 controllers nationwide.

Ullman was instrumental in planning and conducting NATCA’s outreach to general aviation pilots at Oshkosh AirVenture, and his efforts have helped educate the general aviation community on critical safety issues.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2018 sales of $27 billion and 67,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 97 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I products and services, sensing, effects and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries.

Donna Roy: Security, Network Monitoring, Application Mgmt Should be Consistent
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Donna Roy: Security, Network Monitoring, Application Mgmt Should be Consistent


Jeff Brody
Donna Roy

Amid the Department of Homeland Security’s cloud migration efforts, Donna Roy, executive director of the agency’s Information Sharing and Services Office, said DHS should maintain consistency in application management, security and network monitoring functions, Fedscoop said Tuesday.

According to the report, the agency conducts transactions to around 200 countries with 800,000 police officers and 60,000 first responders. Roy noted that traffic flow within the cloud will halt if a small connection gets cut off. Roy added that proper application management will enable DHS to address security gaps in various devices.

“If I were to start a greenfield, I would take the approach of understanding where the data should be first and creating a cloud strategy on that.”

Additionally, Roy remarked that she will take the initiative of consulting DHS’ chief data officer prior to cloud migration. The agency has received 105 responses for a request for information that seeks inputs on cloud migration and data center streamlining efforts.

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Chris Campione: DOE’s FY20 IT Modernization Strategy Puts Focus on Cloud, Workforce
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Chris Campione: DOE’s FY20 IT Modernization Strategy Puts Focus on Cloud, Workforce


Jeff Brody
Chris Campione

Chris Campione, the Department of Energy’s chief information officer, has said that operational visibility, delivery improvement, innovation and workforce development will be the department’s priorities for fiscal 2020, Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

Campione told the publication that the department intends to address issues such as data center utilization and operational visibility in the cloud as part of its information technology modernization strategy.

“We have a lot of old data centers,” he said. “So when we talk about data center consolidation, which is a much larger initiative — but the way we look at is how do we get out of some of our old data centers into the cloud?”

Campione assumed the role of DOE CIO in July after serving as the department’s principal deputy CIO.

Air Force Plans to Reinvest $30B for Space, Multidomain Capabilities
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Air Force Plans to Reinvest $30B for Space, Multidomain Capabilities


Jeff Brody

The U.S. Air Force is planning to reprogram around $30 billion in funds for efforts involving space and multidomain operations, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday.

Matthew Donovan, the acting Air Force secretary, told reporters during AFA 2019 that the service plans to make “substantial” reallocations following a zero-based review process. He didn’t disclose a specific amount but noted that the number “could change due to program and budget review as we go through the year.”

David Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff and 2017 Wash100 Award recipient, said the service’s funding priorities help drive its aircraft procurement initiatives and represents a “shift toward a defendable architecture in all of the orbits”. He noted that he supports the service’s efforts to expand its squadrons to 365 by 2030 in line with USAF’s “The Air Force We Need” strategy issued last year.

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Michael Kratsios: White House Close to Issuing Guidance on AI Regulations
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Michael Kratsios: White House Close to Issuing Guidance on AI Regulations


Jeff Brody
Michael Kratsios

Michael Kratsios, federal chief technology officer and a 2019 Wash100 Award winner, said the White House will soon release guidance on how agencies should oversee and regulate artificial intelligence applications, Nextgov reported Tuesday.

“This will be the first document that has legal force around the way that agencies should be looking at regulating artificial intelligence technologies,” Kratsios said at the Politico AI Summit Tuesday. “I think it will set the tone globally on the way that we can be pro-innovation while also protecting American safety.”

He stated that each agency should oversee the development of AI in specific areas and the memorandum will provide agencies a framework for their regulatory approaches with regard to the use of the technology. The memo is part of an AI executive order signed in February.

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U.S. Navy Awards $170.7M to BAE Systems to Repair Two Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyers
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U.S. Navy Awards $170.7M to BAE Systems to Repair Two Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyers


Jeff Brody

BAE Systems has received $170.7 million in contracts from the U.S. Navy to perform simultaneous maintenance and repair on two Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided-missile destroyers in its San Diego shipyard, BAE Systems reported on Wednesday. 

The shipyard will tandem dry-dock the USS Stethem (DDG 63) and USS Decatur (DDG 73) in October. If all contract options are exercised, the cumulative value would rise to $185 million. The synchronized two-ship docking will be a first for the newest dry-dock in San Diego.

The ability to simultaneously dock two DDGs is a special capability that BAE Systems brings to our Navy customer and comes at a critical time when additional throughput is necessary to meet surface combatant demands and modernization requirements,” said David M. Thomas Jr., vice president and general manager of BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair. 

“Beyond the remarkable nature of this tandem docking, it will be business as usual for our shipyard team and partners given our significant experience working with the Arleigh Burke class,” Thomas said. 

The USS Stethem and USS Decatur will be lifted together inside BAE Systems’ “Pride of California” dry-dock. Installed in 2017, the Pride of California is 950 feet long, 160 feet wide and has a lifting capacity of 55,000 tons – making it the largest floating dry-dock in San Diego. The destroyers each displace about 9,000 tons and are expected to be re-floated in April 2020.

BAE Systems’ San Diego shipyard currently employs about 1,300 people and hundreds of temporary workers and subcontractors nearby the San Diego-Coronado Bridge.

About BAE Systems 

BAE Systems is a leading provider of ship repair, maintenance, modernization, conversion, and overhaul services for the Navy, other government agencies, and select commercial customers. The company operates four full-service shipyards in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Virginia, and offers a highly skilled, experienced workforce, six dry docks, two railways, and significant pier space and ship support services.

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Robert O’Brien Appointed National Security Adviser; President Trump Quoted
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Robert O’Brien Appointed National Security Adviser; President Trump Quoted


Jeff Brody

President Trump announced on Wednesday that he’s selected Robert O’Brien to be the new National Security Adviser for the White House. 

O’Brien succeeds John Bolton, who left Trump’s administration last week. In his role, O’Brien will tackle everything from immigration policy to heightened tensions with Iran. He will be responsible for consolidating sensitive information and presenting President Trump with options.

“I am pleased to announce that I will name Robert C. O’Brien, currently serving as the very successful Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Department, as our new National Security Advisor. I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job,” President Trump said via Twitter on Wednesday. 

O’Brien, who serves as special envoy for Hostage Affairs with the State Department, will be President Trump’s fourth national-security adviser. He also served under the George W. Bush administration at both the U.S. mission to the United Nations and the State Department.

“We’ve got a number of challenges but there’s a great team in place,” he said. “I look forward to working with them and working with the president to keep America safe and continue to rebuild our military,” O’Brien said on Wednesday.

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Mike Thomson of Unisys to Present at Sidoti & Company Fall 2019 Investor Conference
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Mike Thomson of Unisys to Present at Sidoti & Company Fall 2019 Investor Conference


Jeff Brody

Unisys announced on Tuesday that Mike Thomson, chief financial officer for the company, will present at the Sidoti & Company Fall 2019 Investor Conference on Wednesday, September 25 at 9:10 a.m. in New York, New York. 

In addition, Unisys will provide access to a live webcast of the presentation on the Unisys Investor Web site at www.unisys.com/investor. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Unisys investor web site shortly after the live event. 

About Unisys

Unisys is a global information technology company that builds high-performance, security-centric solutions for the most demanding businesses and governments. Unisys offerings include security software and services; digital transformation and workplace services; industry applications and services and innovative software operating environments for high-intensity enterprise computing.

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