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Government Technology/News
Katie Olson: Defense Digital Service Designs Tech With Users
by Jane Edwards
Published on September 12, 2019
Katie Olson: Defense Digital Service Designs Tech With Users


Jeff Brody

Katie Olson, chief of staff of the Defense Digital Service, said adopting the principle of “designing with and not for users” has been key in advancing digital transformation across the Department of Defense, Nextgov reported Wednesday.

“What’s really, I think, a testament to our team and the success we’ve had so far in some of the major transformations we’ve had is that we think about who we are designing this with and we’re not just thinking about this as something we’re just dropping off and handing over,” Olson said Wednesday at an FCW workshop in Washington.

She cited the development and deployment of the move.mil website and improvement of Army Cyber Command’s Army Cyber School curriculum as some of the DDS projects that reflect the adoption of the principle.

“It’s really important to be embedded with the people who are ultimately going to be using the technology to make sure that we’ve gotten not only the product itself right, but also the supporting processes as well,” Olson added.

Government Technology/News
Air Force Concludes B-1B Aircraft Expanded Carriage Demo
by Matthew Nelson
Published on September 12, 2019
Air Force Concludes B-1B Aircraft Expanded Carriage Demo


Jeff Brody

The U.S. Air Force’s 412th Test Wing conducted an expanded carriage test for the B-1B Lancer aircraft to demonstrate the bomber’s weapons integration feature. The aircraft held a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile through the use of a pylon during the flight test, Robins Air Force Base said Friday. 

“The purpose of the demonstration was to show that we’re still able to move the bulkhead from the forward intermediate bay to the forward location; increasing the intermediate bay capacity from 180 inches to 269 inches,” said Lt. Col. Dominic Ross, B-1B program element monitor at Air Force Global Strike Command.

Ross noted that the aircraft can hold weapons externally through six of its hard points. According to Ross, the aircraft may carry 24 weapons based on the pylon attachment and is designed to comply with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

Executive Moves/News
Senate Confirms James Byrne for VA Deputy Secretary Role
by Nichols Martin
Published on September 12, 2019
Senate Confirms James Byrne for VA Deputy Secretary Role


Jeff Brody
James Byrne

James Byrne, general counsel at the Department of Veterans Affairs, has been senate-confirmed to serve as VA’s deputy secretary, Military Times reported Wednesday. He has been functioning as deputy secretary on an acting basis since August 2018. President Trump nominated Byrne for the full-time position in April.

Byrne works with VA secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient Robert Wilkie to oversee a 370,000-employee workforce across VA medical facilities as acting deputy secretary. His work as general counsel supports legal efforts for the department’s decision making and policy.

The public servant also contributed over two decades of government work, having formerly functioned as an international narcotics prosecutor at the Department of Justice and as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer.

Government Technology/News
House Hearing Focuses Discussion on Internet Architecture Security
by Jane Edwards
Published on September 12, 2019
House Hearing Focuses Discussion on Internet Architecture Security


Jeff Brody

Lawmakers and government officials discussed the security of internet infrastructure during a House committee hearing held Tuesday, FCW reported Wednesday. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) of the House Armed Services Committee said no single entity oversees the internet infrastructure despite the efforts of some federal agencies to define cybersecurity roles.

“I’m very worried that by carving out discrete lanes in the road, there are seams left unaddressed in the middle, and I’m concerned that internet architecture security is one of those seam issues,” Langevin said.

Jeanette Manfra, assistant director at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said most of the oversight of security issues related to the internet infrastructure lies with the private sector.

“It’s not so much that here’s a clear jurisdiction and it ends at this part of the internet architecture,” Manfra told lawmakers. “It’s really private sector led in all cases and what we have are different tools to analyze and make assessments and take action if we have concerns.”

Government Technology/News
Mark Bathrik: Gov’t Should Revise Airspace Policies to Cover UAS Operations
by Brenda Marie Rivers
Published on September 12, 2019
Mark Bathrik: Gov’t Should Revise Airspace Policies to Cover UAS Operations


Jeff Brody

Mark Bathrik, director of the Interior Department’s Office of Aviation Services, told attendees at a Brookings Institution event that airspace regulations should also involve unmanned aerial systems that fly below 400 feet, Fedscoop reported Wednesday.

Bathrik said he is pleased with the government’s increased investment in small UAS technologies. However, he has concerns over regulators potentially enforcing stringent policies to prevent drones from impacting line-of-sight activities.

“I worry that we’re going to overregulate and over-equip drones that don’t ever need to fly beyond visual line of sight,” Bathrik said.

OAS deploys more than 670 drones that utilize sensor data to assist in operations such as federal land management, dam inspections, animal migration tracking and other flood, fire and volcano-related missions.

Contract Awards/News
SBA Awards $18M in Grants to 41 State International Trade Agencies; Chris Pilkerton Quoted
by William McCormick
Published on September 12, 2019
SBA Awards $18M in Grants to 41 State International Trade Agencies; Chris Pilkerton Quoted


Jeff Brody

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Thursday that $18 million in grants has been awarded to 41 state international trade agencies to support export growth among small businesses through SBA’s competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).

“SBA is proud to partner with the STEP grant winners and provide much-needed resources that help small businesses increase their sales by exporting,” said Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. “These grants are especially helpful as our country is in the midst of negotiating a number of trade agreements, including one between the United States–Mexico–Canada (USMCA),” said Pilkerton. 

“All of the Administration’s work aims to modernize and create a better deal for U.S consumers, businesses, including small businesses, and workers. The SBA’s STEP partners not only help entrepreneurs increase and diversify their customer base; they also help to create and retain local jobs,” Pilkerton added. 

The 2019 STEP awards help provide small businesses with the information and tools they need to succeed in export-related activities. Exporting activities include: participating in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips, obtaining services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessing expertise in designing international marketing campaigns and export trade show exhibits and participating in training workshops, as well as other important means of engagement.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.

Contract Awards/News
Salesforce Provides $18.2M to San Francisco and Oakland School Districts; Marc Benioff, Keith Block Quoted
by William McCormick
Published on September 12, 2019
Salesforce Provides $18.2M to San Francisco and Oakland School Districts; Marc Benioff, Keith Block Quoted


Jeff Brody

Salesforce announced on Thursday that the company has awarded $18.2 million in grants to the Oakland and San Francisco school districts to expand educational opportunities for students and leaders in the Bay Area.

“Giving every child an equal opportunity to a world-class education is a critical step to bring more equality, stability, and growth into our communities, and it cannot be the work of government alone,” said Salesforce co-CEOs Marc Benioff and Keith Block. “Everyone has a role to play, including business, and that’s why Salesforce has provided nearly $70 million in funding and 45,000 volunteer hours in the San Francisco and Oakland school districts.”  

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) will receive $8.5 million, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) will receive $8.7 million and $500,000 will be provided to CORE and Blueprint Schools Network for continued education support. 

Salesforce’s latest grants to SFUSD and OUSD build upon a long-term partnership with the districts to improve student outcomes and opportunities. The new grants will support computer science curriculum expansion and innovative math programs as well as teacher recruitment, retention, and training in both districts.

About Salesforce

Salesforce is the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bringing companies closer to their customers in the digital age. Founded in 1999, Salesforce enables companies of every size and industry to take advantage of powerful technologies—cloud, mobile, social, internet of things, artificial intelligence, voice and blockchain—to create a 360-degree view of their customers.

News
Senate Bill to Authorize $1B More for DoD’s Hypersonic Programs
by Jane Edwards
Published on September 12, 2019
Senate Bill to Authorize $1B More for DoD’s Hypersonic Programs


Jeff Brody

The Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee passed a defense policy bill to allocate $1 billion in additional funds for hypersonic programs for fiscal year 2020, C4ISRNET reported Wednesday.

A summary of the bill says the proposed measure includes $108M for the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, $237.8M for hypersonic defense programs, $576M for the U.S. Air Force’s hypersonics prototyping work, $228M for the U.S. Army’s hypersonic initiatives and $150.6M for hypersonic glide body development effort.

“The bill includes significant investments in both basic research and future technologies such as hypersonics, 5G, artificial intelligence, missile defense, and cybersecurity, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and defense subpanel, said in a statement. “We must continue to make investments today that demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that our Armed Forces are well-trained, well-equipped and better prepared than any other around the world, and this bill does that.”

The full Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled Thursday, Sept. 12, to proposed measure.

News
Trump Issues Extension of National Emergency Against Foreign Election Threats
by Nichols Martin
Published on September 12, 2019
Trump Issues Extension of National Emergency Against Foreign Election Threats


Jeff Brody

President Trump extended a national emergency regarding foreign threats to the upcoming 2020 U.S. elections, The Hill reported Tuesday. He issued a memo to Congress noting the potential for foreign entities to threaten U.S. national security and policy.

Trump noted the absence of proof regarding this danger, but also referenced the historical intent of foreign powers to take advantage of the U.S. open political system. The declared extension prolongs a national emergency that was originally scheduled to expire soon.

Executive Moves/News
Dale Cabaniss Confirmed as OPM Director
by Brenda Marie Rivers
Published on September 12, 2019
Dale Cabaniss Confirmed as OPM Director


Jeff Brody
Dale Cabaniss

The Senate has confirmed Dale Cabaniss as the Office of Personnel Management’s new director, Federal News Network reported Wednesday. President Trump nominated Cabaniss to head the agency for a four-year term in March.

She will succeed Margaret Weichert, the acting OPM director and the Office of Management and Budget’s deputy director for management. Previously, Cabaniss served as chairwoman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority and spent more than 20 years in Senate and civil service roles.

During her nomination hearing in May, Cabaniss expressed her support for the Trump administration’s proposed merger of OPM and the General Services Administration.

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