Navy’s Second Fleet Reaches Full Operational Capability
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Navy’s Second Fleet Reaches Full Operational Capability
Navy's Second Fleet Reaches Full Operational Capability

The U.S. Navy has declared full operational capability for its 2nd Fleet after the numbered military unit  demonstrated a capacity to take responsibility over assigned forces while complying with the service branch's doctrine.

Vice Adm. Andrew Lewis has commanded C2F since it was reestablished in August 2018 to primarily conduct forward operations and employ combat ready naval personnel across the Atlantic and Arctic regions, the Navy said Tuesday.

C2F will also help generate, train and certify forces as part of its mission. The Norfolk, Va.-based fleet showcased warfighting, lethality and interoperability approaches during the Baltic Operations exercise that took place in June last year.

The fleet also runs a maritime operations center in Keflavik, Iceland.

14th Air Force Changes Name to Space Operations Command
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14th Air Force Changes Name to Space Operations Command
14th Air Force Changes Name to Space Operations Command

U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett ordered the redesignation of 14th AF as Space Operations Command when President Donald Trump signed the defense policy bill on Dec. 20.

The command will support the Space Force, which was established as the sixth military branch by the Fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, USAF said Monday.

SPOC aims to help USSF perform missions in areas such as space electronic and navigation warfare, satellite communications and environmental monitoring.

Maj. Gen. John Shaw will concurrently lead SPOC and the combined force space component of Space Command. All civilian and military personnel under the former 14th AF have also joined SPOC.

The redesignated military organization is headquartered at Vandenberg AF Base in California.

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NIST Issues Commerce Dept’s 2018 Tech Transfer Report; Walter Copan Quoted
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NIST Issues Commerce Dept’s 2018 Tech Transfer Report; Walter Copan Quoted
Walter Copan
Walter Copan

A Department of Commerce report has found an increase in technology transfer efforts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences over the past five years.

NIST said Tuesday DOC researchers took part in 534 collaborative research and development agreements in fiscal 2018, reflecting an increase of 120 over the previous fiscal year.

The department’s three research laboratories filed 56 patent applications, introduced 77 new inventions and secured 28 patents. DOC researchers also published more than 3.2K technical and scientific publications, according to the 2018 annual report.

“Technology transfer is an essential part of the mission of each federal science and technology agency,” said Walter Copan, undersecretary of Commerce for standards and technology and NIST Director. “This report shows important progress is being made to deliver impacts from our national investment in research and development for the benefit of Americans and the U.S. economy.”

Tech transfer efforts at NIST, NOAA and ITS include production of software and reference materials, participation in standards committees, training of guest and postdoctoral researchers and availability of user facilities.

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Jason Gray on Education Dept’s IT Modernization Efforts
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Jason Gray on Education Dept’s IT Modernization Efforts
Jason Gray
Jason Gray

Jason Gray, chief information officer of the Department of Education, said the department intends to secure its endpoint devices and consolidate some of its cloud platforms in 2020, Federal Times reported Tuesday.

The department introduced a five-year roadmap for its information technology modernization effort in June. “One of the top priorities is going to be stabilizing that and looking for ways to continue our modernization journey along that road map,” Gray said.

Gray added that he wants to be more “proactive” with how the agency evaluates its risks as part of the department’s efforts to improve its cybersecurity posture.

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Marine Corps Tests Amphibious Combat Vehicle Along California Coast
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Marine Corps Tests Amphibious Combat Vehicle Along California Coast


Marine Corps Tests Amphibious Combat Vehicle Along California Coast

The U.S. Marine Corps has conducted testing activities for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle at Camp Pendleton in Southern California.

The Marine Corps said Friday its Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch evaluated the ACV’s performance and maneuverability during the three-day exercise, including the amphibious vehicle’s capacity to operate in low light along the surf and in the ocean.

In June 2018, the Marine Corps selected a team comprised of BAE Systems and Iveco Defence Vehicles to build 204 ACVs to replace the Amphibious Assault Vehicle as part of a $1.2 billion contract.

USMC plans to deploy ACVs that come in recovery, command-and-control, up-armed and armored personnel carrier variants. The vessel will contain weapon systems for fire support and be used to traverse high surf as well as sloped terrain.

The service branch plans to deploy ACVs starting late 2020.

USAF Conducts Air Operations Center Contingency Planning Exercise
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USAF Conducts Air Operations Center Contingency Planning Exercise


USAF Conducts Air Operations Center Contingency Planning Exercise

The U.S. Air Force facilitated a 24-hour exercise focused on ensuring that the  618th Air Operations Center continues support activities despite degraded communications that may result from power outages or cyberattacks, C4ISrnet reported Saturday.

The Air Force unit, also known as the Tanker Airlift Control Center, handles over 134 daily sorties and mobility aircraft used for aerial refueling as well as cargo and personnel transport. TACC also manages weather data, maintenance information and diplomatic clearances.

Brig. Gen. Jimmy Canlas, commander of the 618th AOC, said the Air Force may prepare for instances of widespread outage by investing in backup technologies such as fax machines, walkie-talkies and high-frequency radios.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Carroll, deputy director of the strategy directorate, said the service branch may consider authorizing other AOCs to issue diplomatic clearances in the event that TACC experiences disrupted operations.

“There is going to be a ripple effect,” noted USAF Master Sgt. Samantha Lanier. “I think the biggest impact will be tomorrow — how we recover, how easy it is to recover.”

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DHS Extends Feedback Period for Vulnerability Disclosure Program
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DHS Extends Feedback Period for Vulnerability Disclosure Program


DHS Extends Feedback Period for Vulnerability Disclosure Program

The Department of Homeland Security will be seeking feedback until Jan 10 on how to formulate the draft vulnerability disclosure program designed to provide federal agencies with a structured way to report cybersecurity issues, The Fifth Domain reported Friday.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a draft binding operational directive on Dec. 2 that would require federal agencies to disclose the vulnerabilities of their public websites.

Adam Bernstein, information technology manager at the Office of Inspector General Department of Housing and Urban Development, wrote that legacy IT platforms should be excluded from the disclosure requirement because they are underfunded. He received a response saying that disclosures could help highlight the lack of funding for legacy IT systems.

CISA also received feedback on its proposed 90-day time frame between vulnerability disclosure and repair, as well as a suggestion for the agency to hold an industry for technical, legal, industry and government personnel to discuss the program.

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US Launches Airstrikes in Iraq, Syria Targeting Iran-Backed Group; Mark Esper Comments
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US Launches Airstrikes in Iraq, Syria Targeting Iran-Backed Group; Mark Esper Comments


Mark Esper
Mark Esper

The U.S. has facilitated airstrikes on five facilities in Iraq and Syria that were linked to an Iranian-backed militia, CNN reported Monday.

U.S. forces used F-15 fighter jets for the attack and targeted three locations in Iraq as well as two in Syria. The facilities involved with the Kataib Hezbollah group include command-and-control facilities and weapon storage locations.

Kataib Hezbollah reportedly conducted attacks on military facilities operated by joint U.S.-Iraq forces. There were at least 25 fatalities in the recent U.S.-led airstrikes, according to the report.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, a 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, said he met with President Trump, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss the airstrikes.

Esper noted that the meeting sought to ensure that the U.S. would “take additional actions as necessary to ensure that we act in our own self-defense and we deter further bad behavior from militia groups or from Iran.”

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Maxar Technologies Selling MDA for $765M Northern Private Capital; Dan Jablonsky, Biggs Porter Quoted
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Maxar Technologies Selling MDA for $765M Northern Private Capital; Dan Jablonsky, Biggs Porter Quoted


Maxar Technologies Selling MDA for $765M Northern Private Capital; Dan Jablonsky, Biggs Porter Quoted

Maxar Technologies (NYSE: MAXR) has agreed to sell MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), its Canadian subsidiary, to Northern Private Capital (NPC) for $765 million pending regulatory approval, the company announced on Monday.

Maxar plans to reduce leverage and debts as well as improve its capital structure to prioritize investments for growth in its core areas of Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure.

CFO Biggs Porter commented, “This transaction, when combined with the recently completed sale of real estate in Palo Alto, reduces Maxar’s overall debt by more than $1 billion and significantly reduces Maxar’s leverage ratio.â€

The transaction includes all of MDA’s Canadian businesses, encompassing ground stations, radar satellite products, robotics, defense and satellite components, representing approximately 1,900 employees.

Maxar projects the sale will generate $370 million in revenue and $85 million in adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).

“While the sale of MDA will re-baseline the size of the overall company, we continue to expect significant Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow growth over the next several years,†Porter added.

The completion of the sale is pending review from the Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (HSR Act) in the U.S. as well as the Radiocommunications Act and Competition Act in Canada.

“After the transaction is complete, Maxar will retain leading capabilities in geospatial data and analytics, satellites, space robotics, and space infrastructure, and we will continue to have strong alignment with our defense and intelligence customers, the evolving requirements of civil governments, and the pursuit of innovation seen in the commercial marketplace,†said Dan Jablonsky, Maxar CEO.

About Maxar Technologies

Maxar is a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure. We deliver disruptive value to government and commercial customers to help them monitor, understand, and navigate our changing planet; deliver global broadband communications; and explore and advance the use space.

Our unique approach combines decades of deep mission understanding and a proven commercial and defense foundation to deploy solutions and deliver insights with unrivaled speed, scale, and cost effectiveness.

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FMG Earns Top Ranking in GreenBook’s 2019 Market Leaders Report; Ben Garthwaite Quoted
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FMG Earns Top Ranking in GreenBook’s 2019 Market Leaders Report; Ben Garthwaite Quoted


FMG Earns Top Ranking in GreenBook's 2019 Market Leaders Report; Ben Garthwaite Quoted

Fors Marsh Group (FMG) earned its highest rank ever on GreenBook’s 2019 Market Leaders Report, a new and expanded iteration of the venerable U.S. Top 50 Report. Of the U.S.-based companies considered in 2019, FMG ranked 33rd on the list and was placed in the strategic consultancy category.

The Market Leaders Report showcases the biggest full-service market research firms in the United States that have demonstrated growth, impactful work, and research leadership. FMG has been honored as a Top 50 research consultancy firm every year since 2015 and is proud to make the list again at its highest rank to date.

“We are honored to earn this rank from the GreenBook 2019 Market Leaders Report,” said FMG CEO Ben Garthwaite. “This award and our success are due to our investing in talented people, operating at higher standards of business, and delivering researched-backed solutions that create positive social impact. This year, we grew across markets with the most significant expansion coming in our work to improve public health, combat workplace sexual assault and harassment, and attract the best and brightest to public service. Our leadership in the certified B Corporation movement has also been a major contributor and commitment to use business as a force for good – for clients, community and our people – is accelerating this success.”

In 2019, FMG established new offices in Maryland and Chicago and added more than 50 new employees to meet demand for new national-level client engagements. FMG expanded its partnerships with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) while adding a number of new clients including the US Army Marketing and Research Group, Department of Labor (DOL) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). U.S. Army. In alignment with the B Corporation certification, FMG rolled the 2019 business tax savings into a pro bono division called FMG SERV that focuses on activating FMG’s organic capabilities for public good.

About Fors Marsh Group

Fors Marsh Group (FMG) applies science and strategy to create positive behavior change in people and program and policy improvements in large organizations and government. This work is conducted within seven core U.S. markets: health, defense, technology, finance, homeland security, policy, and consumer. As a certified B Corporation, FMG uses business as a force for good, creating positive impact beyond our client portfolio, extending into the community through pro bono service to nonprofits aligned with FMG’s corporate values.

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