New University to Train Security Cooperation Workforce in Defense Department; Cara Abercrombie Quoted
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New University to Train Security Cooperation Workforce in Defense Department; Cara Abercrombie Quoted


Jeff Brody
Cara Abercrombie

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has opened a new institution designed to train and build a workforce of security cooperation experts.

The new Defense Security Cooperation University aims to ensure that all involved personnel have a grasp of security cooperation’s alignment with the national security strategy, according to DSCU President Cara Abercrombie, the DSCA said Thursday.

DSCU will cover work to sustain inter-military relationships, joint training initiatives and foreign military sales engagements.

”DSCU will teach the security cooperation workforce, with a focus on meeting the requirements of the certification program,” Abercrombie said.

The university will offer an online course on security cooperation basics, and provide higher levels of certification for a combination of in-class and internet-based work.

John Rood, undersecretary of defense for policy, joined other defense officials for the university’s ribbon cutting ceremony that took place near the Pentagon.

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Danube Tech Receives DHS Funding to Develop Blockchain Security Tech
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Danube Tech Receives DHS Funding to Develop Blockchain Security Tech


Jeff Brody

Digital identity services provider Danube Tech has secured $143.4K in funds from the Department of Homeland Security’s science and technology directorate to build a blockchain security technology.

The company will incorporate interoperability support for application programming interfaces, blockchain systems and various credential data formats as part of the Universal Issuer and Verifier project, DHS said Thursday.

DHS S&T awarded the funds through the Silicon Valley Innovation Program, an initiative that seeks to further the development of homeland security technologies. According to the agency, it intends to use blockchain and distributor ledger technologies to enable reinforced security and interoperability in the issuance of credentials.

“Interoperability between blockchains is enabled by using emerging World Wide Web Consortium standards to globally resolve and find information where it exists on a particular blockchain,” said Anil John, a technical director for SVIP at DHS S&T.

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John Raymond Talks Space Command Initiatives, Space Force Needs
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John Raymond Talks Space Command Initiatives, Space Force Needs


Jeff Brody
John Raymond

Gen. John Raymond, commander of the U.S. Space Command, said at a Mitchell Institute event in Washington, D.C. that he is hopeful that Congress will pass legislation to create a Space Force “in the coming months.”

The Air Force said Friday that Spacecom is launching training initiatives focused on space operations as well as efforts to collaborate with industry to rapidly deploy new space capabilities.

The command also conducted the Coalition Space Flag exercise focused on fostering space preparedness for U.S. and allied forces including Canada, Australia and the U.K, according to Raymond. In addition, Spacecom is studying information-sharing efforts with industry and the general public to help improve deterrence.

Spaceom is planning to hold its second air chiefs meeting on space-related issues as well as another Coalition Space Flag exercise next year.

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Industry, Academic Experts Call on Congress to Address AI Bias Issues
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Industry, Academic Experts Call on Congress to Address AI Bias Issues


Jeff Brody

Erik Brynjolfsson, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Initiative on the Digital Economy, said at a House hearing that stakeholders should work on correcting biases in artificial intelligence technology, Nextgov reported Friday.

Brynjolfsson told lawmakers during a hearing with the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology that systems driven by machine learning have a tendency to replicate human decisions based on a set of biases. He said that stakeholders must invest in efforts to discover new ways of detecting prejudices which may impact activities such as hiring and credit loan applications.

Rebekah Kowalski, vice president of manufacturing services at ManpowerGroup, suggested enlisting a “digital era enterprise ethicist” to help entities eliminate bias. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College, recommended that the National Science Foundation support efforts to provide education on emerging technology to academic institutions beyond known research institutes.

“Understanding the human-robot interaction is really critical to all of the progress we want from manufactacturing, and farms and offices of the future,” added Arthur Lupia, assistant director of the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.

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Senate Confirms Lt. Gen. Jason Evans for New Army Installation Leadership Role
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Senate Confirms Lt. Gen. Jason Evans for New Army Installation Leadership Role


Jeff Brody
Lt. Gen. Jason Evans

Lt. Gen. Jason Evans has received the Senate’s confirmation to serve as deputy chief of staff, G-9, at the Department of the Army.

His newly established role succeeds the former position of assistant chief of staff for installation management, an old function that the Army changed to correspond with a three-star rank, the service branch said Friday.

Evans will operate from the Pentagon to oversee the Army’s portfolio of installations as part of the service branch’s reformed approach to installation management. This portfolio includes projects on military construction, housing, energy and water security, child care and environmental management.

The lieutenant general will also function as a principal advisor to the assistant secretaries of the Army for installations, energy and environment and manpower and reserve affairs management.

The service branch launched its installation reform initiative in early March to reorganize Army Installation Management Command as major component of Army Materiel Command. AMC’s commander now also holds the task to co-chair installation management processes with the assistant secretary of the Army for IE&E.

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President Trump Nominates Pete Gaynor as FEMA Administrator
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President Trump Nominates Pete Gaynor as FEMA Administrator


Jeff Brody
Pete Gaynor

Pete Gaynor, a 12-year emergency management veteran, has been nominated by President Trump to serve as administrator at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Gaynor currently serves as deputy administrator at FEMA after he received approval from the Senate in 2018, the White House said Thursday.

Prior to his present capacity, Gaynor led the Office of Homeland Security and the Providence Emergency Management Agency as director. He also served as an emergency manager in Rhode Island. The certified emergency manager spent 26 years as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.

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NASA Announces New Tipping Point Partnerships for Moon and Mars Technologies; James Reuter Quoted
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NASA Announces New Tipping Point Partnerships for Moon and Mars Technologies; James Reuter Quoted


NASA Announces New Tipping Point Partnerships for Moon and Mars Technologies; James Reuter Quoted
James Reuter

NASA has selected 14 U.S. companies as partners whose technologies will enable the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration approach. Selections were based on the agency’s fourth competitive Tipping Point solicitation with a combined value of $43.2 million, NASA said Monday.

Here are the 14 companies that NASA has selected:

  • Blue Origin
  • OxEon Energy
  • Skyre
  • SpaceX
  • Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Inc.
  • Paragon Space Development Corp. of Houston
  • TallannQuest
  • Accion Systems
  • CU Aerospace
  • ExoTerra Resource
  • Blue Canyon Technologies
  • Astrobotic Technology
  • Intuitive Machines
  • Luna Innovations

These companies will work to address technology areas such as cryogenic propellant production and management, sustainable energy generation, storage and distribution, efficient and affordable propulsion systems, autonomous operations, rover mobility and advanced avionics.

“These promising technologies are at a ‘tipping point’ in their development, meaning NASA’s investment is likely the extra push a company needs to significantly mature a capability,” said James Reuter, associate administrator of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. “These are important technologies necessary for sustained exploration of the Moon and Mars. As the agency focuses on landing astronauts on the Moon by 2024 with the Artemis program, we continue to prepare for the next phase of lunar exploration that feeds forward to Mars.”

Through firm-fixed-price contracts, STMD will make milestone payments over a performance period of up to 36 months. Each industry partner is required to contribute a minimum percent, based on the company’s size, of the total cost for each project.

STMD develops transformative space technologies to enable future missions. Tipping Point projects are managed by programs within STMD and in some cases include collaborations with NASA centers.

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PSC Comments on Department of Defense Draft Cybersecurity Framework; Wash100 Award Winner David Berteau, Alan Chvotkin Quoted
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PSC Comments on Department of Defense Draft Cybersecurity Framework; Wash100 Award Winner David Berteau, Alan Chvotkin Quoted


Jeff Brody

On Monday, the Professional Services Council (PSC) provided further feedback on the issues and concerns for the contractor community with regard to the Department of Defense’s (DoD) draft Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework. 

“PSC and our member companies welcome DoD’s high level of engagement and coordination with industry on the model, and we hope this collaboration will continue as the Department implements this,” said 2019 Wash100 Award winner, PSC President and CEO David Berteau. “This is a very big undertaking, so DoD and industry must continue to work together to get this right.”

A draft of the CMMC framework was released by DoD on Sept. 5. When finalized, the framework will require all companies doing business with DoD to obtain third-party certification that their company and their supply chains meet certain DoD-established cybersecurity standards. 

This new policy is expected to impact roughly 300,000 companies who provide goods and services to the Department, and the certifications are expected to be required for responses to DoD solicitations by the end of the 2020 federal fiscal year. 

“PSC supports DoD’s efforts to create a unified cybersecurity standard based on ‘best practices’ to secure the industrial base. However, PSC has some concerns, recommendations, and questions regarding CMMC and the implementation process,” said PSC Executive Vice President and Counsel Alan Chvotkin in the Sept. 25 letter. 

“Our initial review of the CMMC framework raises eight key issues and themes that we believe DoD needs to address prior to implementation to ensure clarity, fairness and competition in the standard.”

About Professional Services Council (PSC)

PSC is the voice of the government technology and professional services industry. PSC’s more than 400 member companies represent small, medium and large businesses that provide federal agencies with services of all kinds, including information technology, engineering, logistics, facilities management, operations and maintenance, consulting, international development, scientific, social, environmental services, and more. Together, the trade association’s members employ hundreds of thousands of Americans in all 50 states.

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Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems Selects Textron Systems for U.S. Army Combat Vehicle; Lisa Atherton Quoted
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Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems Selects Textron Systems for U.S. Army Combat Vehicle; Lisa Atherton Quoted


Jeff Brody

Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems has selected Textron Systems as the U.S. manufacturer for the Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Raytheon announced on Monday. 

“Textron Systems brings a decades-long heritage of supporting the U.S. Department of Defense and its allies with highly reliable and capable combat vehicles to enhance mission outcomes,” said Lisa Atherton, president and CEO of Textron Systems. “We are proud to be a part of the Lynx team and stand ready to support our teammates and our customer.”

The team of industry leaders is offering Lynx to meet the U.S. Army’s requirement for an Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV). Textron Systems brings unique capabilities in hull fabrication, rolling chassis assembly, integration and testing to the OMFV program. 

The company will support final integration during the development and prototyping phase of the program. In parallel, Textron Systems will prepare to build the Lynx chassis during future production phases. Textron Systems intends to perform the work at its Slidell, Louisiana, manufacturing facility.

“Building Lynx in America will support U.S. manufacturing jobs and revitalize the nation’s defense industrial base,” said Sam Deneke, Raytheon Land Warfare Systems vice president. “Textron Systems is an experienced manufacturer central to our strategy of leveraging a reliable U.S. supply chain to deliver the world’s most advanced combat vehicle to the U.S. Army.”

The U.S. Army’s OMFV, scheduled for fielding in 2026, is expected to replace the legacy Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

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.

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DHS, Pentagon Look at AI for Cyber Readiness Efforts
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DHS, Pentagon Look at AI for Cyber Readiness Efforts


Jeff Brody

The departments of Homeland Security and Defense plan to use artificial intelligence to improve their cybersecurity posture and allow their workforce to focus on more complex tasks, Federal News Network reported Friday.

Martin Stanley, a technical and AI adviser for DHS’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the department plans to support its cyber analysts’ work with the use of AI platforms.

“As managers, we really need to start looking at ways that we can transition folks into new positions, and build these human-machine teams that allow the humans to do the thing that they’re good at — which is to deal with the unpredictable, very complex kinds of decisions,” Martin said.

Ray Cook, chief technology officer for the CIA’s science and technology directorate, said he thinks AI tools could help analysts manage large data workloads.

“We have a huge data problem … and we have a finite workforce that has no chance whatsoever of keeping up with the pace — the variety, velocity and volume of that data, without some automation,” Cook said.

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