The Government Accountability Office said it intends to “continue to build its capacity” to meet congressional demand for science and technology activities through the agency’s new Science, Technology Assessment and Analytics arm. GAO said Thursday it established the STAA team in January to support its operations focused on providing S&T-based federal agency assessments to Congress.

The watchdog noted that the team works to “address key congressional interests” in S&T programs and oversee such efforts across the federal enterprise. According to GAO, its S&T portfolio has expanded to include engineering and project controls, best practices guidelines and technology assessments.

The agency plans to hire more experts in technical areas such as aerospace, computer science, biology and nuclear physics in the future. The STAA team is currently comprised of 59 professionals or around one-half of GAO’s projected amount detailed in its April 2019 plan.

The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman have completed a critical design review under a program that aims to deploy satellite communications payloads in the North Polar Region.

The Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization program would deliver eXtended Data Rate payloads that would operate in the region until USAF gets access to polar variants of protected and evolved satcom technology in the 2030s, Los Angeles AF Base said Monday.

The CDR revolved around the use of a new space vehicle that would host the payloads. The review’s completion concluded over two months of design assessments and allows the program to begin manufacturing activities.

“The EPS-R program’s unprecedented approach leverages best practices of our commercial space vehicle and commercial launch vehicle providers while collaborating with our Norwegian partners, and will prevent a protected communication coverage gap for warfighters in the Arctic region until future systems are available,” said Maj. John Gomez, EPS-R payload program manager.

Northrop’s aerospace systems business develops the program’s payloads under a $410M contract that will continue to run for four years.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said the U.S. Navy intends to deploy a distributed network of sensors and weapons in an effort to fortify defenses against Chinese threats, Defense News reported Thursday.

Gilday noted during a previous event that the service branch needs to work with the U.S. Air Force to ensure that the former’s assets collaborate effectively with the latter’s aircraft.

Last month, Gilday entered into an informal agreement with Air Force Chief of Staff and former Wash100 awardee Gen. David Goldfein to create a Joint All Domain Command and Control network based on the Navy’s integrated fire network.

“I think the biggest challenge for us is to join all the main command and control,” said Gilday. According to the CNO, the Navy is working to establish an adequate network of weapons, platforms and C2 nodes.

The Navy plans to include unmanned platforms and aircraft such as the E-2D Hawkeye in the proposed intra-service network.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has unveiled a research and development hub for artificial intelligence-based health care technology platforms intended to support former military personnel, their families and caregivers.

VA said Thursday the National Artificial Intelligence Institute will collect ideas from veterans and organizations across the government, commercial and academic sectors to facilitate R&D programs.

The department’s Office of R&D and Center for Strategic Partnerships collaborated to establish the facility.

Robert Wilkie, VA secretary and a 2019 Wash100 winner, said the institute will work to drive introduction of new systems and initiatives meant to help the government manage health outcomes for veterans.

The institute will build on the National AI R&D Strategic Plan and American AI Initiative to support large-scale programs, policies and partnerships.

VA noted it uses the technology in efforts to reduce wait times at medical facilities as well as help clinicians identify individuals at risk of suicide and choose treatments for patients.