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Accenture Federal Services Launches Exploring AI in Government” Podcast; First Episode Features Host Dominic Delmolino with Congressman Will Hurd & Dr. Monda Siddiqui”
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Accenture Federal Services Launches Exploring AI in Government” Podcast; First Episode Features Host Dominic Delmolino with Congressman Will Hurd & Dr. Monda Siddiqui”


Jeff Brody

Accenture Federal Services launched the inaugural episode of the company’s new podcast series Exploring AI in Government hosted by Dominic Delmolino, chief technology officer of Accenture Federal Services, on Tuesday. 

The podcast series looks to take listeners behind the scenes with the leaders and innovators defining artificial intelligence (AI) for the federal government. The program examines a number of key topics, including AI’s impact on citizen experience, the need for responsible AI practices and implications for the federal workforce. 

Tuesday’s inaugural episode explores the federal government’s current approach to AI with Congressman Will Hurd (R-TX) and 2019 Wash100 Award winner and Dr. Mona Siddiqui, chief data officer for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

“We should have a national strategy on AI that makes sure that we focus on a regulatory environment that doesn’t stifle innovation and that we are creating a skilled workforce prepared to thrive in an AI economy,” said Hurd. 

Hurd also addressed the ethics surrounding AI, the impact of AI on jobs and training the future workforce for the jobs of tomorrow. The episode also explores how federal agencies are implementing AI today. 

Dr. Siddiqui discussed how AI can improve healthcare quality while also addressing the unique challenges federal agencies face. “People have seen data as a research tool and now we’re asking them to connect data, which is very uncomfortable for a lot of people because of concerns around privacy, and security, Dr. Siddiqui explained. “And then we’re also saying that we’re going to use that information and that connected data to make business and operational decisions. And that’s a big, big shift for a lot of people.”

The second of six planned episodes will feature a roundtable discussion with Craig Fischer from the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service and Gisele Holden of the National Science Foundation on implementing intelligent automation. Other future guests include Dr. Eric Daimler, a former AI lead within the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Michael Karlin, one of the architects of Canada’s Algorithmic Impact Assessment tool.

Click here to access Accenture Federal Services’ Exploring AI in Government podcast. 

Tim Chung: DARPA’s Subterranean Challenge Aims to Improve Safety in Underground Operations
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Tim Chung: DARPA’s Subterranean Challenge Aims to Improve Safety in Underground Operations


Jeff Brody

Tim Chung, program manager for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Subterrenean Challenge, said that the program is focused on the need to mitigate human involvement in hazardous underground operations, National Defense magazine reported Monday.

Chung noted in an interview with the publication at the agency’s Arlington, Va. headquarters that the agency developed the challenge to identify how new tools can be leveraged in evironments that lack lighting and navigation technologies such as GPS.

He added that the challenge will focus on autonomy, mobility, perception and networking capabilities which participants must combine for the program’s tunnel, urban and underground circuits.

DARPA selected 11 teams for the challenge’s first circuit in May and is continuing to accept applications for the urban and cave circuits in 2020 ahead of the final event in August 2021.

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Donna Morea, SAIC’s Chair of the Board of Directors, Joins Unanet Board Board of Directors
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Donna Morea, SAIC’s Chair of the Board of Directors, Joins Unanet Board Board of Directors


Jeff Brody

Unanet announced on Tuesday the Donna Morea, the current chair of SAIC’s Board of Directors, has been added to Unanet’s Board of Directors. 

“I am thrilled to join Unanet and eager to work with the executive team to strengthen Unanet’s position as the market leading project-based ERP provider,” said Morea. “This is an exciting moment to begin contributing to Unanet’s next phase of growth.”

In December 2011, Morea retired in Dec. 2011 after a highly successful 31-year career with American Management Systems (AMS) and CGI Group, which acquired AMS in 2004. 

As President of CGI Technologies and Solutions, Morea led CGI’s IT and business process services in the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Her clients included many of the world’s largest and most complex organizations in federal and state and local government, healthcare, financial services, and other industries.

In addition, Morea serves as the Chair of the Risk Committee at SunTrust as well as on private corporate and not-for profit boards. With over thirty years of operating experience, she has vast experience building large-scale IT practices that focus on strategic, enterprise-wide solutions for large scale organizations. 

About Unanet

Over 1,200 professional services organizations trust Unanet’s Cloud ERP platform to scale their businesses while drastically reducing G&A in a “Single Source of Truth”. Unanet optimizes resource scheduling, budgeting & planning, skills management, time & expense reporting, purchasing, real-time project management analytics and dashboards, billing & revenue recognition, and GL, AP, AR, cost pool calculations, and indirect allocations. 

Our customers report 50% lower G&A headcount than those running competitive systems and can reduce effort on administrative processes by 90%.

NBIB Personnel Receive Offers to Perform Security Clearance Duties Under DCSA
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NBIB Personnel Receive Offers to Perform Security Clearance Duties Under DCSA

 

Jeff Brody

Around 3,200 National Background Investigations Bureau employees recieved offers from the Office of Personnel Management and Department of Defense to work under the newly formed Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, Federal News Network reported Monday. A senior administration official noted that the transfer will not change the employees’ salary grade, work space and supervisors “except for a few executives.”

According to the DoD Personnel Vetting Transformation Office, there are around 100 critical projects and 2,000 individual tasks that come with the migration effort which will take effect on Sept. 29.

President Trump signed an executive order directing the transfer of security clearance processing duties to DCSA in April.

 

Joyce Corell: Supply Chain Risk Mgmt Requires Various Disciplines
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Joyce Corell: Supply Chain Risk Mgmt Requires Various Disciplines


Jeff Brody
Joyce Corell

Joyce Corell, assistant director for supply chain and cyber at the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said that it’s “bureaucratically difficult” for agencies to comprehend proper supply chain risk management, FedTech reported Thursday.

Corell noted in an interview with the publication that a “variety of disciplines” need to come together to address functions under supply chain risk management including counterintelligence and security.

“People are only just beginning to recognize that there’s a lot of information you can get about risk if you purchase information from commercial data providers,” she said.

Agencies also need to consider intellectual property protection in technology development efforts and invest in tools to ensure that assets don’t leave critical locations, according to Corell.

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Lt. Gen. Joseph Martin Sworn In as Army Vice Chief of Staff
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Lt. Gen. Joseph Martin Sworn In as Army Vice Chief of Staff


Jeff Brody
Joseph Martin

Lt. Gen. Joseph Martin, formerly director of U.S. Army staff, has taken oath as vice chief of staff at the service branch.

Martin will succeed Gen. James McConville, who is slated to assume his new role as the military service’s chief of staff, the Army said Friday.

Prior to his previous role, Martin served as a commander at the 1st Infantry Division and led the Army Operational Test Command. He also served as commanding general at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif.

“I have had no greater privilege than leading and serving with the great men and women of our United States Army, and am truly blessed to be able to continue being by their side as Vice Chief of Staff,” said Martin.

Martin completed his studies at the U.S. Military Academy in 1986 and is a recipient of various honors including the Distinguised Service Medal and the Army Commendation medal.

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Dr. Andrew Jenkins, Chief Data Scientist of Data 2 Insights for Maxar Technologies, Announced as Panelist for Potomac Officers Club’s 2019 Intel Summit on July 31st
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Dr. Andrew Jenkins, Chief Data Scientist of Data 2 Insights for Maxar Technologies, Announced as Panelist for Potomac Officers Club’s 2019 Intel Summit on July 31st


Jeff Brody

Dr. Andrew Jenkins, the chief data scientists of Data 2 Insights for Maxar Technologies, will be featured as an expert panelist during for Potomac Officers Club’s 6th Annual Intel Summit on July 31st. He will be joined by Linda Foster of Lockheed Martin and Alexander Miller of the U.S. Army. Don’t wait to register for tomorrow’s summit. Click here to register for the 2019 Intel Summit. 

During the 2019 Intel Summit, GovCon leaders from the public and private sector will discuss the top priorities and initiatives from intelligence agencies as the emergence of innovative technologies continues to change the landscape. During the summit, our speakers will address the impact technology is making on the intelligence community and how to stay ahead of the curve. 

Dr. Jenkins joined Maxar Technologies as the chief data scientist in October 2013. He has over 17 years of mission focused GEOINT experience with the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. Along with his team, Dr. Jenkins has been successfully applying deep learning algorithms to GEOINT and delivering automated results to analyst almost daily for three years. 

Dr. Jenkins oversees dozens of data scientists across multiple IC and DoD programs/projects applying deep learning techniques to various GEOINT imageries. Dr. Jenkins developed the original deep learning algorithm and application, which later evolved into the scalable DeepCore framework. He’s also has served in numerous military, civilian, and academic positions.

John Edwards of the CIA, Joshua Skule of the FBI and 2019 Wash100 Award recipients Vice Adm. Robert Sharp of the NGA and Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley of DIA will serve as keynote speakers for Potomac Officers Club’s 6th Annual Intel Summit on July 31st. 

Register for POC’s Intel Summit right here.

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Linda Foster, Director of Advanced Program Development Innovation for Mission Solutions & Space for Lockheed Martin, Announced as Panelist for Potomac Officers Club’s 2019 Intel Summit on July 31st
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Linda Foster, Director of Advanced Program Development Innovation for Mission Solutions & Space for Lockheed Martin, Announced as Panelist for Potomac Officers Club’s 2019 Intel Summit on July 31st


Jeff Brody

Linda Foster, director of Advanced Program Development Innovation for Mission Solutions & Space for Lockheed Martin, will be featured as an expert panelist during for Potomac Officers Club’s 6th Annual Intel Summit on July 31st. She will be joined by Dr. Andrew Jenkins of Maxar Technologies and Alexander Miller of the U.S. Army. 

Don’t wait to register for tomorrow’s summit. Click here to register for the 2019 Intel Summit. 

During the 2019 Intel Summit, GovCon leaders from the public and private sector will discuss the top priorities and initiatives from intelligence agencies as the emergence of innovative technologies continues to change the landscape. During the summit, our speakers will address the impact technology is making on the intelligence community and how to stay ahead of the curve. 

In her role with Lockheed Martin, Foster ensures the future growth of the Space Business through the development of technology strategies, engagement with the Science and Technology community and fostering cross-enterprise innovation. 

Foster has been working as a collaborative senior leader and innovation advocate with extensive experience successfully leading high performance teams to drive business growth in multiple sectors, including global security, aerospace and information technology for more than 20 years. She has a broad-based immersion in research, design, development, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. 

In addition, Foster is a board member of the Microsoft Innovation Outreach Program, The Conference Board Innovation Leadership Council, the Innovation Research Institute (IRI) Board and ‘Wired’ Emerging Technology Board. She’s also an active volunteer in the Bethesda community and advocates for STEM in public education. 

Foster worked in Naval Intelligence for the U.S. Navy as a veteran. She majored in Russian and International Studies with San Francisco State University and received her US Naval Commission from University of California Berkeley. Foster also went on to study at The National Cryptologic School, and Johns Hopkins University where she received her Master of Science in Information Systems. 

John Edwards of the CIA, Joshua Skule of the FBI and 2019 Wash100 Award recipients Vice Adm. Robert Sharp of the NGA and Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley of DIA will serve as keynote speakers for Potomac Officers Club’s 6th Annual Intel Summit on July 31st. 

Register for POC’s Intel Summit right here.

Navy Names New Salvage Ship After Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe
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Navy Names New Salvage Ship After Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe


Jeff Brody

Richard Spencer, the secretary of the U.S. Navy and a 2019 Wash100 awardee, said the service is naming its newest towing, salvage and rescue ship in honor of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe from Michigan.

The Navy said Friday the USNS Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek is one of six contracted vessels to be named after either Native Americans or Native American tribes and will be used to support the service branch’s submarine salvage operations.

The service noted that Ojibwe refers to the Chippewa people comprising the Saginaw, Black River and Swan Creek bands of native Americans. 

Gulf Island Shipyards secured a $64.8M contract in 2018 to design and manufacture the new vessel at its shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, through July 2021. 

The rescue ship will feature commercial towing offshore vessel designs and will replace the Military Sealift Command’s T-ATF 166 and T-ARS 50 class ships. 

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MDA, Israel Gov’t Demo Arrow-3 Missile
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MDA, Israel Gov’t Demo Arrow-3 Missile


Jeff Brody

The Missile Defense Agency partnered with the Israel Missile Defense Organization of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development to test an anti-ballistic missile in Alaska, DefenseNews reported Sunday.

The Arrow-3 platform intercepted missiles in high-altitude, hit-to-kill scenarios during the demonstration.

Built by Boeing in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries, Arrow-3 is a ballistic missile system designed to repel exo-atmospheric targets and defeat short and mid-range rockets. Israel previously tested the missile platform to validate its capacity to distinguish varying targets.

“This unique success in Alaska provides confidence in future Israeli capabilities to defeat the developing threats in the region,” said John Hill, director at MDA.

Hill added the U.S. government will assist Israel in the modernization of the latter’s missile defense technology.

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