Monte Hawkins, the director of the National Vetting Center for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will be featured as the keynote speaker for Potomac Officers Club’s Security Vetting Process Modernization Update on August 14th.

Click here to register for the Security Vetting Process Modernization Update.

During the event, GovCon leaders from the public and private sector will discuss Phase One of the National Security Presidential Memorandum-9 implementation plan and how Phase Two will continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of vetting through a series of enhancements.

Hawkins has served as the first director of the National Vetting Center (NVC) since President Trump assigned the task to him in Feb. 2018. His role is to strengthen, simplify and streamline the complex and inefficient ways that intelligence is used to inform operational decisions and allow each vetting partner to contribute unique information and ensure that adjudications of border security and immigration-related benefits and protections are informed by all appropriate information available to the government while also maintaining robust privacy, civil rights and civil liberty protections.

Prior to his tenure as NVC’s Director, Hawkins served CBP as a senior advisor for Intelligence Integration between Aug 2017 and Feb. 2018. Hawkins served in a range of positions with the National Security, National Counterterrorism Center and National Security Council. He’s also been an intelligence analyst for the FBI and a uniformed division officer for the Secret Service.

In addition, Hawkins has served as an adjunct professor with Georgetown University since Aug 2013. He graduated, cum laude from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology in 1999 and earned a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland in 2001.

On August 14th, Potomac Officers Club will host the Security Vetting Process Modernization Update at the 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church, Va. Monte Hawkins of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be the keynote speaker for the event. Gator Harvey of Northrop Grumman Technology Services will serve as the moderator for an expert panel featuring Casie Antalis and Eric Peters of CBP, Sam Robinson of the FBI and Lori Vislocky of DHS.

Click here to register for the Security Vetting Process Modernization Update on August 14th.

Battelle announced on Monday that the company’s researchers have begun a project for the Department of Defense to examine commercial, fluorine-free aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) to determine whether they meet military specifications for fire suppression.

The Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) is funding the project under its in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) research initiatives. In addition, Battelle Principal Investigator Satya Chauhan, PhD, will determine if commonly available firefighting engineering technology such as compressed air foam or ultra-high pressure will allow the foams to meet the required standards of extinguishment and burnback.

“Battelle would particularly like to collaborate with developers of novel fluorine-free firefighting foams that are at a technology readiness level (TRL) of at least three,” said Chauhan.

Battelle is focused on bringing science-based solutions to address the country’s growing PFAS concerns. The chemicals have been commonly used for decades in firefighting foams as well as water-repellent, stain resistant and non-stick products materials.

Much of Battelle’s efforts are focused on how to identify, characterize, capture and destroy these chemicals in an effort the restore affected sites. This new program is an upstream effort to provide safer firefighting foam alternatives that can still meet the military’s requirements.

About Battelle 

Every day, the people of Battelle apply science and technology to solving what matters most. At major technology centers and national laboratories around the world, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio since its founding in 1929, Battelle serves the national security, health and life sciences, and energy and environmental industries.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is in final preparations to launch the fifth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) communications satellite for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. The launch is planned for Aug. 8 at Space Launch Complex-41 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Producing more than two and a half million pounds of thrust at liftoff, the Atlas V 551 configuration rocket is the most powerful in the Atlas V fleet. The 551 rocket has launched groundbreaking missions for our nation—from the critically important MUOS constellation to historic science missions including New Horizons, the first mission to Pluto and the Juno mission to Jupiter. The Atlas V 551 configuration first launched on January 19, 2006 and has launched nine times to date.

“Our highest priority is to safely and reliably deliver national assets,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “We are proud to have successfully launched the first four AEHF satellites, and look forward to launching the newest addition to the constellation in support of our nation’s national defense and the warfighter community.”

The Texas A&M University System has unveiled a $130M plan to build a new technology development and testing center for the U.S. Army at its RELLIS campus in Bryan, The Eagle reported Friday. The university is spending $50M for the development of laboratories, accelerator space and office space for the Army Futures Command at the campus and another $30M for infrastructure improvements to support the new facility.

The Texas Legislature also approved another $50M for the Texas A&M’s Engineering Experiment Station to create an outdoor testing area on the 2,000-acre site. Texas A&M’s board of regents will vote to begin design and construction of the facility and a groundbreaking is scheduled for this fall.

The university intends to hire up to 25 research engineers within the next year to help the Army test and evaluate emerging technology such as hypersonic and directed energy weapons. Army Futures Command, which employs a total of 24,000 civilians and soldiers, reached full operational capability in July.