William Bryan: DHS Must Work With Partners on Blockchain Dev’t
Published on
William Bryan: DHS Must Work With Partners on Blockchain Dev’t


Jeff Brody
William Bryan

William Bryan, acting undersecretary for science and technology at the Department of Homeland Security, has said that his office is working with DHS components to implement blockchain to ensure system interoperability and mitigate vendor lock-in.

He wrote in a FedTech piece published Tuesday that the department’s S&T directorate previously partnered with Customs and Border Protection to deploy blockchain and ledger technology to support international trade management for supply chain operations.

According to Bryan, letting government and industry continue implementing closed digital platforms would limit the growth of new technologies like blockchain, which can help increase visibility in supply chain operations, automate paper-based procedures and prevent cases of fraud.

“This reality means that DHS S&T must work closely with its partners at all levels — research, development, testing and evaluation — as well as throughout government and industry, so that homeland security applications of blockchain and distributed ledger technology are effective and trusted,” he said.

Research and Markets, a global market research firm, has predicted that the global blockchain industry will reach $7.7 billion in 2022.

/
Army Reveals Six Modernization Objectives
Published on
Army Reveals Six Modernization Objectives


Jeff Brody

The U.S. Army has unveiled six key priorities in line with its modernization initiative. The service branch said Tuesday that it seeks to prioritize update efforts in combat vehicles, future vertical lift systems, long-range precision fires, network capacities, soldier lethality and missile defense.

“We will remain focused on delivering the 31 signature systems our cross-functional teams are developing in support of the six modernization priorities and ensure we can employ them the day they show up,” Ryan McCarthy, secretary at the Army.

In addition, the Army Futures Command will oversee eight cross-functional teams from various Army bases to help the military service achieve its objectives. The military service is slated to hold its annual conference on Oct. 14 through 19 to discuss its modernization plan.

/
CISA Seeks Congress-Approved Authority to Directly Contact Cyber-Vulnerable Firms
Published on
CISA Seeks Congress-Approved Authority to Directly Contact Cyber-Vulnerable Firms


Jeff Brody

The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency requests for authority to directly communicate with cyber-vulnerable commercial companies, Cyberscoop reported Wednesday. CISA seeks to eliminate the need for third party entities in contacting industry firms. The effort aims to accelerate the communication process.

The agency possesses internet protocol address information of vulnerable companies, but does not have the authority to access their contact information from service providers. The authority request’s potential approval would urge internet service providers to grant DHS the needed contact details.

DLA, GSA to Review Federal Supply Chain for Streamlining Effort
Published on
DLA, GSA to Review Federal Supply Chain for Streamlining Effort


Jeff Brody

The Defense Logistics Agency has partnered with the General Services Administration to review and streamline the federal supply chain. The DLA-GSA federal supply class review would tackle the 7 million items from across all 600 FSC categories, DLA said Wednesday.

FSCs categorize supplies based on use. The FCS review, a first in nearly 50 years, aims to reduce redundant purchases, improve customer response and boost procurement efficiency in the federal government’s supply chain. 

“What we are learning from the FSC review is that materiel management also varies between organizations, commodities and customers,” said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams, DLA director.

DLA and GSA are also jointly developing a tool designed to automate data processing on all federal supplies. The tool would help the federal government determine supplies suitable for logistics transfer. Representatives from both agencies will then analyze these items to decide whether a change of logistics approach would streamline the supply chain.

/
Brig. Gen. Douglas Schiess: Patrick AFB Eastern Range to Ramp Up Launch Rate
Published on
Brig. Gen. Douglas Schiess: Patrick AFB Eastern Range to Ramp Up Launch Rate


Jeff Brody
Douglas Schiess

Brig. Gen. Douglas Schiess, director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Air Force Base, said the range is preparing to launch 40 rockets in 2020, Space News reported Wednesday.

The Florida-based range will require the help of commercial launch service providers to reach the of 48 launches yearly, said Schiess, who also commands the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Space Wing. Schiess said he expects 2019 to end with a total of 30 launches at the range; however, the 45th Space Wing faces chances of some delays.

The range would have to change its infrastructure and administrative approaches to pursue more launches and streamline operations, the director said. A new scheduling system would better help launch providers identify optimal lift-off times, Schiess noted.

/
Commerce Dept Continues Work on Software Bill of Materials
Published on
Commerce Dept Continues Work on Software Bill of Materials


Jeff Brody

The Department of Commerce has created a Software Bill of Materials that details the origins of components used in developing software for applications such as internet-of-things technology, FCW reported Wednesday.

Allan Freidman, director of cybersecurity at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, said at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas that the SBOM group is currently working on improving information sharing, identifying trusted sources for data storage and establishing ways to process such information.

Cheri Caddy, director of public-private partnerships at the National Security Agency, noted during a recent Atlantic Council event that vulnerable and risky software can be a major benefit to adversaries and malicious actors.

“The problem is we all make risk decisions on different bases, so what is red flags and alarm bells in the national security community in terms of risk might just yield a shrug from certain private-sector partners,” she added.

Freidman and Caddy’s comments come as the government continues its oush to prohibit products from Chinese telecommunications firms Huawei and ZTE as well as Russian software company Kaspersky.

NNSA Assigns New Consortia Under STEM Program
Published on
NNSA Assigns New Consortia Under STEM Program


Jeff Brody

The National Nuclear Security Administration has assigned 12 schools into four new consortia as part of efforts to expand the Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program.

MSIPP seeks to support tribal colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions and historically black colleges and universities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics through access at NNSA plants, laboratories and sites, the Department of Energy said Wednesday.

The new consortia will focus on energy sciences, cybersecurity training, additive manufacturing and nuclear security technologies.

“It creates opportunities for students to explore fields that are highly competitive in the job market while also introducing them to the incredible missions of NNSA,” said Frank Lowery, associate administrator for management and budget at NNSA.

Kirstjen Nielsen Joins Nat’l Infrastructure Advisory Council
Published on
Kirstjen Nielsen Joins Nat’l Infrastructure Advisory Council


Jeff Brody
Kirstjen Nielsen

President Trump has appointed former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to serve on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, the White House said Wednesday. Nielsen, a former Wash100 Award recipient, announced her intent to resign as DHS secretary in April.

Kevin McAleenan, who serves as commissioner of DHS’ Customs and Border Protection component and is a fellow Wash100 Award winner, assumed Nielsen’s role on an interim basis.

Prior to her confirmation in 2017, Nielsen served as chief of staff to former DHS Secretary John Kelly and held leadership roles at Suneisis Consulting and Civitas Group LLC. NIAC is comprised of industry and government entities that work to conduct research and develop recommendations on protecting critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats in line with the president’s goals.

/
ViON Named Finalist in the 16th Annual Stevie Awards; Tom Frana Quoted
Published on
ViON Named Finalist in the 16th Annual Stevie Awards; Tom Frana Quoted


Jeff Brody

ViON announced on Thursday that the company has been named a finalist in the 16th Annual Stevie Awards, the worlds’ premier business awards created to honor the achievements of organizations and working professionals worldwide.

“The evolution of the ViON MarketPlace was definitely a team effort led by Elizabeth Anthony, our SVP of Marketing, Andy Flick, who directed our Cloud PMO Development Team and Scott Aukema, who led the digital communications effort,” explained Tom Frana, ViON’s chairman and CEO. 

Finalists were selected based on the average scores of more than 150 professionals worldwide on six specialized juries. Their scores will ultimately determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze placements of the Finalists and results will be announced on Friday, November 15 in New York City.

ViON is one of six finalists in the category of best new product or service for the ViON MarketPlace, a platform that enables enterprise organizations to access IT solutions as-a-Service via one interface.

The innovative platform reduces complexity and provides a streamlined way for customers to research, procure and manage technology, which accelerates the path to IT modernization in the public and private sectors.

“The team developed the platform with one goal in mind: simplify the customer experience amid the complexity of a rapidly changing IT industry. I am extremely proud of the work they have done to meet the demands of our market at a time when IT modernization is so critical to success and customers are requiring a better experience,” Frana added. 

About ViON Corporation

ViON Corporation is a cloud service provider with over 38 years’ experience designing and delivering enterprise data center solutions for government agencies and commercial businesses. The company provides a large portfolio of IT as-a-Service, including infrastructure, multi-cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Focused on supporting the customer’s IT modernization requirements, ViON’s Enterprise Cloud is changing cloud management for the market, providing a streamlined platform to audit and control technology in an evolving multi-cloud world.

/
DMI Awarded $8M Artificial Intelligence Contract from the U.S. Army; Jay Sunny Bajaj Quoted
Published on
DMI Awarded $8M Artificial Intelligence Contract from the U.S. Army; Jay Sunny Bajaj Quoted


Jeff Brody

Digital Management (DMI) has been awarded an $8 million contract to leverage its AIQUS artificial intelligence and machine learning portfolio to modernize the U.S. Army’s Interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System, known as iPERMS, DMI announced on Thursday.

DMI will support HRC by leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to scan personnel file metadata, ensuring proper indexing, filing and management of this data, as well as a reduction in errors, within the iPERMS system.

iPERMS is a mission-critical, centralized records management program chartered to redesign the U.S. Army’s business processes surrounding the management of official military personnel records used by commanders and human resource managers for decision-making about soldiers’ continued service and careers.

“We’re thrilled to bring these emerging technologies to the U.S. Army’s HRC office in Fort Knox, Kentucky,” said Jay Sunny Bajaj, founder and CEO of DMI. “We’re actively incorporating our AIQUS portfolio across the full spectrum of DMI solutions for government and commercial clients alike to optimize operations, cut costs and transform business for DMI’s valued customers.”

The iPERMS system houses 250 million personnel file artifacts, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, college transcripts and deployment orders. Nearly two million artifacts are processed every month.

About DMI 

DMI is a global digital transformation company purpose-built to reinvent business for today’s mobile and connected world. At DMI, we take a human-centric, mobile-first approach to help our clients disrupt their markets and evolve their business models. We’re a new breed of partner that brings together the innovation and design-thinking of a digital agency with the rapid and iterative delivery of a modern IT services partner.

1 … 1,747 1,748 1,749 1,750 1,751 … 2,703