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NNSA, USAF Conduct Non-Nuclear Tests of B61-12 Gravity Bomb
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NNSA, USAF Conduct Non-Nuclear Tests of B61-12 Gravity Bomb


Jeff Brody

The National Nuclear Security Administration has concluded three non-nuclear flight tests of a gravity bomb in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force and allies from NATO. NNSA said Tuesday that it worked with partners to test the B61-12 gravity bomb last month at Tonopah Test Range, Nevada in preparation for the weapon system’s final demonstration next year.

The tests support the B61-12 Life Extension Program that aims to have the bomb operational for at least 20 more years. The program consists of efforts to refurbish the weapon’s nuclear and non‐nuclear parts.

The Nuclear Weapons Council, an organization jointly established between the departments of Defense and Energy, oversees the program. The B61 is an aircraft-dropped nuclear gravity bomb that has been operational in the U.S. military for almost half a century.

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SBA Working on Cloud, Data Mgmt System Modernization Efforts
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SBA Working on Cloud, Data Mgmt System Modernization Efforts


Jeff Brody

Nagesh Rao, business technology solutions director under the Small Business Administration’s chief information officer, said that the agency has been pushing for commercial cloud implementation over the past few years, Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

Rao told the publication that SBA has been deploying mostly software-as-a-service technologies, and that some of the agency’s legacy systems are still run by on-premise servers. He added that his office is “really working towards the customer journey from a 360 perspective” and intends to deploy a modernized case management system as well as an enterprise-wide platform for managing customer relationships.

“The thing that we still have to work on, though, is the rest of our agency program offices,” he noted. “Some are situated through us, and some have their own IT workforce. And so we’re in the process of leading the charge forward so that everyone universally falls in alignment with our vision.”

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NIST, FirstNet Invite Masses to Compete in First Responder Coding Challenge
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NIST, FirstNet Invite Masses to Compete in First Responder Coding Challenge


Jeff Brody

The First Responder Network Authority and the National Institute of Standards and Technology have jointly launched a $2.2M communications technology competition.

Participants of the Tech to Protect Challenge will submit coding systems that support the communications needs of first responders, the Department of Commerce said Tuesday.

The competition will consist of 10 regional in-person coding events and one online contest open to software developers, programmers, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and public safety professionals.

The first round of coding events will take place in Chicago; Denver; College Station, Texas; Pittsburgh; and Washington, D.C., from Sept. 27 to 29. The second round will launch in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle on Nov. 1 and end Nov. 3.

DHS S&T, CBP Form Opioid Detection Tech Dev’t Partnership
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DHS S&T, CBP Form Opioid Detection Tech Dev’t Partnership


Jeff Brody

The Department of Homeland Security’s science and technology directorate has teamed up with the Customs and Border Protection for a project that seeks to build screening technologies for opioids.

The team is studying the probability of incorporating modified explosive detectors and advanced CT scanners to optimize current interdiction approaches in mail facilities as part of the Synthetic Opioid Detection at Speed initiative, the agency said Tuesday.

Additionally, DHS S&T intends to collaborate with the U.S. Coast Guard to build a platform that can validate trace quantities of opioids.

“We are currently focusing on the mail, but opioids are clearly entering the U.S. by land, air and sea,” said Rosanna Robertson, a program manager at DHS S&T.

Robertson is slated to lead a team that will develop an algorithm for a 3D container screening tool. The team will also assess the tool’s capacity to identify narcotics in complex cargoes.

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Margaret Martonosi Named Head of NSF Computer, Information Science Directorate
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Margaret Martonosi Named Head of NSF Computer, Information Science Directorate


Jeff Brody
Margaret Martonosi

Margaret Martonosi, director of Princeton University’s Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education, has been appointed to lead the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, effective Feb. 1, 2020. She brings experience in computer and information science leadership and computer architecture research, NSF said Monday.

Martonosi concurrently serves as a computer science professor with her role as Keller Center’s director. NSF’s CISE directorate, Martonosi’s next team, issues awards to support research across all disciplines of computer and information science and technology.

The directorate also aims to foster interdisciplinary partnerships, further build the global computer science workforce and sustain the nation’s computer research infrastructure.

“The role of computing research in machine learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity and many other societally-relevant topics has never been more important to the nation’s future,” Martonosi said. “America cannot remain at the forefront of innovation without NSF’s crucial contributions towards advances in these research areas,” she added.

The award-winning computer scientist is a recipient of multiple honors such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Technical Achievement Award and a Jefferson Science Fellowship.

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Lisa Porter: DoD Deploying ‘Zero-Trust’ Concept for Network Security
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Lisa Porter: DoD Deploying ‘Zero-Trust’ Concept for Network Security


Jeff Brody
Lisa Porter

Lisa Porter, deputy undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, has said that the Department of Defense is aiming to implement a “zero-trust architecture” to fortify network security. DoD said Tuesday that zero-trust environments use microsegmentation to divide networks into individual zones that require special access.

Porter told attendees at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event in Washington, D.C. that DoD users should act as though networks have already been compromised by external and internal threats.

“I think we’ve been lulling ourselves into a false sense of security by thinking we can build perfectly secure enclaves,” she said. “There is no such thing as a secure system. So we have to deal with that reality whether we are doing cyber, whether we are doing supply chain, whether we are doing 5G.”

According to Porter, the Pentagon is “really trying to advocate” for the zero-trust concept and intends to work on research and engineering efforts related to the subject.

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Valiant Integrated Services Awarded $119M Contract from U.S. Army; James Jaska Quoted
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Valiant Integrated Services Awarded $119M Contract from U.S. Army; James Jaska Quoted


Jeff Brody

The U.S. Army has awarded a five-year, $119 million contract, inclusive of all options, to Valiant Integrated Services to support the U.S. Army’s Korea Battle Simulation Center (KBSC), Valiant announced on Wednesday. 

Valiant will support the KBSC in planning, coordinating, and executing training by providing personnel experienced in doctrine, training methodologies, data analysis, and proficient in model federation and local and wide area networking.

“We’ve been honored to provide mission preparedness support services to the KBSC for nearly 30 years and are pleased to be able to continue bringing fresh and innovative approaches and support to this important Customer as critical missions continue to adapt and change,” said James Jaska, CEO of Valiant.

Valiant and its predecessor companies have been providing support to the KBSC for more than 28 years. The company currently provides services to support KBSC in conducting theatre-level, command and staff training in the Republic of Korea, Japan and other locations throughout the Indo-Pacific region. These training services include the application of constructive and virtual modeling and simulation as well as planning and coordination of joint and combined training.

“This program remains an important part of our robust training portfolio and I’m proud of our Ground Training Solutions team for their exceptional track-record of meeting the most complex needs of our Customers,” Jaska added.

About Valiant Integrated Services LLC

Valiant provides vital resources, high value solutions and critical support services for essential missions of the U.S. Government, its allied partners and international organizations. Valiant services these customers by deploying expertise in; Facilities Management, Base Operations and Support Services, Expeditionary Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Contingency Contracting, Training, Mission Support, Engineering & Analysis and support to the Intelligence Community.  

Valiant enables government departments and agencies, global peacekeepers, relief workers, and emergency response teams to efficiently and effectively complete their missions in some of the most complex environments across the globe.  Valiant associates do their jobs everyday so our customers can complete their missions with excellence. Valiant is a closely held corporation of GC Valiant LP, along with other shareholders.

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Senate Subcommittee-Approved FY 2020 Spending Bill to Provide $22.75B for NASA
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Senate Subcommittee-Approved FY 2020 Spending Bill to Provide $22.75B for NASA


Jeff Brody

The Senate Appropriations’ commerce, justice and science subcommittee passed a spending bill that would authorize $22.75 billion in fiscal year 2020 funds for NASA, SpaceNews reported Tuesday.

The proposed measure reflects a $1.25 billion increase from the space agency’s FY 2019 funding and allocates $2.6 billion in funds for the Space Launch System, $1.4 billion for the Orion spacecraft and $1.1B for the space technology program.

The bill would earmark $6.9 billion for the agency’s science programs, including $445.7 million for the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope and $161 million for the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud and Ocean Ecosystem spacecraft. The Senate Appropriations Committee is set to decide on the measure on Thursday, Sept. 26.

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KBR Receives $40M Contracts from Air Force Space Command; Byron Bright Quoted
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KBR Receives $40M Contracts from Air Force Space Command; Byron Bright Quoted


KBR Receives $40M Contracts from Air Force Space Command; Byron Bright Quoted

The U.S. Air Force Space Command (AFSC) has awarded KBR two contract modifications worth nearly $40 million to upgrade remote tracking stations in the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN), KBR announced on Wednesday.

The U.S. Air Force Space Command (AFSC) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) awarded these firm fixed price modifications under the existing Hybrid Remote Tracking Station (RTS) Block Change (RBC) Contract. KBR was awarded the RBC Hybrid contract back in Feb. 2013.

This work includes replacing existing Automated Remote Tracking Station (ARTS) systems with new RBC systems and integrating these RBC systems with existing antennas and associated subsystems. KBR will ensure the successful integration and testing of the overall system, which will ultimately enhance AFSCN operations.

“These awards highlight KBR’s continued organic growth in important military space markets,” said Byron Bright, President, KBR Government Solutions U.S. “They are a testament to our reputation for delivering quality, dependable and innovative mission-critical services to the government.”

AFSCN is a global system that provides command, control, and communications for space vehicles and satellites. It supports telemetry, tracking, and command for U.S. defense space vehicles as well as selected space programs run by NASA and foreign allies.

“KBR is proud to be a leader in advancing air, space, and missile defense systems for the U.S. military and to partner with the U.S. military to bolster our national security posture,” Bright continued.

About KBR 

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life cycle within the Government Services and Hydrocarbons sectors.

The company employs over 37,500 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 80 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses: Government Solutions, Technology Solutions and Energy Solutions.

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VADM Terry Benedict Joins SPA Board of Directors; Dr. William Vantine Quoted
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VADM Terry Benedict Joins SPA Board of Directors; Dr. William Vantine Quoted


Jeff Brody

Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA) announced on Wednesday that Vice Admiral Terry Benedict (USN, Ret.) has joined the company’s Board of Directors. 

“SPA built a strong partnership with VADM Benedict during his time as the SSP director.  We look forward to the tremendous value he will bring as a strategic advisor, and how his skills and experience will complement our current board members,” said Dr. William Vantine, SPA CEO and President.

VADM Benedict spent more than 40 years in the United States Navy, retiring as the Director, Strategic Systems Programs (SSP). As the SSP Director, VADM Benedict was responsible for all aspects of the Navy’s Strategic Weapon System, to include design, development, production, operational support, safety and security.  

In addition, he was accountable for overall program technical and cost performance, as well as providing recommendations to senior Navy, Office of the Secretary of Defense and Congressional leadership.

Prior to SSP, he was the Program Executive Officer—Integrated Warfare Systems, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (research, development and acquisition), responsible for all surface ship warfare systems including combat systems, radars, Electronic Warfare, missiles, guns, command & control, navigation and training systems.

VADM Benedict has worked as the Chief Operating Officer for Blue Origin since his retirement in 2018. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Draper, an engineering innovation company and is a member of the National Academies Space Technology Industry-Government-University Roundtable.

About Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. 

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. provides timely and objective analysis and integrated technical, operational, programmatic, policy, and business solutions in support of important national objectives.  SPA’s distinguished reputation for over 45 years is based on high caliber work supporting national security and national defense customers.

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