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Senate Confirms James Byrne for VA Deputy Secretary Role
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Senate Confirms James Byrne for VA Deputy Secretary Role


Jeff Brody
James Byrne

James Byrne, general counsel at the Department of Veterans Affairs, has been senate-confirmed to serve as VA’s deputy secretary, Military Times reported Wednesday. He has been functioning as deputy secretary on an acting basis since August 2018. President Trump nominated Byrne for the full-time position in April.

Byrne works with VA secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient Robert Wilkie to oversee a 370,000-employee workforce across VA medical facilities as acting deputy secretary. His work as general counsel supports legal efforts for the department’s decision making and policy.

The public servant also contributed over two decades of government work, having formerly functioned as an international narcotics prosecutor at the Department of Justice and as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer.

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House Hearing Focuses Discussion on Internet Architecture Security
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House Hearing Focuses Discussion on Internet Architecture Security


Jeff Brody

Lawmakers and government officials discussed the security of internet infrastructure during a House committee hearing held Tuesday, FCW reported Wednesday. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) of the House Armed Services Committee said no single entity oversees the internet infrastructure despite the efforts of some federal agencies to define cybersecurity roles.

“I’m very worried that by carving out discrete lanes in the road, there are seams left unaddressed in the middle, and I’m concerned that internet architecture security is one of those seam issues,” Langevin said.

Jeanette Manfra, assistant director at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said most of the oversight of security issues related to the internet infrastructure lies with the private sector.

“It’s not so much that here’s a clear jurisdiction and it ends at this part of the internet architecture,” Manfra told lawmakers. “It’s really private sector led in all cases and what we have are different tools to analyze and make assessments and take action if we have concerns.”

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Mark Bathrik: Gov’t Should Revise Airspace Policies to Cover UAS Operations
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Mark Bathrik: Gov’t Should Revise Airspace Policies to Cover UAS Operations


Jeff Brody

Mark Bathrik, director of the Interior Department’s Office of Aviation Services, told attendees at a Brookings Institution event that airspace regulations should also involve unmanned aerial systems that fly below 400 feet, Fedscoop reported Wednesday.

Bathrik said he is pleased with the government’s increased investment in small UAS technologies. However, he has concerns over regulators potentially enforcing stringent policies to prevent drones from impacting line-of-sight activities.

“I worry that we’re going to overregulate and over-equip drones that don’t ever need to fly beyond visual line of sight,” Bathrik said.

OAS deploys more than 670 drones that utilize sensor data to assist in operations such as federal land management, dam inspections, animal migration tracking and other flood, fire and volcano-related missions.

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SBA Awards $18M in Grants to 41 State International Trade Agencies; Chris Pilkerton Quoted
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SBA Awards $18M in Grants to 41 State International Trade Agencies; Chris Pilkerton Quoted


Jeff Brody

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced on Thursday that $18 million in grants has been awarded to 41 state international trade agencies to support export growth among small businesses through SBA’s competitive State Trade Expansion Program (STEP).

“SBA is proud to partner with the STEP grant winners and provide much-needed resources that help small businesses increase their sales by exporting,” said Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. “These grants are especially helpful as our country is in the midst of negotiating a number of trade agreements, including one between the United States–Mexico–Canada (USMCA),” said Pilkerton. 

“All of the Administration’s work aims to modernize and create a better deal for U.S consumers, businesses, including small businesses, and workers. The SBA’s STEP partners not only help entrepreneurs increase and diversify their customer base; they also help to create and retain local jobs,” Pilkerton added. 

The 2019 STEP awards help provide small businesses with the information and tools they need to succeed in export-related activities. Exporting activities include: participating in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips, obtaining services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, accessing expertise in designing international marketing campaigns and export trade show exhibits and participating in training workshops, as well as other important means of engagement.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations.

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Salesforce Provides $18.2M to San Francisco and Oakland School Districts; Marc Benioff, Keith Block Quoted
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Salesforce Provides $18.2M to San Francisco and Oakland School Districts; Marc Benioff, Keith Block Quoted


Jeff Brody

Salesforce announced on Thursday that the company has awarded $18.2 million in grants to the Oakland and San Francisco school districts to expand educational opportunities for students and leaders in the Bay Area.

“Giving every child an equal opportunity to a world-class education is a critical step to bring more equality, stability, and growth into our communities, and it cannot be the work of government alone,” said Salesforce co-CEOs Marc Benioff and Keith Block. “Everyone has a role to play, including business, and that’s why Salesforce has provided nearly $70 million in funding and 45,000 volunteer hours in the San Francisco and Oakland school districts.”  

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) will receive $8.5 million, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) will receive $8.7 million and $500,000 will be provided to CORE and Blueprint Schools Network for continued education support. 

Salesforce’s latest grants to SFUSD and OUSD build upon a long-term partnership with the districts to improve student outcomes and opportunities. The new grants will support computer science curriculum expansion and innovative math programs as well as teacher recruitment, retention, and training in both districts.

About Salesforce

Salesforce is the global leader in Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bringing companies closer to their customers in the digital age. Founded in 1999, Salesforce enables companies of every size and industry to take advantage of powerful technologies—cloud, mobile, social, internet of things, artificial intelligence, voice and blockchain—to create a 360-degree view of their customers.

Senate Bill to Authorize $1B More for DoD’s Hypersonic Programs
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Senate Bill to Authorize $1B More for DoD’s Hypersonic Programs


Jeff Brody

The Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee passed a defense policy bill to allocate $1 billion in additional funds for hypersonic programs for fiscal year 2020, C4ISRNET reported Wednesday.

A summary of the bill says the proposed measure includes $108M for the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, $237.8M for hypersonic defense programs, $576M for the U.S. Air Force’s hypersonics prototyping work, $228M for the U.S. Army’s hypersonic initiatives and $150.6M for hypersonic glide body development effort.

“The bill includes significant investments in both basic research and future technologies such as hypersonics, 5G, artificial intelligence, missile defense, and cybersecurity, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and defense subpanel, said in a statement. “We must continue to make investments today that demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that our Armed Forces are well-trained, well-equipped and better prepared than any other around the world, and this bill does that.”

The full Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled Thursday, Sept. 12, to proposed measure.

Trump Issues Extension of National Emergency Against Foreign Election Threats
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Trump Issues Extension of National Emergency Against Foreign Election Threats


Jeff Brody

President Trump extended a national emergency regarding foreign threats to the upcoming 2020 U.S. elections, The Hill reported Tuesday. He issued a memo to Congress noting the potential for foreign entities to threaten U.S. national security and policy.

Trump noted the absence of proof regarding this danger, but also referenced the historical intent of foreign powers to take advantage of the U.S. open political system. The declared extension prolongs a national emergency that was originally scheduled to expire soon.

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Dale Cabaniss Confirmed as OPM Director
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Dale Cabaniss Confirmed as OPM Director


Jeff Brody
Dale Cabaniss

The Senate has confirmed Dale Cabaniss as the Office of Personnel Management’s new director, Federal News Network reported Wednesday. President Trump nominated Cabaniss to head the agency for a four-year term in March.

She will succeed Margaret Weichert, the acting OPM director and the Office of Management and Budget’s deputy director for management. Previously, Cabaniss served as chairwoman of the Federal Labor Relations Authority and spent more than 20 years in Senate and civil service roles.

During her nomination hearing in May, Cabaniss expressed her support for the Trump administration’s proposed merger of OPM and the General Services Administration.

Potomac Officers Club Announces Maj. Gen. David Bassett of the U.S. Army as Panelist for 4th Annual Army Forum on Oct. 2nd
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Potomac Officers Club Announces Maj. Gen. David Bassett of the U.S. Army as Panelist for 4th Annual Army Forum on Oct. 2nd


Jeff Brody

Maj. Gen. David Bassett, the program executive officer of command, control and communications-tactical at the U.S. Army, will be featured as an expert panelist during Potomac Officers Club’s 4th Annual Army Forum on Oct. 2nd.

Click here to register for the 4th Annual Army Forum.

In his role, Bassett guides a workforce of more than 1,600 personnel who acquire, field and support the communications networks, radios, satellite systems and other hardware and software Soldiers require for information dominance on the battlefield.

Bassett took command of PEO C3T on January 30, 2018. MG Bassett came to PEO C3T after serving as Program Executive Officer for Ground Combat Systems since Sept. 2013. He was responsible for the life-cycle management of a complex and diverse organization with six Acquisition Category I programs (Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle program, M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer program, Abrams Tank upgrades, Bradley Fighting Vehicles upgrades, the Stryker Family of Vehicles and the M88 HERCULES).

In addition to the combat vehicle modernization efforts for each of the ACAT I programs, Bassett was also responsible for multiple Foreign Military Sales efforts and pending programs such as Mobile Protect Firepower. The ground combat systems portfolio has an annual budget of over $2.67 billion with a total program budget of over $14.8 billion (POM FY16-20).

He was commissioned through ROTC in 1988 into the Signal Corps with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia. As a junior officer, he served in Germany in tactical positions as Communications Platoon Leader, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and Battalion S4 and Company Commander in 123rd Signal Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division.

Following the Signal Officer’s Advanced Course and Advanced Civil Schooling at the University of Virginia where he received a Master of Science in Computer Science, Bassett was assigned to the US European Command Staff, where he served as the Requirements Analysis and Interoperability Action Officer, J6.

He transferred to the Army Acquisition Corps in 1999 and was assigned to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, as Operations Officer, Communications and Electronics Command Software Engineering Center.

Bassett went on to serve at Fort Monmouth as the Chief Software Engineer for the Future Combat Systems Network and as Program Integrator and Product Manager, Future Combat Systems, Software Integration. He then served on the Joint Staff as the Ground Maneuver Analyst, Capabilities and Acquisition Division, J8.

On October 2nd, Potomac Officers Club will host the 4th Annual Army Forum at the 2941 Restaurant in Falls Church, Va. Dr. Bruce Jette of the U.S. Army will be the keynote speaker for the event. A full expert panel of GovCon leaders will also be featured during the forum including MG David Bassett and Stuart Hazlett.

Click here to register for the 4th Annual Army Forum on Oct. 2nd.

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DOE to Extend Hanford Plateau Remediation Contract for Jacobs; Karen Wiemelt Quoted
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DOE to Extend Hanford Plateau Remediation Contract for Jacobs; Karen Wiemelt Quoted


Jeff Brody

Jacobs has been notified that the Department of Energy’s Richland Operation Office intends to extend the Plateau Remediation Contract for continued environmental remediation cleanup along the Columbia River and selected portions of the Hanford site, Jacobs announced on Wednesday.

“Jacobs will continue to deliver safe and efficient progress on the Hanford Plateau Remediation Contract during this period of change,” said Karen Wiemelt, senior vice president of Jacobs’ Aerospace, Technology and Nuclear division. “We remain committed to the Department of Energy and the Tri-Cities community in delivering results that are protective of the environment and community at the Hanford site through 2020 and beyond,” she added.

The Plateau Remediation Contract is managed by Jacobs-owned CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Company and is set to expire at the end of the month. The new extension will run for the next 12 months through Sept. 30, 2020.

The extension will allow work to continue while the acquisition process for follow-on procurements progresses and will be utilized only if needed after award of new contracts and transition periods.

About Jacobs 

Jacobs leads the global professional services sector providing solutions for a more connected, sustainable world. With approximately $12 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 50,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional and construction and program-management for business, industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors.

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