Patrick O’Neill, director of the U.S. Army’s command, control, computers, communications, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance center, said the service has “embraced academia and industry” when it comes to modern warfare initiatives, C4ISRNET reported Thursday.

The Army is expanding its industry and academic partnerships by promoting dialogue with nontraditional companies and establishing military programs within institutions, O’Neill told audiences at the C4ISRNET Conference in Arlington, Va. Recently, the service established an artificial intelligence task force within Carnegie Mellon University.

“For every dollar in our budget, 60 cents goes to industry and 40 cents stays in-house,” he noted.

Ken Rice, deputy director for research at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, added that startups need to understand military demands and how required technologies are supposed to work in an operating environment. He added that the government is “tapping a very small potential of the data” collated through modernized software and sensor systems.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology released the updated version of its cybersecurity practice guide to secure applications used in emergencies for first responders. The document details how organizations can utilize single sign-on and multi-factor authentication tools. The Mobile Application Single Sign-On: Improving Authentication for Public Safety First Responders aims to help public safety organizations accelerate authentication of responders. 

NIST said the document includes iOS version 12, provides expanded authentication options and improves interoperability of mobile platforms, applications and identity providers. The update comes amid the growing interest in 5G and the FirstNet public safety wireless broadband network, which may soon make existing authentication services less sustainable, the agency noted.

“On-demand access to public safety data is critical to ensuring that public safety and first responder personnel can deliver the proper care and support during an emergency,” NIST said. 

Organizations can submit comments on the updated guidance through June 28.

The Department of Homeland Security made progress addressing the problems with its patch management and security efforts. The DHS inspector general issued its semi-annual report describing how the agency worked on its internal cybersecurity deficiencies. DHS closed one previous OIG recommendation and resolved two others to better secure information, according to the watchdog report submitted Wednesday to Congress. 

The agency implemented an information security program that appeared “effective” in three of five cybersecurity functions of the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information intelligence system. The OIG report also provided an update on the response of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to a March data breach that affected personal information of 2.3 million hurricane and wildfire survivors. FEMA plans to investigate the extent of the incident and create a process to effectively secure disaster survivors.  

The Pentagon’s inspector general said that the agency should increase personnel training and further promote Joint Regional Security Stacks to enhance regional security. JRSS provides the agency with equipment, including network routers, firewalls and switches, to secure its information network.

The IG report issued Tuesday states that the Department of Defense hasn’t achieved the goals set by the Joint Information Environment objective. In 2010, the DoD Chief Information Officer proposed to use JRSS to help JIE consolidate the agency’s information technology infrastructure to enhance network security against cyber attacks. 

“Although implementing the JRSS is reducing the footprint and number of enemy attack vectors to the DoDIN, the JRSS is not achieving other intended JIE outcomes for implementing regional security,” the IG report states. 

DoDIG found that defense officials failed to ensure all JRSS tools met user needs, to train operators and to support acquisition efforts. The Defense Information Systems Agency that serves as JRSS program management office also did not get proper oversight of how it managed vulnerabilities.

The watchdog report warns that failing to properly operate and secure JRSS could lead to challenges to secure DoDIN and to unauthorized access to the network.

The Senate has confirmed Lt. Gen. David Berger, the U.S. Marine Corps’ deputy commandant for combat development and integration, as the service’s new commandant, USNI News reported Thusday. President Trump announced his intent to nominate Berger for the commandant role back in March. Berger is slated to formally succeed Gen. Robert Neller as the Marine Corps’ 38th commandant on July 11.

Berger, also the commanding general of the Marine Corps’ Combat Development Command, brings more than 30 years of military experience to his new role. He spearheaded the service’s efforts to address emerging warfare concepts through efforts like the “Expeditionary Advance Base Operations and Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment” in his current capacity.

Margaret Weichert, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, said the White House focus more on federal workforce transformation in support of the President’s Management Agenda as the government lacks the speed for reskilling people, FedScoop reported Wednesday. 

“Many of our technology projects get stuck on people. We don’t have the right skills,” said Weichert, who also serves as acting director of the Office of Personnel Management. “We have too many people with a certain set of skills and not enough people with other sets of skills.”

Previously, the government launched efforts focused on workforce transformation. Weichert said some progress include a Cyber Reskilling Academy and a direct hire authority for cybersecurity and information technology personnel. However, she noted “there’s so much more to do” to improve the federal workforce.

The official explained that efforts under PMA should aim to keep up with the growing interest of the public in new technologies and services.