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NARA Eyes Blockchain to Maintain ‘Real’ Information
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NARA Eyes Blockchain to Maintain ‘Real’ Information


Jeff Brody

The National Archives and Records Administration is looking at blockchain technology to change how it authenticates images and videos amid the rise of deepfake, Federal News Network reported Monday. 

The move follows the launch of machine learning algorithms designed to manipulate images and audio to make realistic videos of people talking about something or performing activities. Eric Douglas, a records management policy and program support specialist for NARA’s chief records officer, said integrating blockchain into the authentication process would help the agency and the public independently verify digital content. 

“A shift to blockchain could provide the validity and trust that records management systems have traditionally performed and this shift may impact how records are organized, arranged and maintained over time,” he said. 

However, Douglas noted NARA hasn’t determined resources to store information on the blockchain and train personnel to manage the technology. A report on federal adoption of blockchain previously issued by the Data Foundation and Booz Allen Hamilton called on the government to consider further exploration and adoption of blockchain as part of the Federal Data Strategy.

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Air Force Students Pitch Ideas Under Think Tank Initiative
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Air Force Students Pitch Ideas Under Think Tank Initiative


Jeff Brody

The U.S. Air Force launched an initiative to address the military service’s concerns through the presentation of various concepts. Three groups of students from Air University’s squadron officer school were tasked to pitch their ideas in updating the service branch’s set of processes to senior officials as part of the Think Tank initiative, the Air Force said Monday. The concepts are intended to cover select areas of research including machine learning and advanced algorithms.

The participants were given ten minutes each to present and explain their concepts to Air Force captains. Col. Jason Trew, commander at the 30th Student Squadron, said the participants will receive training on design fundamentals derived from military, academic and industry practices worldwide.

“What they learn and practice are directly applicable to the strategic thinking skills that are highly valuable to leaders at all levels,” Trew added.

CBP Reports Breach of Travelers’ Photos, License Plate Images
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CBP Reports Breach of Travelers’ Photos, License Plate Images


Jeff Brody

The Customs and Border Protection said a cyber attack on a federal subcontractor compromised photos of travelers and license plates, The Washington Post reported Monday.

CBP said the data breach was discovered on May 31 and did not include travel document images and other identifying information. The compromised images are part of a facial recognition program CBP implements to determine the identity of individuals entering and exiting the country.

The agency said fewer than 100,000 people had their images stolen and none of those pictures had been spotted on the internet or dark web. CBP noted that no agency systems were impacted and that copies of people’s faces and license plate images were moved to the subcontractor’s network, breaching the agency’s privacy and security rules, according to the report.

NASA to Launch Satellites for Signal Distortion Study
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NASA to Launch Satellites for Signal Distortion Study


Jeff Brody

NASA plans to launch two small satellites for a mission to study the distortions of radio signal transmissions through the ionosphere, a region where particles ionize into plasma this month. The Enhanced Tandem Beacon Experiment or E-TBEx CubeSats will launch on a SpaceX-made Falcon Heavy rocket as part of the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program-2, the space agency said Monday.

The launch would carry 24 satellites in total and take place from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The E-TBEx satellites will help scientists study the structured bubbles that cause distortions in the ionosphere. These distortions affect communications and global positioning system signals across military and airline operations.

The study seeks to determine how the structured bubbles change over time. SRI International provided E-TBEx’s beacon, and a laboratory within the University of Michigan designed and developed the satellites. The U.S. Air Force recently announced the STP-2 launch’s schedule move to June 24.

Army Sets New Plans to Boost Air and Missile Defense
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Army Sets New Plans to Boost Air and Missile Defense


Jeff Brody

The U.S.Army issued a new roadmap outlining plans to modernize its air-and-missile defense through 2028 to deter emerging weapons of adversaries, National Defense Magazine reported Monday. The roadmap focuses on the development of air-and-missile defense technologies, new capabilities for multi-domain operations, training of forces and maintaining forward presence and partnerships. 

“The operational environment has definitely changed and become more complex,” said Lt. Gen. James Dickinson, commanding general of Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command. Dickinson said the future battlefield may involve advanced weapons like unmanned aerial systems and hypersonic missiles. 

“If we’re going to adapt to great power competition, then we’re going to have to pivot our active air-and-missile defenses away from just rogue states to the real threat,” said Tom Karako, director of missile defense project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Army also intends to establish air-and-missile defense battalions that individually have “tailored force packages” to counter specific threats in the future.

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The Council of Intelligence Issues Hosting “Intelligence Operations in a Digital Age” Event on June 24th; George Jameson Quoted
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The Council of Intelligence Issues Hosting “Intelligence Operations in a Digital Age” Event on June 24th; George Jameson Quoted


Jeff Brody

On June 24th, the Council of Intelligence Issues will co-host the “Intelligence Operations in a Digital Age” event with Steptoe & Johnson at 1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C.. Advanced registration is required for the event. Fill out the Registration Form right here. 

During the event’s panel, former intelligence officials will discuss practical, policy and legal factors that influence the planning and conduct of clandestine intelligence operations, how technological advances can affect operations in an increasingly transparent world and the risks that confront intelligence officers and the agents who assist them to support U.S. national security objectives. 

Michael Sulick, former director of the National Clandestine Service for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and a consultant of Insider Threat Issues and National Security Affairs, will serve as the moderator for the panel of experienced intelligence officers. The event’s panelists will be: 

  • Daniel Ennis – Executive Director of the University of Maryland Cyber Initiative, CEO of DRE Consulting and the former Director of the Threat Operations Center for the NSA
  • Robert Litt – Of Counsel, Global Risk & Crisis Management of Morrison & Foerster and the former General Counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
  • John Rizzo – Consultant of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC and the former Deputy and Acting General Counsel for the CIA
  • Suzanne Spaulding – Senior Advisor of Homeland Security, International Security Program, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the former Under Secretary of the National Protection & Programs Directorate for DHS
  • Kevin Zerussen – Managing Director of Goldman Sachs and the former Director of the Information Operations Center for the CIA

“The Council on Intelligence Issues is very pleased to be able to present this distinguished panel of former senior officials. Our  panelists’ extensive public and private sector experience will enable them to provide unique insights into practical and operational challenges in planning and conducting secret intelligence activities,” said George Jameson, co-founder and president of the Council on Intelligence Issues.

“CII strives to educate the public about the risk of  personal and even legal jeopardy facing intelligence officers who must operate  clandestinely. This event is for anyone interested in a real world look at those risks and the national security challenges brought by technological advances and the increasing openness they often bring,” Jameson added. “Panelists also will share their perspectives on the implications of foreign cyber threats against the private sector and the challenges in building  public-private collaboration to address them effectively.”

Please join CII and Steptoe & Johnson for the “Intelligence Operations in a Digital Age” event on June 24th. The reception will begin at 5:30 PM with refreshments at 1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C. The panel discussion will begin an hour later at 6:30 PM.

Please complete the Event Registration Form in advance before attending the event. We hope to see you at the “Intelligence Operations in a Digital Age” on June 24th.

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Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, Presents Will Hurd, U.S. Representative of Texas, His Second Consecutive Wash100 Award
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Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, Presents Will Hurd, U.S. Representative of Texas, His Second Consecutive Wash100 Award


Jeff Brody

Jim Garrettson, founder and chief executive officer of Executive Mosaic, presented Will Hurd, U.S. Representative of Texas, with his second consecutive Wash100 Award on Monday.

Executive Mosaic recognizes Hurd for his efforts to strengthen U.S. national security, including government reform, information technology, homeland security and intelligence. We are ecstatic to present the most coveted award in government contracting to Will Hurd.

Hurd served the Central Intelligence Agency between 2000 and 2009 as an undercover officer in the Middle East and South Asia to collect intelligence that influenced the country’s national security agenda. For the CIA, Hurd briefed members of Congress, which inspired him to pursue politics once his tenure with the agency concluded.

After leaving the CIA and returning to Texas, Hurd worked as a partner of the Crumpton Group, a strategic advisory firm, and as a senior advisor with FusionX, a cybersecurity firm. Hurd ran for the Republican nomination in Texas’ 23rd congressional district in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018. He’s the first member of the 23rd District of Texas for three consecutive terms in a decade.

Hurd was appointed to serve on the House Permanent Select Intelligence Committee, where he serves as a Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Intelligence Modernization and Readiness in 2017. Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy also appointed Hurd to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, where he’s a member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs along with Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

In addition, Hurd serves as the vice-chair of the Border and Maritime Subcommittee of the Homeland Security committee and he’s a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and a Minor in International Relations. Hurd was also elected student body president for his class.

The Wash100 award, now in its sixth year, recognizes the most influential executives in the GovCon industry as selected by the Executive Mosaic team in tandem with online nominations from the GovCon community. Representing the best of the private and public sector, the winners demonstrate superior leadership, innovation, reliability, achievement and vision.

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Chezian Sivagnanam, Chief Enterprise Architect of National Science Foundation, Announced as Panelist for Potomac Officers Club’s 2019 Artificial Intelligence Forum on June 13th
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Chezian Sivagnanam, Chief Enterprise Architect of National Science Foundation, Announced as Panelist for Potomac Officers Club’s 2019 Artificial Intelligence Forum on June 13th


Jeff Brody

Chezian Sivagnanam, the chief enterprise architect of the National Science Foundation, will be featured as a panelist during Potomac Officers Club’s 2019 Artificial Intelligence Forum on June 13th.

At the event, GovCon leaders from the public and private sector will discuss “Starting Your AI Journey” and the challenges that come with that process. You can register for the event here.

Chezian has over 20 years of experience in Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Process Architecture, IT Governance, IT Operations and Datacenter Architecture. He has significant experience working for large IT organizations in US government agencies, big-5 consulting firms and financial institutions. He has earned numerous professional certifications including ITILV3, PMP, COBIT 5, CSPO and vendor development certifications.

Sivagnanam joined the National Science Foundation as a chief enterprise architect in Sept. 2009 and he advises the CIO in planning and coordination of IT vision, strategy, goals, budget and initiatives that support NSF’s long-term objectives. He is the liaison between NSF IT leadership and Federal Chief Enterprise Architect at Executive Office of the President.

Prior to his current position, Sivagnanam served as a manager of the Public Services team for BearingPoint between June 2002 and May 2009. He served Compuware as the senior systems analyst for the company’s Virginia branch office between May 1999 and June 2002. Chezian also served as a contractor for Deloitte Consulting from Oct. 1997 to May 1999 and as a systems analyst for Login Systems between June 1996 and Sept. 1997.

Sivagnanam earned a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with the College of Engineering Guindy at Anna University in 1996. He also participated in an Executive Program on Leadership with the Yale School of Management in 2008.

Don’t miss out on the 2019 Artificial Intelligence Forum on June 13th. Register right here.

HASC Chairman Adam Smith Proposes Smaller Space Armed Service
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HASC Chairman Adam Smith Proposes Smaller Space Armed Service


Jeff Brody
Adam Smith

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, said during a meeting that HASC has agreed to vote for the authorization of a Space-focused service branch that won’t necessarily be named the Space Force, Space News reported Monday. He spoke with other HASC officials on the establishment of what may instead become a Space Corps under the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The committee also proposed the Space Corps idea for the bill’s 2018 version, the report noted.

“We have an agreement on an amendment that will be added in the full committee markup,” Smith told reporters.

Smith’s proposed Space Corps would be smaller than the Trump administration’s intended service branch. Only one four-star general would lead the Space Corps, in contrast with the Department of Defense’s proposal to have two four-star generals lead.

“Our proposal is less costly and has less bureaucracy than what the president proposed,” he noted.

Rep. Michael McCaul Introduces Bipartisan Cyberattack Response Bill
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Rep. Michael McCaul Introduces Bipartisan Cyberattack Response Bill


Jeff Brody

Rep. Michael McCaul unveiled a legislation seeking to mitigate destructive effects caused by cyberattacks. The Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Incident Response Teams Act will authorize first responders to assist in repelling cyberattacks and repairing affected networks, the office of Michael McCaul said Monday.

“Today’s legislation ensures that the Department of Homeland Security can foster collaboration between the public and private sector to ensure our nation can continue to adapt to the constant changes in the cyber landscape,” said McCaul.

Additionally, the legislation aims to push industry experts in providing their knowledge to secure U.S. infrastructure. McCaul noted that the bill has passed in the Congress and is on its way to being signed as a law.

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