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.

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.

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.

The Government Accountability Office hosted a conference on certain policy issues to formally initiate activities at the agency’s Center for Strategic Foresight. Experts convened at the conference to discuss space policy management and the issue of deep fakes, falsified media materials that criminals use for deception, GAO said Tuesday.

“At GAO, we’re committed to thinking strategically about the future in order to meet Congress’ evolving information needs,” said Gene Dodaro, head of GAO and the U.S. comptroller general.

The research center aims to analyze emerging issues affecting the federal government and provide Congress with input to address identified concerns. GAO’s Office of Strategic Planning and External Liaison houses the strategic center.

The center has nine fellows for 2019:

• Amy Webb, futurist and professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business
• Andy Hines, a foresight professor at the University of Houston
• Angela Wilkinson, senior director of the World Energy Council
• Brian Masterson, senior behavioral health medical director at UnitedHealth Group
• Catarina Tully, director at School of International Futures, an independent consultancy
• Jens Wandel, special advisor to the secretary-general on reforms at the United Nations
• Kristel Van der Elst CEO at The Global Foresight Group
• Octavio Hinojosa-Mier, executive director of the National Hispanic Corporate Council
• Rosemarie Forsythe, a former executive at Exxon Mobil