The House Armed Services Committee intends to reduce the Navy’s at-sea network funds if the secretary of defense does not confirm the service branch’s compliance with certain cybersecurity recommendations, Fifth Domain reported Tuesday. The secretary must work with the Department of Defense’s chief information officer to prove the compliance of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services with a certain, classified inspector general report. 

The committee included this condition in a recent draft of the fiscal 2020 defense policy bill. The Navy uses the CANES at-sea platform to consolidate command, control, communications, computers and intelligence networks across ships and shore-based facilities.

Christopher Scolese, director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said during a Senate hearing that he wants to partner with industry on space technology development if confirmed as National Reconnaissance Office director, C4ISRNET reported Wednesday.

“I believe that neither the government nor the commercial sector alone can maintain the level of performance needed to keep the U.S. competitive in space, given the ambitions of our adversaries, so partnership with private industry is not only beneficial, but also necessary,” he said.

Scolese testified at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee that he intends to prioritize the resiliency of ground and space systems while maintaining constant communication with Congress to accelerate NRO’s efforts to address space threats. Scolese spent 32 years in roles of increasing responsibility at NASA and also served with the U.S. Navy.

The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will host a nationwide test of the country’s emergency alert system. The test will commence on Aug. 7 according to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, FCC said Monday in a notice.

The government has also opened the EAS Test Reporting System for applications. Those interested to participate in the test may log into ETRS to submit an application. EAS is a public warning system that allows the president to address the masses on emergencies via multiple forms of broadcast and digital media.

The U.S. Air Force’s innovation hub has helped its Security Forces Academy utilize commercial technology to enhance training for airmen, DVIDShub reported Monday. The academy used the AFWERX program to partner with New York-based tech vendor Street Smarts VR to integrate virtual reality into the training in its 343rd Training Squadron schoolhouse at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Street Smarts provided the 343rd schoolhouse with six Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives simulators. The systems allow instructors to get immediate feedback on the performance of students during training. 

“Using this immersive training technology to train on law enforcement specific scenarios is definitely helping us produce more lethal and ready Defenders,” said Master Sgt. Justin Consley, non-commissioned officer in charge of the SF apprentice course.

Capt. Zachary Watkins, officer in charge of the SF officer technical training course, said AFWERX helped the academy address gaps in acquiring new technologies to support training. SF Academy also provides feedback to Street Smarts on their MILO systems to help the company enhance the technology. 

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection will implement a mobile application designed for small boat reporting functions at four different locations within Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. The Reporting Offsite Arrival-Mobile app will allow users to perform remote inspection efforts with a CBP officer at the Northern Lower Michigan and Eastern Upper Peninsula areas, the agency said Monday.

Users may also carry out video conferencing, report arrivals and avoid restrictions from reporting hours. CBP clarified that boaters will still need to meet officers from Sault Ste. Marie port or report to George Kemp Marina if in-person inspections are required.

In addition, CBP noted that U.S. citizens and visitors from Canada are required to present valid documents including passports, driver’s licenses and military identification cards before entering the U.S. jurisdiction. Children below the age of 16 are also advised to present copies of their birth certificates or citizenship cards prior to entry.