/
DOE Allots $11M for Cost-Shared Nuclear R&D Projects
Published on
DOE Allots $11M for Cost-Shared Nuclear R&D Projects


Jeff Brody

The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy is investing $11 million in three cost-shared projects on domestic advanced nuclear technology. DOE said Thursday it is awarding funds across two out of three study areas under the fourth wave of NE’s funding opportunity announcement titled U.S. Industry Opportunities for Advanced Nuclear Technology Development.

The program has a total of three study areas: first-of-a-kind nuclear demonstration readiness, advanced reactor development projects and regulatory assistance.

The first area covers the design and development of reactors for existing plants with notable technical risk, while the second area aims for ideas that support the commercialization of advanced reactors. The third area seeks to address issues in design regulation and support efforts to certify advanced reactor technologies.

DOE has awarded grants to Utilities Service Alliance, STP Nuclear Operating Company and SC Solutions under the second and third study areas.

/
ARPA-E Seeks Algorithms, Software for AI Tech Dev’t Program
Published on
ARPA-E Seeks Algorithms, Software for AI Tech Dev’t Program


Jeff Brody

The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy unit launched a program focusing on algorithm development to support artificial intelligence and machine learning efforts, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

David Tew, program director for ARPA-E, told attendees at a Federal Monthly Insights event that the “Design Intelligence Fostering Formidable Energy Reduction and Enabling Totally Impactful Advanced Technology Enhancements” program will use technologies from academic and industry representatives to support the development of AI and machine learning-driven tools.

“We hope the ultimate products will be open source software, commercial software, as well as proprietary software algorithms that large companies might use to design their products,” he said.

Tew expects the DIFFERENTIATE project to begin operations by February 2020.

/
AFRL Demonstrates Quantum Communication in Daylight
Published on
AFRL Demonstrates Quantum Communication in Daylight


Jeff Brody

Air Force Research Laboratory demonstrated a method to perform quantum communications amid sunlight via adaptive optics. The demonstration used an AO system designed to facilitate quantum communication through the air amid daylight, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base said Thursday. 

Quantum communication transmits information in photon particles, allowing for boosted security with networking between quantum computers. AFRL’s Starfire Optical Range performed the demonstration in a condition simulating space-earth satellite connections.

“The SOR field experiment is the first in a series designed to demonstrate various quantum communication protocols,” said Mark Gruneisen, principal investigator for quantum communication research at AFRL SOR.

Senate Panel OKs Funding for Pentagon’s Space-Based Sensor Layer
Published on
Senate Panel OKs Funding for Pentagon’s Space-Based Sensor Layer


Jeff Brody

The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a budget for the Pentagon’s proposed space-based sensor layer to detect and track high-speed threats from Earth’s orbit, C4ISRNet reported Thursday. Funding for the project was added to the panel’s version of the $750 billion National Defense Authorization Act for 2020, which now heads to the full Senate for confirmation. 

In March, the Missile Defense Agency told lawmakers that it marked the sensor layer as its top priority that lacked funding. Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, director of MDA, said the space infrastructure would include two constellations of satellites that will serve different roles. One system will track ballistic missiles, while the other will focus on hypersonic missiles.

“The threat is moving fast and faster, and the reason I include it as my top priority in the unfunded list is that I believe that as time is the enemy, let’s not waste it, and if additional funding is provided, that’s where it would go,” Greaves said. 

DoD did not include extra funding for sensor layer in it’s formal budget request for FY20. 

Air Force Accelerates Acquisition to Bring in New Capabilities
Published on
Air Force Accelerates Acquisition to Bring in New Capabilities


Jeff Brody

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said that congressional authorities for rapid technology prototyping and testing helped the service meet its Century Challenge milestone to cut 100 years from ongoing weapons development programs. The service said Thursday it started streamlining processes in May 2018 through the authorities provided by the Fiscal 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. Wilson said the Air Force created guidelines that helped program managers with decision making to test and bring technology platforms to the field. 

“We’re able to dismiss things that don’t add value to our programs while remaining exceptionally disciplined on things that do,” said Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.

The areas that showed accelerated development include communications and defensive systems for fighter jets, satellites, hypersonic weapons, intelligence and cyber. The Air Force issued a science and technology strategy to guide the service to maintain technological advantage through 2030 and beyond.

/
SOCOM to Develop AI-Based Strategy for Asset Allocation, Transparency
Published on
SOCOM to Develop AI-Based Strategy for Asset Allocation, Transparency


Jeff Brody

The U.S. Special Operations Command hopes to create a machine learning and artificial intelligence strategy that allows transparency and validate allocation in future expenses, National Defense reported Thursday.

The strategy’s roadmap will utilize AI-based applications, outreach and workforce components and is expected to yield five different outcomes and focus on six specific areas. Areas of focus under the strategy include planning and maneuver, communication resilience and cyber protection, talent management, logistics, budget management and vendor contracts.

“You can see how we’re beginning to fuse those technologies, fuse those data sets to build smart systems that are capable of improving our operators’ capability to execute successful operations at a rate of precision and speed that has never been accomplished before,” said David Spirk, chief data officer at SOCOM.

Spirk noted that the command will develop a set of standards for the strategy and may hold a separate event to discuss its details.

/
Jose Arrieta Appointed New HHS CIO
Published on
Jose Arrieta Appointed New HHS CIO


Jeff Brody

Jose Arrieta, associate deputy assistant secretary for acquisition of the Department of Health and Human Services, has been confirmed as HHS’ next chief information officer, FCW reported Thursday.

He confirmed his appointment at the Association for Federal Information Resources Management’s Leadership Awards event on Thursday. Arrieta holds near15 years of leadership experience, having formerly held various management roles at the General Services Administration, the Department of Treasury and the Department of Homeland Security. 

The newly confirmed CIO also led HHS’ Accelerate project for which he garnered a 2019 Federal 100 Award. He also managed GSA’s Schedule 70 contract vehicle for information technology services. He succeeds Ed Simcox who held HHS’ CIO seat on an acting basis since 2018.

/
DIA Works on New Tool to Help Military Utilize Big Data
Published on
DIA Works on New Tool to Help Military Utilize Big Data


Jeff Brody

The Defense Intelligence Agency is developing a new data analytics tool to help federal analysts and planners better collect and analyze big data for intelligence and understand operations of adversaries. The Machine-Assisted Analytic Rapid-Repository System utilizes cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning to modernize existing military databases, DIA said Thursday. 

“With data proliferating at the speed of light, DIA must build a system capable of ingesting and managing large volumes of it, and making it available to both humans and machines,” the agency said. “A more granular understanding of complex global events and a corresponding decision advantage are keys to the nation’s continued success.”

MARS intends to provide a multidimensional and flexible data environment where the service members can access vast data, counteract adversaries’ plans and address potential risks. MARS is also designed to create simulation of threats based to help the military predict potential effects of threats.

Senate Armed Services Committee OKs Space Force Proposal
Published on
Senate Armed Services Committee OKs Space Force Proposal


Jeff Brody

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the Trump administration’s proposal to establish a Space Force as part of the panel’s fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, the Hill reported Thursday.

The $750 billion NDAA earmarks $72.4 million to establish the new military branch to operate under the U.S. Air Force and mandates the appointment of a Space Force commander. The commander will concurrently serve as head of the U.S. Space Command until separate commander roles for the two entities are created following a one-year period.

According to senior committee aides, the Senate panel advanced the Space Force proposal because of the military branch’s goals to consolidate government operations, establish the space warfighting domain and address acquisition issues. 

“Our strategy will set the Space Force up for success now and in the future, minimizing bureaucracy in the force,” said the committee’s chairman Jim Inhiofe, R-Okla., in a statement.

/
Charlie Mathis, EVP & CFO of SAIC, Receives Executive Mosaic’s Chairman’s Award
Published on
Charlie Mathis, EVP & CFO of SAIC, Receives Executive Mosaic’s Chairman’s Award


Jeff Brody

Jim Garrettson, chief executive officer of Executive Mosaic, presented Charlie Mathis, the chief financial officer and executive vice president for Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), with the Chairman’s Award for completing his first year as chairman of the CFO Group for Executive Mosaic’s 4×24 program.

Mathis brings over 30 years of financial and accounting acumen and experience in defense, technology and financial sectors to SAIC. He also has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, finance and accounting, financial controls and government contracting and compliance.

Mathis has served SAIC as EVP and CFO of the company since Nov. 2016. Prior to his tenure with SAIC, he was EVP and CFO for ScanSource, a $3.8 billion public company focused on technology services and products in Greenville, South Carolina between Dec. 2012 and Nov. 2016. Mathis was responsible for directing and managing all finance and accounting activities.

In addition, he served as EVP and CFO of Force Protection from June 2008 to March 2012 and as the CFO of EFW, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems, between May 2006 and June 2008. In 2003, Mathis began his experience in government accounting with Fairbanks Morse Engine as the vice president of Finance and he became a Certified Public Accountant in Wisconsin.

During his tenure in government contracting, he held compliance oversight responsibilities and is knowledgeable across technical aspects of government accounting and compliance. Mathis has earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Wake Forest University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He’s also served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps.

1 … 1,790 1,791 1,792 1,793 1,794 … 2,621