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Army Begins UAS Production Under Tranche 2 of Short-Range Reconnaissance Program
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U.S. Army logo. According to the Army, short-range reconnaissance drones can enhance soldier survivability.

The U.S. Army has started production of the short-range reconnaissance, or SRR, drones as part of its effort to modernize its battlefield capabilities. 

Teal Drones, a subsidiary of Red Cat, is one of the two vendors the service selected to manufacture drones Tranche 2 of the program. The company will equip Transformation in Contact, or TiC, units with its Black Widow unmanned aircraft system to counter emerging threats, the Army said Tuesday. 

Fielding of drones as part of SRR Tranche 1 began in September 2022. The Army has so far fielded the capability across 16 brigades. 

For Tranche 2 of the program, the Army incorporated lessons learned from previous fieldings into the technologies. 

SRR drones are equipped with sensors that integrate with the Army’s uncrewed vehicle control and Android tactical assault kit capabilities. The unmanned systems are expected to increase soldier survivability by providing real-time intelligence and target acquisition, detecting threats and identifying safe routes.

Black Widow UAS Details

Black Widow is part of Teal Drones’ Arachnid family of unmanned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and precision strike systems. 

According to the company, Black Widow weighs about 1.63 kilograms, making it easily portable, and quiet acoustic signature for stealth missions. It can fly at a speed of 23 miles per hour with a range of 8 kilometers and a flight time of over 35 minutes. 

The drone is equipped with Teledyne’s forward-looking infrared, or FLIR, Prism artificial intelligence software stack to detect, classify and track objects of interest. Black Widow also features Doodle Hex-Band Radio with frequency stepping to enhance resilience against electronic warfare attacks; Reveal Farsight 3D mapping software; and Athena AI target identification, tracking and classification software.

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CMS Launches AI Challenge to Address Medicare Fraud
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Healthcare tech. CMS launched the Crushing Fraud Chili Cook-Off Competition to address Medicare fraud.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced a research contest called the Crushing Fraud Chili Cook-Off Competition to address fraudulent activities within the Medicare program.

CMS Launches AI Challenge to Address Medicare Fraud

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The research challenge invites interested participants to submit potential approaches for detecting anomalies like false billing, upcoding and services not rendered in Medicare Fee-for-Service claims data, CMS said. The agency seeks data-driven methodologies such as explainable artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies for fraud detection. These technologies will analyze large datasets and detect unusual patterns or trends that could signify possible illegal activities.

Aside from detecting patterns, the approach should be able to develop transparent, evidence-based fraud indicators that will be used for flagging fraudulent schemes. In addition, CMS is also looking for scalable technologies for streamlining operations and minimizing manual workload, while keeping humans involved to provide trusted outcomes.

Cook-Off Challenge Details

The competition has two phases. During the first phase, which started on Aug. 19 and will end on Sept. 19, interested teams will submit detailed proposals. Ten finalists will move on to the second phase, from Oct. 31 to Dec.1, where they gain access to a limited dataset of Medicare claims to evaluate their proposed AI/ML approaches.

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National Institutes of Health CIO Adele Merritt Resigns
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Adele Merritt. The NIH CIO resigned from her position to join the University of Maryland's ARLIS.

Adele Merritt has stepped down as the National Institutes of Health’s chief information officer, Federal News Network reported Friday.

Merritt is joining the University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security.

National Institutes of Health CIO Adele Merritt Resigns

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With Merritt’s departure, Jon Henke, the acting deputy director and deputy CIO at NIH, now serves as the agency’s acting CIO. Henke is also the National Human Genome Research Institute’s CIO.

Who Is Adele Merritt?

Merritt assumed the CIO role at NIH in December, bringing more than 20 years of experience in cyber and national security operations to the position.

Before NIH, she served as the intelligence community CIO at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where she led modernization initiatives to improve security, transform enterprise IT and foster collaboration across intelligence agencies.

The former National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government was also principal deputy CIO for cyber at the Department of Energy and held senior roles at the White House National Security Council Staff.

The Pace University finance graduate holds a master’s degree and a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Rhode Island, Kingston.

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DSCA Names Manish Amin Deputy CIO for Data, Security & Technology
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Manish Amin, a deputy CIO at DSCA. Amin previously served as the agency's chief technology officer.

Manish Amin has assumed the responsibilities of deputy chief information officer for data, security and technology at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The official confirmed his new role in a LinkedIn post Monday.

As deputy CIO, he will lead the agency’s data, security and technology division. He will also work with agency leadership to develop and implement data and technology strategy and best practices and drive continuous process improvements to enhance organizational efficiency and security.

Who Is Manish Amin?

Amin is a longtime DSCA official with 15 years of service to the government. He joined the agency as enterprise data delivery solutions team lead in 2010. Throughout his 15 years at the DSCA, he climbed the ranks and eventually landed the role of chief technology officer in 2020.

Prior to DSCA, he worked in data and IT-related jobs at Foot Locker, Sanofi-Aventis and Retail Decisions.

Amin has a bachelor’s degree from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in India and holds certifications in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, enterprise IT and technology leadership from Cornell University, the U.S. Artificial Intelligence Institute and other organizations.

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NGA Using Advanced Geospatial Intelligence for Border Protection
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NGA seal. The NGA is working to enhance the DHS and DOD's border protection capabilities with advanced GEOINT technologies.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is providing advanced geospatial intelligence support to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense to enhance border security.

NGA Using Advanced Geospatial Intelligence for Border Protection

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Strengthening Border Security

NGA said Monday that GEOINT enhances the DOD and DHS’s ability to anticipate, detect, and respond to threats along the U.S. borders. This is reportedly crucial in addressing illicit activity along the borders, where drugs, weapons, other illegal items and even people are being smuggled through each year, including 21,000 pounds of fentanyl seized by the Customs and Border Protection in 2024.

GEOINT Capabilities

NGA is leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, next-generation sensors, cloud computing and unmanned systems to reinforce its GEOINT capabilities to address evolving threats and challenges. NGA provides the DOD and DHS with these advanced GEOINT capabilities to help them counter threats as they protect the border. These technologies include satellite imagery and analysis, aerial photography and mapping, geospatial data and analysis, and Maritime GEOINT.

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SBA Proposes Modification to Small Business Size Standards
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Small Business Administration logo. SBA proposed changes to its size definition of small businesses

The Small Business Administration intends to modify its definition of monetary-based small business size across 263 industries. In a recent notice for proposed rule published on the Federal Register, the agency said the modification would cover 259 receipts-based and four assets-based small business standards.

A proposed rule for changes in employee-based size standards will be issued at a future date

Why Change Small Business Standards?

According to SBA, by adjusting size standards, more firms will qualify as small businesses and capture set-aside contracting and financial assistance opportunities. Government procurement programs have set-aside opportunities for small businesses under SBA’s various contracting and business development programs, including Historically Underutilized Business Zones, or HUBZone; 8(a) Business Development; and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. Small businesses can also access SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or EIDL, program, which grants a total of $223 million in funding annually.

Moreover, growing firms on the cusp of outgrowing their small business designation under the current standards will retain their small business status for longer.

For the federal government, the size modification will create a larger pool of small businesses and lower prices as a result of increased competition. With an expanded pool of small businesses, SBA also anticipates that agencies will award more small business set aside contracts.

The change will likely not incur direct costs for firms to gain or retain small business status for firms already registered in the System for Award Management, or SAM, website.

SBA is inviting industry to review and submit a comment about the proposed rule by Oct. 2.

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NSF Funds Research Teams to Advance 5G, Nex-Gen Wireless Networks
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National Science Foundation logo. NSF has provided research grants to teams to improve wireless networks.

The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships has awarded more than $17 million to three research teams in grant funding over two years to improve 5G and next-generation wireless networks as part of its Breaking the Low Latency Barrier for Verticals in Next-G Wireless Networks program. The teams for the program, which is also known as NSF Breaking Low, will be composed of universities and technology companies, NSF said Monday.

NSF Breaking Low Program Details

The Breaking Low program was designed to address bottlenecks in public cellular and wireless networks, advance ultra-low-latency wireless technology and enable new applications that could transform how people live and communicate. The program is part of NSF TIP’s investments to speed up practical research, train a skilled workforce and keep the U.S. competitive in key technology areas.

Under the program, the research teams will determine and address major architectural and technological challenges that hinder the development of current 5G and future Next-G wireless networks. Breaking Low offers an “Ideas Lab” concept where experts and stakeholders from various fields work together to find opportunities to develop and test solutions. The program also emphasizes breaking down barriers between academia and industry by bringing researchers, students and tech leaders together.

NSF’s Erwin Gianchandani Shares Thoughts

Commenting on the grant, Erwin Gianchandani, assistant director for NSF TIP, said the agency was committed to making America the world leader in key technologies, including low-latency wireless communications technologies.

“The NSF Breaking Low program was designed specifically to advance U.S.-developed wireless telecom technologies and also position the U.S. to take the lead in many emerging application ‘verticals’ such as telemedicine, remote health care and intelligent transportation,” he said.

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GSA & FedRAMP Accelerate AI Cloud Services Authorization
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GSA logo. GSA and FedRAMP have collaborated to accelerate AI cloud services authorization.

The  U.S. General Services Administration, in collaboration with the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, revealed a new initiative that prioritizes authorization of artificial intelligence-powered cloud services.

The new initiative is designed to streamline the deployment of advanced AI technologies to enhance operations and innovation within federal agencies, GSA said Monday. 

FedRAMP will work with the Office of Management and Budget and the Chief Information Officers Council to help accelerate the authorization process for AI vendors that meet compliance standards, ensuring secure integration into federal systems.

This effort, prompted by a FedRAMP Board and CIO Council recommendation, directly supports the White House’s America’s AI Action Plan. It targets high-demand enterprise-grade services included in the GSA Multiple Award Schedule program and capable of fulfilling FedRAMP 20x pilot authorization standards within a two-month window.

Remarks From FAS Commissioner, GSA Deputy Commissioner

“Prioritizing FedRAMP reviews for AI solutions is a critical step in getting trusted AI tools deployed across government and in use to streamline operations and improve workflows,” said Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, recipient of the 2025 Wash100 Award.

“In the 20x Phase One pilot, automated validation enables tech companies to rapidly showcase their security posture. This expedited authorization process not only shortens the timeline from months to a few weeks but also delivers a deeper understanding of their security choices,” stated GSA Deputy Administrator Stephen Ehikian.

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NASA, ResilienX Partner to Develop Advanced Air Mobility Preflight Planning Tools
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Handshake representing partnership. NASA and ResilienX partnered to develop advanced air mobility preflight planning tools.

NASA and ResilienX, an aviation safety company, have collaborated to develop new tools to enhance preflight planning and reduce safety risks for advanced air mobility, or AAM, aircraft.

The agency said Friday the tools aim to provide timely and predictive risk assessments in a single platform, ensuring drone and air taxi operators make informed decisions before takeoff. The tools also ensure the safety of both passengers and people on the ground.

AAM Tool Integration & Testing

The strategic partnership conducted a demonstration at ResilienX’s Syracuse, New York, facility in June to evaluate the tools’ integration into commercial systems. NASA developed three specialized services that enable flight operators to submit their flight plans before departure, receive timely risk assessments and make informed decisions about whether to proceed or revise their flight plans. Researchers utilized these services to assess the risks of flying a highly automated aircraft at low altitudes over urban environments.

Under a Phase III NASA Small Business Innovation Research contract, the collaboration builds on earlier efforts to assess weather-related risks. It facilitates the direct technology transfer of NASA’s safety systems into ResilienX’s platform and seeks to enhance the safety of next-generation airspace systems.

NASA’s System-Wide Safety project under the Airspace Operations and Safety program spearheads the initiative, which supports the advanced air mobility mission to provide data, findings and guidance for future air taxis and drones.

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Navy CIO Jane Rathbun to Retire
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Jane Rathbun. The Navy CIO is leaving the federal government after over 30 years of service in national security.

Nextgov/FCW reported Friday that Jane Rathbun, the Department of the Navy’s chief information officer, is retiring after a more than three-decade career in national security.

Navy CIO Jane Rathbun to Retire

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“It is with gratitude, pride, and humility that I close out this chapter of my career as a civil servant,” Rathbun, a two-time Wash100 awardee, said in a LinkedIn post published Thursday.

As the Navy CIO, she aligns IT investment priorities with the secretary of the Navy’s priorities and oversees the execution of the department’s Information Superiority Vision.

Her key focus areas include zero trust architecture, cyber readiness, transition to the cloud and enterprise services delivery.

Who Is Jane Rathbun?

Before becoming CIO, Rathbun served as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for information warfare and enterprise services and chief technology officer. In this dual-hatted role, she served as the service’s IT acquisition workforce champion and led software and cyber acquisition reforms.

She previously served as deputy director for defense business systems within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and was responsible for shaping the acquisition process for the department’s enterprise IT infrastructure services and defense business platforms.

Her government career also included time as acting division chief for the strategic capabilities and analysis division within U.S. Africa Command; special assistant to the director of portfolio systems acquisition for program management within the Office of the Secretary of Defense; and change management specialist at NASA.

Earlier in her career, the 2025 Wash100 awardee served as an operations research analyst at the Department of Defense.

The John Carroll University political science graduate has a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.

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