National Guard Begins ‘Cyber Shield’ Exercise
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National Guard Begins ‘Cyber Shield’ Exercise


National Guard Begins 'Cyber Shield' Exercise

The U.S. National Guard is conducting a cyber exercise with industry representatives and federal entities like the National Security Agency and the FBI to expand military capabilities in cyber defense, Cyberscoop reported Monday.

This year’s Cyber Shield event will run through April 20 at Camp Atterbury in Indiana and include 800 participants from 40 states. The exercise covers red-and-blue-team operations designed to test participants’ capacity to detect malicious activities and block unauthorized access to networks.

Brig. General Jeffrey Burkett, vice director of domestic operations for the National Guard Bureau, said the collective training event will help the National Guard enhance its warfighting skills.

“We used to have attacks that were very noisy. Now we have attacks that are going over encrypted channels,” said George Battistelli, cybersecurity program manager for the Army National Guard.

Cyber Shield was launched in 2013 and is expected to help the National Guard develop its staff of more than 3,800 cybersecurity personnel.

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DHS Looks to Cut ‘Trust Zones’ to Improve Cybersecurity
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DHS Looks to Cut ‘Trust Zones’ to Improve Cybersecurity


DHS Looks to Cut ‘Trust Zones’ to Improve Cybersecurity

A senior technology official at the Department of Homeland Security said the agency may reduce “trust zones” to improve cybersecurity amid its ongoing information technology modernization, Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

Trust zone is an IT concept that includes the cloud, mobile and digital interactions within an agency. Mark Bunn, program manager for the Trusted Internet Connections at DHS Federal Network Resilience Office, said the agency plans to reduce zone boundaries as it moves to a hybrid cloud. 

DHS has a large accreditation boundary or “general support systems” that support its operations. 

Bunn spoke following the release of the TIC 3.0 draft policy that explores the top technologies helping agencies with modernization such as infrastructure as a service, software as a service and platform as a service.

Jeanette Manfra, assistant director for cybersecurity at the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said zero trust could gain more traction across the government in the coming years as agencies increase focus on cybersecurity. 

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NASA Seeks Upgrade to Goddard Center Tech Transfer Processes
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NASA Seeks Upgrade to Goddard Center Tech Transfer Processes


NASA Seeks Upgrade to Goddard Center Tech Transfer Processes

NASA recommended that the Goddard Space Flight Center director should implement changes to technology transfer processes and set completion dates for outstanding action items to boost the facility’s efficiency in patents and licensing requests.

The agency said in a report published Monday that a lack of sufficient controls and collaborative engagement hindered the flight center’s performance during the technology transfer processes.

NASA also advised the technology transfer program executive to integrate a two-party authentication process to mitigate bypassing of patent processes and study space centers operations to validate the potential benefits.

The program intends to make all discovery and space exploration technologies accessible to the public through marketing and strategic management of intellectual properties. The agency added that all space centers took steps to boost awareness regarding the program through reinforced communications and outreach initiatives.

 

Joanne Woytek: SEWP Vehicle Now a Source of Purchasing Data, Client Engagement Services
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Joanne Woytek: SEWP Vehicle Now a Source of Purchasing Data, Client Engagement Services


Joanne Woytek: SEWP Vehicle Now a Source of Purchasing Data, Client Engagement Services

Joanne Woytek, program manager for Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement at NASA, said the government acquisition contract for information technology services has expanded into a source of purchasing data and “custom engagement” services for agency clients, FCW reported Tuesday.

Woytek said the procurement program began collecting data from public sources, including information on products approved under the General Services Administration’s federal risk and authorization management program. The program office now operates with 75 employees.

“I anticipate up to 20 more positions added in the next year if the current SEWP usage continues to increase at the current rate of 10 percent or more,” she said.

The expanded capabilities of SEWP, now in its fifth iteration, are part of a recent reorganization at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, according to the report.

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Military to Increase Spending on Drones During Next Decade
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Military to Increase Spending on Drones During Next Decade


Military to Increase Spending on Drones During Next Decade

The U.S. military is expected to increase investment in unmanned aerial systems starting in 2020 with $3.7 billion in funding from President Trump’s latest defense budget, National Defense Magazine reported Monday.

“There is enormous potential for the future,” said retired Lt. General David Deptula, dean of Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, during a recent meeting in Congress. “When you look at cargo aircraft, you look at tanker aircraft, there’s absolutely no reason why those aircraft can’t be unmanned.”

He added the U.S. would lead the global spending on drones that is projected to more than double from $4.9 billion in 2018 to $10.7 billion in 2027. 

Phil Finnegan, director of corporate analysis at the Teal Group, said the military in other nations would invest in medium- and high-altitude long endurance systems and unmanned combat aerial vehicles. Worldwide military UAV production is expected to exceed $90 billion by 2027. The Pentagon alone would spend $40.4 billion on procuring the technology, Finnegan said. 

Army Looks to Get New Weapons to Deter China, Russia in Modern Conflict
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Army Looks to Get New Weapons to Deter China, Russia in Modern Conflict


Army Looks to Get New Weapons to Deter China, Russia in Modern Conflict

The U.S. Army plans to increase its focus on building and acquiring new weapons systems that would give the military enhanced capability to fight China and Russia in a “high-intensity conflict,” Defense One reported Tuesday.

Senior officials are talking with commanders about new weapons and technologies, which include long-range artillery, attack and reconnaissance aircraft, air and missile defenses and command-and-control networks.

Mark Esper, secretary of the Army, said he wants to reduce funding for vehicles and aircraft to support the development of new systems that would be used in Afghanistan and Iraq and could deter Russian or Chinese air forces.

A series of Army reviews in 2018 suggested cutting nearly 200 weapons projects could save an additional $25 billion. Among the programs that might be cut include upgrades to Boeing-made CH-47 Chinook helicopters and procurement of Oshkosh-made joint light tactical vehicles. Esper noted the Army has not finalized the proposed cuts.

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Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, Presents Lou Von Thaer, President and CEO of Battelle, His Fourth Wash100 Award
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Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, Presents Lou Von Thaer, President and CEO of Battelle, His Fourth Wash100 Award


Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, Presents Lou Von Thaer, President and CEO of Battelle, His Fourth Wash100 Award

Jim Garrettson, founder and CEO of Executive Mosaic, presented Lou Von Thaer, president and chief executive officer of Battelle, with his fourth Wash100 Award on Tuesday.

Executive Mosaic recognizes Von Thaer for leading efforts to advance biosecurity and other emerging technologies for Battelle. We are pleased to present the most coveted award in government contracting to Lou Von Thaer.  

Von Thaer joined Battelle as the president and CEO in August. 2017. Previously, he served DynCorp International as CEO between July 2015 and July 2017. He was responsible for the $2 billion budget, managing 12,000 employees and supporting growth across several federal market sectors. He also served as the president of the National Security Sector of Leidos for two years and held various leadership positions with General Dynamics between 1998 and 2013.

In addition, Von Thaer serves as board chair of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He is the co-chair for UT-Battelle and is a member of the Defense Science Board, the National Defense Industrial Association, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors). He is also a trustee of the Kansas State University Foundation and a member of the Ohio Business Roundtable and Columbus Partnership’s Executive Committee.

Von Thaer earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Kansas State University and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Rutgers University.

About Wash100 Award

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.

Visit the Wash100 site to learn about the other 99 winners of the 2019 Wash100 Award. On the site, you can submit your 10 votes for the GovCon executives of consequence that you believe will have the most significant impact in 2019.

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Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, Presents Rick Ambrose, EVP of Space Systems for Lockheed Martin, His Fourth Wash100 Award
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Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, Presents Rick Ambrose, EVP of Space Systems for Lockheed Martin, His Fourth Wash100 Award


Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic, Presents Rick Ambrose, EVP of Space Systems for Lockheed Martin, His Fourth Wash100 Award

Jim Garrettson, founder and CEO of Executive Mosaic, presented Rick Ambrose, executive vice president of space systems for Lockheed Martin, with his fourth Wash100 Award on Monday.

Executive Mosaic recognizes Ambrose for leading the improvement of space technologies, including use of the cloud for space missions. We are pleased to present the most coveted award in government contracting to Ambrose.

Ambrose joined Lockheed Martin as the vice president and general manager of surveillance and navigation systems in 2006. He served in the role for four years before becoming president of information services and global solutions between 2011 and 2012. Ambrose then served as vice president and deputy of space systems for another year before assuming his current role in 2013.

In addition, Ambrose has served as the chair of the board of directors for the United Launch Alliance since 2013. He is a member of the board of trustees for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, a former board chairman of Sandia National Laboratories and a former board member of the Space Foundation. 

He received the National Defense Industrial Association Space Division Peter B. Teets Award in 2017. Ambrose is a fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors Governance, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a full academician of the International Academy of Astronautics. 

Ambrose received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology from the DeVry Institute of Technology and an MBA in business administration from the University of Denver – Daniels College of Business. 

About the Wash100

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. 

Visit the Wash100 site to learn about the other 99 winners of the 2019 Wash100 Award. On the site, you can submit your 10 votes for the GovCon executives of consequence that you believe will have the most significant impact in 2019. 

Air Force Creating New Information Warfare Org; Ted Uchida Quoted
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Air Force Creating New Information Warfare Org; Ted Uchida Quoted


Air Force Creating New Information Warfare Org; Ted Uchida Quoted

Some Air Force officials said that establishing a new information warfare organization looks to demonstrate the significance of electronic warfare and cyber capabilities, C4ISRNET reported Monday.

“We’ve come to discover cyber is an element of the larger information warfare and [electromagnetic spectrum] fight that we’re in,” Ted Uchida, deputy director of operations at Air Combat Command, said Thursday at an Air Force Association event.

Air Combat Command announced that it will combine its 24th and 25th air forces this summer, forming the new information warfare organization. Uchida said the new group will focus on electronic warfare, influence operations, military deception, cyber information missions, psychological operations and military information support operations aimed at “influencing an adversary’s thought process.”

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VA Integrating Financial, Acquisition Systems for Latest IT Upgrade
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VA Integrating Financial, Acquisition Systems for Latest IT Upgrade


VA Integrating Financial, Acquisition Systems for Latest IT Upgrade

The Department of Veterans Affairs plans to integrate its acquisition and financial management systems to improve how the agency buys technologies as part of its ongoing modernization program, Government CIO Media & Research reported Monday.

“Longstanding in VA, we’ve not had an integrated acquisition and finance solution,” said Terry Riffel, deputy assistant secretary of financial management business transformation at VA. “It’s presented problems in terms of what VA’s buying and how we’re leveraging buying and all of that.”

Integrating the acquisition and finance communities in one solution will improve monitor spending on information technology and help to understand the needs of veterans, Riffel said. VA plans to leverage the cloud and data analytics to update legacy systems and prepare its workforce for organizational changes for new technologies. In July, the agency deployed its new time and attendance platform that serves nearly 360,000 employees. 

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