Lauren Knausenberger, director of cyberspace innovation at the U.S. Air Force, said the service is developing methods to speed up the accreditation of software-as-a-service applications to handle controlled unclassified information, FedScoop reported Thursday. 

Knausenberger said at the Security Through Innovation Summit Thursday that she is working with Wanda Jones-Heath, the Air Force’s chief information security officer, on a pilot that intends to accelerate the assessment and authorization of SaaS apps used to handle data at Impact Level 4 based on the Department of Defense’s cloud security requirements.

“I expect that we will be able to accredit some SaaS offerings in a month or less. It could be faster if they had everything ready to go and we had a team ready to go test anything that was needed to be tested,” she said at the event.

Andrea Norris, chief information officer at the National Institutes of Health, said her office moves approximately 6 petabytes of data each day through a core computational network, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

“Our backbone network is one core because the predominant data that we’re moving through there is scientific by far, but we do have set up in some cases, we architect virtual local networks for specialized scientific instrumentation,” Norris said on the network’s Federal Monthly Insights – Digital Transformation. “We also have a scientific — what’s referred to as a scientific DMZ that can be used for dedicated needs for fast traffic, for science purposes.”

Norris, who also serves as director of NIH’s Center for IT, said the center collaborated with key leaders of the Department of Health and Human Services to implement the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act in a way that shows the diverse missions of HHS. She also noted that her office sought outside experts to update the network to handle big data workloads as part of a digital transformation effort launched five years ago.

Officials from FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said that agencies should look at the advantages and potential risks of integrating emerging technologies, like the cloud, 5G network and augmented reality, into their operations, GovernmentCIO Media & Research reported Thursday.

Federal agencies are exploring the cloud that could increase flexibility and accessibility of data. However, the migration may also put sensitive information at risk of interference. For the FBI, moving to the digital platform could allow hackers to manipulate digital evidence, said Jeremy Wiltz, assistant director of the FBI’s enterprise services division.

The rise of 5G network has advantages and some challenges. Agencies should maintain integrity of older technologies 4G and LTE to provide a roadmap for how to secure communications over 5G. Another emerging technology that’s gaining attention is augmented reality. For some agencies, AR could help understand new information technology capabilities and threats through simulation. 

Brian Gattoni, chief technical officer at Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under the Department of Homeland Security, said the technology could secure critical infrastructures and manage cyber risks for national security. The technology can also help train cybersecurity professionals to prepare for future threats. 

Experts from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission urge lawmakers to take action as China continues to advance its space-related activities, Space News reported Thursday. Members of the commission, which was established in 2000 to analyze the national security impacts of U.S. trade relations with China, testified before Congress on the actions the government must take to address China’s space achievements and growing anti-satellite arsenal.

According to Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics and 2019 Wash100 Award winner, the service branch is investing technologies to address potential threats. Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the Department of Defense must improve deterrence and develop satellite communications capabilities with advanced encryption and anti-jamming features.

“Ultimately, to effectively deter conflict from extending into space we must credibly communicate that we are prepared to fight a conflict that extends into space,” he added.

Mark Stokes, executive director of the Project 2049 Institute, warned that China’s counter space technologies could potentially target U.S. space assets including GPS, communications and reconnaissance capabilities.

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.

Michael Griffin, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, highlighted the mission of the Department of Defense’s organic laboratories during DoD Lab Day. He said that laboratory engineers must work with a balance between speed, diligence and quality to boost the military’s lethality and protection, DoD said Thursday.

These organic laboratories work on emerging weapons, medicine and other technologies that haven’t been commercialized in the private sector. Griffin emphasizes the importance of the speed and direction in laboratory work and noted that the U.S. must be technologically ahead of adversaries. The former NASA administrator also discussed the significance of multi-branch collaboration across the department. 

Maj. Gen. William Cooley, who commands Air Force Research Laboratory, said that they work with other defense laboratories, other government agencies, industry and academia, as a follow up to Griffin’s statement. DoD Lab Day is a congress-recognized science and technology event that takes place every two years.

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.