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Air Force Vet Mark Brown Appointed as DoED COO
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Air Force Vet Mark Brown Appointed as DoED COO


Air Force Vet Mark Brown Appointed as DoED COO

Mark Brown, a 32-year U.S. Air Force veteran and retired major general, will succeed Wayne Johnson as the chief operating officer of the Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid, DoED said on Monday. Johnson will continue assisting the FSA’s technology and operational updates as its chief strategy and transformation officer.

“We are thrilled Mark has agreed to lead the continued efforts to transform and modernize FSA,” said Betsy DeVos, secretary of DoED.

Prior to his appointment, Brown led the Air Education and Training Command as deputy commander and served as a commander for the 2nd Air Force. Brown also worked as a chief financial officer at the Air Force Materiel Command and performed duties as a congressional liaison to the House and Senate Appropriations military sub-committees.

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CIO Suzette Kent: Federal Workforce Welcomes OMB’s AI, Automation Initiative
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CIO Suzette Kent: Federal Workforce Welcomes OMB’s AI, Automation Initiative


CIO Suzette Kent: Federal Workforce Welcomes OMB’s AI, Automation Initiative

Federal Chief Information Officer and 2019 Wash100 Award winner Suzette Kent said the federal workforce is showing great interest in the administration’s initiative to retool agencies with artificial intelligence, automation and analytics, Federal News Network reported Monday. Over 1,500 employees applied to the Office of Management and Budget’s first Federal Cyber Re-skilling Academy that intends to train non-information technology personnel for future cyber-related tasks and the use of innovative technologies.

“We had a bigger response than we expected and we’re seeing great scores,” Kent said during the ServiceNow Federal Summit in Washington. “We have a high number of individuals who are actually qualifying in the success range.”

OMB plans to select 25 applicants by April 1 to train from mid-April to mid-July. Some federal agencies have expressed interest in hiring graduates of the Cyber Reskilling Academy for full-time jobs, Kent said. OMB plans to launch another cyber re-skilling academy later in 2019, which includes federal IT employees and higher-level personnel.

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.

Navy Commissions USS Charleston in Namesake City
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Navy Commissions USS Charleston in Namesake City


Navy Commissions USS Charleston in Namesake City

The U.S. Navy commissioned its 16th littoral combat ship during a ceremony on March 2 at the Columbus Street Terminal in Charleston, South Carolina. USS Charleston, also known as LCS 18, was part of a commissioning ceremony held before 5,000 guests including Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, the Navy said Sunday.

The vessel is the ninth Independence variant ship in the fleet, and it succeeds five previous ships that carried Charleston’s name throughout history including the Spanish-American War, both World Wars and the Vietnam War.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., delivered the ceremony’s principal address. Charlotte Riley, wife of former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, ordered the activation of LCS 18 as the ship’s sponsor.

“USS Charleston has the ability to tackle asymmetrical threats like mines, quiet diesel submarines and at the same time, fast surface ships,” Scott said.

The Navy will move USS Charleston to Naval Base San Diego where the ship will remain in port along with other units assigned to LCS Squadron 1.

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DISA Streamlines Web-Based Service Ordering
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DISA Streamlines Web-Based Service Ordering


DISA Streamlines Web-Based Service Ordering

The Defense Information Systems Agency updated its services and capabilities catalog that now allows mission partners to submit orders online. Defense organizations may select from 91 services in the mission categories of commercial satellite communications, Department of Defense mobility solutions, data services and voice services, officials said Friday.

The agency hosts the updated catalog on DISA Storefront, a platform designed to streamline and automate the ordering process. Hal Herrick, program manager for DISA Storefront, said the platform will also integrate accounting, finance, contracting and software-defined enterprise functions for automated delivery. The agency plans to launch a classified version of the catalog during the final quarter of fiscal year 2019, he added.

The services and capabilities catalog is among three routes under the primary navigation of the agency’s website.

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DOE Unveils $52M Fuel Research Funding Opportunity
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DOE Unveils $52M Fuel Research Funding Opportunity


DOE Unveils $52M Fuel Research Funding Opportunity

The Department of Energy intends to award a $51M contract to fund research efforts in fuel technologies for commercial and off-road vehicles.

The agency said Friday it plans to support concepts and studies in heavy-duty freight electrification, natural gases, hydrogen infrastructure, electrode assemblies and energy-saving vehicle systems.

“Through research and new developments in both energy efficiency and domestically-sourced fuel technologies, we can not only strengthen our energy security but also improve transportation affordability for our nation’s trucking industry – helping those who deliver American goods and those who use them,” said Mark Menezes, the department undersecretary.

Interested parties have until March 29 to submit their concept papers, and full proposals are due May 15.

Wilbur Ross: Commercial Efforts Accelerate Growth of Global Space Economy
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Wilbur Ross: Commercial Efforts Accelerate Growth of Global Space Economy


Wilbur Ross: Commercial Efforts Accelerate Growth of Global Space Economy

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross wrote in a Feb. 28 opinion piece published on the Orlando Sentinel that it is possible for the global space economy to reach $1 trillion by 2040. He cited five ways the U.S. can foster growth in the space industry, now valued at $400 billion.

Efforts by the industry to cut costs through shared services and other reusability and sustainability initiatives could help increase the number of American satellites from 800 to 15,000 over the next five years. Ross noted that disrupting traditional commercial models through technologies such as GPS could help drive the space economy.

Other steps that could enable growth include diversifying options for funding and insurance, enhancing public safety from hazards like space debris and nurturing domestic talent through training programs. Ross said the government is working on space economy-related efforts such as the Commerce Department’s forum with the insurance industry and space situational awareness firms.

He said the Trump administration is seeking to remove regulatory barriers to space commerce. The administration directed the Departments of Defense and Commerce to establish a civil agency interface delivering space situational awareness information to private companies.

Mike Holmes: Boeing’s Fourth-Gen F-15X Could Help USAF Reduce Procurement Costs
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Mike Holmes: Boeing’s Fourth-Gen F-15X Could Help USAF Reduce Procurement Costs


Mike Holmes: Boeing's Fourth-Gen F-15X Could Help USAF Reduce Procurement Costs

Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of the Air Combat Command, said at an Air Force Association event in Florida that the service would reduce costs by acquiring fourth-generation aircraft like Boeing’s F-15X, National Defense reported Friday.

Holmes noted that purchasing a mix of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft would help the Air Force cut costs and reach its goal of procuring 72 new fighter jets annually. He added that the Air Force still needs to acquire fifth-generation aircraft to stay ahead of adversaries.

According to Holmes, the service can benefit from the F-15X which needs “very little aircrew changes” and less maintenance. The Air Force is seeking to accelerate the purchase of Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation F-35 joint strike fighters.

Air Force officials including USAF Secretary Heather Wilson noted that the service’s original 2020 budget proposal “did not include fourth-generation aircraft.”

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White House Accepts 1.5K Cybersecurity Training Applications
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White House Accepts 1.5K Cybersecurity Training Applications


White House Accepts 1.5K Cybersecurity Training Applications

The White House received 1,500 applications for an initiative that seeks to provide cybersecurity training to federal government employees, Nextgov reported Friday.

The Federal Cyber Reskilling Academy program is managed by the CIO Council’s Workforce Committee and the Department of Education and is designed to address the shortage of cybersecurity-trained government employees through fundamental cyber defense analysis training. Applicants completed online tests in critical thinking and problem solving through March 1. Participants who passed will receive notification on April 1 and are required to validate their participation on or before April 15.

“It shows there’s a great desire from our federal employees to transition into the cybersecurity career field,” said Suzette Kent, federal chief information officer at the Office of Management and Budget.

The training is slated to run from April 15 through July and will be held in Washington, D.C.

Officials Look for Military Overseas Operations Funding to Boost DoD Budget
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Officials Look for Military Overseas Operations Funding to Boost DoD Budget


Officials Look for Military Overseas Operations Funding to Boost DoD Budget

Officials from the Congressional Budget Office said the proposed use of the Pentagon’s overseas contingency operations funds to avoid another defense budget cap might disrupt the agency’s longer-term budget planning, Federal News Network reported Friday.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said OCO covers 73 percent of budget cap adjustments since 2013 and the 14 percent increase in the funding for the Department of Defense since 2012. However, he noted DoD is overusing the funding “probably just as a way of getting around the BCA budget caps.”

A 2018 CBO report shows that if the budget caps remain on the current figures, OCO funds would lose 7.4 percent or $90B. Kaine then noted that if Congress distributes the enduring costs of the military’s overseas activities for DoD’s base budget, the agency could recieve 9 percent higher funding. 

“I can’t comment about the appropriate or inappropriate use of OCO, but I will say what we are doing since 9/11 is a significant departure from historical norms,” David Mosher, assistant director for National Security at CBO, said at a meeting with the Senate Budget Committee.

Mosher said that CBO is working on Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney’s proposal to move costs in OCO’s funds back into the DoD base budget.

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Intel Community CIO John Sherman Details Top IT Priorities for 2019
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Intel Community CIO John Sherman Details Top IT Priorities for 2019


Intel Community CIO John Sherman Details Top IT Priorities for 2019

John Sherman, chief information officer of the U.S. intelligence community, said expanding and modernizing the IC’s information technology environment are his top priorities with intelligence agencies in 2019, FedScoop reported on Friday. The “second epoch” of ICITE seeks intelligence integration and innovation, Sherman said at the recent AFCEA IC IT Day.

“Our adversaries are moving out quickly in many areas such as cyber, artificial intelligence and machine learning, information and asymmetric warfare, and not to mention other capabilities, such as conventional arms and space,” he said.

Among the efforts to help intelligence agencies enhance IT will include interoperability with other federal agencies as well as international partners, particularly Five Eyes members Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

“We’re not seeking a one-size-fits-all set of solutions but we must be capable of collaborating at the speed of mission and without overly customized approaches,” Sherman said.

He added that adopting new commercial tools and technologies would also help the IC better modernize its IT environment.

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