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Applied Insight Strengthens Leadership Team and Moves HQ to Tysons, John Hynes Quoted
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Applied Insight Strengthens Leadership Team and Moves HQ to Tysons, John Hynes Quoted


Applied Insight Strengthens Leadership Team and Moves HQ to Tysons, John Hynes Quoted

Applied Insight announced on Thursday that it is moving its headquarters from Ashburn, Va. to Tysons Corner, Va. and made changes to strengthen its leadership team.

Mehdi Cherqaoui will serve as chief financial officer in a company that focuses on analytics, cloud and mission IT for federal government clients. He joined the company this month and brings extensive financial management and M&A experience to the role. Previously, he served as CFO and COO at Phacil for nearly four years. Cherqaoui has also served in senior financial and M&A positions with PAE, the URS Corporation, PwC and KPMG. He was involved in more than 60 M&A transactions.

Led by John Hynes, chief executive officer of AI, the new executive team is designed to focus on customer support, collaboration on the next-generation of innovations and integrated corporate support. The new executive team includes individuals from across the company who are being promoted into new positions and employees from recently-acquired businesses.

“With this new leadership team, we benefit from the diverse ideas and experience of people who’ve worked in our sector for a long time, including those who’ve recently joined through acquisition along with some new additions,” Hynes said. “Together, they provide the mission understanding, technical expertise and operational excellence required to deliver for our customers, inspire our people, drive growth through innovation and develop the talent we need for the future.”

New headquarters in Tysons Corner will serve as a collaborative hub for the business as it accelerates its research and development strategy around new innovations in cloud infrastructures for federal customers, cybersecurity, big data and other emerging technologies.

“Tysons Corner is a more central location for our leadership team to come together when we need to,” Hynes said. “The new space also has great facilities for bringing our people together for training and collaboration on new projects, particularly in technology development and business development. It’s part of fostering the creative culture that will be key to our long-term success.”

About Applied Insight

Applied Insight is an agile company solving complex technology challenges for federal government customers. Our next-generation analytics, cyber, cloud and mission IT capabilities are applied to building, securing and sustaining the systems they need, handling their complex data and computing requirements, and giving insights that aid decision making.

With a shared culture of collaboration, innovation and passion for the mission, we collaborate seamlessly in developing integrated solutions, combining scale and investment with the creativity and innovation that smaller companies do so well. We stay close to the mission, moving quickly to develop, adapt and apply the latest commercial technologies that enable our customers’ most demanding mission objectives. 

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DoD Begins Low-Yield Nuclear Cruise Missile Dev’t
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DoD Begins Low-Yield Nuclear Cruise Missile Dev’t


DoD Begins Low-Yield Nuclear Cruise Missile Dev't

The Department of Defense has begun the development of low-yield submarine-launched nuclear cruise missiles, USNI News reported Wednesday.

John Rood, undersecretary of policy at the Department of Defense, said the U.S. military also requested funding through fiscal year 2020 to perform low-yield alteration to existing ballistic missiles and warheads deployed on submarines. Rood also noted in a Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee hearing that China and Russia started modernization efforts for their nuclear weaponry, including low-yield missiles.

“The sub-launched cruise missile is further behind, and we’re just doing an AoA or analysis of alternatives at this stage,” said Rood.

Representatives Adam Smith and Susan Davis are questioning the need for low-yield missiles, stating the currrent U.S. nuclear weaponry is sufficient.

NASA Says India’s Space Missile Test Could Damage ISS
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NASA Says India’s Space Missile Test Could Damage ISS


NASA Says India’s Space Missile Test Could Damage ISS

NASA criticized India for its recent test of a missile targeting a satellite in space. The agency said the debris could hit and damage the International Space Station, CNBC reported Wednesday.

“I’m talking about small debris impacts to the International Space Station, the risk went up 44 percent over a period of 10 days,” said NASA Administrator and 2019 Wash100 Award winner Jim Bridenstine. “The good thing is, it’s low enough in Earth orbit that over time, this will all dissipate, he said.”

The missile test created at least 400 pieces of debris and 24 of the fragments reached the orbit near the ISS. Bridenstine described India’s test as a “terrible, terrible thing,” which was “not compatible with the future of human spaceflight.” Shambhu Hakki, a spokesperson for the Indian Embassy in Washington, said the test was conducted in the lower atmosphere to let the space debris fall into Earth within weeks.

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GSA Updates Special Item Number for Cloud Services on IT Schedule 70
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GSA Updates Special Item Number for Cloud Services on IT Schedule 70

GSA Updates Special Item Number for Cloud Services on IT Schedule 70

The General Services Administration revised a special item number on IT Schedule 70 to provide federal agencies access to information technology professional services related to cloud adoption and management.

The updated Cloud SIN 132-40 includes labor categories and services associated with cloud-related work such as assessment of cloud platforms, workload refactoring, migration of legacy systems to the cloud, DevOps and development of cloud-based applications, GSA said Monday. Such services could be added to the revised Cloud SIN through a new order or modification.

“Contractors may propose other types of relevant services, as long as they are specifically designed to work within and/or support the type of cloud products offered under 132-40,” the agency noted.

The updated Cloud SIN gives a clearer interpretation of the term “measured service,” which is one of the five essential characteristics of the cloud as defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

 

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Scott Gottlieb: FDA Eyes Regulatory Framework for AI-Based Medical Devices
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Scott Gottlieb: FDA Eyes Regulatory Framework for AI-Based Medical Devices


Scott Gottlieb: FDA Eyes Regulatory Framework for AI-Based Medical Devices

Scott Gottlieb, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, announced the release of a discussion paper as the agency considers developing new regulatory framework to advance the development of artificial intelligence-based medical devices.

“We are exploring a framework that would allow for modifications to algorithms to be made from real-world learning and adaptation, while still ensuring safety and effectiveness of the software as a medical device is maintained,” Gottlieb said in a statement published Tuesday. 

He said the proposed framework intends to assure that algorithm changes use a validation process to ensure the effectiveness and safety of AI-based software and adhere to pre-specified performance goals and promote performance monitoring once the device enters the market. 

The FDA also plans to assess predetermined change control plan for software to offer detailed data on the types of anticipated changes based on the AI algorithm’s update and retraining strategy. Gottlieb noted the agency plans to issue draft guidance based on feedback it receives on the discussion paper. 

GAO Reports on DHS High-Risk Requirements Progress
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GAO Reports on DHS High-Risk Requirements Progress


GAO Reports on DHS High-Risk Requirements Progress

The Government Accountability Office has published a report to highlight the Department of Homeland Security’s progress in addressing risks since establishment in 2002.

DHS continues to modernize and coordinate its different functions to meet leadership commitment, action plan and monitoring requirements under GAO’s high-risk list, the accountability agency said Wednesday. These functions include acquisition, information technology, financial and human capital management.

This development leaves DHS with two unfulfilled high-risk requirements: capacity and demonstrated progress.

The department, despite being identified a high-risk agency, has delivered an action plan in 2011 to monitor, address and correct high-risk factors. DHS has updated this plan 14 times since, with the latest revision released in 2018.

GAO recommends the department to maintain current leadership performance, identify requirements for continued progress, continue action plan implementation, track corrective efforts and continue to address unsolved issues.

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Nuclear Command Center Reaches Initial Operability
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Nuclear Command Center Reaches Initial Operability


Nuclear Command Center Reaches Initial Operability

The Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Enterprise Center received initial operability status from the U.S. Strategic Command on April 3. The facility serves to restructure decision making, situation oversight, planning, force direction and management for nuclear command functions, STRATCOM said Wednesday.

Elizabeth Durham-Ruiz, NC3 Enterprise Center director for STRATCOM, said the designation is part of the command’s plans to provide reinforced NC3 capacities within the 21st century.

“The center was created to help break down stovepipes in NC3 operations across the Defense Department,” she said. “We want to bring a whole-of-government approach to NC3 as we focus on operations, requirements, systems engineering and integration and analytics for the entire enterprise.”

The Department of Defense instructed the command to enact the NC3 Governance Improvement Implementation Plan, an initiative that creates program roles, provides direction to government partners and establishes the foundation for the center.

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Energy Department Announces $59M for Vehicle Energy Research
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Energy Department Announces $59M for Vehicle Energy Research


Energy Department Announces $59M for Vehicle Energy Research

The Department of Energy is investing a maximum of $59M to support research and development efforts on mobile energy technologies for use in vehicles. The projects encompass multiple types of energy applications including electric drive systems, batteries, mobility systems, power trains, engines and fuels, the department said Wednesday.

Studies will revolve around six research topics including solid state batteries, electric motor research, energy-efficient mobility systems and alternative fuel technology integration. Researchers will also develop predictive modeling capabilities to co-optimize fuels and multi-mode engines and build high-efficiency power trains made of lightweight and high temperature-resistant materials.

“Through this funding opportunity we are looking to partner with the best and brightest minds across the country to drive early-stage R and D for vehicle technologies forward,” said Mark Menezes, the undersecretary of energy.

Defense Department Offers Program for Contractors Hiring Disabled Personnel
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Defense Department Offers Program for Contractors Hiring Disabled Personnel


Defense Department Offers Program for Contractors Hiring Disabled Personnel

The Department of Defense issued a proposed rule on Monday seeking to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to authorize demonstration projects for contractors that employ persons with disabilities.

The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision on defense contracting opportunities for companies that hire severely disabled personnel as part of the Demonstration Project, according to the Federal Register. The demonstration project is based on a Small Business Administration program and includes incentives for federal contractors.

The legislation states that at least 33 percent of the participating for-profit or nonprofit agency workforce must include individuals with severe disabilities. The company must also pay no less than the minimum wage to the individuals and provide them with health insurance and retirement benefits.

“Employing people with disabilities can be a way to offset the effects of an aging and shrinking workforce,” the notice stated. “In addition, people with disabilities bring different perspectives on solving problems and adapting to different circumstances.”

Interested parties may submit responses to the proposed rule by May 31.

DHS Describes Reasons for Delays in Identifying Staffing Needs
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DHS Describes Reasons for Delays in Identifying Staffing Needs


DHS Describes Reasons for Delays in Identifying Staffing Needs

Chip Fulghum, deputy undersecretary for management at the Department of Homeland Security, said during a hearing on Capitol Hill that new coding frameworks delayed the agency’s efforts to assign two-digit codes for classifying cybersecurity positions, FCW reported Wednesday.

Fulghum testified before the House subcommittee on homeland security oversight, management and accountability that the 2017 transition into a three-digit code delayed the department’s assignment of two-digit codes to each of its information technology and cyber positions.

A Government Accountability Office report released in February 2018 states that the DHS was behind schedule in complying with the Homeland Security and Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act of 2014, which requires the department to assign a classification code to each cyber position. The effort was intended to help the government identify cybersecurity staffing needs.

The DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency previously requested $11.4M to cover the hiring of 150 more cyber personnel by the end of 2020.

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