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Stratcom Chief Gen. John Hyten to Oversee Nuclear Command, Control, Comms Systems
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Stratcom Chief Gen. John Hyten to Oversee Nuclear Command, Control, Comms Systems


Stratcom Chief Gen. John Hyten to Oversee Nuclear Command, Control, Comms Systems
John Hyten

The Defense Department has directed the U.S. Strategic Command to solely oversee the country’s nuclear command, control and communications platforms and operations following a review ordered by Defense Secretary James Mattis, SpaceNews reported Monday.

Mattis authorized the months-long assessment due to concerns that NC3 lacked an integrated governance structure.

Maj. Meghan Liemburg-Archer, a spokeswoman for Stratcom, told SpaceNews in an email that Gen. John Hyten, commander of Stratcom, has been named by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to lead the NC3 enterprise “with increased responsibilities for operations, requirements and systems engineering and integration.”

Hyten and Mattis are both two-time Wash100 recipients.

The report said the office of the defense undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment will manage the procurement and resources related to NC3 systems that include radars and warning satellites; ground stations, aircraft and communications satellites; control centers for nuclear platforms; and mobile and fixed command posts.

Navy Asks Lawmakers for $64M Budget for Readiness, Safety Reforms
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Navy Asks Lawmakers for $64M Budget for Readiness, Safety Reforms


Navy Asks Lawmakers for $64M Budget for Readiness, Safety ReformsThe U.S. Navy has asked Congress to add $64 million to its 2018 fiscal year budget to commence action on a series of reforms after deadly collisions involving two warships last year, USNI News reported Monday.

Seventeen sailors perished from two separate collisions involving the USS Fitzgerald and the USS John S. McCain last year. Reviews of the incidents identified more than 100 areas that the Navy should address to foster readiness and safety measures,Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran said. 

Among the reform items mentioned in the Defense Department reprogramming request are:

  • $22.6 million to create the Mariner Skills Training Program in Newport, R.I.; San Diego and Norfolk, Va.
  • $16.2 million for additional enlisted pay and benefits to boost training programs
  • $8.5 million to fast-track the deployment of the Next Generation Surface Search Radar
  • $7.18 million to boost the Navy’s Manpower Requirement System
  • $4 million for budget and accounting modernization
  • $2.3 million to create the U.S. 2nd Fleet
  • $1.8 million to facilitate the design review for a Naval Sea Systems Command ship control system
  • $1.3 million for the update of Automatic Identification Systems laptops
  • $0.3 million for the use of the U.S. Naval Academy Yard Patrol craft for Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps

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Dave Powner Steps Down From IT Issue Director Position at GAO
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Dave Powner Steps Down From IT Issue Director Position at GAO


Dave Powner Steps Down From IT Issue Director Position at GAO
Dave Powner

Dave Powner, director for information technology issues at the Government Accountability Office, is stepping down from his position after 16 years with the agency, MeriTalk reported Monday.

He helped GAO manage IT issues over a span of multiple administrations, supporting multiple congressmen and senators.

Powner will go on to return to the private sector, the report noted.

Suzette Kent, the federal chief information officer at GAO, will host a forum to discuss the shift of IT leadership at the agency.

At GAO, Powner has overseen prime IT modernization programs for federal government components such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station and the National Weather Service.

These efforts encompassed the areas of enterprise architecture, software development and information security.

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Senate Approves Robert Wilkie as VA Secretary
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Senate Approves Robert Wilkie as VA Secretary


Senate Approves Robert Wilkie as VA Secretary
Robert Wilkie

Robert Wilkie, former undersecretary for personnel and readiness at the Defense Department, received Senate confirmation Monday to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs via a 86-9 vote, The Hill reported Monday.

He succeeds David Shulkin, whom President Trump dismissed as VA secretary in March, and has held that position in an acting basis before his nomination to the department’s top post.

Wilkie told a Senate committee last month at a hearing that he would prioritize efforts to implement a new electronic health records platform and update information technology systems at the department.

NGA Seeks Chief Technology Officer to Develop Defense Intell Data Mgmt & Tech Strategy
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NGA Seeks Chief Technology Officer to Develop Defense Intell Data Mgmt & Tech Strategy


NGA Seeks Chief Technology Officer to Develop Defense Intell Data Mgmt & Tech StrategyThe National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is looking for a chief technology officer who will lead the development of NGA’s defense intelligence information management and technology strategy and technical efforts across the public and private sectors.

A USAJobs notice published July 17 says the CTO will also coordinate with the intelligence community regarding combat support systems and communications and manage senior working groups that focus on emerging technologies and engineering programs.

The selected candidate will work to help the agency address different IT requirements, particularly those related to information management capability integration and interoperability.

NGA will accept applications for the position until Aug. 15.

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Report: NSA Head Creates Group to Deter Russian Cyberattacks; Gen. Paul Nakasone Comments
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Report: NSA Head Creates Group to Deter Russian Cyberattacks; Gen. Paul Nakasone Comments


Report: NSA Head Creates Group to Deter Russian Cyberattacks; Gen. Paul Nakasone Comments
Paul Nakasone

Gen. Paul Nakasone, director of the National Security Agency and commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, said he has formed a special task force that would evaluate threats of Russian attacks in cyberspace, Bloomberg reported Monday.

Nakasone, a two-time Wash100 recipient, confirmed the formation of “a Russia Small Group” late Saturday, the tail-end yearly Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. “I stood up a Russia group, a Russia Small Group. It’s in line with what the intelligence community has really been doing since post 2016, 2017.”

Nakasone earlier announced that the NSA and the Cyber Command will coordinate efforts to inhibit Russian threats to the transparency and security of the November midterm elections. Having helped design and then commission the Cyber Command in 2010, Nakasone said action should be taken in light of activities that are being undertaken by political adversaries.

“They steal intellectual property, [personally identifiable information] or information on personnel, they cause discord within our social ranks or attempt to undermine our elections, all below the level of war.

And so this idea of how do you engage that force is something that I believe needs to be on a continual basis,” Nakasone said.

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CBO: Quantum Info Scie-Tech Advancement Bill Would Cost $1.1B Over 5 Years
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CBO: Quantum Info Scie-Tech Advancement Bill Would Cost $1.1B Over 5 Years


CBO: Quantum Info Scie-Tech Advancement Bill Would Cost $1.1B Over 5 YearsA Congressional Budget Office report says a proposed House bill that seeks to advance quantum information science and technology research efforts would cost $1.1 billion to implement from fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

CBO said Friday it also projects that enacting the National Quantum Initiative Act would not raise net direct spending or budget deficit within the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning 2029.

The bill would establish a national quantum coordination office to oversee interagency activities and facilitate public outreach programs in that field.

Under the legislation, the Energy Department, National Institute of Standards and Technology and National Science Foundation would receive funds to implement quantum research efforts.

The bill would provide a $125 million annual budget to help DOE run quantum information science research centers; another $80 million to help NIST finance commercial development efforts in that area; and $50 million to help NSF introduce a quantum research and education program.

GAO Reviews Agencies’ Q2 2017 Spending Data
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GAO Reviews Agencies’ Q2 2017 Spending Data


GAO Reviews Agencies' Q2 2017 Spending DataThe Government Accountability Office has found in a recent study that only 15 out of 53 agencies submitted complete and accurate 2017 second quarter spending data to comply with the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014.

GAO said Monday the other 38 agencies submitted inaccurate spending data partly due to the agencies’ lack of appropriate procedures and control.

Most of the reports also showed inconsistencies in how the Treasury Department broker recorded data from certain award systems that caused government-wide issues.

GAO initiated the study in an effort to determine how the office of inspector general of agencies assess DATA Act spending data and what actions the Office of Management and Budget and Treasury Department have taken or will implement to monitor the compliance of agencies to the law.

The DATA Act requires OIGs to report on their assessments of their agency’s spending data submissions.

The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency will use GAO’s findings to focus on the implementation of requirements under the DATA Act.

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Congressional Negotiators Reach Fiscal 2019 Defense Authorization Deal
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Congressional Negotiators Reach Fiscal 2019 Defense Authorization Deal


Congressional Negotiators Reach Fiscal 2019 Defense Authorization DealHouse and Senate conference members have reached a compromise on a bill that would authorize $716 billion in defense budget for fiscal 2019, Stars and Stripes reported Monday.

The negotiated deal on the fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act would support the proposed pay increase of 2.6 percent for service personnel, troop increases and procurements of aircraft, weapons systems, submarines and ships.

The House started debates on the NDAA conference report Monday and is expected to vote on the deal as soon as this week.

House and Senate Armed Services Committee members said in a statement published Monday the FY 2019 NDAA will help build up military readiness, introduce reforms to the Defense Department and support the National Defense Strategy’s implementation.

The fiscal 2019 NDAA would allocate $639 billion in fiscal 2019 base budget, $69 billion in funds for overseas contingency operations, $21.8 billion for military equipment maintenance and $2.8 billion for the purchase of spare aircraft parts across the services, according to the conference report.

Conferees also agreed to increase the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. over overseas investments; authorize the procurement of additional F-35 fighter jets; support the development of a lower-yield ballistic missile to boost deterrence; and prohibit agencies from using ZTE- and Huawei-built tech platforms.

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AFRL Holds Largest Wright Dialogue With Defense Industry in Ohio
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AFRL Holds Largest Wright Dialogue With Defense Industry in Ohio


AFRL Holds Largest Wright Dialogue With Defense Industry in OhioThe 13th annual Wright Dialogue With Industry, hosted by the Air Force Research Laboratory, saw more than 600 registrants, making it the largest WDI ever.

The event, titled “AFRL Science and Technology Supporting the National Defense Strategy,” was held from July 17 to 19 in Dayton, Ohio, featured presentations, panel discussions, open forums and one-on-one sessions between senior Air Force officials and defense contractors, Wright-Patterson AFB said Friday.

During the dialogue, Maj. Gen. William Cooley, AFRL commander, discussed technologies outlined in the 2018 National Defense Strategy that the AFRL is focusing on, including hypersonics, directed energy, autonomy, biotechnology, robotics, artificial intelligence, big data analytics and quantum computing.

Cooley also discussed the launching of the Air Force Science and Technology 2030 website, where visitors can submit ideas for innovative technology to be evaluated by a panel of national experts and AFRL researchers.

Ideas that stood out will be included in a report to the Air Force secretary due in September.

Other key speakers for the event were Valerie Muck, member of the senior executive service and director of the Defense Department‘s Air Force Small Business Programs; Tom Lockhart, also a member of the senior executive service and director of the AFRL Plans and Programs and Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation directorates; Dr. Steven “Cap” Rogers, the AFRL’s senior scientist for autonomy; and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Wilson.

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