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NSA Moves Mission Data to IC GovCloud Platform; Greg Smithberger Comments
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NSA Moves Mission Data to IC GovCloud Platform; Greg Smithberger Comments


NSA Moves Mission Data to IC GovCloud Platform; Greg Smithberger Comments
Greg Smithberger

The National Security Agency has started migrating signals intelligence information, foreign surveillance and other intell data into a single classified cloud platform designed to help intelligence community analysts accelerate queries and generate insights from data, Nextgov reported Thursday.

Greg Smithberger, chief information officer at NSA, said the IC GovCloud is a “big data fusion environment” that works to help analysts establish connections across the agency’s information sources.

“Right now, almost all NSA’s mission is being done in [IC GovCloud], and the productivity gains and the speed at which our analysts are able to put together insights and work higher-level problems has been really amazing,” he told Nextgov.

Smithberger noted that the cloud platform helps NSA speed up analysis through the use of algorithms, machine learning tools and automation.

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OMB Recommends Conversion of NASA Field Centers to Contractor-Operated R&D Hubs
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OMB Recommends Conversion of NASA Field Centers to Contractor-Operated R&D Hubs


OMB Recommends Conversion of NASA Field Centers to Contractor-Operated R&D HubsThe Office of Management and Budget has asked NASA to study the feasibility of transforming several of the space agency’s field centers into federally funded research and development centers to support the National Space Strategy and National Space Policy Directive 1, SpaceNews reported Thursday.

OMB included the proposal along with 30 other initiatives to reform and reorganize the federal government in a report published Thursday.

The report noted that an FFRDC operating model may help NASA align the agency’s priorities with workforce skills and promote an entrepreneurial culture meant to attract talent from the private sector.

Companies manage and maintain such centers for the federal government.

OMB wants the space agency to submit the findings of its study by the end of August and to also examine the possibility of implementing new programs and projects with the FFRDC structure.

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Air Force Sets Time Frame for UH-1N Replacement Deliveries
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Air Force Sets Time Frame for UH-1N Replacement Deliveries


Air Force Sets Time Frame for UH-1N Replacement DeliveriesThe U.S. Air Force expects to award an UH-1N Huey replacement contract later this year and aims to deliver new utility helicopters to multiple bases in the 2020-2032 time frame.

USAF said Wednesday it will buy aircraft designed to support nuclear deterrence, test and training, continuation of government operations and survival school support operations.

The service branch seeks a replacement platform with increased speed, range, endurance, payload capacity and survivability features.

The 2016 Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Requirements Oversight Council cleared the procurement plan, which USAF said aligns with the Defense Department‘s objective to fortify national security and preparedness against nuclear threats.

Current UH-1N Huey locations will receive new helicopters after an environmental analysis is completed.

Facilities include Eglin AFB in Florida, Fairchild AFB in Washington, FE Warren AFB in Wyoming, Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility in Maryland, Kirtland AFB in New Mexico, Malmstrom AFB in Montana and Minot AFB in North Dakota.

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Shay Assad: DoD to Reduce Cost, Pricing Data Requirements in New Procurement Policy
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Shay Assad: DoD to Reduce Cost, Pricing Data Requirements in New Procurement Policy

 

Shay Assad: DoD to Reduce Cost, Pricing Data Requirements in New Procurement Policy
Shay Assad

Shay Assad, director of pricing, procurement and acquisition policy at the Defense Department, recently said that the agency will soon release a new policy that would help reduce the lead time for major procurements, Federal News Radio reported Thursday.

Under the new policy, which would apply specifically to sole-source acquisitions, vendors and contractors would negotiate a contract’s first year using one cost and pricing data set, then forecast the contract’s second and third year options using the same data set.

The policy reduces the amount of pricing data required from vendors, thereby speeding up the procurement process.

Assad said, however, that the new policy is dependent upon a key provision in the Senate’s version of the fiscal 2019 defense budget allowing the defense secretary to pilot alternative contracting and pricing programs.

The full enactment of the policy would only be possible if the provision makes it to the final version of the appropriation bill.

 

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James Mattis: Trump’s Space Force Plan Needs Legislative Action
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James Mattis: Trump’s Space Force Plan Needs Legislative Action


James Mattis: Trump's Space Force Plan Needs Legislative Action
James Mattis

Defense Secretary James Mattis has said that President Donald Trump’s proposal for the U.S. military to establish a space force will require detailed planning and legislation prior to its formation, The Hill reported Wednesday.

Mattis, a 2018 Wash100 recipient, told reporters Wednesday that Defense Department officials plan to discuss the matter at their meeting with National Security Adviser John Bolton on Friday.

“We’ve clearly got to start the process,” he added.

His remarks came two days after President Trump announced plans to issue a directive for the sixth military branch as part of efforts to maintain U.S.’ advantage in space.

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Tom Soderstrom: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab Uses AI, IoT Applications to Manage Cybersecurity
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Tom Soderstrom: NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab Uses AI, IoT Applications to Manage Cybersecurity

 

Tom Soderstrom: NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab Uses AI, IoT Applications to Manage Cybersecurity
Tom Soderstrom

Tom Soderstrom, chief technology and innovation officer at NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said at Amazon Web Services’ Earth and Space Day held Tuesday he predicts new advances in technology will further drive breakthroughs, MeriTalk reported Tuesday.

Soderstrom told event audience that JPL utilizes artificial intelligence, internet of things devices, chatbots and digital assistants in efforts to manage operations and cybersecurity at the facility.

He added JPL developed AI-powered devices such as a system that works to help 1,000 users find conference rooms integrated with the Amazon Alexa virtual assistant, IoT sensors and computers that run cybersecurity dashboards.

The laboratory also designed a virtual chatbot for IT staff to review security operations center incidents, check internet protocol blocks and access service requests.

JPL seeks to partner with companies to develop a mobile authentication technology that can help secure government credentials, according to Soderstrom.

 

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Kimberly Reed Nominated Export-Import Bank President
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Kimberly Reed Nominated Export-Import Bank President


Kimberly Reed Nominated Export-Import Bank President
Kimberly Reed

Kimberly Reed, former president of the International Food Information Council Foundation, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve a four-year term as president of the Export-Import Bank.

Prior to the foundation, Reed worked at the Treasury Department, where she led the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and served as senior adviser to former Treasury secretaries Henry Paulson and John Snow, the White House announced Wednesday.

She previously served as counsel to three House committees and vice president for financial markets policy relations at Lehman Brothers.

Reed is the first elected female chair of the Republican National Lawyers Association and currently sits on the boards of the American Swiss Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association.

Reuters reported that Boeing issued a statement Wednesday about the trade bank’s role in economic growth after the White House announced Reed’s nomination.

“Restoring the Export-Import Bank to full strength with a board quorum is the best thing Washington can do right now to grow our economy through exports, shrink our trade deficits and level the playing field so American workers can win,” Tim Keating, executive VP of government operations at Boeing, said in a statement.

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WSJ: White House Eyes Merger of Labor, Education Departments
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WSJ: White House Eyes Merger of Labor, Education Departments


WSJ: White House Eyes Merger of Labor, Education DepartmentsThe White House could unveil on Thursday a proposal to merge the departments of Labor and Education as part of governmentwide reorganization efforts, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

Both federal departments have collaborated on employee training programs since the enactment of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014.

Alexander Acosta is the current DOL secretary while Betsy DeVos serves as ED secretary.

Republican lawmakers had proposed the formation of a “Department of Education and Employment” during the Bill Clinton administration, the report noted.

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National Space Council Advisers Hold Inaugural Meeting
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National Space Council Advisers Hold Inaugural Meeting


National Space Council Advisers Hold Inaugural MeetingA group tasked with advising the National Space Council on government and commercial aerospace matters convened Tuesday at NASA‘s headquarters, SpaceNews reported Wednesday.

James Ellis, chairman of the Users’ Advisory Group, said UAG intends to form subcommittees that will focus on six areas that include national security space; technology and innovation; economic development and industrial base; outreach and education, space policy and international engagement; and exploration and discovery.

“There are no red lines or issues that off the table,” Ellis was quoted as saying.

“If we think they need to be addressed, they are open to us.”

Vice President Mike Pence has told UAG members that the government will seek the group’s recommendations to advance public and private space enterprises.

NASA formed the group in late 2017 to represent the interest, perspectives and expertise of non-federal aerospace organizations.

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USMC Implements Use of New Night Vision Goggles
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USMC Implements Use of New Night Vision Goggles


USMC Implements Use of New Night Vision Goggles

The U.S. Marine Corps has commenced fielding of a new situational awareness tool for Marines in night-time operations.

The Binocular Night Vision Goggle II is a helmet-mounted binocular designed to boost night perception and magnify ambient light through the use of white phosphor image intensification technology, USMC said Tuesday.

The binocular also features a clip-on thermal imager that produces thermal overlay for clearer imagery, and a binocular night vision device that uses ambient light to provide detailed visuals of objects in the dark.

These functions work together to help Marines detect buried explosives, locate hidden objects and perceive depths.

The Marine Corps Systems Command started deploying the BNVG II for reconnaissance and explosive disposal operations this spring and plans to fully field the binoculars in the second quarter of 2019.

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