/
Jeanette Manfra: DHS Unveils Supply Chain Initiative to Address Cyber Gaps Between Govt, Contractors
Published on
Jeanette Manfra: DHS Unveils Supply Chain Initiative to Address Cyber Gaps Between Govt, Contractors


Jeanette Manfra: DHS Unveils Supply Chain Initiative to Address Cyber Gaps Between Govt, ContractorsThe Department of Homeland Security has introduced a program that aims to identify cybersecurity gaps between federal agencies and contractors, Federal News Radio reported Thursday.

Jeanette Manfra, assistant secretary for the office of cybersecurity and communications at DHS’ national protection and programs directorate, told reporters Wednesday the supply chain initiative launched earlier this year seeks to build up the department’s efforts to address supply chain-related security risks through staff allocation.

“We need to have improved ability for DHS, [General Services Administration] [and] the intel community to be in a position to help inform procurement decisions by the federal government agencies throughout the civilian government,” Manfra said.

“We’re working on building those mechanisms and DHS’ role in pulling all of that altogether, and also working with industry experts to refine what are the supply chain risks that we should be concerned about,” she added.

/
Navy Completes Yearly Missile Exercise With USS Iwo Jima
Published on
Navy Completes Yearly Missile Exercise With USS Iwo Jima


Navy Completes Yearly Missile Exercise With USS Iwo Jima

The U.S. Navy has performed an exercise with the USS Iwo Jima firing a rolling airframe missile against an unmanned missile drone.

The test was done as part of USS Iwo Jima’s yearly tradition of sensor and missile maintenance checks for the ship’s self-defense system, the Navy said Tuesday.

Under the yearly tradition, the amphibious assault ship’s crew also performs maintenance for gears and motors to ensure that USS Iwo Jima’s physical integrity is not compromised due to daily exposure to sun and salt water.

Capt. Joseph O’Brien, the ship’s commanding officer, led the exercise that took place off Virginia’s coast.

“That’s everything from scenario trainings throughout the entire year in the combat information center to a plethora of maintenance hours to include daily operability tests, bi-weekly checks, and monthly checks to ensure that the RAM launchers are performing at their best condition,” said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Damian Blackwell.

USS Iwo Jima’s CIC holds the responsibility of ensuring that the RAMs accurately track targets.

The ship is used to aid maritime security efforts in cooperation with European and Middle Eastern forces, and will join other naval vessels to compose the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

/
Air Force FY 2019 Budget Request Includes $193M for Small Launch Services Acquisition
Published on
Air Force FY 2019 Budget Request Includes $193M for Small Launch Services Acquisition


Air Force FY 2019 Budget Request Includes $193M for Small Launch Services AcquisitionThe U.S. Air Force‘s budget request for fiscal year 2019 includes $192.5 million to fund a “small launch” services program over a five-year period, SpaceNews reported Thursday.

The budget line will be used to procure commercial launch services and will include $47.6 million for 2019, $11.5 million for 2020, $57.9 million for 2021, $12.1 million for 2022 and $63.4 million for 2023.

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said the service branch aims to have “a variety of launch capabilities in order to have assured access to space.”

Budget documents state that the small launch program will cover spacelift and rideshare services for developmental, demonstration and small operational spacecraft.

The new program will fund the deployment of payloads weighing less than 8,000 pounds.

The Air Force said the small launch project complements the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program, which supports the launch of large satellites.

/
USAF Uses Hydrogen as Alternative Fuel Source at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Published on
USAF Uses Hydrogen as Alternative Fuel Source at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam


USAF Uses Hydrogen as Alternative Fuel Source at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-HickamThe U.S. Air Force has performed a demonstration on hydrogen’s use as an alternative fuel for the service branch’s vehicles in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

The demonstration was conducted as part of a partnership between the AF Research Lab and the Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies that seeks to test potential Hydrogen applications for the U.S. military, USAF said Thursday.

The Hawaii Air National Guard houses the project’s assets at the 647th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

The effort began in 2006 through the development of a hydrogen electrolysis unit that was used to aid the Defense Department‘s tests for Hydrogen-powered vehicles including the MJ-1E fighter weapons loader and U-30 heavy aircraft tug.

A hydrogen electrolysis unit uses electricity to extract hydrogen particles out of water, and then, compresses the collected particles into fuel.

Members of the AF Civil Engineer Center recently visited the joint base’s hydrogen facility to witness the demonstration of vehicles that make use of the hydrogen-based fuel.

/
DHS S&T Develops AI-Based Method for Aircraft Threat Detection
Published on
DHS S&T Develops AI-Based Method for Aircraft Threat Detection


DHS S&T Develops AI-Based Method for Aircraft Threat DetectionThe Department of Homeland Security‘s science and technology directorate has begun to develop an artificial intelligence-based method for Customs and Border Protection agents to identify non-commercial aircraft threats.

DHS said Thursday its S&T directorate is developing the Predictive Threat Model to aid CBP’s Air and Marine Operations Center in efforts to track small general aviation aircraft, ultralights, jets and unmanned aircraft that may be involved in illegal activities.

Geoffrey Berlin leads the development of this new method that makes use of machine learning and big data applications based on multiple sources of previously recorded aircraft profiles.

PTM aims to use multiple pieces of information to generate a bigger picture of an aerial vehicle’s intentions, DHS noted.

The model is designed to increase the speed and accuracy of AMOC’s threat detection capacities and supplement the center’s 30 years of drug interdiction experience.

S&T has completed the system’s initial prototype and is scheduled to finish the operational phase in six to nine months.

/
Richard Spencer: Navy’s Next Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship Named USNS Newport
Published on
Richard Spencer: Navy’s Next Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship Named USNS Newport


Richard Spencer: Navy's Next Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship Named USNS Newport
Richard Spencer

U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, a 2018 Wash100 recipient, has disclosed the name USNS Newport for the service branch’s future Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel.

Newport, designated T-EPF 12, will be the fourth naval ship named after the Rhode Island city, the Navy said Tuesday.

Austal‘s U.S. business secured the contract to build the next EFP ship designed to operate at a speed of more than 35 knots and displace 2,362 tons.

EPFs, previously called the Joint High Speed Vessels, are commercial-based catamarans intended for overseas contingency, special operations forces and humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

/
NATO to Form New Commands for Maritime Security, Logistics
Published on
NATO to Form New Commands for Maritime Security, Logistics


NATO to Form New Commands for Maritime Security, LogisticsNATO has cleared plans to establish two new commands in an effort to optimize maritime security, logistics and military mobility, DoD News reported Wednesday.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters that the organization will form a joint force command for the Atlantic to help secure sea-based communication lines between North America and Europe.

Stoltenberg added that NATO will also create a command for logistics, reinforcement and military mobility to streamline the transportation of troops and equipment.

U.S. offered to house the joint force command and Germany proposed to host the logistics command.

Stoltenberg noted that he expects defense ministers to make decisions on timelines, locations and staffing for the command headquarters in June.

The secretary said NATO will also set up a cyber operations center at its military headquarters to boost security.

/
New DOE Office to Focus on Energy Infrastructure Security Efforts; Rick Perry Comments
Published on
New DOE Office to Focus on Energy Infrastructure Security Efforts; Rick Perry Comments


New DOE Office to Focus on Energy Infrastructure Security Efforts; Rick Perry CommentsThe Energy Department has formed a new office that will aim to secure U.S. energy infrastructure and support DOE’s national security missions.

President Donald Trump proposed a $96 million budget for the department’s new Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response in his fiscal 2019 budget request, DOE said Wednesday.

The department will appoint an assistant secretary to lead the CESER office in efforts to formulate a coordinated preparedness and response strategy meant to address natural and man-made threats to energy systems.

“This new office best positions the department to address the emerging threats of tomorrow while protecting the reliable flow of energy to Americans today,” said Energy Secretary Rick Perry.

/
DoD to Administer Industry Day Event for Joint Enterprise Cloud Acquisition
Published on
DoD to Administer Industry Day Event for Joint Enterprise Cloud Acquisition


DoD to Administer Industry Day Event for Joint Enterprise Cloud AcquisitionThe Defense Department has announced details on a public event regarding the DoD’s plans for Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud acquisition.

Interested members of government, industry and academia are invited to the Industry Day for JEDI that will take place March 7, at the Sheraton Pentagon City in Arlington, Virginia, the DoD said Wednesday.

The event will provide a draft solicitation package that may serve as a guide for contractors in entering solicitation processes.

No contracts will be awarded during the event that does not serve as a request for proposal.

The event’s presenters will consist of officials from the Office of the Chief Management Officer, Joint Staff, Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Cyber Command, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Defense Digital Service, Strategic Capabilities Office, Program Manager and Contracting Officer for JEDI Cloud.

Interested participants may submit registrations through email at jedi-industry-day@dds.mil by 3:00 pm eastern tine, Feb. 28.

/
NASA OKs 3D Imaging Lidar Tech for Restore-L Satellite Servicer Demo
Published on
NASA OKs 3D Imaging Lidar Tech for Restore-L Satellite Servicer Demo


NASA OKs 3D Imaging Lidar Tech for Restore-L Satellite Servicer DemoNASA has decided to use a three-dimensional light detection and ranging system for an agency project that seeks to demonstrate an autonomous satellite servicing platform.

The agency said Tuesday its Satellite Servicing Projects Division baselined the Kodiak lidar system to transmit images and distance-ranging data during the Restore-L demonstration.

Restore-L aims to extend the lifespan of satellites through an in-orbit servicing method.

The Kodiak system was originally developed as the Goddard Reconfigurable Solid-state Scanning Lidar through NASA’s Goddard Internal Research and Development program in 2012.

SSPD technologists tested the imaging component of Kodak with an Earth remote-sensing satellite model and found that the system’s 3D imaging technology could help address Restore-L objectives when used in conjunction with special algorithms.

NASA added the Restore-L project will implement a second Kodiak component that features micro-electro-mechanical scanner and photodetector technologies.

1 … 2,061 2,062 2,063 2,064 2,065 … 2,597