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

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DoD to Administer Industry Day Event for Joint Enterprise Cloud Acquisition
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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.

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NASA OKs 3D Imaging Lidar Tech for Restore-L Satellite Servicer Demo
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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.

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Air Force Unveils Plans to Maintain Bomber Fleet
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Air Force Unveils Plans to Maintain Bomber Fleet


Air Force Unveils Plans to Maintain Bomber FleetThe U.S. Air Force has detailed its plans to update its existing bomber fleet and acquire new aircraft in the fiscal year 2019 budget request.

The military branch said Monday it aims to modernize the B-52 Stratofortress fleet; continue installing upgrades on the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit aircraft; and acquire the future B-21 Raider planes.

“As part of our decisions presented in the FY19 President’s Budget, the Air Force will update the B-52 bomber fleet and fund development of replacement engines,” said Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson.

Wilson added that the Air Force wants B-1 and B-2 planes to stay operational until the deployment of B-21s.

Northrop Grumman secured a contract in 2015 to develop the B-21 aircraft as part of the Air Force’s Long Range Strike Bomber program.

The Air Force seeks to start fielding B-21s in the mid-2020s and eventually retire B-1s and B-2s when enough B-21 aircraft are deployed.

The service branch decided to maintain B-52s based on factors such as aircraft availability, mission capability, supply, costs and maintenance hours per flying hour.

Gen. Robin Rand, head of the Air Force Global Strike Command, said the Air Force expects B-52s to operate until 2050 following modernization work and the installation of new engines.

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Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone Nominated to Lead NSA, Cybercom
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Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone Nominated to Lead NSA, Cybercom


Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone Nominated to Lead NSA, Cybercom
Paul Nakasone

Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, head of the Army Cyber Command, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as head of the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command, Politico reported Tuesday.

Rob Joyce, White House cybersecurity coordinator and Trump’s cyber adviser, announced Nakasone’s nomination in a Twitter post Tuesday.

Nakasone will succeed NSA and Cybercom chief Adm. Michael Rogers, who announced plans to retire by spring of 2018, once confirmed by the Senate.

Since October 2016, Nakasone has been commanding chief of Army Cybercom and head of the Joint Task Force Ares unit that offers cyber support to the military against the Islamic State militant organization.

He previously led the cyber national mission force at U.S. Cybercom.

He was named twice to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a staff officer and held senior intelligence roles at the battalion, corps and division levels.

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Report: MDA Requests $9.9B for FY 2019 Budget to Back GMD System, 2 Pacific Radars
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Report: MDA Requests $9.9B for FY 2019 Budget to Back GMD System, 2 Pacific Radars


Report: MDA Requests $9.9B for FY 2019 Budget to Back GMD System, 2 Pacific RadarsThe Missile Defense Agency has requested a budget of $9.9 billion for fiscal year 2019 in an effort to counter emerging threats that include North Korea’s nuclear weapon development efforts and ballistic missile tests, Defense News reported Tuesday.

Gary Pennett, director of operations at MDA, told reporters Monday the agency’s proposed budget backs the National Defense Strategy that seeks to invest in layered missile defense and other capabilities.

MDA’s budget request would allocate $926.4 million for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, including funds for the acquisition of 20 additional ground-based interceptors.

The budget proposal also includes $95.8 million for two radar platforms that will be installed in Hawaii and in another site in the Pacific to support threat detection initiatives.

MDA aims to award a development contract for the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii by the end of FY 2018, begin construction by FY 2021 and deploy the HDR-H system by FY 2023.

The agency will begin the solicitation for the Homeland Defense Radar-Pacific program in FY 2019 with plans to commence military construction by FY 2022 and field the HDR-P radar by FY 2024, according to budget documents.

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Ryan McCarthy: Army Modernization Command Needs CTO to Inform Investment Decisions
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Ryan McCarthy: Army Modernization Command Needs CTO to Inform Investment Decisions


Ryan McCarthy: Army Modernization Command Needs CTO to Inform Investment Decisions
Ryan McCarthy

Ryan McCarthy, U.S. Army undersecretary, has said the service needs a chief scientist for its new modernization command that will work with acquisition managers and soldiers and help with investment decisions, Federal News Radio reported Tuesday.

“What we are looking at is within the command itself because of the speed of technology, because of the speed of the pacing of threats, to have that capability at the local level working with the cross functional team leaders,” McCarthy told reporters Tuesday.

“A chief technology officer can help inform us with investment decisions, the maturity of a technology and looking at technological readiness levels,” he added.

The report said the Army has established eight CFTs to focus on the military branch’s modernization priorities that include next-generation combat vehicles, future vertical lift aircraft, networks and long-range precision fire systems.

McCarthy also mentioned the service’s need for technical talent and plan to advance collaboration between CFTs and program executive officers in order to improve accountability.

“We need to bring in additional technical talent to support us because we are making multibillion dollar decisions,” he added.

FedRAMP Revamps Website, Guidance for Cloud Providers
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FedRAMP Revamps Website, Guidance for Cloud Providers


FedRAMP Revamps Website, Guidance for Cloud ProvidersThe Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program has refreshed its website to feature new guidelines and resource materials intended for agencies, third-party assessment organizations and cloud services providers, Homeland Security Today reported Tuesday.

FedRAMP’s updated guidance includes digital identity requirements that are based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology as well as the program’s continuous monitoring performance process.

The site and guide updates were made after FedRAMP sought comments from agencies, the program’s Joint Authorization Board members and CSPs.

Report: Navy Eyes Fleet Size Increase of 45 Ships Under 5-Year Plan
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Report: Navy Eyes Fleet Size Increase of 45 Ships Under 5-Year Plan


Report: Navy Eyes Fleet Size Increase of 45 Ships Under 5-Year PlanThe U.S. Navy plans to increase its fleet size by 45 ships and aims to achieve a 31 percent rise in the number of deployed vessels in the next five years, USNI News reported Monday.

The service would have a fleet of 326 ships by fiscal 2023 through its five-year shipbuilding plan.

Under the five-year plan, the Navy will support service life extension work on a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, four mine countermeasures ships and six cruisers in fiscal 2019 as well as add 11 new ships by fiscal 2023.

Those additional ships include four DDG guided-missile destroyers, three oilers, two Expeditionary Sea Base, one T-AGOS ocean surveillance ship and one T-ATS tug and salvage ship.

The Navy’s fiscal 2019 budget request seeks to allocate approximately $21.9 billion for the procurement of 10 ships that include three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, two Virginia-class attack submarines and one Littoral Combat Ship.

Those ships are included in the FY 2019 budget proposal that President Donald Trump released Monday.

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Allison Brigati Starts Role as Full-Time GSA Deputy Administrator
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Allison Brigati Starts Role as Full-Time GSA Deputy Administrator


Allison Brigati Starts Role as Full-Time GSA Deputy Administrator
Allison Brigati

Allison Brigati, acting deputy administrator of the General Services Administration over the past two months, was sworn in Tuesday as GSA’s deputy administrator.

GSA said Tuesday Brigati joined the agency in July 2017 as associate administrator for its Office of Government-wide Policy.

She previously served as general counsel and director of strategic initiatives at the National Academy of Public Administration, where she advised the academy’s senior leader on legal and policy matters.

Brigati also has legal advisory experience in the contracting, financial and employment areas.

She worked at real estate company McEnearney Associates as an associate broker from 2009 to 2017.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English language from University of Notre Dame and a juris doctorate from Boston University.

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