Report: Fiscal 2018 Defense Bill Includes Natl Security Space Mgmt Reform
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Report: Fiscal 2018 Defense Bill Includes Natl Security Space Mgmt Reform


Report: Fiscal 2018 Defense Bill Includes Natl Security Space Mgmt ReformA final version of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act unveiled by a congressional conference committee Wednesday seeks to reform the U.S. military’s current management system for the national security space enterprise, Space News reported Thursday.

The $692 billion NDAA would require transfer of space-related organizational, training and equipping powers to the Air Force Space Command.

The compromise bill would mandate AFSPC to oversee all acquisition, resources and requirements of the service branch’s space forces as well as identify strategies to address national security space challenges uncovered by Congress, the report noted.

The NDAA would also grant the AFSPC commander a six-year term and reorganize the command into a structure similar to the Office of Naval Reactors.

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Ellen Lord: Foreign Military Sales Program Essential to DoD’s Intl Partnerships
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Ellen Lord: Foreign Military Sales Program Essential to DoD’s Intl Partnerships


Ellen Lord: Foreign Military Sales Program Essential to DoD's Intl Partnerships
Ellen Lord

Ellen Lord, defense undersecretary for acquisition,technology and logistics, has said the Defense Department‘s foreign military sales program serves as a means for DoD to help build capacities and capabilities of U.S. partner nations, Reuters reported Thursday.

“It’s a real tool for us in terms of international relations,” Lord told reporters.

The former Textron Systems CEO also aims to help the department accelerate the process for completing transactions to sell weapons systems to foreign governments.

Reuters estimates U.S. arms exports increased more than 50 percent under the previous Obama administration and continues to see an exports growth trend in the current Trump administration.

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Report: NATO to Expand Command Centers, Cyber Operations
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Report: NATO to Expand Command Centers, Cyber Operations


Report: NATO to Expand Command Centers, Cyber OperationsNATO plans to increase its military headquarters from seven to nine and integrate cyber efforts into all alliance operations, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

The organization’s defense ministers agreed to build a maritime security-focused command center in the Atlantic as well as a Europe-based command site for troop movements, with specific locations to be identified in 2018.

“The NATO command structure is the backbone of the alliance… the command structure has to change when the security environment is changing,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters at a meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

NATO also decided to expand its cyber operations in line with a 2014 commitment to broaden collective efforts to counter cyber attacks.

Stoltenberg noted NATO aims to become as effective in the cyber area as in the air, land and sea domains.

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Holger Lueschow: European Govsatcom Demo to Commence Next Summer
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Holger Lueschow: European Govsatcom Demo to Commence Next Summer


Holger Lueschow: European Govsatcom Demo to Commence Next SummerHolger Lueschow, satellite communications program manager at the European Defense Agency, said the European Govsatcom demonstration project will begin to deliver Satcom services to government users next summer, Space News reported Wednesday.

The Govsatcom project will utilize pooling and asset sharing efforts to mitigate challenges related to the affordability, security and timeliness of Satcom services delivered to governmental users in Europe.

Lueschow noted the EDA now has a common understanding on how and what services should be offered to government agencies.

“Later this month, we will look at the question of how to finance the project, or more specifically, how to finance the services to be provided,” he added.

The report noted the Govsatcom demonstration will work to lay the foundations for future European Commission-led Govsatcom projects.

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Kirstjen Nielsen Eyes DHS Hiring Process Modernization as DHS Secretary Nominee
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Kirstjen Nielsen Eyes DHS Hiring Process Modernization as DHS Secretary Nominee


Kirstjen Nielsen Eyes DHS Hiring Process Modernization as DHS Secretary Nominee
Kirstjen Nielsen

Kirstjen Nielsen, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, has said she would help DHS implement a “holistic” approach to recruit border security and cybersecurity professionals if Congress approves her nomination, Federal News Radio reported Wednesday.

Nielsen told the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs during a meeting held Wednesday that she also aims to implement internal controls for hiring, retention and employee development efforts across DHS.

She added that DHS can address staffing and operational requirements through “a combination of both personnel and technology.”

Nielsen also vowed to study the needs for a physical barrier along the Southern border; protect against whistleblower retaliation; and work with the Justice Department and local governments to address radicalization in and outside U.S.

Nielsen currently serves as Trump’s deputy chief of staff and previously worked as chief of staff for former DHS Secretary John Kelly.

Hill Negotiators Agree on $692B Defense Authorization Plan for Fiscal 2018
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Hill Negotiators Agree on $692B Defense Authorization Plan for Fiscal 2018


Hill Negotiators Agree on $692B Defense Authorization Plan for Fiscal 2018A joint House-Senate conference committee has unveiled a compromise bill to authorize $692 billion in fiscal 2018 Defense Department spending, with $626 billion for base requirements and $66 billion for the overseas contingency operations account, Defense News reported Wednesday.

The report said the conference plan would top a Budget Control Act spending limit for FY 2018 defense budget by nearly $85 billion.

The compromise National Defense Authorization Act calls for a 2.4 percent military pay raise and the addition of more than 20,000 active-duty and reserve troops to the current U.S. military end strength.

Federal News Radio reported Wednesday the bill would require DoD to examine the potential implications of a proposal to establish a “Space Corps,” as well as to identify methods to simplify the department’s space-related acquisition process.

The bill also contains a procurement reform measure that seeks to encourage the department to use online marketplace platforms to buy commercial off-the-shelf technology products, the station noted.

Congress still needs to review and approve the compromise NDAA in coming weeks before lawmakers submit the bill to the White House for the president’s signature.

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Senate Approves Federal Customer Service Bill
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Senate Approves Federal Customer Service Bill


Senate Approves Federal Customer Service BillThe Senate unanimously approved a bill on Tuesday that would authorize federal agencies to collect voluntary feedback regarding public services, Nextgov reported Wednesday.

The Federal Agency Customer Experience Act of 2017, introduced by Sens. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) and James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), also seeks to establish new approaches for the executive and legislative oversight of agency service delivery.

Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives and the legislation awaits a markup from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, according to the report.

The Senate-passed FACE Act would also require agencies to post customer responses through an online platform and incorporate the feedback in service improvement efforts.

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Trump Encourages Russia, China to Sever Ties with North Korea
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Trump Encourages Russia, China to Sever Ties with North Korea


Trump Encourages Russia, China to Sever Ties with North KoreaU.S. President Donald Trump has called on Russia and China to support worldwide efforts to isolate North Korea’s regime as well as implement U.N. security council programs to sever trade and technology ties with the DPKR, DoD News reported Tuesday.

Trump warned Jong Un not to belittle the collaborative will and power of the U.S. and South Korea and demanded the DPKR leader to dispose nuclear weapons in storage and under development.

“It is our responsibility and our duty to confront this danger together, because the longer we wait, the greater the danger grows and the fewer the options become,” said Trump.

“Today I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilized nations when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us … We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity, and our sacred liberty.”

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DARPA Seeks to Establish Standards for In-Orbit Robotic Satellite Servicing
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DARPA Seeks to Establish Standards for In-Orbit Robotic Satellite Servicing


DARPA Seeks to Establish Standards for In-Orbit Robotic Satellite ServicingThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has established an industry consortium that will develop rules for the robotic servicing of satellites in space, Space News reported Tuesday.

Todd Master, a DARPA program manager, told the publication that the Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations will invite industry players such as satellite operators to participate in the creation of nonbinding rules.

DARPA expects companies to comply with the consortium’s rules on a voluntary basis to demonstrate the safety of their in-orbit robotic servicing to investors and customers.

Master noted DARPA welcomes the participation of foreign companies and that foreign space agencies have expressed interest in the consortium but DARPA is “still trying to figure out how to engage foreign governments.”

DARPA has chosen Summerville, South Carolina-based contractor Advanced Technology International to oversee the consortium.

Master hopes to see the first draft of in-orbit robotic servicing standards within a year.

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GAO: Agencies Should Address Inaccuracy on Incremental IT, Software Devt Reports
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GAO: Agencies Should Address Inaccuracy on Incremental IT, Software Devt Reports


GAO: Agencies Should Address Inaccuracy on Incremental IT, Software Devt ReportsThe Government Accountability Office has urged approximately 17 agencies to boost the accuracy of incremental development reports as well as create and update certification policies to bolster the certification of such development efforts.

GAO said in a report published Tuesday it discovered some agency errors led to incorrect reports on information technology software development investments while select officials listed inefficient governance processes, procurement delays and organizational changes as hindrances to incremental development.

The government watchdog agency noted only four of the 24 selected agency respondents have been able to fully define chief information officer incremental development certification policies and processes that defined the CIO’s role, the documentation of the CIO certifications, incremental development definitions and time frames that align with Office of Management and Budget guidance.

The report added OMB’s fiscal year 2018 capital planning guidance did not tackle a strategy on how agency CIOs should report compliance with incremental provisions under the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act, but the 2019 guidance discusses incremental certification reporting procedures.

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