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White House Issues New Memo on R&D Budget Priorities for Fiscal 2019
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White House Issues New Memo on R&D Budget Priorities for Fiscal 2019


White House Issues New Memo on R&D Budget Priorities for Fiscal 2019The White House has released a new memorandum to provide federal agencies information on the administration’s priority areas in research and development and guide them as they create and submit their fiscal 2019 budget requests to the Office of Management and Budget.

The memo published Thursday directs agencies to invest in R&D efforts that seek to advance U.S. military superiority such as the development of missile defense platforms, hypersonic weapons, strategic deterrent and computing capabilities as well as space-based and autonomous systems.

OMB Director Mick Mulvaney co-wrote the document with Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to the president at the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The memo asks agencies to support R&D work on cybersecurity platforms that aim to protect the country’s critical infrastructure from cyber attacks as well as law enforcement and border surveillance systems designed to facilitate detection of illegal activities.

Agencies should continue to advance research in biometrics, machine learning, autonomous systems, quantum computing and other emerging technologies that would help advance the economy, according to the memo.

The document also states R&D practices the Trump administration wants agencies to prioritize such as increasing government accountability, supporting early-stage applied research and advancing interagency coordination programs.

The administration also wants agencies to integrate science, technology, engineering and math education into their workforce training initiatives and support the modernization of the country’s research infrastructure.

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State Dept IG: Diplomatic Security Bureau Needs to Improve Security Clearance Process
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State Dept IG: Diplomatic Security Bureau Needs to Improve Security Clearance Process


State Dept IG: Diplomatic Security Bureau Needs to Improve Security Clearance ProcessThe State Department‘s office of inspector general has called on the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to address issues in its security clearance process.

The OIG said in a report published July that certain factors may slow down the processing of security clearances such as unclear roles and responsibilities; insufficient resources; and an influx of student interns that require clearances.

The Bureau’s Office of Personnel Security and Suitability processes initial clearances for new employees as well as requests to transfer clearances from other government agencies, known as reciprocal clearances.

PSS also handles conversions — the security clearance process for personnel who are moving to another position within the State Department.

Auditors found that PSS does not provide exact processing times for initial and reciprocal security clearances in its reports to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which prevented the OIG from determining the timeliness of the security clearance process.

PSS reports blanket estimates instead of actual times to ODNI and maintains databases with contradicting timeliness data, the OIG report said.

Exact processing times for conversions are also unknown because PSS does not keep any data on such efforts, the report revealed.

The OIG urged the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to address the accuracy of reported timeliness data; outline clear roles and responsibilities for its clearance workforce; conduct a workforce analysis; and estimate costs associated with the clearance process.

The report also recommended the bureau to try to retrieve funds spent on investigative services for other
agencies and better identify the type of clearance that student interns might need.

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Gen. Joseph Dunford: UN Sanctions First Step to Stop North Korea’s Nuclear Threat
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Gen. Joseph Dunford: UN Sanctions First Step to Stop North Korea’s Nuclear Threat


Gen. Joseph Dunford: UN Sanctions First Step to Stop North Korea’s Nuclear Threat
Joseph Dunford

Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said he believes the ballistic missile and nuclear threats posed by North Korea could be addressed in a peaceful manner as the economic and diplomatic pressure campaign advances, DoD News reported Thursday.

Dunford told reporters in Beijing Thursday the unanimous vote by the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on North Korea was the initial step to help stop the East Asian country from conducting ballistic missile tests.

“The passage of the sanctions is step one, enforcement of those sanctions are what is most important,” he added.

The sanctions include a ban on North Korean exports worth $1 billion and a cap on the number of the country’s migrant workers.

He also noted about the commitment of China – North Korea’s ally and largest export market – to enforce UN sanctions.

Dunford held a three-day visit to China to discuss military relations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials and is scheduled to leave for Tokyo to meet with Japanese leaders.

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Air Force Assigns Personnel to New Space Operations Directorate
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Air Force Assigns Personnel to New Space Operations Directorate


Air Force Assigns Personnel to New Space Operations DirectorateThe U.S. Air Force has appointed 43 military, government civilian and contractor personnel to the service branch’s newly established Space Operations Directorate that will have an initial operating capability by Monday.

Shawn Barnes, deputy director and legislative liaison within the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, will join the new directorate as assistant deputy chief of staff for space operations, the service branch said Thursday.

Maj. Gen. Pamela Lincoln, mobilization assistant to the commander of the 14th Air Force, will serve as mobilization assistant to the deputy chief of staff for space operations.

“Mr. Barnes and Maj. Gen. Lincoln are experienced leaders who will provide the vision and direction for our new Space Operations Directorate,” said Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein noted the directorate aims to equip space forces with tools necessary to help them operate in various environments; protect U.S. space systems; and provide space technology support to the joint force.

The directorate is part of the service branch’s efforts to align its operations, processes and organizational structure with the concept that space is a warfighting domain.

The Air Force also plans to develop a new space warfighting concept of operations; revamp its space force training model; streamline acquisition processes; and boost the resilience and survivability of space systems.

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Army Activates National Guard Cyber Unit; Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone Comments
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Army Activates National Guard Cyber Unit; Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone Comments


Army Activates National Guard Cyber Unit; Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone Comments
Paul Nakasone

The U.S. Army has activated a new cyber organization as part of efforts to defend the military branch’s network against security threats.

Task Force Echo, led by Col. Adam Volant, operates under the Army Cyber Command and comprises 138 National Guard members with previous government cybersecurity and information technology experience, the service branch said Thursday.

Lt. Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of the Army Cyber Command and an inductee into Executive Mosaic‘s Wash100 for 2017, said TF Echo aims to offer a unique perspective and capacity to support the military branch’s anticipated total force mission.

The National Guard used a meticulous screening process to discover the most qualified members of TF Echo which covers service members that range in rank from junior enlisted to field grade officers.

The task force will also support the U.S. Cyber Command in efforts to defeat adversaries in cyberspace.

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FBI, 18F Partner to Develop National Crime Data Explorer Tool
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FBI, 18F Partner to Develop National Crime Data Explorer Tool


FBI, 18F Partner to Develop National Crime Data Explorer ToolThe FBI has partnered with the General Services Administration‘s 18F office to build an online platform designed to provide information about nationwide crime trends, FedScoop reported Thursday.

Crime Data Explorer is designed to also help users view statistics by type of crime and state as well as download raw data sets and access an application programming interface for reported criminal activities throughout the country.

Fedscoop quoted Larry Bafundo, product manager at 18F, as saying the FBI aims to increase public access to crime data through the platform.

He added the bureau plans to further develop Crime Data Explorer based on feedback from users and stakeholders.

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Robert Foster: Risk Mgmt Framework Migration Among Dept of the Navy’s Cyber Efforts
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Robert Foster: Risk Mgmt Framework Migration Among Dept of the Navy’s Cyber Efforts


Robert Foster: Risk Mgmt Framework Migration Among Dept of the Navy’s Cyber Efforts
Robert Foster

Robert Foster, the departing chief information officer of the Department of the Navy, has said one of his office’s cybersecurity initiatives over the last two years is the transition from the Defense Department’s Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process to the risk management framework, Federal News Radio reported Thursday.

The adoption of the risk management framework seeks to help DoN ensure its cybersecurity posture through continuous monitoring of data systems.

Foster told the station’s Ask the CIO the complete migration to the new framework calls for DoN to modify contracts, carry out employee training and upgrade current systems to identify those that need new accreditations.

He said cyber initiatives helped advance the department’s privacy programs.

“You have the defense-in-depth side, which is more of a fence and moat scenario, but then you still got the user impact and I think reducing the Social Security numbers will help us with a privacy breach and in many cases, a privacy breach is a key indicator of a cyber breach,” he added.

Foster also discussed the installation of broadband services on naval bases as part of the strategic spectrum effort, the potential role of the NGEN managed services contract recompete effort in the move to the Joint Regional Security Stacks version 2.0 and the department’s cloud migration efforts.

He announced early this month that he will step down from his post to join the National Credit Union Administration as deputy CIO, effective Aug. 21.

Joel Gurin: OMB-Backed Roundtable Highlights Open Data Significance to Government
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Joel Gurin: OMB-Backed Roundtable Highlights Open Data Significance to Government


Joel Gurin: OMB-Backed Roundtable Highlights Open Data Significance to Government

Joel Gurin, president of the Center for Open Data Enterprise, has said a roundtable event that the think tank organized with the Office of Management and Budget in July discussed the role of open data in transforming government, building collaboration and supporting private businesses.

The roundtable gathered approximately 80 government and business leaders with the goal of connecting them to utilize open data as a “strategic resource for better government and growing the American economy,” Gurin wrote in a guest piece published Monday on Fedscoop.

He added the event sought to build on the notion that open data contributes to the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the government, the development of economy and the growth of the job market.

The event was led by Kristen Honey, senior policy analyst at OMB, and received support from the Center for Open Data Enterprise’s partners Booz Allen Hamilton and Accenture Federal Services.

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DHS Outlines Efforts to Fight Domestic Terrorism
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DHS Outlines Efforts to Fight Domestic Terrorism


DHS Outlines Efforts to Fight Domestic TerrorismThe Department of Homeland Security has outlined four ways that the department works to mitigate domestic terrorism.

DHS said Wednesday its office for community partnerships conducts briefings, exercises, workshops and training to educate and help communities fight domestic terror threats.

OCP’s Countering Violent Extremism grant program funds initiatives to address violent extremism at the grassroots level.

DHS’ office of intelligence and analysis provides intelligence to policymakers and local authorities on domestic terror trends, tactics and situations to aid response activities.

The DHS office for state and local law enforcement works with first responders across U.S. to prevent, prepare for, protect against and counter terrorist threats.

DHS also promotes public awareness on domestic terrorism through its information sharing architecture, which is comprised of the National Network of Fusion Centers; Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative; National Terrorism Advisory System; If You See Something, Say Something campaign; and the Homeland Security Information Network.

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DARPA Program Aims to Increase Autonomous System Predictability, Safety
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DARPA Program Aims to Increase Autonomous System Predictability, Safety


DARPA Program Aims to Increase Autonomous System Predictability, SafetyThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has introduced a research program to explore methods to increase the predictability and safety of learning-enabled autonomous platforms such as unmanned aerial and driverless vehicles.

DARPA said Wednesday researchers will work to create tools that reinforce trustworthiness at the design stage and address functional and safety goals explicitly stated under the Assured Autonomy program.

“Tremendous advances have been made in the last decade in constructing autonomy systems, as evidenced by the proliferation of a variety of unmanned vehicles,” said Sandeep Neema, a DARPA program manager.

“In spite of these advances, deployment and broader adoption of such systems in safety-critical [Defense Department] applications remains challenging and controversial,” Neema added.

DARPA aims to integrate the program’s resulting technology into learning-enabled, cyber-physical systems design tool chains for use in the defense and commercial sectors.

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