//
NOAA Awards Contracts to Advance Cloud-Based Weather Forecasting Capabilities
Published on
Commerce's Howard Lutnick. NOAA's NWS awarded two contracts to transition its weather system to a cloud-based architecture.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service has awarded two contracts to transition its weather data and applications environment to a cloud-based architecture and develop two new NWS tools.

NOAA Awards Contracts to Advance Cloud-Based Weather Forecasting Capabilities

The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit will be held on April 22. Register now to learn about various modernization efforts involving AI, cybersecurity and enterprise IT from federal, military and industry leaders.

What Will the Cloud Transition Enable?

By moving key capabilities of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, or AWIPS, to the cloud, NWS forecasters will have remote access to meteorological, hydrological and satellite data, allowing them to issue forecasts and advisories without being tied to specific workstations, NOAA said Monday.

Forecasters will also be able to access systems from multiple devices and provide operational support across offices when needed. The platform also enables future integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into forecasting models.

“For far too long American weather forecasters have relied on decades-old, hardwired technology to provide critical data to the American public. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are modernizing the National Weather Service’s operations using the cloud and our American tech stack,” said Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

The initial effort will focus on developing and launching cloud-based data and application environments to accelerate the adoption of new technologies, including AI-powered capabilities, and support the integration of data from both public and private sources.

What New Proprietary Tools Are Being Developed?

Under the contracts, the development of NWS Hydrometeorological Interactive Virtual Environment, or HIVE, and Centralized Integrated Real-Time Repository for Unified Services, or CIRRUS, will begin. HIVE will serve as the central application for data analysis and warning issuance, eventually replacing the legacy AWIPS, while CIRRUS will act as a cloud-based data warehouse, centralizing information from both the agency and its partners.

//
DIU Issues Solicitation for US-UK Initiative to Counter Undersea Threats
Published on
Defense Innovation Unit logo. DIU issued a REEF solicitation seeking tech to detect, track and defeat underwater threats.

The Defense Innovation Unit has issued a solicitation for the Robotic Exclusion & Engagement Framework, or REEF, a joint U.S.-U.K. initiative to counter the increasing use of autonomous underwater vehicles by adversaries and non-state actors.

What Capabilities Are the US, UK Seeking Under the REEF Program?

According to the Commercial Solutions Opening the DIU posted Monday, the United States and the United Kingdom are seeking technologies that could protect critical infrastructure, including ports and harbors, and expeditionary forces from underwater threats.

The countries are interested in a cohesive suite of systems that integrates commercial off-the-shelf sensors, edge processing and software to detect, track, classify and defeat various undersea threats, including unmanned underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles and semisubmersibles.

The governments want scalable, rapidly deployable technologies capable of integrating with existing defense systems across diverse maritime conditions. Areas of interest include advanced sensing technologies, such as sonar, electro-optical/infrared systems, and distributed acoustic sensing, and artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to distinguish threats from biological or environmental noise. The program is also open to systems with kinetic capabilities, but preference will be given to non-kinetic approaches such as bubble curtains and rapidly deployable nets.

DIU said U.S. and U.K. government innovation teams will assess proposed technologies. A prototype other transaction agreement and follow-on production contract may be awarded as a result of the CSO. Responses are due April 3.

How Does REEF Align With DOW’s Broader Counter-Drone Efforts?

REEF aligns with broader efforts across the Department of War to address threats posed by the proliferating use of unmanned systems by adversaries and non-state actors. The Pentagon issued a separate solicitation for counter-small unmanned aerial system technologies in February to enhance detection, tracking and classification of aerial threats across both homeland defense and tactical environments. 

///
Treasury Introduces Private-Public Initiative to Advance Secure AI Adoption Across Financial Institutions
Published on
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent said AI is critical to financial stability and economic security.

The Department of the Treasury’s Artificial Intelligence Transformation Office and the Office of the Financial Stability Oversight Council have introduced a new public-private initiative that will convene regulators and financial and technology sector leaders to strengthen the security and resilience of the U.S. financial system.

Treasury Introduces Private-Public Initiative to Advance Secure AI Adoption Across Financial Institutions

Federal and industry leaders will discuss how AI is reshaping sectors at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22. Register now to gain insight into emerging strategies for scaling AI adoption while maintaining security, resilience and effective governance across complex regulatory environments.

Called the AI Innovation Series, the effort aims to explore and identify AI use cases and practical approaches for scaling the deployment of the technology in financial services without compromising safety, the department said Monday.

Why Is the Treasury Department Focusing on AI?

A 2024 report from the Treasury found that financial institutions are expanding their use of AI to detect fraud, enhance cybersecurity and address operational risks.  

In a statement, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged the increasingly important role of AI leadership in maintaining financial stability and economic security.

“We are optimizing regulation to support growth for both Main Street and Wall Street: moving from a posture focused on constraint toward one that recognizes failure to adopt productivity-enhancing technology as its own risk,” he explained. “The Treasury Department will continue evaluating regulatory frameworks and enforcement policies to enable the U.S. financial sector’s leadership in AI adoption while preserving national security and long-term economic resilience.”

Christina Skinner, deputy assistant secretary for FSOC, agreed, adding that “the system becomes less efficient and less secure” without tools that can improve fraud detection, credit allocation and operational resilience.

What Other AI Programs Has the Treasury Department Launched?

The AI Innovation Series builds on Treasury-led efforts to support responsible AI adoption across the financial sector. In February, the department completed a public-private initiative to strengthen cybersecurity and risk management for AI systems. The effort produced resources designed to promote secure and resilient deployment.

Treasury also recently released an AI Lexicon and a Financial Services AI Risk Management Framework to standardize governance practices and help institutions manage AI-related risks.

///
Space Force Adopts AI Framework to Strengthen Decision-Making
Published on
U.S. Space Force logo. The Space Force is advancing a three-tiered AI framework to improve decision-making.

The U.S. Space Force is implementing a three-tiered artificial intelligence framework designed to improve decision-making across the service and accelerate integration of commercial AI capabilities.

Space Force Adopts AI Framework to Strengthen Decision-Making

As the Space Force advances its AI framework, agency officials and industry executives continue to explore the role of AI and other emerging technologies across the defense landscape. These themes are expected to be part of broader discussions at the 2026 Air and Space Summit. Reserve your seat now!

Space Systems Command said Monday the model establishes a road map for deploying AI tools across the force while supporting Space Force efforts to work with the commercial sector and tap into about $300 billion in annual private AI investment for national defense.

Bartley Stewart, data and AI officer at SSC, said the framework prioritizes decision accuracy over the adoption of AI technologies. He noted that AI supports three key factors in decision-making: accelerating response times, reducing cognitive burden and increasing confidence in data used to inform decisions.

“If we can improve any of those three factors by teaming humans with AI, then we improve decision quality,” he said. “This leads to an asymmetric decision advantage.”

What Are the 3 Tiers of the Space Force’s AI Deployment Framework?

The Space Force’s AI framework consists of three tiers: enterprise, functional and mission-specific AI. Enterprise AI includes general-purpose tools available across the Department of War, such as the Gen.AI platform, which provides a secure, foundational capability built on large-scale models.

Functional AI covers systems tailored to specific professional areas like acquisition, testing and operations. These tools adapt enterprise models using domain-specific data, including policy and regulatory documents, to support specialized workflows.

Mission-specific AI includes custom-built applications designed for particular operational needs. Examples include tools that analyze launch activity for space domain awareness and systems that help missile warning operators identify tracked threats.

How Does the Space Force Framework Align With DOW AI Initiatives?

The framework aligns with DOW’s AI adoption strategy, which aims to accelerate AI integration by reducing bureaucratic barriers, expanding experimentation and shortening mission timelines. The strategy calls for transforming the department into an “AI-first” warfighting force and advancing AI capabilities across intelligence and enterprise operations.

The effort also includes departmentwide initiatives such as GenAI.mil, which provides access to commercial AI models, and service-level programs led by the Navy and Marine Corps to deploy generative AI in secure environments.

/
MDA Awards $414M Contract Modification to Utah State’s Space Dynamics Lab
Published on
Space Dynamics Laboratory logo. MDA has awarded Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory a contract modification.

Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory, or USU/SDL, has received a $414 million contract modification from the Missile Defense Agency to continue providing technical and analytical support for missile defense efforts.

Hear from leading national security space officials about Golden Dome and other missile defense systems at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30!

What Is the Scope of the Contract Modification?

The Department of War said Friday that the University Affiliated Research Center, or UARC, will deliver specialized expertise and proprietary data to develop complex systems engineering and integration products under the cost-plus-fixed-fee modification. This partnership ensures MDA maintains access to the proprietary data and technical knowledge held at USU/SDL, which are required to defend against ballistic missile threats at all flight phases.

What Are the Other Details of the Contract?

The award builds on a previously issued sole-source agreement under the UARC Engagement Guide. It raises the total contract ceiling to $714 million and extends the ordering period through Nov. 22, 2031. Work will be carried out in Logan, Utah, with the effort focused on supporting MDA’s mission to develop and sustain an integrated missile defense system capable of countering threats across all ranges and flight phases.

Past Contracts Underscore Ongoing MDA-SDL Partnership

This latest contract modification builds on SDL’s long-standing track record of supporting high-priority defense initiatives. In 2021, the laboratory secured a $300 million contract from MDA to develop sensors for space applications. SDL was also awarded a five-year, $99.4 million contract in 2016 to develop an integrated, layered ballistic missile defense system.

/
USPTO Launches ‘Class ACT’ AI Tool to Accelerate Trademark Classification
Published on
Artificial intelligence. USPTO launched the Class ACT AI tool designed to accelerate trademark classification.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has unveiled the Trademark Classification Agentic Codification Tool, or Class ACT, an artificial intelligence platform designed to automate key steps in the pre-processing of trademark applications.

USPTO Launches 'Class ACT' AI Tool to Accelerate Trademark ClassificationUSPTO’s launch of a new AI tool highlights the growing role of advanced technologies in government workflows. Experts will explore ways to operationalize AI in mission-critical environments and discuss responsible AI adoption at the upcoming 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22. Register now to save your spot at this timely event!

What Does Class ACT Do?

USPTO said Thursday that Class ACT is designed to assign international classes, design search codes and pseudo marks to unclassified applications, making such applications searchable in USPTO systems.

According to the agency, the AI tool could help speed up attorneys and practitioner searches and reduce classification preparation time from five months to five minutes.

What Did USPTO Officials Say About the AI Tool?

USPTO Director John Squires said the tool can significantly reduce the time required for classification and design search coding.

“We’re providing specific, task-directed AI agents, which can efficiently tackle the toughest, most information-intensive aspect of pre-examination,” noted Squires.

Rob Hayes, acting chief AI and data officer at USPTO, said the agency is setting the standard.

“AI done right: faster results, higher quality, happier stakeholders,” noted Hayes, who recently participated in a fireside chat at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit about the role of AI in modernizing the U.S. patent system.

“With the development and implementation of AI tools in our workflow, our employees can focus on applying their experienced judgment and reason to the substantive issues in examination, which will benefit our stakeholders,” said Dan Vavonese, acting trademark commissioner at USPTO.

USPTO said it plans to introduce additional AI-enabled trademark tools in the future. In June of last year, the agency issued a request for information to assess AI tools and other IT capabilities that could enhance patent and trademark examination processes.

/
Hadrian Opens Navy-Funded Advanced Shipbuilding Facility to Boost Submarine Production
Published on
John Phelan. The Navy secretary said the manufacturing facility will ease shipyard bottlenecks.

An advanced manufacturing facility designed to increase U.S. Navy submarine production capacity has opened in Cherokee, Alabama, marking a new step in efforts to strengthen the maritime industrial base.

Advanced manufacturing company Hadrian built the Factory 4 site, which will support the production of components for Virginia-class attack submarines and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines to help reduce pressure on existing shipyards, the U.S. Navy said Friday.

The Alabama campus is expected to reach full-rate production within two years, with sustained operations projected by its third year.

Hadrian Opens Navy-Funded Advanced Shipbuilding Facility to Boost Submarine Production

The 2026 Navy Summit, hosted by the Potomac Officers Club on Aug, 27, will convene Navy leaders, defense officials and industry executives to examine emerging technologies, modernization efforts and priorities shaping the future of naval operations. Register now to join the conversation.

What Is the “Factory of the Future?”

The 2.2 million-square-foot facility is built around highly-automated manufacturing processes intended to accelerate component production at scale.

By shifting parts manufacturing away from traditional shipyards, the facility enables yards in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Virginia to focus on submarine module production.

“We call this distributed shipbuilding, and it’s a key tenet of our plan to achieve required shipbuilding production rates,” said Jason Potter, acting assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. 

Factory 4 is the first of three planned advanced manufacturing facilities intended to address critical constraints in submarine production and support long-term fleet requirements.

“I look forward to building on this progress together in the months ahead, because we are just getting started,” said Navy Secretary John Phelan, a 2026 Wash100 Award recipient.

How Is the Project Funded?

The project combines approximately $900 million in Navy funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, with $1.5 billion in private investment, totaling more than $2.4 billion. According to Hadrian, the effort is expected to create up to 1,000 manufacturing jobs.

How Does This Fit Into Navy Acquisition and Industrial Base Efforts?

The facility aligns with broader Navy initiatives aimed at accelerating shipbuilding and modernizing acquisition.

Recent reforms include the establishment of portfolio acquisition executive organizations to streamline decision-making and improve accountability across major capability areas, including undersea systems.

In parallel, the Department of War has elevated oversight of submarine programs by creating a direct reporting portfolio manager role, currently held by Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, to coordinate production priorities and resources across the enterprise.

/
Trump Administration Issues National AI Policy Framework
Published on
White House logo. The Trump administration issued a national policy framework for artificial intelligence.

The Trump administration has released a national legislative framework for artificial intelligence, outlining policy priorities aimed at strengthening U.S. competitiveness, national security and workforce readiness.

Trump Administration Issues National AI Policy FrameworkAs the White House advances a national framework to accelerate AI innovation, government and industry leaders are continuing the conversation at upcoming forums focused on emerging technologies. Attend the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit to join experts as they discuss AI, enterprise IT and federal tech priorities. Sign up today and be part of the dialogue at this timely event!

The White House said Friday the framework is intended to guide Congress in developing legislation that enables innovation while addressing public concerns about the impact of AI on daily life, including child safety and energy costs.

What Are the 6 Key Objectives of the National AI Policy Framework?

The framework outlines six priorities: protecting children and giving parents more control over digital use, strengthening communities by supporting small businesses and addressing AI-related energy demands, and ensuring intellectual property protections while allowing fair use for AI development.

It also calls for safeguarding free speech; advancing innovation by reducing regulatory barriers and expanding AI deployment; and developing an AI-ready workforce through skills training and workforce development programs.

What Congressional Actions Does the Framework Suggest to Advance AI Innovation?

The administration called on Congress to initiate steps to support AI development and deployment across sectors.

These actions include establishing regulatory sandboxes for AI applications, providing resources to make federal datasets accessible to academia and industry in AI-ready formats for use in training AI models and systems, and supporting the development and deployment of sector-specific AI applications through existing regulatory bodies.

In July of last year, the White House unveiled an AI action plan outlining over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars to help the U.S. achieve global dominance in AI.

What Does the Framework Say About State AI Laws?

According to the framework, the federal government must establish a federal AI policy framework to support innovation, protect American rights and prevent a patchwork of state AI laws that could hinder innovation and reduce U.S. competitiveness.

Under the strategy, Congress should preempt state AI laws that create excessive burdens in favor of establishing a consistent national standard aligned with its recommendations.

In December, President Trump signed an executive order directing the attorney general to establish an AI litigation task force to challenge restrictive state laws.

/
DARPA Transfers Autonomous Black Hawk System to Army for Operational Testing
Published on
DARPA logo. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has transferred an autonomous Black Hawk system to the U.S. Army.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, has transitioned an autonomous flight system to the U.S. Army, supporting efforts to transform military aviation and pilot operations.

DARPA Transfers Autonomous Black Hawk System to Army for Operational Testing

Autonomous systems are a top priority in the Army’s effort to transform operations. Learn more about modernization and other Army initiatives at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18. Save your seat now.

What Technology Was Delivered to the Army?

DARPA said Friday it has transferred a fly-by-wire H-60Mx Black Hawk equipped with Sikorsky’s MATRIX autonomy suite to the Army for advanced operational testing. The platform, developed under the agency’s Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System, or ALIAS, program, is designed to support automated flight operations and reduce pilot workload in demanding mission environments.

What Is the ALIAS Program?

The ALIAS program is an initiative focused on integrating automation into existing aircraft to support mission flexibility and safety. The MATRIX technology was developed and demonstrated through ALIAS using funding from DARPA. The program also completed the first uncrewed Black Hawk flight in 2022, demonstrating full-mission capability from preflight checks to autonomous landing, including responses to simulated failures.

“The ALIAS program has successfully developed and demonstrated a powerful, flexible automation architecture that is now poised to provide the U.S. Army with a significant operational edge,” said Stuart Young, manager of the ALIAS program. ”This transition is a testament to the power of government and industry partnership to advance technology. It will allow the Army to build on a solid foundation of technical-risk reduction, enabling them to explore new warfighting concepts and push the boundaries of what’s possible in aviation.”

/
NSF Teams With Irish Organizations to Accelerate Lab-to-Market Transition of Emerging Technologies
Published on
Erwin Gianchandani. The assistant director at NSF said the new partnership accelerates technology translation

The National Science Foundation’s directorate for technology, innovation and partnerships has teamed with Research Ireland and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland to accelerate the commercialization of emerging technologies. On Friday, NSF launched the U.S.-Ireland Research Translation and Commercialization Initiative, which aims to provide novel and proven pathways for multi-country teams to translate science and engineering research into market-ready technologies and viable businesses.

What Is the US-Ireland Research Translation and Commercialization Initiative?

The trilateral initiative builds on the U.S.-Ireland Research and Development Partnership established in 2006, which has supported collaborative research in areas such as nanoscale science, telecommunications, cybersecurity and energy.

According to NSF, the new effort will identify previously-funded projects with commercialization potential and provide teams with tailored support to accelerate progress from research to market. Selected teams will receive mentorship from commercialization experts to develop translation roadmaps and may also secure additional funding to launch startups.

“The announcement of the U.S.-Ireland Research Translation and Commercialization Initiative represents a significant step forward in accelerating critical and emerging technology translation in coordination with our transatlantic partners,” Erwin Gianchandani, assistant director for technology, innovation and partnerships, commented. “The effort signals a strong, shared commitment to help researchers and students across borders move their discoveries at speed and scale through lab-to-market pathways, powering market-ready technologies, economic growth and job creation.”

How Can Industry Support the NSF Technology Commercialization Initiative?

NSF is also seeking an industry partner to develop and manage the program’s operational framework, including identifying high-potential research projects and supporting participating teams through mentorship, funding oversight and commercialization planning.

According to a request for information posted on SAM.gov in early March, the selected organization will help coordinate workshops, connect researchers with industry and investor networks and guide teams in areas such as intellectual property, market analysis and product development.

NSF is considering the use of an other transaction agreement with a four-year period of performance for the required program support services. Responses are due April 13.

1 … 19 20 21 22 23 … 2,719