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Civilian/News
GAO: Commerce Dept & NIST Should Address Physical Security Gaps
by Ramona Adams
Published on October 13, 2017
GAO: Commerce Dept & NIST Should Address Physical Security Gaps


GAO: Commerce Dept & NIST Should Address Physical Security GapsThe Government Accountability Office has urged the Commerce Department and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to take steps to address challenges facing NIST’s physical security efforts.

GAO said in a report published Wednesday 75 percent of surveyed NIST personnel believe that agency leaders put “great” or “very great” importance on security matters, but employees showed varied levels of awareness on security responsibilities due to limited communication within the agency.

NIST should establish a comprehensive communication strategy, interim milestone dates and efficiency assessment methods to address security vulnerabilities that result from disparities between employees’ security awareness levels, GAO noted.

The report also found that NIST shares the management of its physical security program with the Commerce Department, which causes fragmentation in responsibilities.

The Commerce Department oversees security personnel that implement physical security policies, while NIST leads physical security countermeasures including access control technology.

NIST and its parent organization established the current organizational structure in October 2015 without evaluating its effect on NIST’s physical security efforts, GAO said.

Commerce and NIST most recently conducted risk management activities for NIST campuses in 2015 and 2017, but did not fully comply with the mandated federal risk management process developed by the Interagency Security Committee, the report revealed.

GAO revealed that the risk management efforts were executed without a sound risk assessment methodology; fully documented key risk management decisions; and appropriate stakeholder involvement.

NIST and Commerce also performed overlapping risk management activities that could lead to duplication, the congressional watchdog reported.

GAO recommended NIST to integrate elements of key practices into its security efforts; evaluate its current physical security management structure in coordination with Commerce; and work with the department on the implementation of coordinated risk management policies.

Civilian/News
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Requests $4.3B in Additional 2020 Census Funds
by Ramona Adams
Published on October 13, 2017
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Requests $4.3B in Additional 2020 Census Funds


Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Requests $4.3B in Additional 2020 Census FundsCommerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has requested $4.3 billion in additional funds for the 2020 Census to help address challenges facing the decennial U.S. population survey, Nextgov reported Thursday.

Ross told lawmakers at a House Oversight Committee hearing that Census Bureau needs additional resources to address a projected increase in costs driven by lower voluntary response rates, public distrust of government and heightened privacy and cybersecurity concerns.

The Bureau estimated in October 2015 that the 2020 Census would cost approximately $12.5 billion, but an independent review of the effort claimed that the expenses and required reserve funds would reach about $16.8 billion.

The Government Accountability Office said in a report issued Wednesday that the bureau is slated to conduct a trial run for the census in 2018, but only 10 percent of systems needed for the demonstration have been built and tested.

GAO also approximated that the 2020 Census’ information technology expenditure will total $4.8 billion — a $1.4 billion hike from the original estimate, Nextgov noted.

DoD/News
DoD Wants to Take Back Defense-Related Security Clearance Process Work From NBIB
by Jane Edwards
Published on October 13, 2017
DoD Wants to Take Back Defense-Related Security Clearance Process Work From NBIB


DoD Wants to Take Back Defense-Related Security Clearance Process Work From NBIBThe Defense Department has called on Congress to reinstate DoD’s oversight over security clearance processing work and cited the availability of information technology systems that can be used to manage new background checks for its own personnel, Federal News Radio reported Thursday.

Garry Reid, director of defense intelligence, told House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s government operations subpanel members Wednesday that DoD could resume responsibility over its own security clearances as early as January.

“Our plan is to alleviate the burden on the backlog in the near-term by shifting that work into an alternative process focusing on the secret-level investigations,” Reid said at the congressional hearing.

Reid added that DoD hands over approximately 700,000 investigative cases to the National Background Investigations Bureau on an annual basis in which two-thirds of those cases are at the secret level, preliminary and periodic reinvestigation.

Established in January 2016, NBIB oversees 95 percent of all security clearance work in the federal government.

DoD said it plans to manage new investigative cases through the adoption of IT platforms the Pentagon currently uses to monitor employee performance and behavior and continue to develop and operate IT systems for NBIB.

Government Technology
Army, Industry Collaborate to Develop Military Telemedicine Platform
by Nichols Martin
Published on October 13, 2017
Army, Industry Collaborate to Develop Military Telemedicine Platform


Army, Industry Collaborate to Develop Military Telemedicine PlatformThe Army Medical Materiel Agency collaborates with industry partners to build a medical technology designed to automatically document patient data and track medication during the branch’s medical evacuation missions.

The Medical Ultra Wideband Broadcast system uses a wide-frequency, bluetooth technology to help military clinicians access patient information, inventory and arrival times via a tablet, the U.S. Army said Thursday.

MEDHUB is built to transmit data to hospitals up to 30 minutes before a patient arrives at the facility.

“It flows off of the platform wirelessly to a medical treatment facility — where we’re taking the patient to, therefore they can prepare for the arrival of one or more patients,” said Lt. Col. Christian Cook, MEDEVAC mission equipment product manager.

The system is also equipped with built-in sensors, heart rate and vital sign monitoring tools and blood pressure cups.

The Army aims to field the system by 2020.

Government Technology/News
DHS Releases Industry Guide on Department Tech Requirements
by Scott Nicholas
Published on October 13, 2017
DHS Releases Industry Guide on Department Tech Requirements


DHS Releases Industry Guide on Department Tech RequirementsThe Department of Homeland Security has unveiled an industry guide that outlines its science and technology directorate’s requirements, focus areas and potential collaboration opportunities with members of the industry.

William Bryan, acting under secretary for science and technology at DHS, wrote in a blog post published Wednesday the guide will help interested parties gain input on S&T’s specific needs and sought after technology platforms.

“It describes tools for partnering with us, online resources for more information, and ways to engage directly with us,” said Bryan.

He noted that the use of technological developments from the private sector can aid personnel on the front lines during homeland security operations.

Bryan added that the guide will also help S&T develop new or adapt current technical products, discover current efforts within industry communities and transition capabilities that homeland security operators can acquire in the commercial market.

DoD/News
House Bill Would Authorize Military Force Against Terrorism
by Jane Edwards
Published on October 13, 2017
House Bill Would Authorize Military Force Against Terrorism


House Bill Would Authorize Military Force Against TerrorismHouse lawmakers have proposed a bipartisan bill that would authorize the U.S. president to use military force against the Islamic State militant group, Taliban, al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations for five years.

The proposed Authorization for the Use of Military Force legislation aims to update previous AUMFs that Congress enacted in response to the 9/11 attacks and Iraq War, Rep. Mike Coffman’s (R-Colorado) office said Wednesday.

The new measure would direct the president to regularly submit reports on ongoing conflicts to Congress and prohibit the use of armed forces against countries without congressional approval.

Coffman introduced the bill with Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona), Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) and Jimmy Panetta (D-California).

Panetta said the proposed measure seeks to meet the country’s national security interests through an updated authorization that aims to address threats posed by the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups.

DoD/News
Lockheed Exec John Rood Picked for DoD Policy Undersecretary Post
by Scott Nicholas
Published on October 13, 2017
Lockheed Exec John Rood Picked for DoD Policy Undersecretary Post


Lockheed Exec John Rood Picked for DoD Policy Undersecretary Post
John Rood

John Rood, a corporate officer and senior vice president of Lockheed Martin‘s international business since March 2016, will be nominated as Defense Department undersecretary for policy.

The White House said Wednesday Rood also has more than 20 years of federal service that included positions at the State Department, CIA, National Security Council and DoD.

He joined Lockheed in 2014 and has led the company’s international expansion strategies, industrial partnerships and customer relations.

Before that, he served as VP of U.S. business development at Raytheon.

He previously worked as the State Department’s acting undersecretary for arms control and international security as well as assistant secretary for international security and nonproliferation.

At NSA, Rood held the roles of special assistant to the president; senior director of counterproliferation; and director of proliferation strategy for counterproliferation in homeland defense.

He was also a deputy assistant secretary for forces policy at DoD and an analyst for foreign missile programs at the CIA.

Acquisition & Procurement/News
Cybercom Uses New Authority to Expedite Cyber Tech Procurement
by Ramona Adams
Published on October 13, 2017
Cybercom Uses New Authority to Expedite Cyber Tech Procurement


Cybercom Uses New Authority to Expedite Cyber Tech ProcurementThe U.S. Cyber Command has started to use its new acquisition authority to accelerate contract awards for cyber technology products and services.

Cybercom issued its first contract through the authority on Sept. 29 for information technology-related research and technical information services that are meant to aid future acquisition decisions, the command said in a news release posted Thursday.

The Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act gave Cybercom permission to procure, develop and sustain cyberspace-related equipment and capabilities as well as award contracts worth up to $75 million a year, until Sept. 30, 2021.

Combatant commands and their subordinate units usually rely on military branches or defense agencies to award contracts and acquire resources on their behalf.

Mike Zwiebel, Cybercom acting command acquisition executive, said the authority will help the command address the “dynamic nature” of the cyber domain.

He added that Cybercom must have the ability to respond to rapid changes in the cyber threat environment.

Cybercom will hold its first industry day on Oct. 27 in Springfield, Virginia to talk about acquisition plans and requirements with government and industry representatives from the cyber sector.

Government Technology/News
State Dept Looks to Adopt Blockchain Tech for Reorganization
by Ramona Adams
Published on October 13, 2017
State Dept Looks to Adopt Blockchain Tech for Reorganization


State Dept Looks to Adopt Blockchain Tech for ReorganizationThe State Department plans to employ blockchain technology in efforts to optimize operations as part of a department-wide reorganization, MeriTalk reported Wednesday.

The reorganization was ordered by the Trump administration in March to help the department increase employee productivity and save money.

“We’re interested to learn whether blockchain technology could have direct applications to many of the key features of our proposed redesign plan–for example, in maximizing the impact and accountability of foreign assistance,” Deputy State Secretary John Sullivan said Tuesday at the George C. Marshall Center Blockchain Forum.

Sullivan added that blockchain could help address corruption, fraud, misappropriation of funds and inefficiencies in the department’s foreign aid delivery.

He also aims to forge partnerships with private companies to aid the agency’s deployment of blockchain.

The deputy state secretary announced in September that the State Department looks to integrate the cyber coordinator post and cyber office into the bureau of business and economic affairs as part of the reorganization.

Government Technology/News
DARPA Seeks to Build Cloud-Based Satellite Data Repository for DoD Analysts
by Nichols Martin
Published on October 12, 2017
DARPA Seeks to Build Cloud-Based Satellite Data Repository for DoD Analysts


DARPA Seeks to Build Cloud-Based Satellite Data Repository for DoD Analysts

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has introduced a program that seeks to develop a cloud-based repository for Defense Department geospatial analysts to access commercial satellite imagery.

DARPA said Wednesday it aims to create the Geospatial Cloud Analytics platform as part of efforts to help DoD detect, monitor, analyze and track global events for deployed U.S. forces.

GCA will be designed to aggregate large amounts of open source and commercial satellite data via synthetic aperture radar, optical and radio frequency modes in a common repository equipped with automated curation tools.

“The goal of GCA is to provide a secure cloud-based platform that automatically curates multi-source global data and metadata, allowing analysts to focus their attention and expertise on analysis—not data collection, aggregation, and curation,” said Joe Evans, program manager at DARPA’s strategic technology office.

DARPA also looks to pilot a cloud-based delivery model that would allow companies to offer analytics services and applications through a competitive marketplace.

A GCA proposers day is scheduled to take place in Arlington, Virginia, on Oct. 18.

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