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Soldiers, Vendors Participate in Army Cyber Quest Drill
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Soldiers, Vendors Participate in Army Cyber Quest Drill


Soldiers, Vendors Participate in Army Cyber Quest DrillThe U.S. Army has conducted a month-long cybersecurity exercise that aimed to test soldiers’ ability to detect unusual network activities and avert cyber attacks, Defense Systems reported Monday.

Twenty-seven vendors and more than 300 service members took part in the service branch’s Cyber Quest event, according to the report.

Soldiers were tasked to deflect simulated attacks and other automated actions that represented potential intrusions, malicious actors and various threats as part of the drill.

“We want to defend networks and provide the operational edge with an ability to detect new attacks and remediate those attacks in a rapid fashion,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Roberts, Army officer in charge of Cyber Quest 2017.

Maj. Gen. John Morrison, commanding general of the Army Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon, noted the exercise included a combination of simulated cyber and electronic warfare attacks.

Results of the drill will be included in a special report for the Army Training and Doctrine Command.

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UN Survey: Nearly 100 Countries Lack National Cyber Strategy
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UN Survey: Nearly 100 Countries Lack National Cyber Strategy


UN Survey: Nearly 100 Countries Lack National Cyber StrategyThe United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union has found that 50 percent of 195 countries surveyed have not implemented a national cybersecurity strategy, Reuters reported Wednesday.

ITU has also identified a gap between countries in terms of capacity to implement appropriate cybersecurity tools, strategies and programs.

“Cybersecurity is an ecosystem where laws, organizations, skills, cooperation and technical implementation need to be in harmony to be most effective,” ITU said.

Singapore was ranked in the survey as the top country in cybersecurity, followed by the U.S., Malaysia, Oman, Estonia, Mauritius, Australia, Georgia, France and Canada.

UTI based the ranking on the countries’ data sharing networks; educational and research programs; and legal, organizational and technical institutions.

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NSA Updates Patent Portfolio Under Tech Transfer Program
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NSA Updates Patent Portfolio Under Tech Transfer Program


NSA Updates Patent Portfolio Under Tech Transfer ProgramThe National Security Agency has updated a list of patented tools NSA aims to bring into the commercial market through a technology transfer program, Nextgov reported Monday.

NSA’s updated patent portfolio covers multiple research and development projects that aim to address big data, cyber, internet of things and mobility challenges.

The list includes big data search, software integrity evaluation systems, electronic component tracking, speech and language recognition, simultaneous voice detection and maritime communications support technologies.

The TTP program works to help companies commercialize agency-developed tools through patent licensing agreements.

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DoD Vet Kevin Scheid Assumes Leadership of NATO’s Network Security Arm
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DoD Vet Kevin Scheid Assumes Leadership of NATO’s Network Security Arm


DoD Vet Kevin Scheid Assumes Leadership of NATO's Network Security Arm
Kevin Scheid

Kevin Scheid, who served as Defense Department deputy comptroller from 2006 to 2009, has begun a three-year term as general manager of the NATO Communications and Information Agency, Bloomberg reported Monday .

The report said he will oversee the agency that operates electronic networks designed to help NATO’s 29 member states thwart cyber attacks, secure airspace, conduct maritime operations and counter terrorist activity.

NCI Agency was formed in July 2012 to consolidate the international alliance’s consultation, command and control; air command and control system management; communication and information systems services; and active layered theatre ballistic missile defense program agencies.

Scheid previously served as senior adviser to the president and CEO of Mitre, acting deputy chief management officer at DoD and deputy general manager and director of acquisition at NATO C3 Agency.

His government career also includes various positions at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence and Office of Management and Budget.

Lisa Disbrow: USAF Needs Budget to Modernize Weapons, Increase Force Size
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Lisa Disbrow: USAF Needs Budget to Modernize Weapons, Increase Force Size

 

Lisa Disbrow: USAF Needs Budget to Modernize Weapons, Increase Force Size
Lisa Disbrow

Lisa Disbrow, formerly undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force, has said she believes budget uncertainty affects the military service’s efforts to update its weapon systems and respond to rapid changes in the threat environment, Defense One reported Friday.

“I believe that [the] really, really largest threat facing us is potential for returning to a Budget Control Act level, which would be devastating to our readiness, devastating to our ability to modernize,” Disbrow told Defense One in an interview.

Disbrow, whose last day in office was Friday, called on the Air Force to boost its force size based on the nature of current threats.

She added the service branch seeks to increase the number of fighter aircraft it procures to 100 aircraft a year and works with Congress to make that happen.

The retired Air Force Reserve colonel was nominated by former President Barack Obama for the Air Force’s no. 2 civilian post in September 2015 and her nomination was approved by the Senate five months later.

 

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China Protests Potential $1.4B US Arms Sale to Taiwan
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China Protests Potential $1.4B US Arms Sale to Taiwan

China Protests Potential $1.4B US Arms Sale to TaiwanChina’s foreign ministry has expressed concern over a potential $1.42 billion sale of U.S.-made missiles, torpedoes and missile components as well as support services for various defense programs to Taiwan, DoD Buzz reported Friday.

The report said the Chinese government called for the cancellation of the deal because it presents a challenge to the country’s security interests and does not align with the “One China” policy that it notes the U.S. has previously pledged to support.

Taiwan requested to purchase Standard Missile-2 Block IIIA missiles, AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon air-to-ground missiles, AGM-88B anti-radiation missiles, MK 54 lightweight torpedo conversion kits, MK 48 Mod 6AT heavyweight torpedoes, updates to the AN/SLQ-32(V)3 electronic warfare system and surveillance radar sustainment services.

The State Department approved the request and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency subsequently notified Congress of the proposed sale Thursday.

“It shows, we believe, our support for Taiwan’s ability to maintain a sufficient self-defense policy,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, according to DoD Buzz.

“There’s no change, I should point out, to our ‘one-China policy,'” she added.

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Lt. Gen. Aundre Piggee: Army Looks to Increase Ammo Supplies in 5 Years
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Lt. Gen. Aundre Piggee: Army Looks to Increase Ammo Supplies in 5 Years


Lt. Gen. Aundre Piggee: Army Looks to Increase Ammo Supplies in 5 YearsLt. Gen. Aundre Piggee, deputy chief of staff for U.S. Army logistics, has said the military branch would need $45 billion to buy precision weapons that can support fight against terrorists and other well-armed adversaries, Breaking Defense reported Friday.

Piggee told a forum hosted by the Association of the US Army in Virginia the service branch collaborated with the joint force and private sector to create a five-year plan to increase spending and production of “smart” weaponry.

He predicted the current security landscape will require stockpiles of Lockheed Martin-built Hellfire missiles for the Predator and Reaper remotely piloted aircraft as well as Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rounds for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and Multiple Launch Rocket System vehicles.

The Army would also need additional Army Tactical Missile Systems, Terminal High-Altitude Air Defense missiles and Raytheon-built Patriot missiles to prepare for potential wars.

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House Panel’s 2018 Defense Policy Bill Includes Restriction on USAF Compass Call Aircraft Recapitalization Program
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House Panel’s 2018 Defense Policy Bill Includes Restriction on USAF Compass Call Aircraft Recapitalization Program


House Panel’s 2018 Defense Policy Bill Includes Restriction on USAF Compass Call Aircraft Recapitalization ProgramThe House Armed Services Committee’s defense policy bill for fiscal 2018 would postpone the provision of funds for the U.S. Air Force’s Compass Call aircraft recapitalization program until the Defense Department’s acquisition office determines that the service branch’s procurement strategy complies with the law, Defense News reported Friday.

A House aide told reporters that lawmakers have concerns about the Air Force’s acquisition strategy and do not oppose the selection of L3 Technologies as principal contractor on the program.

“We’re a little bit confused about what their acquisition strategy is, so we want [the defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics] to tell us it’s a sound strategy,” the aide said.

“[The U.S. Air Force] said they are going to now contract with a lead systems integrator, then it became a systems integrator… So we’re just confused by that.”

Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, military deputy of the Air Force’s acquisition office, said in May that the service’s decision to choose L3 to perform systems integration work and let the firm pick a new aircraft that will replace the fleet of EC-130H Compass Call planes stems from the company’s familiarity with the mission equipment.

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Ron Jarmin, Enrique Lamas Named to Interim Leadership Roles at Census Bureau
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Ron Jarmin, Enrique Lamas Named to Interim Leadership Roles at Census Bureau


Ron Jarmin, Enrique Lamas Named to Interim Leadership Roles at Census BureauRon Jarmin, associate director for economic programs at the U.S. Census Bureau, has been appointed acting director of the bureau.

Jarmin took over as interim director following the retirement of John Thompson on June 30, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

Jarmin led the team responsible for the 2017 Economic Census and previously held the role of assistant director for economic studies.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross also named Enrique Lamas, associate chief for demographic programs, as the Census Bureau’s interim deputy director.

Lamas joined the bureau in 1980 and held several leadership roles such as head of the labor force and transfer programs statistics branch and chief of the population division.

Ross made the appointments under the Vacancies Reform Act that authorizes agency chiefs to temporary fill vacant positions that require presidential appointment and Senate confirmation.

 

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Trump Inks Executive Order to Revive National Space Council
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Trump Inks Executive Order to Revive National Space Council


Trump Inks Executive Order to Revive National Space CouncilPresident Donald Trump signed Friday an executive order that seeks to relaunch the National Space Council that last operated in 1993 under President George H.W. Bush’s administration, Space News reported Friday.

Trump said in a speech at the White House that Vice President Mike Pence will chair the council that will serve as a “central hub guiding space policy within the administration.”

He added that the council will work to provide recommendations to the president and will be composed of representatives from various federal agencies, business leaders and scientists.

The executive order would create a “user’s advisory board” that will offer advice on space matters and ensure that commercial entities’ interests are represented in the council.

Officials who attended the signing ceremony include Pence, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, former NASA flight director Gene Kranz and astronauts Buzz Aldrin, David Wolf and Benjamin Drew.

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