VA Adds Veteran Health, Benefits Agencies as Exemptions in Federal Hiring Freeze
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VA Adds Veteran Health, Benefits Agencies as Exemptions in Federal Hiring Freeze


VA Adds Veteran Health, Benefits Agencies as Exemptions in Federal Hiring FreezeThe Department of Veterans Affairs has unveiled additional exemptions to the moratorium on federal hiring efforts following a previous move to lift restrictions for some professional fields in January.

VA said Wednesday its latest guideline exempts medical and nonmedical positions, the Veterans Health Administration’s medical facilities and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s regional and field offices from the hiring freeze.

“VA is committed to serving veterans, but at the same time improving efficiency and reducing bureaucracy,” said Secretary David Shulkin.

The department noted it will implement a comprehensive review of candidates before hiring in order to streamline its corporate and administrative structure.

Its previous guideline removed limits against hiring contracting, construction and project management professionals amid construction projects and lease agreements at more than 20 medical and health centers, as well as healthcare professionals at outpatient clinics in efforts to ensure continuous delivery of health services to veterans.

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DARPA to Fund 8 University Research Efforts Under Neuroplasticity Learning Program
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DARPA to Fund 8 University Research Efforts Under Neuroplasticity Learning Program

DARPA to Fund 8 University Research Efforts Under Neuroplasticity Learning ProgramThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency will fund eight research projects at seven universities under a four-year program that aims to explore how stimulation of the human body’s peripheral nerves can help facilitate cognitive learning.

DARPA selected the research efforts a year after it launched the Targeted Neuroplasticity Training program that seeks to develop a technology platform designed to activate “synaptic plasticity” process linked to cognitive learning through peripheral nerve stimulation.

The agency said Wednesday Stephen Helms Tillery will lead a team of researchers at Arizona State University to study how trigeminal nerve stimulation activates synaptic plasticity in the brain’s visual and sensorimotor systems, while Xiaoqin Wang of the Johns Hopkins University will explore the effect of neuroplasticity on language learning through vagal nerve stimulation.

Other universities involved in the TNT program include:

  • University of Florida
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Wisconsin
  • University of Texas, Dallas
  • Wright State University

“The Defense Department operates in a complex, interconnected world in which human skills such as communication and analysis are vital, and the department has long pushed the frontiers of training to maximize those skills,” said Doug Weber, TNT program manager at DARPA.

“DARPA’s goal with TNT is to further enhance the most effective existing training methods so the men and women of our armed forces can operate at their full potential,” he added.

DARPA said it will support the Food and Drug Administration’s research effort through the TNT program and fund a workshop on the program’s ethical and social issues to be hosted by Arizona State University.

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David Shulkin: Trump to Order Creation of VA Accountability & Whistleblower Protection Office
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David Shulkin: Trump to Order Creation of VA Accountability & Whistleblower Protection Office


David Shulkin: Trump to Order Creation of VA Accountability & Whistleblower Protection OfficePresident Donald Trump will issue an executive order to establish an accountability and whistleblower protection office at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Military Times reported Wednesday.

Leo Shane III writes Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin told reporters the VA’s future Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection could help accelerate the termination of underperforming employees and reduce corporate staff across the department.

Shulkin added the office will review existing regulations on the dismissal of federal employees and recommend new legislation on VA employment rules.

VA also intends for the office to preserve whistleblower rights and investigate reports of retaliation, Shane reported.

The report said President Trump will also order the formation of a task force to examine any wasteful and fraudulent activities at VA, review its national footprint and examine if current department services are duplicative, according to the report.

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Report: NASA, ESA Plan Joint Mission to Explore Jupiter Moon
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Report: NASA, ESA Plan Joint Mission to Explore Jupiter Moon


Report: NASA, ESA Plan Joint Mission to Explore Jupiter MoonNASA is planning a joint mission with the European Space Agency to study potential signs of life on Jupiter’s Europa moon, New Scientist reported Monday.

Andy Coghlan writes Michel Blanc, a scientist at France’s Research Institute in Astrophysics and Planetology, said at the annual European Geosciences Union meeting that the Joint Europa Mission could be deployed in mid-2020s for a more than six-year expedition.

Blanc added an orbiter craft will deliver a lander on Europa’s surface to sample and screen material for biosignatures and the orbiter will subsequently take laser, magnetic and seismic measurements of Jupiter over a three-month period.

The orbiter would crash into Europa after gathering data on the composition of the moon’s atmosphere to identify potential life-related gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen, Coghan reported.

NASA plans to design the lander and collaborate with ESA to build other mission components, according to Blanc.

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USAF Invites Computer Security Pros to Join ‘Hack the Air Force’ Exercise
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USAF Invites Computer Security Pros to Join ‘Hack the Air Force’ Exercise


USAF Invites Computer Security Pros to Join 'Hack the Air Force' ExerciseThe U.S. Air Force has invited computer security professionals from across the U.S. and select partner nations to participate in a bug bounty event that will be based on the Defense Department‘s ‘Hack the Pentagon‘ program.

The service branch said Wednesday its office of the chief information officer will sponsor the ‘Hack the Air Force‘ event as part of the Cyber Secure campaign that seeks to utilize talent from within and outside the DoD.

The service branch said the event will help expand the participation pool to include ‘white hat’ hackers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.K.

David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff and an inductee into Executive Mosaic‘s Wash100 for 2017, said the approach to draw on talent from local and partner-nation citizens will help boost cybersecurity through the identification of security vulnerabilities.

Some small and large companies utilize white hat hacking and crowdsourced security concepts to help defend networks against potential malicious attacks, the service branch noted.

“The additional participation from our partner nations greatly widens the variety of experience available to find additional unique vulnerabilities,” said Peter Kim, Air Force chief information security officer.

“We’re mobilizing the best talent from across the nation and among partner nations to help strengthen the Air Force’s cyber defenses,” added Lisa Disbrow, acting secretary of the Air Force.

The Defense Digital Service helped the service branch establish the Air Force Digital Service team that will help convert the current competition for technical talent into a partnership between public and private sectors.

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Report: Lt. Gen. James McConville Nominated to Army Vice Chief of Staff Post
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Report: Lt. Gen. James McConville Nominated to Army Vice Chief of Staff Post


Report: Lt. Gen. James McConville Nominated to Army Vice Chief of Staff Post
James McConville

Lt. Gen. James McConville, deputy chief of staff for personnel at the U.S. Army, has been nominated to replace Gen. Daniel Allyn as the service branch’s vice chief of staff and for promotion to the rank of general, the Army Times reported Tuesday.

Meghann Myers writes the Senate received and handed over McConville’s nomination to the upper chamber’s armed services panel.

McConville elevated to the role of deputy chief of staff in August 2014 after he served as commanding general of the 101st airborne division and Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

The 36-year Army veteran began his career in the service branch as an infantry officer.

McConville served in various staff assignments such as executive officer to the Army’s vice chief of staff, chief of the office of legislative liaison and J5 strategic planner for the U.S. Special Operations Command.

The master Army aviator commanded the 4th brigade under the 1st cavalry division at Fort Hood in Texas and is qualified to operate several aircraft such as AH-64D Longbow Apache and OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters.

He is a recipient of various awards that include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

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Johanna Curry: Army Application Owners Issue RFPs for Commercial Cloud Via ACCENT Contract Vehicle
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Johanna Curry: Army Application Owners Issue RFPs for Commercial Cloud Via ACCENT Contract Vehicle


Johanna Curry: Army Application Owners Issue RFPs for Commercial Cloud Via ACCENT Contract VehicleJohanna Curry, project officer for the U.S. Army’s data center consolidation plan, has said application owners at the service branch have released requests for proposals for cloud platforms and related technical support under the Army Cloud Computing Enterprise Transformation contract vehicle, Federal News Radio reported Tuesday.

ACCENT seeks to help Army mission and application owners procure commercial software-as-a-service, infrastructure-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service cloud offerings and transition support services to facilitate migration of enterprise apps to the cloud.

Jared Serbu writes Curry told the station in an interview that RFPs were issued after application owners consulted an independent analysis team – Army Application Migration Business Office – about the security controls and other technical requirements they need in order to host apps in an impact-level four or five cloud platform.

“Rather than targeting specific ACCENT vendors, they would get proposals back that are appropriate for that application,” she added.

AAMBO operates under the Army’s program executive office for enterprise information systems and works to conduct technical reviews of apps and provide recommendations prior to cloud migration.

Curry said the military branch decided to use basic ordering agreements under the ACCENT contract in an effort provide commands leeway to purchase cloud services.

BOAs “allowed us to balance known baseline security requirements and service levels with enough flexibility for a mission owner to fit the needs of their organizations,” she added.

ODNI Unveils Consolidated, Mobile-Friendly Website
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ODNI Unveils Consolidated, Mobile-Friendly Website


ODNI Unveils Consolidated, Mobile-Friendly WebsiteThe Office of the Director of National Intelligence has consolidated the websites of organizations under its purview into one domain in efforts to provide organized content to the public through a single online location.

ODNI said Tuesday the new DNI.gov combines websites for the National Counterterrorism Center, National Counterintelligence and Security Center and the Intelligence Community Chief Human Capital Office’s Joint Duty Program.

“The new DNI.gov blends our efforts to be more transparent about our intelligence integration mission with improved technologies that provide a more consistent, flexible and secure experience for our visitors,” said Michael Thomas, chief of strategic communications at ODNI.

The consolidated domain utilizes a unified, open source content management system, a redesigned and mobile-friendly interface and connection through the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure protocol.

ODNI noted the legacy domains for NCTC.gov, NCSC.gov and ICJointDuty.gov are still functional but will redirect visitors to the corresponding webpage on the new DNI.gov website.

It added the website will continue to get feature and content updates over the next months.

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USMC, CBP Vet Randolph Alles Named Secret Service Director
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USMC, CBP Vet Randolph Alles Named Secret Service Director


USMC, CBP Vet Randolph Alles Named Secret Service Director
Randolph Alles

President Donald Trump has appointed Randolph Alles, former acting deputy commissioner of the Customs and Border Protection and a retired Marine Corps major general, as director of the U.S. Secret Service, the White House announced Tuesday.

Alles performed duties of a chief operating officer during his tenure as CBP acting deputy commissioner and previously served as acting executive assistant commissioner of the agency’s enterprise services branch as well as deputy assistant commissioner of the air and marine operations group.

He has held various leadership positions at the Marine Corps and joint commands during his 35-year military career and gained experience in work areas such as aviation maintenance, flight training, logistics, quality assurance and standardization.

Alles holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from Naval War College.

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GAO: FAA Should Identify Long Term R&D Priorities, Address Statutory Reporting Requirements
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GAO: FAA Should Identify Long Term R&D Priorities, Address Statutory Reporting Requirements


GAO: FAA Should Identify Long Term R&D Priorities, Address Statutory Reporting RequirementsThe Government Accountability Office has called on the Federal Aviation Administration to implement initiatives to identify FAA’s long term research-and-development priorities and  comply with research-related statutory reporting requirements.

GAO said Monday it found that FAA does not fully meet requirements, guidance and leading practices on the management of the agency’s R&D portfolio.

FAA has yet to address all statutory reporting requirements such as the identification of long term research resources in the National Aviation Research Plan and the creation of the R&D Annual Review, GAO added.

The congressional watchdog noted FAA has begun to explore ways to improve the usefulness and timeliness of its R&D reports but the agency has yet to specify necessary changes.

GAO also found that FAA does not formally study the impact of its R&D activities on the private sector because FAA and the industry have varying research objectives.

Three private companies told GAO there is “little evidence” that FAA’s actions prevent private sector firms from launching their own R&D projects.

GAO recommended that the Transportation Department direct the FAA administrator to outline long term R&D priorities; disclose project selection methods; and validate that FAA’s NARP and R&D Annual Reviews meet statutory requirements for content.

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