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House Lawmakers Urge FTC to Address Consumer Concerns Over Internet of Things Security
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House Lawmakers Urge FTC to Address Consumer Concerns Over Internet of Things Security


mobile device managementReps. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) have called on the Federal Trade Commission to oversee manufacturers’ efforts to secure connected devices and protect consumers from cyber attacks.

Pallone and Schakowsky told FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez in a joint letter published Thursday that FTC should urge manufacturers to patch vulnerabilities and require consumers to change default passwords during device setup to prevent botnet attacks.

They added the commission should also also warn consumers on security risks posed by unchanged default passwords on IoT devices in light of the distributed denial of service attack that affected access to multiple websites on Oct. 21.

“The FTC has an obligation to offer security warnings and make information on changing passwords easily accessible to consumers,” Pallone and Schakowsky said.

Forty percent of respondents in a survey said they are not confident with IoT devices’ safety and capacity to secure personal information while 50 percent did not change default passwords on their home routers, according to the two lawmakers.

Disruptions similar to the recent DDoS attack are likely to become more common and more botnets could take advantage of default passwords if device manufacturers do not implement security measures, Pallone and Schakowsky added.

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US, Turkish Military Leaders Collaborate on Long-Term Plans Against Militant Groups in Syria
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US, Turkish Military Leaders Collaborate on Long-Term Plans Against Militant Groups in Syria


military in trainingU.S. military leaders including Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, and their counterparts in Turkey have developed a new long-term plan for operations against the Islamic State militant group in Syria, DoD News reported Sunday.

Jim Garamone writes Dunford noted that he met with Turkish army general Hulusi Akar at the General Staff headquarters to discuss operational plans against the militant groups in Raqqa as well as operations in Mosul and other areas.

“The coalition and Turkey will work together on the long-term plan for seizing, holding and governing Raqqa,” said Dunford.

“The Syrian Democratic Forces are moving south to isolate the enemy that’s in the vicinity of Raqqa and in Raqqa … What we are working on right now is to find the right mix of forces for the operation.”

Dunford added that the meeting complies with the promise of the coalition to not move ahead with the seizure phase in Raqqa prior to collaboration with Turkish forces and the addition of the latter’s perspective on operational plans.

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Education Dept Kicks Off Simulation Concept Challenge
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Education Dept Kicks Off Simulation Concept Challenge


virtual trainingThe Education Department has unveiled a $680,000 competition that calls upon participants from the virtual reality, video game developer and educational technology communities to design new types of simulations to help boost career and technical skills.

The Department said Wednesday that participants of the EdSim Challenge will be asked to submit concepts for immersive simulations designed to prepare students for the 21st century workforce.

EdSim will also look to support the development of computer-generated virtual and augmented reality educational experiences that will integrate existing and future technologies with various skill-building content, the department noted.

“We encourage developers from all disciplines to answer our call and help define the future of applied learning,” said Johan Uvin, acting assistant secretary for career, technical and adult education at the Education Department.

The department noted students who have participated in digital learning simulation, such as virtual and augmented reality and 3D simulation environments, for science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning recorded a 23 percent higher achievement rating compared to non-digital learners.

Interested participants can submit simulation concepts until Jan. 17, 2017 and a multidisciplinary panel of judges will evaluate received submissions and select up to five finalists that will advance to the “Virtual Accelerator” phase of the challenge.

The department added that selected finalists will each receive $50,000 and gain access to expert mentorship to support the further development of their respective concepts as well as its simulation prototype.

The remainder of the $680,000 prize money will be awarded to the EdSim challenge winner along with additional sponsor prizes from IBM, Microsoft, Oculus and Samsung.

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Sen. John McCain: F-35 Program Schedule Delays May Lead to $1B+ Cost Overrun
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Sen. John McCain: F-35 Program Schedule Delays May Lead to $1B+ Cost Overrun


F-35Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) has estimated that delays in the system development and demonstration phase of Lockheed Martin‘s F-35 aircraft could increase the fighter program’s cost by more than $1 billion, the Washington Examiner reported Thursday.

Jacqueline Klimas writes McCain called on Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to address how the delay aligns with claims that the F-35 program is right on schedule.

The senator asked Carter through a letter to provide details on when the development and demonstration phase will be complete; which priorities would not receive funds in fiscal year 2018 to mitigate cost overrun; and if any components will move to modernization instead of initial acquisition, Klimas reports.

The F-35 Joint Program Office said it would need $530 million to cover delays caused by the 2014 engine fire; software testing delays; $165 million in new requirements requested by the military; and $100 million that the Defense Department removed from the program, Breaking Defense reported Friday.

Colin Clark writes that JPO spokesman Joe DellaVedova said most of the additional funds will come from “other F-35 JPO funding sources to minimize the impact on the U.S. Services and DoD overall budget requirements.”

The report said international partners of the program will not have to pay for additional expenses.

Tony Scott: White House Gives Public Access to Federal Open Source Projects
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Tony Scott: White House Gives Public Access to Federal Open Source Projects


Tony Scott
Tony Scott

U.S. Chief Information Officer Tony Scott has announced a new government website that provides access to about 50 open source projects from more than 10 federal agencies.

Scott wrote in a blog post published Thursday that Code.gov opens access to code of various government digital platforms such as Vote.gov, Vets.gov, Data.gov, We the People and the White House Facebook bot.

He added the administration also seeks to provide agencies tools and industry practices necessary to implement the Federal Source Code Policy through the Code.gov site.

The Federal Source Code Policy is designed to increase public access to the federal government’s custom software and help agencies avoid duplicate software procurement.

“It’s a step we took to enable the brightest minds inside and outside of government to work together to ensure that federal code is reliable and effective,” Scott said.

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GAO: USAID Should Reverse Reimbursements Made without Legal Authority, Establish Reimbursement Policies
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GAO: USAID Should Reverse Reimbursements Made without Legal Authority, Establish Reimbursement Policies


money-graphThe Government Accountability Office has recommended the U.S. Agency for International Development to reverse reimbursements that were not made in accordance with the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2015.

According to a report published Wednesday USAID made 271 reimbursements prior to the passing of the Act, and 21 of those worth approximately $60 million did not comply with the Act. The 21 reimbursements account for 15 percent of the $401 million funds obligated by the USAID.

GAO found out that USAID did not possess legal authority to commence the 21 reimbursements which were not in accordance with the Act and the agency has not established written policies or procedures to make and document reimbursements.

The auditor also discovered that of the $2.5 billion appropriated for Ebola activity by the State Department and USAID that an estimated $1.47 billion had been obligated with $875 million distributed to control the outbreak as well as fund medical evacuations and other activities in West Africa.

Additionally USAID also obligated $251 million to support health services restoration and another $183 million for various activities that involve disease surveillance development while the State Department also appropriated $5 million for biosecurity activities.

Army Obtains Patent for New Projectile Launcher Design
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Army Obtains Patent for New Projectile Launcher Design


projectile-launcher-designAn employee of the U.S. Army has obtained a patent for a new projectile launcher he designed to help minimize munition weight and volume for future similar platforms.

Paul Jackson from the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center built a fixed high-low pressure system within the launcher system instead of in the ammunition, the Army said Tuesday.

“Much of the weight and volume of standard cartridges is the casing,” Jackson said.

The pressure and velocity in the launcher design can be adjusted by changing the pressure cartridge, according to the Army.

Various projectiles are also compatible with the design based on lethal or nonlethal requirements.

Patent lawyers helped Jackson obtain professional drawings and complete a patent application later submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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Jaimie Reese Named Marine Corps Acquisition Command Comptroller
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Jaimie Reese Named Marine Corps Acquisition Command Comptroller


Jaimie Reese
Jaimie Reese

Jaimie Reese, former deputy director of the Navy’s business and civilian resources division, has joined the Marine Corps Systems Command as senior executive and comptroller for the service branch’s acquisition command.

The U.S. Navy said Thursday Reese will hold comptroller responsibilities associated with planning, programming, budgeting and accounting of all Procurement-Marine Corps research as well as the operation and maintenance funds of day-to-day operations.

“In order to be successful as you progress through your career and assume leadership billets, one of the most important things you can do is surround yourself with the right people,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph Shrader, MCSC commander.

Reese previously served as a financial management trainee, aviation lead analyst and shipbuilding lead analyst for the Department of the Navy and as a comptroller for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense.

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Gen. John Hyten Takes US Strategic Command Leadership Role
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Gen. John Hyten Takes US Strategic Command Leadership Role


John Hyten
John Hyten

Air Force Gen. John Hyten, formerly commander of the Air Force Space Command, has officially started his new post as head of U.S. Strategic Command.

The Air Force said Thursday it held a change of command ceremony at Stratcom’s Offutt Air Force Base headquarters in Nebraska and Hyten succeeds Navy Adm. Cecil Haney, who will retire from active duty in January 2017,

President Barack Obama nominated Hyten in September for the role to oversee Stratcom’s missions in strategic deterrence, space operations, joint electronic warfare, global strike and missile defense missions.

Hyten’s role at Air Force Space Command carried responsibility over how Stratcom, North American Aerospace Defense Command and other combatant commands organize, train and maintain mission-ready space and cyberspace forces and systems.

“In the days to come, Stratcom’s mission will continue to remain vitally important to the bedrock of our security, and General Hyten will lead this critical team with the full trust and confidence of me, [Gen. Joseph Dunford] and President Obama,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

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Report: THAAD Deployment in South Korea to Occur in 8-10 Months
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Report: THAAD Deployment in South Korea to Occur in 8-10 Months


MissileDefenseThe deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system to South Korea will occur within eight-to-10 months, Reuters reported Friday.

U.S. Forces Korea Commander Brooks told South Korea’s Yonhap news agency that the U.S. looks to rotate strategic weaponry in the Korean peninsula to deter North Korean threats, Christine Kim and Ju-min Park wrote for Reuters.

The U.S. and South Korea decided to deploy THAAD on the Korean Peninsula in July amid North Korea’s round of nuclear and ballistic missile tests.

South Korea said it wants THAAD to become operational in 2017, Reuters stated.

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