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Bipartisan Senate Bill Seeks to Enhance Cybersecurity in Healthcare Sector
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Bipartisan Senate Bill Seeks to Enhance Cybersecurity in Healthcare Sector

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, has collaborated with Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Todd Young, R-Ind., to introduce a bill that seeks to advance cybersecurity in healthcare.

The bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services to work together to improve cybersecurity and introduce resources related to cyberthreat indicators and defense measures to non-federal organizations, King’s office said Monday.

The proposed legislation would also establish a special liaison to HHS within CISA to facilitate coordination during cybersecurity incidents.

“Healthcare cyberattacks are a growing threat nationwide, and also hit home for Maine, where several major healthcare systems have been compromised in recent years due to cybercrimes,” said King, who also serves as co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

“These attacks and breaches of data can literally mean the difference between life and death for patients, significantly impact hospital operations, and — with the average hack costing millions to address — increase healthcare prices across the board. The bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act will take important steps toward protecting patients’ data and healthcare provider capabilities, and bolstering our cybersecurity infrastructure and response,” the senator added.

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NIST to Award $70M Funding to Establish AI-Focused Manufacturing USA Institute
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NIST to Award $70M Funding to Establish AI-Focused Manufacturing USA Institute

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is soliciting concept papers from organizations interested in securing up to $70 million in funding to establish and operate a new Manufacturing USA institute focused on artificial intelligence.

The institute will be responsible for helping manufacturers integrate AI into their processes to boost productivity and increase their resilience against supply chain disruptions, NIST said Monday.

It will mainly focus on advancing technology development, creating an educated and skilled workforce, and developing shared infrastructure and facilities.

Accredited institutions of higher education; U.S.-based nonprofit and for-profit organizations with majority domestic ownership or control; and state, local, U.S. territorial and Indian tribal governments are invited to submit concept papers by Sept. 30.

The application process is split into two phases: the evaluation of concept papers and the selection of applicants qualified to submit full proposals by Jan. 23, 2025.

NIST will hold a webinar on Thursday and an in-person proposer’s day event in August to provide information about the funding opportunity.

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OCR Global Wins $98M Navy Contract for Reduced Range Ammo
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OCR Global Wins $98M Navy Contract for Reduced Range Ammo

OCR Global was selected by the U.S. Navy to supply .50 caliber reduced range ammunition under a $98.5 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.

The Department of Defense said the company will deliver Ball MK322 Mod 1 and Tracer MK321 Mod 1 ammo to the service branch, and the firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract is expected to be completed by July 2029.

Ninety percent of the project will be done in Sao Paulo, Brazil, while the remaining work will be fulfilled in McLean, Virginia, where OCR is based.

The Navy and Marine Corps will provide the funds for the procurement of the .50 caliber ammunition. The service branches will obligate approximately $3.5 million from fiscal year 2023 procurement of ammunition funds, while fiscal year 2024 allocation will be used to cover the remaining $600,000.

OCR faced competition from two other companies that also submitted their offers through the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, in Indiana is managing the contract.

OCR Global specializes in defense and space manufacturing. The company provides products, projects and services, including ammunition, life support products and law enforcement materials, to the government and military.

In July 2023, the company was named among the 11 companies the U.S. Special Operations Command awarded spots on a $750 million multiple-award contract for small-caliber ammunition products.

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Pentagon Unveils 2024 Arctic Strategy; Kathleen Hicks Quoted
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Pentagon Unveils 2024 Arctic Strategy; Kathleen Hicks Quoted

The Department of Defense has released an updated strategy outlining steps DOD will take to ensure the security and stability of the Arctic region in support of U.S. national security.

The department said Monday the 2024 DOD Arctic Strategy discusses the threats and challenges posed by China and Russia in the region and details the three key lines of effort the Pentagon will advance to improve its ability to monitor and respond to threats in the region.

DOD’s main lines of effort outlined in the strategy are enhancing its Arctic capabilities, particularly in the areas of domain awareness, communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; engaging with allies and partners to strengthen defense and deterrence in the region, establish interoperability and improve its understanding of how to operate in the region; and exercising calibrated presence in the region through regular training and routine operations.

“The Arctic region of the United States is critical to the defense of our homeland, the protection of U.S. national sovereignty, and the preservation of our defense treaty commitments,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

“Our Arctic strategy will guide the Department’s efforts to ensure that the Arctic remains a secure and stable region,” added Hicks, a 2024 Wash100 awardee.

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Christine Bordine Named DIA Deputy Director; Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse Quoted
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Christine Bordine Named DIA Deputy Director; Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse Quoted

Christine Bordine, most recently deputy director of the directorate of capabilities at the National Security Agency, has been named deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

She will succeed Suzanne White, who has served as deputy chief of DIA since October 2018, the agency said Monday.

Before taking on the deputy director role, White served as chief of staff and chief financial officer at DIA.

Bordine has held multiple senior leadership roles within the Department of Defense, including deputy director for intelligence at U.S. Cyber Command, as well as vice deputy director for collection management and vice principal deputy director for intelligence integration at DIA.

“We are thrilled to be joined by such a world-class leader, and we are eager to see all of the incredible things Ms. Bordine will do to support our global mission during her tenure at the agency,” said Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of DIA and a 2024 Wash100 awardee.

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GovCon Index Experienced Highs & Lows Last Week
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GovCon Index Experienced Highs & Lows Last Week

Executive Mosaic’s GovCon Index capped off the week of July 15 with a 1.43% gain even after being in the red three out of five trading sessions.

The index, which tracks the stock performances of 30 major government contractors, achieved its largest single-day gain (2.04%) and highest close ($5,105.25) on Tuesday.

GCI’s information is presented in real-time, allowing customers to understand the evolving trends shaping the GovCon market and the current position of each tracked organization.

Vast market sell-offs were the cause of GCI experiencing dips after the Monday and Tuesday gains.

Mercury Systems and four other GCI companies were the only stocks in the green on Friday. Twenty-five stocks, led by Textron and V2X, were in the red.

Check out last week’s market reports for additional information about daily GovCon Index performance. To access the complete list of tracked companies, click here.

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State Department OIG Names Kevin Young Deputy Assistant Inspector General for IT
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State Department OIG Names Kevin Young Deputy Assistant Inspector General for IT

Kevin Young recently announced on LinkedIn that has taken on the role of deputy assistant inspector general for information technology at the Department of State Office of Inspector General.

Young’s latest term at the State Department is his second with the agency, having worked there from 2013 through 2020, first as a forensic audit manager, then as director of criminal analyses, forensic audits and data analytics.

Afterward, Young moved to the Department of Education, where he worked as deputy assistant inspector general for information technology audits and computer crime investigations from 2020 through 2022, then as assistant inspector general for technology services, a position he would hold his latest appointment.

He had also been part of the U.S. Army Audit Agency. Young served in the organization for nearly two decades, from 1994 through 2013.

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SEC Establishes Council to Facilitate Interagency Collaboration for Combating Financial Sector Threats
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SEC Establishes Council to Facilitate Interagency Collaboration for Combating Financial Sector Threats

The Division of Enforcement within the Securities and Exchange Commission has launched the Interagency Securities Council, gathering representatives from over 100 federal, state and local regulatory and law enforcement agencies.

The purpose of the council is to bolster cohesion among participating organizations, coordinate enforcement efforts to protect investors against financial fraud and provide guidance to people who typically do not operate within the financial sector, the SEC said Friday.

The council will hold quarterly meetings, where participants will engage in discussions about prevalent issues, including ongoing investigations, trends, emerging threats and mitigation strategies.

Adam Anicich and Manuel Vazquez will lead the SEC’s efforts on the council. It is being chaired by Gurbir Grewal, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.

“The Interagency Securities Council will help front line investigators stay abreast of emerging threats and fact patterns to protect their communities from securities fraud, while supporting the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement partners across the country,” Grewal said.

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Francisco Salguero Assumes Air Force A1 CIO Post
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Francisco Salguero Assumes Air Force A1 CIO Post

Francisco Salguero, former digital transformation executive at Salesforce‘s global public sector business, was named chief information officer for Air Force A1 within a Department of the Air Force office, ExecutiveGov has learned.

At the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, he will help ensure the delivery of services to Air Force and Space Force military and civilian personnel by guiding the development of plans and design of human resources systems.

Salguero was also appointed deputy director of plans and integration at Air Force A1, responsible for overseeing talent management-related information technology infrastructure and strengthening the organization’s cybersecurity posture.

He brings to the Air Force over 25 years of information technology experience, having previously worked at the Federal Communications Commission as CIO and at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as deputy CIO.

Salguero’s career also includes time working at SAIC, El Paso Energy and NETtel.

POC - 2024 Air Defense Summit

Register here for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Air Defense Summit on Tuesday, July 23. Join the in-person event to hear important updates on cutting-edge technology adoption, modernization initiatives and more from Air Force leaders.

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DIU Demonstrates Secure Drone Operations Using UTM System, Commercial Tech
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DIU Demonstrates Secure Drone Operations Using UTM System, Commercial Tech

The Defense Innovation Unit and a slew of collaborators have demonstrated drone flight operations that incorporate mesh radios and satellite technology to enable data-sharing between unmanned aerial systems.

The test was performed over three days in June at the New York UAS Test Site, where select Blue UAS platforms, including AgEagle’s eBee Vision and Skydio’s X2D, were integrated with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Collaborative Low-Altitude UAS Integration Effort Uncrewed Traffic Management — or CLUE UTM — system to exhibit how drones can securely operate anywhere in the world, DIU said Friday.

Technologies employed at the flight tests include Somewear Labs’ multinetwork device, which transmits drone telemetry data to the CLUE UTM system; UXV Technologies’ Soldier Robotic Controller ground control stations for operating and controlling unmanned vehicles; and the QGC-Gov open source UAS ground control station software.

The CLUE UTM system enables combining telemetry data with other data feeds such as automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, counter-UAS sensors and nearby radars to provide enhanced situational awareness for air traffic deconfliction, flight area allocation, Federal Aviation Administration compliance and drone identification.

“As the usage of small UAS aiding warfighting functions continues to expand, it is becoming increasingly important to confidently distinguish between those UAS trusted to be used for DoD missions and those that just happen to be in our airspace,” said David Michelson, autonomy portfolio director at the DIU.

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