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DoD/News
DoD Memo: Incoming Administration Fails to Include Russia in Defense Priority List
by Jane Edwards
Published on December 21, 2016
DoD Memo: Incoming Administration Fails to Include Russia in Defense Priority List


DoD Memo: Incoming Administration Fails to Include Russia in Defense Priority ListA Defense Department memo shows that Russia is not mentioned in President-elect Donald Trump’s defense priority list that includes the development of a cybersecurity strategy, elimination of budget caps and the campaign against the Islamic State militant organization, Foreign Policy reported Tuesday.

Brian McKeon, acting defense undersecretary for policy, listed Trump’s priorities that were conveyed by Mira Ricardel, co-leader of Trump’s transition team at DoD, in the Dec. 1 memo to employees, John Hudson, Paul Mcleary and Dan De Luce wrote.

According to the document, Trump’s transition team held briefings on China, North Korea, force structure and budgetary concerns with the Pentagon.

Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cited Russia as one of the top threats to the U.S. during a Senate hearing in 2015, Foreign Policy reported.

“If you look at [Russia’s] behavior, it’s nothing short of alarming,” Dunford added.

Jessica Ditto, a spokeswoman for Trump’s transition team, said the list is not “comprehensive” and that it is “completely erroneous and misleading” to speculate that the issues listed in the memo reflect all of the incoming administration’s priorities, the report added.

Civilian/News
Andy Ozment to Step Down as DHS Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Communications
by Jane Edwards
Published on December 21, 2016
Andy Ozment to Step Down as DHS Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Communications


Andy Ozment to Step Down as DHS Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Communications
Andy Ozment

Andy Ozment, assistant secretary of the office of cybersecurity and communications at the Department of Homeland Security, will resign from his post on Jan. 7, MeriTalk reported Monday.

Morgan Lynch writes Danny Toler, deputy assistant secretary for cybersecurity and communications at DHS, will replace Ozment in the role.

Ozment is responsible for the department’s cyber incident response initiatives and led a team of cyber professionals that responded to a data breach at the Office of Personnel Management, according to a report by Joe Uchill for The Hill.

Prior to DHS, he served as senior director for cybersecurity at the White House and helped draft national policies on data sharing, infrastructure protection and incident response management.

Ozment also held cybersecurity roles at the Defense Department, National Security Agency, Merrill Lynch, Nortel Networks and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory.

Civilian/News
House Committee Report: DOJ, DHS Spent $95M on Cell-Site Simulators Over 4 Years
by Jane Edwards
Published on December 21, 2016
House Committee Report: DOJ, DHS Spent $95M on Cell-Site Simulators Over 4 Years


House Committee Report: DOJ, DHS Spent $95M on Cell-Site Simulators Over 4 YearsA House Oversight and Government Reform Committee report says the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security spent approximately $95 million combined on 434 cell-site simulation tools that turn cellphones into tracking devices from fiscal year 2010 through FY 2014.

In a report published Monday, the House panel also found that law enforcement component agencies of DOJ and DHS had different policies and methods for the deployment and use of cell-site simulators and depended on a “lower-than-probable cause standard” for the use of such tools in most cases prior to the start of the committee’s bipartisan investigation in April 2015.

DOJ spent at least $71 million over four years on 310 cell-site simulators, while DHS allocated over $24 million to the procurement of 124 devices, according to the document.

The committee released the report “Law Enforcement Use of Cell-Site Simulation Technologies: Privacy Concerns and Recommendations” in response to media releases about the widespread use of such devices.

The document showed that DHS requires state and local law enforcement agencies to use grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Preparedness Grant Program to buy cell-site simulators and that state laws continue to differ on the type of court authorization that agencies should obtain in order to field such devices.

The committee also found that a month prior to the October 2015 public hearing, DOJ and DHS released new policies that require component agencies to secure a warrant based on probable cause and implement a “measure of uniformity” with regard to the use of cell-site simulators by various agencies.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House committee, prepared the report with Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), a ranking member of the House panel.

 

News
2017 Defense Bill Includes War Cost Disclosure Provision
by Jay Clemens
Published on December 21, 2016
2017 Defense Bill Includes War Cost Disclosure Provision


2017 Defense Bill Includes War Cost Disclosure ProvisionThe Congress-approved fiscal 2017 defense authorization bill contains a provision that would require the Defense Department and Internal Revenue Service to publish data on U.S.’ war-related expenditures online, Military Times reported Sunday.

Leo Shane III writes Rep. John Lewis (D-Georgia) authored the provision in an effort to spark discussions among the public about how much the government spends on combat missions.

The bill would require the defense secretary and IRS commissioner to report the cost of wars that have occurred over the last 15 years in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, according to the report.

The report said the Bureau of Economic Analysis would help compile data before the information is posted on the IRS website.

The $619 billion defense authorization bill for fiscal 2017 awaits President Barack Obama’s signature.

Civilian/News
Michael Johnson Steps Down from Energy CIO Role
by Scott Nicholas
Published on December 20, 2016
Michael Johnson Steps Down from Energy CIO Role


Michael Johnson Steps Down from Energy CIO RoleMichael Johnson, Energy Department chief information officer, has left the agency following an almost two-year stint with the organization, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Steven Norton writes Robbie Green, principal deputy CIO for enterprise information resources management, has been named interim CIO following Johnson’s departure.

A spokesperson from the DOE told the Journal Johnson, a former assistant director for intelligence programs and national security systems in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, was originally set to end his stint with the agency on Jan. 20, 2017.

Johnson led cybersecurity, cyber enterprise integration, enterprise information resources management, cyber supply chain risk management and DOE-HQ information technology operations of the department.

He has more than 25 years worth of experience on cybersecurity, information sharing and safeguarding, intelligence and national continuity policy from his stints with the Department of Homeland Security, Sandia National Laboratories and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

DoD/News
Defense Dept: China Gives Back Underwater Drone
by Ramona Adams
Published on December 20, 2016
Defense Dept: China Gives Back Underwater Drone


Defense Dept: China Gives Back Underwater DroneThe U.S. Navy has retrieved an unmanned underwater vehicle that Chinese forces seized Thursday in international waters near Subic Bay.

The Defense Department said Monday China’s navy returned the Ocean Glider UUV to USS Mustin near the area where the vehicle was seized while performing routine operations.

DoD added the UUV is a sovereign immune vessel that operated in the South China Sea in compliance with international law.

The U.S. government addressed the incident with Chinese officials through diplomatic and military channels, DoD noted.

The department added U.S. will continue to investigate the incident and share findings with China as part of diplomatic dialogues and the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement Mechanism.

Government Technology/News
IT Alliance for Public Sector Asks Trump to Build Up Govt Cybersecurity Through IT Modernization, Acquisition Reforms
by Jane Edwards
Published on December 20, 2016
IT Alliance for Public Sector Asks Trump to Build Up Govt Cybersecurity Through IT Modernization, Acquisition Reforms


IT Alliance for Public Sector Asks Trump to Build Up Govt Cybersecurity Through IT Modernization, Acquisition ReformsA division of the Information Technology Industry Council has provided President-elect Donald Trump with several recommendations to help build up the cybersecurity posture of federal agencies.

The IT Alliance for Public Sector asked Trump in a letter published Thursday to direct agencies to develop an inventory of information technology systems, software and hardware and determine those that are susceptible to cyber vulnerabilities within 90 days, ITIC said Friday.

ITAPS also recommends for the incoming administration to establish a “tech-savvy workforce” through provision of cyber training opportunities to government personnel.

The organization also called on Trump to work with Congress to facilitate reforms in the federal IT acquisition system, such as the expansion of support for the Section 809 panel, adoption of proposals that seek to create IT funding flexibility and review of procurement regulations.

Trey Hodgkins, senior vice president for public sector at ITAPS, said the federal government spent 80 percent of the total IT expenditures worth $80 billion on the maintenance of “vulnerable” IT platforms in 2015.

“We believe that achieving government-wide cybersecurity is dependent on two other imperatives: IT modernization and acquisition overhaul,” Hodgkins wrote.

“Without them, ‘cybersecurity’ can be no more than a tagline.”

Government Technology/News
Report: FBI, ODNI Agree With CIA Assessment on Russia’s Influence Over 2016 US Election
by Ramona Adams
Published on December 20, 2016
Report: FBI, ODNI Agree With CIA Assessment on Russia’s Influence Over 2016 US Election


Report: FBI, ODNI Agree With CIA Assessment on Russia's Influence Over 2016 US ElectionCIA Director John Brennan has said FBI Director James Comey and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper agree with CIA’s assessment that Russia launched cyber intrusions to help Donald Trump win the U.S. presidential election, The Washington Post reported Friday.

Adam Entous and Ellen Nakashima write that Brennan told CIA employees that he met separately with Comey and Clapper and that there was a “strong consensus” among the three officials on the scope, nature and intent of Russia’s intervention in the election results.

The report said CIA and FBI officials think Russian actors intended to help elect Trump and affect the integrity of the U.S. electoral system.

ODNI said the Intelligence Community currently reviews foreign efforts to influence U.S. presidential elections from 2008 to 2016 and plans to publicly release findings of the study.

News
UK Air Force Starts Post-Repair Sentry AWACS Flight Tests
by Jay Clemens
Published on December 20, 2016
UK Air Force Starts Post-Repair Sentry AWACS Flight Tests


UK Air Force Starts Post-Repair Sentry AWACS Flight TestsThe Royal Air Force has commenced test flights of the military branch’s Sentry E-3D aircraft following completion of repairs to the system’s electrical wiring, Defense News reported Monday.

Andrew Chuter writes the airborne warning-and-control system aircraft could return to service in January if the unit performs well during the tests.

“This work continues and a return to the normal level of aircraft availability is forecast early in 2017,” the Royal Air Force said.

The U.K’s E-3D fleet ceased operations in October after the service branch discovered electrical wiring and cabin conditioning problems, according to the report.

RAF led the remedial team that includes Northrop Grumman, which secured a nine-year contract extension to support the aircraft, Chuter reports.

Government Technology/News
NASA Renames SSCO as Satellite Servicing Projects Division; Ben Reed Comments
by Jane Edwards
Published on December 20, 2016
NASA Renames SSCO as Satellite Servicing Projects Division; Ben Reed Comments


NASA Renames SSCO as Satellite Servicing Projects Division; Ben Reed CommentsNASA has turned the Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office into a division in response to the growth in satellite servicing demonstrations and projects as well as the need to coordinate servicing missions and implement technology development programs.

The renamed Satellite Servicing Projects Division will be composed of three offices that include the satellite servicing enabling technologies, satellite servicing advanced concepts and the International Space Station payloads office, NASA said Monday.

The SSET office will oversee the development of technology platforms for in-space robotic servicing missions, while SSAC will manage the creation of technologies designed to meet in-space servicing requirements.

IPO will handle in-space servicing hardware development projects on the ISS that include the ISS Robotic External Leak Locator, Raven demonstration, Robotic Refueling Mission and Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer platforms.

SSCO “was the foundation that will allow us as a division to expand our technologies for multiple stakeholders – from on-orbit refueling to large aperture telescope assembly in space, and NASA’s Journey to Mars,” said Ben Reed, deputy division director for SSPD.

The division will also oversee the Restore-L Project that is responsible for the development of robotic platforms for the Restore-L mission, as well as the Asteroid Redirect Mission Capture Module Project that will manage the robotic spacecraft’s front end.

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