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GAO: FDA Should Implement Agency-Wide Info Security Program to Address Risks
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GAO: FDA Should Implement Agency-Wide Info Security Program to Address Risks


cyberwarfareThe Government Accountability Office has recommended the Food and Drug Administration fully implement an agency-wide information security program and take 166 specific actions to address gaps in information security controls.

GAO said in a report published Thursday the FDA has taken steps to protect seven GAO-reviewed systems that might jeopardize the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information and systems.

Auditors noted the FDA did not fully or consistently implement access controls designed to prevent, limit and detect unauthorized access to computing resources and 87 information security weaknesses were identified on access controls, configuration management, contingency planning and media protection.

GAO added the FDA did not protect boundaries of its network, identify and authenticate system users, limit user access, encrypt sensitive data, audit and monitor system activity or conduct physical security reviews on its facilities.

The watchdog cited control weaknesses as a product of a failure to implement an FDA-wide information security program required under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014 and the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002.

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Service Laboratory Chiefs Talk Military Tech Devt Efforts In Support of DoD’s 3rd Offset Strategy
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Service Laboratory Chiefs Talk Military Tech Devt Efforts In Support of DoD’s 3rd Offset Strategy


Navy Laser Weapon SystemLaboratory directors from three service branches have said their labs have begun research and development work on technology platforms for warfighters in support of the Defense Department’s Third Offset Strategy, DoD News reported Friday.

Cheryl Pellerin writes Maj. Gen. Robert McMurry, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, testified Wednesday before the House Armed Services Committee’s emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee and said that President Barack Obama’s fiscal 2017 budget request seeks to allocate approximately $2.5 billion for the service branch’s science and technology efforts.

“The budget request provides funding for the small advanced-capability missile; the low-cost delivery vehicle; the high-speed strike weapon demonstration; component weapons technology; and for position, navigation and timing technologies in direct support of the third offset,” McMurry said.

He added that the proposed science and tech allocation represents a 4.5 percent increase over the administration’s budget request for FY 2016, Pellerin reports.

Edward Franchi, acting director of research at the Naval Research Laboratory, discussed NRL’s R&D efforts in the field of railguns and laser weapons during his testimony before the House panel.

Franchi also cited NRL’s adoption of rapid prototyping and experimentation process to demonstrate the operational functions of technology platforms, according to the report.

Philip Perconti, acting director of the Army Research Laboratory, and Jeffery Holland, chief of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Army Engineer Research and Development Center, also testified before the House committee about ARL’s Open Campus business model and ERDC’s efforts to develop technologies that work to protect troops from rocket attacks, the report added.

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Air Force Times: Service Branch’s Leaders Unveil Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives
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Air Force Times: Service Branch’s Leaders Unveil Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives


Air Force logoAir Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein have unveiled 13 new initiatives that aim to provide equal recruitment and development opportunities for minorities in the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Times reported Friday.

Stephen Losey writes James and Goldfein told the publication that the diversity and inclusion proposals will help the service branch to recruit, retain and develop a diverse workforce.

The initiatives will require Air Force leaders to include at least one diversity candidate in terms of gender, race, career field, background and experience in each pool of airmen considered for military developmental positions, Losey reported.

Development teams and command selection boards that select officers for leadership positions will be comprised of diverse Air Force leaders through the initiatives, the report stated.

Air Force Times added the proposals also seek to provide tools for Air Force recruiters; establish an office of data analysts and personnel experts to support recruitment; train leaders on unconscious bias; and increase scholarships and internships.

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USAID Issues $1B Loan Guarantee to Support Economic, Governance Reform in Ukraine
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USAID Issues $1B Loan Guarantee to Support Economic, Governance Reform in Ukraine


PenMoneyThe U.S. Agency for International Development has issued a $1 billion loan guarantee to Ukraine in support of economic and governance reforms as the country undergoes a democratic transition.

USAID said Friday the guarantee aims to help Ukraine implement reforms in an effort to fight corruption, aid economic governance and resilience and secure citizens from the impacts of economic adjustments.

The agency added that the guarantee will also support the country’s economic recovery and its access to commercial capital markets.

“This loan guarantee and USAID’s ongoing assistance in Ukraine will bolster the process of implementing meaningful reforms and will bolster efforts to combat corruption and build a more independent, democratic and financially viable and prosperous Ukraine,” said Gayle Smith, USAID Administrator.

This is the third $1 billion U.S. loan guarantee issued to Ukraine and the country has received support from the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Union and other donors.

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GAO Asks OPM to Establish Agency Conversions Data Validation Process
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GAO Asks OPM to Establish Agency Conversions Data Validation Process


big dataThe Government Accountability Office has recommended the Office of Personnel Management establish a process to help other agencies validate their data on how many political appointees become career federal workers.

GAO said Friday it examined the number of conversions as reported by agencies between Jan. 1, 2010 and Oct. 1, 2015, as well as the extent to which agencies sought approval before making such conversions.

Auditors found eight agencies implemented 17 conversions without receiving prior approval from OPM.

GAO said OPM completed post-appointment reviews for 13 of those 17 political conversions, approved nine conversions and denied four.

OPM recently implemented new procedures that require agencies to notify within two months when an OPM-approved conversion of a political appointee is complete to comply with the new reporting requirements in the Transitions Act.

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6 GovCon Industry Groups Ask Federal Govt to Delay Implementation of Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Final Rule
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6 GovCon Industry Groups Ask Federal Govt to Delay Implementation of Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Final Rule


acquisition policySix member associations of the Council of Defense and Space Industry Associations have asked the Obama administration to delay the implementation of a final rule that aims to ensure federal contractors’ compliance with labor laws.

The industry groups wrote in a letter to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council that the federal government should postpone the enforcement of the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces rule on Oct. 25 due to legislative uncertainty over the regulation and lack of systems to report violations, the Professional Services Council reported Tuesday.

PSC signed the letter with the Aerospace Industries Association, American Council of Engineering Companies, Information Technology Alliance for Public Sector, National Defense Industrial Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The six CODSIA member organizations asked the FAR Council to release a new guidance that would extend the phase-in process in order to provide federal contractors and contract holders time to comply with the final rule.

The organizations requested the federal government to move the start of the phase-in period for contracts over $50 million to Oct. 25, 2017 as well as the phase-in for contracts over $500,000 to April 25, 2018.

“We also recommend that the look-back period begin with a one-year period from Oct. 25, 2017 until Oct. 25, 2020, after which the full three-year look-back could be implemented,” the associations added.

The General Services Administration, NASA and the Defense Department introduced the final rule in August as an amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation in order to implement the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces executive order.

DHS Org Seeks Flood Response, Resilience Strategies; Daniel Cotter Comments
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DHS Org Seeks Flood Response, Resilience Strategies; Daniel Cotter Comments


floodingThe first responders group within the Department of Homeland Security’s science and technology directorate seeks public input that can assist flood-related research and development efforts.

FRG seeks answers to a set of questions about data sources, information sharing platforms and emergency-specific support efforts to facilitate future flood response preparation, DHS said Thursday.

The queries are part of the group’s National Conversation on Flood Resilience with the goal “to gather firsthand testimonies and best practices from those who have lived through the worst of floods,” the department added.

FRG collaborates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service to help communities reduce harm and recover from disasters through a set of tools and programs such as the five-year Flood Apex Program designed to help first responders perform their duties.

“The goals of the Flood Apex Program are to save lives, decrease uninsured losses and reduce property damage,” said Daniel Cotter, FRG director.

“FRG hopes to achieve this by increasing access to community, regional, and national data and information sources; analytical tools; and other resources that may help everyone make better flood resilience decisions,” Cotter added.

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FCC Releases New Rules for Public Safety Mobile Warning System
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FCC Releases New Rules for Public Safety Mobile Warning System


FCCSealThe Federal Communications Commission has released new rules for the Wireless Emergency Alerts mobile warning system in an effort to promote its use to state and local authorities.

FCC said Thursday it worked on WEA’s message content and reach and implemented a testing program for the platform in effort to bolster is performance.

The new rules sought to extend the maximum length of WEA messages to 360 characters, create a new alert for essential and recommended actions and simplify testing of the system and personnel training.

The updates also require wireless providers to allow transmission of alerts in Spanish, convey alerts to more granular geographic areas and include embedded phone numbers and URLs in WEA alerts to facilitate easy access to photos or calls to authorities.

FCC said it also seeks input on future plans including consumer education, the use of thumbnail photos and symbols for WEA and multilingual options for the alerts other than Spanish.

WEA is designed to provide communities with information on severe weather, missing children and other emergencies via mobile alerts.

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GSA Unveils Data Federation Movement in Support of Open Govt Efforts; Denise Turner Roth Comments
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GSA Unveils Data Federation Movement in Support of Open Govt Efforts; Denise Turner Roth Comments


Denise Turner Roth
Denise Turner Roth

The General Services Administration has launched a new effort to support data standardization and data federation systems across federal and local government agencies and also promote open and interconnected digital government.

GSA said Thursday U.S. Data Federation will build on efforts of Data.gov and utilize case studies that demonstrate unified and coherent data architectures across multiple agencies and help the public compare data analysis across government bodies.

U.S. Data Federation will aid the agency’s Open Government Plan and emphasize emerging data standards as well as facilitate participation from government agencies and develop reusable components for data federation such as schema documentation tools, schema validation tools and automated data aggregation.

“The U.S. Data Federation is one of many initiatives the Obama Administration has launched to support government-wide data standardization,” GSA Administrator Denise Turner Roth said.

Roth noted that the GSA-led effort to promote open data aims to help bolster transparency throughout government and boost the quality of products and services delivered to citizens.

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ISAO SO to Release 4 Cyber Info Sharing, Analysis Best Practices Guideline Documents
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ISAO SO to Release 4 Cyber Info Sharing, Analysis Best Practices Guideline Documents


cyberwarfareThe Information Sharing and Analysis Organization Standards Organization will publish four initial voluntary guideline documents for information sharing and analysis related to cybersecurity risks, incidents and practices.

ISAO SO said Thursday it will publish the Introduction to ISAOs, Guidelines for Establishing an ISAO, Introduction to Information Sharing and U.S. Government Relations, Programs, and Services documents in response to a White House executive order that calls for agencies, private businesses and nonprofit organizations to exchange cyber data.

“The ISAO SO, supported by a dedicated cadre of volunteers, aims to grow the information sharing community and equip it with the tools needed to improve the cybersecurity posture of all communities of interest across the nation,” said Greg White, ISAO SO executive director.

“The publication of these documents represents the collaboration of over 160 experts from industry, government, and academia, combined with the input and feedback of the public.”

The University of Texas at San Antonio leads the ISAO SO in partnership with LMI and the Retail Cyber Intelligence Sharing Center to facilitate the implementation of PEO 13691.

ISAO SO will hold an online public meeting on Oct. 20 to discuss upcoming publications, a national information sharing conference for 2017 and a question and answer session with the organization’s leaders.

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