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NASA’s Stennis Space Center Activates Autonomous Systems Payload on Sidus Space Satellite
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NASA’s Stennis Space Center Activates Autonomous Systems Payload on Sidus Space Satellite

NASA’s Stennis Space Center has launched an autonomous systems payload aboard Sidus Space’s LizzieSat-1, or LS-1, small satellite.

Carried into space on the SpaceX Transporter 10 rideshare mission, the Autonomous Satellite Technology for Resilient Applications is designed to demonstrate the autonomous operations of the LS-1 spacecraft by discovering anomalies and autonomously creating plans to handle these issues, NASA said Tuesday.

John Bailey, director of the Stennis Center, shared that ASTRA is now active and operational, which marks a milestone in the center’s first-ever in-space mission.

The NASA Stennis Autonomous Systems Laboratory team has established a telemetry link to send and receive data in the ASTRA payload operation command center and confirmed that the payload has achieved its primary mission objectives.

“Achieving ASTRA’s primary mission objectives underscores our dedication and commitment to driving innovation while advancing space technology alongside NASA, our trusted partner,” said Sidus Space Founder and CEO Carol Craig.

“So many people put in a tremendous effort to bring us to this point,” said Chris Carmichael, NASA Stennis ASL branch chief. “It is a great demonstration of the team’s vision and capabilities, and I am excited to see what the future holds.”

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CISA Adds New Resources to Marine Transportation System Resilience Assessment Guide
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CISA Adds New Resources to Marine Transportation System Resilience Assessment Guide

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a new web tool for evaluating maritime technology infrastructure resilience.

The Resilience Assessment Resource Matrix is an update to the agency’s 2023 Marine Transportation System Resilience Assessment Guide, which provides stakeholders with comprehensive threat information, analysis techniques and case studies on cybersecurity in the maritime environment, CISA said Tuesday.

According to the agency, the matrix is a collection of over 100 off-the-shelf tools, data sources, methods and other resources offered by government, industry, academia and research laboratories. It includes a capability that enables users to search for the most relevant information for conducting their assessments.

In a recent report, the U.S. Coast Guard warned that the MTS is being targeted by malicious cyber actors. The findings indicated that ransomware attacks on MTS increased by 80 percent in 2023 compared to 2022.

Shipping companies, logistics and technology service providers, liquid natural gas, and petrochemical processors and distributors were identified as major targets of these attacks.

In an effort to mitigate cyber incidents that may disrupt maritime operations, President Joe Biden signed an executive order in February that gave the Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard the authority to take action against cyber threats in the domain.

NIWC Produces 5G Technology to Boost Quality of Service for Sailors
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NIWC Produces 5G Technology to Boost Quality of Service for Sailors

The Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic is developing a new 5G technology that focuses on improving sailors’ quality of service – the experience of a sailor and their family outside the workplace combined with their experience on the ship –through Wi-Fi advancements.

With connectivity affecting sailors’ daily security and communication capabilities, including phone calls, the ship’s Wi-Fi needs to work efficiently on and offshore to ensure a quality work environment, the Navy unit said Friday.

NIWC Atlantic Senior Engineer Kevin Thompson said the agency aims to consider QoS as it continues to enhance 5G technology across the Navy.

“We try to use that [QoS] mindset in our development of engineering processes so that we’re looking at solutions that meet [common communication capabilities such as] gaming or FaceTime, where Sailors are able to witness the birth of their children. It also allowed us to address security challenges with command and control-type communications,” said Thompson, who also serves as test director for NIWC Atlantic’s Assured Real-Time Communications Laboratory.

The new 5G technology was formed in the Norfolk-located laboratory about five years ago. NIWC began experimenting with 5G on board the USS Wisconsin, an Iowa class battleship currently positioned as a functioning museum ship docked in Norfolk, Virginia.

5G prototyping efforts have recently been assessed and utilized in scarce but successful capacities across the Navy, including “Sailor Edge Afloat and Ashore” on board USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).

Peter Reddy, executive director of NIWC Atlantic, said NIWC engineers have “laid a solid engineering foundation for 5G technology to potentially take off across the Navy.”

So far, NIWC Atlantic engineers have achieved numerous feats within the agency, including implementing a testbed that allows the examination of 5G and user equipment in a wide range of frequencies and a private 5G network with a video and voice component.

“The great work this team has done has really positioned the Navy very well to be ready to move out quickly to rapidly expand 5G capabilities across the fleet,” said Reddy.

NIWC Atlantic’s team has also developed a reference architecture for ship-wide, littoral, blue-water, pier-side and ashore operational domains.

POC - 2024 Navy Summit

The Potomac Officers Club will host its 2024 Navy Summit – one of numerous events in the organization’s military series –  on Aug. 15. Join this event to hear top Navy officials and industry experts provide updates on the service branch’s technology adoption and modernization initiatives. Register here to save your seat at the highly anticipated event.

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Micah Cheatham to Become Chief Management Officer at NSF
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Micah Cheatham to Become Chief Management Officer at NSF

Micah Cheatham has been named chief management officer of the National Science Foundation.

In his new position, Cheatham, who was formerly chief of management and administration at the National Archives and Records Administration, will serve as principal advisor to the NSF director and deputy director on agency operations, business activities, financial management and strategic initiatives, the organization said Tuesday.

“Micah brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership to NSF,” said Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the NSF. “We are confident that his strategic insights and management acumen will play a crucial role in advancing NSF’s goals and achieving sustained success.”

While serving in his previous role, Cheatham spearheaded the creation of an agency-wide modernization plan and advised the agency head on the full scope of management and administrative functions.

Earlier, he was chief financial officer at NARA and director of budget at the General Services Administration. He has also held financial management positions at the Internal Revenue Service.

Cheatham will begin his new duties on July 15.

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FCC Chair Seeks to Better Protect US Public Warning Systems From Cyberthreats
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FCC Chair Seeks to Better Protect US Public Warning Systems From Cyberthreats

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed new standards to safeguard the United States’ public alert and warning systems against evolving cybersecurity threats.

In a draft document submitted to the commission, Rosenworcel urged agencies to adopt new rules for the Emergency Alert System, which warns the public through radio and television, and Wireless Emergency Alerts, which provides warnings through consumers’ wireless phones.

If accepted, the rules would require communications providers that employ the systems to develop, modify and implement cyber risk management plans and submit reports of equipment vulnerabilities within 24 hours of discovery. This reporting requirement would enable the commission to swiftly identify and address technical issues.

The proposed rules would also direct Emergency Alert System participants to prepare contingency plans for broadcasting warnings to the public.

The FCC finalized the draft rules, which aim to minimize risks associated with communications networks, after consulting with stakeholders in 2022 and 2023.

According to the commission, the rules would be published upon their adoption.

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Larry Bafundo Appointed Technology Modernization Fund Executive Director
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Larry Bafundo Appointed Technology Modernization Fund Executive Director

Larry Bafundo has been elevated to the role of executive director of the Technology Modernization Fund at the General Services Administration, Nextgov/FCW reported Tuesday.

Bafundo previously served as deputy executive director of TMF, and in January, he also assumed the position of acting executive director of the funding vehicle. He inherited the responsibilities from Jessie Posilkin, who served as the fund’s interim chief and is now director of TMF’s customer experience portfolio.

Raylene Yung, TMF’s last permanent head, stepped down in October to join the Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations as chief of staff.

Before TMF, Bafundo was director of information technology modernization strategy at the Department of Labor. Earlier, he served as deputy director of technology for unemployment insurance modernization at the organization.

He previously worked at Ad Hoc, where he most recently served as vice president of digital services. Earlier, he was a product manager for 18F, a role in which he led a digital transformation initiative with the FBI and supported multiple other agencies, including the GSA.

“Since returning to GSA in January, we’ve seen his thoughtful and strategic leadership that has set up the TMF team for future success,” Katy Kale, GSA’s deputy administrator and a previous Wash100 awardee, said of Bafundo in an email obtained by the publication.

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Pentagon’s DPC Changes Name to Defense Pricing, Contracting & Acquisition Policy
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Pentagon’s DPC Changes Name to Defense Pricing, Contracting & Acquisition Policy

The Department of Defense’s Office of the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment has issued a memorandum announcing that the Defense Pricing and Contracting organization has been renamed as Defense Pricing, Contracting and Acquisition Policy, or DPCAP.

Released on Tuesday, the memo said DPCAP will add a fifth directorate – Acquisition Policy and Innovation – to the established four directorates: Contract Policy, Contracting e-Business, Defense Acquisition Regulations System and Price, Cost and Finance.

“This new name reflects an expanded organizational portfolio to include both acquisition and contracting responsibilities, and synergies to be realized across these functions,” the memo says.

API will oversee acquisition data analytics, the adaptive acquisition framework acquisition policies, the IP Cadre, the Acquisition Innovation Research Center and the Defense Civilian Training Corps.

DPCAP is in charge of matters related to pricing and contracting policy across the DOD as well as implementing executive order and statute, keeping the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense FAR Supplement up-to-date and releasing guidance and memoranda. It also helps facilitate operations through standards and business systems.

The memo was digitally signed by John Tenaglia, principal director of DPCAP.

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Commerce Department Awards $504M in Grants to 12 Tech Hubs; Gina Raimondo Quoted
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Commerce Department Awards $504M in Grants to 12 Tech Hubs; Gina Raimondo Quoted

The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration has awarded implementation grants with a total value of around $504 million to 12 Tech Hubs.

With these investments, the organization aims to create jobs in innovative industries, improve U.S. economic competitiveness and national security and advance the production of critical technologies, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

“Through the Tech Hubs program, we are maintaining our competitive edge by advancing America’s leadership in commercializing critical emerging tech sectors. And we’re leveraging the diverse talent and resources that currently exist across the country to achieve this goal,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

The focus areas of the various Tech Hubs include quantum information technology, smart photonic sensor systems, biomanufacturing, lithium batteries and electric vehicle materials, clean energy supply chain and semiconductor manufacturing, among others.

In October, 31 Tech Hubs in geographically diverse regions across the U.S. were selected as part of the program’s initial phase. Under Phase 2, these organizations designed and proposed projects to drive their growth in globally recognized regions that manufacture cutting-edge technologies.

The 12 new Tech Hubs that received funding include:

Click here to view each Tech Hub’s lead agency, estimated award amount and technology focus.

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AFSOC Names Michael Conley as New Commander
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AFSOC Names Michael Conley as New Commander

Lt. Gen. Michael Conley took command of the Air Force Special Operations Command during a ceremony held at the Freedom Hangar on Tuesday.

He succeeds Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, who served as commander of AFSOC since December 2022 and will now become superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, the service branch said Tuesday.

At the ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said Conley is ready to take on his new role, citing the new AFSOC commander’s experience working with the Air Force, major command and joint staff.

Conley most recently served as director of operations for Headquarters AFSOC, where he led the implementation and execution of operational command policy for over 20,000 personnel comprising the Air Force component’s worldwide special operations unit.

He also held the roles of vice commander for AFSOC’s 27th Special Operations Wing and commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing.

“I am honored and humbled for this opportunity,” Conley said. “I am committed to making this command the best it can be in ensuring we are ready to go whenever you need us to.”

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Army CIO Leonel Garciga Releases Policy Guidance for Generative AI Software
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Army CIO Leonel Garciga Releases Policy Guidance for Generative AI Software

Leonel Garciga, chief information officer of the U.S. Army and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, has issued a memorandum detailing new policy guidelines for the development, deployment and use of generative artificial intelligence and large language models across the service branch.

Published on Thursday, the document instructs generative AI developers and system owners to comply with existing legal and security regulations, obtain necessary approvals for processing sensitive and classified data and ensure that users can effectively determine which systems rely on generative AI software.

Developers must also instill processes to document training data sources, test software controlled environments and make sure generative AI applications are authorized to operate within the Department of Defense Information Network.

Army commands are encouraged to develop appropriate processes to evaluate both the risks and benefits of generative AI tools rather than banning the use of these applications.

Command developers, system owners and users must also apply appropriate risk assessment frameworks for generative AI software.

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