/
SwRI Solar Observatory Lifted Aboard World View Balloon Under NASA-Funded Flight
Published on
SwRI Solar Observatory Lifted Aboard World View Balloon Under NASA-Funded Flight


SwRI Solar Observatory Lifted Aboard World View Balloon Under NASA-Funded FlightTucson, Arizona-based space exploration company World View has carried a Southwest Research Institute-developed solar observatory aboard the former company’s high-altitude balloon into the stratosphere as part of a NASA-funded Flight Opportunities program test.

NASA said Friday World View’s Stratollite balloon has lifted the SwRI Solar Instrument Pointing Platform to an altitude of 103,000 feet from Arizona’s Benson Municipal Airport to help conduct research with optical precision.

“Using a standard optical table platform increases flexibility, allowing scientists to try new things and develop new technologies without designing a custom observatory,” Craig DeForest, SwRI principal scientist.

“SSIPP could support the development of a range of new instruments for the near-space environment,” he added.

NASA noted that future applications will include the collection of solar data through infrared, ultraviolet or visible light near the edge of space at an altitude of approximately 20 miles above the Earth’s surface wherein the observatory can mitigate image distortions.

The agency’s space technology mission directorate selects industry, academia and government technologies that will be tested on commercial launch vehicles through the STMD-funded Flight Opportunities program.

/
Obama Nominates State Dept Senior Adviser Elizabeth Field as OPM Inspector General
Published on
Obama Nominates State Dept Senior Adviser Elizabeth Field as OPM Inspector General


headshot-elizabeth-field
Elizabeth Field

Elizabeth Field, a senior adviser in the office of the undersecretary for civilian security, democracy and human rights at the State Department, has been nominated by President Barack Obama as inspector general for the Office of Personnel Management.

The White House named Field among other nominees for key administration positions in a release issued Friday.

Field has previously worked as assistant inspector general for audits and inspections at the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction and as an inspector at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence‘s management reviews division.

She has also served at the Government Accountability Office, where she was a senior analyst in the international affairs and trade team and author of various GAO reports on foreign affairs, international human rights, global health policy and national security.

/
Adm. Michael Rogers: Change to US Government’s Use of Intelligence Driven by 9/11 Attacks
Published on
Adm. Michael Rogers: Change to US Government’s Use of Intelligence Driven by 9/11 Attacks


Michael Rogers
Michael Rogers

Navy Adm. Michael Rogers, U.S. Cyber Command chief and director of the National Security Agency, has said there has been a “fundamental change” in how the U.S. government utilizes and shares intelligence as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, DoD News reported Thursday.

Jim Garamone writes Rogers, also chief of the Central Security Service, gave the remarks Wednesday during a panel discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

“Never underestimate the ability of a trauma — in the shape of 9-11 — to drive fundamental change in hierarchical organizations that are usually resistant to change,” said Rogers, an inductee into Executive Mosaic’s Wash100 for 2016.

He also cited the U.S. government’s efforts to integrate the Intelligence Community with the military and law enforcement as well as the need for the government to adapt to threats posed by the Islamic State militant organization, Garamone reports.

“There is no one, single threat or methodology here — you are looking at an opponent that is using multiple methods, multiple techniques,” he added.

Navy Tests Biofuel in EA-18G Growler Aircraft
Published on
Navy Tests Biofuel in EA-18G Growler Aircraft


ea-18g-growlerThe U.S. Navy has flown a Boeing-built EA-18G Growler aircraft using fuel made from 100 percent alternative sources during an initial flight test at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland.

The military service said Friday it tested the catalytic hydrothermal conversion-to-jet fuel on the ground Aug. 30 at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Aircraft Test and Evaluation Facility before the branch conducted the flight test Sept. 1.

“This is the first time we’ve looked at a process that can produce a fuel with all the properties and chemistry of JP-5 jet fuel without having to blend with petroleum-based JP-5,” said Rick Kamin, the Naval Air Systems Command’s energy and fuels lead.

Flight test engineer Mary Picard said the CHCJ biofuel appeared transparent and the Navy did not notice any difference between the effects of alternative and petroleum-based JP-5 on aircraft performance.

Applied Research Associates and Chevron Lummus Global developed CHCJ through ARA’s process that uses the same materials as the Navy-approved Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids 50 percent biofuel blend but with a conversion method that produces a fully-synthetic fuel that does not need to be blended, the Navy noted.

The service branch noted the fuels program aligns with Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus’ energy goal to increase the use of alternative aviation fuels by 2020.

The Navy’s fuels team collaborates with various organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials in efforts to address aviation energy security and environmental sustainability through jet fuel produced from petroleum alternatives, Kamin said.

Report: USAF Seeks to Reduce Legacy Air Vehicles Through Fiscal 2021
Published on
Report: USAF Seeks to Reduce Legacy Air Vehicles Through Fiscal 2021


A-10An Avascent analysis of the U.S. Air Force‘s latest budget proposal showed the military  branch aims to retire approximately 558 legacy aircraft over the next five fiscal years, Defense News reported Sunday.

Aaron Mehta writes the Air Force looks to get rid of 232 T-38 trainers, 166 A-10 Warthogs  and 160 F-16 fighter jets through FY 2021.

The service branch also proposed to acquire 185 new F-35s, 91 QF-16 target drones and 81 MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial systems, Mehta reports.

“The age-old question is whether Congress will allow retirement of legacy aircraft, and not assuming that here,” said Doug Berenson, a managing director at Avascent, according to the report.

“We are assuming, essentially, stability in some of the legacy fleets that the Air Force would like to slim down, simply as a matter of congressional relations,” Berenson added.

/
GAO: DoD Should Monitor Timelines, Collaborate With Labor Dept on Federal Employees Compensation Concerns
Published on
GAO: DoD Should Monitor Timelines, Collaborate With Labor Dept on Federal Employees Compensation Concerns


investment money exchangeThe Government Accountability Office has recommended the Defense Department to communicate with the Labor Department and monitor Federal Employees’ Compensation Act claims-management actions timelines to identify areas in which delays may occur.

A GAO published Thursday says 47,340 DoD civilian employees covered 17 percent of FECA’s claimants in 2015 with 56 percent of the total-disability beneficiaries at or above the full Social Security Retirement age.

GAO noted 35 percent of the total beneficiaries received only medical benefits and 31 percent got cash payments for injury or death, including the 20 percent that were given partial- or total-disability benefits.

Auditors added that interviewed DoD FECA officials such as program managers, injury compensation specialists and liaisons blamed perceived delays with receipts of decisions from DOL despite having access to the latter’s data for FECA management.

DOL said that some determinations on the return of employees to work could take months to process because of the amount of information and communication required between employing agencies, injured employees and other parties.

Monitoring timelines could help DoD identify the extent of and the nature of problems that affect delays on return-to-work efforts as well as work to update the system and gather information to communicate such issues with DOL, GAO added.

/
PSC Report: Next US President Should Include Govt Service Delivery Modernization in Mgmt Agenda
Published on
PSC Report: Next US President Should Include Govt Service Delivery Modernization in Mgmt Agenda


pscThe Professional Services Council has said the next U.S. president should change the way the federal government delivers services to citizens through the use of new technologies and business models and practices.

PSC said in the report such a move can be done through data management, introduction of policies that would mandate information technology modernization, launch of cybersecurity efforts and the need to build up “speed to outcome.”

The next U.S. president should work to revamp government operations through the development of an outcome-focused management agenda and initiatives that aim to fix the country’s budget process.

The council also recommended the establishment of an engagement model that would incorporate industry ideas and platforms into the government.

“To ensure optimal competition for ideas and solutions, the federal government’s approach to acquisition must adapt to this blended market and lean heavily toward best commercial, as opposed to government-unique, practices and dynamics,” the report added.

PSC also suggested that the next administration should build up government and industry workforces through the implementation of career development models that promote mentoring programs as well as facilitate the development of leadership skills and critical thinking among employees.

/
DHS Unveils Upcoming Roadway Safety Device for First Responders
Published on
DHS Unveils Upcoming Roadway Safety Device for First Responders


DHS - ExecutiveMosaic

The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled an upcoming early-warning system that aims to minimize the risk of dangerous vehicle collisions for first responders in emergency scenes.

Applied Research Associates will develop the Automated Driver and Responder Alert System to warn approaching drivers within an emergency area, increase visual presence of first responders and provide visual, tactile and audible alerts to both responders and motorists, DHS said Wednesday.

“The objective of this effort is to seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technology into existing gear and equipment to reduce the number of responder and civilian fatalities,” said Angela Ervin, program manager of the DHS science and technology directorate’s First Responders Group.

ADRAS will work to emit an audible warning for incoming drivers to slow down and take caution then will intensify its warnings by illuminating or sounding an alarm from the responder safety vests if a vehicle does not take heed of the initial warning.

DHS tasked ARA to develop the responder safety technology in August under a two-year, $648,880 contract.

/
NIST Issues Draft Self-Assessment Tool for Cybersecurity Mgmt Efforts
Published on
NIST Issues Draft Self-Assessment Tool for Cybersecurity Mgmt Efforts


cyberThe National Institute of Standards and Technology has unveiled a self-assessment tool in a move to help organizations assess the effectiveness of their cybersecurity risk management initiatives.

NIST said Thursday the draft Baldrige Cybersecurity Excellence Builder integrates the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program‘s organizational performance evaluation strategies with the Cybersecurity Framework‘s risk management mechanisms.

The Baldrige program partnered with NIST’s applied cybersecurity division, Federal Chief Information Officer Tony Scott’s office and industry partners to develop the builder.

The tool is designed to help organizations determine cybersecurity-related activities that will support business strategy and services delivery, prioritize risk management investments, assess the results of cybersecurity efforts and identify priorities for improvement, according to NIST.

NIST added the builder will work to help users implement a process to define cybersecurity characteristics and situations of an organization as well as identify the organization’s cybersecurity methods and results achieved through those approaches.

Organizations can also use the tool’s assessment rubric to determine their cybersecurity maturity level as “reactive,” “early,” “mature,” or “role model,” the agency said.

NIST also collaborated with the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Electronic Government and Information Technology and private sector representatives to create the draft self-assessment tool.

A public comment period on the draft will be open until Dec. 15, 2016.

/
Service Chiefs Link Budget Instability to Military Readiness Gaps
Published on
Service Chiefs Link Budget Instability to Military Readiness Gaps


army stock photoThe service chiefs of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force have said budget uncertainty is one of the primary challenges to efforts to maintain military readiness, DoD News reported Thursday.

Cheryl Pellerin writes Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley appeared with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Robert Neller, commandant of the Marine Corps, before the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday to testify about their services’ budgetary challenges.

Milley told the Senate panel that the Army needs stable funding to sustain current military operations and deploy a ready ground force as well as maintain its counterinsurgency and counterterrorist capabilities, the report said.

He also requested for resources to support modernization efforts in the areas of aviation, combat vehicles, integrated air and missile defense, emerging threat initiatives and command-and-control networks.

Goldfein said that the Air Force needs to maintain budget stability to support recapitalization programs for F-35 fighter jet, KC-46 tanker and B-21 bomber aircraft in order to maintain the service branch’s technological edge, Pellerin reports.

Richardson told the Senate committee that the Navy faces three major challenges and these include high demand for naval forces, reduced resource levels and financial uncertainty driven by eight years of continuing resolutions.

Neller also testified about gaps in military readiness and budgetary concerns within the Marine Corps, according to the report.

“Current readiness shortfalls in aviation, facilities sustainment, future modernization, retention of critical skills and building the depth on our ready bench forces at home are our primary concerns,” he said.

1 … 2,473 2,474 2,475 2,476 2,477 … 2,706