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NASA Ends NEOWISE Operation, Sets Stage for Larger Asteroid Discovery
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NASA Ends NEOWISE Operation, Sets Stage for Larger Asteroid Discovery

NASA has concluded its Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer—a.k.a. NEOWISE—mission after more than a decade of scanning for asteroids and comets in space.

On Thursday, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California sent the last command for NEOWISE to switch off its transmitter, thus decommissioning the survey spacecraft, the space agency said.

NASA launched the space telescope as the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission in December 2009 to scan the infrared sky for seven months.

Under a new name, the agency extended the NEOWISE mission through February 2011 to explore the main belt asteroids before putting the spacecraft into hibernation.

NASA then reactivated the mission in 2013 under the Near-Earth Object Observations Program to survey asteroids and comets, which could be hazardous to Earth.

Throughout its more than 14 years of operation, NEOWISE detected 215 near-Earth objects and discovered 25 new comets, the agency noted.

The decommissioned NEOWISE will continue to drop toward Earth and will safely burn up in the atmosphere in late 2024.

According to Nicola Fox, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, the completed NEOWISE mission paved the way for a next-generation planetary defense telescope—the Near-Earth Object Surveyor.

BAE Systems said the NEO Surveyor is designed to discover and characterize asteroids and comets larger than 460 feet, adding that it will provide the spacecraft, the sunshade system, deployable aperture cover and the cryogenic thermomechanical components for the mission.

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Final Demo Set on NRL’s Computer-Based Vision System to Boost Battlefield Awareness in Littoral Environments
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Final Demo Set on NRL’s Computer-Based Vision System to Boost Battlefield Awareness in Littoral Environments

The LittoralLens imaging system that the Naval Research Laboratory developed to help boost situational awareness in shoreline environments is scheduled for final concept demonstration in August.

Showcased in the recent Modern Day Marine Expo in Washington, D.C., the computer-based vision system’s capabilities include automated littoral surface water velocity measurements to support decision-making on tactical maneuvers from the sea, the NRL said.

LittoralLens is single-person-portable and provides a point-and-shoot, computer-vision operation using an NRL-patented tracking velocimetry algorithm.

“The LittoralLens system automatically estimates surf zone statistics via custom-developed stereo reconstruction and geo-registration algorithms integrated with feature tracking routines,” said Carlo Zuniga-Zamalloa, NRL lead algorithm developer and LittoralLens co-inventor.

The U.S. Marines Corps requested the littoral imaging system through the Office of Naval Research-Global TechSolutions Program designed for rapid response to prototyping solutions of problems that Sailors and Marines have identified.

LittoralLens has been lab-tested at the University of Iowa Wave Basin Facility and the Littoral Warfare Environment at U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, followed by field tests near Camp Pendleton in California.

The system’s final concept demo in August is set at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California.

U.S. Navy delegates with extensive combat and training experience will participate in the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Navy Summit on Aug.15. Reserve a spot now to learn about their insights and gather ideas from DOD officials and government contractors also in attendance. 

Final Demo Set on NRL's Computer-Based Vision System to Boost Battlefield Awareness in Littoral Environments
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Col. Scott Ruppel Appointed Director of DAF-MIT AI Accelerator
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Col. Scott Ruppel Appointed Director of DAF-MIT AI Accelerator

Colonel Scott Ruppel has been selected as the new director of the Department of Air Force-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, or DAF-MIT AIA.

The DAF AI Accelerator said Wednesday Ruppel highlighted the importance of future collaborations to the success of the program. He also shared that one of his goals as director of the program is to empower the Airmen along with partners like MIT and other institutions to continue the fundamental research on pioneering technologies.

Aside from MIT, the AI Accelerator will partner with other universities, small businesses, traditional defense and non-traditional commercial ventures in ensuring the ethical use of AI technologies to benefit the nation.

As director, Ruppel will guide the DAF-MIT partnership in attaining its main mission of producing an end-to-end and sustainable pipeline for AI technology that will help strengthen the country’s defense and civilian sectors.

The Air Force veteran expressed his deep honor in leading the team at MIT with the goal of developing cutting-edge research and innovation. “Our collaborations with MIT and Lincoln Laboratory are vital. Together, we will leverage AI to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time and find solutions for our Airmen and Guardians.”

“My journey has always been fueled by a passion for leading smart and talented Airmen and channeling their transformative potential into better operational outcomes,” Ruppel said. “At the DAF-MIT AI Accelerator, we have a unique opportunity to push the boundaries of AI research and application and shape the future.”

Prior to his new leadership role, Ruppel served as defense resource manager for the Joint Staff. He was also materiel leader of the F35 Production Execution Program Manager and commander of the 58 Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

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FCC Holds Public Consultation on Proposed Robocall, Robotext Rules
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FCC Holds Public Consultation on Proposed Robocall, Robotext Rules

The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comments on its proposed rules that would protect consumers from unwanted and illegal telephone calls and texts generated by artificial intelligence.

A notice of proposed rulemaking, adopted at a recent commissioners meeting, would require the people behind robocalls and robotexts to disclose to consumers that AI technologies are used to resemble human voice or generate call and message content, the FCC said Thursday.

According to the agency, it is seeking comments to ensure the rules keep pace with the fast-developing changes in AI technologies and do not hinder the potential benefits that AI technologies can offer, including making telecommunications more readily accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Feedback on the proposed rulemaking will be accepted within 30 days following its publication in the Federal Register.

The agency made the proposal amid increasing complaints regarding robocalls and robotexts.

Earlier in 2024, residents in New Hampshire received AI-generated pre-recorded voice calls impersonating President Joe Biden, urging them to abstain from voting. Following the incident, the FCC proposed a $2 million fine on the telecom carrier that distributed the calls and a $6 million fine on the party responsible for the scam calls.

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CISA’s Matt House Discusses CDM Shift Toward Cloud
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CISA’s Matt House Discusses CDM Shift Toward Cloud

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency‘s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program has historically focused on monitoring network cyber threats but is now turning its attention to cloud computing services, although according to CDM Program Manager Matt House, the shift is not without it challenges, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

House said during a recent episode of the Ask the CIO podcast that CDM’s cybersecurity tools are not directly applicable to platform-as-a-service and software-as-a-service.

The CISA official noted, however, that infrastructure-as-a-service is “a logical, if not, concrete extension of what we’re doing for traditional assets,” so CDM will begin working on that and then apply lessons learned to PaaS and SaaS.

House also said that existing CDM tools “are often evolving right in place” and possess “a lot of richness that we can still tap.” So, although different cloud subclasses may require the use of varying tools and capabilities, tapping into or augmenting existing ones may be preferable to developing new solutions from scratch.

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Gen. Stephen Whiting: Missile Defeat Effects, Space Fires Among SPACECOM’s Key Priority Investments
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Gen. Stephen Whiting: Missile Defeat Effects, Space Fires Among SPACECOM’s Key Priority Investments

Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, said missile defeat effects, space fires, assured telemetry, tracking and commanding architecture and space systems cyber defense capabilities are some of SPACECOM’s key priority investment areas cited in its fiscal year 2027 Integrated Priority List, the command reported Thursday.

“Missile Defeat Effects will significantly enhance our ability to defeat trans-regional ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missile threats, as well as air-launched or ground-launched, direct ascent threats,” Whiting said Tuesday during his speech at a symposium in Huntsville, Alabama.

“Missile Defeat Effects involve new and innovative approaches, across all domains, which evolve beyond point solutions and one versus one missile interceptors. The services and the Missile Defense Agency are all actively working on ways to defeat an ever-increasing myriad of threats,” he added.

The general also mentioned some of his priorities for 2040 and beyond, including the need to sustain maneuver through dynamic space operations technologies and the development and deployment of a multilayered missile defense architecture.

“Dynamic Space Operations is based on the idea that, in a future fight, some of our assets in space must be able to do what our terrestrial assets do all the time—maneuver and sustain themselves,” Whiting said.

”Doing so will allow our space-based capabilities to execute their mission until the objectives are met, not until they run out of the gas they launched with,” the commander noted.

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HHS Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Regulation Change on Health IT Procurement
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HHS Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Regulation Change on Health IT Procurement

The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing a rule that would update requirements under the Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation — a.k.a. HHSAR — concerning the procurement of health IT.

The proposed rule would align the health IT procurement requirements with the standards and implementation specifications that the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology adopted under section 3004 of the Public Health Service Act, in line with relevant provisions within the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, according to a notice posted Friday on the Federal Register.

Specifically, the proposal adds a new subpart to HHSAR Part 339, which offers definitions and policy concerning health information technology. The subpart also prescribes a new clause, as articulated in a revision of HHSAR Part 352, implementing the requirements of the HITECH Act regarding the procurement of health IT and the use of such technologies in contracts and agreements with healthcare providers, health plans or health insurance issuers.

These changes seek to put into effect policies put forward by the secretary of health and human services that seek to ensure the effective use of health IT systems as well as their interoperability.

HHS is calling on the public to provide feedback on the changes to the HHSAR. Interested parties have until Oct. 8 to comment.

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DIU Offers Opportunities for GSA Industry Partners to Develop Tech Platforms for National Security Applications
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DIU Offers Opportunities for GSA Industry Partners to Develop Tech Platforms for National Security Applications

The General Services Administration has released a document informing GSA industry partners that they can participate in the Defense Innovation Unit’s competitive Commercial Solutions Opening process and contribute modernized platforms to support warfighters and help address critical national security challenges.

GSA said Thursday DIU not only focuses on prototyping efforts but also provides companies an opportunity to demonstrate the “uniqueness and novelty” and applicability of their tech platforms to meet defense requirements.

According to the agency, there are four potential pathways that could be pursued by DIU commercial prototype partners.

The pathways are developing partnership agreements as subcontractors or through joint ventures with companies on GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule—or MAS—program; securing reseller agreements with companies on MAS programs; considering GSA’s governmentwide acquisition contracts during the program’s open periods; and pursuing and possibly obtaining a GSA MAS contract.

NobleReach Unveils Inaugural Scholars Cohort
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NobleReach Unveils Inaugural Scholars Cohort

The NobleReach Foundation has unveiled an inaugural cohort of 19 professionals who have earned competitive placement at various public and private sector entities.

The NobleReach Scholars will serve in fully compensated roles while gaining knowledge in five primary areas, namely, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity, business process innovation and materials manufacturing, the nonprofit organization announced Wednesday.

Arun Gupta, NobleReach CEO, said, “The scholars program aims to inspire a lifelong passion for public service among tomorrow’s leading technologists, scientists and entrepreneurs at the beginning of their careers.”

“Wherever their journeys take them – to government, the private sector or academia – NobleReach Scholars will always be part of a community united in their dedication to driving positive entrepreneurial change for societal impact,” Gupta added.

Chosen among hundreds of candidates from 90 universities globally, NobleReach scholars have now been placed at eight federal agencies or industry organizations like Anduril and Ozark, working on programs related to national defense, economy, climate and health.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency and a 2024 Wash100 recipient, said the nation must put the young minds of today in operational environments so they can address the challenges of tomorrow.

“The NobleReach Scholars program places incredibly talented young professionals alongside government employees to grow the future workforce needed to maintain the United States’ global advantage,” Easterly stated.

NobleReach Scholars will receive mentorship from government and commercial leaders and multidisciplinary programming from goal-oriented industry partners.

Gen. John Raymond, chief of space operations at the U.S. Air Force and a 2022 Wash100 awardee, said, “The NobleReach Scholars program places incredibly talented young professionals alongside government employees to grow the future workforce needed to maintain the United States’ global advantage.”

Applications for the 2025 NobleReach Scholars program will open on Sept. 30.

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William LaPlante: Competitive Advantage Pathfinders Could Help DOD Maintain Military Superiority
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William LaPlante: Competitive Advantage Pathfinders Could Help DOD Maintain Military Superiority

William LaPlante, under secretary for acquisition and sustainment at the Department of Defense and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, said advancing the use of the Competitive Advantage Pathfinders, or CAP, process could enable DOD to accelerate the transition of defense capabilities to program-of-record status and into the production phase.

In a commentary published Wednesday in National Defense Magazine, LaPlante wrote that his office runs the CAP process under the newly established Acquisition Integration and Interoperability Office.

“The goal is to flip the equation on process improvement: identify technology potentially useful to multiple military services stuck somewhere in or among the stool/triangle’s three legs,” he noted.

According to the defense acquisition executive, CAPs could help speed up capability development and bridge the “valley of death” by “getting representatives — and buy-in — from the resources, requirements and acquisition communities (the legs of the stool/triangle) together to address whatever might be the cause of the delay, be it funding, contract rules or inter-service concurrence.”

“Having resolved one issue, they move onto the next challenge,” LaPlante added.

In this article, the defense under secretary discussed how the CAP process could enable a service branch to adapt and transition a capability to another military branch without requiring a new budget cycle or program.

“Through CAPs, we can vastly accelerate these processes, turning what was a lethal valley into a flatter — though still bumpy — plain, and thus help secure military advantage for the next generation,” LaPlante stated.

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