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Government Technology/News
Jeh Johnson Describes DHS Involvement in White House Cyber Plan
by Jane Edwards
Published on February 17, 2016
Jeh Johnson Describes DHS Involvement in White House Cyber Plan


Jeh Johnson
Jeh Johnson

Jeh Johnson, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has said that DHS will be involved in every initiative of the Cybersecurity National Action Plan that President Barack Obama introduced on Feb. 9, FierceGovernment IT reported Tuesday.

Johnson said in a Feb. 11 speech at the Wilson Center in Washington that such initiatives include efforts to bolster investments in cyber technology platforms and set up a Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity.

Molly Bernhart Walker writes Johnson noted that the department will work to help federal agencies implement the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation and Einstein 3A programs that aim to protect networks from cyber threats.

He also mentioned the plan to increase the number of cybersecurity advisers and teams that are tasked to respond to cyber attacks, according to the report.

Acquisition & Procurement/News
Heidi Grant: Air Force Sees Demand for C2 Systems Among US Allies
by Jane Edwards
Published on February 17, 2016
Heidi Grant: Air Force Sees Demand for C2 Systems Among US Allies


Heidi Grant
Heidi Grant

Heidi Grant, deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force for international affairs, has said U.S. allies and international partners are in need of command-and-control platforms for use in high-end fight and humanitarian response missions, Defense News reported Monday.

Grant told Defense News reporter Vago Muradian in an interview that there is also a demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities among allies.

She discussed the service branch’s efforts to reform the arms export process especially in the foreign military sale of fighter jets such as F-15 and F-18 aircraft.

“We’re looking at how can we speed up the process, how can we make it more affordable for our partners,” Grant said.

“We’re trying to work to get these policies in place to allow the export and allow our partners to be capable in the coalition.”

Grant also tackled United Arab Emirates’ partnership with the U.S. that stemmed from the former’s purchase of F-16 fighter planes as well as its efforts against the Islamic State militant organization as part of a U.S.-led coalition.

Civilian/News
FBI Unveils New Redstone Arsenal Hub for Terrorist IED Analysis
by Mary-Louise Hoffman
Published on February 17, 2016
FBI Unveils New Redstone Arsenal Hub for Terrorist IED Analysis


FBIThe FBI has moved a government repository for improvised explosive devices from the bureau’s laboratory in Quantico, Virginia to a new facility at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.

FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Larry Wyche cut a ribbon to inaugurate the opening of the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center Tuesday at the Redstone military base, the bureau said Tuesday.

“TEDAC links IEDs to the bomb makers, recognizes trends in how those bombs are being constructed and with what materials,” Comey noted.

TEDAC has analyzed more than 105,000 IEDs and provided relevant data to military, intelligence and law enforcement organizations globally since its inception in 2003.

The FBI established the center in partnership with 29 other agencies, including the departments of the Defense and Homeland Security.

DoD/News
Scott Kindsvater Selected to US Intell Leadership Role in Anti-Islamic State Group Campaign
by Jay Clemens
Published on February 17, 2016
Scott Kindsvater Selected to US Intell Leadership Role in Anti-Islamic State Group Campaign


Scott Kindsvater
Scott Kindsvater

Brig. Gen. Scott Kindsvater, assistant deputy commander for U.S. Air Forces Central Command, has been named deputy commander for operations and intelligence with the unit tasked to combat the Islamic State militant group, Air Force Times reported Tuesday.

Stephen Losey writes Kindsvater will also have command of the 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force-Levant of Air Combat Command in Southwest Asia besides his new leadership role on Operation Inherent Resolve.

Kindsvater is in line for a promotion to the rank of major general, according to the report.

He also currently serves as assistant vice commander of the 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force for ACC at Shaw Air Force Base and was commander of the 82nd Training Wing at Sheppard AFB prior to his current role.

He previously commanded the 336th Fighter Squadron, the Air Force Weapons School and the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing.

Brig. Gen. Andrew Toth, commander of the Pacific Air Forces’ 36th Wing at Guam-based Andersen Air Force Base, will succeed Kindsvater, Losey reports.

Government Technology/News
Adm. John Richardson Eyes Information Warfare Tech for Future Navy Warships
by Mary-Louise Hoffman
Published on February 17, 2016
Adm. John Richardson Eyes Information Warfare Tech for Future Navy Warships


John Richardson
John Richardson

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson has said he wants the U.S. Navy‘s future warships to have a modular system design and technology that can support cyber and electronic warfare operations, Breaking Defense reported Friday.

“That platform may last the life of a traditional ship, 25 to 30 years… but we have to make it very much more modular or adaptable to improving technologies,” Richardson was quoted as saying.

He told reporters Monday that he also looks forward to exercising greater oversight of acquisition programs at the Navy in accordance with authority granted under the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act.

Richardson is working with the Defense Department and Congress to identify an approach for the Navy to eliminate bureaucratic acquisition practices and accelerate the process, according to the report.

He added the Navy aims to formalize a system for training its program managers.

Government Technology/News
Reports: ‘Zero Days’ Documentary Highlights US Cyber Strategy Against Iran’s Nuclear Program
by Mary-Louise Hoffman
Published on February 17, 2016
Reports: ‘Zero Days’ Documentary Highlights US Cyber Strategy Against Iran’s Nuclear Program


cyber

A documentary film called “Zero Days” claims that the U.S. has devised a contingency plan to disable Iranian nuclear infrastructure with offensive cyber tools on short notice, Buzz Feed reported Tuesday.

James Ball writes the film, directed by Alex Gibney, reveals a joint U.S.-Israel effort to create the Stuxnet malicious computer worm that allegedly destroyed centrifuges at a uranium enrichment site in Natanz, Iran, as part of U.S.’ broader Nitro Zeus cyber operations.

The U.S. and Israel could independently access the virus’ source code and also used intelligence from British spy agency GCHQ to deploy the worm, the report said.

Buzz Feed saw the documentary ahead of its premiere Wednesday at the Berlin Film Festival and was offered access to some reporting and research materials used in film’s production, Ball noted.

The New York Times reports the U.S.’ Nitro Zeus strategy is aimed at Iranian power grid, communications and air defense assets and created after the signing of a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers last summer.

The Obama administration aims to ensure that the country has alternative strategy if the diplomatic effort fails to curb Iran’s nuclear development program, according to the story by David Sanger and Mark Mazzetti.

Sanger and Mazzetti write the U.S. military formulates contingency plans for possible conflicts triggered by regional attacks or rebellions.

Government Technology/News
DARPA Test-Flies Autonomous Quadcopter Platform
by Mary-Louise Hoffman
Published on February 16, 2016
DARPA Test-Flies Autonomous Quadcopter Platform

DARPA QuadropterA team of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency researchers has flown a new multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle to gather data about its capabilities as part of the agency’s Fast Lightweight Autonomy program.

DARPA said Friday it is exploring algorithms under the program in an effort to reduce the amount of UAV processing power, communications and required human intervention as well as to enable small UAV navigation in complex indoor environments.

The agency built an FLA quadcopter drone using a DJI Flamewheel 450 airframe, 12-inch E600 propellers, and a 3DR Pixhawk autopilot module.

The platform – equipped with onboard cameras, a LIDAR, a sonar and inertial measurement units —  flew at an airspeed of 20 meters per second during a flight test held at the Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts.

It also recognized and maneuvered around obstacles autonomously at a slow speed, DARPA noted.

DARPA chose a Draper-Massachusetts Institute of Technology alliance, the University of Pennsylvania and a Scientific Systems–AeroVironment partnership to help build FLA algorithms.

“The challenge for the teams now is to advance the algorithms and onboard computational efficiency to extend the UAVs’ perception range and compensate for the vehicles’ mass to make extremely tight turns and abrupt maneuvers at high speeds,” said Mark Micire, a DARPA program manager.

Acquisition & Procurement/News
DoD Seeks to Raise Awareness on Independent R&D Projects With Proposed Amendment
by Jane Edwards
Published on February 16, 2016
DoD Seeks to Raise Awareness on Independent R&D Projects With Proposed Amendment


research and development RDThe Defense Department has proposed an amendment to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement in an effort to require defense contractors to communicate proposed independent research and development projects to DoD personnel.

DoD said in a notice posted Tuesday on Federal Register the proposed rule aims to increase awareness on the relevance of and opportunities that IR&D investments offer to military personnel.

According to the notice, the government reimburses such investments made by defense companies as allowable costs.

Defense contractors will also be required to inform DoD staff about the outcomes of completed IR&D projects under the proposed rule.

Comments to the proposed rule are due April 18, according to the notice.

Government Technology/News
Ball Aerospace Integrates Northrop Microwave Sounder to Complete NOAA JPSS Satellite
by Ramona Adams
Published on February 16, 2016
Ball Aerospace Integrates Northrop Microwave Sounder to Complete NOAA JPSS Satellite


JPSSThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Joint Polar Satellite System nears its launch after the integration of the fifth and final instrument – Northrop Grumman’s Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder.

NOAA said Thursday JPSS-1 moves closer to its early 2017 launch following ATMS integration.

“Soon, the spacecraft will be prepared for the environmental testing phase which is the next step toward launch,” said JPSS Director Harry Cikanek.

The agency said ATMS will work to predict weather between three and seven days in advance.

NOAA added the instrument aims to give an inside view of clouds, hurricanes and other storms and to provide rainfall rates and snow and ice information.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies serves as the integrator of the JPSS-1 instruments and completed the integration of the first four instruments in April 2015.

Civilian/News
Charles Armstrong Retires as CBP CIO, Led Cloud Transition Effort
by Jay Clemens
Published on February 16, 2016
Charles Armstrong Retires as CBP CIO, Led Cloud Transition Effort


cloudCharles Armstrong has departed the role of chief information officer for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, Fedscoop reported Friday.

Greg Otto writes Armstrong aided the CBP in its effort to transition its applications to the cloud during his seven-year CIO tenure.

Armstrong was previously the assistant commissioner within CBP’s Office of Information and Technology.

Prior to CBP, he served as deputy CIO at the Department of Homeland Security and as a software developer for the U.S. Navy, according to the report.

Phil Landfried will succeed Armstrong as acting CIO, Fedscoop reports.

Armstrong’s retirement follows the departure of Hari Bezwada from government service as CIO of the Army program executive office for information enterprise systems, Federal News Radio reported Monday.

Bezwada previously served as information technology director for the Defense Department’s Pentagon Renovation project, where he was responsible for the modernization of several IT disciplines, Jason Miller reports.

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