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GAO: Census Bureau Lacks Processes to Manage Interdependencies Between CEDCAP, 2020 Decennial Census Programs
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GAO: Census Bureau Lacks Processes to Manage Interdependencies Between CEDCAP, 2020 Decennial Census Programs


U.S. Census Bureau logoThe Government Accountability Office has found that the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau lacks certain procedures to handle interdependencies between the Census Enterprise Data Collection and Processing program and the 2020 Decennial Census initiative.

GAO said in a report released Thursday the bureau has failed to implement a single dependency schedule and does not have a combined list of risks for both CEDCAP and 2020 Census programs.

According to the report, the 2020 Census project relies on the CEDCAP program, which aims to provide systems designed to support the bureau’s efforts to redesign the way it counts the U.S. population.

GAO cited that the Census Bureau does not have defined requirements to validate responses from people that use their addresses to respond to surveys.

The bureau also faces a number of data security challenges related to the implementation of the 2020 Decennial Census initiative, including the risk of phishing attacks associated with the use of internet by respondents and security risks linked to the use of mobile devices by enumerators in data collection, according to the report.

“Officials have acknowledged these weaknesses and reported that they are taking, or plan to take, steps to address the issues,” the congressional audit agency noted.

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Sputnik News: Russia Develops New Hypersonic Glide Vehicles
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Sputnik News: Russia Develops New Hypersonic Glide Vehicles


MissileDefenseRussia has developed new Yu-74 hypersonic glide vehicles in the past few years, Sputnik News reported Saturday.

Ostkraft.ru said Russia has tested an experimental Yu-74 glider aboard the intercontinental-range RS-18A ballistic missile system this year.

The Yu-74 gliders work to accommodate nuclear warheads, electronic warfare features or false target simulators and are developed for deployment onto Russia’s RS-28 Sarmat liquid-propelled intercontinental ballistic missiles to support the country’s army, Sputnik News said.

The report further noted Sarmat ballistic missiles are designed to carry approximately 24 nuclear-loaded Yu-74 gliders to engage targets within 6.2 thousand mile radius in one hour.

Russia tested Yu-71 weapons last year which are said to reach up to 7,000 miles per hour as part of a classified missile program named “Project 4202,” the report added.

GAO Calls for Revision of US Navy Frigate Acquisition Strategy
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GAO Calls for Revision of US Navy Frigate Acquisition Strategy


Littoral Combat ShipThe Government Accountability Office has called on Congress to require the U.S. Navy to change the way the service buys frigates and hold funds for Littoral Combat Ship acquisitions in fiscal year 2017.

GAO said Thursday that it also wants the Defense Department to demand reviews prior to acquisition decisions and step up oversight through a mandatory development of documents and reports for the frigate program.

After a study on alternatives meant to address the LCS program’s lethality and survivability shortfalls, the Navy reported compromises in the modifications made to both LCS variants in keeping with the service’s requirements.

GAO also concluded that the Navy’s 2014 plan to acquire both LCS variants will not result in improved capability in certain areas of the program.

“Industrial base considerations that have factored into prior LCS decisions are less compelling, as both yards will be building LCS currently under contract through fiscal year 2021,” GAO said in the report.

“As the Navy pivots from LCS to the frigate program, which is estimated to cost more than $8 billion for ship construction alone, its approach would require Congress to appropriate funding with key unknowns.”

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GAO Reports Decline in DoD’s $20M+ Sole-Source Contracts to Small Biz
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GAO Reports Decline in DoD’s $20M+ Sole-Source Contracts to Small Biz


GAOA Government Accountability Office report indicates a decline in the Defense Department’s sole-source contracts worth more than $20 million that are awarded to small businesses under the 8(a) program.

The number of DoD 8(a) sole-source contract awards began to drop below 20 in 2011 upon the implementation of a new Federal Acquisition Regulation requirement for a written justification for sole-source contracts, GAO said Wednesday.

That number dropped to just two between September 2014 and the end of fiscal year 2015, the agency noted.

DOD contracting officials attributed the decline to competitive acquisition processes and budget cuts, according to GAO.

GAO added the number of competed 8(a) contracts over $20 million started to rise in 2014 to approximately 120 from below 100 in 2013 and the number of competed 8(a) contracts awarded to tribal companies grew since the justification’s implementation in 2011.

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Matthew Barrett: NIST to Update Cyber Framework, Eyes Initial Draft for Early 2017
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Matthew Barrett: NIST to Update Cyber Framework, Eyes Initial Draft for Early 2017


cyber-hack-network-computerThe National Institutes of Standards and Technology will update its cybersecurity framework in an effort to address feedback from its users and aims to publish an initial draft for comment in early 2017.

NIST said Thursday it will work to address requests from customer feedback that asks the agency to publish a governance process that outlines the framework maintenance process, serve as convener of framework stakeholders and continue framework outreach.

“We are working from all of the feedback we’ve received since the framework was published on its use, best practices, outreach, prospective updates and governance,” said Matthew Barrett, NIST Cybersecurity Framework program manager.

NIST developed the “Framework for Improving the Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity” to provide voluntary cybersecurity guidance and work to boost the security of the country’s infrastructure, the agency said.

The agency added it plans to analyze references in the document to update any outdated information and clarify the framework’s Implementation Tiers mechanism designed to help organization gauge its approach to cybersecurity risk management.

US Army Redesigns Career Tracker Tool for Soldiers; Jeffrey Colimon Comments
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US Army Redesigns Career Tracker Tool for Soldiers; Jeffrey Colimon Comments


websiteThe U.S. Army has redesigned its career management portal in a move to help soldiers, officers and Army civilians explore career opportunities according to their military skills, Army Times reported Thursday.

Michelle Tan writes the updated Army Career Tracker site works to help soldiers monitor their progress and career development, find educational and training resources, establish goals, receive advice from mentors and join training courses.

Jeffrey Colimon, the Army Career Tracker functional program manager, said the redesigned portal features an Army sponsorship program that links soldiers set for a change of station to a sponsor at the new designated unit, the publication reports.

The site has more than 670,000 enlisted, 135,000 officers and warrants and nearly 200,000 Army civilian users as of May 27 and collects information from 14 different Army systems such as training opportunities and education requirements into a single place, according to the report.

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DoD’s Assistive Tech Center Marks 20-Year Anniversary; Stephen King Comments
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DoD’s Assistive Tech Center Marks 20-Year Anniversary; Stephen King Comments


computer-technologyThe technology and evaluation center of the Defense Department’s Computer/Electronics Accommodations Program has reached its 20th year of providing assistive technologies to individuals looking to address accessibility challenges.

CAPTEC is the federal government’s centrally funded accommodation program and the largest assistive technology initiative worldwide, DoD said Thursday.

“The accommodation solutions provided by the Department of Defense through CAP remove barriers for employees with disabilities and service members, promote inclusion and increase productivity,” said Stephen King, director of CAPTEC.

“Matching tools to an individual’s job requirements and limitations, and giving that individual the opportunity to try the tools on the spot, allows them to maximize their capabilities,” added Mike Young, manager of CAPTEC.

The value of assistive technologies DoD has provided to non-defense agencies since 2000 have reached more than $21 million.

Army Org Conducts Preclinical Research on Zika Vaccine Candidate
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Army Org Conducts Preclinical Research on Zika Vaccine Candidate


medical health doctorThe Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and partners at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have conducted preclinical research on a vaccine candidate to potentially prevent the Zika virus in humans, the Defense Department news service reported Thursday.

Cheryl Pellerin writes the U.S. Army research organization plans to commence human testing within the year and will utilize its Pilot Bioproduction Facility that develops cures for various DOD mission-related disease threats and manufactures clinical-grade material.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention monitors Zika virus transmission and activity in 39 countries and territories in the Americas as well as locations in Oceania, the Pacific Islands and Cape Verde.

“We are working on a type of vaccine that the Food and Drug Administration has seen before and has licensed before,” said Col. Stephen Thomas, Zika program lead.

“It’s the same [cell-based] technology we used to develop the Japanese encephalitis vaccine.”

Pellerin added WRAIR currently works with the Department of Health and Human Services‘ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and other U.S. government agencies to develop the vaccine.

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Air Force Maj. Gen. Lind Urrutia-Varhall Assigned to NGA as Operations Director
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Air Force Maj. Gen. Lind Urrutia-Varhall Assigned to NGA as Operations Director


Maj. Gen. Linda R Urrutia-Varhall
Maj. Gen. Linda R Urrutia-Varhall

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Linda Urrutia-Varhall — former assistant deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in the Pentagon — has been assigned to a new role as director of operations for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

The 32-year Air Force veteran is a former director of intelligence of the U.S. Southern Command and senior executive officer to National Intelligence Director James Clapper, NGA said Thursday.

Urrutia-Varhall also acted as Clapper’s senior military assistant during his tenure as defense undersecretary for intelligence.

“I have worked with [Urrutia-Varhall] before and know she brings remarkable skill and experience to this important position,” NGA Director Robert Cardillo said.

“She knows the intelligence community and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations from the flight line to the Pentagon,” he stated.

Her career includes service in command and staff positions in South Korea and Europe.

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DoD’s Top Leaders Discuss Military Cooperation With Sweden, Montenegro Defense Ministers
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DoD’s Top Leaders Discuss Military Cooperation With Sweden, Montenegro Defense Ministers


Ashton Carter
Ashton Carter

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work have discussed security issues and potential points of military cooperation with Peter Hultqvist and Milica Pejanovic-Djurisic, respective defense ministers for Sweden and Montenegro.

Hultqvist visited the Pentagon to sign a statement of intent alongside Carter and Work to build on the defense cooperation between U.S. and Sweden, the Defense Department‘s news service reported Wednesday.

Carter said the statement of intent aims to support stability and unity in the Nordic region, according to DoD Press Secretary Peter Cook.

Robert Work
Robert Work

Work met separately with Hultqvist to discuss defense cooperation, deterrence of Russia’s behavior, counterterrorism efforts against the Islamic State, the Third Offset Strategy and NATO initiatives, Cook added.

Montenegro’s Defense Minister Milica Pejanovic-Djurisic also visited the Pentagon to meet with Work and talk about defense cooperation and security challenges, DoD said in a separate notice.

Work commended Montenegro’s contributions to NATO missions and operations in Afghanistan, Work’s spokeswoman said.

The deputy defense secretary also congratulated Pejanovic-Djurisic on Montenegro’s signature of its accession protocol that awaits ratification by 28 NATO allies, DoD noted.

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