Texas Seeks Input on Small Surveillance Balloons
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Texas Seeks Input on Small Surveillance Balloons


operational-security1The Texas Department of Public Safety has kicked off search for small surveillance balloons intended to help detect drug trafficking and smuggling on the border, Valley Central reported Friday.

Dave Hendricks writes the department released a request for information in December for what it describes as light-weight and “rapidly deployable persistent surveillance systems.”

State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, expressed support for the plan, according to the report.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency currently deploys surveillance balloons over the Donna, Peñitas, Sullivan City, Roma and Falfurrias areas to watch for immigrants and drug smugglers, Valley Central reports.

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GAO: DHS Should Modify Testing, Evaluation Process for Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter Program
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GAO: DHS Should Modify Testing, Evaluation Process for Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter Program


US-Coast-Guard-cutterThe Government Accountability Office has urged the Department of Homeland Security to modify the administration process during the testing and evaluation phase of the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter program.

GAO said in a report published Wednesday the Coast Guard should work to define key performance parameters for the operation of cutter boats under the NSC program.

Auditors made the recommendations after the U.S. Navy’s Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force found 10 major defects related to the cutters’ weapons systems and other equipment during the initial tests on the NSC program in 2014.

According to GAO, DHS’ guidance on acquisition does not mention procedures that should be conducted by program offices in response to the results of follow-on tests nor the timing for such tests.

Regarding the Offshore Patrol Cutter and Fast Response Cutter programs, the Coast Guard has made changes to its initial testing schedules, competition process and other aspects of procurement, according to the report.

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Jane Jarcho Adds SEC Compliance Inspections & Examinations Deputy Director Role; Marc Wyatt Comments
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Jane Jarcho Adds SEC Compliance Inspections & Examinations Deputy Director Role; Marc Wyatt Comments


Securities and Exchange CommissionJane Jarcho, national director of the investment adviser and investment company examination program within the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations, has added the role of OCIE deputy director.

Jarcho previously served as an associate director of the investment adviser and investment company examination program at SEC’s regional office in Chicago before she was named the national director, SEC said Wednesday.

“Her deep experience with the national exam program, industry knowledge and proven managerial skills will be a tremendous asset in her new role,” said Marc Wyatt, OCIE director.

As head of the investment adviser and investment company examination program since 2013, Jarcho’s work focused on cybersecurity, unexamined investment advisers and investment companies, fixed-income and alternative mutual funds and retirement accounts.

She joined SEC in 1990 and has since held various roles such as branch chief, senior trial counsel and assistant regional director.

OCIE reviews investment advisers, investment companies, self-regulatory organizations, broker-dealers, clearing agencies and transfer agents registered with the SEC.

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Mary Davie: GSA Implements Programs to Ensure Gov’t IT Product Security
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Mary Davie: GSA Implements Programs to Ensure Gov’t IT Product Security


Mary Davie
Mary Davie

The General Services Administration has launched several efforts to manage cybersecurity of information technology products and services that vendors provide to customer agencies.

Mary Davie, assistant commissioner of the integrated technology service office at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, wrote in a blog entry posted Monday the agency will establish a supply chain risk management program office to develop SCRM guidelines and review IT Schedule 70 contracts.

“The implementation of a SCRM capability will give customers confidence that our IT products come from original equipment manufacturers, their authorized resellers, or other “trusted” sources,” Davie stated.

She added her office collaborates with GSA, the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Homeland Security to identify a cost-reimbursable contracting tool for incident response services.

Davie’s office has also introduced a project that aims to categorize cybersecurity/information assurance offerings based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology‘s Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.

GSA also works to help federal civilian agencies obtain access-control credentials through its USAccess shared service program as well as address identity management issues through the Federal Public-Key Infrastructure,  according to Davie.

She said the agency also integrated security requirements into the Alliant 2 and Alliant 2 Small Business contract vehicles and the Network Services Programs.

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AF Researchers Aim to Speed Up Search & Rescue With Imaging System; Michael Mendenhall Comments
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AF Researchers Aim to Speed Up Search & Rescue With Imaging System; Michael Mendenhall Comments


soldier-equipment-c4isrA team of researchers at the Air Force Institute of Technology has developed a prototype of a camera system designed to detect and locate individuals during surveillance, aerial search-and-rescue missions through skin detection, the Air Force reported Friday.

The multispectral camera platform works to distinguish human skin from common materials through the skin’s melanin content, Sandy Simison writes.

“Since melanin is the primary element contributing to skin’s color, it’s a valuable piece of information to extract,” said Michael Mendenhall, lead researcher at AFIT.

The research team plans to integrate mirror-like reflection that emanates from the skin with the algorithms for the camera system and consider in the future the presence of hair on the skin in an effort to improve skin color detection.

GPO Builds New Online Repository for US Gov’t Publications
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GPO Builds New Online Repository for US Gov’t Publications


websiteThe Government Publishing Office has unveiled a beta website that offers a wide range of federal government reports and other documents for public access, Fedscoop reported Wednesday.

Grayson Ullman writes govinfo.gov will replace the agency’s online Federal Digital System portal by 2017 and contains more than 1.5 million electronic government publications such as the congressional records and bills, Federal Register notices and court opinions.

The new site is designed with a mobile interface that will work to help smartphone users view and share content from the repository, Ullman reports.

GPO said it will continue to operate FDsys alongside govinfo while the latter platform is in the beta phase and seeks public input to help the agency improve the new site’s features.

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Defense News: Air Force to Cut F-35A Order in FY 2017 to 43
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Defense News: Air Force to Cut F-35A Order in FY 2017 to 43


F-35The U.S. Air Force will reduce its order of the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 jet to 43 in fiscal year 2017 due to budget concerns, Defense News reported Wednesday.

Lara Seligman writes that sources indicate the service branch’s 2017 budget request will cut five F-35As from the planned 48 aircraft purchase.

The report said Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall indicated the possibility of an F-35 procurement cut in December.

“Dollar for dollar, it probably gives us more combat capability than any other investment we’re making but we have a lot of other things that we have to do as well,” he said at the time, according to the report.

Seligman reports the Defense Department still plans to include 10 additional F-35Cs for the U.S. Navy and three extra F-35Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps in the 2017 budget.

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Report: Defense Threat Reduction Agency to Absorb JIDA By Sept. 30
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Report: Defense Threat Reduction Agency to Absorb JIDA By Sept. 30

soldier-equipment-c4isrThe Defense Department will integrate the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency into the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to comply with a provision in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, Defense News reported Tuesday.

Jen Judson writes the law calls for DoD to move JIDA under the supervision of an existing defense agency or a military department.

“The NDAA language does not change our scope, focus, customers, or mission,” Lt. Gen. Michael Shields, JIDA director, was quoted as saying by Defense News.

“JIDA’s support to the combatant commands and deployed U.S. joint forces will continue unchanged.”

Judson reports the group will operate as part of DTRA and will be known as Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization once the transition completes before the end of this fiscal year.

The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization rebranded in July 2015 as Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency in a move to better reflect the group’s counter-threat missions.

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Boeing’s Allen Adler, Corning’s Waguih Ishak Join NIST’s Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology
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Boeing’s Allen Adler, Corning’s Waguih Ishak Join NIST’s Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology


nist buildingThe National Institute of Standards and Technology has appointed Boeing‘s Allen Adler and Corning‘s Waguih Ishak to serve three-year terms as new members of its Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology.

Adler, vice president of enterprise technology strategy for Boeing, is responsible for the company’s strategic planning for technology, research and collaboration, NIST said Tuesday.

He previously served as director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency‘s tactical technology office prior to his work at Boeing.

Ishak is the VP and director of Corning West Technology Center’s science and technology division and also serves on the technical advisory boards of the University of California – San Diego, Santa Clara University and the National Research Council of Canada.

He previously worked for Avago Technologies, Agilent Labs and Hewlett-Packard Labs before he joined Corning.

NIST VCAT is responsible for the review of NIST’s policies, organization, budget and programs.

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Navy Unveils Mobile App to Provide Credentialing, Career Development Info
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Navy Unveils Mobile App to Provide Credentialing, Career Development Info


mobileThe U.S. Naval Education and Training Command has launched a new mobile application designed to provide uniformed personnel information on career development, credentialing and civilian career opportunities, the Navy reported Jan. 28.

The Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online mobile app was launched Thursday by NETC and is available for use on both iOS and Android-based mobile devices.

“This new app provides an expanded capability for sailors to help them translate the skills they’ve learned on the job into civilian credentials, career growth opportunities and related civilian occupations,” said Keith Boring, Navy COOL program manager.

The Navy COOL app has several tools, including Learning and Development Roadmaps to sailors’ career advancement, U.S. Military Apprenticeship Program trades and Rating Information Cards.

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