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Lt. Gen. Michael Williamson: Army Acquisition Reform Focuses on Modernization
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Lt. Gen. Michael Williamson: Army Acquisition Reform Focuses on Modernization


Michael Williamson
Michael Williamson

Lt. Gen. Michael Williamson, principal military deputy to the U.S. Army acquisitions chief, has said that a “whole government” approach and an increased decision-making authority for the services will help efforts to reform defense acquisition.

He told Defense News reporter Jen Judson in an interview published Tuesday that acquisition reform plans should focus on the aspects of mission risk and timeliness to address challenges from adversaries.

Williamson said the service branch will also work on talent management programs that focus on the development of leadership skill sets, as well as on innovation that utilizes existing technologies.

“We are making very hard decisions about modernization versus modification,” he told Defense News.

“[In] some cases, because of our understanding of the threat, it will require us to implement new investment… in other cases, we will be able to take some risk and do some modernization of an existing platform to keep that capability.”

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Unisys’ Mark Forman: Hybrid Approach Key for Public Sector’s Digital Transformation
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Unisys’ Mark Forman: Hybrid Approach Key for Public Sector’s Digital Transformation


Mark-Forman
Mark Forman

Mark Forman, global head of Unisys‘ public sector business, wrote in a blog entry posted Tuesday he believes hybrid technology is an essential tool for agencies that aim to offer digital citizen services.

“Government organizations cannot ignore the new “digital” operational construct, and must define what this shift means for their operating model, programs, employees—and ultimately their citizenry,” Forman stated.

He cited a study that indicates a blend of analog and digital architectures will facilitate implementation of new business models at public sector agencies and other large organizations.

Forman has also observed many agencies experimenting with cloud computing, social, mobile and data analytics initiatives and some of them have rolled out a variety of mobile applications that he believes can make government services confusing to navigate.

“A more strategic approach is now needed as the next step to a more effective digital government model,” he added.

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Air Force Cyberspace Weapon System Reaches Full Operational Capability; Pamela Woolley Comments
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Air Force Cyberspace Weapon System Reaches Full Operational Capability; Pamela Woolley Comments


cybersecurityThe U.S. Air Force’s first cyberspace weapon system has achieved full operational capability status to function as the first line of defense for all network traffic into the service’s information network.

The Air Force Intranet Control weapon system is designed to control all external and inter-base traffic that passes through the Air Force’s network gateways, the Air Force Space Command said Tuesday.

“As the first line of defense for our network, the 26th [Network Operations Squadron] team is responsible for more than one billion firewall, Web and email blocks per week from suspicious and adversarial sources,” said Col. Pamela Woolley, 26th cyberspace operations group commander.

The weapon system comprises gateway suites, SIPRNET nodes, service delivery points and integrated management suites.

It combines all Air Force network entry points into 16 access points centrally managed by the 26th NOS team.

CSIS Urges End to Sequestration for US’ APAC Rebalance Efforts
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CSIS Urges End to Sequestration for US’ APAC Rebalance Efforts


BudgetThe Center for Strategic and International Studies believes that Congress must end sequestration budget cuts in order to fund the U.S.’ Asia-Pacific rebalance efforts, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday.

Sydney Freedberg Jr. writes that the think tank released a report in which it indicated potential U.S. vulnerabilities in satellites and electronic warfare and the potential challenge of China and North Korea to U.S. security commitments.

“Robust funding is needed at a level above the president’s budget,” CSIS said, according to the report.

“The rebalance to the Asia-Pacific will therefore require the Congress to forge a long-term bipartisan agreement to fund defense at the higher levels for which there is a broad consensus.”

CSIS also recommended increased missile defenses, a concrete rebalance strategy, a joint task force for the Pacific, training exercises and more weapon procurements, Freedberg reports.

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James Geurts: SOCOM Acquisition Officials Should Promote Innovation, ‘Own Change’
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James Geurts: SOCOM Acquisition Officials Should Promote Innovation, ‘Own Change’


James Geurts
James Geurts

James Geurts, U.S. Special Operations Command acquisition chief, has said acquisition officials at SOCOM should be more adaptable to change and promote innovation in order to respond to the needs of a “globally deployed” Special Operations Force, Defense News reported Wednesday.

“I don’t want to be surprised by change, I want to own change,” Geurts said at the Atlantic Council’s Defense-Industrial Policy Series.

Andrew Clevenger writes Geurts urged acquisition executives at SOCOM to develop business models that can quickly adapt and meet the future requirements of forces months ahead of their deployment.

Geurts also cited the need for SOCOM to hire innovators who could help address the challenges the command currently faces.

He said he believes the “crisis” of acquisition falls on the ability to attract talent.

 

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Loretta Lynch: DOJ to Initially Hire Contractors for FBI’s Gun Buyer Background Check System
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Loretta Lynch: DOJ to Initially Hire Contractors for FBI’s Gun Buyer Background Check System


Loretta Lynch
Loretta Lynch

Attorney General Loretta Lynch has said the Justice Department will initially employ contractors to immediately fill positions at the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System that works to conduct background investigations on gun purchasers, GovExec reported Wednesday.

“Because we need to move as quickly as possible, we will likely hire on a contractor basis first because that is quicker,” Lynch said at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Wednesday.

Eric Katz writes DOJ’s move is in response to President Barack Obama’s recent executive policies on gun control.

According to the executive policy, the FBI will equip its NICS section with 230 additional analysts and other personnel.

Lynch also said at the hearing that the FBI will seek a budget increase of $35 million for fiscal year 2017 to further support its recruitment efforts and expand the operating hours of NICS, according to the report.

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ACT-IAC Issues Report on National Cyber Ideation Effort; Kenneth Allen Comments
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ACT-IAC Issues Report on National Cyber Ideation Effort; Kenneth Allen Comments


CyberStockThe American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council has released the findings of its recent effort to gather feedback from industry, government and academia on how to build up the nation’s cyber posture.

That national ideation initiative received more than 120 submissions that address key topics such as cybersecurity fundamentals, business-initiated vulnerabilities, response, proactive defense, threat data sharing, cyber talent, risk management and acquisition security, ACT-IAC said Wednesday.

Kenneth Allen, ACT-IAC executive director, said the ACT-IAC hopes “that the federal chief information officer and Federal CIO Council find the report and the ideas it contains useful in framing sound cybersecurity policies and processes for the government.”

The ideation initiative followed a consultation with senior government officials regarding the types of recommendations to choose.

ACT-IAC conducted an open public platform in August and September 2015 to help individuals submit and vote on ideas.

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James Syring: MDA Eyes Kill Vehicle Test in 2018, Seeks Anti-Missile Drone Tech
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James Syring: MDA Eyes Kill Vehicle Test in 2018, Seeks Anti-Missile Drone Tech


James Syring
James Syring

Navy Vice Adm. James Syring, director of the Missile Defense Agency, has said MDA aims to begin flight tests of its modified kill vehicle in 2018 and field the platform by 2019, Space News reported Wednesday.

Mike Gruss writes the Redesigned Kill Vehicle program will serve as a technical bridge for the development of the agency’s future Multi-Object Kill Vehicle and use ideas from three contractors.

“If you can put more kill vehicles on an interceptor, the better chance you have of reducing the number of shots you need to defeat the threat,” Syring told his audience at a Center for Strategic and International Studies-hosted forum Tuesday.

MDA awarded Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon contracts worth a combined $29.3 million in August last year to develop MOKV prototypes.

Syring also noted at the CSIS event that MDA has also launched a three-year effort to mature airborne laser technology for integration into a high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle, Defense One’s Marcus Weisgerber reports.

Weisgerber writes the laser-equipped drone will be designed to soar at least 65,000 feet and intercept ballistic missile threats.

US Army Looks to DISA for ERP Migration Aid; Alfred Rivera Comments
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US Army Looks to DISA for ERP Migration Aid; Alfred Rivera Comments


ContractSigningThe U.S. Army has enlisted the help of the Defense Information Systems Agency for the service branch’s effort to migrate to new enterprise resource planning programs as part of a potential $846 million contract, C4ISR & Networks reported Tuesday.

Amber Corrin writes the Army wants to transition the general fund enterprise business system, Army enterprise systems integration program, logistics modernization program, Global Combat Support System-Army and the Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army to the Defense Enterprise Computing Center.

The Army awarded the potential five-year ERP services contract in January to 10 small businesses.

Alfred Rivera, director of DISA’s development and business center, told the publication he intends to “build a center of excellence with a core set of engineers and process folks, along with our implementation guys, that can work directly with mission partners to holistically pull these systems together into the data centers.”

“We see a big opportunity for the services to get some savings behind that, and hopefully they’ll take advantage of that as we build this ecosystem for ERPs,” Rivera told C4ISR & Networks.

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FAS: New Defense Dept Directive Aims to Address Climate Change Effects on Military
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FAS: New Defense Dept Directive Aims to Address Climate Change Effects on Military

DoD logo resizeThe Defense Department has released a new directive intended to help mitigate the impact of climate change on the U.S. military, the Federation of American Scientists reported Tuesday.

Steven Aftergood writes the directive calls for coordination between the defense undersecretary for intelligence and the director of national intelligence on the risks and effects of altered operating environments on defense intelligence programs.

“DoD must be able to adapt current and future operations to address the impacts of climate change in order to maintain an effective and efficient U.S. military,” according to the directive.

FAS says DoD noted in a 2015 report to Congress that the agency has observed “the impacts of climate change in shocks and stressors to vulnerable nations and communities, including in the United States, and in the Arctic, Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America.”

The report predicted increased environmental degradation, poverty, social tensions, ineffectual leadership and regional stability issues in a number of countries due to climate change.

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