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NASA to Install 3 New Antenna Dishes to Expand Lunar Communications Capacity
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NASA to Install 3 New Antenna Dishes to Expand Lunar Communications Capacity

NASA is working to add three new antenna dishes to its Near Space Network, which works to provide communication services for space exploration missions, including the Artemis missions to the moon.

The new antennas, called Lunar Exploration Ground Sites, or LEGS, will be placed at three locations across the globe to ensure that the moon is always in sight of one dish, thereby ensuring continuous lunar communication coverage, NASA said Monday.

The three new antennas — dubbed LEGS-1, LEGS-2 and LEGS-3 — will each be 66 feet in diameter and possess the capability to communicate using the X-band and the Ka-band.

LEGS-1 will be installed at NASA’s White Sands Complex in Las Cruces, New Mexico, while LEGS-2 will be installed at a location near Cape Town, South Africa, called Matjiesfontein. The latter is expected to be completed by 2026.

As for LEGS-3, possible locations are still being explored in Western Australia.

TJ Crooks, LEGS project manager at the Goddard Space Flight Center, explained that one of the objectives of the new antennas is to relieve the Deep Space Network of its lunar mission duties. The Deep Space Network and the Near Space Network operated in tandem to support Artemis I and will do so again for Artemis II.

“The Near Space Network and its new LEGS antennas will focus on lunar missions while allowing the Deep Space Network to support missions farther out into the solar system — like the James Webb Space Telescope and the interstellar Voyager missions,” Crooks said.

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AFRL Teams With Purdue University to Develop Solid Rocket Engine Fuels
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AFRL Teams With Purdue University to Develop Solid Rocket Engine Fuels

Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory Regional Network – Midwest and Purdue University are developing an alternative to liquid or gaseous rotating detonation engine fuels.

The team recently filed a patent disclosure for the development of solid fuels for rotating detonation rocket engines, which can pave the way for smaller engines with more efficient and powerful propulsion compared to conventional constant-pressure combustion systems, AFRL said.

According to Eric Paulson, a senior aerospace engineer at AFRL, solid propellants for rotating detonation are a fairly new technology.

“There’s a lot of work that has been done with liquids, but rotating detonation with solid fuel is a pretty new game,” he commented.

The novel propulsion system creates thrusts by instigating a continuous detonation wave to burn fuel.

Terrence Meyer, professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue, explained that the detonative combustion is supersonic, ensuring that the fuel “burns faster and burns at a higher pressure at a constant volume.”

Moreover, solid fuels, which are more stable compared to liquid or gaseous fuels, offer advantages to the military.

Steven Son, also a professor at Purdue, pointed out that solid fuels can be stored on a shelf for five years without issues. Meyer added that solids are less likely to leak and create a safety issue.

The AFRL Regional Network – Midwest is headquartered in Purdue. It is currently working with over 200 businesses and academic institutions across the Midwest region.

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Biden-Harris Administration Launches Investment Initiative to Boost Submarine, Maritime Industry Workforce in Michigan
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Biden-Harris Administration Launches Investment Initiative to Boost Submarine, Maritime Industry Workforce in Michigan

The Biden-Harris Administration has launched the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing initiative, which aims to make strategic investments in the state of Michigan in order to establish programs that will build up and train a skilled workforce for the submarine and maritime industries.

The initiative will see cooperation between the Department of Defense, state and local governments and industrial and academic organizations from within Michigan to achieve its goals and contribute to a broader national security effort to increase submarine production within the U.S., the White House said Monday.

Over $50 million in near-term investments have already been committed for the effort, including educational outreach and engagement programs in Michigan K-12 schools, the implementation of an accelerated welding and computer numerical controlled machining training program and the establishment of an attraction and recruitment campaign focusing on Michigan’s manufacturing history.

The DOD and the U.S. Navy are also in the process of incorporating into the initiative parts of their industrial workforce development programs, projects and investments.

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Bipartisan Senate Bill Seeks to Enhance Cybersecurity in Healthcare Sector
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Bipartisan Senate Bill Seeks to Enhance Cybersecurity in Healthcare Sector

Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, has collaborated with Sens. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Todd Young, R-Ind., to introduce a bill that seeks to advance cybersecurity in healthcare.

The bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services to work together to improve cybersecurity and introduce resources related to cyberthreat indicators and defense measures to non-federal organizations, King’s office said Monday.

The proposed legislation would also establish a special liaison to HHS within CISA to facilitate coordination during cybersecurity incidents.

“Healthcare cyberattacks are a growing threat nationwide, and also hit home for Maine, where several major healthcare systems have been compromised in recent years due to cybercrimes,” said King, who also serves as co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

“These attacks and breaches of data can literally mean the difference between life and death for patients, significantly impact hospital operations, and — with the average hack costing millions to address — increase healthcare prices across the board. The bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act will take important steps toward protecting patients’ data and healthcare provider capabilities, and bolstering our cybersecurity infrastructure and response,” the senator added.

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NIST to Award $70M Funding to Establish AI-Focused Manufacturing USA Institute
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NIST to Award $70M Funding to Establish AI-Focused Manufacturing USA Institute

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is soliciting concept papers from organizations interested in securing up to $70 million in funding to establish and operate a new Manufacturing USA institute focused on artificial intelligence.

The institute will be responsible for helping manufacturers integrate AI into their processes to boost productivity and increase their resilience against supply chain disruptions, NIST said Monday.

It will mainly focus on advancing technology development, creating an educated and skilled workforce, and developing shared infrastructure and facilities.

Accredited institutions of higher education; U.S.-based nonprofit and for-profit organizations with majority domestic ownership or control; and state, local, U.S. territorial and Indian tribal governments are invited to submit concept papers by Sept. 30.

The application process is split into two phases: the evaluation of concept papers and the selection of applicants qualified to submit full proposals by Jan. 23, 2025.

NIST will hold a webinar on Thursday and an in-person proposer’s day event in August to provide information about the funding opportunity.

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OCR Global Wins $98M Navy Contract for Reduced Range Ammo
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OCR Global Wins $98M Navy Contract for Reduced Range Ammo

OCR Global was selected by the U.S. Navy to supply .50 caliber reduced range ammunition under a $98.5 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.

The Department of Defense said the company will deliver Ball MK322 Mod 1 and Tracer MK321 Mod 1 ammo to the service branch, and the firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract is expected to be completed by July 2029.

Ninety percent of the project will be done in Sao Paulo, Brazil, while the remaining work will be fulfilled in McLean, Virginia, where OCR is based.

The Navy and Marine Corps will provide the funds for the procurement of the .50 caliber ammunition. The service branches will obligate approximately $3.5 million from fiscal year 2023 procurement of ammunition funds, while fiscal year 2024 allocation will be used to cover the remaining $600,000.

OCR faced competition from two other companies that also submitted their offers through the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, in Indiana is managing the contract.

OCR Global specializes in defense and space manufacturing. The company provides products, projects and services, including ammunition, life support products and law enforcement materials, to the government and military.

In July 2023, the company was named among the 11 companies the U.S. Special Operations Command awarded spots on a $750 million multiple-award contract for small-caliber ammunition products.

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Pentagon Unveils 2024 Arctic Strategy; Kathleen Hicks Quoted
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Pentagon Unveils 2024 Arctic Strategy; Kathleen Hicks Quoted

The Department of Defense has released an updated strategy outlining steps DOD will take to ensure the security and stability of the Arctic region in support of U.S. national security.

The department said Monday the 2024 DOD Arctic Strategy discusses the threats and challenges posed by China and Russia in the region and details the three key lines of effort the Pentagon will advance to improve its ability to monitor and respond to threats in the region.

DOD’s main lines of effort outlined in the strategy are enhancing its Arctic capabilities, particularly in the areas of domain awareness, communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; engaging with allies and partners to strengthen defense and deterrence in the region, establish interoperability and improve its understanding of how to operate in the region; and exercising calibrated presence in the region through regular training and routine operations.

“The Arctic region of the United States is critical to the defense of our homeland, the protection of U.S. national sovereignty, and the preservation of our defense treaty commitments,” said Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

“Our Arctic strategy will guide the Department’s efforts to ensure that the Arctic remains a secure and stable region,” added Hicks, a 2024 Wash100 awardee.

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Christine Bordine Named DIA Deputy Director; Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse Quoted
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Christine Bordine Named DIA Deputy Director; Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse Quoted

Christine Bordine, most recently deputy director of the directorate of capabilities at the National Security Agency, has been named deputy director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

She will succeed Suzanne White, who has served as deputy chief of DIA since October 2018, the agency said Monday.

Before taking on the deputy director role, White served as chief of staff and chief financial officer at DIA.

Bordine has held multiple senior leadership roles within the Department of Defense, including deputy director for intelligence at U.S. Cyber Command, as well as vice deputy director for collection management and vice principal deputy director for intelligence integration at DIA.

“We are thrilled to be joined by such a world-class leader, and we are eager to see all of the incredible things Ms. Bordine will do to support our global mission during her tenure at the agency,” said Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of DIA and a 2024 Wash100 awardee.

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GovCon Index Experienced Highs & Lows Last Week
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GovCon Index Experienced Highs & Lows Last Week

Executive Mosaic’s GovCon Index capped off the week of July 15 with a 1.43% gain even after being in the red three out of five trading sessions.

The index, which tracks the stock performances of 30 major government contractors, achieved its largest single-day gain (2.04%) and highest close ($5,105.25) on Tuesday.

GCI’s information is presented in real-time, allowing customers to understand the evolving trends shaping the GovCon market and the current position of each tracked organization.

Vast market sell-offs were the cause of GCI experiencing dips after the Monday and Tuesday gains.

Mercury Systems and four other GCI companies were the only stocks in the green on Friday. Twenty-five stocks, led by Textron and V2X, were in the red.

Check out last week’s market reports for additional information about daily GovCon Index performance. To access the complete list of tracked companies, click here.

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State Department OIG Names Kevin Young Deputy Assistant Inspector General for IT
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State Department OIG Names Kevin Young Deputy Assistant Inspector General for IT

Kevin Young recently announced on LinkedIn that has taken on the role of deputy assistant inspector general for information technology at the Department of State Office of Inspector General.

Young’s latest term at the State Department is his second with the agency, having worked there from 2013 through 2020, first as a forensic audit manager, then as director of criminal analyses, forensic audits and data analytics.

Afterward, Young moved to the Department of Education, where he worked as deputy assistant inspector general for information technology audits and computer crime investigations from 2020 through 2022, then as assistant inspector general for technology services, a position he would hold his latest appointment.

He had also been part of the U.S. Army Audit Agency. Young served in the organization for nearly two decades, from 1994 through 2013.

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