/
DOD Releases Framework to Improve Hiring, Retention of Acquisition & Sustainment Professionals
Published on
DOD Releases Framework to Improve Hiring, Retention of Acquisition & Sustainment Professionals

The Department of Defense has released a framework outlining four key pillars to improve the recruitment, training and retention of acquisition and sustainment professionals.

The 2024 Acquisition and Sustainment Workforce Framework focuses on enabling acquisition innovation, making DOD an employer of choice, enhancing talent development in the acquisition ecosystem and continuously improving workforce policies and programs.

Each pillar aims to align the Pentagon’s existing human capital efforts with the National Defense Strategy and includes initiatives prioritized by acquisitions and sustainment leadership that will be measured against a set of metrics.

Signature initiatives include creating DOD internship programs and tailored courses to attract talent in the acquisition and sustainment workforce, upskilling and training the current workforce and developing talent management tools that incorporate private sector best practices.

/
Senate Bill to Boost Investment in National Defense Technology Development
Published on
Senate Bill to Boost Investment in National Defense Technology Development

Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., have introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the Department of Defense’s Office of Strategic Capital’s authority to boost investment in defense and national security technologies.

The Investing in Our Defense Act of 2024 would give OSC the authority to make limited equity investments in key technologies, grant the office hiring and pay authorities to develop its workforce and expand DOD’s critical technology areas to include critical minerals, Romney’s office said Tuesday.

The provision to include critical minerals as a key technology priority aligns with Romney’s measure in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act to achieve critical mineral supply chain independence from adversaries such as Russia and China.

“Our legislation will enhance the Department of Defense’s ability to invest in key technologies and would strengthen our national security and help us remain globally competitive with China,” Romney said.

DOD established OSC in December 2022 to help technology developers raise capital to develop platforms for the military and national security markets.

/
Pentagon Stands Up New Academia-Focused Cyber Office
Published on
Pentagon Stands Up New Academia-Focused Cyber Office

The Department of Defense’s Office of the Chief Information Officer has launched a new office to serve as a centralized hub for defense and academic cyber activities.

The Cyber Academic Engagement Office will be led by Mark Gorak, who will take on the position of director for CAEO while also remaining the principal director for resources and analysis for the DOD OCIO, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Gorak’s new duties will include facilitating academic engagement programs for the department, analyzing the performance of cyber educational efforts and evaluating new programs. Previously, he was deputy director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, which was integrated into what is now known as the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.

According to the DOD, this office is expected to enhance the nation’s cyber posture while supporting force readiness goals. The CAEO is the DOD’s latest cyber-related office following the opening of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy in March.

/
Navy Solicits White Papers & Bids for C4ISR, Cyberspace Operations, IT System Research
Published on
Navy Solicits White Papers & Bids for C4ISR, Cyberspace Operations, IT System Research

Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific has started seeking white papers and proposals through a broad agency announcement that seeks to pursue research in areas relating to the development of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance—or C4ISR—capabilities, information technology systems, and tech platforms for information and cyberspace operations.

According to a solicitation notice published Monday, NIWC Pacific plans to hold a full and open competition for the BAA and may award procurement contracts, cooperative agreements, grants and other transactions.

“Proposed research should investigate unique and innovative approaches for defining and developing next generation integratable C4ISR capabilities and command suites,” the notice reads.

NIWC Pacific will consider proposals that lie in the areas of basic research, advanced technology development, applied research, prototypes and advanced component development.

Technical topics of interest include general C4ISR; unmanned vehicles; ubiquitous communications and computing environment; science, technology, engineering and mathematics research; advanced power and energy production and efficient use; and cryogenics and quantum.

Proposals and white papers are due June 9, 2025.

POC - 2024 Navy Summit

Register here to join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Navy Summit on Aug. 15 and hear government and industry leaders, innovators and experts discuss the latest technological advancements, maritime security and more.

/
Colleen Heller-Stein Named OPM’s Chief Human Capital Officers Council Executive Director
Published on
Colleen Heller-Stein Named OPM’s Chief Human Capital Officers Council Executive Director

Colleen Heller-Stein, former deputy chief human capital officer at the Department of the Treasury, has joined the Office of Personnel Management to serve as executive director of the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, according to her LinkedIn announcement.

The human resources professional has 14 years’ combined experience at the Treasury, where she initially worked as acting director of the HR Office and moved to assume roles of increasing responsibility, including acting deputy assistant secretary for HR and chief human capital officer.

Heller-Stein’s career also includes time as a senior HR adviser at the Securities and Exchange Commission and human capital policy specialist at the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

Commenting on her move, Heller-Stein said, “I look forward to continuing to advance human capital management with CHCOs across the federal government in this new role!”

Heller-Stein has a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies from Dickinson College and a Master of Public Administration degree from the George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration.

/
FCC’s Jessica Rosenworcel Announces Co-Chairs, Members of Communications Security, Reliability & Interoperability Council
Published on
FCC’s Jessica Rosenworcel Announces Co-Chairs, Members of Communications Security, Reliability & Interoperability Council

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced the new members of a reestablished federal advisory committee tasked with providing recommendations to FCC to improve the security, interoperability and reliability of U.S. communications systems.

FCC said Monday Billy Bob Brown of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Todd Piett of Motorola will serve as co-chairs of the Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council, also known as CSRIC.

According to the commission, 50 members from various communications companies, industry associations and related organizations will serve on CSRIC, which will hold its first meeting on June 28.

“Through CSRIC, the FCC is bringing together expertise from our federal partners, the public safety community, industry, and other stakeholders to help us tackle the complex communications network security and reliability challenges of tomorrow and set a path for continued innovation,” said Rosenworcel.

CSRIC will explore artificial intelligence and machine learning and how these technologies can improve the reliability and security of communications networks. The council will also offer recommendations on security issues related to emerging 6G networks and consumer access to 911 on all networks.

FCC is soliciting nominations to serve on the council’s three working groups and will accept submissions no later than July 10.

Click here to view the full list of CSRIC members.

/
Latest FISMA Report Shows Increase in Cyber Incident Reports in FY 2023
Published on
Latest FISMA Report Shows Increase in Cyber Incident Reports in FY 2023

The Office of Management and Budget’s latest Federal Information Security Modernization Act report to Congress shows a nearly 10 percent increase in cybersecurity incidents reported by federal agencies in fiscal year 2023.

Incidents reported to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency totaled 32,211 in FY 2023, up 9.9 percent from the previous year, with most of the incidents considered minor cyber events according to CISA’s National Cyber Incident Scoring System.

The new cases were categorized based on various attack vectors such as violations of usage policies, email and phishing, impersonation and spoofing, and web-based attacks.

Despite the increase in cyber incidents, OMB revealed that federal agencies made progress in their adoption of cyber defensive measures and expanded their cyber detection capabilities by improving penetration testing, red team exercises and other efforts.

House Bill to Create Nonprofit Foundation to Support NIST Mission
Published on
House Bill to Create Nonprofit Foundation to Support NIST Mission

Reps. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Haley Stevens, D-Mich., have introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a Foundation for Standards and Metrology, or FSM, to coordinate industry partnerships to help advance the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s mission.

The Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness Act would form the FSM to engage with industry, academia and civil society organizations to support NIST’s goals to advance measurement science, standards and emerging technologies, Obernolte’s office said Monday.

The FSM will give NIST increased access to private sector and philanthropic funding, diverse industry collaborations and workforce support through training and professional development.

“Tapping new collaborations will allow NIST to continue their vital role in securing American leadership in cyber, AI, and quantum computing in the mid-21st century and beyond,” Stevens said.

/
Newly-Developed Scorecard to Refine DCSA National Industrial Security Program Evaluation Process
Published on
Newly-Developed Scorecard to Refine DCSA National Industrial Security Program Evaluation Process

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency recently announced the development of a scorecard meant to refine the security rating process used under the National Industrial Security Program to evaluate the eligibility of contractors to access classified information.

The DCSA said Monday that the scorecard will not alter the security rating process but will work to “streamline and simplify” it by increasing its clarity and quality while reducing subjectivity.

The agency said it will carry out training and communication initiatives to inform stakeholders about the changes.

The security rating scorecard was developed in collaboration with a working group from the National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee.

The scorecard will be implemented on Oct. 1.

//
Adversary Countries, Changing Nature of War Require Change in Sustainment, DLA’s Mark Simerly Says
Published on
Adversary Countries, Changing Nature of War Require Change in Sustainment, DLA’s Mark Simerly Says

The head of the Defense Logistics Agency said at the recent DLA Industry Association Leadership Meeting that his organization and the broader defense industry must make changes to the way sustainment is provided in order to match the transformation taking place across the Department of Defense.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, the DLA director, attributed that transformation to the threats posed by Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, as well as by the changing nature of warfare itself, according to an article published Monday on the DLA website.

Of particular significance to DLA and industry is logistics being targeted by adversaries, which, according to Simerly, is already taking place. He predicted that logistics “will continue to be targeted in different ways than it ever has been in any other conflict previously.”

Such challenges demand that the agency go beyond being “in response mode” and instead take leadership, Simerly said.

The DLA director underscored the undeniable need for change, noting that “[it’s] how we change and when we change, and we should all have a sense of urgency about the pace.”

1 … 260 261 262 263 264 … 2,602