Senate Panel Approves $852B FY 2025 Defense Appropriations Bill
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Senate Panel Approves $852B FY 2025 Defense Appropriations Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a package of 11 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2025, including a $852.2 billion defense spending measure.

The committee voted 28-0 to pass the FY 2025 defense appropriations bill, which reflects a 3.3 percent increase from the enacted FY 2024 level.

The proposed defense legislation includes a 4.5 percent pay increase for warfighters and fully funds the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft program, precision fires and next-generation counter-small unmanned aerial system missile development efforts.

The measure supports the continued development of the B-21 Raider and Sentinel programs and includes $37 billion for the construction of seven battle force ships and $1.05 billion in funding for eight additional C-130J planes for the Air National Guard.

The bill provides $500 million above the president’s budget request for Defense Product Act investments in the defense industrial base, including hypersonics, microelectronics and critical chemicals, and $252 million above the requested budget for a nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile program, also known as SLCM-N.

“This bipartisan bill builds on our efforts in the National Security Supplemental to strengthen our defenses in key regions, deter conflict, promote stability, and ultimately, keep our nation safe—with new investments to ensure our military remains the best in the world while supporting our servicemembers and standing with our allies,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

In June, the House Appropriations Committee voted 34-25 to pass a $833 billion FY 2025 defense spending bill.

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DOE Unveils Database Containing Thousands of Tech Patents, Software Packages
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DOE Unveils Database Containing Thousands of Tech Patents, Software Packages

The Department of Energy worked with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory engineers to create a new database that provides access to technologies, methods and software packages.

Launched on July 31, the Visual Intellectual Property Search, or VIPS, database allows researchers to explore and license technologies developed by the various DOE national laboratories, PNNL said.

The system hosts information on over 14,000 patents and more than 6,200 software packages, which are sourced from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the DOE and the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, the laboratory added.

To develop VIPS, the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions tapped a team of PNNL engineers led by Scott Dowson.

Dawson said his team made sure that the database works for all users interested in DOE’s intellectual property offerings.

The team built the system using PNNL-developed AI software to deliver the most appropriate information to users.

While the DOE aims to provide as much information as possible through VIPS, the database has its limitations as classified technologies were excluded from the system.

VIPS also contains technologies that were previously licensed but the agency normally makes special arrangements to accommodate potential new licensees.

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DSCA Director James Hursch Retires
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DSCA Director James Hursch Retires

James Hursch, a 39-year federal government official and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, has retired as head of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

DSCA said Wednesday Michael Miller, the agency’s deputy director, will assume responsibilities as acting director.

Before taking on the role of DSCA director, Hursch was acting secretary of defense representative in Europe and acting defense adviser for the U.S. Mission to NATO.

His federal government career also included time as director of the Defense Technology Security Administration, special assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, deputy director of Northern European Policy and deputy chief of the Office of European Policy.

Hursch has served as a faculty member focused on defense economics and international relations at the National Defense University’s Institute of Higher Defense Studies.

Prior to DSCA, Miller spent over two decades at the State Department, where he served as deputy assistant secretary of State for defense trade within the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

Within the department’s bureau, he led the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

Miller’s 24 years at the State Department included roles such as office director for regional security and arms transfers, program manager for the Anti-Terrorism Assistance program and special assistant to the coordinator for counterterrorism. In 1998, he joined the department as a Presidential Management Fellow.

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SBA to Streamline Federal Contracting Certification Process With New Tool
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SBA to Streamline Federal Contracting Certification Process With New Tool

The Small Business Administration plans to launch a new tool in September designed to improve the digital experience for small enterprises when applying for and managing multiple federal contracting certifications.

SBA said Wednesday the tool, called MySBA Certifications, seeks to reduce the paperwork burden for certifying businesses and enable companies to manage all federal contracting certifications in a single place and access resources to help them win contracts.

The SBA programs that could be accessed through the new certifications tool include women-owned small business, veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran owned small business, 8(a) Business Development Program and the Mentor-Protege program.

SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said the agency has been modernizing product and service delivery and advancing customer experience across its programs under the current administration.

“MySBA Certifications marks the latest investment which will make it easier than ever for more small business owners to get certified and pursue federal contracting opportunities,” Guzman added.

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MITRE Report Offers Recommendations to Advance AI Red Teaming
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MITRE Report Offers Recommendations to Advance AI Red Teaming

MITRE’s Center for Data-Driven Policy has released a report outlining a set of recommendations for the incoming administration to support artificial intelligence red teaming.

According to the report, AI red teaming uses “adversarial thinking to both identify exploitable AI systems’ vulnerabilities and allow the AI community to counter those threats before they occur.”

The nonprofit corporation said Wednesday the first two recommendations in the report are mandating that independent parties perform AI red teaming on high-risk AI systems prior to executive branch acquisition and regularly using AI red teaming to ensure continued security and safety.

Other recommendations are promoting transparency and trust in AI-enabled systems used by the U.S. government through the release of public AI red teaming, assurance and testing reports and adopting an AI science and technology intelligence approach to security.

For the first 100 days, the report recommends that the incoming administration evaluate existing AI red teaming capabilities across the federal government and industry to identify “centers for excellence” and start establishing mandates for industrial and government contractors for AI red teaming during the development and use of AI systems in all U.S. agencies.

For the first six months, the administration should require federal agencies to implement independent AI red teaming and report on their efforts and launch a National AI Center of Excellence, MITRE said.

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US Army’s 1st TITAN Ground Station Prototype Delivered to Base for Testing
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US Army’s 1st TITAN Ground Station Prototype Delivered to Base for Testing

The U.S. Army’s first Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node ground station prototype has arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. 

The military service said on Wednesday that the delivery of the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system will support the rapid multi-domain operations execution. 

TITAN is a ground station powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning for faster decision-making. It promises to significantly reduce the time needed for the system to identify a target and deliver a fire order. 

Col. Chris Anderson, project manager for intelligence systems and analytics, said the delivery of the first prototype marks a major step forward to enhancing warfighter capabilities. 

“TITAN provides game-changing technologies that revolutionize how we collect, process, and disseminate intelligence across the battlefield, giving us a decisive edge,” he stated.

In March, the U.S. Army awarded Palantir Technologies a $178.4 million contract to manufacture 10 TITAN prototypes. The contract also includes the integration of upcoming capabilities for its subcontractor team comprising Northrop Grumman, Anduril Industries, L3Harris Technologies and SNC.

Each of the prototypes will undergo rigorous testing and evaluation to ensure mission readiness. The Army expects the system to undergo changes based on soldier feedback. 

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DAF Allows Marines to Participate in AI Program for the First Time
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DAF Allows Marines to Participate in AI Program for the First Time

The Department of the Air Force-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Accelerator has allowed two members of the Marine Corps to participate in the Phantom Program for the first time.

The Air Force said Tuesday the decision to include the active-duty Marines to the program coincides with efforts to tackle innovation needs and enhance AI capabilities of the DAF and the Department of Defense in general.

The DAF-MIT AI Accelerator was limited to DAF personnel, particularly to airmen and guardians, prior to the move. With their participation in the five-month long program, the Marine Phantoms will be able to exchange ideas, perspectives and expertise with AI researchers.

Participants in the AIA program will be conducting extensive AI research, rapid prototyping of AI algorithms, and scaling applications for real-world use. They are also required to publish an impact paper, which should further help in the development of military AI research.

USMC deputy commandant for information Lt. Gen. Matthew Glavy, highlighting the Marines’ tradition of being innovators, said, “AI presents yet another opportunity for Marines to showcase their ability to fuse technology, people and processes to generate favorable outcomes across the competition continuum.”

According to Glavy, collaborating with the DAF-MIT AI Accelerator gives the Marine Corps an opportunity to “rapidly upskill” and develop ways of using AI to a better “decision advantage for commanders at all echelons.”

Col. Garry Floyd, director of the MIT-AI Accelerator, said the Marines’ unique perspective to military operations “can only enrich the AIA’s own diversity of experience.”

“Given the broad nature of the AIA’s portfolio we are certain to find synergies across our efforts to develop and deploy difference making capabilities for operations,” stressed Floyd.

Join the Potomac Officers Club in thought-provoking discussions about the evolving defense landscape at the 2025 Defense R&D Summit. Register here.

DAF Allows Marines to Participate in AI Program for the First Time
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Former DOD CIO John Sherman Named Bush School Dean at Texas A&M University
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Former DOD CIO John Sherman Named Bush School Dean at Texas A&M University

John Sherman, former chief information officer of the Department of Defense and a 2024 Wash100 Award recipient, was named dean of Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

Sherman, a 1992 Distinguished Military Graduate of Texas A&M, starts in his new role on Aug. 1, the university said in a LinkedIn post Wednesday. He stepped down from his position at DOD at the end of June.

The former defense official has three decades of experience in national security, having served senior positions in the CIA, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Prior to joining the Pentagon, Sherman served as the Intelligence Community CIO from 2017 to 2020. He was responsible for driving and coordinating information technology modernization among 17 agencies.

The new Bush School dean began his IC career in 1997 as an imagery analyst.

Sherman, following graduation from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, joined the 24th Infantry Division as an air defense officer.

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KBR Receives $59M Navy Contract for Engineering Services
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KBR Receives $59M Navy Contract for Engineering Services

KBR secured a $59.1 million contract from the U.S. Navy to provide engineering services for naval programs and government projects.

The Department of Defense said Tuesday the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract is intended to support the Light Airborne Multipurpose System MK III and other data links.

Under the cost-plus-fix-fee and level-of-effort contract, the services that KBR will provide are as follows:

  • Procurement specification development
  • Technical contract administration
  • Quality assurance
  • Data link in-service engineering
  • Installation engineering
  • Fleet support
  • Intermediate and depot-level repairs
  • Equipment reproductions and overhauls
  • Design engineering
  • Implementation services for data link stimulators/simulators
  • Specialized test equipment for troubleshooting, repair and performance/quality evaluation of data links

KBR will fulfill the project in Maryland. Ninety five percent of the work will be conducted in St. Inigoes and the remaining five percent will be in Patuxent River. The expected completion date is June 2030.

No funds will be allocated at the time of the award. Instead, they will be obligated as individual orders are issued. The contract was competitively procured through an electronic request proposal, with only two offers submitted.

Naval Air Warfare Center in Patuxent River will handle the contract.

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KBR Receives $59M Navy Contract for Engineering Services
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Brett Bennett Elevated to VP of Supply Chain & Infrastructure at CyberCore Technologies
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Brett Bennett Elevated to VP of Supply Chain & Infrastructure at CyberCore Technologies

Brett Bennett, former director of cyber supply chain security at CyberCore Technologies, has been elevated to the company’s vice president of supply chain and infrastructure.

In his new role, Bennett will leverage over 20 years of experience in supply chain to spearhead CyberCore’s strategic outlook on service applications and advancements of all infrastructure supporting the company’s third-party accreditation under ISO 28000 and ISO 20243, which includes warehouse operations, security, information technology and facilities management, CyberCore told ExecutiveGov Thursday.

In his 14 years with the company, Bennett has led numerous efforts impacting supply chain resilience, including the WindRose Threat Assessment model and ensuring CyberCore’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Capability-Level 2 readiness. He has also garnered the company’s first contract award with the U.S. Navy SPAWAR and subcontracts supporting agencies within the DOD.

While serving as VP, Bennett will continue to work as a cross-departmental leader and subject-matter expert on a national program that aims to modernize data and inventory management systems.

Bennett has also established and crafted a set of live reports and key performance indexes for CyberCore that have improved inventory accuracy from 82 percent to 93.3 percent.

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