///
Government Cloud Security Program Announces FedRAMP 20x Phase 2 Pilot
Published on
FedRAMP logo. The government cloud security program announced Phase 2 for the FedRAMP 2 pilot initiative.

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program has announced the second phase of FedRAMP 20x, a cloud-native authorization framework that aims to advance the use of automation to accelerate secure cloud adoption across federal agencies.

The program said it is targeting about 10 Moderate pilot authorizations as part of the FedRAMP 20x pilot’s Phase 2, which is not open to the public.

According to FedRAMP, the Phase 2 pilot will continue to be iterative and explore an automation-based approach to assessment and validation of security decisions by cloud service providers seeking FedRAMP authorization.

The submission window for this phase is expected to run from Oct. 16 to Dec. 16. FedRAMP said it plans to finalize all Phase 2 requirements from mid-October through Oct. 23.

Eligibility Criteria for FedRAMP 20x Phase 2 Submissions

According to FedRAMP, Phase Two submissions will be accepted only from CSPs that meet one of the following conditions: 

  • Providers who submitted a complete package for Phase One that was not rejected or withdrawn
  • Cloud services that satisfy all FedRAMP AI Prioritization criteria
  • Cloud services with GRC automation capabilities that can consume FedRAMP 20x machine-readable information from authorized services to enable review of initial and ongoing authorization data
  • Cloud services that provide FedRAMP-compatible trust centers

The public can still participate in refining FedRAMP 20x through the program’s Community Working Groups.

FedRAMP 20x Phase 2 Authorization Requirements for CSPs

To submit a qualifying package for FedRAMP 20x Phase Two review, CSPs and assessors must address every recommendation and requirement in the framework. 

Submission packages must demonstrate compliance by showing how the recommendation or requirement is implemented; sharing a plan to implement requirements or recommendations within the next six months; and explaining valid reasons for not implementing recommendations.

////
NIST Seeks Proposals for Semiconductor R&D Funding Opportunity
Published on
Microelectronics. NIST is seeking proposals to advance U.S. semiconductor innovation.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued a broad agency announcement through its CHIPS Research and Development Office to solicit proposals for a funding opportunity aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in microelectronics technology. The funding opportunity calls for research, prototyping and commercialization efforts that align with critical technology needs.

“We look forward to seeing ideas that together will advance microelectronics research and drive further innovation in emerging technologies such as quantum, artificial intelligence and biomanufacturing,” said Craig Burkhardt, acting under secretary of commerce for standards and technology and acting NIST director.

NIST Funding Opportunity Scope, Goals and Technical Areas

Projects responding to the BAA must target one or more priority topics, including:

  • Advanced semiconductor research
  • AI-enabled microelectronics
  • Quantum technology integration in microelectronics
  • Biotechnology and biomanufacturing technology for advanced microelectronics
  • Commercialization of innovations and standards development for critical emerging technologies

The BAA stated that the goal is to accelerate the pace of commercialization to enable technology dominance in sectors of national importance.

Funding Structure, Eligibility and Terms

Awards will be made in the form of other transaction agreements, negotiated with each recipient. Multi-phase projects may be funded incrementally, with later phases contingent on performance and availability of funds.

Projects should propose budgets of at least $10 million, though funding decisions depend on both the quality of proposals and available appropriations. Cost sharing is not universally required but may be needed depending on the project.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based for-profit, nonprofit, academic institutions, federally funded research and development centers, and federal entities. Individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not eligible. Subawardees may include foreign partners, subject to restrictions and compliance with national security requirements.

As a condition of award, recipients may be required to grant licenses, equity, royalties or revenue sharing to the U.S. government to ensure return on investment. Also, recipients must comply with domestic production and intellectual property control requirements to prevent misuse or loss of federally supported intellectual property.

Submission Process and Evaluation Criteria

The two-stage proposal process starts with a white paper submission. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a pre-negotiation package containing a detailed technical and cost proposal, and other required documents. Awards will be made on a rolling basis.

Evaluation criteria include:

  • Advancement of economic and national security goals.
  • Scientific and technical merit.
  • Feasibility of execution.
  • Commercial viability and pathway to scale.
  • Financial soundness and credibility.

NIST may request additional compliance and risk mitigation measures to ensure federally funded innovations are protected from foreign adversaries.

The BAA will remain open through Sept. 30, 2029, unless amended earlier.

/
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches NASA, NOAA Spacecraft to Study Solar Activity, Space Weather
Published on
NASA and NOAA launched spacecraft that would monitor the sun and its impact to Earth and the solar system

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has launched three new NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration missions to investigate the impact of the sun’s activity across the solar system.

On Wednesday, the Falcon 9 lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to deploy NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, or IMAP, and Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1, or SWFO-L1.

Over the next couple of months, NASA said all three spacecraft will travel to Lagrange point 1, which is about a million miles from Earth, then conduct instrument checks and calibrations before they begin their respective missions.

NASA, NOAA Space Weather Missions

IMAP, according to NASA, is a “modern-day celestial cartographer.” The spacecraft was developed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory and is equipped with various scientific instruments to map out the boundaries of the heliosphere, the bubble created by solar winds that encapsulates the entire solar system. The heliosphere is responsible for shielding the solar system from galactic cosmic rays.

Meanwhile, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory will record the changes in the outermost layer of the exosphere, or the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, during solar storms. The spacecraft, built by BAE Systems, will study the geocorona, which is the ultraviolet glow created when sunlight hits the exosphere.

On the other hand, NOAA’s SWFO-L1 will serve as a full-time operational space weather observatory that will monitor solar activity and space weather without interruptions or obstructions. SWFO-L1 will deliver near-real-time space weather data to enable forecasters to warn about space weather events that can severely impact critical infrastructure. 

/
CISA Releases Advisory to Help Agencies Strengthen Cyber Defense
Published on
CISA seal. CISA has released an advisory detailing ways for agencies to strengthen their cyber defense.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a new cybersecurity advisory titled “CISA Shares Lessons Learned from an Incident Response Engagement.”

CISA Releases Advisory to Help Agencies Strengthen Cyber Defense

CISA is a DHS agency. Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12 and learn about various homeland security programs, efforts and strategic initiatives.

The agency said in its report released Tuesday insights were gathered from a recent incident response engagement, which stated that CISA’s endpoint detection and response tool identified potential malicious activity.

The advisory urges organizations to better understand the tactics, techniques and procedures, or TTPs, used by cyber threat actors. These include the exploitation of GeoServer vulnerability CVE-2024-36401, which was used to gain initial access.

Strengthening Defense Against Cyberthreats

The new CISA advisory aims to help organizations reinforce their defenses across all sectors and reduce the risk of future security breaches. It emphasizes three important steps to take to enhance cybersecurity capabilities.

The first step is to accelerate patch management—prioritizing the timely application of patches for critical vulnerabilities, especially those identified in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list. Particular focus should be given to systems accessible from the public internet.

The second step involves continuously updating and validating incident response plans. Organizations should regularly refine their procedures to ensure swift coordination with external responders and the rapid deployment of essential security tools.

The final step is to enhance threat monitoring by implementing centralized, out-of-band logging. Security operations centers must maintain continuous surveillance and investigation of unusual network activity to promptly detect and respond to malicious behavior.

///
CBP’s James McCament Accepts 2025 Government Executive of the Year Award
Published on
James McCament. The chief digital transformation officer of CBP accepted the 2025 Government Executive of the Year Award.

James McCament, chief digital transformation officer at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has received the 2025 Government Executive of the Year Award in recognition of his leadership in modernizing CBP through automation, digital innovation and customer-focused design, Homeland Security Today reported Saturday.

CBP’s James McCament Accepts 2025 Government Executive of the Year Award

McCament will speak at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12. He will join a panel where government and industry leaders discuss how to balance technological innovation with the law enforcement mission. Register today to hear from McCament and other homeland security leaders shaping the future of innovation in national security.

The Service to the Citizen Awards recognized McCament and other 2025 award recipients on Friday, Sept. 19, at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C.

Spearheading CBP Experience Division’s Creation

McCament led the establishment of the CBP Experience, or CBPX, Division.

According to the report, CBPX’s work focuses on process automation, artificial intelligence integration and human-centered design to help streamline operations and enhance experiences for travelers, frontline officers and trade partners.

Who Is James McCament?

Before serving as CDTO, McCament led CBP’s 2025 presidential transition team between November 2024 and January 2025.

He has been with the Department of Homeland Security for over two decades and held senior leadership roles, including interim chief operating officer at CBP; deputy under secretary for strategy, policy and plans; and deputy director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Before joining DHS, he was an Honors attorney in the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the General Counsel, where he worked on matters related to banking and finance, anti-terrorism litigation and foreign assets control.

The Mount Vernon Nazarene College graduate holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

/
Stephen Casapulla Assumes New Responsibilities at CISA as Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security
Published on
Stephen Casapulla, an official at CISA. Casapulla was appointed executive assistant director for infrastructure security

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has appointed Stephen Casapulla as its executive assistant director for infrastructure security.

The agency said Tuesday that Casapulla will continue to serve as its acting chief strategy officer and interim assistant director of the National Risk Management Center.

In a statement, Casapulla thanked President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, a 2025 Wash100 winner, for trusting him in the position.

“I am committed to advancing CISA’s mission and ensuring the security and resilience of our nation’s critical infrastructure and the American people,” he added.

Madhu Gottumukkala, deputy director of CISA, welcomed Casapulla to the agency’s leadership team.

“With his extensive experience in critical infrastructure security and working with stakeholders, he is perfectly poised to lead our efforts in securing the nation’s critical infrastructure,” commented Gottumukkala, who also serves as the agency’s acting director.

Who Is Steve Casapulla?

Casapulla is a longtime federal official with 13 years of experience in leadership roles across CISA and its predecessor, the Department of Homeland Security’s National Protection and Programs Directorate.

Before CISA, he served as the director for critical infrastructure cybersecurity in the Office of the National Cyber Director. He also worked at the Small Business Administration and the Department of State earlier in his career.

A U.S. Navy Reserve officer with over 20 years of service, Casapulla has completed multiple overseas deployments.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in logistics and intermodal transportation from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, a master’s in liberal studies from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

///
Air Force Aims to Streamline Base IT Services With New BPA
Published on
Air Force logo. AFIMSC developed a BPA to streamline the procurement of base operations support IT services.

The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, or AFIMSC, has developed a blanket purchase agreement to facilitate the delivery of base operations support IT, or BOS-IT, services across the Department of the Air Force’s installations.

Through the centralized BPA, AFIMSC said Tuesday it seeks to streamline procurement through pre-approved contractors and enable bases to tailor IT services to their specific technological requirements and mission needs.

“This is a great opportunity for the Air Force to elevate the quality and consistency of IT services across all installations,” said Master Sgt. Gerald Campbell, enterprise communications manager with AFIMSC’s Optimization and Integration Division, or A53. “We’re not just solving problems at individual bases; we’re creating a foundation that benefits the entire enterprise.”

BOS-IT services include legacy systems and infrastructure that support an installation’s communication operations, such as Giant Voice, cable, telephony, antenna and microwave systems, and uninterruptible power systems.

Strengthening Air Force Mission Readiness With New AFIMSC BPA

AFIMSC said eight Air Force bases are expected to participate in the BPA’s initial rollout. The agreement is designed to serve all 89 service installations.

According to the mission support center, the enterprisewide BPA seeks to address foundational critical infrastructure to help strengthen the service’s mission readiness.

“This BPA helps ensure our Airmen are ready to fight. Our team excels at identifying and addressing the sometimes overlooked, but essential, infrastructure that underpins mission-critical systems,” Campbell said. “Everything falls apart if you don’t have reliable BOS-IT systems.”

771st Enterprise Sourcing Squadron’s Support to BPA Development

James McClain, enterprise cable and antenna systems manager with A53, described BPA’s development as a collaborative effort and cited the 771st Enterprise Sourcing Squadron’s involvement in its creation.

“There is no way we would have been able to get through this effort without the 771st ESS,” McClain said. “They helped translate our needs into a legally sound contract, ensuring the successful development of the BPA.”

//
Chance Saltzman Outlines New Approach to Accelerate Space System Delivery
Published on
Space Force CSO Chance Saltzman. Gen. Chance Saltzman urges a new approach to rapidly deliver space system capabilities.

Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force and a Wash100 Award winner, emphasized the need for a new approach to delivering capabilities to maintain superiority in space during his keynote at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Sept. 23.

Progress in GPS Accuracy, Satellite Launch Speed

Saltzman highlighted recent gains in GPS performance, including a 40 percent boost in global accuracy through tactical upgrades and operational testing. He also cited a reduction in satellite launch timelines from nearly two years to three months.

SDA Launched Tranche One

Saltzman noted that the Space Development Agency’s launch of the first Tranche One satellites will enhance missile warning, tactical communications and optical cross-links. The proliferated system, with over 150 satellites, will strengthen national defense.

Speed Over Perfection

Saltzman also emphasized that while high-quality space systems are essential, waiting for perfection before deployment hampers progress. He urged the service and industry to abandon outdated approaches that delay critical equipment development.

“Effective systems don’t require perfection to be combat credible. We need to consider rapid entry into operations, manage the capability with a smart risk posture, and then focus on rapid and continuous improvement of the capability in operations,” he said. 

Transition to Collaborative Approach

Saltzman outlined how the Space Force is changing its relationship with industry from transactional to collaborative to encourage mutual understanding of system requirements, threat environment and shared investments. The service uses the Front Door online portal to gather and evaluate innovative ideas from the commercial sector.

//
Marine Corps Launches Project Dynamis to Accelerate Modernization for CJADC2
Published on
Marine Corps logo. The Marine Corps launched Project Dynamis to support CJADC2.

The Marine Corps has formally established Project Dynamis following a memorandum signed by Assistant Commandant Gen. Christopher Mahoney. The initiative aims to accelerate modernization of the Marine Corps’ contributions to Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control in coordination with the Department of the Navy’s Project Overmatch.

Project Dynamis is intended to drive end-to-end, joint interoperable capabilities that align with the Marine Corps’ Force Design modernization concept. The effort focuses on enabling Marines to operate as the forward element of the Joint Force by “sensing, making sense, and communicating weapons quality data at the speed and scale of relevance,” the military service branch said. Col. Arlon Smith has been named director of Project Dynamis.

“As Marines, our ability to aggregate, orchestrate, analyze, and share fused data at machine speeds is a warfighting imperative,” said Smith. “It is central to our value proposition. Project Dynamis is our bid for success to realize that vision.”

Project Dynamis Governance and Leadership

The memorandum creates a three-star council led by the deputy commandant for combat development and integration and the deputy commandant for information. Within 30 days, the council must present an initial plan and charter defining governance, organization, authorities and responsibilities. It is also required to coordinate with the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition to designate a Marine Corps deputy direct report program manager within Project Overmatch.

“To outpace the threat, we realized we needed a dedicated cross-functional team laser focused on prioritizing and accelerating the deployment of advanced technologies to enable AI-powered decision advantage at the tactical edge,” said Lt. Gen. Jerry Carter, deputy commandant for information. “That’s what Project Dynamis does in partnership with the Navy’s Project Overmatch.” 

Although not yet formally established, Project Dynamis had already contributed to enterprise modernization efforts by helping orchestrate the Marine Corps’ recent enterprise-level contract with Maven Smart System. The initiative also backed September deployments of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force Command and Control Prototype to the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment in Okinawa, Japan, and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at Camp Pendleton.

/
White House Issues R&D Budget Priorities, Crosscutting Actions for Fiscal 2027
Published on
The White House. The White House released a new memo identifying research and development priorities for fiscal 2027

The White House has issued a memorandum that identifies research and development budget priorities and cross-cutting actions for fiscal 2027.

Russel Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Michael Kratsios, Office of Science and Technology Policy director and a two-time Wash100 winner, said the memo published Tuesday aims to realign the federal R&D portfolio to drive economic growth, create high-wage employment for the American workforce, improve quality of life and reinforce U.S. leadership in critical sectors.

Trump White House R&D Priorities

The White House’s five priorities in fiscal 2027, according to the memo, are critical and emerging technologies, energy, national and economic security, health and biotechnology, and space dominance.

Under critical and emerging technologies, the memo called for investments in artificial intelligence, quantum information science and technology, semiconductors and microelectronics, advanced communications networks, advanced manufacturing, and future computing technologies. AI, in particular, was described in the document as “a new frontier of exploration,” promising breakthroughs across scientific disciplines and industrial sectors.

White House Issues R&D Budget Priorities, Crosscutting Actions for Fiscal 2027

Leaders from across government and industry will discuss the integration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, in national security at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Intel Summit on Oct. 2. The highly anticipated event will feature panel discussions about the technological advancements, threats and geopolitical shifts that affect the nation. Purchase your tickets today.

The memo also mentioned America’s Golden Dome and directs agencies to invest in critical capabilities to support the planned homeland missile defense system.

Crosscutting Actions

The crosscutting actions include building a science and technology workforce pipeline, expanding access to research infrastructure, focusing on “high-value research efforts,” and implementing the administration’s Gold Standard Science.

President Donald Trump introduced the Gold Standard Science in May in an executive order to keep federal research rigorous and impactful and ensure that government decisions are backed by reliable and unbiased scientific evidence.

The crosscutting actions, according to the memo, are meant to renew the American science and technology enterprise and “usher in the Golden Age of American Innovation.”

1 2 3 4 … 2,617