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Labor Department to Open Contractor Portal for Affirmative Action Certification in April
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Labor Department to Open Contractor Portal for Affirmative Action Certification in April

The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, or OFCCP, will open on April 1 the online Contractor Portal for its third annual Affirmative Action Program compliance certification for federal contractors and subcontractors.

Contractors should complete their certification by July 1, the department said Monday.

Launched in December 2021, the Contractor Portal will also allow companies meeting certain jurisdictional thresholds to submit to OFCCP their Affirmative Action Programs for each functional unit or establishment.

Affirmative action requirements sought to ensure that covered contractors take certain affirmative measures to provide equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants regardless of their race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity and national origin.

The second annual cycle of affirmative action certification opened in March 2023.

State Department Debuts National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct
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State Department Debuts National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct

The State Department has announced the release of the U.S. government’s 2024 National Action Plan on Responsible Business Conduct, demonstrating the government’s commitment to expanding the use of green energy, improving respect for human rights and labor rights, countering corruption, fostering rights-respecting use of technology, protecting human rights defenders and advancing gender equality and equity.

The second national action plan has four priority focus areas: establishing a federal advisory committee on responsible business conduct; strengthening respect for human rights in federal procurement policies and processes; strengthening access to remedy; and providing resources to businesses, the State Department said Monday.

Under the first priority area, the State Department will use the committee to strengthen coordination with the private sector, academia, civil society and other stakeholders on responsible business conduct.

For the second priority area, the Department of Defense will perform a review to assess requiring or encouraging membership within the International Code of Conduct Association for Private Security Providers’ Association for vendors.

The plan also highlights the need for businesses to perform human rights due diligence across value chains based on international standards.

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CISA-FBI Alert Calls for Elimination of SQL Injection Vulnerabilities in Software
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CISA-FBI Alert Calls for Elimination of SQL Injection Vulnerabilities in Software

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI have released a joint alert urging technology manufacturers to eliminate SQL injection vulnerabilities in software.

The Secure by Design Alert was issued in response to a recent exploitation of SQLi vulnerabilities in a managed file transfer application to target users of the application, CISA said Monday.

The bureau and CISA called on senior executives at tech manufacturing firms to conduct a formal review of their code to determine its risks to SQLi compromises.

“If they discover their code has vulnerabilities, senior executives should ensure their organizations’ software developers immediately begin implementing mitigations to eliminate this entire class of defect from all current and future software products. Building security into products from the beginning can eliminate SQLi vulnerabilities,” the alert states.

The two agencies urged manufacturers to assess the joint guidance’s three principles: taking ownership of customer security outcomes, embracing radical transparency and accountability and building organizational structure and leadership to achieve the goals.

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Nuclear Modernization Needed Amid Threats From Russia, China & Other Adversaries, Defense Officials Say
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Nuclear Modernization Needed Amid Threats From Russia, China & Other Adversaries, Defense Officials Say

The head of the U.S. Strategic Command recently impressed upon lawmakers the need to continue modernizing the country’s nuclear triad, noting the threats posed by Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.

U.S. Air Force Gen. Anthony Cotton said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on March 21 that this modernization effort covers not only the nuclear weapons themselves and their delivery platforms but the nuclear command, control and communications system as well, the U.S. Space Command website reported Friday.

Echoing Cotton’s sentiments, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb said during the same hearing, “We have competitors who are modernizing and diversifying and expanding their nuclear arsenals.”

Plumb went on to discuss the fiscal year 2025 budget the Department of Defense is requesting for the modernization effort. The budget request includes $49.2 billion for the nuclear triad, $33.7 billion for space capabilities and $28.4 billion for missile defeat and defense.

“All of these capabilities — nuclear, space and missile defense — remain central to our ability to deter and also central to our ability to prevail in conflict if deterrence fails,” Plumb said.

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Latest Class of Presidential Innovation Fellows Launched by GSA to Focus on Technology Modernization
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Latest Class of Presidential Innovation Fellows Launched by GSA to Focus on Technology Modernization

The General Services Administration has announced the members of the first of two Presidential Innovation Fellows cohorts to be launched this year.

A part of Technology Transformation Services, PIF recruits technology and innovation leaders from the private sector and embeds them at various federal agencies, where they will serve as strategic advisers supporting government leaders as they work to address various national priorities, GSA said Monday.

This year’s first cohort, the 12th PIF class overall, is made up of 21 fellows whose focus will be on broad technology modernization goals. A second cohort, which will launch this summer, will focus on artificial intelligence in support of the Executive Order on the Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.

Regarding the first cohort, GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said, “We’re excited to see how these innovators put their skills to work for the public good and collaborate alongside agency leaders to better deliver services for the American people in their moments of need.”

PIF was launched in 2012. Over the years, more than 250 fellows have been recruited and their contributions to public service include improving data sharing at the Department of Veterans Affairs and supporting technology modernization at the Department of Justice.

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Amanda Dory to Perform Duties of Defense Undersecretary for Policy
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Amanda Dory to Perform Duties of Defense Undersecretary for Policy

Amanda Dory, director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, will perform the duties of the undersecretary of defense for policy when Sasha Baker, acting undersecretary for policy at the Department of Defense, steps down from her post by the end of April.

DOD Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the move in a statement published Monday.

Baker’s “strategic acumen and steadfast commitment to our national security have helped her play a pivotal role in shaping our defense policies, tackling emerging threats, and strengthening interagency relationships and international alliances,” said Austin, a three-time Wash100 awardee.

Dory, a career member of the Senior Executive Service, previously served as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

She also held leadership positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy, including deputy assistant secretary of defense for African affairs and deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy.

Austin additionally called on the Senate to confirm Derek Chollet, counselor at the State Department, as the undersecretary of defense for policy.

“At this crucial moment for U.S. defense policy, the Department needs a confirmed principal adviser in this critical role,” the defense secretary added.

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FDD Study Recommends New Cyber-Focused Military Service
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FDD Study Recommends New Cyber-Focused Military Service

Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, and Columbia University’s Erica Lonergan recommend the establishment of a new military service in the U.S. armed forces that would be dedicated to conducting cyber warfare.

Montgomery and Lonergan said in a study FDD released Monday that the standing up of a U.S. Cyber Force would address a critical issue undermining the military’s cyber capabilities: talent recruitment and development.

According to the two authors, recruitment and training of cyber talent is done independently by the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, resulting in varying levels of qualification and a mismatch between a recruit’s skillset and the requirements of the job at the U.S. Cyber Command, which is currently responsible for offensive and defense cyber operations.

Also, because each military branch prioritizes its own warfare domain — land, air or sea — cyber skills are not properly assessed or developed, resulting in personnel not advancing or not staying in the cyber track.

For Montgomery and Lonergan, a U.S. Cyber Force would bring about a singular approach to cyber talent recruitment, development and retention. It would also ensure that the skills one possesses aligns with mission needs.

Because the new military branch would be focused on cyber, it would also be able to prioritize the acquisition of mission-relevant equipment, which would not have to compete with aircraft, ships and other materiel.

The two authors note that a U.S. Cyber Force could start out with a headcount of 10,000, although the number may grow over time.

FDD Study Recommends New Cyber-Focused Military Service

Cyber experts, government leaders and industry visionaries will speak about the dynamic and evolving role of cyber in the public sector at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit, which will take place in June. Register now to attend this important event!

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Mitre Unveils AI Assurance & Discovery Lab
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Mitre Unveils AI Assurance & Discovery Lab

Mitre has opened a new facility at its McLean, Virginia, headquarters to assist federal agencies – and later, private companies — in uncovering and managing risks in artificial intelligence-powered platforms used in national security, healthcare and transportation.

The AI Assurance and Discovery Lab supports simulated complex and high-stakes environments for system risk discovery and has capabilities for AI red teaming, large language model evaluation, human-in-the-loop experimentation and assurance plan development, Mitre said Monday.

“Providing an independent assessment of the security, safety, and efficacy of AI systems will play a critical role toward helping government and business integrate new technology in benefits processing, intelligence analysis, autonomous vehicles and more,” remarked Charles Clancy, senior vice president and chief technology officer of Mitre. “This lab will demonstrate a repeatable engineering approach and infrastructure that could serve as a blueprint for a national network of AI assurance facilities.”

Government agencies, with help from scientists and engineers at Mitre, would be able to look into their AI-enabled systems’ potential risks, real-world performance and biases—or lack thereof.

Mitre SVP Cedric Sims said of the lab, “For federal agencies and private companies, this new lab delivers an objective, independent analysis to complement and validate their own testing and evaluation of AI-enabled systems, helping establish confidence for end users.”

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First-Time Wash100 Winners Leslie Beavers of DOD & Tom Watson of Serco Profiled for GovCon Achievements
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First-Time Wash100 Winners Leslie Beavers of DOD & Tom Watson of Serco Profiled for GovCon Achievements

The Wash100 Award always has some returning recipients, folks who can’t help but make the list repeatedly due to their continual accomplishments and undeniable impacts on the government contracting space. But the tradition is also known for singling out new talent and predicting who the leaders of tomorrow will be.

Today, Executive Mosaic publications highlighted two individuals who are winning their first Wash100 in 2024: the Department of Defense’s Leslie Beavers and Serco Inc.’s Tom Watson.

No matter who you are, though, the elite Wash100 — GovCon’s highest honor — is selected based on stand-out qualities of leadership, innovation, vision and reliability, among others. Recipients come, as is demonstrated by the two winners spotlighted today, from both the public and private sector sides of the GovCon equation.

Beavers, who serves as principal deputy chief information officer at the DOD, “is a crucial proponent of the Pentagon’s 5G, cloud, zero trust, IT modernization and software supply chain security efforts,” according to Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award. “She has played a pivotal role in the DOD’s customer and user experience initiatives, and she’s well-known for being a changemaker in the department.” Read Beavers’ full profile at GovCon Wire here.

Watson is CEO of Serco and “has worked to drive growth and technological innovation within the $1.5 billion company. He brings to the chief executive role deep expertise in the defense market — garnered through his previous role leading Serco’s defense business — and a keen understanding of Serco’s customers and priorities,” Garrettson described. Delve into Watson’s impressive resume in his ExecutiveBiz profile here.

Congratulations to these two great leaders — welcome to the Wash100!

While the Wash100 list is now set in stone, its popular vote contest is still well underway. Submit your favorites here!

Gerry Fasano: A GovCon Leader’s Story of Winning His 5th Wash100 Award
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Gerry Fasano: A GovCon Leader’s Story of Winning His 5th Wash100 Award

Gerry Fasano has won yet another Wash100 award for the fifth consecutive year. His dedication to the government contracting industry has been a consistent force that drives overall growth in the federal defense landscape. This same dedication has catapulted him into the leadership team of Leidos, one of the largest consulting firms for IT, healthcare, and national security.

 

Gerry Fasano’s Wash100 2024 recognition is the first time he’s been bestowed this prestigious award in his new role as Leidos’ Chief Growth Officer; it’s his fifth time overall receiving this accolade. Having been presented with this honor year after year is a testament to Fasano’s undying efforts as a premier GovCon leader.

 

Discover the distinguished background of Gerry Fasano and his rise as a trailblazer in the government contracting field.

 

About Gerry Fasano

 

Gerry Fasano boasts nearly two decades of executive leadership experience in prominent government contracting companies. His current role as Leidos‘ Chief Growth Officer (CGO) is a culmination of his business and development efforts, encompassing mergers, acquisitions, integrations, and growth strategies.

 

Mr. Fasano’s most distinguishable project was leading the separation of the Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS) business segment out of Lockheed Martin into Leidos. Combining the two authorities created the $10 billion technology and solutions company. This milestone marks his almost a decade tenure at Leidos.

 

Aside from a demonstrated professional portfolio, the Leidos’ CGO boasts an impressive academic record. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University.

Banner of the 5th Annual CIO Summit 2024

 

Gerry Fasano: A Winner of the Wash100 Award for the 5th Consecutive Year

 

The Wash100 recognizes Gerry Fasano for the fifth time for his persistent contributions to the government contracting (GovCon) industry. Key areas where his impact has been felt encompass defense IT, C5ISR, GovCon, and contracts and acquisitions.

 

Executive Mosaic (EM), the award-giving organization behind the Wash100, has handpicked Mr. Fasano for his undying commitment to GovCon, putting him on the pedestal as one of the most trusted friends in the industry. 

 

2024: First Wash100 Award as Leidos’ Chief Growth Officer

 

Assuming the office as Leidos’ Chief Growth Officer in January 2024, Gerry Fasano’s Wash100 win in 2024 is his first for his new role. Recognized for delivering unstinted growth since his roots as the integrator of IS&GS, Fasano’s fifth award is a well-deserved win.

 

Cast your votes for the executives you deem to have the most significant impact on the government contracting industry. Voting ends in late April 2024.

 

2023: Leadership in Defense IT and C5ISR Mission Support

 

Gerry Fasano (on the left) receives his fourth Wash100 recognition awarded by Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson (on the right).
Photo/ Executive Mosaic

 

Leading to Fasano’s Wash100 Award in 2023, Mr. Fasano, then Leidos’ Defense Group President, had worked toward strengthening the technological capabilities and services for national defense missions. Specifically, he served as the key executive in fine-tuning the company’s enterprise suite of C5ISR solutions.

 

“Gerry is well-known, established, and active in the bustling GovCon community. If you’re looking for a return on limited capture dollars, Gerry is the horse to bet on because of his proven and continuous track record of success,” Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award, said.

 

2022: Expansion in Defense Portfolio in the GovCon Arena

 

Gerry Fasano (on the left) receives a Wash100 award for the third consecutive year.
Photo/ Executive Mosaic

 

Gerry Fasano won his third Wash100 Award in 2022 for his command of Leidos’ defense portfolio in the GovCon landscape. Notable accomplishments he achieved for the company include the acquisition and development of the 1901 Group and Gibbs & Cox.

 

Moreover, Mr. Fasano was pivotal in securing major defense contract awards, which expanded Leidos’ areas of interest in geospatial data collection and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) operations. Under his purview, the firm secured the four-year $600 million award to assist the Army Geospatial Center’s BuckEye mission.

 

2021: Driving Growth Through Federal Contracts and Acquisitions

 

As the President of Defense at Leidos, Gerry Fasano headed the finalization of federal contracts and acquisitions. These efforts resulted in valuable connections and increased revenue for the company, landing him his second Wash100 Award.

 

Leading to this award, Mr. Fasano bagged the coveted $7.7 billion NGEN-R. His leadership was critical in ensuring the victory for Leidos amid three protests. This solidified not only his track record in acquisition processes but also the Leidos Defense Group’s footprint in the government contracting arena.

 

2020: First Wash100 Award for Leading Leidos Defense

 

Gerry Fasano received his first Wash100 Award for providing the U.S. military and the federal government with advanced technological capabilities. Receiving this accolade was a well-deserved achievement as his efforts led Leidos Defense to experience exponential growth and increased revenue.

 

In his role as the President of Leidos Defense, Mr. Fasano displayed proven capabilities in delivering advanced systems, systems, and services to solve defense customers’ challenges in autonomy, C4ISR, digital transformation, enterprise logistics, and software development.

 

Gerry Fasano: Executive Leadership in the Government Contracting Landscape

 

Gerry Fasano shares his expertise on the podium.
Photo/ American Security Today

 

Gerry Fasano rose to become the Vice President of Lockheed Martin’s IS&GS in 2005. He assumed various executive roles for the company’s IS&GS and Defense Group, handling multi-billion dollar projects and overseeing mergers and acquisitions of major defense contracts in its global lines of business.

 

Fasano’s tenure at Lockheed Martin concluded as the Merger and Integration Executive Lead, where he led the IS&GS’ separation from the company and into Leidos. He continued serving in this role upon transitioning to Leidos, spurring him into his next role as the Chief of Business Development and Strategy.

 

In 2018, Mr. Fasano assumed the role of President of Leidos Defense Group, where he became most recognizable as an award-winning executive. Finally, in January 2024, he became Leidos’ Chief Growth Officer.

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