Catalyst Accelerator Announces 7 Companies for 13th Space Domain Awareness Cohort
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Catalyst Accelerator Announces 7 Companies for 13th Space Domain Awareness Cohort

The Catalyst Accelerator has announced a new cohort of companies that will utilize commercial data and tools to increase the U.S. Space Force’s awareness of the space environment.

The 13th Space Domain Awareness cohort is the first Catalyst Accelerator supported by The Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications & Processing Lab, a Space Systems Command-run accelerator dedicated to advancing SDA innovations.

“The TAP Lab is partnered with Catalyst Campus to feed companies directly from the Catalyst Accelerator into the lab. They mature the business model, and the lab helps accelerate the product,” said Maj. Sean Allen, chief of the SDA TAP Lab.

In a December 2023 announcement, the Catalyst Accelerator said that the new cohort will focus on topic areas such as space launch custody, classifying uncorrelated tracks, classification of object types, operator decision aids, classification of satellite vehicle propulsion, event detection, hostility assessment and predictive analytics.

The 13th SDA cohort participants are:

  • Active Vigilance
  • Astra Ultra
  • Exclosure
  • iMETALX
  • Orbital Services Corporation
  • Quasar Satellite Technologies
  • TRL 11
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Michael Duffy on CISA’s Federal Enterprise Operations Cyber Alignment Plan
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Michael Duffy on CISA’s Federal Enterprise Operations Cyber Alignment Plan

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is launching the Federal Enterprise Operations Cyber Alignment Plan to enable federal agencies to discuss and share information on cyber incidents, issues and approaches and develop a unified strategy to address such issues, Federal News Network reported Wednesday.

“The concept of alignment is an important shift in the way that we’re approaching this,” said Michael Duffy, associate director of the cybersecurity division at CISA.

“We designed an operational cyber enterprise plan, which identified all of the areas that we think the federal government, as an enterprise, should be focusing on improvement actions. We had fantastic feedback from [chief information security officers] and agency teams,” he elaborated.

Duffy noted the known exploited vulnerabilities catalog as something agencies should monitor and shared his thoughts on the federal zero trust managers community of practice, which he called “an important step forward for CISA.”

“We’ve coupled that with a training program where we are able to provide a standard baseline of understanding for these zero trust managers so they can go into these conversations using the same terminology, using the same approaches, and applying the same tricks of the trade, the way that the zero trust managers are considering this challenge at the enterprise level,” he said of the group.

Duffy also mentioned the agency’s progress with the mobile app vetting service, which can pinpoint app vulnerabilities and risks and supports risk-based decision making.

POC - 2024 Cyber Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit on June 6 and hear cyber experts, government and industry leaders discuss the latest trends and the dynamic role of cyber in the public sector. Register here.

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Office of Space Commerce Turns to Industry for SSA Data Quality Monitoring Services
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Office of Space Commerce Turns to Industry for SSA Data Quality Monitoring Services

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration‘s Office of Space Commerce is planning to procure space situational awareness, or SSA, data quality monitoring services from commercial vendors through the Global Data Marketplace.

OSC said Thursday that the selected providers will act as independent evaluators for the Consolidated Pathfinder program and help the office assess the accuracy, quality and consistency of orbital products built by COMSPOC, LeoLabs and Slingshot Aerospace.

Under the Consolidated Pathfinder project, the three companies are expected to deliver SSA data and services in support of the Traffic Coordination System for Space program, which aims to build a cloud-based platform for SSA and traffic coordination services for commercial and civil space operators.

Registered vendors in the Global Data Marketplace have until Feb. 27 to submit proposals for the initiative.

POC - 2024 Space Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Space Summit on March 5 to learn how new technologies, commercial investments and adversarial threats are shaping the future of space. Click here to register!

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Jonathan Mayer Becomes Inaugural AI, S&T Chief of DOJ; Merrick Garland Quoted
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Jonathan Mayer Becomes Inaugural AI, S&T Chief of DOJ; Merrick Garland Quoted

The Department of Justice has appointed its first-ever chief science and technology advisor and chief artificial intelligence officer, Jonathan Mayer.

He comes from Princeton University, where he is an assistant professor at the institution’s Department of Computer Science and School of Public and International Affairs, the agency said Thursday.

“Jonathan’s expertise will be invaluable in ensuring that the entire Justice Department — including our law enforcement components, litigating components, grantmaking entities, and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices — is prepared for both the challenges and opportunities that new technologies present,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

In his new role, Mayer will work under the Office of Legal Policy, leading technical and policy experts in developing the department’s understanding of technology in various fields, such as cybersecurity and AI.

As chief AI officer, he will oversee the Emerging Technology Board, the DOJ’s new division for governing novel innovations across the agency, and oversee collaborative work on AI and related issues.

Jonathan Mayer Becomes Inaugural AI, S&T Chief of DOJ; Merrick Garland Quoted

Interested in learning more about how the U.S. government is approaching AI? The Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual AI Summit on March 21 will bring together public and private sector leaders to discuss the most pressing challenges and exciting opportunities in federal AI adoption. To learn more and register to attend the event, click here.

Carlos Del Toro: Department of the Navy Formed Maritime Economic Deterrence Executive Council
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Carlos Del Toro: Department of the Navy Formed Maritime Economic Deterrence Executive Council

Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, shared that the Department of the Navy established a new council to help address adversarial foreign investment risks, coordinate and defend research efforts, advance supply chain integrity initiatives and safeguard innovation and technology.

He announced the formation of Maritime Economic Deterrence Executive Council, or MEDEC, at a panel discussion held Thursday in New York City, the Navy said Thursday.

“While the work to protect our defense industrial ecosystem by each organization is not new, bringing them together as a unified, focused council to address Maritime Economic Deterrence allows us to better synchronize our efforts and be leaders in the larger DoD Economic Deterrence initiative,” Del Toro told attendees.

The Navy secretary emphasized the risks posed by the compromise or loss of key technologies and products to businesses as well as data privacy risks.

“MEDEC is our Department’s acknowledgement of these risks, and represents our commitment to helping you identify and address them early, for the safety of our personnel, as well as the security of our allies and partners, depends on us getting this right,” Del Toro said.

He said MEDEC is co-chaired by Vice Adm. Francis Morley, principal military deputy to the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, and Chief of Staff Chris Diaz.

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Gen. Stephen Whiting Emphasizes Increased But Responsible Space Dominance in New SPACECOM Strategic Vision
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Gen. Stephen Whiting Emphasizes Increased But Responsible Space Dominance in New SPACECOM Strategic Vision

The U.S. Space Command unveiled a new strategic vision toward its goal of expanding domain leadership and combat readiness by the year 2027.

U.S. Space Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting on Tuesday introduced the document, which lists four priority objectives to achieve the service branch’s vision.

Apart from maintaining space superiority and battlefield preparedness by 2027, SPACECOM intends to fortify its alliances while continuing to abide by the ethical rules of space exploration. The vision also stresses “laser focus” attention to complying with Title 10 of the United States Code for the armed forces.

“At end state, USSPACECOM conducts dynamic, partnered, and integrated space operations and transregional missile defense support to enable Joint Force lethality and effectiveness while protecting it from space-enabled attack, extending our advantage over competitors, and successfully operating in the face of the threats arrayed against us through all levels of conflict to deter aggression and defeat adversaries,” Whiting wrote. “Our unwavering commitment to the citizens of the United States and our Allies remains, ‘there will never be a day without space,” the 2024 Wash100 winner added.

Whiting will be one of the keynote speakers at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Space Summit on March 5. Register now for this special event to hear him and other experts share insights and updates on the future of the space sector.

POC - 2024 Space Summit
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MDClone’s Matthew Osucha Shares Thoughts on Leadership & Innovation Landscape
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MDClone’s Matthew Osucha Shares Thoughts on Leadership & Innovation Landscape

Matthew Osucha currently serves as vice president of MDClone’s North American Sales and Federal Sector, where he leads the company’s delivery of healthcare data analytics platforms. He began his career in the U.S. Army, where he served for over a decade, and has held leadership positions at other private sector organizations.

Osucha recently participated in an interview with the Potomac Officers Club in which he discussed his leadership style, highlighted his core values and offered his insights on the evolving federal technology ecosystem.

In this excerpt from the interview, Osucha shares his strategy for building a positive work culture:

“I have found that transformative leadership, a style built on identifying ways to inspire and motivate a team to reach higher levels of innovation, performance and execution, has several benefits. Applying this method leads to more inclusive teams, encourages creativity and fosters a sense of continuous learning. I always look out for the team by building the bench, rewarding and recognizing others – both internally and externally. I also believe in lifting as you climb. Promote people out of your organization – don’t keep them in the same place just because you have a great team.”

To learn more about Osucha’s leadership style, read the full Executive Spotlight interview on the Potomac Officers Club website.

Do you want to participate in your own Executive Spotlight interview? Potomac Officers Club members have exclusive access to this brand-building opportunity and many other benefits. To explore our membership options and discover which one is right for you, click here.

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Capgemini’s Bill Webner and DARPA’s Stefanie Tompkins Join Wash100 Ranks
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Capgemini’s Bill Webner and DARPA’s Stefanie Tompkins Join Wash100 Ranks

On Friday, Executive Mosaic recognized Bill Webner, chair, president and CEO of Capgemini Government Solutions, and Stefanie Tompkins, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, for their 2024 Wash100 Award wins.

The esteemed Wash100 Award annually highlights the most impactful figures in the government contracting industry. To choose these executives, Wash100 puts its nominees through an intense selection process that looks at the past accomplishments and ongoing influence of each leader.

Webner was inducted into Wash100 for the first time this year. He assumed his current position in February 2023, and has since led Capgemini Government Solutions’ innovation endeavors. One area in which Webner has shined is 5G, which he has spoken extensively about, and he has also zeroed in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Click here to read his full profile.

Tompkins’ 2024 win marks her third, and this year, she was honored for advancing numerous DARPA research initiatives. With Tompkins at the helm, DARPA made progress in multiple artificial intelligence and quantum-focused projects, including the Optimization with Noisy Intermediate Quantum devices program, which made a key breakthrough in quantum research. Read her full profile here.

The annual Wash100 popular vote contest has returned! Visit Wash100.com to cast your votes for Webner and Tompkins as your favorite 2024 winners.

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IARPA Awards 6 Research Contracts Under Aerosol Detection Tech Development Program; Sherrie Pilkington Quoted
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IARPA Awards 6 Research Contracts Under Aerosol Detection Tech Development Program; Sherrie Pilkington Quoted

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity has awarded contracts to six corporate and academic organizations to research and develop technologies that could help detect and identify harmful aerosols in challenging environments as part of a multiyear program.

The Pursuing Intelligent Complex Aerosols for Rapid Detection program, also known as PICARD, intends to advance the development of standoff and in situ sensing systems to detect complex aerosols in pollutants, dust, pollen, wind and volcanic ash, IARPA said Wednesday.

“Identifying the chemicals in aerosol particles is a particularly hard problem due to dynamic environmental conditions and the way the chemicals mix and mold themselves into unique structures. For example, dust on the surface of a water droplet will change what the sensor sees,” said Sherrie Pilkington, PICARD program manager at IARPA.

The awardees are Detect-ION, Signature Science, Virginia Tech, University of Colorado Boulder, SRI International and Leidos.

The contracts were awarded through a competitive broad agency announcement.

“Resulting technology from PICARD will enable the Intelligence Community to more rapidly and accurately detect dangerous chemical aerosols, which will markedly improve the mitigation of chemical threat agents and help protect personnel and U.S. citizens,” added Pilkington.

The Naval Research Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will perform test and evaluation work on the PICARD program, which is expected to run for 42 months.

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FCC to Vote in March on Proposed Framework to Address Wireless Coverage Gaps; Jessica Rosenworcel Quoted
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FCC to Vote in March on Proposed Framework to Address Wireless Coverage Gaps; Jessica Rosenworcel Quoted

The Federal Communications Commission will hold an open meeting on March 14 to vote on a proposed regulatory framework that seeks to promote collaboration between wireless providers and satellite operators and provide satellite connectivity to smartphone users in remote and underserved areas.

FCC said Wednesday the proposed framework intends to deliver supplemental coverage from space to address wireless coverage gaps.

“By taking advantage of satellite connectivity, we can enhance our smartphones and get rid of ‘dead zones,’” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.

The framework would authorize satellite operators to manage space stations on a licensed radio frequency spectrum allocated to terrestrial service providers and on an interim basis, establish a requirement that calls for terrestrial providers to use an emergency call center or location-based routing to route SCS 911 calls to a Public Safety Answering Point.

“This groundbreaking framework will ensure continued U.S. leadership and establish a clear and predictable regulatory approach to these partnerships in support of innovation and competition,” Rosenworcel stated.

In March 2023, the commission first proposed a licensing rule to authorize space-based connectivity in mobile devices.

POC - 2024 Space Summit

Hear government leaders, space experts and industry executives discuss the latest space technologies, commercial investments and urgent issues facing the space domain at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Space Summit on March 5. Register here.

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