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DOJ, GSA, Armed Forces Retirement Home Secure TMF Investments; Clare Martorana Quoted
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DOJ, GSA, Armed Forces Retirement Home Secure TMF Investments; Clare Martorana Quoted

The Technology Modernization Fund has made investments worth about $71.2 million combined in the Department of Justice, General Services Administration and the Armed Forces Retirement Home, or AFRH, to help the agencies improve customer service and deliver secure services to the public.

DOJ’s Antitrust Division will receive $45.5 million in TMF funding to improve its internal information technology service management platform, simplify the public complaints process, enhance its case management systems and acquire and field updated review systems, GSA said Wednesday.

GSA will implement a modernized architecture and address security vulnerabilities facing its eRulemaking Program using TMF investment worth $19.7 million.

AFRH will implement a modernized electronic health record system using $6 million in TMF funding to help improve the delivery of health care services to residents.

“These TMF investments will strengthen cybersecurity, reduce burden for the Federal workforce so they can focus on mission, and improve trust with the millions counting on the DOJ, GSA, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home to deliver government services,” said Clare Martorana, federal chief information officer, board chair of TMF and a previous Wash100 awardee.

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New HHS Cybersecurity Performance Goals Designed to Strengthen Public Health Entities’ IT Infrastructure
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New HHS Cybersecurity Performance Goals Designed to Strengthen Public Health Entities’ IT Infrastructure

The Department of Health and Human Services issued voluntary cybersecurity performance goals and launched a gateway website to guide healthcare and public health organizations in defending their IT infrastructure.

HHS’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response on Wednesday published the performance goals to ensure the implementation of layered protection and other high-impact cybersecurity practices.

The goals are based on standards including the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework, Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices and the National Cybersecurity Strategy and Implementation Plan.

Among the objectives are conducting basic IT defense training, removing departing personnel’s access to apps, setting up e-mail security perimeters and applying network segmentation techniques.

“The actions announced today make it easier for health care organizations to protect patients by prioritizing those key cybersecurity practices upon which they should focus their efforts,” HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell commented.

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Over 35 Federal & Private Organizations Come Together for National AI Research Resource Pilot
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Over 35 Federal & Private Organizations Come Together for National AI Research Resource Pilot

The National Science Foundation is leading the launch of a pilot program aimed at giving U.S.-based researchers and educators access to artificial intelligence technologies, training and user support.

The National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource pilot involves NSF and 10 other federal agencies, as well as 25 organizations from the private sector and nonprofit and philanthropic backgrounds, the foundation said Wednesday.

NAIRR will foster AI discovery and innovation by facilitating data access and bridging R&D professionals, NSF stated. Arati Prabhakar, assistant to the president for science and technology and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology and Wash100 inductee, explained that the pilot “will give researchers access to critical data and compute, catalyzing action to achieve America’s great aspirations.”

“The pilot program is a critical step in driving usage of HW & SW with AI Technologies. Intel is looking forward to sharing deep technical knowledge on the usage of Intel platforms (CPU, GPU, accelerators, and other ecosystem ingredients), software tools, and optimization support which are critical for NAIRR initiatives,” remarked Steve Orrin, chief technology officer of Intel‘s federal business, one of the partners in the pilot program.

Kathleen Fisher, director of the Information Innovation Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, also shared DARPA’s role as a pilot partner. “National security applications of AI will require high levels of trust and proficiency. By providing the NAIRR pilot datasets cultivated through DARPA programs, we aim to accelerate research in critical areas of interest to the Department of Defense, such as AI theory, AI engineering and human-AI teaming,” said Fisher, who will be one of the speakers at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit.

The summit, which aims to address the increasing adoption of AI in the federal sector, will take place on March 21 in Falls Church, Virginia. Register now to be part of the event.

POC - 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit
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Pentagon Awards 2 Contracts to Help Enhance Semiconductor Packaging Capabilities
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Pentagon Awards 2 Contracts to Help Enhance Semiconductor Packaging Capabilities

The Department of Defense has awarded two contracts worth $49 million combined to Micross Components and the government of Osceola County in Florida to improve packaging capacity and capabilities for semiconductors used in defense operations.

DOD said Wednesday it made the awards through IBAS, or the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program, and as part of the Re-shore Ecosystem for Secure Heterogeneous Advanced Packaged Electronics, or RESHAPE initiative.

“Revitalizing a semiconductor advanced packaging manufacturing ecosystem in the U.S. is critical to enabling the Department’s weapon system development and manufacturing partners across industry to support our warfighters,” said Laura Taylor-Kale, assistant secretary for industrial base policy at DOD.

“It will also enable lower volume manufacturing commercial markets across the U.S. to advance their products and to assist in sustaining these critical manufacturing capabilities,” added Kale.

The department said the contracts focus on high-mix or low-volume production of 2.5 and 3D advanced packaging platforms for semiconductors and support the National Defense Industrial Strategy’s priority to develop resilient supply chains.

New Biden Administration Actions Aim to Help Small Businesses Access Government Contracts
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New Biden Administration Actions Aim to Help Small Businesses Access Government Contracts

The Biden administration has taken steps to make major government contracts more accessible for small businesses.

These actions include the introduction of new guidance from the Office of Management and Budget and a Small Business Administration effort to enhance a technical assistance program, the White House said Thursday.

OMB’s guidance is intended to push federal agencies to embrace strategies that would help small businesses to take part in multiple-award contracts, which account for almost 20 percent, or $160 billion, of government contract funds.

The office suggests three ways agencies can open up small business opportunities, which include engaging and planning for multiple-award contracts earlier; expanding the consideration of “on-ramps” to enable the admittance of new companies during a contract’s performance period; and leveraging small business set aside orders.

To diversify technical assistance opportunities for these organizations, the SBA will optimize its Empower to Grow, or E2G, program, which is open to small disadvantaged businesses in low income or high unemployment areas.

Upgrades will include a customizable one-on-one training offering that will lead small businesses through the contract bidding process and host networking and matchmaking events between government organizations and prime contractors.

Last fiscal year, the E2G program supported 6,000 small businesses and assisted 2,000 small businesses that sought to cultivate their presence in federal contracting. On average, small businesses that participated in the program saw their annual revenue grow by 45 percent.

These steps forward follow multiple small business-focused actions taken by the Biden administration in 2023, including the expansion of the SBA’s Small Business Lending Company program and the Department of the Treasury’s State Small Business Initiative, among other efforts.

NGA Stands Up Operations Center to Provide GEOINT Products to Military, Policymakers; Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth Quoted
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NGA Stands Up Operations Center to Provide GEOINT Products to Military, Policymakers; Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth Quoted

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has established a new operations center to provide military forces and policymakers round-the-clock access to geospatial data.

NGA said Wednesday the National GEOINT Operations Center, also known as NGOC, will operate 24/7 and act as an expanded watch center offering visual products and mission-critical GEOINT to the U.S. military and national-level decision-makers.

“Today we unite both our watches with a shared mission under one name, the National GEOINT Operations Center – the NGOC – for better warfighting, stronger communications and improved visibility,” said Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, director of NGA and a 2024 Wash100 awardee.

According to Whitworth, NGOC works parallel to the National Security Operations Center operated by the National Security Agency.

At NGOC, senior-level officers organize and lead multiple watch teams to survey and provide time-critical GEOINT products to intended recipients.

With the new center, NGA aims to drive its indicators, warning and global situational awareness mission.

Jeff Pursel, VP of Technology Development at Riverside Research, Introduces Keynote Speaker at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit
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Jeff Pursel, VP of Technology Development at Riverside Research, Introduces Keynote Speaker at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

Register here to be a part of POC’s 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit and hear leaders’ oversight in harnessing cutting-edge tech for enhancing military efforts.

 

The United States military relies on consistent technological developments to further its warfighting capabilities and maintain its advantage on the battlefield. Behind these wave-making technologies are leaders, such as Jeff Pursel, PhD, who are committed to designing and modernizing these solutions.

 

Dr. Jeff Pursel is among the esteemed leaders making up the Potomac Officers Club’s (POC) 10th Annual Defense Research and Development Summit. Get to know more about him here.

 

Who is Dr. Jeff Pursel?

 

Dr. Jeffrey Pursel, or Jeff among close friends and colleagues, is the Vice President of Technology Development at Riverside Research. He assumed the role in December 2023, currently leading the alignment of strategies, customer engagement, intellectual property, technology roadmaps, cross-functional collaboration, and technical risk management.

 

Dr. Pursel oversees operations to nurture the company’s enterprise-wide $14 million independent research and development effort. By bridging this gap, he enables the delivery of R&D capabilities to customers’ specific mission needs.

 

Besides handling R&D and technology development functions, Dr. Jeff Pursel leads Riverside Research’s Open Innovation Center, overseeing multiple laboratories focused on developing innovative technologies to support the Intelligence Communities and the Department of Defense.

 

Dr. Pursel’s Career Journey

 

Dr. Pursel's Career Journey
Photo by IM Imagery/ Shutterstock

 

Dr. Jeff Pursel spent over 20 years handling research and development functions at Riverside Research. He joined the company in 1998 and tackled different facets of research, making him paramount to the company’s mission to deliver innovative solutions.

 

Outlined below are the previous positions of Dr. Pursel before becoming the Vice President of Technology Development:

 

  • Vice President of Open Innovation Center, from February 2021 to December 2023
  • Executive Director of Open Innovation Center, from December 2016 to February 2021
  • Director of Open Innovation Center, from October 2015 to December 2016
  • Chairman of Electromagnetic Sciences Center of Excellence, September 2014 to December 2016
  • Director of Electromagnetics Laboratory, from December 2012 to September 2016
  • Acting Research Director of Electromagnetic Sciences, from March 2012 to December 2012
  • Research Manager, from May 2011 to May 2012
  • Assistant Research Manager, from June 2009 to April 2011
  • Principal Member of the Research Staff, from June 2007 to May 2009

 

Dr. Jeff Pursel finished his Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at California State University in 1993. He received his Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Science, majoring in electromagnetics from the University of Mississippi.

 

About Riverside Research

 

About Riverside Research
Logo/ Riverside Research | Photo by PopTika/ Shutterstock

 

Riverside Research is a non-profit organization established by law to propel scientific research efforts to empower the US government and public organizations. Founded in 1967, Riverside Research applies an open innovation concept to invest in multi-faceted research and development, drive innovation, and advance scientific initiatives.

 

For more than 40 years, Riverside Research has led initiatives in electromagnetics, biomedical engineering, plasma physics, machine learning, trusted systems, radio frequency systems, and optics and photonics.

 

Jeff Pursel, PhD., Keynote Introducer at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

 

10th Annual Defense R&D Summit Banner

 

The 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit is one of the upcoming events hosted by the Potomac Officers Club. By clicking here, you become an official member and get to meet other esteemed government leaders comprising the prestigious summit.

 

A highlight of the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit is that you’ll get to hear more than 30 esteemed leaders and experts discuss the future of US military technology in achieving dominance, reducing death and casualties, and navigating the physical and virtual battlespaces.

 

Another highlight of the event is that Dr. Jeff Pursel will introduce Aditi Kumar of the Defense Innovation Unit as the mid-day keynote speaker. 

 

You might want to read: 3 Major Contract Opportunities Shaping the Defense R&D Ecosystem

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Department of Energy Environmental Management Advisory Board Welcomes New Members
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Department of Energy Environmental Management Advisory Board Welcomes New Members

Eight new members have been added to the Environmental Management Advisory Board, an organization that works to advise and offer recommendations to the Department of Energy assistant secretary for environmental management on site cleanup and risk reduction issues.

EMAB, which operates under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, currently has a total of 21 members, all of whom are appointed by the U.S. secretary of energy and serve two-year terms with the possibility of renewal, the DOE Office of Environmental Management said Tuesday.

First chartered in 1992, the board has offered 237 recommendations and provided guidance on environmental management activities.

Regarding the new members, EM Office of Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Programs Director Joceline Nahigian said, “EM will benefit greatly from their expertise and experience, and we look forward to working with EMAB to advance our cleanup mission.”

The eight new members are:

  • Mark Barnett – professor, Auburn University
  • Bruce Bordenick – senior engineer, SC&A
  • Ralph DiSibio – former CEO and chair, Kurion
  • Rich Janati – administrator, Appalachian States Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
  • Andy Kelsey – former vice president, Bechtel
  • Alastair MacDonald – vice president, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
  • Shari Meghreblian – senior manager, Ernst & Young
  • Brian Powell – professor, Clemson University
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NOAA Announces $85M Investment in Climate Data Tools Development Program; Rick Spinrad Quoted
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NOAA Announces $85M Investment in Climate Data Tools Development Program; Rick Spinrad Quoted

The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will invest $85 million in a program that seeks to foster the development and use of actionable data to advance climate resilience.

NOAA said Tuesday the National Centers for Environmental Information, or NCEI, will lead the Industry Proving Grounds — a.k.a. IPG — program, which will focus on three industries: engineering, finance and reinsurance and retail and architecture.

Through the Inflation Reduction Act-funded IPG program, NCEI will work with industry partners to help inform the delivery of climate data and sector-relevant data platforms, broaden its set of products that combine environmental and socioeconomic data and address sector-identified gaps in climate data needs.

NCEI will also modernize NOAA’s information network and advance the use of artificial intelligence and cloud to facilitate the delivery of user-friendly climate information.

“This new Industry Proving Grounds initiative will help advance NOAA’s efforts to build a more Climate-Ready Nation by making way for innovative product development and ensuring our climate products, data and services meet the needs of climate-impacted industries,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad.

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Larry Bafundo Named Technology Modernization Fund Deputy Executive Director
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Larry Bafundo Named Technology Modernization Fund Deputy Executive Director

Larry Bafundo, a technology professional and product leader, has been appointed deputy executive director of the Technology Modernization Fund program management office at the General Services Administration, Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

Bafundo will also serve as acting executive director of TMF PMO.

He succeeds Raylene Yung, who stepped down in October after being at the helm of TMF PMO for two years. Yung joined the Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations as chief of staff.

Prior to TMF, Bafundo was director of information technology modernization strategy at the Department of Labor, where he also served as deputy director of technology for unemployment insurance modernization.

He previously worked at Ad Hoc as vice president of digital services and director of product management and at Digital Foundry as a strategy consultant, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Bafundo first joined GSA in 2015 as a product manager with the 18F organization, where he led a digital transformation initiative with the FBI.

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