DHS S&T Taps University of Alaska Anchorage to Launch New Arctic COE
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DHS S&T Taps University of Alaska Anchorage to Launch New Arctic COE

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate has selected the University of Alaska Anchorage to lead a consortium of U.S. academic institutions for a new Arctic Center of Excellence.

DHS S&T said Thursday it will provide $46 million in funding over 10 years for the ADAC-ARCTIC COE to expand research and education resources to advance homeland security in the Arctic region.

“The ADAC-ARCTIC COE will affect major DHS mission priorities by focusing on critical research needed to prepare for and implement effective responses to challenges facing the Arctic domain,” said Dimitri Kusnezov, under secretary for science and technology at DHS.

The COE will foster collaboration between government and industry partners, local and indigenous communities and academic institutions to create multidisciplinary technologies designed to address natural and man-made disasters, ice melt and communications infrastructure challenges.

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Procentrix CGO Tom Councell Discusses Core Values, GovCon Landscape & More
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Procentrix CGO Tom Councell Discusses Core Values, GovCon Landscape & More

Prior to assuming his role as chief growth officer of Procentrix, Tom Councell held leadership positions at CACI, ManTech and other technology companies. His career began in the U.S. Air Force, and his experiences in the service branch inform his current work.

Councell recently participated in an interview with the Potomac Officers Club, in which he discussed his career background, highlighted his core values and offered his insights on today’s government contracting landscape.

In this excerpt from the interview, Councell shares his thoughts on technological evolution:

“I’ve had the privilege to partner with federal civilian, Department of Defense and Intelligence Community organizations over the past 30 years, and one of the constants across these markets has been the increasing pace of technology change. That pace only accelerates as cloud and artificial intelligence technologies mature and systems evolve to make sense of growing volumes of data. You have to be open-minded to change in order to capitalize on the disruptions to benefit your mission.”

To learn more about how Councell views technological advancement, read the full Executive Spotlight interview on the Potomac Officers Club website.

Interested in participating in your own Executive Spotlight interview? This brand-building opportunity is available exclusively to Potomac Officers Club members, who also receive numerous other benefits. Click here to explore our membership options and discover which one is right for you.

NGA Requests Proposals for Commercial GEOINT Data Products, Services
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NGA Requests Proposals for Commercial GEOINT Data Products, Services

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is soliciting proposals for a new program to acquire commercial GEOINT data products and services from multiple vendors to boost the agency’s analytic capabilities.

A notice posted Wednesday on SAM.gov states that the Luno A program seeks to procure products, data and services produced from unclassified, commercial GEOINT data sources.

NGA said the approach will enable its analysts to add context to analytic assessments and gain insights into GEOINT data to monitor military capabilities and track worldwide economic and environmental activities.

Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, director of NGA and a two-time Wash100 awardee, announced in December the agency’s plans to solicit proposals for the program as part of efforts to tap into industry analytics and automation to support national security missions.

Interested parties have until March 26 to respond to the request for proposals.

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Army’s EBS-C PMO Prepares for Procurement Efforts, Software Acquisition Pathway Transition in 2024
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Army’s EBS-C PMO Prepares for Procurement Efforts, Software Acquisition Pathway Transition in 2024

The Enterprise Business Systems-Convergence Project Management Office, also known as the EBS-C PMO, within the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems is set to release later in January a solicitation for the Technical Management and Advisory Support Services or TMASS contract.

TMASS will serve as a follow-on to the military branch’s Technical Services contract for program management and professional services, the Army PEO EIS said Thursday.

Apart from TMASS, the EBS-C PMO will conclude the prototyping phase for a software platform designed to merge the service’s multiple business systems and will select the best platform later this year.

EBS-C Deputy Project Manager Michael Gormley said the PMO is set to transition to the Software Acquisition Pathway in 2024.

The EBS-C PMO, which was designated as one of the “Pathfinder” programs, secured approval from the Army Acquisition Executive to shift to the Pathway in December.

The organization is expected to add seven new team members by the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 and welcome Lt. Col. Melvin Mitchell as its permanent project manager. Mitchell will succeed Lee James, who has been serving as interim PM of the EBS-C PMO since March 2023.

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‘Human-Centered Cybersecurity’ a Priority Under Latest Federal Cyber R&D Guidance
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‘Human-Centered Cybersecurity’ a Priority Under Latest Federal Cyber R&D Guidance

The design and security of information technology systems should take into greater account what end users need, what motivates them, how they behave and what their abilities are, according to a new guide document released by the National Science and Technology Council.

The 2023 Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan dubs this approach “human-centered cybersecurity” and lists it as one of five objectives and “critical dependencies” to guide federally-funded cybersecurity research toward advancing the goals of the Biden administration.

The plan criticizes what it describes as traditional cybersecurity for being overly focused on technology while underprioritizing people, whose actions cyber attackers ultimately exploit. Under the plan’s proposed approach, people are part of cybersecurity challenges and solutions.

Potential research work involving human-centered cybersecurity include coming up with ways to involve end users in the process of developing secure digital technologies; developing ways to make digital technology design factor in what people or organizations actually want to secure; and formulating approaches to evaluate whether a cybersecurity solution is effective, usable and inclusive, and if it offers a good user experience.

The 2023 Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan was prepared by the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Subcommittee of the NSTC Cyber Security and Information Assurance Interagency Working Group.

The 2023 plan updates the 2019 Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan as required by the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014.

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Nationwide IT Services Books $150M Air Force Task Order for SAF/AQ Support Services
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Nationwide IT Services Books $150M Air Force Task Order for SAF/AQ Support Services

Nationwide IT Services, a Fairfax, Virginia-based information technology company, has won a potential five-year, $149.6 million task order from the U.S. Air Force for support services to the Assistant Secretary for the Air Force for Acquisitions, or SAF/AQ.

The contractor will provide SAF/AQ with specialized expertise in support of its acquisition and sustainment efforts, innovation, technical competence enhancement and other missions, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

The initial award is worth $23.6 million and runs through Jan. 11, 2025. However, the firm-fixed-price task order has options that would bring the cumulative value to the previously reported amount and extend work until Jan. 11, 2029, if exercised.

The Air Force held a competitive acquisition and selected NIS from seven bidders. It is obligating $2 million from fiscal 2024 operation and maintenance funds at the time of award.

With an annual budget in excess of $60 billion, the SAF/AQ office is responsible for overseeing the research, development, acquisition and program sustainment activities of the Air Force across more than 550 acquisition programs.

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Space Launch Delta 30 Outlines Strategic Objectives to Achieve Mission Readiness
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Space Launch Delta 30 Outlines Strategic Objectives to Achieve Mission Readiness

Col. Mark Shoemaker, commander of Space Launch Delta 30, also known as SLD 30, has outlined four strategic objectives for 2024 and beyond to align the unit’s priorities with the U.S. Space Force’s Assured Access to Space mission.

SLD 30 said Wednesday it will collaborate with SLD 45 at Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to develop new concepts for spaceport operations to enhance its ability to carry out missions in complex environments.

Its second strategic objective focuses on strengthening collaborative efforts with installation mission partners to ensure operational mission readiness.

For its third objective, SLD 30 aims to improve the delivery of housing, childcare and medical services to military and civilian Guardians and airmen and their families.

“Our aim is to hire and retain a skilled and dedicated workforce, foster a positive and enriching environment, and make Vandenberg the base of choice for Department of the Air Force members and families,” Shoemaker said.

Shoemaker said SLD 30’s fourth objective is to embrace digital transformation and innovation to enable data-informed decision-making, improve accessibility and visibility and streamline operational choices across the enterprise.

“By executing on our Strategic Objectives, we will increase our agility and capacity and answer our nation’s call with even greater responsiveness and resilience,” Shoemaker said.

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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Carlos Del Toro Wants Comprehensive Analysis of Navy’s Shipbuilding Portfolio
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Carlos Del Toro Wants Comprehensive Analysis of Navy’s Shipbuilding Portfolio

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has called on Nickolas Guertin, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, and Vice Adm. James Downey, head of Naval Sea Systems Command, to perform a comprehensive review of the service branch’s shipbuilding portfolio and provide an interim report within 45 days.

The analysis should provide an assessment of shipbuilding challenges and its causes and offer recommended measures to strengthen the country’s shipbuilding industrial base in support of warfighters, the Navy said Thursday.

“I remain concerned with the lingering effects of post-pandemic conditions on our shipbuilders and their suppliers that continue to affect our shipbuilding programs, particularly our Columbia Class Ballistic Missile Submarines and Constellation Class Frigate,” said Del Toro, a previous Wash100 awardee.

“The American public should know that the Department of the Navy is committed to developing, delivering, and sustaining the finest warfighting capability to our Sailors and Marines,” he added.

In December, the secretary urged industry and academia to participate in efforts to reinstate the U.S. shipbuilding and repair landscape and noted that doing so demands a multipronged approach.

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Pentagon Unveils National Defense Industrial Strategy; William LaPlante Quoted
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Pentagon Unveils National Defense Industrial Strategy; William LaPlante Quoted

The Department of Defense has issued a new strategy that seeks to guide DOD’s policy development, engagement and investment in the defense industrial base in the next three to five years.

DOD said Thursday the inaugural National Defense Industrial Strategy, or NDIS, outlines the department’s four strategic priorities: resilient supply chains, workforce readiness, flexible acquisition and economic deterrence.

The strategy recommends several measures under each strategic priority.

To achieve flexible acquisition, the strategy suggests a number of actions, including broadening platform standards and interoperability; prioritizing off-the-shelf acquisition where reasonable and applicable; increasing access to intellectual property and data rights to enhance acquisition and sustainment; and continuing to support acquisition reform.

“The NDIS recognizes that America’s economic security and national security are mutually reinforcing and, ultimately the nation’s military strength cannot be untethered from our overall industrial strength. We must act now to build on recent progress and ensure we have the capacity to produce at speed and scale,” said  William LaPlante, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment and a two-time Wash100 Award winner.

Victor Udoewa from the CDC is a Panelist for the POC’s 2024 CX Imperative Forum
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Victor Udoewa from the CDC is a Panelist for the POC’s 2024 CX Imperative Forum

Victor Udoewa is the Service Design Lead of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology (OPHDST) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is one of the panelists for the Potomac Officers Club’s CX Imperative Forum on January 25, 2024. Get to know more about Victor Udoewa’s background and experiences here. 

 

Who is Victor Udoewa?

 

Victor Udoewa has a passion for design, education, and learning. He promotes the integration of positive deviance, pluriversal methods, and systems practice into the civic design. As part of his efforts to decolonize design, he leads an equity-centered meetup group and Justice by Design. Beyond his professional endeavors, Victor enjoys teaching salsa, singing with his a cappella group, and volunteering as a health trauma and crisis counselor.

 

Catch Victor Udoewa at the Potomac Officers Club’s CX Imperative Forum

 

Victor Udoewa is one of the panelists for the CX Imperative Forum on January 25, 2024. He is an important part of the event because he has lots of experience and knowledge in designing customer services, leading in civic design and innovation, and improving government products and services. 

CX Imperative Forum

 

See the event details here | Register here

 

You don’t want to miss the CX Imperative Forum, as it will dive into the bureaucratic paperwork challenge in the federal government, echoing President Biden’s call for change. From human-centered design to tech upgrades, the event is all about enhancing service delivery. It’s the key to boosting efficiency, equity, transparency, and citizen-focused services.

 

Victor Udoewa will be joined by other speakers, including:

 

 

One of Victor Udoewa’s notable speaking engagements was about radical participatory design (RPD) that involves stakeholders, community leadership, and a decolonized approach to the design process.

 

Victor Udoewa’s Career Timeline

 

Victor Udoewa is a Service Design Lead in the public sector, a position he assumed in September 2023. As the Founder and CEO of Justice by Design, he drives a vision for service design, equity, and accessibility. Furthermore, his CTO and Chief Experience Officer role at NASA improved employee satisfaction and migrated platforms to NASA-managed AWS.

 

Victor Udoewa’s extensive experience includes roles at CivicActions, 18F, and Google, where he played key roles in strategy, education, and design. His impact extends worldwide, from educational roles at George Washington University to influencing global digital literacy at Google. 

 

Victor Udoewa’s achievements are not limited to the technology sector. He is also a Science and Technology Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and USAID. 

 

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Victor Udoewa has engaged in music and acted in Main Street Theatre Company. 

 

How do Radical Participatory Design and customer experience work together?

 

Radical Participatory Design (RPD) is a method of designing things that involves everyone affected by the design, like customers and end-users, from the beginning to the end. 

 

In the customer experience (CX) context, RPD goes beyond bringing customers into the design process; it makes them leaders. This helps products or services match better with customer needs and make them feel more connected to what they use. The deeper involvement can also lead to higher satisfaction, quicker sales, and stronger customer loyalty.

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s efforts to enhance customer experience

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been working hard to enhance customer experience. These efforts are part of a broader initiative, “CDC Moving Forward,” to update the agency’s systems and processes. 

 

CDC focuses on sharing scientific findings and making it easier for people to use in practical applications. It wants to ensure everyone in the U.S. can access public health services by being more transparent and inclusive. CDC also launched “Clean Slate” to change the CDC.gov website, allowing for easier navigation by cutting down on unnecessary information by more than 60%.

 

Furthermore, CDC is modernizing its National Electronic Disease Surveillance System Base System (NBS) by asking people to ensure user feedback is continuously solicited and incorporated.

 

Finally, the CDC has partnered with Maximus to bring in new technology and make it easier for users to get help from the agency using digital tools.

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