GSA, DOD, NASA Seek Public Comment on Proposed FAR Changes for Small Business Subcontracting
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GSA, DOD, NASA Seek Public Comment on Proposed FAR Changes for Small Business Subcontracting

The Department of Defense, General Services Administration and NASA are seeking public feedback on their proposed changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation’s ruling on small business subcontracting.

The draft amendment aligns with the Small Business Administration’s 2016 amendment that standardizes limitations on non-manufacturers and subcontractors participating in SB socioeconomic programs, according to a notice published Wednesday on Federal Register.

Under SBA rules, the prime contractor’s subcontracting limits will include service agreements with other companies considered as a similar situation entity to the lead vendor’s subcontractor.

Existing FAR regarding SBA contracting, specifically FAR 19.8, has not incorporated the administration’s final rule.

The deadline for responding to the request for comment is on March 18.

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Marine Corps Tests New Air Defense System Against Unmanned Aerial Threats
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Marine Corps Tests New Air Defense System Against Unmanned Aerial Threats

The U.S. Marine Corps’ Program Executive Officer Land Systems tested the capability of a low-rate initial production model of an air defense integrated system against unmanned aerial threats during a live-fire test held in December at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

The Marine Air Defense Integrated System, also known as MADIS, is a short-range, surface-to-air platform designed to help low altitude air defense battalions deter and counter fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems, USMC said Wednesday.

MADIS can be mounted on joint light tactical vehicles and comes with surface-to-air missiles, radar systems, command-and-control elements and other disparate systems.

“MADIS can complete the entire kill chain, and we witness that during this event,” said Col. Andrew Konicki, program manager for Ground Based Air Defense.

“It is a linchpin for mission success and our ability to neutralize airborne threats…which in turn, increases our lethality,” added Konicki.

During the test, MADIS detected, identified, tracked and hit several drones and other unmanned aerial targets using a 30mm cannon and Stinger missiles.

The 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion will be the first MADIS recipient within the Marine Corps.

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John Plumb on DOD’s Classification Memo for Secret Space Programs
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John Plumb on DOD’s Classification Memo for Secret Space Programs

John Plumb, assistant secretary for space policy at the Department of Defense, said a new memorandum “completely rewrites” a classification policy for secret space programs, Breaking Defense reported Wednesday.

He noted that the memo signed by Deputy Defense Secretary and Wash100 awardee Kathleen Hicks in late 2023 seeks to reduce the use of Special Access Program status, or SAP, as part of efforts to share more information on secret space initiatives with U.S. allies and industry partners.

“What the classification memo does, generally, is it overwrites — it really completely rewrites — a legacy document that had its roots 20 years ago, and it’s just no longer applicable to the current environment that involves national security space,” Plumb said.

“So, anything we can bring from a SAP level to a Top Secret level for example, brings massive value to the warfighter, massive value to the department, and frankly, my hope is over time [it] will also allow us to share more information with allies and partners that they might not currently be able to share,” he added.

Plumb noted that there must be technical aspects for designating a space program as special access.

According to the report, the policy marks a key step in developing a new DOD strategy for international space cooperation meant to help the U.S., along with its partners and allies, conduct collective military space operations.

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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Lt. Gen. Michele Bredenkamp Confirmed as ODNI’s Adviser for Military Affairs
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Lt. Gen. Michele Bredenkamp Confirmed as ODNI’s Adviser for Military Affairs

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michele Bredenkamp, former commanding general of U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, has been confirmed by the Senate to serve as the director’s adviser for military affairs at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Avril Haines, director of national intelligence and a three-time Wash100 awardee, said in a statement published Wednesday that Bredenkamp will advise her on all military matters related to the intelligence community’s work.

She will also promote institutional activities and structures to better align the IC’s national security efforts with the Department of Defense, according to Haines.

Bredenkamp’s general officer assignments include time as director of intelligence for U.S. Forces Korea, vice director for intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and deputy director of program analysis and evaluation for the Army.

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DOD Aiming for ‘Generational Change’ With New National Defense Industrial Base Strategy, Says Laura Taylor-Kale
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DOD Aiming for ‘Generational Change’ With New National Defense Industrial Base Strategy, Says Laura Taylor-Kale

The U.S. Department of Defense recently released its first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy, and according to Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy Laura Taylor-Kale, consistent collaboration is a requirement to achieve its objectives.

In a discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies last week, Taylor-Kale highlighted the need for cooperation that extends beyond just the next few years to successfully transform the defense industrial base, the DOD said Tuesday.

Though the strategy is designed to guide the DOD through the next three to five years, Taylor-Kale said the department is “also very much talking about having a generational change.”

“We understand that there’s a lot that is part of the current state of the industrial base,” she said. “You can’t make those changes over one or two years. It’s going to take concerted effort over time, not just within the Department of Defense.”

The NDIS is built around four focus areas: resilient supply chains, workforce readiness, flexible acquisition and economic deterrence. It identifies priorities, challenges and approaches that the DOD should consider when carrying out industrial base engagement goals. The strategy incorporates over 1,000 comments from stakeholders and was developed in collaboration with elected leaders.

“I want to emphasize that the DOD can’t do it alone,” said Taylor-Kale. “It will need the interagency. It will need our industry partners. It will need our global allies and partners, as well as our people on [Capitol Hill].”

Taylor-Kale said the department “can’t afford to wait.” Recent years, she noted, have demonstrated “the importance of why we need resilient supply chains,” both for the U.S. and for its allies and partners.

“We’re wanting everyone to join with us so we can move forward, implement and meet the needs of warfighters today as well as for the future,” she added.

According to Taylor-Kale, the DOD is currently working on an implementation plan that identifies measurable actions and metrics to keep track of NDIS progress.

DOD Aiming for ‘Generational Change’ With New National Defense Industrial Base Strategy, Says Laura Taylor-Kale

The industrial base is a core part of all DOD technology initiatives. Learn more about the department’s approach to developing next-generation capabilities at the Potomac Officers Club’s 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 31, where key leaders will come together to discuss the current defense R&D landscape. To learn more and register to attend the event, click here.

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Jennifer Ewbank to Step Down as CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation
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Jennifer Ewbank to Step Down as CIA Deputy Director for Digital Innovation

Jennifer Ewbank, who has been serving in the federal government for more than three decades, will step down from her role as deputy director for digital innovation at the CIA.

In a LinkedIn post announcing the move, Ewbank said she will transition to the private sector, where she intends to continue her mission of strengthening U.S. national security.

In her current role at the CIA, she leads efforts to advance the development and integration of cyber and digital capabilities across all mission areas, including cybersecurity, enterprise information technology, open source collection and reporting, data strategy and artificial intelligence.

Ewbank, a two-time Wash100 awardee, also oversees the offices of the agency’s digital chief information officer, chief information security officer and chief data officer.

She began her career at the State Department as a foreign service officer before joining the CIA.

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Donald Cravins to Step Down as Undersecretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development
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Donald Cravins to Step Down as Undersecretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development

Donald Cravins is stepping down from his role as undersecretary of the Minority Business Development Agency within the Department of Commerce.

Eric Morrissette, chief of staff to Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves, will serve as acting lead of the bureau, which is responsible for promoting the growth and competitiveness of minority-owned businesses in the U.S., the Commerce Department said Friday.

“I thank Under Secretary Cravins for his dedication to this vital program, which will continue to impact and help Americans across the country for years to come. The Department is committed to continuing the urgent work needed to empower minority and other underserved entrepreneurs to launch and scale their businesses,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Cravins was sworn in as the first-ever undersecretary of commerce for minority business development in September 2022. Under his leadership, the MBDA helped minority businesses secure over $8.2 billion in capital and contract awards from private and government customers.

DOE Funds 3 Research Projects to Support ORNL’s Quantum Efforts
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DOE Funds 3 Research Projects to Support ORNL’s Quantum Efforts

The Department of Energy has recently selected three projects to receive funding worth over $10 million to conduct research to help ensure that the Oak Ridge National Laboratory maintain dominance in quantum information science, a.k.a. QIS.

The Performance Integrated Quantum Scalable Internet project, a collaboration between ORNL and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, the University of Arizona, the University of Texas at Austin and Arizona State University, will receive $6 million in funding over three years to develop quantum internet architecture and protocols, the laboratory said Tuesday.

ORNL will also apply its QIS expertise to support another DOE-funded project that aims create power grid testing facilities with quantum capabilities.

The Grid Research, Integration and Deployment for Quantum project will receive $3.75 million over three years from DOE’s Office of Electricity, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management and Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response.

Another effort to support ORNL’s quantum network is the Assessment of Quantum Utility EvaluateD Under Current Technologies, which will receive $1 million over four years.

ORNL additionally unveiled a roadmap outlining the laboratory’s strategy to align its quantum facilities and expertise with the DOE’s mission.

The Quantum Roadmap aims to realize the full potential of QIS by building on the laboratory’s over two decades of quantum research and development experience and the successes of its Quantum Science Center.

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Synopsys Security Chief Deirdre Hanford Chosen as CEO of Semiconductor Technology Firm Natcast
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Synopsys Security Chief Deirdre Hanford Chosen as CEO of Semiconductor Technology Firm Natcast

Synopsys Chief Security Officer Deirdre Hanford has been chosen as CEO of the National Center for the Advancement of Semiconductor Technology, or Natcast.

She brings more than three decades of microelectronics experience to Natcast, which will operate the CHIPS for America National Semiconductor Technology Center, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Hanford will continue her CSO role at Synopsys while leading Natcast.

Hanford previously served as chair of the American Electronics Association and an inaugural member of the Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Act Industrial Advisory Committee. She serves in various boards of directors at organizations including Cirrus Logic, the University of California in Berkeley – College of Engineering , Purdue University and the National Defense Industrial Association.

“The NSTC is the cornerstone of the CHIPS R&D program and will be a hub for innovation that welcomes people from the entire semiconductor industry and associated supply chain. Because of her broad experience, deep knowledge, and outstanding leadership, Deirdre Hanford is an excellent choice to help us launch this critical national asset,” said Laurie Locascio, undersecretary of commerce for standards and technology and director of NIST.

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DISA Director Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner Discusses Workforce 2025 at AFCEA Event
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DISA Director Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner Discusses Workforce 2025 at AFCEA Event

Work under the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Workforce 2025 initiative involves identifying capabilities and services needed to address the strategic threat posed by China, as well as determining the expertise needed for the agency to deliver them, according to U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner.

The director of DISA, commander of the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network and Wash100 awardee made the remarks during a fireside chat at the AFCEA NOVA Army IT Day, which took place on Jan. 11, DISA said Tuesday.

“In order to continue to compete, to never get into conflict, we have to be more agile, we have to be more flexible, we have to have the right velocity and a sense of urgency, as well as the right critical thinking,” Skinner told former U.S. Army deputy chief information officer Greg Garcia, who moderated the discussion.

DISA describes Workforce 2025 as “human capital investment to empower and posture the agency’s global workforce.” Unveiled in June last year, as reported by Breaking Defense, the initiative seeks to help DISA attract new talent while upskilling the personnel it already has.

Skinner said in an interview at the time that the initiative strives “to lay a foundation for employee success.” He also issued a warning, saying that focusing exclusively on the technologies to address the China threat while forgetting the people who will operate those technologies will result in stagnation and the U.S. and its allies becoming “outpaced.”

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