DHS & NGA Reps Share Distinct Approaches to Zero Trust, Cybersecurity
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DHS & NGA Reps Share Distinct Approaches to Zero Trust, Cybersecurity

Federal agencies are taking different approaches to align with the Department of Defense and intelligence community’s zero trust cybersecurity goals, Federal News Network reported.

Donald Coulter, cybersecurity science advisor for the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, and Monica Montgomery, deputy chief information security officer and deputy director of the cybersecurity office at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, were among the panelists sharing their zero trust strategies at the 930Gov conference.

DHS S&T is approaching zero trust from a supply chain risk management angle, prioritizing systems engineering standard creation and finding ways to help developers and consumers adopt zero trust throughout the software life cycle.

DHS S&T’s work “includes looking at how to expand contextual awareness and expand all the metadata associated with all the systems and resources that we have to be able to communicate those across systems and system boundaries and organizational boundaries,” Coulter said.

Meanwhile, NGA developed seven pilot programs or minimal viable products specifically addressing all zero trust pillars for all of the agency’s 1,300 systems and applications, Montgomery explained. “As systems come through that, business management systems, they are producing those requests for changes (RFCs), each one of those is getting bounced across our solution epic. So we don’t have to go to all the programs,” she stated.

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Gen. Jim Slife Steps Into USAF Vice Chief of Staff Role
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Gen. Jim Slife Steps Into USAF Vice Chief of Staff Role

Gen. Jim Slife has assumed his new role as the U.S. Air Force’s 41st Vice Chief of Staff.

In this position, Slife will lead the Air Staff and help Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin organize, train and equip more than 689,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces, the USAF said on Friday.

Allvin said Slife is someone who has “seen all parts of the business and has done it with excellence” during a ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C., in which the former received his fourth star and celebrated his promotion.

Allwin added that one of Slife’s “hallmarks” is the “idea of leaving things better than when you found it” and expressed his enthusiasm for the ceremony and future collaboration.

Throughout his Air Force career, Slife has compiled over 3,100 flight hours in the MH-53 and MQ-1 as well as other aircraft. Prior to stepping into his new role, he was the service branch’s deputy chief of staff for operations, a position in which he oversaw the development and implementation of policy surrounding global operations, force management, training and readiness.

Earlier, Slife was commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command. He has also served in multiple joint leadership positions, including vice commander of the U.S. Southern Command, chief of staff for the U.S. Special Operations Command and chief of staff for the United Nations Command and U.S. Forces Korea.

Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also attended the ceremony. He said Slife’s promotion was “truly deserved” and described the official as someone he “could always turn to because he always provided thoughtful insights.”

During the event, Slife noted the shifting strategic environment faced by the USAF today.

“General Brown called on us to accelerate change. Secretary Kendall has empowered us to actually think about… what we need to have to be competitive for the next several decades,” he said.

Tackling these challenges, said Allvin, is “the hardest thing we’ve done in a long time and maybe the hardest thing we do together.”

Having a team member who has navigated these issues “couldn’t be better now for our force,” he remarked.

CEO Sean Moriarty of Primer Federal, Inc. is a Panelist at the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit
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CEO Sean Moriarty of Primer Federal, Inc. is a Panelist at the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit
Photo from Sean Moriarty’s Official LinkedIn Account

 

Sean Moriarty is participating in the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit. As the Chief Executive Officer at Primer, one of the industry-leading companies for artificial intelligence, his expert command of AI is a significant addition to the discussion about its latest advancements, developments, and applications in the federal space.

 

Sign up to become a member of the Potomac Officers Club to join the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 21, 2024. Learn more about the current and emerging artificial intelligence technologies in dynamic mission-critical environments.

About Sean Moriarty

 

Sean Moriarty kickstarted his career in technology at the dawn of the commercial internet boom in the mid-90s. He is one of the technology trailblazers who has led disruptive changes, technology shifts, and the rise of AI. Having been in the industry for more than three decades, Mr. Moriarty has become a renowned leader in both the B2B and B2C tech sectors.

 

Sean Moriarty is a Bachelor of Arts degree holder from the University of South Carolina. He also attended English Language and Literature/Letters at Boston University and was a Warwick Exchange Fellow at the University of Warwick.

 

Sean Moriarty: Professional background

 

Sean Moriarty started his professional journey as a QA Engineer at Citysearch in 1997. In this capacity, he capitalized on the rise of the internet to gain a variety of experiences not only in technology but also in general management.

 

In 2000, Mr. Moriarty became Ticketmaster’s Executive Vice President of Product and Technology, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Operating Officer. He served in this role for five years until he ultimately became the President and Chief Executive Officer in July 2005. Mr. Moriarty held this title until March 2009.

 

List of Sean Moriarty’s career journey

 

  • Chief Executive Officer at Primer.ai (April 2023 – Present)
  • Chief Executive Officer at Leaf Group (August 2014 – April 2023)
  • Chairman at Metacloud (June 2012 – September 2014)
  • Chief Executive Officer at Saatchi Art (August 2013 – August 2014)
  • Entrepreneur In Residence at Mayfield Fund (August 2009 – June 2012)
  • President and Chief Executive Officer at Ticketmaster (July 2005 – March 2009)
  • Executive Vice President of Product and Technology, Chief Technology Officer, and Chief Operating Officer at Ticketmaster (July 2000 – July 2005)
  • QA Engineer at Citysearch (1997 – 2000)

 

Aside from his leadership background, Sean Moriarty assumed chairmanship and directorship positions on the Board of Directors of various companies, including Eventbrite, CoachArt, Leaf Group, TuneIn, Ingrooves Music Group, Instantly, Triton Media Group, Pat Tillman Foundation, Freedom Communication, Ticketmaster, iLike, and Points.com International.

 

Through these professional experiences, Mr. Moriaty has been acknowledged as a serial entrepreneur with acclaimed skills in early-stage startups, technology management, executive leadership, and product development.

 

Sean Moriarty: Assisting Primer in expanding AI capabilities

 

Sean Moriarty: Assisting Primer in expanding AI capabilities
Image by SuPatMaN/Shutterstock

 

Sean Moriarty believes that artificial intelligence can have a profound impact on the technology sector, particularly for the federal government. As a technology pioneer, his addition to Primer expands the AI capabilities for which the company is known. Mr. Moriarty supports the company’s goal to scale AI growth to the most mission-critical activities.

 

Moreover, Sean Moriarty triumphs Primer’s mission to make the world a safer place through the use of cutting-edge technology. He works with Silicon Valley data scientists, defense decision-makers, engineers, and product managers to leverage AI’s critical edge in complex and sensitive environments.

 

Sean Moriarty participates in the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit

 

Sean Moriarty participates in the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit

Sean Moriarty is set to participate in the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 21, 2024. Organized by the Potomac Officers Club to discuss the transformative power of artificial intelligence, the summit is an annual gathering of leaders, key partners, and executives to discover advancements in AI across dynamic environments.

Joining the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit is a roster of keynote speakers:

 

  • Dr. Bill Streilein, Chief Technology Officer for the Office of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer at the Department of Defense (Opening keynote)
  • Rachael Martin, Maven Office Director at National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Morning keynote)
  • David Larrimore, Executive Director of the Chief Technology Officer Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security (Keynote)
  • Dr. Kathleen Fisher, Director of the Information Innovation Office at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (Afternoon keynote)
  • Dr. Kimberly Sablon, Principal Director of Trusted AI and Autonomy (OUSD (R&E)) at the Department of Defense (Mid-day keynote)
  • Lakshmi Raman, Director of Artificial Intelligence at Central Intelligence Agency (Closing keynote)

 

Register for the 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit today. The annual summit is all the more crucial following the White House’s AI Executive Order in October 2023, laying the groundwork for rapid development in AI technologies and applications.

 

About Primer Federal, Inc.

Primer Federal, Inc.
Photo from Primer.ai

Primer is a champion of artificial intelligence and machine learning. It empowers federal and commercial sectors with automation tools to streamline data analyses, save thousands of labor hours, and customize operations based on mission-critical needs. Although it’s only been around since 2015, Primer has become a trusted industry leader for AI.

Eglin Air Force Base Welcomes 2 Additional F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Jets
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Eglin Air Force Base Welcomes 2 Additional F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Jets

The U.S. Air Force received twoF-15EX Eagle II fighter jets from Boeing, with custom-made forward fuselage exclusive to the service branch.

The F-15EX3 and F-15EX4 arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and will be operated by the 96th Test Wing and 53rd Wing, respectively, which already have one of each, USAF said Tuesday.

The Air Force will test two new features of the aircraft, namely the cockpit pressure monitor and warning system and the ultra-high frequency satellite communication antenna.

“Our integrated test approach, which combines developmental and operational test, brings the future faster to the warfighter,” said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Geraghty, 96th Test Wing commander. “This ensures the U.S. Air Force continues to provide deterrence and readiness for the high-end fight.”

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GSA Report Offers Recommendations to Enhance Federal Compliance With Section 508 Standards
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GSA Report Offers Recommendations to Enhance Federal Compliance With Section 508 Standards

The General Services Administration has released a congressional report assessing federal agencies’ compliance with the Rehabilitation Act’s Section 508, which requires agencies to provide government employees with disabilities equal access to information and communication technology and digital services.

GSA said Thursday the FY23 Governmentwide Section 508 Assessment report shows that the federal government falls short of meeting the minimum standard to offer federal employees and members of the public with disabilities equal ICT access.

According to the study, less than 30 percent of the self-reported top 10 viewed internet and intranet pages fully comply with Section 508 standards.

The report was based on the analysis of self-reported data from 249 reporting entities associated with activities and information from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023.

The assessment offers recommendations to improve Section 508 compliance and ICT accessibility, including strengthening leadership accountability, improving agency oversight of Section 508 compliance, creating a shared service model for Section 508 implementation and updating Section 508.

The report also recommends that agencies enhance conformance validation and testing, require mandatory Section 508 training for specific roles and responsibilities and use the Solicitation Review Tool and the Acquisition Requirements Tool to help integrate sufficient accessibility requirements in procurement and contracting documentation.

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Boeing-Built X-37B Launches on 7th Mission Aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket
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Boeing-Built X-37B Launches on 7th Mission Aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket

The Boeing-built X-37B unmanned experimental orbital test vehicle launched on its seventh mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral to test and demonstrate technologies in space, Reuters reported Friday.

The U.S. Space Force oversaw the launch mission as part of the National Security Space Launch program to deploy payloads and conduct science and technology experiments.

Among the experiments launched onboard the mission is a NASA project to study how long-duration space exposure affects plant seeds to enable scientists to cultivate crops in space for future crewed lunar and space missions.

X-37B is a top-secret spaceplane the Space Force operates for long-duration orbital flights. The spacecraft has flown six missions since 2010, five of which were launched aboard Atlas V rockets from United Launch Alliance, a Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture.

The last X-37B mission was launched in May 2020 atop a Falcon 9 booster from SpaceX.

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Lockheed Secures $142M Navy Contract Modification for AEGIS Combat System Services
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Lockheed Secures $142M Navy Contract Modification for AEGIS Combat System Services

Lockheed Martin‘s rotary and mission systems business will continue providing a range of services in support of the AEGIS combat system under a $141.5 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy.

The contractor will perform capability package development and fielding, system integration and fielding and in-service sustainment for the system’s current configurations, the Department of Defense said.

Contract work under the cost-plus-incentive-fee modification is expected to wrap up by Dec. 31, 2024. Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems will work at its Moorestown, New Jersey, location.

Funding will be sourced from fiscal 2024 research, development, test and evaluation budget as well as from other allocations. Naval Sea Systems Command serves as the contracting activity.

In January 2023, Lockheed was awarded a potential seven-year, $853 million contract to help the Navy field and sustain the Aegis weapon system.

NIST Seeks Comments on Draft PEA Document for Modernization of Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities
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NIST Seeks Comments on Draft PEA Document for Modernization of Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released a draft of programmatic environmental assessment, or PEA, for the modernization and internal expansion of existing semiconductor fabrication facilities under the CHIPS Incentives Program.

According to a notice of availability posted on the Federal Register, NIST is requesting comments on the draft PEA, which focused on financial support to modernize or internally expand the current-generation and mature-node commercial facilities within their existing footprint throughout the United States.

Administered by NIST’s CHIPS Program Office, the said initiative is aimed at advancing American semiconductor research, development and production.

The program has Commercial Fabrication Facilities Notice of Funding Opportunity, whose amended version is seeking applications for the construction, expansion, or modernization of commercial facilities for the front- and back-end fabrication of leading-edge, current-generation and mature-node semiconductors; for wafer manufacturing; and for materials used to manufacture semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

The NOFO’s potential amount available is up to $38.22 billion for direct funding and up to $75 billion in direct loan or guaranteed principals.

NIST will receive comments on the draft until Jan. 25.

The Department of Commerce organization launched the CHIPS for America funding opportunity in March and expanded it in June.

Navy’s Irregular Warfare Unit Releases Advanced Technology Research & Development BAA
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Navy’s Irregular Warfare Unit Releases Advanced Technology Research & Development BAA

The U.S. Navy’s Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate, or IWTSD, has released a broad agency announcement seeking research proposals in areas of advanced development and explosive ordnance disposal and explosive operations.

A notice posted Wednesday on SAM.gov states that the IWTSD aims to identify technologies and approaches to enhance the Department of Defense’s ability to conduct irregular warfare, which includes counterterrorism, foreign internal defense, stabilization and counterinsurgency missions, against adversaries.

Under the advanced development mission area, IWTSD is looking for tools and capabilities to protect and enhance joint operations in the cyber domain and accelerate the testing and integration of secure prototypes and capabilities.

The IWTSD is also seeking artificial intelligence-powered technologies designed to provide situational awareness to EOD-EXO operators and enhance the diagnostic capabilities of EOD operations.

Interested parties have until Jan. 31 to respond to the BAA.

POC - 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

The Potomac Officers Club will host the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 31 to discuss the latest developments in the defense technology sector. Register here and save a seat at the highly anticipated event.

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Air Force Unveils Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Doctrine
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Air Force Unveils Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Doctrine

The U.S. Air Force has published a new doctrine on electromagnetic spectrum operations meant to enable the joint force to improve competitive advantage and develop multiple dilemmas for adversaries across all domains.

“Dominant EMS expertise and capabilities can render adversary sensors, situational awareness, command and control, networks, and decision processes ineffective, preventing adversaries from attaining their objectives,” the document’s foreword reads.

The service branch supports the joint force’s initiatives to exploit EMS and use adaptive technology to reduce adversary capabilities, according to the document published Dec. 14.

The document describes the characteristics of the EMS domain and electromagnetic operational environment and discusses the concept of EMS operations and electromagnetic warfare as well as its components, including electromagnetic effects and attack.

The doctrine includes a chapter outlining the nominal organization and staff functions related to joint EMS operations and another chapter associated with JEMSO planning, execution and assessment.

The document, which is an update to the EMSO doctrine published in July 2019, highlights how authorities flow from the joint force commander through joint processes and clarifies the air component’s responsibilities, roles and capabilities for EMSO.

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