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Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Highlights Need to Restore Shipbuilding Landscape
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Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Highlights Need to Restore Shipbuilding Landscape

Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy and a 2023 Wash100 awardee, called on industry and academia to take part in efforts to reinstate the U.S. shipbuilding and repair landscape and said that doing so demands a multipronged approach.

He said Thursday at a conference that the approach includes building new technologies to maintain the country’s naval edge, fostering fair competition, investing in efforts to revitalize the shipbuilding industry and building up partnerships with key allies to address China’s growing influence.

Del Toro noted that the Department of the Navy’s commitment to rapid tech development and innovation offers an opportunity for industry to participate.

He cited the Talent Pipeline Initiative and the need to build up capacity in various fields.

“We must establish programs that build capacity in fields like naval architecture, engineering, and lifecycle management, as well as technical expertise in nuclear welding, robotics, software management, and additive manufacturing,” said Del Toro.

“Your work on these programs will be invaluable to developing and rebuilding our nation’s shipbuilding landscape. Everyone here has a part to play in these efforts—and it is a strategic imperative that we rise to the occasion,” he added.

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Nickolas Guertin Confirmed by Senate as New Navy Acquisition Chief
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Nickolas Guertin Confirmed by Senate as New Navy Acquisition Chief

The U.S. Senate on Dec. 13 confirmed via a voice vote Wash100 awardee Nickolas Guertin as the next assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition.

Guertin made an announcement on LinkedIn regarding his new appointment, saying, “I’m getting geared up for my next role as ASN(RD&A).”

Guertin is the first Senate-confirmed Navy RDA since the departure of James Geurts, who left the position in January 2021, USNI News reported Thursday.

The role has since been occupied on a temporary basis first by Jay Stefany, then by Tommy Ross since May 2022.

The plan to nominate Guertin to be the Navy’s next acquisition chief was announced in September 2022. Guertin’s confirmation hearings subsequently took place in March of this year.

The new ASN RDA previously served as director of operational test and evaluation at the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

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Ben FitzGerald to Take on CEO Role at Rebellion Defense
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Ben FitzGerald to Take on CEO Role at Rebellion Defense

Ben FitzGerald has been selected to assume the CEO role at Rebellion Defense, a position currently held by Interim CEO Barry Sowerwine.

FitzGerald, who was unanimously endorsed by the board and CEO search committee, will begin his new responsibilities effective Jan. 1, 2024, Rebellion Defense announced from its Washington, D.C. headquarters on Monday.

“Ben is a seasoned and thoughtful leader who has dedicated his professional life to advancing national security and protecting democracy,” said Sowerwine.

FitzGerald previously served as executive chair of Rebellion’s board, and Sowerine said his “proven leadership” in the role as well as his strong understanding of the organization’s people and offerings and knowledge of the defense industry “uniquely position him” to drive company growth.

Prior to joining Rebellion, FitzGerald spent more than two decades serving in positions within the U.S. Department of Defense, Congress and other industry organizations. His areas of expertise include business development, fundraising and strategic vision as well as mentoring startups.

During his time at the DOD, FitzGerald was executive director of strategy, data and design in the department’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, where he oversaw a major defense acquisition reorganization initiative. Earlier, he served as a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

FitzGerald has also held roles at the Center for a New American Security, Noetic’s North American business arm, IBM and Unisys.

He began investing in Rebellion in 2019, and in May 2023, he was appointed as executive chair of the company’s board. Rebellion expects his relationship with the company’s leadership and employees to enable a smooth CEO transition.

“I’ve seen firsthand how Rebellion software empowers our nation’s defense capabilities. I’m excited to build on this foundation and continue working alongside our incredible team to drive our vision forward,” FitzGerald said.

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IRS Calls on Public to Comment on Proposed Rules Covering Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit
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IRS Calls on Public to Comment on Proposed Rules Covering Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service are seeking public feedback on proposed income tax regulation amendments regarding the implementation of section 45X of the Internal Revenue Code.

Established by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), section 45X governs the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit, which has facilitated increased investment in U.S. manufacturing and clean energy, the Treasury Department said in a notice issued Thursday.

The notice of proposed rulemaking, or NPRM, offers definitions of key terms that would help incentivize production in the U.S. and define situations in which the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit can be claimed. The NPRM also includes measures that would protect against fraud, waste or abuse.

National Economic Adviser Lael Brainard said the document issued by the Treasury Department “creates the framework for investing in a clean energy future here in America in ways that create good jobs for American workers.”

John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation, noted that the IRA “has already fueled a clean energy manufacturing boom in America.”

The new guidance, he said, “gives the clean energy industry even more clarity and confidence to continue their momentum.”

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm praised the Biden administration’s efforts to spur U.S. economic activity.

“The Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit will supercharge a new era of American manufacturing and bring good paying clean energy jobs back to American communities,” she added.

The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed section 45X rules.

Wichita State to Operate DOD OnRamp Hub in Great Plains Region
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Wichita State to Operate DOD OnRamp Hub in Great Plains Region

Wichita State University’s FirePoint Innovations Center has become one of five facilities chosen to deliver and operate a Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub program for the National Security Innovation Network.

FirePoint announced Thursday that it will operate the Great Plains Mission Acceleration Center to provide small businesses and academic organizations with a pathway to win Department of Defense contracts.

“The OnRamp Hub program is designed to tear down barriers between the private sector, defense and homeland security operations to accelerate technology deployment,” FirePoint Executive Director Steve Cyrus explained. “We’re extremely excited to bring this new opportunity to businesses here in Kansas and the region to give them a competitive advantage.”

FirePoint was co-created by Wichita State and the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aviation and Missile Center. Its purpose is to expedite collaborative innovation, transfer and commercialization associated with technologies that can contribute to the service branch’s modernization plans.

The center is located at Wichita State’s Innovation Campus and is expected to benefit partners looking to identify new talent in its high tech projects.

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FedRAMP PMO Advances Modernization Through 3 Pillars
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FedRAMP PMO Advances Modernization Through 3 Pillars

The program management office for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program has developed a set of steps to advance FedRAMP modernization as part of efforts to enhance federal cloud cybersecurity.

FedRAMP said Thursday the modernization approach is built on the three pillars of technology, people and processes.

The technology aspect of the plan includes FedRAMP’s creation of a systems architecture that sets standards for tools that will automate continuous monitoring and documentation submission for stakeholders.

For the process pillar, the program is working on a cooperative initiative to assess and streamline the flow of security packages to help accelerate the authorization timeline and address potential backlog areas.

To address the people aspect, FedRAMP will strengthen engagement, collaboration and adoption across agencies and commercial partners to meet their needs while growing the FedRAMP Marketplace, promoting knowledge sharing and training and transforming processes.

The Office of Management and Budget is soliciting comments on its updated guidance for modernizing FedRAMP. Responses are due Dec. 22.

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AFRL Pursues Quantum Tech Research Through Collaboration With Industry, Academia
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AFRL Pursues Quantum Tech Research Through Collaboration With Industry, Academia

The Air Force Research Laboratory‘s Information Directorate has worked with industry and academic organizations to establish an industrial support system to help the U.S. enhance its quantum computing capabilities.

AFRL has collaborated with multiple quantum technology companies, including IBM, IonQ, Rigetti and PsiQuantum, to integrate commercial assets into its computing and innovation facilities and drive quantum information technologies research and development efforts, the Air Force Materiel Command said Thursday.

“By gaining hands-on access to commercial technologies, we believe we are enabling greater progress toward quantum technology breakthroughs,” said Kathy-Anne Soderberg, senior scientist for quantum science and technology at AFRL.

The private sector is providing AFRL with infrastructure that can help progress quantum networks research as part of a push to achieve distributed quantum computing.

“These collaborations are supporting Air Force-relevant research focused on delivering a future network to connect diverse quantum technologies across the battlefield, giving the warfighter tremendous advantages,” said Don Telesca, chief of the quantum information sciences and technology branch at AFRL’s Information Directorate.

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NIST Issues NextG Communications R&D Gaps Report
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NIST Issues NextG Communications R&D Gaps Report

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released a report outlining notable technology gaps for research and development organizations to consider when advancing long-term innovation in next-generation communications systems, or NextG.

NIST said Thursday it worked with the National Science Foundation on the NextG Communications R&D Gaps Report, which notes 108 new technology gaps.

The report is based on 18 months of collaboration with NextG experts and provides a roadmap in wireless communications innovation over the next two decades.

Specific areas R&D gaps highlighted in the report include hardware, spectrum science and sharing, joint communications and sensing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, data availability, use and privacy, network architectures, sustainable networks and non-terrestrial networks.

DOD CDAO Wraps Up 8th Global Information Dominance Experiment for CJADC2
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DOD CDAO Wraps Up 8th Global Information Dominance Experiment for CJADC2

The eighth Global Information Dominance Experiment, an effort intended to improve Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) capabilities run by the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, is set to conclude today after a two-week run.

Known as GIDE 8, the program aims to deliver minimum viable capability for CJADC2 by the end of the year with a focus on global integration and joint fires, the DOD said Thursday.

“GIDE 8 is culminating a year of rapid experimentation resulting in the fielding of initial CJADC2 capabilities focusing on global integration for decision advantage,” said GIDE Experiment Director Col. Matthew Strohmeyer.

To carry out its experiments, the initiative brings together experts from the department and its international partners. The CDAO completed three iterations of GIDE in the 2023 calendar year, evaluating policies, wargame global crisis scenarios and tactics, techniques and procedures.

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Federal Reviews for Semiconductor Projects
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Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Federal Reviews for Semiconductor Projects

The Senate has unanimously passed the Building Chips in America Act, a bipartisan bill that would optimize the process of federal reviews for microchip manufacturing facilities.

If passed by the House of Representatives, the legislation would streamline permitting requirements for semiconductor projects to enable large-scale manufacturing activities, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., announced on Thursday.

“Once again, the Senate made clear that streamlining our current permitting system for semiconductor manufacturing projects is an urgent, bipartisan priority,” Kelly, who sponsored the bill, said in a statement.

The bill was cosponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas; Todd Young, R-Ind.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn.; Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz.

Under the bill, the Department of Commerce will act as the lead agency to carry out National Environmental Policy Act reviews for any semiconductor project identified as a major federal action.

The legislation explains that certain projects under the CHIPS for America Act are not major federal actions and are exempt from NEPA review. These projects include those that have or will receive federal and state permits and are set to begin construction within the next year, among other classifications of initiatives.

The bill will also provide the secretary of Commerce with greater tools to execute reviews more effectively and efficiently.

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