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SDA Releases RFI for Optical Communications Waveforms
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SDA Releases RFI for Optical Communications Waveforms

The Space Development Agency has started soliciting information from industry on optical communications waveforms and current work with other agencies within the Department of Defense on waveforms and datalinks.

SDA said Monday it will use the responses to the request for information to inform the planning phase for the third tranche of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture that is set to begin in fiscal year 2024 and subsequent acquisition processes that are expected to kick off in FY 2025.

The agency will use the RFI responses to guide the integration of datalinks and waveforms into future tranches of PWSA and reduce risks toward interoperability within the space architecture.

Stakeholders should provide an assessment of effort and schedule needed to add, transmit and receive capabilities at their current SDA-compatible optical communication terminals, or OCTs, to enable pulse-position modulation — or PPM — waveforms and state possible challenges of operating each waveform at several space-to-space ranges.

SDA also wants information on anticipated development and operational limitations, insights on the implementation of burst mode on-off keying and PPM and suggestions for the next revision of the OCT standard.

Responses to the RFI are due Dec. 8.

Fermilab’s SQMS Center Opens New Quantum Information Science Facility
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Fermilab’s SQMS Center Opens New Quantum Information Science Facility

The Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, led by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, has opened a new quantum information science and technology facility in Illinois to facilitate QIS research collaboration among scientific communities, industries and start-ups.

The Quantum Garage is a 6,000 sq ft lab space featuring new large dilution refrigerators that host devices developed by the SQMS collaboration for performing quantum sensing, computation, metrology and communications, Fermilab said Monday.

The platforms include a commercial quantum processor; quantum memories and transducers based on novel technology approaches; quantum metrology tools for materials standards development; and quantum sensors for fundamental physics.

“The SQMS Quantum Garage will enable the scientific community, including start-ups, academia and industry to advance quantum technology and science, and break through the difficult technical barriers, with increased access to cutting-edge scientific tools and equipment,” said Geri Richmond, undersecretary for science and innovation.

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Maria Roat & Richard Spires: Federal Agencies Need a System to Stay Ahead of AI Security Risks
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Maria Roat & Richard Spires: Federal Agencies Need a System to Stay Ahead of AI Security Risks

Maria Roat, former deputy federal chief information officer and a previous Wash100 awardee, and Richard Spires, former CIO at the Department of Homeland Security, said government officials should get ahead of artificial intelligence-related security risks by quickly setting up a system to regulate and safeguard against AI threats.

In a joint commentary published Monday in Nextgov/FCW, Roat and Spires wrote that one of the fastest ways agencies could address AI vulnerabilities is by looking at existing frameworks and policies and iterating them rapidly.

“For instance, agencies can use the recently-released NIST AI Risk Management Framework to augment the existing processes for establishing an authority to operate for an agency system. Such an approach can provide a scalable template and groundwork for establishing an AI compliance initiative,” they noted.

Spires and Roat called on federal agencies to work with industry and form a “transformation tiger team that can handle the cross-functional challenges and opportunities posed by AI at scale.”

Agencies should tap professionals who are experienced in data risk management and cybersecurity and properly adapt existing governance models, data policies and programs for AI to accelerate secure adoption of AI tools, they added.

Roat and Spires are members of stackArmor‘s AI Risk Management Center of Excellence.

POC - 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit

Register here to attend the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 21 and hear federal leaders and industry experts discuss the latest developments in the field.

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Jason Richards Named Deputy Assistant Director at FBI Directorate of Intelligence
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Jason Richards Named Deputy Assistant Director at FBI Directorate of Intelligence

Jason Richards, a nearly 20-year FBI veteran, has been named deputy assistant director at the bureau’s Directorate of Intelligence, serving as the senior executive leader for enterprise human intelligence and information technology.

He announced his new post Monday on LinkedIn and assumed the role after serving as section chief in the FBI’s Office of the Chief Information Officer, where he led enterprise efforts for cloud strategy and helped enhance supply chain risk management.

Before that, he was an assistant special agent in charge of multiple Joint Terrorism Task Force squads focused on detecting and disrupting international terrorism threats to Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.

He previously served as assistant section chief of the FBI Counterterrorism Division and unit chief of the Directorate of Intelligence.

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CBRNE Threat Detection Capabilities Developed by DARPA Advancing Toward Operationalization
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CBRNE Threat Detection Capabilities Developed by DARPA Advancing Toward Operationalization

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is now in the process of transitioning to operational use the technologies developed under the SIGMA and SIGMA+ programs following the completion of three weeks of demonstrations through July involving the participation of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The demonstrations featured simulations of various chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threat scenarios and their detection through the use of an automated mobile sensor suite integrated into Port Authority vehicles deployed in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan region, DARPA said Monday.

The event gave Port Authority officers the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the SIGMA+ systems and their capabilities and to develop procedures and tactics that would govern the use of those systems ahead of their operationalization this fall. The event also gave homeland security stakeholders the opportunity to see the SIGMA+ systems in action and determine their viability.

The demos mark the conclusion of five years of technology development that resulted in tools that, according to Port Authority Chief Security Officer Greg Ehrie, “provide an enhanced layer of vigilance to keep the millions of people who use and work at our facilities safe.”

Mark Wrobel, who managed the technology development program for DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office, praised the agency’s partnership with the Port Authority, saying: “This outstanding cooperation enabled DARPA to test cutting-edge technology in the nation’s largest metropolitan region, which significantly sped up the transition from R&D to operational use.”

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New CISA Guide Focuses on Issuance of Software Vulnerability Exploitability Notices
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New CISA Guide Focuses on Issuance of Software Vulnerability Exploitability Notices

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency worked with software and other IT experts to formulate a guide to help organizations decide when to issue a vulnerability exploitability exchange — a.k.a. VEX — information.

CISA said Monday that the document will facilitate the creation of machine-readable VEX data notices that will aid downstream software users in their own discernment of vulnerability risks.

VEX information is issued by software suppliers, researchers and related entities that need to assert the level of risk that their products’ vulnerabilities pose.

VEX data may be published when the weakness is found in upstream component, or if it has been publicly disclosed. Legal circumstances such as contract terms and government requirements may also warrant VEX issuance.

Issuers of VEX data should regularly update changes in status and time, and utilize automated response tools to support maintenance of the information, CISA stated.

Cybersecurity is one of the focal points at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2023 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 15. Register here to attend the event.

POC - 2023 Homeland Security Summit
Mitre Outlines Recommendations on Harmonizing Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Regulations
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Mitre Outlines Recommendations on Harmonizing Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Regulations

Mitre has developed recommendations on refining cybersecurity regulations to secure the U.S. critical infrastructure sector in response to a request for information from the Office of the National Cyber Director.

The Center for Data-Driven Policy led a cross-analysis of the RFI’s posed questions to help the ONCD develop evidence-based, actionable plans to address obstacles to harmonizing critical infrastructure cybersecurity regulations, the non-profit research organization said Friday.

According to Mitre, refinements to existing cybersecurity regulations or new policies must not specify technical requirements or implementation details for critical infrastructure owners and operators to avoid complicating continuous regulation harmonization.

Instead, regulations or administration guidance must provide sector risk management agencies with additional direction on shifting their focus to strengthening the mechanisms needed by critical infrastructure owners and operators and the industry vendors that support them.

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Navy Issues Inaugural Blueprint to Implement Modernized Information Ecosystem; Scott St. Pierre Quoted
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Navy Issues Inaugural Blueprint to Implement Modernized Information Ecosystem; Scott St. Pierre Quoted

The U.S. Navy has released a blueprint outlining the service branch’s holistic approach to modernizing its enterprise information systems, processes and technologies.

Jennifer Edgin, assistant deputy chief of naval operations for information warfare and acting deputy chief information officer at the Department of the Navy, issued the inaugural Navy Blueprint for a Modern Enterprise Information Ecosystem, the service said Monday.

According to the document, the blueprint seeks to inform the Navy’s investments in enterprise information technology and establish a common lexicon for IT modernization.

“It will, among other things, define the architectural characteristics that will support the future operating environment leveraging delivery of emerging technologies, standardize terminology to improve communication between stakeholders, and define methodologies that help identify capability gaps, and prioritize innovation,” Scott St. Pierre, director of enterprise networks and cybersecurity in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare, said of the Navy Blueprint.

The blueprint listed three strategic priorities: information system modernization, zero trust implementation and cyber ready transformation.

Shifting to a modern information ecosystem calls for the service to implement several capabilities, including cloud migration, network modernization and data center consolidation.

The document also includes information on the enterprise information system reference architecture, enterprise data model, microservices model and information governance.

“We’ll follow this release with enterprise implementation plans that will be developed via technical design meetings, data analysis, and focus groups,” added St. Pierre.

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J&J Worldwide Services Secures USACE Contract for Military Health Facility Support; Steve Kelly Quoted
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J&J Worldwide Services Secures USACE Contract for Military Health Facility Support; Steve Kelly Quoted

J&J Worldwide Services has received a four-year contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District to take over operations and maintenance services for a military health facility.

Under the contract, J&J will support Ireland Army Health Clinic in Fort Knox, Kentucky as well as related outlying areas, other facilities and incidental ancillary services, the Austin, Texas-based company shared with ExecutiveGov in an email sent last week.

“J&J is excited to add Ireland Army Health Clinic to our project portfolio and honored to have the opportunity to serve the Ft. Knox healthcare community,” said J&J CEO and President Steve Kelley.

The organization, said Kelly, is “very proud” of its performance track record and is “committed to providing an exceptional level of service.”

J&J has recently secured multiple contracts to provide operations and maintenance services for military health facilities. The first of these awards is intended to support Blanchfield Army Community Hospital in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, which the company has supported for more than 35 years. The company also booked a contract to assist the Fox Army Health Center in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, extending a 25-year partnership with the institution.

“It is humbling to be a part of the legacy our team has built at Campbell and Redstone Arsenal over the years. We look forward to establishing another lasting partnership with the Ft. Knox facility customer,” Kelly said.

In May, J&J won a spot on another healthcare-focused contract. The potential 10-year, $75 billion Department of Health and Human Services award is intended to provide the department with management services for influx care facilities.

J&J Worldwide Services Secures USACE Contract for Military Health Facility Support; Steve Kelly Quoted

For a deep dive into the ways the U.S. government is working to improve healthcare operations, the Potomac Officers Club will host its 2023 Healthcare Summit on Dec. 6. At the event, experts from both the public and private sectors will come together to discuss the challenges and priorities in federal healthcare. To learn more and register to attend the event, click here.

Tadgh Smith: Deputy Assistant Director For The LESA At ICE
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Tadgh Smith: Deputy Assistant Director For The LESA At ICE

With over three decades of experience, Tadgh Smith is definitely a seasoned leader in the government industry. He has led several projects and taken part in several acquisitions of the company he’s been with.

 

Learn more about Tadgh Smith’s priorities as the Deputy Assistant Director for the LESA At ICE and his leadership history.

 

Who is Tadgh Smith?

Tadgh Smith
Image from Tadgh Smith LinkedIn

Tadgh Smith is the current Deputy Assistant Director at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Law Enforcement Systems and Analysis (LESA) division. He has been in the position for over 12 years, delivering innovation transformation throughout the national agencies.

 

Mr. Smith has worked with ICE since 2007 as a Senior Information Technology Specialist. He soon became the Unit Chief for Business transformation in 2008. Tadgh is a bachelor’s degree holder from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988.

 

Leadership Timeline

Tadgh Smith spent most of his career at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with several positions. Before his current role at ICE, Mr. Smith had a long history of serving in prominent companies, such as IBM and Science Applications International Corporation, or SAIC. Here is the list of Tadgh’s history of leadership. 

 

  • 1991 – 1996: Senior System Network Administrator at Mattel (previously Pleasant Company)
  • 1999 – 2000: Director of Information Systems at Georgetown University 
  • 2000 – 2003: Assistant Vice President at SAIC
  • 2003 – 2006: Senior Consultant at IBM
  • 2006 – 2007: Supervisory Information Technology Specialist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • 2007 – 2008: Senior Information Technology Specialist at ICE
  • 2008 – 2011: Unit Chief, Business Transformation at ICE
  • 2011 – Present: Deputy Assistant Director at ICE

 

2023 Homeland Security Summit Speaker

2023 Homeland Security Summit

 

Tadgh Smith is one of the invited speakers of the upcoming 2023 Homeland Security Summit hosted by the Potomac Officers Club. Guest speakers will discuss the current and potential concerns of military and national security. It includes how the U.S. government prioritizes protecting the homeland from dynamic and growing global threats. 

 

We invite you to join the 2023 Homeland Security Summit and witness Tadgh Smith speak about his insights into U.S. Homeland Security. Register here.

 

Find out the nation’s top security challenges and the measures being taken to address them. Learn more about how the respected leaders of Homeland Security are supporting next-generation technological initiatives for national interests. 

 

The event venue will be in The Westin Tysons Corner on November 15, 2023 (Wednesday), 7:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. We hope to see you there!

 

Tadgh Smith: Priorities as Deputy Assistant Director

In 2011, Tadgh Smith became the Deputy Assistant Director, contributing to achieving organizational goals. He also oversees large teams and multinational investments in technology. 

 

Under Mr. Smith’s purview is the development of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). He ensures the ERO’s operational efficiency and mission effectiveness by integrating advanced methods and strategies.

 

Contributions and Accomplishments to the Industry

One of his notable accomplishments is a cross-government modernization program that implemented federal biometric information-sharing technologies influencing national security, law enforcement, and public safety worldwide. 

 

Some of his other contributions to the industry during his stay on ICE include the following:

 

  • Successfully implemented digital transformation across numerous federal departments 
  • Handled a $100 million budget and a workforce of hundreds from around the world
  • Implemented federal biometric information sharing for national security and law enforcement
  • Helped leaders and subordinates negotiate with unions, government, and county officials

 

During Tadgh’s tenure at SAIC, he led a 10-year, multi-agency effort valued at $34 million. He oversees the design and centralization of a multi-agency, online repository of federal telephone listings. This telephone listing project is now the U.S. Blue Pages. 

 

Mr. Smith is also an essential part of IBM’s bid for the GWAC with a $50 billion opportunity. He also built partnerships and technical strategies for acquiring new IT business opportunities.

 

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