/
5 Federal Agencies Join Pledge to Address Discriminatory Outcomes Related to AI Use; Kristen Clarke Quoted
Published on
5 Federal Agencies Join Pledge to Address Discriminatory Outcomes Related to AI Use; Kristen Clarke Quoted

The departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Education, Labor and Housing and Urban Development have pledged to enforce laws to protect individuals from unlawful discrimination and other harms that may result from the use of artificial intelligence and other automated systems.

“As social media platforms, banks, landlords, employers and other businesses choose to rely on artificial intelligence, algorithms and automated systems to conduct business, we stand ready to hold accountable those entities that fail to address the unfair and discriminatory outcomes that may result,” Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, said in a statement published Thursday.

“We are mounting a whole-of-government approach to enforcing civil rights and related laws when it comes to automated systems, including AI,” added Clarke, who also announced the launch of a webpage aimed at centralizing content with regard to her division’s work on civil rights and AI.

Officials from federal agencies on Wednesday attended a meeting hosted by the Civil Rights Division and discussed strategies to improve coordination and enforcement and raise public awareness about the potential discriminary effects of AI and other automated tools.

They also offered updates on their agencies’ guidance and other obligations under the AI executive order.

In April 2023, DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, the Federal Trade Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau pledged to enforce civil rights laws to protect consumers against the misuse of AI and other automated systems.

Fermilab, xLight Partner to Improve Semiconductor Manufacturing in US
Published on
Fermilab, xLight Partner to Improve Semiconductor Manufacturing in US

The Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement, or CRADA, with semiconductor manufacturer xLight.

Fermilab said Thursday that the aim of the CRADA is to develop key components that would enhance the manufacturing of semiconductors in the U.S.

Part of the effort involves the development of an extreme ultraviolet light source, which would make the process of making advanced chips require less energy.

The partnership was formally launched on April 4 during a meeting between Fermilab Director Lia Merminga and xLight CEO Nicholas Kelez.

Merminga said the partnership “represents a unique opportunity to transition the technologies that Fermilab develops for our science mission to commercial applications.”

For his part, Kelez expressed his organization’s “deep appreciation for Fermilab’s excellent work and leadership in particle accelerator technologies.”

//
Jennifer Swanson Says Innovation Exchange Lab Advances Army-Industry Collaboration on Digital Transformation
Published on
Jennifer Swanson Says Innovation Exchange Lab Advances Army-Industry Collaboration on Digital Transformation

Jennifer Swanson, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Army for data, engineering and software, said the service branch’s newly established Innovation Exchange Lab — dubbed IXL — will enable faster digital technology adoption by providing a cloud-based environment for facilitating industry collaboration.

The IXL enables industry and software developers to test and evaluate their software tools’ interoperability with the Army’s Unified Data Reference Architecture 1.0, a.k.a. UDRA 1.0, which was co-developed by the deputy assistant secretary of the Army for data, engineering and software and the chief information officer, Swanson wrote in a blog post published Thursday.

UDRA 1.0 is the first tool made available to both Army and industry software developers through the IXL to encourage ongoing collaboration while developing new data-based warfighting technologies.

According to Swanson, UDRA utilizes the U.S. government’s modular open systems approach to prevent “vendor lock,” where large platforms become dependent on proprietary designs and systems.

“It is the Army’s first of a series of reference architectures, fully coordinated internally and with industry, to enable us to seamlessly integrate all of our products together regardless of which program manager or industry partner develops them,” Swanson said.

POC - 5th Annual CIO Summit

Swanson is set to speak at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit on April 17. Register here to save your seat and hear about the latest modernization strategies from government and industry CIOs.

/
Dave Luber Named NSA Cybersecurity Director
Published on
Dave Luber Named NSA Cybersecurity Director

Dave Luber, a senior executive with over 37 years of experience in the federal government, has taken on the role of director of cybersecurity within the National Security Agency.

He succeeds Rob Joyce, who retired after serving for over three decades within NSA, the agency said Thursday.

Joyce, a two-time Wash100 awardee, assumed the role of cybersecurity director within NSA in 2021.

In this capacity, Luber leads NSA’s Cybersecurity Directorate, which helps prevent cyberthreats facing the Department of Defense, national security systems and the defense industrial base.

Luber’s career in government has included time serving as deputy director of cybersecurity within NSA, executive director of U.S. Cyber Command, director of NSA Colorado and program director within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence.

POC - 2024 Cyber Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit on June 6 and hear cyber experts, government and industry leaders discuss the latest trends and the dynamic role of cyber in the public sector. Register here.

/
Phase Four to Deliver ‘Air-Breathing’ Electric Propulsion Tech to DARPA
Published on
Phase Four to Deliver ‘Air-Breathing’ Electric Propulsion Tech to DARPA

Phase Four, under a $14.9 million contract, will provide the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency with an “air-breathing” electric propulsion system in support of DARPA’s Otter program.

The company said Thursday the agency’s initiative is focused on the development, demonstration and gathering of on-orbit data for EP technologies capable of using ambient low-density air as propellant.

The Phase Four system is envisioned to power extended satellite operations at Very Low Earth Orbit altitudes of as low as 90 to 450 km, while the Otter program is intended to wrap up with a demonstration of a long duration “orbiting wind tunnel” spaceflight to test the system’s orbital performance.

“Phase Four has designed and built electric propulsion systems that have been launched on 9 satellites with over 5,300 days of on-orbit flight heritage since the company was founded,” emphasized Umair Siddiqui, Phase Four president, chief technology officer and principal investigator for the effort. He also pointed to the company’s continued work of supporting DARPA’s in-space propulsion efforts.

The Otter program will use the Phase Four-built radio frequency thruster, building upon earlier prototype development work between the two organizations.

/
Department of the Navy Releases Memo on Investment Horizons
Published on
Department of the Navy Releases Memo on Investment Horizons

The Department of the Navy has issued a memorandum to provide information on Investment Horizons, which the DON Chief Information Office will use to identify divestment opportunities and advance the adoption of new capabilities.

DON said Thursday Investment Horizons serve as an industry best practice that enables an organization to easily visualize its divestment and innovation strategy and strike a balance between investing in new capabilities and supporting existing ones.

“The shared view of capabilities across the systems lifecycle provided by Investment Horizons charts will also enable the research and acquisition communities to speed the transition of solutions that adhere to Modern Service Delivery Design Concepts (reference (a)) to enterprise services,” the memo reads.

According to the memo, Investment Horizons come in five phases for capabilities: evaluating, emerging, investing, extracting and retiring phases.

“Horizon 3 capabilities move into Horizon 2 as pilots for potential enterprise services when the technology maturity and prioritized impacts on mission outcomes,” the document states.

The DON CIO Chief Technology Officer will serve as the lead champion for Investment Horizons.

Best practices include using Investment Horizons to back rationalization and adoption of enterprise services and new technologies; reducing the need for other planning products by combining Investment Horizons charts with execution schedules to produce technology roadmaps; and providing quarterly updates of Investment Horizons to support resource allocation decisions.

Justin Fanelli, acting chief technology officer at DON, signed the memo on Wednesday.

POC - 5th Annual CIO Summit

Register here to join the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit on April 17 and learn more about the latest modernization strategies and how industry can help meet the priorities of federal CIOs.

//
ODNI’s John Beieler Assumes Chief AI Officer Role, Takes Charge of AI Council
Published on
ODNI’s John Beieler Assumes Chief AI Officer Role, Takes Charge of AI Council

John Beieler of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence confirmed during an event hosted by the Intelligence and National Security Alliance on April 4 that he has been appointed ODNI chief artificial intelligence officer, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

In his additional role, Beieler, who also serves as science and technology adviser to Director of National Intelligence and 2024 Wash100 award winner Avril Haines, heads a chief AI officers’ council, whose members come from the intelligence community’s 18 components and whose focus is AI governance.

Beieler told Federal News Network that, at the moment, the council is working on a directive that will instruct intelligence agencies concerning the deployment of AI and machine learning.

The directive also covers privacy protections and civil liberties that must be taken into account when the IC develops algorithms.

According to the chief AI officer, the council is also working to update ODNI’s AI strategy with a view “to make sure that we have that one consolidated viewpoint of, what do we think is important for AI and the IC.”

IRS Requests Information on Follow-On Long Term Integration Support Contract
Published on
IRS Requests Information on Follow-On Long Term Integration Support Contract

The Internal Revenue Service has begun seeking information on potential industry sources capable of providing professional and management support services and subject matter expertise in support of the Individual Masterfile Modernization program.

A notice posted Thursday on SAM.gov states that the follow-on Long Term Integration Support 4 contract vehicle will cover planning, program technical solutions analysis and specifications, program strategy and analysis, project definition and oversight support and analysis support services.

The selected contractors will propose ideas or best practices related to the program’s four main goals: maintain operational effectiveness and high-level customer service; strengthen the security posture of IMF Modernization systems; enhance oversight and accountability for IMF tools and reduce operational costs; and use vendor-driven and vendor-built model to deliver select IMF components.

Deloitte is the incumbent contractor of the predecessor LTIS contract valued at $391.8 million, which will expire on Nov. 30.

Interested parties have until April 18 to respond to the request for information.

Senate Bill to Streamline Federal Procurement Process for Agencies, Contractors
Published on
Senate Bill to Streamline Federal Procurement Process for Agencies, Contractors

Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, have introduced bipartisan legislation that would streamline the federal procurement process for government agencies and contractors by removing barriers to acquiring new products and services.

The Federal Improvement in Technology Procurement Act aims to update federal procurement rules to eliminate obsolete requirements, simplify the bidding process for contractors and expand the use of advanced procurement methods, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said Wednesday.

“My legislation will guarantee that the best and most innovative businesses, including new and small businesses, can compete for federal contracts so that the federal government can keep pace and stay on the cutting edge as it serves the American people,” Peters said.

The bill would also direct agencies to strengthen training for acquisition personnel on the procurement of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence systems.

“Increasing competition within the procurement process for emerging technologies is essential for encouraging innovation and ensuring taxpayers get the most for their money,” Cruz commented.

/
Guidehouse’s Scott McIntyre & DIA’s Jeffrey Kruse Recognized for 2024 Wash100 Wins
Published on
Guidehouse’s Scott McIntyre & DIA’s Jeffrey Kruse Recognized for 2024 Wash100 Wins

On Friday, Executive Mosaic celebrated Guidehouse CEO Scott McIntyre and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse in honor of their 2024 Wash100 Award wins.

Each year, the coveted Wash100 Award takes an in-depth look at executives across the government contracting industry to identify the top 100 leaders in the field. Individuals who receive a Wash100 Award are those who have demonstrated phenomenal leadership through an impressive record of past accomplishments and strong potential to maintain their momentum.

Guidehouse’s Scott McIntyre & DIA’s Jeffrey Kruse Recognized for 2024 Wash100 Wins

McIntyre’s entry into the 2024 Wash100 class marks his eighth consecutive year winning the award. This year, he was honored for further solidifying Guidehouse as a force to be reckoned within GovCon through successful business development moves. His notable achievements in 2023 include driving Guidehouse’s acquisition by Bain Capital Private Equity and appointing a new class of partners. Read his full profile here.

Guidehouse is sponsoring the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit on April 17. To learn more and register for the event, which will bring together key information technology leaders from both the public and private sectors, click here.

Kruse is a first time Wash100 Award recipient, and he was welcomed into the ranks for his commitment to the defense intelligence enterprise. He was nominated to his current role as director of DIA in May 2023 and officially assumed the position in February 2024. Shortly after, he released a report on the use of Iranian weapons by Houthi rebels. To read his full profile, click here.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to choose your favorite Wash100 winners in the exciting annual popular vote contest! Voting closes at the end of the month, so head over to Wash100.com to participate in this competition.

1 … 409 410 411 412 413 … 2,705