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NASA Conducts 10th Hot-Fire Test of SLS RS-25 Engines
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NASA Conducts 10th Hot-Fire Test of SLS RS-25 Engines

NASA conducted on March 22 a hot-fire test of the new-generation RS-25 engine, which will power the Space Launch System in future Artemis missions.

The test, the 10th in a 12-part series, is a component of the production certification process for the latest RS-25 variant, which is being developed by L3Harris Technologies company Aerojet Rocketdyne, NASA said Friday.

Four of the new engines are set to power the SLS beginning with the Artemis V mission. Up until then, the SLS is propelled by 16 former space shuttle engines modified by the space agency and Aerojet.

The recent test took place on the Fred Haise Test Stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center with the help of Syncom Space Services, the prime contractor for site facilities and operations.

During the test, the RS-25 was fired for 500 seconds at 113 percent power. During launch, the engines will operate at 111 percent power. The extra power level during the test was meant to provide a margin of operational safety.

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Pratt & Whitney’s F135 Engine Modernization Secures Full Funding
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Pratt & Whitney’s F135 Engine Modernization Secures Full Funding

The fiscal year 2024 appropriations package was signed into law Saturday and RTX‘s Pratt & Whitney subsidiary received full funding from the Department of Defense’s share to modernize the propulsion system of the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.

RTX said Saturday that FY24 defense spending includes $497 million for Pratt & Whitney’s F135 Engine Core Upgrade, or F135 ECU, an initiative aimed at boosting the system’s durability and unlocking Block 4 capabilities and beyond.

The modernization, which is planned to transition to detailed design this year and to fielding in 2029, will be available to all F-35 operators and compatible with all three aircraft variants.

“This bill will allow Pratt & Whitney to deliver the current and future propulsion capabilities that will keep the United States and its allies on the cutting edge of fighter engine technology,” commented Jill Albertelli, president of Pratt & Whitney Military Engines.

Former Joint Chiefs Chair Mark Milley to Join National Infrastructure Advisory Council
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Former Joint Chiefs Chair Mark Milley to Join National Infrastructure Advisory Council

President Joe Biden plans to expand the National Infrastructure Advisory Council‘s membership with the appointment of Mark Milley, a retired U.S. Army general, and three other industry leaders.

The White House said Friday NIAC currently has 26 members who provide advice on how to boost critical infrastructure resilience and security and lessen physical and cyber risks to those sectors.

Milley will bring to NIAC experience serving as the 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 2019 to September 2023. The four-time Wash100 Award recipient has over four decades of military service, holding multiple command and staff positions in six divisions and a Special Forces Group. He was a chief of staff of the Army and commanding general of the Army Forces Command.

The other incoming members are Martin Adams, general manager and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; David Grain, CEO and founder of Grain Management; and Kurt Summers Jr., senior managing director and head of public-private partnership investments and ESG strategy at Blackstone Infrastructure Partners.

They will join the 26 NIAC members the White House appointed in August 2022 to help ensure the security and resilience of critical infrastructure assets. The council conducts studies to identify and reduce complex cyber risks, enhance intelligence information sharing between government and industry and facilitate cooperative decision-making among senior executives and federal leaders, among other efforts.

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Functionality, Security, Scalability Keys to Improving Tech UX, DOD’s Leslie Beavers Says
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Functionality, Security, Scalability Keys to Improving Tech UX, DOD’s Leslie Beavers Says

According to Department of Defense Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer and 2024 Wash100 winner Leslie Beavers, functionality is her primary consideration when it comes to the DOD’s efforts in improving user experience with technology, Federal News Network reported Friday.

Another consideration is security, specifically zero trust, and a third is scalability.

“We have to be able to scale it. That’s the other big challenge that we have in the department. Not just internally, but we have to be able to scale to international allies and partners into the commercial world,” Beavers said in an interview.

The Defense Department was compelled to adopt a new outlook on UX following the viral “fix my computer” post in 2022 by Michael Kanaan, the director of operations for the Air Force – MIT Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, and a survey released by the Defense Business Board in 2023 where 80 percent of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with their experience with technology in the agency.

Beavers also underscored how the DOD is approaching UX improvement in a holistic manner because of the varying technology needs of people across the agency.

“[User] experience is more than just having the latest equipment,” the DOD official noted.

Functionality, Security, Scalability Keys to Improving Tech UX, DOD's Leslie Beavers Says

Department of Defense Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer Leslie Beavers will be a keynote speaker at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit, which will take place on April 17. Register now to attend this highly-anticipated event!

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HII Completes 720-Hour Test on MTU Engine for Navy LUSV Program
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HII Completes 720-Hour Test on MTU Engine for Navy LUSV Program

HII has completed a test on the MTU 20V 4000 M93L to demonstrate the engine’s viability for use in the U.S. Navy’s Large Unmanned Surface Vessel, or LUSV, program.

The Naval Sea Systems Command said Friday the test involved running the engine for 720 hours, during which human intervention to perform corrective or preventative maintenance was prohibited.

Completion of the test indicates that the engine would be able to power an unmanned ship for 30 days without encountering issues requiring maintenance.

The test on the engine, conducted by HII in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard on behalf of MTU, was one of four carried out and completed under the LUSV program.

The completion of the tests is mandated by Congress under the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act in order for an engine to be deemed eligible for the LUSV program.

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John Sherman: Zero Trust, Defense Industrial Base Security Among DOD’s Top Priorities
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John Sherman: Zero Trust, Defense Industrial Base Security Among DOD’s Top Priorities

John Sherman, chief information officer of the Department of Defense and a 2024 Wash100 awardee, said DOD continues to prioritize zero trust, identity credentialing and access management and efforts to secure the defense industrial base to ensure information security.

In his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee’s cyber, innovative technologies and information systems subpanel on Friday, Sherman stated that his office is advancing efforts to recommend platforms to meet target level zero trust requirements.

He offered updates on DOD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program and efforts to modernize information networks.

“The Department has dedicated considerable effort to enhancing user experiences, expediting the DoD enterprise cloud environment, advancing DoD Software modernization, and refining Defense Business Systems Modernization,” Sherman said in his written testimony.

“These initiatives, coupled with budget certification authorities 4 and Capability Programming Guidance, underscore the Department’s commitment to an enterprise-wide approach that prioritizes user-centric improvements and the swift delivery of IT capabilities,” he added.

The DOD CIO also mentioned the department’s progress in 5G, positioning, navigation and timing and enterprise satellite communications modernization efforts, among others.

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.

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DARPA to Hold Industry Day for GOLDEVAC Program
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DARPA to Hold Industry Day for GOLDEVAC Program

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency will host an industry day on April 4 for a program that seeks to assess whether a field medic could handle a complex polytrauma patient on the battlefield through automated resuscitation systems from the point of injury through the entire evacuation process.

DARPA said Thursday it expects the GOLDen hour extended EVACuation, or GOLDEVAC, program to help improve the Department of Defense’s capability to provide medical care for critically injured warfighters.

“Historically, U.S. warfighters have had access to medical infrastructure providing access to relatively rapid evacuation and then medical intervention, but we anticipate such infrastructure will be lacking in future conflicts,” said Lt. Col. Adam Willis, GOLDEVAC program manager.

“GOLDEVAC is designed to bridge the gap and ensure patients can be safely and effectively stabilized from near point of injury and throughout the entire medical evacuation process,” Willis added.

The program will provide performers with an opportunity to work with government agencies to support the transition of GOLDEVAC products to military adoption and commercialization.

Registration for the industry day is open through March 28.

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General CQ Brown & Judi Dotson Make Executive Mosaic’s Wash100 List
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General CQ Brown & Judi Dotson Make Executive Mosaic’s Wash100 List

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles “CQ” Brown and Booz Allen Hamilton’s Global Defense Sector President Judi Dotson were recognized on Monday as winners of Executive Mosaic’s 2024 Wash100 Award.

Help CQ Brown and Judi Dotson advance in the 2024 Wash100 popular vote competition by casting your ten votes at Wash100.com! Voting is open until April 30, and the winners will be revealed in May. 

The Wash100 Award is the government contracting industry’s most coveted accolade. Each year, the 100 most elite, promising and powerful executives working in the federal government and GovCon industry are chosen to receive the Wash100 Award. These senior executives are selected based on their overall leadership, reliability and vision, among other criteria.

This year marks General Brown’s first Wash100 recognition, which he earned through his work advancing national security missions. Gen. Brown, former chief of staff for the U.S. Air Force, was confirmed by the Senate as the 21st chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September. Learn more about Gen. Brown and his accomplishments — read his full Wash100 profile here.

Dotson won her second consecutive Wash100 Award this year for spearheading digital transformation efforts across the defense, civilian and intelligence sectors. The Booz Allen exec notably broke a record last week by being the first person to receive more than 1,000 votes in the Wash100 popular vote competition. Read Dotson’s Wash100 profile here.

Executive Mosaic congratulates Gen. CQ Brown and Judi Dotson on their Wash100 recognitions.

Susan Wedge: IBM’s Managing Partner Wins Her First Wash100 Award
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Susan Wedge: IBM’s Managing Partner Wins Her First Wash100 Award

Susan Wedge is the IBM Consulting’s Managing Partner for the U.S. Public & Federal Market. Commanding a robust $2.2 billion portfolio, she leads a team of over 4,000 professionals across government, education, life sciences, and healthcare industries. 

 

Susan Wedge’s efforts were recognized with a Wash100 Award in 2024, placing her among the top 30 winners. Get to know more about her background and contributions here. 

 

Who is Susan Wedge?

 

Susan Wedge is a prominent figure in the consulting industry. She oversees the delivery of consulting services and technology solutions, aiming to improve the performance of government, education, healthcare, and life science customers within the U.S. 

 

Wedge’s career at IBM began in 2002 as a Senior Consultant and Program Manager, where she enhanced the performance of an Intelligence Community customer. Her journey within the company saw ascending leadership roles, including Senior Partner and Growth Platform Leader for the U.S. federal operational transformation practice and Senior Partner in the civilian and health aspects of the U.S. federal market business. 

 

Wedge started her career at American Management Systems. She focused on financial planning for the company’s public sector clients, progressing from an intern to a consultant and principal. She left the firm after seven years. 

 

Susan Wedge holds a Bachelor of Science with Distinction from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, concentrating in Finance and Management Information.

 

Susan Wedge is a Wash100 Award Winner in 2024

 

In 2024, Susan Wedge won her first Wash100 Award for bringing new technology ideas to government clients. 

 

Wedge has been using artificial intelligence, ensuring its open use to improve government works. Under her guidance, IBM has focused on advocating responsible AI use. This includes making operations more efficient at the Veterans Benefits Administration and freeing over 500 claims specialists for more important tasks.

 

Additionally, her work has played a big role in IBM’s $2.6 billion project to update the Internal Revenue Service’s tech systems. This contract award is a part of Wedge’s many impactful works across IBM and the government contracting market.

 

Impact of Susan Wedge on IBM Consulting’s Clients in the Public Sector

 

Here are some of the key initiatives and leadership strategies that Susan Wedge has delivered for IBM Consulting’s clients.

 

Addressing Supply Chain Security

 

IBM works with the Department of Defense to strengthen the security of the microelectronic supply chain, ensuring these vital military components are locally and reliably manufactured. They are also key components in mobile devices, computers, and advanced weapons systems.

 

Susan Wedge is tasked to lead this project for IBM. She ensures the continued delivery of secured microelectronics and supply chain services through the 20-year Trusted Foundry program.

 

In July 2023, IBM received Trusted Supplier Accreditation from the DOD Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) for delivering embedded security services.

 

Modernizing Grant Management Systems

 

Susan Wedge’s team at IBM Consulting works with its Red Hat counterpart to revolutionize the Department of Education’s G5 grants management system. 

 

Their mission is to enhance the system’s functionality and user-friendliness, thereby streamlining the administration and distribution of grants. The plan is to adopt a user-centered design and agile methodologies to align the system’s development with actual user needs.

 

Acquisition of Octo Consulting

 

Susan Wedge is a part of IBM’s strategic acquisition of Octo Consulting worth $1.2 billion. It is marked as the most substantial deal in IBM’s consulting history. 

 

This acquisition is expected to amplify IBM’s influence with public sector clients, including those in the U.S. government. It mainly includes adopting artificial intelligence and hybrid cloud computing to fulfill the requirements of their clients.

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Partnership Between DARPA & ARPA-H on Cybersecurity Competition Turns Spotlight on Healthcare Infrastructure
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Partnership Between DARPA & ARPA-H on Cybersecurity Competition Turns Spotlight on Healthcare Infrastructure

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health is now working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on the Artificial Intelligence Cyber Challenge.

The two-year contest, also known as AIxCC, seeks to enhance the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure software by having commercial competitors develop artificial intelligence-powered capabilities that can identify and resolve vulnerabilities, ARPA-H said Thursday.

The challenges that participants have to overcome are based on real-world software.

As an AIxCC collaborator, ARPA-H will contribute an additional $20 million to the contest’s prize money. The agency will also work to ensure that vulnerabilities in healthcare CI software are addressed by the competition and that transition pathways are provided for resulting technologies focused on hospital IT, biotech equipment and medical devices.

ARPA-H Director Renee Wegrzyn cited the inability of commercial-off-the-shelf tools to protect healthcare systems from cyber threats as the reason for its partnership with DARPA.

“We need rapid progress to close these gaps, which is why ARPA-H is partnering with DARPA on AIxCC to drive the development of next-generation digital security tools that can address this urgent challenge,” Wegrzyn explained.

Partnership Between DARPA & ARPA-H on Cybersecurity Competition Turns Spotlight on Healthcare Infrastructure

Cyber experts, government leaders and industry visionaries will speak about the dynamic and evolving role of cyber in the public sector at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit, which will take place in June. Register now to attend this important event!

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