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Maximus Unveils Cloud-Based Tool to Improve Federal Customer Experience
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Maximus Unveils Cloud-Based Tool to Improve Federal Customer Experience

Maximus has introduced a new system designed to enable government customers to integrate emerging technologies and human-centered design principles to improve customer experience and enhance service delivery.

The Maximus Total Experience Management tool is a cloud-based, digitally powered platform that features a suite of strategic methodologies, best practices and tools certified by the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program to deliver customer experience as a service to government agencies, the company said Wednesday.

“We designed Maximus TXM to apply customer experience methodologies and innovation to ensure long-term success for our federal agency partners, and we did so by understanding how our customers and employees engage through technology,” said MaryAnn Monroe, vice president of total experience at Maximus.

Maximus TXM also features artificial intelligence-powered web services, chatbots and the Maximus Intelligent Virtual Assistant.

“The Maximus team developed this solution in collaboration with our agency and technology partners and we anticipate several early adopters,” said Joe Jeter, senior managing director of federal technology at Maximus.

With Maximus TXM, federal agencies have reportedly saved $26 million in reduced onboarding costs and realized a 27 percent improvement in quality scores within the first six weeks.

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Keith Hardiman Appointed Enterprise IT Director at Department of the Air Force
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Keith Hardiman Appointed Enterprise IT Director at Department of the Air Force

Keith Hardiman, former director of the Headquarters Air Force Information Management, has transitioned to the role of director of enterprise information technology at the Department of the Air Force, according to a DAF Chief Information Officer LinkedIn announcement.

He will have oversight of the management, planning, governance and resourcing for enterprise IT for DAF’s nearly $7 billion information and cyber enterprise.

Hardiman will build on his previous experience in managing the Air Force’s declassification office, publications distribution office and multimedia services.

In addition to his over two years of stay at DAF, the new enterprise IT director also served as the technical director and chief data officer for the Logistics Chief Information Officer Support Division, Directorate of Resource Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force.

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Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Announces 2024 Naval S&T Strategy
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Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Announces 2024 Naval S&T Strategy

Secretary of the Navy and 2024 Wash100 awardee Carlos Del Toro announced on April 9 at the Sea-Air-Space maritime expo the release of the 2024 Naval Science and Technology Strategy.

According to Del Toro, the strategy will serve as guidance for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps as they carry out technology research amid “an innovation race” that the country must win, the U.S. Navy website reported Wednesday.

Del Toro also said the strategy serves as a “call to service” to partners in industry, academia and the government to partner with the Department of the Navy “in solving naval problems to ensure our freedom and way of life.”

The Navy secretary went on to underscore the importance of technological research, saying, “this innovation is the key to ensuring our competitive edge over our adversaries.”

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ASRC Federal Secures DHA Contracts With Combined Value of Over $100M; Jennifer Felix Quoted
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ASRC Federal Secures DHA Contracts With Combined Value of Over $100M; Jennifer Felix Quoted

ASRC Federal has won two Defense Health Agency contracts valued at $103 million in total.

Agile Decision Sciences, a subsidiary of ASRC Federal, secured a contract for health readiness, policy and oversight services and ASRC Federal Cyber received an award to support network modernization, the Reston, Virginia-based company announced on Thursday.

“We are grateful to partner with the Defense Health Agency and support their mission to provide for the health of our nation’s servicemembers, veterans and their families,” said ASRC Federal President and CEO Jennifer Felix, a 2021 Wash100 awardee.

Valued at $73 million, Agile Decision Sciences’ award is designed to help the DHA director, deputy assistant secretary of defense for health readiness policy and oversight and principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for health affairs carry out their missions.

Under the other award, ASRC Federal Cyber will evaluate and address information technology demands for both local and wireless networks relevant to healthcare delivery. The five-year DHA Enterprise Network Support Services contract is valued at $30 million and covers the design and deployment of agency IT platforms and infrastructure.

ASRC Federal’s specific responsibilities include managing large-scale network development processes, maintaining current infrastructures and planning for future integrated network engineering support. The contractor will also integrate infrastructure support functions into a sole entity.

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Michael Chappell of PEO EIS Previews Insights on Army IT for Upcoming CIO Summit
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Michael Chappell of PEO EIS Previews Insights on Army IT for Upcoming CIO Summit

The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems is in charge of a litany of tasks, including data management, IT infrastructure construction and maintenance, finance and accounting services, logistics and more. Helping to shape these mission areas is Chief Information Officer Michael Chappell.

“These are exciting times at PEO EIS,” Chappell told ExecutiveGov. Chappell spoke with us in advance of his upcoming appearance at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit, where he will participate in a panel discussion on using generative artificial intelligence to enable IT modernization. Register here to save a spot at the summit — tickets are going fast.

“I’m looking forward to this panel discussion and highlighting a few key initiatives on how we’re approaching AI in Army business systems, including Army Data Mesh and Neighborhood Watch,” said Chappell.

The data mesh Chappell refers to is the Unified Reference Data Architecture, a new concept for the Army that aims to decentralize data product ownership.

“Instead of having a centralized data platform, a data mesh empowers teams to have control over their data products and make data-driven decisions,” according to the service branch. “It allows for self-serve analytics and democratizes data product access, empowering teams to directly access, manage and control their own data products while sharing them within the organization.”

To learn more, and witness Chappell and his fellow panel participants’ enlightening conversation, register for the 5th Annual CIO Summit. On the panel, Chappell will be joined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection CIO Sonny Bhagowalia, among others. They will be moderated by the illustrious Robert McNamara of Guidehouse. Don’t miss out!

Michael Chappell of PEO EIS Previews Insights on Army IT for Upcoming CIO Summit
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Final Flight of Delta IV Heavy Launches NROL-70 Into Space
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Final Flight of Delta IV Heavy Launches NROL-70 Into Space

The NROL-70 mission was launched on April 9 by the National Reconnaissance Office, which partnered with United Launch Alliance, the Space Systems Command and U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 45 for the effort.

The NRO said Tuesday that the objective of the mission is to deliver a national security payload into orbit, which would provide various users, including warfighters and intelligence analysts, with space-based information.

The launch marked the final use of the ULA-made Delta IV Heavy rocket, of which 12 have carried NRO missions.

The launch also marked the conclusion of the Delta program itself, which began in the 1950s. The first Delta space vehicle took flight in 1960.

The NROL-70 mission took off from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

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DIU, Naval Postgraduate School Partner to Advance Defense Research, Education & Innovation
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DIU, Naval Postgraduate School Partner to Advance Defense Research, Education & Innovation

The Defense Innovation Unit and the Naval Postgraduate School have signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate defense education, research and prototyping through staff exchanges, collaborative experimentation projects at the Naval Innovation Center within NPS and student fellowships at DIU.

DIU said Tuesday it will also work with NPS to advance the adoption of commercial dual-use technology platforms and deliver critical tech capabilities to the fleet and the joint force.

“DIU partners with many Silicon Valley organizations, from tech icons to start-ups as well as universities, and NPS is a natural fit given its defense focus,” said DIU Director Doug Beck.

“Through this partnership we will connect companies with NPS talent and technology leaders, providing a catalyst for their learning and applied research to deliver innovative solutions for the joint force,” added Beck.

Beck signed the MOU with Ann Rondeau, a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral and president of NPS.

Rondeau said NPS provides a venue for students to test new ideas with industry partners and serves as an innovation hub to transition research concepts into prototype capabilities and applications.

“This new partnership with DIU will greatly enhance the impact our students can have on the fleet and force through expanded collaborations and greater access to emerging technologies,” she added.

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NASA Releases Strategy to Ensure Sustainability of Space Operational Environment
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NASA Releases Strategy to Ensure Sustainability of Space Operational Environment

NASA has released the first volume of its Space Sustainability Strategy, which aims to integrate—with the help of a new director of space sustainability—the efforts that the agency’s various components have developed to ensure that the space operating environment is preserved to benefit future generations.

NASA said Tuesday that the first volume of the strategy focuses on Earth orbit while future volumes will focus on three other operational domains under the agency’s space sustainability paradigm, namely Earth, cislunar space and deep space.

The strategy was necessitated by emerging commercial space capabilities, which have resulted in growing spacecraft congestion and increased space debris.

According to NASA Deputy Administrator and 2023 Wash100 awardee Pam Melroy, “If we want to make sure that critical parts of space are preserved so that our children and grandchildren can continue to use them for the benefit of humanity, the time to act is now.”

Regarding the release of the strategy, Melroy said, “NASA is making sure that we’re aligning our resources to support sustainable activity for us and for all.”

The strategy was developed with the help of a cross-agency advisory board.

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Technology Modernization Fund Announces Investments in NASA, Labor Department
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Technology Modernization Fund Announces Investments in NASA, Labor Department

The Technology Modernization Fund will help NASA drive network cybersecurity and performance improvements in support of agency missions and overall information technology infrastructure.

TMF will invest in NASA to counter threats to its IT infrastructure, which has significant security risks considering its role in facilitating partnerships with international space agencies and researchers worldwide as well as the value of its data, the General Services Administration said Tuesday.

“NASA’s IT infrastructure plays a critical role in every aspect of NASA’s mission, from enabling collaboration to controlling spacecraft to processing scientific data. Therefore, protecting and effectively evolving NASA’s information technology infrastructure remains a top agency priority,” said Jeff Seaton, the space agency’s chief information officer. “This TMF funding will help the agency to accelerate critical cybersecurity and operational upgrades two years earlier than originally planned.”

Aside from NASA, Technology Modernization Board-led TMF will also invest in the Department of Labor to support its efforts to streamline the delivery of injured worker assistance. The funding would help the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs replace the outdated Integrated Federal Employee Compensation System, or iFECS.

Hear insights from other featured government CIOs and industry leaders at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit on April 17. Register here for the in-person event at Hilton Alexandria Mark Center.

POC - 5th Annual CIO Summit
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NSA Releases Guidance for Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Data Pillar; Dave Luber Quoted
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NSA Releases Guidance for Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Data Pillar; Dave Luber Quoted

The National Security Agency has issued a cybersecurity information sheet outlining recommendations for maturing data security and enforcing access to data in transit and at rest.

The CIS Advancing Zero Trust Maturity Throughout the Data Pillar seeks to ensure that only people with authorization can have data access and tackles how the capabilities could integrate into a comprehensive framework for zero trust, NSA said Tuesday.

“Assuming that breaches will occur, implementing the pillars of the Zero Trust Framework is how we combat that activity,” said Dave Luber, director of cybersecurity at NSA.

“Data pillar capabilities verify all access to data — one of the key foundational elements for building improved cybersecurity — thereby reducing the impact of breaches and enabling earlier detection of even advanced malicious cyber actor activities,” added Luber.

The NSA guidance lists seven data pillar capabilities and aligns them to zero trust maturity levels: preparation, basic, intermediate and advanced phases.

The capabilities are data catalog risk alignment; enterprise data governance; data labeling and tagging; data monitoring and sensing; data encryption and rights management; data loss prevention; and data access control.

The data monitoring and sensing capability, for instance, highlights the role of security information and event management tools in helping data owners collect and analyze security data from information systems through a single interface.

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.

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