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Zakiya Carr Johnson Named State Department’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer; Antony Blinken Quoted
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Zakiya Carr Johnson Named State Department’s Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer; Antony Blinken Quoted

Zakiya Carr Johnson, senior professional staff member within the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been appointed to serve as the next CDIO or chief diversity and inclusion officer at the State Department.

She will replace Conny Mayer, who served as acting CDIO.

In a statement published Tuesday, State Secretary Antony Blinken said Johnson will oversee the department’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives.

Johnson founded Odara Solutions and co-founded and served as director of Black Women Disrupt, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She first joined the State Department in 2010, serving as director and senior adviser of the race, ethnicity and social inclusion unit.

“As our new CDIO, Zakiya returns to the Department with international expertise and a fresh perspective on how we build a workforce that reflects America,” stated Blinken, a previous Wash100 awardee.

“Her previous work promoting entrepreneurship and access to opportunity for underrepresented populations, as well as her commitment to inclusive leadership, make us stronger, smarter, and more innovative,” he added.

The secretary also highlighted the need for the department to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility to establish the most capable workforce to help strengthen national security.

DOE Invests $75M in Critical Materials Supply Chain Research Facility Construction
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DOE Invests $75M in Critical Materials Supply Chain Research Facility Construction

The Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has invested $75 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in a new project to build a new research facility dedicated to advancing the U.S. critical minerals supply chain.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory will lead the Minerals to Materials Supply Chain Facility, or METALLIC, project to enable research, development, demonstration and deployment of critical minerals and materials through rapid validation optimization and commercialization of production and utilization tools, DOE said Tuesday.

“To help ensure a secure domestic supply, DOE is investing in projects to help accelerate the production of essential critical minerals and materials from a diverse set of sources, working with other agencies and the private sector as part of a government-wide strategy,” said Brad Crabtree, assistant secretary of fossil energy and carbon management.

The METALLIC project will involve the participation of Ames National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Once completed, the Critical Minerals Supply Chain Research Facility will provide support to the Critical Materials Collaborative, the Critical Materials Innovation Hub and other existing government efforts to advance the U.S. supply chain for critical materials.

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Randy Resnick: DOD CIO Office Intends to Automate Zero Trust Implementation Plan Review
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Randy Resnick: DOD CIO Office Intends to Automate Zero Trust Implementation Plan Review

Randy Resnick, director of the Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office within the Department of Defense’s Office of the Chief Information Officer, said the CIO office plans to automate its review of zero trust implementation plans, Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

According to Resnick, the office took nearly four months and tapped 35 full-time personnel to evaluate 39 implementation plans that were received in November.

“So it became apparent to us that we need to automate this process. We need to put it in electronic form where we could actually apply AI tools to actually ask questions and to achieve answers based on the submissions. That’s where our head is going right now,” the 2024 Wash100 awardee said at a symposium on Tuesday.

The CIO office is advancing about 15 zero trust pilots across three courses of action: adding tools to existing infrastructure, developing zero trust-compliant cloud by relying on commercial providers and using an on-prem, private cloud platform.

“We want to do examples of proof of concepts across all three at both levels of target and advanced. If we’re able to achieve target or advanced zero trust within these examples, they would be examples that the components could look at and reduce their anxiety level that it’s impossible to implement zero trust and before the end of 2027,” Resnick stated.

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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Kratos Demos XQ-58A Aircraft’s Electronic Attack Capability for Marine Corps
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Kratos Demos XQ-58A Aircraft’s Electronic Attack Capability for Marine Corps

The XQ-58A Valkyrie aircraft of a Kratos Defense & Security Solutions division showcased its electronic warfare capabilities while in flight with two F-35 aircraft as part of a test supporting a U.S. Marine Corps program.

Kratos Unmanned Systems Division demonstrated Valkyrie’s integrated electronic attack capability as a culmination of the first phase of the Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer – Portfolio, or PAACK-P, program, the company said Tuesday.

Achieving all flight test objectives, the aircraft was able to autonomously detect, identify and geolocate multiple tactically relevant targets of interest, then transmit emitter target track coordinates to collaborative assets. It also presented non-kinetic electronic attack effects against several emitters.

The test was supported by the 40th Flight Test Squadron, 96th Test Wing, and came after Kratos received a $22.9 million Phase 2 contract modification for more flight test demonstrations and engineering development.

“We’re proud to be pioneering these technologies with our integrated autonomous aircraft systems that truly validate the DoD’s goal of achieving effective, survivable, affordable mass,” commented Steve Fendley, president of Kratos Unmanned Systems Division.

Gen. James Rainey Outlines Army’s Transformation Time Frames to Achieve Flexibility
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Gen. James Rainey Outlines Army’s Transformation Time Frames to Achieve Flexibility

Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of Army Futures Command, said the U.S. Army is pursuing technology transformation and innovation in three different periods to ensure flexibility in adapting to the ever-evolving warfighting environment.

Speaking at the U.S. Army Global Force Symposium, Rainey said the service branch’s transformation efforts are divided into three terms: 18 to 24 months, two to seven years, and seven to 15 years.

During the first period, the Army will deploy new capabilities to warfighters for testing and analysis and gathering real-world feedback to inform future adjustments.

Technologies in this area include ground-based rockets, land-based missiles, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, robotics and human-machine integrated formations.

The two-to-seven-year period, also known as deliberate transformation, focuses on the Army’s work on the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, improving indirect fire weapons, extending the range of cannon artillery and enhancing its network capabilities.

The last period zeroes in on concept-driven transformation, enabling the service branch to develop new capabilities, sustain capabilities and build endurance and resilience.

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DOD’s Randy Resnick & SAIC’s Vincent DiFronzo Receive GovCon’s Most Coveted Laurel—the Wash100 Award
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DOD’s Randy Resnick & SAIC’s Vincent DiFronzo Receive GovCon’s Most Coveted Laurel—the Wash100 Award

Executive Mosaic publications today singled out the achievements of the Department of Defense’s Randy Resnick and SAIC’s Vincent DiFronzo in light of their 2024 Wash100 Award wins.

Wash100 Award winners are the MVPs of government contracting — these accomplished executives hail from both industry and government but can always be found helping to steer the massive ship that encompasses this market. Recipients include C-suite executives, military generals, technologists and more who evince exemplary leadership, innovation, vision and reliability.

After EM picks and publishes the year’s winners, a popular vote contest is held until the end of April to determine the audience favorite from this year’s crop of awardees. If you haven’t yet cast votes for your favorites, do so now at Wash100.com!

Resnick is a first-time winner who netted the award due to his institution-rousing cybersecurity efforts, with a particular focus on zero trust (he serves as director of the Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office at the Pentagon). Wash100 founder Jim Garrettson said Resnick “is a strong leader with deep cyber expertise, and he’s been instrumental in architecting and shaping zero trust within the department. And, as a speaker at previous Potomac Officers Club events, Randy has proven to be a willing participant in connecting with the GovCon community and speaking directly to industry executives to advance DOD missions.” Read Resnick’s full GovCon Wire profile here.

DiFronzo is also making his Wash100 debut this year and caught the attention of the voting body for his warfighter technology support as the executive vice president of the Air Force, combatant commands and DOD agency business unit, a position he earned as part of SAIC’s new CEO’s reorganization strategy last year. DiFronzo is additionally a powerhouse in the realm of workforce: he leads Executive Mosaic’s 4×24 DOD Group, a premier networking organization, and has championed paths to veteran employment. Peruse the exec’s impressive career in his ExecutiveBiz profile here.

Congratulations to Resnick and DiFronzo on their 2024 Wash100 induction!

Federal Salary Cap, Pay Scale, & Locality Rates Explained
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Federal Salary Cap, Pay Scale, & Locality Rates Explained

The federal salary cap is the maximum compensation that federal employees can earn based on the General Schedule (GS) payscale. It changes depending on the locality area and increases each fiscal year.

 

Discover the pay cap for federal employees, including pay scales and locality rate adjustments for the fiscal year 2024.

 

What is the Federal Salary Cap?

 

The federal salary cap is the ceiling that government employees can receive each year. It is determined by statutory regulations, budgetary programs, and government policies. It also depends on factors such as:

 

  • Executive Schedule
  • Base pay
  • Locality pay
  • Special salary rates.

 

Salary Cap for Federal Employees

 

The federal employee pay cap differs from year to year. In fiscal year 2024, the wage ceiling, inclusive of basic pay and locality pay, for most federal personnel is set at $191,900. Conversely, federal pay in 2023 peaked at $183,500.

 

Here’s an overview of GS employees’ salary cap from 2020 to 2024:

 

Salary Cap for Federal Employees

 

GS Federal Pay Scale For 2024

 

The General Schedule (GS) is the primary pay framework of the federal workforce. It consists of 15 grades, each with 10 steps to determine the base pay for different positions. The base pay is then adjusted according to the locality adjustment rate set by the OPM (Office of Personnel Management) pay locality.

 

Federal employees receive periodic increases or within-grade increases (WGI) when they transition from one step to the next within their assigned grade. WGIs depend on the performance and tenure of the employee in their current step.

 

Specific waiting periods also apply.

 

  • 1 year for Steps 1-3
  • 2 years for Steps 4-6
  • 3 years for Steps 7-9.

 

Below is the GS pay scale in 2024, which took effect on January 1, 2024.

 

GS Federal Pay Scale For 2024

 

GS Locality Rate Adjustments in 2024

 

On top of the base pay, government employees may receive a locality pay adjustment. These adjustments vary based on the cost of living in specific local areas.

 

For example, as outlined in the Executive Order issued in December 2023, GS employees are set to receive a 4.7% increase in base pay, accompanied by a 0.5% hike in locality pay. This results in an average pay raise of 5.2% in fiscal year 2024.

 

Certain locality areas have high costs of living because of strong economic growth. As a result, federal employees working in these regions receive higher locality pay adjustments to match the living expenses.

 

Notably, the top five locality areas with the highest percentage pay raise include:

 

  • Seattle-Tacoma, WA (5.7%)
  • San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA (5.62%)
  • New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (5.53%)
  • Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY (5.46%)
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (5.44%)

 

In contrast, government employees in areas with more affordable cost of living receive lower pay adjustments. Among the bottom five locality areas with the lowest percentage pay raise are:

 

  • Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD (5.28%)
  • Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX (4.97%)
  • Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL (4.97%)
  • Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL (4.94%)
  • Houston-The Woodlands, TX (4.89%)

 

Below is the comprehensive list of GS locality areas, their respective adjustment rates, and the highest pay increase for each area.

 

GS Locality Rate Adjustments in 2024

Atom Power Achieves FedRAMP Authorization for Cloud-Based EV Charging Software
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Atom Power Achieves FedRAMP Authorization for Cloud-Based EV Charging Software

Atom Power, a manufacturer of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, has secured authorization from the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program to offer its cloud-based software tool to government customers.

The General Services Administration said Monday the authorization verifies that Atom Power’s software complies with FedRAMP’s security standards, enabling government agencies to deploy secure electric vehicle charging stations.

Atom Power becomes the third electric vehicle supply equipment — or EVSE — manufacturer to receive FedRAMP authorization following Chargie and ChargePoint.

“It’s great to see another example of the EVSE industry responding to the growing federal demand for EV charging stations,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan.

“We look forward to helping more American businesses to grow and thrive in the federal marketplace by supporting the sustainability of the federal footprint,” she added.

In a separate announcement, Atom Power said its FedRAMP-authorized Atom Cloud Software Solution can be paired with its charging hardware to provide government agencies with visibility and control over their electric vehicle charging portfolios.

GSA plans to authorize six more EVSE vendors later in 2024 to support the Biden administration’s clean transportation goals.

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NCSC Seeks to Promote Supply Chain Integrity Through Awareness Campaign; Michael Casey Quoted
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NCSC Seeks to Promote Supply Chain Integrity Through Awareness Campaign; Michael Casey Quoted

The National Counterintelligence and Security Center and its government and industry partners will perform several outreach events in April as part of the launch of National Supply Chain Integrity Month.

NCSC said Monday the events will foster supply chain integrity by highlighting sectors at risk, adversarial activities and measures to improve supply chain risk management, or SCRM, programs with the integration of ACE — acquisition security, cybersecurity and enterprise security.

“Hostile nation states and other threat actors exploit supply chain vulnerabilities to steal American intellectual property, target our critical infrastructure, and compromise our cybersecurity,” said NCSC Director Michael Casey.

“While these incidents have increased in number and severity, so has our resolve to build resilience in the supply chains we all rely upon,” added Casey.

According to the agency, the events will include classified discussions with the Intelligence Community and multinational engagement with foreign partners.

NCSC will also publish on its website and social media platforms SCRM-related materials and advisories.

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DOD Policy Chief for Space John Plumb Stepping Down in May
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DOD Policy Chief for Space John Plumb Stepping Down in May

A spokesperson for the Department of Defense has confirmed that John Plumb is set to step down from his position as assistant secretary of defense for space policy in May, Breaking Defense reported Friday.

Plumb has held the space policy role since 2022. His responsibilities cover the overall supervision of policy related not only to space but also to cyber, electronic warfare, missile defense, nuclear weapons and countering weapons of mass destruction.

Included among Plumb’s policy contributions is his advocacy for lowering classification barriers to secret space programs to better facilitate the sharing of information with U.S. allies and industry partners.

Plumb’s position in the DOD was created under the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act and Plumb is the first individual to have been appointed to take it on.

No further details have been provided regarding the upcoming exit.

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