Transportation Department Initiates $100M Accelerator Program to Enhance EV Charger Reliability
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Transportation Department Initiates $100M Accelerator Program to Enhance EV Charger Reliability

The Department of Transportation has opened applications for a new accelerator program that will provide up to $100 million in federal funding to build a reliable national electric vehicle charging network.

DOT said Wednesday that projects selected for the Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator will focus on repairing or replacing non-operational EV chargers to improve the reliability of current EV charging infrastructure.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, America is leading the electric vehicle revolution. This funding represents the latest step toward building a convenient, affordable, reliable charging network that reaches every corner of our nation,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Funding for the accelerator was made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, which provides nearly $5 billion to help states establish EV charging sites.

Applications are open until Nov. 13.

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OMB Outlines Requirements for Agencies to Manage AI Through Draft Guidance
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OMB Outlines Requirements for Agencies to Manage AI Through Draft Guidance

The Office of Management and Budget has issued a draft memo outlining 10 requirements for how federal agencies should adopt and manage artificial intelligence technologies, Federal News Network reported Wednesday.

The draft guidance directs agencies to name a chief AI officer, establish an AI governance board, have risk mitigation measures in place for generative AI and foster AI innovation by identifying use cases aimed at improving an organization’s mission.

The document would require agencies to create a public strategy within a year to eliminate barriers to AI adoption and advance AI maturity and cease using “safety-impacting or rights impacting” AI without a waiver or extension.

According to FNN, OMB started working on the memo in May and sought comments on the second draft through Sept. 8. 

“It’s a technology wave that we all have to get on board because there is no going back, so having guidance and policies are important. It will be interesting to see how AI and chief privacy officers work together on implementing AI,” an agency tech executive told FNN.

OMB is expected to publish the draft memo in the Federal Register in October to solicit public comments.

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NSWC Crane Seeks Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Technologies for 2024 Capability Experimentation Event
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NSWC Crane Seeks Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Technologies for 2024 Capability Experimentation Event

Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division is seeking electromagnetic spectrum operations capabilities that are in the early stages of development and has issued a request for submissions for the requirement.

According to a special notice posted on SAM.gov, the EMSO capabilities will undergo testing during the two-week Silent Swarm experimentation event set to take place in July of 2024.

The experimentation activities will involve participating EMSO providers collaborating with each other to demonstrate the ability of their technologies to achieve operational objectives.

For Silent Swarm 2024, the objectives are to bring about the effects of distributed electromagnetic attacks, which include high-power microwaves; radio frequency deception, which includes the mimicking of signals of interest; and the delivery of digital payloads, which includes analytics, reconnaissance and offensive cyber.

The technologies should be within Technology Readiness Levels 2 to 5 and can be implemented on small multi-domain unmanned systems.

Interested parties have until Oct. 16 to respond.

Work under this effort is being done in support of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and other Department of Defense units.

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Senate Lawmakers Urge OSTP to Develop AI Content Authentication Standards
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Senate Lawmakers Urge OSTP to Develop AI Content Authentication Standards

Sens. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and John Thune, R-S.D., have called on the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop secure, consensus-based standards for authenticating artificial intelligence-generated works to promote transparency and public trust.

In a letter to OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar, the senators said that the federal government must provide consumers with accessible tools to verify the authenticity of online content and AI systems they interact with, Hickenlooper’s office reported Tuesday.

“We need to invest in research and build consensus around authentication techniques between federal agencies, academia, and industry,” the letter reads.

Hickenlooper and Thune requested that the OSTP provide details on what current or planned federal research or pilot initiatives will focus on advancing content authenticity tools and how to prevent them from being removed, manipulated or counterfeited.

They also asked how watermarking techniques differ for audio, video, text, image and other AI-generated content.

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DHS Forms Customer Experience Office, Appoints Dana Chisnell to Helm
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DHS Forms Customer Experience Office, Appoints Dana Chisnell to Helm

The Department of Homeland Security has created a new office to improve how DHS interacts with the public and delivers services to customers.

DHS said Wednesday it named Dana Chisnell, a user experience design expert and a technology executive, to oversee the newly created customer experience office, which will be part of the department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer.

“This new office will prioritize customer-focused service delivery and serve as a model within the Department to implement President Biden’s customer experience vision,” said DHS CIO Eric Hysen.

The CX office is part of the department’s commitment to an executive order that directs the federal government to simplify public-facing processes to increase equity and mitigate administrative burden.

“DHS interacts with the public more often than any other agency, so it’s critical that we build equity and reduce burden for both internal and external customers,” said Chisnell.

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Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne Plant 1st RS-25 Engine in Artemis II SLS Rocket
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Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne Plant 1st RS-25 Engine in Artemis II SLS Rocket

Boeing and Aerojet Rocketdyne engineers and technicians installed the first RS-25 engine to the Space Launch System rocket, which will be used in the Artemis II manned mission to the Moon.

The engine is one of four units to be put in place in the core stage of SLS, two of which are new, while the other two were used in previous space shuttle flights, NASA announced Wednesday.

The installation was done at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The first engine was positioned at the top left corner of the core stage. In March, the team had integrated all five major structures of the rocket’s backbone.

Boeing and Aerojet, a subsidiary of L3Harris Technologies, will proceed with adding the rest of the RS-25 engines as well as propulsion and electrical systems to the structure.

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SandboxAQ’s Jen Sovada Reflects on Core Values, Career Goals & Innovation Challenges
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SandboxAQ’s Jen Sovada Reflects on Core Values, Career Goals & Innovation Challenges

Jen Sovada currently serves as president of SandboxAQ’s public sector arm, where she leads the organization’s efforts to bring artificial intelligence and quantum products to the federal government. Her career began in the U.S. Air Force, where she held a variety of roles focused on technology and intelligence.

Sovada recently took the helm of the Quantum Group for Executive Mosaic’s 4×24 leadership program, where she works to empower government and industry executives to share their insights on quantum technologies, which she said “hold immense potential for transforming the public sector.”

In an interview with the Potomac Officers Club published on Tuesday, Sovada discussed the federal technology landscape, the driving forces behind her career and the core values she embraces as a leader.

This excerpt from the interview offers a glimpse into her career goals:

“I am passionate about ensuring that the global good is protected, and being a part of the federal landscape enables me to do just that. My goal is to build a team that can add value and advance the collective goals of the U.S. government and its allies. I also am passionate about teaching those who make life and death decisions about emerging technology and how it can both benefit and detract from their vision and goals.”

To learn more about Sovada’s leadership values, read the full Executive Spotlight interview on the Potomac Officers Club website.

Interested in participating in your own Executive Spotlight interview? Potomac Officers Club members have exclusive access to this exciting brand-building opportunity and numerous other benefits. Click here to browse our membership options and discover which one is right for you.

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CISA Advisory Committee Submits Recommendations to Strengthen National Cybersecurity; Jen Easterly Quoted
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CISA Advisory Committee Submits Recommendations to Strengthen National Cybersecurity; Jen Easterly Quoted

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s cybersecurity advisory panel submitted more than 100 recommendations to CISA Director Jen Easterly to strengthen U.S. defense against online threats, Cyberscoop reported Wednesday.

The recommendations were finalized at the cybersecurity advisory committee’s third quarter 2023 meeting, which also led to the election of Ron Green and Dave DeWalt as chair and vice chair, respectively, according to CISA.

Some of the proposed actions were to establish a national alert mechanism against threats, and to appoint more cybersecurity experts on the boards of directors in the private sector. The panel elaborated that the experts must be knowledgeable about new Securities and Exchange Commission rules, which will mandate publicly traded companies to report significant data and system breaches.

Easterly, a two-time recipient of the Wash100 Award, said the committee’s report was “transformative.” “I am super grateful to these outstanding professionals who gave their time and expertise to develop recommendations aimed at advancing CISA’s role as America’s cyber defense agency. They’ve made an invaluable impact on the cybersecurity posture of the United States,” she commented.

Easterly is expected to post her responses to the recommendations on CISA’s official website.

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Michael Casey Confirmed as Director of National Counterintelligence & Security Center
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Michael Casey Confirmed as Director of National Counterintelligence & Security Center

Michael Colin Casey, staff director for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence since 2016, has received confirmation from the Senate to serve as director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.

Avril Haines, director of national intelligence and a three-time Wash100 awardee, said in a statement published Wednesday that Casey brings “deep national security expertise and knowledge” to the intelligence community’s counterintelligence and security work.

“Facing an increasingly complex threat environment, the IC and our partners will benefit tremendously with Mike as the Director of NCSC, and I look forward to having him at ODNI,” Haines said.

In his previous position, Casey coordinated with the minority staff director in overseeing the committee’s staff, daily operations and security.

Before joining the panel, he was a professional staff member in the House Armed Services Committee for over nine years.

List Of Notable General Counsels To Watch In 2023
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List Of Notable General Counsels To Watch In 2023

General counsels play a crucial part of any business as it is responsible for monitoring changes in the law that may affect the company and the industry. Hiring the right general counsel will make it easier for the firm to operate without breaking or interfering with local, state, and country laws.

 

What is a General Counsel?

General Counsel (GC) is typically an executive position in a corporate company responsible for legal and compliance work. The GC represents the company in court, gives legal counsel to the executive team, directs the legal department’s work, and ensures that all requirements are followed. A GC is also expected to attend board and committee meetings to keep up with the latest developments at the company.

 

List of General Counsels To Watch In 2023

The following list of General Counsels is ranked in no particular order. The selection considered its 4×24 membership and its contributions to the company. However, many other leaders who also provide excellent products and services may be excluded from this list.

 

Matthew Madalo, Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary of Siemens Government Technologies

Matthew Madalo, Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary of Siemens Government Technologies
Image from Siemens Government Technologies

Matthew Madalo is currently working as Siemens Government Technologies’ General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary. Siemens is a global technology firm serving numerous infrastructure, transportation, and healthcare sectors and SGT is the company’s federal division in the United States.

Mr. Madalo oversees the legal, contracting, compliance, and infrastructure security departments at SGT. He also manages all government reporting obligations to ensure compliance with all applicable legislation. He believes compliance is an art, as a general counsel creates innovative solutions for the company’s growth or client’s needs.

 

Josh Petty, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Booz Allen Hamilton

Josh Petty, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Booz Allen Hamilton
Image from Booz Allen Hamilton

Josh Petty holds the position of executive vice president and general counsel at Booz Allen Hamilton. In his current role, he is responsible for leading several legal initiatives, such as legal advice to management, overseeing the legal department, and coordinating with outside counsel. He has extensive experience in commercial and government contracts and compliance programs.

Mr. Petty is known for his expertise in giving practical legal guidance that aids in accomplishing corporate goals and staying compliant with relevant laws and regulations. He held several high-level legal positions from different companies, like  Accenture. As the company’s global government compliance officer, Josh was integral to improving  Accenture’s rules, procedures, and training materials.

 

Kevin Boyle, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of V2X

Kevin Boyle, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of V2X
Image from V2X

Kevin Boyle serves as Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at V2X. Since joining the company in October 2018, he has been overseeing all legal business dealings and ensuring corporate and government compliance. V2X is a professional services provider that offers IT solutions, logistics, and supply chain management for the federal government and worldwide markets.

Since 1997, Mr. Boyle has been in various executive legal and business capacities, advising the top management and boards of both public and private companies. His expertise spans multiple business transactions, from mergers and acquisitions to capital-raising initiatives, long-term strategies, risk management, and performance development.

 

Devon Engel, Vice President and General Counsel of General Dynamics Mission Systems

Devon Engel, Vice President and General Counsel of General Dynamics Mission Systems
Image from General Dynamics Mission System

Devon Engel is the Vice President and General Counsel of the business unit of General Dynamics, known as General Dynamics Mission Systems. He oversees all the legal issues and government contracts for General Dynamics Mission Systems. This part of the company makes mission-critical, cyber-secure systems for the military and government. 

Mr. Engel practiced federal contract law as an associate in the Crowell & Moring office in the nation’s capital. He is well-known in government contracts, having written extensively on the subject and given numerous talks. Besides hiss position in GD, he is involved in his community and has been a part of DrugFreeAZKids.org’s Board of Directors since 2004. In 2016, he was recognized as one of the Top General Counsels in Government Contracting by Executive Mosaic.

 

Hilary Hageman, Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary, and General Counsel of SAIC

Hilary Hageman, Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary, and General Counsel of SAIC
Image from SAIC

Hilary Hageman serves SAIC executives as a vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary. She is an accomplished business leader with a wealth of legal knowledge spanning public company law, federal contracting, national security law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance. She started working in the company in 2016 to 2019.

In 2022, SAIC announced her comeback and was appointed to her current position. She primarily served the defense and aviation sectors as soon as she returned. Ms. Hageman has served in numerous high-level legal positions, including those at CACI (where she was Principal Deputy General Counsel) and the US Department of Defense.

 

Maryanne Lavan, Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary, and General Counsel at Lockheed Martin

Maryanne Lavan, Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary, and General Counsel at Lockheed Martin
Image from Lockheed Martin Corporation

Maryanne Lavan is a Senior Vice President at Lockheed Martin, an American defense and aerospace firm worldwide. In addition, she serves as the company’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. She oversees the company’s legal affairs, the law department, the Board of Directors, and the top management. 

Before this role, Ms. Lavan was the vice president of corporate internal audit, overseeing impartial reviews of corporate governance, internal control procedures, and risk management. She started serving at Lockheed Martin in 1990 as an attorney and gradually rose in her position.

 

Jeremy Nance, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Legal Operations at V2X

Jeremy Nance, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Legal Operations at V2X
Image from V2X

Jeremy Nance is currently working at V2X as the Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Legal Operations. V2X connects people, technology, and capabilities around the world throughout the lifecycle of a project. The company provides proactive operating solutions that benefit the government and defense sectors.

Mr. Nance was L-3 Vertex Aerospace’s Senior Director of Legal and Contracts until the company was sold. He began working at L-3 as an attorney in 2006 and has since held positions of increasing prominence there.

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