Greg Muhlner, vice president of public sector at Atom Computing and a member of Executive Mosaic’s 4×24 Quantum Group, has completed the Cuyamaca 100 kilometer ultramarathon race.

Muhlner finished the endurance run challenge — which takes place across diverse landscapes within California’s Cuyamaca Rancho and Anza Borrego state parks — in 15 hours on Saturday, he told Executive Mosaic.

250 runners participated in the 2023 ultramarathon, and all entrants were required to have run a trail race of 50 kilometers or more since 2022 to qualify.

“Training for and running ultramarathons requires a certain level of perseverance not too dissimilar to helping the federal government adopt transformative technologies,” Muhlner told Executive Mosaic. “While both activities can be physically and mentally challenging, they can also be exceptionally rewarding. I guess that’s why I continue to show up at the starting line.”

Muhlner was appointed VP of public sector at Atom Computing in May 2023. Atom Computing CEO Rob Hays said at the time that Muhlner’s extensive federal government experience would “help position Atom Computing as the premier partner to the U.S. in winning the race to large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing.”

Prior to joining Atom Computing, Muhlner spent three years at Rebellion Defense, where he led sales and customer engagement for the defense software company. His industry experience also includes senior leadership experience at Amazon Web Services, Dell EMC and SAIC.

Before his time in the private sector, Muhlner served 11 years as a Naval SEAL officer. He also held the post of liaison officer at the Department of State.

Executive Mosaic congratulates Muhlner on accomplishing this impressive feat of endurance and strength, and we thank him for his service!

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate is looking to develop a robotic system to increase security screening capacity and accuracy for explosives and other prohibited items.

The automated system will use robotics and machine vision technology to scan baggage for potentially prohibited items, eliminating the need for security personnel to inspect items manually, DHS S&T said Wednesday.

Flagged items will be directed to the inspection area where a robotic system will open it, locate the suspicious content and swab it with an explosives trace detector.

DHS S&T envisions the platform to increase safety for security personnel, speed up inspections and screening lines, standardize inspections and reduce human error.

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2023 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 15 to learn about the U.S. government’s national security priorities and initiatives. Click here to register for the highly anticipated event.

The U.S. Army needs to incorporate adaptability and flexibility in its modernization and restructuring goals, Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth stated during the 2023 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting and Exposition.

The Wash100 Award winner highlighted the service branch’s efforts in the past year to innovate through advanced prototyping and via adoption of artificial intelligence and human-machine teaming.

In June, the prototype Mid-Range Capability Weapon System launched the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile during a demonstration led by the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office. Wormuth noted that the system can provide military advantage to the Indo-Pacific Command due to its ground-to-sea targeting abilities.

She also provided an overview of the branch’s planned Human-Machine Integrated Formations Initiative, which will equip soldiers with robotic systems that can make first enemy contact during combat.

“I see us embracing change, looking to the future, and becoming the more modern, more lethal, and more adaptive force we need to be,” said Wormuth. “As we pursue the most significant modernization effort in generations, we are building an Army that can dominate in large-scale multi-domain operations.”

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has teamed up with NASA to produce a lunar rover wheel prototype using a 3D printer.

The product highlights the potential role of additive manufacturing in the future of space exploration equipment fabrication, ORNL said Friday.

The nickel alloy prototype was based on NASA’s design of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, a mobile robot that will be sent to the south pole of the Moon in 2024 to determine the source, distribution and supply of water in the natural satellite. The 3D-printed wheel will not be used in the mission, but will undergo NASA performance testing in comparison with VIPER’s traditionally produced wheels.

3D printing was done at ORNL’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility and took less time, cost and manpower to create than conventional processes. The research team was also able to incorporate more complex spoke patterns and locking features thanks to the powder bed printer’s two coordinated lasers and a rotating build plate.

The U.S. Navy commissioned its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer into active service during a ceremony held Saturday in Tampa, Florida, DVIDS reported.

The USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) is the Navy’s first destroyer built in the Flight III configuration and equipped with the updated AEGIS Weapon System, Baseline 10 architecture.

Named after Medal of Honor recipient Jack Lucas, DDG 125 features the new AN/SPY6(V)(1) air and missile defense radar and has improved electrical power and cooling capacity.

“The Jack H. Lucas is built to fight. It is a fast, maneuverable, versatile, and lethal ship – capable of tackling any mission it is given,” said Erik Raven, undersecretary of the Navy.