/
SBA Names Investment Capital Advisory Committee Members; Isabella Casillas Guzman Quoted
Published on
SBA Names Investment Capital Advisory Committee Members; Isabella Casillas Guzman Quoted

The Small Business Administration has appointed 14 members to a newly established committee to create a more diverse and inclusive investment environment for small businesses and start-ups.

Arjun Gupta, chief believer and founder of TeleSoft Partners, and Carl Kopfinger, senior vice president and managing director of TD Bank, have been appointed chair and vice chair respectively of the federal Investment Capital Advisory Committee, SBA announced Friday.

Members of the committee include current and former small business owners and officials of trade associations and investment institutions. Each member is appointed for a two-year term.

“The launch of SBA’s inaugural Investment Capital Advisory Committee with its distinguished membership will serve as a critical resource to the Biden-Harris Administration as we strengthen our policies and programs to foster a more inclusive investment ecosystem,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman.

The committee was established in August 2022 to promote and expand the network of domestic private funds committing capital to U.S. small businesses and start-ups.

/
NSF Selects University of Chicago to Operate New Synchrotron Research Facility
Published on
NSF Selects University of Chicago to Operate New Synchrotron Research Facility

The National Science Foundation awarded the University of Chicago a $35 million contract to operate a new facility specializing in the application of a cyclic particle accelerator called synchrotron to Earth and environmental sciences.

The university was chosen to manage the Synchrotron for Earth and Environmental Science facility, which will serve as a central hub for accessing analytical instrument capabilities from different laboratories across the United States, NSF said Friday.

The award makes the University of Chicago the newest addition to the collaborative effort between NSF and the Department of Energy, which operates synchrotrons across the country. SEES will give Earth and environmental scientists access to technical support, instrumentation and techniques and synchrotron beamlines from DOE laboratories.

Synchrotrons are used in the molecular study of critical minerals, which are valuable to multiple sectors, from information technology to healthcare and national security. Beam sources include DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource.

“The new SEES award will provide Earth and environmental scientists with a ‘seat at the table’ to access over 30 synchrotron beamlines at DOE laboratories, including 19 new beamlines that were not previously supported by NSF,” said Maggie Benoit, program director in NSF’s Division of Earth Sciences.

Labor Department Proposes Acquisition Regulation System Revisions
Published on
Labor Department Proposes Acquisition Regulation System Revisions

The Department of Labor is requesting comments on a proposed rule to revise the DOL Acquisition Regulations in its entirety to align agency procurement regulations with the Federal Acquisition Reform Act and the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act.

In a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register, DOL submitted to remove redundant or obsolete provisions and codify the use of certain contractual provisions that address matters related to government property, continuity of operations, system requirements, mandatory training for contractors and organizational conflicts of interest.

DOL also seeks to make edits to existing language for clarity and streamlining purposes and remove current DOLAR provisions that are internal operating procedures and do not have a significant impact on contractors or offerors.

The comment period will close on Nov. 6.

/
Bridge Core Federal Boosts Data & Analytics Portfolio With GeoYeti Acquisition; Lee Garber Quoted
Published on
Bridge Core Federal Boosts Data & Analytics Portfolio With GeoYeti Acquisition; Lee Garber Quoted

Bridge Core Federal, a NewSpring Holdings platform company, has acquired analytics, data science and development-focused company GeoYeti LLC.

The move will expand Bridge Core’s portfolio of data and analytics offerings to provide broad, end-to-end mission expertise to meet federal intelligence demands, the McLean, Virginia-based company announced on Tuesday.

Lee Garber, general partner at NewSpring, said integrating the platforms is a “significant step forward in aligning technology directly to mission outcomes.” 

GeoYeti uses non-traditional data analysis to develop tailored applications and approaches, such as Agile Analytics, and its repeatable processes can provide notable time-savings for intelligence community clients. The company applies a ‘connective tissue’ method as a tech-level cross-functional tie between federal organizations to link individuals and teams with different specializations.

Combining GeoYeti’s Agile Analytics with Bridge Core’s Tech-to-Mission services, said Garber, will “enhance the speed and precision of intelligence operations.”

Bridge Core CEO Chad Kim said the acquisition is not only an integration of capabilities, but an “investment in the brilliant minds who are redefining how analysis is performed in the intelligence community” that highlights the organization’s commitment to “nurturing talent that can innovate and excel in this complex arena.”

“As the data landscape evolves, the human element – our analysts, data scientists, and engineers – becomes increasingly critical in transforming raw data into precise, actionable insights,” he said.

Joe Governski, CEO and co-founder of GeoYeti, said the company was founded in pursuit of advancements in data and analytics, which led to the Analysis-as-a-Service approach that “seamlessly integrates agile software development principles with intelligence analysis.”

“Our core values of a shared commitment to excellence resonate seamlessly with Bridge Core’s culture of trust and teamwork to advance mission through innovation. I’m thrilled that our next phase of growth is with an organization whose principles align so closely with ours,” he said.

/
DOD IG Audits Air Force’s Procurement of 3D Expeditionary Long-Range Radar
Published on
DOD IG Audits Air Force’s Procurement of 3D Expeditionary Long-Range Radar

The Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General assessed the U.S. Air Force’s use of the middle tier of acquisition pathway for prototyping and fielding the Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar system and found that the program office did not conclude the exit criteria during the MTA rapid prototyping phase before transitioning the 3DELRR program to the rapid fielding path.

The DOD IG has recommended that the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment consult with the department’s comptroller/chief financial officer to implement guidance that sets the appropriate funding source to buy initial production units of the system during the rapid prototyping and fielding phases, according to a report publicly released on Aug. 28.

“We recommend that the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) require the Air Force Program Executive Officer Digital to request a waiver to extend the rapid fielding path for the 3DELRR program to complete fielding in the MTA pathway, and require the 3DELRR program office to develop a plan to complete fielding the 3DELRR program in the rapid fielding path if a waiver is issued,” the IG report reads.

3DELRR is a long-range, ground-based sensor system used to detect, identify and track aerial targets for the Air Force, which planned to buy a total of 35 radars through fiscal year 2028.

In March 2022, the Air Force selected Lockheed Martin to supply its AN/TPY-4(V)1 technology for the 3DELRR program.

/
NAVSEA Taps Rear Adm. Tom Anderson as Acting Commander
Published on
NAVSEA Taps Rear Adm. Tom Anderson as Acting Commander

Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, former head of the U.S. Navy Program Executive Office for Ships, has been named acting commander of Naval Sea Systems Command during an assumption of command ceremony held at the Washington Navy Yard.

He succeeds Vice Adm. William Galinis, who retired after three years of leading the NAVSEA enterprise and its global workforce of more than 86,000 civilian and military personnel, the command said Friday.

During his tenure, Galinis oversaw the delivery of 22 battle force ships and 260 vessels to the Navy fleet and led the completion of 168 Chief of Naval Operations availabilities and 1,600 continuous maintenance availabilities.

As PEO for Ships, Anderson managed the design and construction of amphibious ships, surface combatants, logistics support ships and support craft for the U.S. military and foreign military sales customers.

He previously served as commander of NAVSEA’s Surface Warfare Centers, commander of Navy Regional Maintenance Center and NAVSEA director of surface ship maintenance, modernization and sustainment.

In March, President Biden nominated Rear Adm. James Downey to serve as the next NAVSEA commander. Downey has been temporarily assigned as a special assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition while awaiting confirmation.

Pentagon, Contractors Turn to International Sources for Weapons Stockpile Assistance
Published on
Pentagon, Contractors Turn to International Sources for Weapons Stockpile Assistance

The Department of Defense and its contractors are turning to international manufacturing lines to increase weapons and ammunition stockpiles amid the Ukraine war and potential conflict with China, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

The U.S. government is also attempting to increase production of missiles, rocket motors, drones and other key technologies in Australia, Germany and Poland, among other countries, prompting vendors to push weapons production abroad to meet the rising demand worldwide.

DOD has moved to relax regulations for international weapons production and military technology sharing with foreign producers in allied countries as part of efforts to advance the approach called “friend-shoring.”

William LaPlante, undersecretary of DOD for acquisition and sustainment, said the Pentagon planned to disclose a collection of deals in the next several months to advance the establishment of weapons manufacturing lines in Europe and other locations.

“Where we’re headed is co-development, co-production and co-sustainment with our partners,” said LaPlante, a two-time Wash100 awardee.

According to the report, the current environment has driven agreements that will result in Javelin missiles being produced by companies in Poland and parts for the Lockheed Martin-built F-35 fighter jet being manufactured by German businesses.

Cerberus Makes Investment in Aerospace Company Resonant Sciences; Baird’s John Song Quoted
Published on
Cerberus Makes Investment in Aerospace Company Resonant Sciences; Baird’s John Song Quoted

Aerospace survivability-focused company Resonant Sciences has received a strategic investment from Cerberus Capital Management’s Supply Chain and Strategic Opportunities platform.

The investment, which was exclusively advised by Baird, positions Resonant to continue on its current growth trajectory to meet the growing demand for its technologies, subsystems and hardware offerings, the Dayton, Ohio-based company announced on Tuesday.

“As the global threat environment continues to rapidly evolve, innovative companies like Resonant Sciences become increasingly more important in advancing our national defense capabilities,” said John Song, a managing director in Baird’s Global Technology & Services team and Wash100 Award winner.

Resonant’s portfolio includes modern technology and hardware geared toward the U.S. defense community, primarily within the areas of advanced apertures, integrated electronic systems and modeling, measurements and digital engineering. Its client base includes federal organizations focused on the land, sea, air and space domains as well as private sector companies.

Resonant CEO and Co-Founder J. Micah North said Cerberus’ team of national security experts will help accelerate the growth and fielding of Resonant’s products and noted their understanding of the mission and commitment to supporting the company’s extended growth.

Michael Palmer, managing director for Cerberus’ Supply Chain and Strategic Opportunities arm, said that he is excited to work alongside the Resonant team “to support their continued growth and innovation.”

Resonant’s offerings in the aerospace technology field, he said, are “strengthening our nation’s defense in key areas.”

//
Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner on DISA’s Approach to AI, Zero Trust
Published on
Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner on DISA’s Approach to AI, Zero Trust

Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, director of the Defense Information Systems Agency and a two-time Wash100 awardee, said DISA is taking a forward-leaning approach to artificial intelligence, zero trust and other technologies to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities in support of U.S. warfighters.

“We’re leveraging AI, especially from a cybersecurity standpoint,” Skinner said at a conference on Wednesday.

“AI is included in the Defense Enterprise Office Solution. We have to embrace AI,” he added.

Skinner, who also serves as commander of the Joint Force Headquarters-Department of Defense Information Network, highlighted the importance of strengthening cybersecurity measures through zero trust adoption and the need for secure information systems amid a rapidly changing digital landscape.

“It’s all about how we maneuver and posture ourselves so that we’re ready against the adversary,” Skinner noted.

Trusted AI and Autonomy Forum

Listen to public sector leaders and technology experts as they explore opportunities and risks associated with generative AI and related tools at ExecutiveBiz’s Trusted Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy Forum on Sept. 12. Register here.

/
AFRL Reports Tenfold Increase in Demand for Military Health Record Smartphone App Demos
Published on
AFRL Reports Tenfold Increase in Demand for Military Health Record Smartphone App Demos

A smartphone application developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory as an electronic health record tool for the military has been steadily attracting the attention of military agencies since its launch in 2019.

The Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Observation Kit, which was selected in 2022 as the official EHR tool by the Joint Operational Medicine Information Systems Program Management Office, has seen a tenfold increase in demand for demonstrations at joint exercises, AFRL said Wednesday.

BATDOK is designed to capture medical documentation for point-of-injury as well as en route care of military patients. 

Evaluation of the app by military medics began in 2016, with AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing conducting two operational demos per year. After JOMIS announced its adoption of the app, demonstrations rose to two per month.

BATDOK has been deployed for evaluation and testing to all services of the Department of Defense, and has caught the interest of foreign military customers including the United Kingdom, Morocco and Australia.

1 … 466 467 468 469 470 … 2,609