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DOE Expands Quantum-in-Space Initiative With IonQ, Honeywell & EPB
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DOE seal. The Department of Energy welcomed the addition of IonQ, Honeywell and EPB to its Quantum-in-Space Collaboration.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Commercialization has announced the addition of IonQ, Honeywell and the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, or EPB, to its Quantum-in-Space Collaboration.

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Advancing Space-Based Quantum Capabilities

DOE said Wednesday the three new signatories will join the collaboration, which unites government, industry and academic partners with a common goal of accelerating the development and deployment of space-based quantum capabilities technologies to strengthen national security.

“This expansion shows how DOE is building the bridge from demonstration to deployment by adding commercial partners that can bring lab-proven systems into orbit and open pathways to market applications,” said Anthony Pugliese, DOE chief commercialization officer and director of OTC.

Quantum-in-Space Collaboration

The DOE initiative is evolving into a significant testing ground for quantum technologies, providing the DOE, Department of Defense and NASA a platform for feasibility studies and demonstrations. The collaboration currently includes the following companies:

  • Boeing
  • Axiom Space
  • USRA
  • Vescent
  • Qrypt
  • Blue Origin
  • Infleqtion
  • Accenture
  • Nebula

“This collaboration will help us seed a quantum sandbox in space to support resource exploration and manufacturing of high-value products leveraging microgravity, as well as explore new capabilities,” said Rima Kasia Oueid, DOE senior commercialization executive and lead architect of the Quantum-in-Space Collaboration.

DOE Expands Quantum-in-Space Initiative With IonQ, Honeywell & EPB
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GAO Flags Potential Redundancies in DOD Cyberspace Operations
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GAO logo. GAO released a report urging the DOD to address overlapping cyberspace operations roles.

The Government Accountability Office has released a report detailing the potential of overlapping or redundant roles within a network of nearly 500 organizations in the Department of Defense’s cyberspace operations.

DOD Cyberspace Structure

GAO mentions in its report published Wednesday that the DOD’s cyberspace operations workforce includes 440 organizations with 61,000 military and civilian employees, as well as 9,500 contractors. The agency also identified around 70 organizations and 3,400 personnel performing supporting roles.

Most of these organizations are aligned with the U.S. Cyber Command or retained by various military services. They perform a variety of functions including offensive, defensive and DOD Information Network operations.

GAO Identifies Possible Overlapping Functions

GAO noted the potential for redundancy and inefficiency among multiple organizations, particularly within the supporting organizations and personnel in areas such as budgeting, policy and training. It particularly mentioned similar cyberspace training courses provided by organizations and the administration of various cybersecurity service providers. The agency pointed out that some overlaps were intentional and necessary, while the others can result in wasted funds.

To address this issue, GAO recommended that the DOD evaluate the feasibility of consolidating similar training courses to establish a joint training model. The agency also urged the DOD to explore opportunities to combine cybersecurity service providers to enhance mission effectiveness.

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RTX Named Principal Contractor in $162M Norway Torpedo FMS
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MK 54 MOD 0 lightweight torpedoes. Possible foreign military sale to Norway

The Department of State has approved a possible foreign military sale of up to 50 MK 54 MOD 0 lightweight torpedoes and related equipment to Norway valued an estimated $162.1 million. RTX will serve as the principal contractor for the transaction, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Wednesday. 

RTX Named Principal Contractor in $162M Norway Torpedo FMS

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According to DSCA, the non-major defense equipment included in the FMS include torpedo parts, storage containers and software, as well as U.S. government and contractor support services. Implementing the sale will require temporary assignment of U.S. government and contractor representatives for technical oversight and assistance, the agency added. 

The armory of the Royal Norwegian Navy currently holds MK 54 MOD 0 lightweight torpedoes, and it will not be difficult for the service to absorb the additional all up rounds munitions.

Other Recent FMS Approvals for Norway

The State Department in May also approved the proposed FMS of AIM-9X Block II Tactical Missiles and related equipment to Norway for $370.9 million, with as RTX as the principal contractor.

Besides the Norwegian torpedo and missile procurements, DSCA also announced on Friday the State Department’s approval of a possible FMS to Norway of 816 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb Increment I and support equipment worth an estimated $113 million. Boeing is the principal contractor in the proposed bomb sale.

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ICE Recruitment Surge Attracts 150,000 Applicants, 18,000 Job Offers
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U.S.-Mexico border. ICE has received an influx of applicants after it has changed the requirements for joining the agency.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reported record interest in its latest hiring campaign, receiving more than 150,000 applications nationwide and extending over 18,000 tentative job offers.

The recruitment effort is part of a push to expand ICE’s workforce with new financial incentives and eligibility changes, the Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

At the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12, hear from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Chief Digital Transformation Officer James McCament on a panel discussing how to balance innovation with the law enforcement mission. Register now for this critical GovCon networking event!

Incentives Driving Applications

To boost hiring, ICE has rolled out new pay and benefit structures, including:

  • Signing bonuses of up to $50,000
  • Student loan repayment and forgiveness programs
  • Enhanced retirement benefits
  • Overtime pay for certain enforcement and investigative roles

Officials say these offerings are designed to make ICE careers more competitive while addressing retention and recruitment challenges that have affected the agency in recent years.

Expanded Eligibility Requirements

ICE has also relaxed its previous age restrictions, widening the applicant pool. This change, combined with the enhanced incentives, has significantly increased interest in law enforcement positions within both Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations, according to reports.

Agency leaders have characterized the hiring surge as essential to meeting operational demands, particularly in efforts to remove high-risk individuals and strengthen border security.

Managing Rapid Growth

The scale of the recruitment effort presents challenges. Analysts and observers note that while the campaign has succeeded in drawing attention, processing applicants through background checks, medical screenings and training will take time and resources. Concerns have also been raised about maintaining training standards and oversight amid such rapid expansion.

Former 15-year ICE official Phil Miller, now a senior vice president at Procentrix, will moderate a panel discussion about how AI and commercial-off-the-shelf solutions are powering DHS innovation at the 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12. Ensure your company’s presence at the event!

DHS and Federal Hiring Context

The ICE recruitment surge comes as the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies are making similar workforce pushes to address staffing shortages, modernize operations, and respond to evolving national security demands. Broader government hiring initiatives have increasingly emphasized incentives such as loan repayment and expanded eligibility in order to attract new talent to public service.

ICE says it will continue to process its current applicant pool and expects additional hiring rounds in the months ahead.

ICE Recruitment Surge Attracts 150,000 Applicants, 18,000 Job Offers
House Panel Proposes CR to Keep Government Funded Through November
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Capitol Hill building. The House Appropriations Committee proposed a CR to keep the government funded through Nov. 21.

The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday introduced a continuing resolution, or CR, that seeks to prevent a government shutdown by extending government funding through Nov. 21.

The panel said Tuesday the proposed Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, is expected to be considered on the House floor this week.

“Keeping our government open and working for the American people is not a partisan issue – and this clean, short-term funding extension reflects that. As we continue advancing FY26 conference negotiations, this measure prevents the chaos of a shutdown and allows us to stay focused on restoring regular order,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla.

According to the committee, the House and Senate have moved to conference negotiations appropriations bills for veterans affairs, military construction, agriculture and legislative branch.

CR Offers Funding Flexibility to Wedgetail Program, Virginia-Class Submarine

Breaking Defense reported that the stopgap funding measure includes authorities that would allow the Pentagon to raise the “rate of operations” for the Virginia-class submarine and E-7 Wedgetail prototype program, providing the Department of Defense with greater flexibility to boost spending on such programs as needed for the CR’s duration.

The CR also includes language to extend the Defense Production Act, which is set to expire by the end of September.

According to the report, the bill does not include the White House’s request for $3.9 billion in additional funding for Columbia-class submarines.

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National Labs, University Aim to Advance HPC-Powered Quantum Materials Research
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High-performance computing. ORNL and the University of Tennessee have initiated the four-year CONNEQT collaborative effort.

The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have launched a four-year collaborative effort that seeks to accelerate innovation around nonequilibrium quantum materials by exploring the use of high-performance computing.

ORNL said Tuesday researchers from SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Los Alamos and Lawrence Berkeley national laboratories are participating in the Controlled Numerics for Emergent Transients in Nonequilibrium Quantum Matter, or CONNEQT, initiative.

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“By leveraging leadership-class exascale computing, we aim to revolutionize computational modeling of transient emergent behavior in quantum materials with strong many-body interactions and deliver a new fundamental understanding of nonlinear quantum phenomena,” said Thomas Maier, a distinguished research staff and section head for advanced computing methods for physical sciences at ORNL’s Computational Sciences and Engineering Division.

CONNEQT’s Main Research Goals

The CONNEQT collaborative effort intends to establish an interdisciplinary research program to transform how scientists understand the complex processes and behaviors that occur when quantum materials are out of balance.

Through CONNEQT, the team aims to develop a controlled and unbiased computational framework to examine how systems of interacting electrons behave when driven by external forces; use computer science methods and mathematical tools to speed up advanced modeling of complex dynamical systems; and leverage supercomputers to understand how interactions between electrons develop complex patterns and behaviors in nonequilibrium quantum materials.

According to ORNL, understanding nonequilibrium quantum materials is key to uncovering their potential applications in quantum computing, IT, microelectronics and other energy-relevant technologies.

The national lab said the Frontier supercomputer will serve as a target platform for implementing new algorithms that will be developed and used to conduct simulations.

National Labs, University Aim to Advance HPC-Powered Quantum Materials Research
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Palantir Secures Marine Corps Contract for Maven Smart System C2 Platform
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Gen. Eric M. Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps. Smith said the MSS enhances intelligence, targeting and more.

The U.S. Marine Corps has signed a contract with Palantir Technologies for the Maven Smart System data-centric command and control platform. The military service said MSS will serve as a key enabler for its ongoing modernization.

“As part of Force Design, we’ve made a deliberate effort to support maritime domain awareness and joint fires integration,” commented Gen. Eric M. Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps. “This capability enhances intelligence, targeting and battlespace awareness to aid in faster decision-making, allowing us to sense and make sense more quickly.”

The Marine Corps finalized the contract in August in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit, the Department of Defense’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer and the Army Research Laboratory. It gives the entire Marine Corps enterprise, including tactical units within the Fleet Marine Force, access to MSS capabilities.

Palantir’s Maven Smart System Details

MSS is designed to aggregate data from C2 technology stacks used by military services and the Joint Force to create a synchronized and more complete view of the battlespace in real time. The platform is powered by artificial intelligence and automation to advance target management.

“Maven Smart System adds significant value to our ability to support the Joint Force and shows how the Marine Corps is demonstrating its ability to adapt to, harness, and drive the changing character of war,” stated Lt. Gen. Jerry Carter, deputy commandant for information at the Marine Corps. “We continue to look for opportunities to leverage AI and other emerging capabilities at speed and scale.”

GAO Urges State Department to Enhance Weapons Misuse Investigations
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GAO logo. GAO released a report recommending the State Department to enhance its investigations of weapons misuse.

The Government Accountability Office has released a report highlighting the lack of formal procedures within the Department of State for investigating foreign partners’ misuse of U.S. military equipment and training.

GAO Urges State Department to Enhance Weapons Misuse Investigations

Don’t miss your chance to join the 2025 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit on Oct.16. The Potomac Officers Club brings together military leaders and industry experts to explore international partnerships, technological advancements, coalition warfare and more.

Gaps in Arms Transfer Investigation

According to the report published Tuesday, the State Department has been inconsistent with its investigations regarding the lack of security, and unauthorized use and transfer of military assets acquired from the U.S. government. This is mainly due to the absence of clear guidance for conducting investigations and the proper record-keeping of past violations.

GAO Recommendations

To address these issues, GAO offered the following six recommendations to the State Department:

  • Clearly define what incidents qualify as arms transfer violations and establish a timeline to report the violation to the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfer, or PM/RSAT.
  • Establish clear procedures and timelines for investigations.
  • Update Foreign Affairs Manual ensuring proper assignment of investigative responsibilities.
  • Document the status and results of investigations.
  • Share the status and findings of its investigations to agencies such as the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and Security Cooperation Organizations.
  • Establish a formal guidance for reporting violations to Congress.
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Air Force Issues Presolicitation for High Band Mission Application Software Contract
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Air Force seal. The Air Force has issued a presolicitation notice for the High Band Mission Application Software contract.

The Department of the Air Force has started seeking industry feedback on vendors for a potential five-year contract to support the High Band Mission Application Software, with a value between $100 and $500 million.

HBMAS Modernization

According to the presolicitation notice issued on SAM.gov Monday, the potential contractor will support the development, modernization, integration, deployment, cybersecurity and sustainment of the Air Force Distributed Common Ground System in alignment with the Operational Requirements Document. These activities will help ensure compliance with the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or C4ISR, Architecture Framework, and the Joint Technical Architecture standards. Additional support for DCGS ground and airborne elements will be provided as directed.

Enhancing Intel Collection & Dissemination

The contract, which will have one base year and four 12-month options, aims to enhance HBMAS products and services used to gather, correlate data and distribute signals of interest and imagery intelligence from airborne and ground systems. The goal is to provide military personnel with more accurate and actionable intelligence.

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NASA Leads Collins Radar Trial to Advance Drone Integration Into National Airspace
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A drone. NASA's ATM-X initiative intends to identify technology to support drones in the national airspace

NASA, Wisk Aero and Collins Aerospace recently conducted a test of a tool that could enable remotely piloted aircraft to operate in the national airspace and transport people or deliver goods within urban areas.

The space agency said Tuesday that its Air Traffic Management eXploration project, known as ATM-X, assisted Wisk Aero’s Bell 206 light turbine helicopter flight in Hollister, California, to test Collins’ ground-based radar.

ATM-X is an initiative intended to identify the technologies the Federal Aviation Administration needs to facilitate the safe integration of drones and air taxis into the national airspace.

Collins’ Ground-Based Radar Demonstration

During the test, the Collins radar collected and transmitted aircraft location data to NASA’s Mission Visualization Research Command Center at Ames Research Center in California. Initial analysis determined that radar actively and accurately surveilled the airspace throughout the flight.

By monitoring and sharing location data, the organizations can enable remotely piloted aircraft operators to detect and avoid other aircraft and keep the airspace safe.

NASA, Wisk and Collins will continue to analyze flight data collected during the test to better understand radar performance.

NASA and Wish will also work together on potentially integrating electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, or eVTOLS, into the national airspace.

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