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Ronald Keohane Renominated as DOD Assistant Secretary for Manpower & Reserve Affairs
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Ronald Keohane Renominated as DOD Assistant Secretary for Manpower & Reserve Affairs

The White House on Monday sent to the Senate its nomination of Ronald Keohane, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy during the Obama administration, for the role of assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs at the Department of Defense.

Keohane, a managing partner at Blue Rose Consulting Group, was first nominated by President Joe Biden for the post in September 2022.

The Biden administration moved to renominate Keohane for the post after the upper chamber failed to take action on his nomination in 2023.

Keohane’s government career included time as director, secretariat for electronic commerce at the Department of Commerce and senior adviser to the President’s Electronic Commerce Working Group at the White House.

He was reportedly instrumental in expanding Drug Demand Reduction programs within DOD and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

RTX Business Makes Progress on Navy Hypersonic Missile Project; Colin Whelan Quoted
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RTX Business Makes Progress on Navy Hypersonic Missile Project; Colin Whelan Quoted

RTX’s Raytheon business has concluded a technical review and prototype fit-check in phase one of a U.S. Navy carrier-based high-speed missile development program.

This milestone is a step forward for the service branch’s Hypersonic Air Launched Offensive Anti-Surface — a.k.a. HALO — project, a part of the Navy’s broader long-range fires strategy, RTX announced from Tuscon, Arizona on Tuesday.

Colin Whelan, president of advanced technology at Raytheon, called the accomplishment a “key step in fielding the Navy’s first anti-ship hypersonic missile.”

“It’s critical that our warfighters have proven technology that can address advanced threats in contested environments, and they need this technology now,” he said.

The missile is designed to open up Naval operations in contested battlespaces in anti-access/area denial environments. Raytheon used digital and model-based engineering methods to create virtual and physical HALO design concepts and expedite the development of the missile.

“We’re leveraging our expertise in hypersonics to deliver a straightforward and mature, digitally engineered system at the pace the Navy needs,” said Whelan.

In the fall, Raytheon completed a fit-check on an F/A-18 to confirm that the prototype is compatible with the Super Hornet aircraft and associated support equipment.

The company received the contract for phase one of the program in March 2023. Under the award, Raytheon is working to prepare the technology needed for a preliminary design review of an all up round HALO weapon system. During the second phase of the program, Raytheon will be responsible for demonstrating a propulsion system.

Contract activities are being conducted in Tuscon, Arizona.

RTX Business Makes Progress on Navy Hypersonic Missile Project; Colin Whelan Quoted

Hypersonics is one of many topics that may be discussed at the Potomac Officers Club’s 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 31. Heidi Shyu, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, will deliver the opening keynote address at the event. To learn more and register to attend the summit, click here.

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Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Unveils ‘Running Fix’ Initiative
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Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro Unveils ‘Running Fix’ Initiative

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro has launched an initiative that seeks to enhance the Department of the Navy’s effectiveness and efficiency by addressing organizational and programmatic issues.

Nickolas Guertin, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, and Russell Rumbaugh, ASN for financial management and comptroller, will co-chair the “Running Fix” initiative, gather insights from stakeholders across the department and analyze and integrate those issues into the budget development process for fiscal year 2026, the Navy said Monday.

“The Department of the Navy is a venerable and strong organization well-poised to address our Nation’s strategic needs,” said Del Toro, a previous Wash100 awardee.

“We owe it to the American people to take a hard look at ourselves and be the best stewards of every tax dollar they provide. This process will enable us to demonstrate transparency and accountability, which will further strengthen our Navy,” he added.

The Running Fix project is in the initial phase, which is focused on soliciting nominations for programmatic and organizational issues to be considered, according to a memo issued by the secretary.

Under Phase I, the co-chairs will examine the nominations and present a select set of issues for approval to the under secretary of the Navy by mid-December.

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US Army Codifies Space Vision Supporting Multidomain Operations
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US Army Codifies Space Vision Supporting Multidomain Operations

The U.S. Army has introduced its new vision for space capabilities and dominance, which involves close collaboration among its centers of excellence and combat training divisions.

The Army Space Vision Supporting Multidomain Operations, which was written for the branch’s commanders, staff members and stakeholders, also emphasizes the urgency of investing in space technologies and formations, the branch said Monday.

To achieve its vision, the Army pledged to integrate space capabilities into its standard operations and activities. It will maximize the use of virtual, constructive and live environments to train personnel on 21st-century battlefield scenarios.

The branch will also use service-unique strategies to disrupt adversaries’ space assets and gain advantage in the domain.

“The Army incorporates space capabilities and effects as part of operations to protect its forces and enable successful movement and maneuver,” Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Randy George said. “By design, Army space capabilities are built to collocate with and operate alongside ground maneuver formations, providing the appropriate effects for commanders to maintain timing, tempo and synchronization.”

Donald Kelley: Marine Corps Systems Command Leader Panelist At The 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit
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Donald Kelley: Marine Corps Systems Command Leader Panelist At The 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

Donald Kelley has been in the defense industry for over 30 years. A three-time awardee of the Civilian Meritorious Medal, Mr. Kelley’s insights about his experiences in the industry will be valuable for the upcoming 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit. 

 

Meet Donald Kelley as he joins other panelists at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit on January 31, 2024. Reserve your seats and register here.

 

Donald Kelley: Panelist at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

 

  • Event Organizer: Potomac Officers Club
  • Date: January 31, 2024, Wednesday
  • Time: 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET)
  • Venue: Hilton Alexandria Mark Center

 

Donald Kelley is one of the invited executives at the Potomac Officers Club’s 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit. The discussion will cover the latest government contracting, U.S. defense modernization, and military technological developments. 

 

Get up-to-date with government news and trends through the Potomac Officers Club membership program. Empower the Government Contracting community now! Sign up here.

 

Take the chance to meet these industry leaders who will be the panelists for the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit:

 

  • Donald Kelley, Marine Corps Systems Command Liaison at Marine Corps Warfighting Lab
  • Maj. Gen. Scott Cain, Commander at Air Force Research Lab
  • Capt. Jesse Black, Commanding Officer at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
  • Dr. Patrick Baker, Director of DEVCOM at U.S. Army
  • William Bailey, Director of AI/ML at Riverside Research
  • Juan Ramirez, Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Department of Defense
  • Michael Loomis, General Manager at Nokia
  • Dr. Randy Yamada, Vice President at Booz Allen
  • Dr. Richard Vaia, Chief Scientist for the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Lt. Col. Benjamin Pimentel, Marine Corps Communications Officer and Electronics Engineer at U.S. Marine Corps 

 

Donald Kelley’s Life, Success, and Career Journey

Donald Kelley, Marine Corps Systems Command Liaison at Marine Corps Warfighting Lab
U.S. Army photo by John Hamilton

 

Donald Kelley leads the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory as a Marine Corps Systems Command Liaison. Mr. Kelley dedicated his entire career to serving the U.S. Department of the Navy.  

 

His educational attainments align with his current profession, giving him full advantage to lead the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. Mr. Kelley’s academic background and early assignments include the following:

 

  • 1984: Bachelor of Science in Political Science at the University of Utah NROTC
  • 1984 – 1996: Serving onboard Destroyers and Cruisers in the 7th and 3rd Fleet at the U.S. Navy
  • 1989-1991: Master of Science in Information Systems at Naval Postgraduate School

 

Work and Leadership History

 

Donald Kelley became a Commander at the NAVAL Reserves and retired in 2007. While he was in progress with his Navy Career, Donald also worked with several private companies, including Raytheon, Hughes Aircraft Company, and Senior System Engineer at Ocean Systems Engineering Corporation. He also worked as Program Manager of the Radar Support Contract for EG&G’s PMS 465 Navy Radar Programs.

 

Mr. Kelley joined the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) in 2001. Since then, he has held several positions, including:

 

  • CEC Surface Integration Manager
  • PEO IWS point of contact to the Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP) program
  • Director of Strategic Planning for PEO IWS 6 
  • Team Lead and acting Deputy Program Manager for USMC CREW
  • Product Director for the CAC2S Phase II
  • Deputy Program Manager AC2SN
  • Chief of Staff for the Program Executive Officer, Land Systems (PEO LS)
  • MARCORSYSCOM Liaison to the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab

 

Due to his outstanding service, Donald Kelley has received various accolades, namely three Civilian Meritorious Medals, the 2021 Lawrence P. Kreitzer Leadership Award for Acquisition Innovation and Excellence, and the Civilian Superior Service Medal.

 

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DOD, NASA, GSA Seek Comments on Info Collection Requirement in FAR Part 36
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DOD, NASA, GSA Seek Comments on Info Collection Requirement in FAR Part 36

The Department of Defense, NASA and the General Services Administration have begun soliciting comments on a proposed information collection requirement regarding modifications to part 36 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation concerning construction contract requirements.

The three organizations are requesting feedback on whether the proposed requirement is necessary to facilitate the acquisition process in the federal government, according to a Federal Register notice published Friday.

Responses should focus on how this information collection could improve the quality, clarity and utility of the information and to reduce the burden of information collection on respondents with collection strategies such as the use of automated tools.

According to the notice, the Office of Management and Budget has cleared the information collection requirement for use through the end of April 2024. The DOD, GSA and NASA want to extend its approval for three additional years.

Comments are due March 5.

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AFWERX Challenge Seeks New Design for Low-Cost Cruise Missile Variants
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AFWERX Challenge Seeks New Design for Low-Cost Cruise Missile Variants

The AFWERX Weapons Program Executive Office is seeking to develop future, low-cost variants of cruise missiles through a Design Sprint and Challenge.

According to AFWERX Challenge team lead Cayley Dymond, the envisioned weapon must reach high subsonic speeds, have a range of approximately 500 nautical miles and cost $150,000 per unit when acquired in bulk, AFRL said Friday.

The first phase of the Design Sprint — which took place in September — sought to address additional criteria: that the proposed weapon is affordable when delivered in mass, scalable and readily available to allies and partners.

The Design Sprint saw participation from multiple organizations, including Mitre, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Labs, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and Sandia National Lab.

The next phase of the Weapons PEO Challenge will take place early this year and cover a variety of challenges, including the delivery of a manufacturing test bed for production concepts. According to Dymond, the challenge is also expected to result in the integration of a flight-test-ready design within the year.

Overall, the Weapons PEO Challenge is “about building a formidable team poised for success in the project’s forthcoming phases,” Dymond said.

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Shannon Parry Appointed Assistant Director of FBI’s Information Management Division
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Shannon Parry Appointed Assistant Director of FBI’s Information Management Division

Shannon Parry, a 22-year FBI veteran, has been named assistant director of the Information Management Division responsible for overseeing agency-wide efforts to maintain the bureau’s information management systems.

Parry was named deputy assistant director of the Information Management Division in September 2020 and led the establishment of the FBI’s Enterprise Vetting Center in 2021, the bureau said Friday.

She also served as acting assistant director of the Insider Threat Office, the FBI’s division responsible for protecting information from security threats within the bureau, from March to July 2023.

Her FBI career also includes time as section chief of the Intelligence Branch Executive Staff Section and the Operational Support Section within the International Operations Division and special assistant to the assistant director of the Directorate of Intelligence.

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Space Force Initiates Challenge to Develop Digital Spaceport for Future Launch Missions
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Space Force Initiates Challenge to Develop Digital Spaceport for Future Launch Missions

The U.S. Space Force has launched a challenge intended to help the service branch modernize information systems at its current and future spaceports, SpaceNews reported Thursday.

A collaborative effort between SpaceWERX and the Assured Access to Space Program Executive Office, the Digital Spaceport of the Future Challenge aims to build a future spaceport equipped with cutting-edge technologies able to handle increasing space traffic and complex launch requirements from the Department of Defense and the private sector.

SpaceWERX said the challenge will focus on three areas: updating legacy hardware; improving data management, data analytics and transport layer technologies; and advancing agility, capacity enhancement and standardization.

Interested parties must submit proposals through the DoD Small Business Innovation Research portal.

POC - 2024 Space Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Space Summit on March 5 to learn how new technologies, commercial investments and adversarial threats are shaping the future of space. Register here to save your seat at the highly anticipated event.

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Sarah Brothers Named CRSRA Division Director at NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce
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Sarah Brothers Named CRSRA Division Director at NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce

Sarah Brothers assumed the role of director of the commercial remote sensing regulatory affairs division at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce on Jan. 2.

Brothers, a remote sensing technologies and analysis specialist, brings extensive experience in the commercial, civil and space sectors to the position, NOAA said on Friday.

OSC Director Richard DalBello said that Brothers has contributed to the implementation of regulatory reform at NOAA, which has helped accelerate the licensing process and eliminate burdensome restrictions.

“Her insight and leadership will be crucial as we expand our regulatory scope to implement the new framework for novel space mission authorization and supervision,” he added.

Before joining NOAA, Brothers served as a project engineer at The Aerospace Corp., a senior analyst at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory’s National Security Analysis Department and staff officer at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Space Studies Board and Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board.

Sarah Brothers Named CRSRA Division Director at NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce

The federal government has zeroed in on the evolving space domain. Learn more about the ways agencies are ramping up their space activities at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Space Summit on March 5. Click here for more information, and click here to register for the event.

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