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New OIRA Guidance Seeks Greater Public Participation in Review of Proposed Regulations
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New OIRA Guidance Seeks Greater Public Participation in Review of Proposed Regulations

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has released new guidance meant to facilitate greater public engagement whenever it exercises its function of reviewing proposed federal regulatory actions.

To achieve this objective, the new guidance offers several measures, including making it easier for the public to schedule meetings with OIRA, using an online portal, to discuss proposed regulations under review and providing a video that guides users on how to request for such a meeting, OIRA Associate Administrator Sam Berger said in a recent post on the Office of Management and Budget blog.

These meetings, which can be scheduled by anyone, serve as an avenue for information relevant to the review process to be communicated to OIRA, which works to ensure that the resulting rules are beneficial to the American public.

The new guidance was formulated in response to Executive Order 14094, which sought to increase the effectiveness and transparency of the regulatory review meetings while expanding the range of stakeholders that OIRA might hear from.

The new guidance also incorporates feedback from the public collected through a comment process and listening session.

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DOD Issues Proposed Rule on Data Requirements for Commercial Products Related to Major Weapon Systems
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DOD Issues Proposed Rule on Data Requirements for Commercial Products Related to Major Weapon Systems

The Department of Defense has begun soliciting comments on a proposed rule that seeks to establish data requirements for vendors to facilitate the determination of price reasonableness and commerciality for certain procurements related to major weapon systems.

The proposed rule intends to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to implement section 803 of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, according to a Federal Register notice published Friday.

Section 803 clarifies the data a contractor is required to provide when a component or a subsystem of a major weapons platform is proposed as a commercial product.

According to the notice, the proposed rule would provide the vendor the flexibility to either submit the data or give the contracting officer data access and to redact certain client information.

“This proposed rule is expected to result in the timely submission of data, which may decrease the time it takes for a contracting officer to determine a product to be commercial, to determine price reasonableness, and to award the contract,” the notice reads.

Comments are due Feb. 20.

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New DHS Papers Eye Options to Prepare for ‘Over the Horizon Challenges’
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New DHS Papers Eye Options to Prepare for ‘Over the Horizon Challenges’

The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate has released a collection of four research papers about the role to be played by science and technology in addressing future challenges posed by climate change, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

The Preparedness Series provides homeland security officials options “complimented by a preparedness posture that allows for less surprise and longer lead times to anticipate future change,” DHS Undersecretary for Science and Technology Dimitri Kusnezov said in a column published Thursday.

According to Kusnezov, predicting or even naming future challenges has become difficult but it is the role of his directorate to propose solutions that would make the DHS more responsive in a world that is seeing “an unusual degree of change.” Incorporating science and technology would bring about a greater understanding of impacts, tools and approaches.

The new research series “sets the strategic tone for future research, development and innovation investments to address over the horizon challenges and opportunities,” Kusnezov said.

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Palantir’s David Spirk Calls for More Experimental Data Sharing Programs to Boost DOD Tech Adoption
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Palantir’s David Spirk Calls for More Experimental Data Sharing Programs to Boost DOD Tech Adoption

The Department of Defense can keep its momentum of technological growth and innovation by providing sustainable funding to branches such as the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, said David Spirk, senior counselor at Palantir Technologies and a previous Wash100 awardee.

In an opinion piece published on C4ISRNET, Spirk discussed the contributions of CDAO’s Global Information Dominance Experiment, or GIDE, to the improvement of data integration and organizational change in general within DOD.

Eighteen months since its inception, GIDE has helped foster a data sharing paradigm shift, building trust and collaboration among DOD chief data offices, Spirk wrote. He added that the department is increasingly learning to leverage user feedback and by-design learning environment to adopt new technologies such as AI.

To continue such progress, the agency should establish similar experimentation programs to align with its data-centric goals and bolster workforce development to attain its vision of an AI-enabled mission command.

At the 5th Annual AI Summit on March 21, 2024, government and industry leaders will share their thoughts and reports on the rapid adoption of AI in the federal sector. Join the Potomac Officers Club and other participants at the event by registering here.

POC - 5th Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit
Dr. William Casebeer, Director Of Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning, Riverside Research
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Dr. William Casebeer, Director Of Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning, Riverside Research
Image from PR Newswire

Dr. William Casebeer is a true leader in the artificial intelligence and machine learning industry. His contributions will certainly impact how AI/ML develops in the coming years.

 

Dr. William Casebeer will be the moderator of POC’s 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet him and the other industry leaders. Reserve your seat here.

 

Meet Dr. William Casebeer, Riverside Research’s Director of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

 

Meet Dr. William Casebeer, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at Riverside Research
Image from PR Newswire

 

Dr. William D. Casebeer, Ph.D., MA, leads the Open Innovation Center at Riverside Research as a Director. As the Director, he is in charge of AI and machine learning.

 

Dr. William Casebeer led a group of scientists and engineers from different fields at Riverside Research who worked on machine learning and artificial intelligence. Some of their main goals are to make progress in neuromorphic computing, adversarial AI, human-machine teaming, and object and activity recognition. These advances will give the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community new tools.

 

Educational Background

 

Dr. William Casebeer has broad academic achievements. Besides his bachelor’s degree, he holds a master’s and Ph.D. title. Let’s take a look at Dr. Casebeer’s educational attainments:

  • 1987 – 1991: Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Government
  • 1995 – 1996: Master of Arts in Philosophy
  • 1998 – 2001: Doctor of Philosophy in Cognitive Science and Philosophy
  • 2004 – 2006: Master of Arts in National Security Affairs at Naval Postgraduate School

 

Dr. William Casebeer: Moderator at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

 

10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

 

Potomac Officers Club invited prominent leaders and experts to speak at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit. Check out other speakers, including Capt. Jesse Black, Aditi Kumar, Hon. Heidi Shyu, and many more. Engage and learn more about the developments in defense technology with insightful discussions.

 

We invite you to join the summit on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. We hope to see you there!

 

Dr. William Casebeer: His Career Journey

 

Dr. William Casebeer: His Career Journey
Image by Beyond Conflict (@Beyond_Conflict/X)

 

Before becoming an executive at Riverside Research, Dr. William Casebeer served the government for decades. Let’s take a look at his career and leadership timeline.

 

  • 2001 – 2003: Associate Professor of Philosophy at United States Air Force Academy
  • 2006 – 2009: Chief, Eurasia Section, EUCOM Survey Division at NATO SHAPE
  • 2009 – 2011: Deputy Head, W Dept (Warfighter and Technology Advancement) at Joint Warfare Analysis Center
  • 2010 – 2014: Program Manager at DARPA
  • 2014 – 2018: Senior Research Area Manager, Human Systems and Autonomy at Lockheed Martin
  • 2018 – 2019: Director at Beyond Conflict International
  • 2019 – 2020: Senior Director, Human-Machine Systems at Scientific Systems
  • 2020 – Present: Director at Riverside Research

 

About Riverside Research

 

The mission of the nonprofit organization Riverside Research is to promote national security. The organization can create research-driven solutions and yield faster results with its nonprofit framework and collaborative innovation strategy.

 

Riverside Research’s core competencies include radar systems, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, and system engineering and integration.

10th Annual Defense R&D Summit to Feature Jay Dryer of the Strategic Capabilities Office as Closing Keynote Speaker
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10th Annual Defense R&D Summit to Feature Jay Dryer of the Strategic Capabilities Office as Closing Keynote Speaker

Jay Dryer, Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), will join other esteemed leaders and thinkers at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit to discuss the latest developments in military technology.

 

Who is Jay Dryer?

 

Jay Dryer, Director of the DoD’s Strategic Capabilities Office
Photo of Jay Dryer/DoD profile

 

Jay Dryer is the present Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office, a Department of Defense (DoD) division focusing on delivering solutions for high-profile problems. As director, Dryer leads the development of these solutions and ensures they work as designed based on the requirements of different domains.

 

Before becoming director, Dryer was the Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs at the Aeronautics Mission Directorate of NASA. In this position, Dryer turned the agency’s research portfolio requirements into actionable programs.

 

Dryer has accumulated more than 20 years of experience working on research initiatives for the US Armed Forces. He continues to apply his extensive expertise to further the military’s technological advantage on the battlefield and to defend the homeland.

 

 

Jay Dryer, Closing Keynote Speaker at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

 

The United States Armed Forces (USAF) has developed sophisticated warfighting tactics, thanks to the efforts of research and development experts. Emerging technologies and modernization initiatives give warfighters a competitive advantage in protecting the homeland from sea, air, land, space, and cyber attacks.

 

The 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit is an upcoming event hosted by the Potomac Officers Club. Register here to become an official member and meet other esteemed government leaders.

 

Jay Dryer, Closing Keynote Speaker at the 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit

 

Click this to be part of POC’s 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit to hear leaders’ oversight in harnessing cutting-edge tech for enhancing military efforts.

 

Becoming an official POC member also gives you full access to the summit. You can watch acclaimed leaders and decision-makers all in one venue.

 

Personalities such as Heidi Shyu, John Cushing, Dr. Tom Drake, and Aditi Kumar will share their insights on the ongoing innovative practices the various DoD divisions are doing to bolster their technological capabilities.

 

Jay Dryer will be the closing keynote speaker.

 

What’s next for the Strategic Capabilities Office?

 

What's next for the Strategic Capabilities Office?
Photo by TSViPhoto/Shutterstock

 

In 2019, the Strategic Capabilities Office began Project Peele, an initiative to produce a transportable micro nuclear reactor. Proponents of the program started engineering a secure and environmentally sustainable power source that would generate one to five megawatts for at least three years for remote areas.

 

Three years later, in 2022, the SCO awarded BWX Technologies a $300 million contract to design and manufacture the nuclear microreactor for Project Peele. In 2023, a one-year contract option was awarded to X-energy to develop the same reactor design.

 

Under Jay Dryer’s leadership, Project Peele is continuing on its second phase. The SCO Director highlighted that developing micro nuclear reactors won’t just give the armed forces a competitive edge, warfare-wise; the project’s launch would also pave the way for an alternate energy marketplace.

 

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DOD Seeks Comments on Proposed CMMC Program Rule to Protect Sensitive Unclassified Information
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DOD Seeks Comments on Proposed CMMC Program Rule to Protect Sensitive Unclassified Information

The Department of Defense has started soliciting comments on a proposed rule that seeks to establish requirements to ensure that defense contractors and subcontractors implement DOD’s cybersecurity protection requirements for federal contract information and controlled unclassified information as part of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program.

The CMMC program is designed to improve protection of FCI and CUI when it is processed, transmitted or stored on information systems of contractors to meet threats and protect sensitive unclassified data that supports warfighters, according to a Federal Register notice published Tuesday.

Aside from safeguarding sensitive information, CMMC seeks to implement cybersecurity standards within the defense industrial base, ensure accountability while minimizing barriers to compliance with DOD requirements and foster a collaborative culture of cybersecurity and cyber resilience.

The CMMC 2.0 program has three features: tiered model, assessment requirement and implementation through contracts.

DOD said the implementation of CMMC seeks to address several policy issues, including verification of a vendor’s cybersecurity posture, comprehensive implementation of cyber requirements and reduction of repetitive or duplicate requirements.

Comments are due Feb. 26.

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New NASA Guidance Seeks to Secure Space Systems From Cyber Threats
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New NASA Guidance Seeks to Secure Space Systems From Cyber Threats

NASA has issued the first iteration of a document that aims to provide guidance on how best to address and adapt to the cyber vulnerabilities that accompany the growing interconnectedness and integration of space systems.

The Space Security Best Practices Guide is meant for use by public and private sector organizations, including international and industry partners, NASA said Friday.

NASA Deputy Principal Adviser for Enterprise Protection Misty Finical said the agency acknowledges the need to protect space missions from threats.

“This guide represents a collective effort to establish a set of principles that will enable us to identify and mitigate risks and ensure continued success of our missions, both in Earth’s orbit and beyond,” Finical added.

Public feedback regarding the guide will be incorporated into its future versions.

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CISA Releases Microsoft 365 Secure Configuration Baselines
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CISA Releases Microsoft 365 Secure Configuration Baselines

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released Version 1.0 of Secure Configuration Baselines for Microsoft 365, providing policy configuration recommendations that align with CISA’s requirements and risk tolerance levels while still being easily adoptable.

CISA held several pilots for the Secure Cloud Business Applications project at federal agencies to test guidance and recommended configurations in practice and target advanced cloud security practice adoption, according to two agency officials.

“These pilots demonstrated not only how critical these configuration baselines are to enhancing cybersecurity, but also how valuable it is to have comprehensive guidance to drive cross-organizational adoption in line with enterprise risk management,” said Michael Duffy, associate director of CISA, and Chad Poland, SCuBA product manager. “All participating agency teams were able to adopt a higher security baseline for their M365 email and cloud environments with existing resources- expertise they already had available.”

They added that the application of M365 Secure Configuration Baselines is needed in the cyber threat environment and requires a relatively low level of cyber team effort.

CISA also launched the ScubaGear tool for assessing organizations’ M365 services against agency-recommended policies. It works to reduce the effort to evaluate tenant configurations of agencies by generating as-is report to serve as a starting point.

The tool has been downloaded more than 4,000 times since its launch, helping organizations boost their cybersecurity posture.

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DARPA’s Kathleen Fisher Discusses Encouraging Researchers to Join Agency AI Work
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DARPA’s Kathleen Fisher Discusses Encouraging Researchers to Join Agency AI Work

Posing a compelling technical problem and providing access to state-of-the-art tools to solve it can help motivate researchers to participate in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s work on artificial intelligence, according to Kathleen Fisher, director of the Information Innovation Office at DARPA.

In the case of the AI Cyber Challenge, the motivation involves protecting U.S. civilian infrastructure from a preemptive cyber attack by China ahead of an invasion of Taiwan, Fisher said during a recent episode of The Gradient Podcast.

The competition, also known as AIxCC, seeks to develop an AI-powered system that would detect and resolve vulnerabilities in commonly-used software.

“We have a massive digital surface. A lot of that is open source software,” Fisher said. AI can be used to reduce that attack surface by finding and fixing “a lot of the low-hanging fruit really really quickly.”

The I2O director added that DARPA is partnering with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Microsoft, who will provide AIxCC participants access to resources to do the work.

“We’re giving them access to state of the art tools on a problem that’s of critical importance to national security to see what they can do,” Fisher said.

AIxCC will kick off in March 2024. Competitors who make it to the finals will have a chance to win a total of $29.5 million.

Fisher and other federal leaders and industry experts will converge to explore the transformative power of artificial intelligence at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual AI Summit. Register now.

DARPA's Kathleen Fisher Discusses Encouraging Researchers to Join Agency AI Work
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