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Pentagon Makes Initial FY 2026 Selections Under APFIT Program
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Emil Michael. The under secretary of war for research and engineering commented on the APFIT program.

The Department of War has selected 14 projects for fiscal year 2026 as part of the initial round of the Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies, or APFIT, program.

Pentagon Makes Initial FY 2026 Selections Under APFIT Program

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DOW said Monday the announcement brings APFIT’s total awards to more than $1 billion to small businesses and nontraditional defense contractors across the U.S.

“Crossing the billion-dollar threshold underscores APFIT’s commitment to America’s small business innovators and we are proud to accelerate the delivery of these critical capabilities to our warfighters,” said Emil Michael, under secretary of war for research and engineering.

The program’s average FY 2026 award now exceeds $30 million per project, with its highest single award reaching $49.7 million, which is just under APFIT’s statutory cap of $50 million.

What Defense Projects Received APFIT Funding in the Initial FY 2026 Round?

The selected projects for the initial APFIT round are:

  • Augmented Maneuver Vehicle for Satellites, U.S. Space Force
  • Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle for Ground Based Air Defense, U.S. Marine Corps
  • Deployable, Attritable Optical Systems, Space Force
  • Domestic High Performance UAS Batteries, U.S. Navy
  • Gremlin Low-Cost Munition, Marine Corps
  • High Frequency Intercept Direction Finding and Exploitation, U.S. Army
  • Kraken 18 Communications Pod, Navy
  • Miniaturized Gyroscope for Resilient Navigation, Marine Corps
  • Mobile Smart Manufacturing for Airframe Spares, Air Force
  • Real-Time Command and Control at the Tactical Edge, Army
  • Small Uncrewed Maritime Vessels, Navy and Marine Corps
  • Tactical High-Bandwidth, Low-Latency, high-capacity data network, Marine Corps
  • Trolling Uncrewed Navigation Assistant Seeker, Marine Corps
  • Whaleshark Autonomous Low-Profile Vessel, Marine Corps

What Is the APFIT Program?

Launched in FY 2022, the APFIT program provides procurement funding for nontraditional performers and small businesses with innovative projects that are ready to transition into operational use.

The OUSW R&E uses a competitive selection process based on warfighter impact, sustainment support and broader applicability. Funded projects span a wide range of capabilities, from undersea sensors to satellite manufacturing and launch.

In June, the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, or OUSW R&E, announced that five companies will receive awards ranging from $30 million to $42 million under the APFIT program. The companies were among the 18 projects selected to receive FY 2025 APFIT funding.

To date, the AFIT program has awarded over $1.4 billion to over 75 companies.

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Edward Forst Confirmed as GSA Administrator
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Edward Forst. The seasoned executive has been confirmed by the Senate as GSA administrator.

The Senate on Thursday voted 53-43 to confirm Edward Forst, a seasoned executive and investor, as head of the General Services Administration.

According to a congressional notice published Thursday, Forst’s nomination was included in a larger group of federal government nominees that the Senate approved en bloc.

President Trump nominated Forst for the position in July.

What Are Edward Forst’s Top Priorities as GSA Administrator?

During his Senate confirmation hearing in October, Forst said that if confirmed, his priorities are unifying the federal acquisition system, rightsizing the federal real estate portfolio, encouraging small businesses to do business with the federal government and advancing technology transformation across agencies.

“The federal government’s acquisition system must operate as a unified enterprise, not as a patchwork of disconnected transactions. Centralizing and streamlining procurement can reduce duplication, lower costs, and improve speed and consistency across the government,” Forst told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

“I am confident the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) team is prepared to fully embrace this once in a generation opportunity that will help agencies improve their mission delivery,” he added.

Who Is Edward Forst?

Forst brings decades of experience in global financial services and real estate to GSA. He spent three years as chairman of London-based private equity firm Lion Capital and served as CEO of Cushman & Wakefield. Earlier, he spent 17 years at Goldman Sachs, holding senior executive roles, including general partner, management committee member and co-CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

He also served as executive vice president and principal operating officer at Harvard University and was an adviser to the secretary of the Department of the Treasury. Forst started his career at Bankers Trust, where he served as a managing director.

He serves on the boards of the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health, the Investment Committee of Roundabout Theater and the East Hampton Healthcare Foundation.

A Harvard University economics graduate, Forst holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

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White House Names Former OSTP Adviser Ethan Klein as US Chief Technology Officer
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The White House. The White House issued a press release on Ethan Klein's appointment as U.S. chief technology officer

The Senate has confirmed Ethan Klein as the nation’s fifth-ever chief technology officer and as associate director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The White House said in a press release posted on the social media site X that Klein will oversee national policy efforts that reinforce U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence, quantum, nuclear energy and other emerging technologies.

Data from Congress revealed that Senate legislators voted 53-43 in favor of Klein’s confirmation on Thursday.

Who Is Ethan Klein?

Klein returns to the White House, where he served as policy adviser at the OSTP during President Donald Trump’s first term.

Outside of the White House, he is a nuclear engineer who held roles at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

In a statement, Klein thanked Trump and OSTP Director Michael Kratsios for “entrusting me with the role of U.S. Chief Technology Officer at this pivotal moment.”

“As someone who has worked both at the lab bench and the White House, I believe deeply in America’s vibrant tech ecosystem and the promise of emerging technologies to fundamentally improve American lives,” he said. “The Golden Age of American Innovation has only just begun.”

Klein earned his Master of Business Administration from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and his doctorate in nuclear engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

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Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey Nominated for Air Force Acquisition Military Deputy Role
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Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey. The Air Force’s PEO CB3M has been nominated as military deputy within theAF Acquisition Office.

President Donald Trump has nominated Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey, the U.S. Air Force’s program executive officer for command, control, communications and battle management, to serve as the next military deputy within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Technology and Logistics.

In a general officer announcement published Thursday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a 2025 Wash100 Award winner, announced that Cropsey is also up for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.

If confirmed, Cropsey will succeed Lt. Gen. Dale White, who was confirmed by the Senate for promotion to the rank of general to serve in the newly-created role of direct reporting portfolio manager for critical major weapons systems, the Air and Space Forces Magazine reported.

White’s nomination was announced in November.

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Who Is Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey?

Cropsey has been serving as PEO C3BM since September 2022. In this capacity, he helps align acquisition authorities and technical architecture to facilitate the delivery of decision advantage capabilities through the USAF’s Battle Network.

Before taking on his current role, he served as director of the Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, or AFLCMC, and as director of international affairs within Air Force Materiel Command.

His previous roles include senior military assistant within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics; senior materiel leader and head of the ICBM Directorate within the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center; and senior materiel leader of the Advanced Programs Division within AFLCMC’s Armament Directorate.

Cropsey is a certified Level III engineer and program manager who held key acquisition, engineering and sustainment positions on Air Force conventional and nuclear weapon systems.

The U.S. Air Force Academy engineering mechanics graduate holds a master’s degree in materials science from Michigan State University.

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White House Orders Federal Agencies to Free Lower 7 GHz Band for Commercial 6G
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6G graphic. The White House issued a memorandum focusing on ensuring U.S. leadership in 6G

President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum that tasks federal agencies to clear the 7.125 to 7.4 gigahertz band for commercial 6G.

In a White House fact sheet published Friday, the memorandum aims to ensure U.S. leadership in the global race for 6G, which is expected to serve a pivotal role in artificial intelligence, robotics and other advanced technologies over the next decade.

White House Orders Federal Agencies to Free Lower 7 GHz Band for Commercial 6G

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How Will the US Achieve Global Leadership in 6G?

Agencies have 12 months to submit relocation plans for federal systems in the lower 7 GHz to free up the spectrum while reinforcing national security, according to the document.

The memorandum also directs assistant secretary of commerce for communications and information to work with the assistants to the president for economic policy and science and technology to study the possible relocation of critical systems in 2.69-2.9 GHz and 4.4-4.94 GHz for 6G use.

The White House said the memorandum ensures that American companies and firms from allied nations have access to the bands they need for 6G network development. Additionally, the president wants the secretary of state and other government officials to advance 6G through diplomatic engagements.

The memorandum aligns with the technology prosperity deals that the United States government signed with Japan and South Korea in October to advance science and technology cooperation. Under the deals, Washington will work with Tokyo and Seoul to promote secure and trusted 6G networks. 

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OSC Solicits Industry Comments on Draft ‘Mission Authorization’ Concept
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Office of Space Commerce logo. OSC is seeking industry input on its draft mission authorization concept.

The Office of Space Commerce within the Department of Commerce has begun soliciting feedback from industry stakeholders on its initial draft concept for a single, opt-in process to authorize novel space activities.

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OSC said Wednesday the draft mission authorization concept seeks to comply with a section of an executive order that aims to streamline regulations and promote competition in the commercial space industry.

According to OSC, Section 5 of the EO, signed by President Trump in August, directs the secretary of commerce to establish a process for authorizing novel space activities that are not clearly governed by existing regulations as part of a push to expedite approvals and enhance U.S. competitiveness in space.

How Does the Proposed Mission Authorization Concept Work?

Under the proposed “space commerce certification” process, companies submit their plans through OSC and make “light-touch commitments” to protect national security, international obligations, safety of third parties and other national interests.

OSC is responsible for circulating the application to relevant federal agencies for comment while conducting due diligence. The office may certify the proposed operations if commitments are satisfactory. If not, it has the authority to direct applicants back to the traditional regulatory process.

Through the process, the Federal Aviation Administration can use the OSC certification as part of an expedited review for payload approvals. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission can accept the certification to satisfy non-frequency requirements.

What Feedback Is OSC Seeking on the Mission Authorization Concept?

OSC is seeking input from industry stakeholders on specific elements of the draft concept and conditions that should be included to meet U.S. statutory requirements. Stakeholders may also provide general comments regarding the mission authorization of novel space activities. 

In early December, OSC conducted an online event to discuss concepts for the U.S. regulatory authorization of novel space activities.

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Air Force Advances X-62 VISTA Upgrades to Expand Autonomous Flight Test Capability
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Air Force logo. The U.S. Air Force has started upgrading the X-62 VISTA test aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force has begun a new modernization phase for the X-62 VISTA test aircraft, expanding its role as a flight test platform for autonomy, artificial intelligence and mission-system integration.

Air Force Advances X-62 VISTA Upgrades to Expand Autonomous Flight Test Capability

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The effort is being executed with funding from the Test Resource Management Center and implemented through the 412th Test Wing’s Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, the USAF said Thursday. The work is designed to enhance the aircraft as a test infrastructure.

What Is Being Upgraded on the X-62 VISTA?

Rather than conducting operations, the platform serves as a developmental sandbox supporting integration, interoperability and resilience testing.

The mission systems upgrade focuses on enabling more complex test scenarios by integrating advanced sensors, mission systems and autonomy-enabling technologies. According to the Air Force, the improvements will enable the aircraft to assess how AI systems integrate with combat-relevant mission hardware and collaborate with airborne agents in real time.

The upgrade builds on capabilities demonstrated during the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Air Combat Evolution program. The X-62 complements other USAF autonomy initiatives, including the Viper Experimentation and Next-Generation Operations Model program.

Raytheon Radar Integration

VISTA is a modified F-16D Block 30 test aircraft that has been upgraded with Block 40 avionics, serving as a hybrid test bed integrated with machine learning and specialized software.

As part of the upgrade effort, RTX’s Raytheon was awarded a contract to equip the X-62 with its PhantomStrike radar, a compact, air-cooled fire-control radar designed for smaller size, weight and power requirements.

PhantomStrike supports digital beamforming, multimodal operations and simultaneous air and ground targeting.

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HHS Seeks Public Input on Accelerating AI Adoption in Healthcare
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HHS logo. HHS seeks feedback on using AI to improve clinical care, reduce provider burden and lower healthcare costs.

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a new request for information seeking public input on how artificial intelligence can be more rapidly adopted in clinical care to reduce costs, improve outcomes and ease provider burden across the U.S. healthcare system.

HHS said Friday that stakeholders are invited to share perspectives on how it can better use its regulatory, reimbursement and research authorities to enable practical, safe AI deployment. The effort is being led by the HHS Office of the Deputy Secretary as part of a broader push to extend the department’s AI strategy beyond internal operations.

HHS Seeks Public Input on Accelerating AI Adoption in Healthcare

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What Outcomes Is HHS Seeking From AI Use in Healthcare?

The agency is particularly interested in how AI tools could enhance patient and caregiver experiences, improve care quality and deliver efficiency gains that help lessen healthcare spending for consumers and government programs. Respondents are also encouraged to discuss how existing digital health and software regulatory frameworks may need to evolve to accommodate AI-driven tools while ensuring patient safety.

Another focus area is reimbursement. HHS is seeking feedback on how payment structures could be simplified or better aligned to support technologies that reduce administrative workload and enable more efficient care delivery. The RFI also inquires about how federal research and development investments can enhance implementation science and establish best practices, particularly in complex or high-acuity clinical environments.

“We want to hear from you,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill. “Our efforts to accelerate AI adoption must be guided by the real needs and experiences of those developing these tools and delivering care.”

The RFI complements HHS’ recently released AI strategy, which outlines a “OneHHS” framework for modernizing care delivery, strengthening governance and advancing research through responsible AI use.

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Senate Confirms Kirsten Davies as Pentagon CIO
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Kirsten Davies. The cybersecurity leader received Senate confirmation for the Pentagon CIO role.

The Senate has confirmed Kirsten Davies, a technology and cybersecurity leader, as the Department of War’s chief information officer. 

Senate Confirms Kirsten Davies as Pentagon CIO

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DefenseScoop reported that the upper chamber on Thursday voted 53-43 to confirm Davies for the CIO role. Her nomination was part of a broader slate of federal government nominees approved en bloc by the Senate.

What Are Kirsten Davies’ Top Priorities as Pentagon CIO?

During her Senate confirmation hearing, Davies said her priorities would include addressing the “tech debt” at DOW; working with other officials to “embed the building blocks of AI supporting data supremacy and decision dominance” for the U.S. military, allies and partners; and advancing a new generation of cyber partnerships with industry, according to DefenseScoop.

President Trump nominated Davies for the position in May.

With her confirmation, Davies will assume responsibilities from Katie Arrington, who currently performs the duties of the DOD CIO. Arrington is a former South Carolina state lawmaker and a previous Wash100 awardee.

Who Is Kirsten Davies?

According to her LinkedIn profile, Davies served as chief information security officer at Unilever. Prior to that, she was senior vice president and CISO at The Estee Lauder Companies.

Her industry career also includes roles as managing director and group chief security officer at Barclays; VP and deputy CISO at Hewlett-Packard; global deputy CISO at Siemens; and senior associate at Booz Allen Hamilton.

In addition to her corporate leadership experience, Davies is the founder and CEO of the Institute for Cyber, a nonprofit organization.

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Executive Order Targets 2028 Moon Landing
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White House. President Trump signed an executive order that calls for the return of astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that calls for the return of American astronauts to the moon by 2028 as part of efforts to ensure U.S. leadership in space exploration, commerce and security.

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In a fact sheet published Thursday, the White House said the EO also calls for the establishment of initial components of a permanent outpost on the moon by 2030.

The new policy came four months after the president signed an EO to streamline regulations and promote competition in the commercial space industry.

What Other Space Priorities Are Outlined in the Executive Order?

The directive also outlines a broader set of priorities advancing U.S. space leadership. 

The EO directs the deployment of nuclear reactors to the lunar surface and in orbit, including a lunar surface reactor expected to be ready for launch by 2030. It also emphasizes strengthening national security in space by ensuring the country’s ability to detect, characterize and counter security threats to U.S. space assets.

The order encourages private sector innovation and investment by upgrading launch infrastructure and creating a commercial pathway to replace the International Space Station by 2030. 

Through the new directive, the Trump administration requires the assistant to the president for science and technology, or APST, to coordinate national space policy initiatives and directs federal agencies to collaborate to streamline the procurement process and implement space security strategies.

What Role Does the APST Play in Advancing US Space Policy Under the EO? 

The executive order directs the APST to coordinate the overall implementation of the policy, including issuing guidance for a National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power and proposing revisions to the National Space Transportation Policy.

Under the EO, the APST should integrate plans and reports from NASA, the Department of Commerce and the Department of War to address supply chain, technology and industrial capacity gaps while advancing U.S. space exploration and security objectives.

Executive Order Targets 2028 Moon Landing
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