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GSA’s Josh Gruenbaum Asks Consulting Firms to Explain Federal Contracts in Plain Language
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GSA FAS Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum is asking consulting firms to detail their existing contracts in plain language

The General Services Administration has asked leaders of McKinsey, BCG and four other consulting firms to justify their federal contracts and suggest ways to save costs, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

“Our objective is to critically evaluate which engagements deliver genuine value,” Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, wrote in a letter sent to firms Thursday. “In keeping with this Administration’s laser focus on fiscal responsibility, our baseline presumption is that most, if not all, of these contracted services are not core to agency missions.”

GSA's Josh Gruenbaum Asks Consulting Firms to Explain Federal Contracts in Plain Language

Discover new contract opportunities at Potomac Officers Club’s monthly GovCon networking events! The 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31 will host an all-industry Golden Dome panel where representatives from RTX, L3Harris, Booz Allen and more will talk about how to position yourself for success with the multi-billion-dollar initiative.

According to people familiar with the initiative, GSA also sent letters to EY, Alvarez & Marsal, AlixPartners and FTI Consulting.

In the letter, Greenbaum, a 2025 Wash100 awardee, asked the consulting firms to explain their projects’ pricing structure and discuss their existing federal contracts in plain language. Responses to GSA’s request are due July 11.

GSA also requested that the firms transition to outcomes-based contracts, in which vendors are paid based on meeting certain results.

GSA Review of Consulting Contracts

GSA is overseeing an administration-wide review of spending on consultants and other contractors to determine which tasks can be carried out by federal personnel and which can be done by external consultants.

In his letter, Greenbaum wrote that the agency’s review of consulting contracts has led to $23.3 billion in savings in multiyear awards.

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Air Force Modernizing B-2 Bombers to Meet Evolving Threats
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The Air Force is modernizing B-2 Spirit components

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is modernizing the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber to ensure that the aircraft, which was designed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, can maintain readiness to defeat targets.

Lt. Col. Benjamin Elton, material leader for the B-2 Integrated Capabilities Branch at the Air Force, said the modernization includes upgrades in the avionics, sensors and communication systems to enhance payload capacity, versatility and capability to defeat emerging threats.

“The B-2 is a strategic asset that provides the U.S. military with unique capability to penetrate heavily defended airspace and deliver precision-guided munitions,” Elton shared.

For the latest updates on contracting opportunities with the U.S. Air Force, attend the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31!

Why Modernize B-2 Spirit?

The B-2 flew for the first time in 1987, reached initial operational capacity in 1997 and fought in the Kosovo War in support of Operation Allied Force. More recently, the aircraft traveled from the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri to the Middle East to strike Iran’s nuclear sites.

Despite its age, Lt. Col. Robert Allen, materiel leader for the B-2 Advanced Programs Branch, insisted that the B-2 is not a legacy platform. He said it is an operational platform that will be one of the first to conduct a strike “if the flag goes up tomorrow.”

Air Force’s B-2 Fleet Updates

According to the Air Force, to maintain availability to respond to threats, the B-2 System Program Office, or B-2SPO, continuously upgrades the aircraft. Work is divided between two sites: Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio and Tinker AFB in Oklahoma.

At Tinker AFB, about two to three upgrades are being performed at any given time.

“One of our programs contains over 300-plus software changes to its sustainment software,” revealed Amanda Sieler, deputy program manager for the B-2 Integrated Functional Capabilities Branch.

The upgrades, Allen added, are also improving the transmission time of voice communications and data. The Air Force is also delivering new capabilities that improve the aircraft’s low observable materials, minimizing its radar cross-section signature while enhancing situational awareness.

“We are ensuring the aircraft’s systems sensors are functioning optimally to engage our targets effectively and accurately,” added Col. Francis Marino, program manager for the B-2 system at the Air Force. “We are maintaining readiness by reducing downtime and increasing aircraft availability to rapidly respond to threats and we are prepared to deliver unwavering support to the warfighter through our modernization upgrades to the aircraft.

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NIST Publishes New Guideline on Securing APIs for Enterprise IT Systems
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The NIST has released "Guidelines for API Protection for Cloud-Native Systems"

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published a new special publication, titled “Guidelines for API Protection for Cloud-Native Systems.”

SP 800-228, authored by NIST’s Ramaswamy Chandramouli and Tetrate principal engineer Zack Butcher, provides guidelines on how to safeguard application programming interfaces, or APIs, to ensure the overall security of cloud-native enterprise IT systems.

Securing Enterprise IT Systems

The publication outlines a systematic approach to identifying and analyzing potential vulnerabilities during API development and deployment. It suggests using basic and advanced controls and other measures designed to protect APIs during their lifecycle. Finally, the document emphasizes the need for security practitioners to evaluate the pros and cons of different control implementation patterns so they can implement API security approaches based on a risk-based strategy.

What Are Application Programming Interfaces?

An API is a set of rules and protocols that enable communication between software applications. Modern enterprise IT infrastructures depend on APIs to integrate and streamline business operations.

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GAO Recommends Full Implementation of Risk Management Processes at NASA
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GAO evaluates NASA's cybersecurity risk management program implementation.

A recent report from the Government Accountability Office reveals that NASA completed some cybersecurity tasks for its major projects, but did not fully execute key elements of its cybersecurity risk management program. 

The report, released on Wednesday, is based on GAO’s evaluation of NASA’s cybersecurity policies and risk management processes for four selected systems. According to the government watchdog, the space agency has yet to conduct an organization-wide risk assessment, a vital step for identifying and mitigating high-priority cyber threats across its systems.

GAO also found that selected NASA systems did not document system-level continuous monitoring strategies due to the lack of guidance on how to do so. “Without documented strategies that are fully understood by key cyber personnel, organizations face increased risks of data breaches, delayed detection of threats, and slower responses to attacks,” the report said. 

The space agency’s cybersecurity risk management program follows guidelines from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which outlines seven key steps for risk management: prepare, categorize systems, select controls, implement controls, assess control implementation, authorize systems, and continuously monitor security controls. The report found that while NASA had partially or fully implemented most steps, important activities within these steps remained incomplete.

NASA to Invest $80B in Space Exploration Projects

GAO said a comprehensive cybersecurity risk management program is critical to protecting NASA’s systems and information, particularly as the agency plans to invest $80 billion in developing spacecraft and systems for exploring the Earth, the moon and the solar system.

GAO issued 16 recommendations for NASA to address cybersecurity weaknesses. Among the key recommendations are conducting an organization-wide risk assessment, improving the documentation of control assessments, and ensuring that critical controls are properly applied and monitored.

NASA concurred with seven recommendations, partially concurred with four recommendations, and did not concur with the remaining five recommendations.

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OUSD R&E Publishes New Guidance for Assured Access to Trusted Microelectronics
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OUSD R&E details new trusted microelectronics policies, responsibilities and procedures

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, or OUSD R&E, has issued a new document to address risks associated with microelectronics and ensure that the military and defense agencies maintain access to trusted chips.

The Department of Defense Instruction 5200.50, or Assured Access to Trusted Microelectronics, was published Friday to provide policies and procedures and assign responsibilities to secure microelectronics supply chains and defense systems and technologies.

DOD Trusted Microelectronics Policies, Responsibilities and Procedures

The 11-page document is divided into three sections: policies, responsibilities and procedures.

Under policies, the OUSD R&E wants the DOD to take five actions:

  • Drive innovation in the microelectronics ecosystem
  • Expand its supplier base for trusted chips
  • Ensure microelectronics technology sustainment 
  • Adopt a risk-based assessments for decisions related to microelectronics
  • Anticipate future microelectronics needs across the department

Meanwhile, the second section assigns the Pentagon’s technology leaders to support assured access to trusted microelectronics by carrying out tasks. OUSD R&E, for instance, will be in charge of providing training and education to advance microelectronics-related capabilities across the DOD. Meanwhile, the heads of various DOD components are asked to share their expertise to support assured access to trusted microelectronics whenever needed.

Section three promotes evidence-based assurance that considers factors such as security features, test results, best practices, suppliers and intellectual property strategies to make informed decisions on microelectronics used in defense systems and technologies.

According to OUSD R&E, the DOD’s microelectronics supply chain faces “constantly changing and evolving security risks” that threaten not just the performance of defense equipment but, more broadly, national security.

The document is in line with DOD’s Trusted & Assured Microelectronics program, which aims to mitigate threats throughout the microelectronics supply chain and modernize defense systems by opening access to advanced microelectronics that utilize commercially driven capabilities.

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How US-Iran Tensions Are Shaping Missile Defense Strategies
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Hear missile defense insights from MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins during his keynote at the 2025 Air and Space Summit.

Geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran have significant implications for missile defense strategies, given the evolving threat landscape, advancements in military technology and U.S. policy in the Middle East. The U.S. bombing of key Iranian nuclear sites during Operation Midnight Hammer marked a pivotal moment, triggering new challenges and issues for missile defense GovCons to address.

Fortunately, the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31 will host the Department of Defense’s top missile defense official. Don’t miss this phenomenal opportunity to hear a keynote address from Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, Missile Defense Agency director and 2024 Wash100 Award winner, and get his insights on missile defense in the Middle East and the agency’s FY 2026 budget priorities. Sign up today and learn of new missile defense business opportunities before your competitors.

Let’s explore the key drivers of missile defense advancements and their strategic implications in the wake of these escalating tensions.

Operation Midnight Hammer: Lessons Learned

The June strike, known as Operation Midnight Hammer, showcased U.S. use of advanced military coordination and technology. This multi-faceted operation targeted critical Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, and involved a mix of stealth bombers, fighter aircraft, naval assets and cyber support.

Following the raid, Iran retaliated with over a dozen missile launches aimed at U.S. assets, such as the al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. U.S. missile defense systems intercepted 13 of 14 missiles, highlighting the effectiveness of integrated missile defense infrastructure.

The aftermath of the strike underscored two critical lessons:

  • The role of space-based systems: U.S. space-based missile warning and tracking systems proved integral in intercepting Iranian missiles with high accuracy
  • Counterspace threats: During the operation, U.S. forces detected potential electronic warfare attempts by Iran, targeting satellite communications and Global Positioning System infrastructure. The risks posed by counterspace attacks emphasize the growing vulnerability of space-reliant systems.

U.S. Missile Defense in the Middle East

Lt. Gen. Collins in May during testimony to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee previewed how U.S. missile defense systems would perform during a crisis in the Middle East. Iran in 2024 conducted two large-scale aerial and missile attacks on Israel.

Lt. Gen. Collins said the U.S. missile defense system demonstrated interoperability by detecting, tracking and engaging what he called the most complex, dense and stressing ballistic missile attacks in history, saving countless Israeli and American lives. These same U.S. assets, he said, successfully defended Israel against dozens of missiles launched from Yemen by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran.

Working together with Israeli missile defense systems, Lt. Gen. Collins said Aegis ballistic missile defense and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, performed exceptionally well. Aegis BMD demonstrated operational capability outside its design requirements while Standard Missile-3, or SM-3, Block IA and Block IB missiles demonstrated high reliability. Lt. Gen. Collins said SM-6 missiles fired in sea-based terminal mode demonstrated high trustworthiness and effectiveness.

The Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications, or C2BMC, system performed as expected. Lt. Gen. Collins said it enabled remote engagements by both Aegis and Israeli systems, correlated and combined overhead and terrestrial sensor data and extended engagement ranges far beyond internal weapon system radars, resulting in improved system level performance.

Missile Defense Challenges Posed by Iran

Iran’s missile program is the largest in the Middle East and remains central to its ability to project power and deter adversaries. As outlined in the 2022 Missile Defense Review, Iran leverages weapons systems such as short-range ballistic missiles, or SRBMs; medium-range ballistic missiles, aka MRBMs and uncrewed aerial systems to threaten U.S. forces and allies.

Key challenges include:

  • Improvised tactics: Iran uses offensive missiles to intimidate neighbors and engage in gray-zone activities, often through proxy groups.
  • Volume and saturation attacks: The sheer number of missiles deployed in retaliation to Operation Midnight Hammer demonstrates Iran’s capability to stage saturation attacks designed to overwhelm defenses.
  • Growing precision: Recent advancements in guidance systems have enhanced the targeting accuracy of Iranian missiles, making vital infrastructure and military bases increasingly vulnerable.

 

How US-Iran Tensions Are Shaping Missile Defense Strategies
Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, MDA director (right), testified to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee in May as to how U.S. missile defense systems would perform during a crisis in the Middle East. Image: U.S. Army

Evolving Missile Defense Solutions

To keep pace with emerging threats from Iran and other adversaries, the U.S. is investing in technologies spanning land, sea and space. Below are some key developments shaping future missile defense strategies:

1. Space-Based Systems and Sensors

The Missile Defense Agency has made space sensors, such as the Discriminating Space Sensor and the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor, or HBTSS, critical assets. These systems improve:

  • Threat detection and tracking
  • Discrimination between real threats and decoys
  • Battle damage assessments after major operations

The upcoming Discriminating Space Sensor, which Defense News has reported is set to launch by 2029, signals a shift toward a more persistent and responsive space-based missile-tracking network.

2. Layered Missile Defense

A layered approach combining multiple technologies is key for countering complex threats like those from Iran:

  • Ground-Based Midcourse Defense, or GMD, to intercept long-range ballistic missiles
  • THAAD for SRBMs and MRBMs during their terminal flight phase
  • Aegis BMD leveraging sea-based interceptors for regional protection
  • Patriot Systems offering close-range protection for ground forces and critical assets

Layered defenses provide redundancy, reducing the chance of a single point of failure during high-stakes attacks.

3. Integrated Networks With Allies

The U.S. relies heavily on regional partnerships for missile defense. These partnerships foster collective resilience, enabling strategic responses to Iranian aggression. Collaboration with allies such as Israel, the United Arab Emirates and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council enhances:

  • Shared early warnings
  • Interoperability between defense systems like Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow programs.
  • Integrated air and missile defense networks across the Middle East.

The U.S.-Iran tensions, exemplified by Operation Midnight Hammer, illustrate the growing complexity of modern missile defense. The Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31 is the can’-miss GovCon conference of the year. Attend an illuminating panel on the proposed Golden Dome homeland missile defense system. Brush up on remote sensing requirements at a keynote by National Reconnaissance Office Deputy Director Maj. Gen. Christopher Povak. All in a supportive and collaborative environment. Register now for the industry’s top GovCon event for air and space professionals!

How US-Iran Tensions Are Shaping Missile Defense Strategies
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DHS Unveils New Homeland Security Advisory Council Members
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The Trump administration named 22 new members to the Homeland Security Advisory Council

President Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and a 2025 Wash100 awardee, have appointed 22 new members to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, or HSAC.

DHS said Tuesday the HSAC will conduct its first meeting on July 2 at the department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The department noted that the America First HSAC is composed of homeland security experts with deep public and private sector experience and who are committed to meeting the president’s agenda.

Henry McMaster, governor of South Carolina, will chair the council and Joseph Gruters, senator for the state of Florida, will serve as vice chair.

What Does the Homeland Security Advisory Council Do?

Established on March 19, 2002, HSAC is composed of leaders from state and local government, first responder communities, academia and the private sector. It offers independent advice and recommendations to the DHS secretary on matters related to homeland security.

The council conducts research and provides policy analysis and recommendations on various security issues and evaluates the impact of security related to private and public policies as part of efforts to develop prospective security policies.

Other Homeland Security Advisory Council Members 

  • Alexei Woltornist, co-founder and president, ATHOS; former DHS assistant secretary for public affairs
  • Christopher “Chris” Cox, founder, Bikers for Trump
  • Corey Lewandowski, chief adviser to the DHS secretary
  • David Chesnoff, attorney, Chesnoff and Schonfeld
  • Edward McMullen, senior policy adviser, Adams and Reese; former ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
  • George Lund, CEO and chairman, Torch Hill Investment Partners
  • Georgette Mosbacher, co-chair, Three Seas Programming, Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, former ambassador to Poland
  • Harvey C. Jewett IV, retired president of Super 8 Motels; retired president and chief operating officer, Rivett Group; president, Great Plains Education Foundation
  • James “Jim” Pallotta, managing partner and founder, The Raptor Group
  • Marc Andreessen, co-founder and general partner, Andreessen Horowitz
  • Mark Dannels, Cochise County Sheriff, Arizona
  • Mark Levin, broadcast news analyst, The Mark Levin Show
  • Matthew Flynn, attorney, Steptoe; former deputy assistant to the president; former deputy assistant to the secretary of defense
  • Nicholas Luna, assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for strategic implementation, White House
  • Omar Qudrat, CEO, Maden; founder, Muslim Coalition for America; major, U.S. Army Reserve
  • Richard “Bo” Dietl, CEO and founder, Beau Dietl & Associates
  • Robert “Bob” Smith, former U.S. senator, New Hampshire
  • Rudolph Giuliani, former mayor, New York City
  • Stephen Sloan, global head of private market secondaries, Portfolio Advisors; co-founder, Cogent Partners
  • Steve Kirby, founding partner, Bluestem Capital Company
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Timothey Hodgin Appointed Air Force Research Laboratory Command Chief
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Chief Master Sgt. Timothey Hodgin has been appointed command chief of the Air Force Research Laboratory

Chief Master Sgt. Timothey Hodgin has been appointed as the new command chief of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

The AFRL said Thursday Hodgin was officially assigned to his new role during a change of responsibility ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, on June 18. He succeeds Chief Master Sgt. Carlos Labrador, who was named command chief in July 2023.

As the command chief, Hodgin will serve as the senior enlisted leader and principal adviser working closely with the AFRL commander in overseeing the laboratory’s science, technology and innovation initiatives, including a $3 billion external research and development program. He will advise on the readiness, training, professional development and employment of the AFRL’s 6,500 military and civilian personnel.

Timothey Hodgin’s Career History

Hodgin most recently served as command chief of the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. In this capacity, he advised the commander on health, welfare, morale, training and professional development of over 8,000 personnel.

He was also the command chief of the 62d Airlift Wing at McChord Field in Washington, where he oversaw 7,000 personnel tasked with operating and maintaining 40 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. He was a senior enlisted leader for the 373d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group and NSA Alaska.

Earlier in his career, Hodgin held command team positions at the squadron level. He was assigned to bases outside the U.S., particularly in Korea and Hawaii, and deployed in missions supporting Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Enduring Freedom, Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector.

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Janet Petro Eyes New ‘Top-Level’ Structure for NASA
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Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro expects to decide on a new top-level structure for the agency within weeks

Janet Petro, acting administrator of NASA, said she is working to finalize a reorganization that would be at the top level of the space agency, SpaceNews reported Thursday.

“I expect to finalize the top-level structure for this agency within weeks,” Petro said Wednesday during a town hall for NASA employees. “Right now, we’re weighing several approaches, and we’ve been working on this since early March.”

Approaches to Proposed NASA Reorganization

For the new top-level structure, the interim NASA chief said she is considering an approach that would organize the agency through mission directorates.

According to Petro, the second approach would be “center-centric,” revolving around the agency’s field centers. The third approach would be a “product line model.”

“After we’ve selected this high-level structure, then we will begin to define those details of the organization at the lower level, and then we’ll make sure our operating procedures and our governance reflect what is needed for each part of the agency to succeed,” Petro said.

“We’re considering moving most functions currently being performed in D.C. out to where the work is being executed, and refocusing the work done in D.C. to setting strategic direction and engaging with our external partners,” she added.

NASA Budget Request for FY 2026

NASA’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2026 would cut the agency’s overall budget by nearly 25 percent and reduce the civil servant workforce by about 6,000 jobs.

During the town hall, Petro touched on the proposed science funding. NASA’s proposed FY 2026 budget would reduce spending on science initiatives by 47 percent to $3.9 billion.

“You know, there’s still $4 billion. There’s a lot of science that can still be done with $4 billion,” said the director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. 

“NASA is a member of the executive branch of government, and so it’s not our job to advocate, but let’s try to look at this in a positive way. We’ve still got a lot of money. Let’s see how much mission we can do,” she added.

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Coast Guard Headquarters to Undergo Major Overhaul
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The US Coast Guard's headquarters will undergo reorganization as part of Force Design 2028.

The U.S. Coast Guard is implementing a reorganization at its headquarters.

Effective July 1, a chief of staff position will be established to improve coordination across the headquarters, streamline decision-making, foster a culture of accountability and agility, and ensure the headquarters focuses on big-picture strategy rather than individual operational decisions, the USCG said Wednesday. The assistant commandant for resources, the director of governmental and public affairs and the Force Design 28 implementation team will report to the CoS.

USCG Headquarters Overhaul — Biggest Since World War II

The military service is also splitting its mission support unit into two new directorates: a deputy commandant for personnel and a deputy commandant for systems.

The DCP will oversee all aspects of personnel management, including recruitment, training and military family services. A new workforce and family services center will be established under the DCP to provide support for anti-hate and harassment, wellness, support services, and other programs focused on workforce well-being and family life.

The DCS, meanwhile, will focus on ensuring the Coast Guard’s equipment and technology are ready for critical, global operations. Several program executive offices will support the DCS by managing assets, including surface vessels; command, control, communications, computers, and information technology systems; and robotics and autonomous systems.

The USCG headquarters overhaul, the biggest since World War II, is part of Force Design 2028, which aims to ensure the Coast Guard continues its legacy as the country’s finest military service.

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