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Sen. Warner Urges AI Companies to Prioritize Product Safety, Transparency
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Sen. Warner Urges AI Companies to Prioritize Product Safety, Transparency

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, has called on artificial intelligence companies to broaden their efforts to promote and increase security and transparency in their products.

Warner urged companies that signed on to the voluntary commitments proposed by the Biden administration to take additional action to address risks in their technologies and implement development and monitoring practices to prevent potential misuse of their products.

The lawmaker sent letters to Google, Amazon, Anthropic, Meta, Microsoft, Inflection AI and OpenAI to extend their commitments to all their AI-powered product offerings.

“While representing an important improvement upon the status quo, the voluntary commitments announced in July can be bolstered in key ways through additional commitments,” Warner, a three-time Wash100 awardee, wrote in one of the letters.

Apple, Databricks, Scale AI and three other AI companies that did not participate in the commitments also received letters from Warner requesting their plan to prioritize product safety and transparency.

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DAF to Continue BWB Prototype Aircraft Project With JetZero; Frank Kendall Quoted
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DAF to Continue BWB Prototype Aircraft Project With JetZero; Frank Kendall Quoted

The Department of the Air Force’s blended wing body prototype aircraft initiative is moving into its next stage.

JetZero, a Long Beach, California-based aerospace company, was selected to conduct this portion of the program, the DAF announced on Wednesday.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, a four-time Wash100 Award recipient, noted that BWB aircraft “have the potential to significantly reduce fuel demand and increase global reach.”

“Moving forces and cargo quickly, efficiently and over long distance is a critical capability to enable national security strategy,” he added.

The BWB aircraft project is intended to mature and demonstrate this technology’s capabilities to expand the amount of air platform options available for both the DAF and private sector organizations. The Air Force Operational Energy Office expects initial flight testing to conclude as early as 2027.

BWB technologies have existed for decades, but rapid progress in numerous technology areas, including structural design, materials technology and manufacturing, has created the opportunity for large-scale production.

The BWB model blends the body into the high-aspect-ratio wing, which can reduce aerodynamic drag by more than 30 percent and deliver additional lift, allowing for extended range, increased loiter time and more efficient payload delivery to minimize logistics risks.

Currently, 60 percent of the Air Force’s total annual jet fuel consumption comes from a variety of BWB-enabled military transport configurations.

The Department of Defense is continuing to fund the development of BWB technologies, with plans to invest $235 million into related projects within the next four years. These programs are a joint effort between the DAF, NASA and the Defense Innovation Unit as well as the DOD’s Office of Strategic Capital, which assisted its collaborators.

“It’s been a little over a hundred years since a few brave Airmen took to the skies and proved the first aerial refueling capability, extending the global reach of our Air Force,” said Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, installations and environment.

“This announcement marks another game-changing milestone for the Air Force in our efforts to maintain the advantage of airpower effectiveness against any future competitors,” he said.

Top Government Contracts Won by Altamira Technologies
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Top Government Contracts Won by Altamira Technologies
Photo from Defense Advancement

The top government contracts won by Altamira Technologies support customers across the Defense Department, Intelligence Community, and the U.S. National Security Market. The company’s track record of supporting customers within these critical markets enables it to provide innovative, mission-focused solutions to the most demanding problems over the years. program management

Altamira is a leading Virginia-based government contracting company. Founded in 1999, Altamira is a top open-source technology company that addresses complex national security challenges.

6 Top Government Contracts Won by Altamira Technologies

Altamira holds prime positions on multiyear, multi-use contract vehicles across several Department of Defense and Intelligence Community agencies.

U.S. Air Force’s NOVASTAR Contract

U.S. Air Force's NOVASTAR Contract
U.S. Navy’s Palmetto Tech Bridge in Charleston, SC, bridging the gap, by Wendy Jamieson, from DVIDS, licensed under public domain
  • Contract award date: August 2022
  • Contract type: Indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity
  • Contract amount: $4.8 billion
  • Contracting activity: Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center
  • Contract duration: 10 years

 

In August 2022, Altamira Technologies was among the five companies that won the U.S. Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center’s (NASIC) $4.8 billion small-business set-aside contract. The awardees provide the agency with research, development, and software services across all NASIC activities for the Air Force, Department of Defense, and national intelligence efforts.

Known as NOVASTAR (National Air and Space Intelligence Center Scientific and Technical Intelligence Capability Support Services), this contract consolidates 20 previous intelligence analysis service contracts under fewer vendors.

 

U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Technical Exploitation Program II Contract Modification

U.S. Air Force's Advanced Technical Exploitation Program II Contract Modification
Special Tactics operators conduct training [Image 36 of 36], by TSgt Carly Kavish, from DVIDS, licensed under public domain
  • Contract award date: September 2022
  • Contract type: Modification
  • Contracting activity: U.S. Air Force
  • Contract duration: 1 year

 

Altamira won the Advanced Technical Exploitation Program II (ATEP II) contract modification in September 2022,  raising the contract’s amount from $960 million to $1.2 billion. Altamira continues sporting the National Air and Space Intelligence Center’s (NASIC) mission and the partnership formed since ATEP II’s inception in 2014. The one-year work extension was performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and other locations.

 

U.S. Air Force’s Contract to Support GEOINT and MASINT Research and Development

U.S. Air Force's Contract to Support GEOINT and MASINT Research and Development
Image from Defense Advancement
  • Contract award date: August 2022
  • Contract type: Modification
  • Contracting activity: U.S. Air Force
  • Contract duration: 2 years

 

In August 2022, Altamira was awarded a contract modification worth $280 million to a previously awarded multiple-award IDIQ contract. The newly awarded contract supports the Advanced Technical Exploitation Program II for geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) research and development, measurement and signature intelligence (MASINT) research and development, GEOINT and MASINT operational production support, and other missions.

 

U.S. Air Force’s Concepts Development and Management Office Contract

U.S. Air Force's Concepts Development and Management Office Contract
Air Force Emergency Managers, by SSgt Joseph Pagan, from DVIDS, licensed under public domain
  • Contract award date: July 2021
  • Contracting activity: U.S. Air Force
  • Contract duration: 5 years

 

Back in July 2021, Altamira Technologies won an estimated $36 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Concepts Development and Management Office. The Innovation Analytic Tradecraft Award supports the scientific and development analytic capability of the U.S. Air Force’s Concepts Development and Management Office. Altamira as a contractor has supported the office since 2016 through analytic tradecraft modernization and development and is best positioned to deliver the agency’s needs.

 

Space Force’s Space Mission Data Processing Contract

Space Force's Space Mission Data Processing Contract
Photo by Frame Stock Footage on Shutterstock
  • Contract award date: December 2020
  • Contracting activity: Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC)
  • Contract duration: 1 year

 

In December 2020, Altamira won an $8.5 million contract from the U.S. Space Force for its Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) Mission Data Processing Applications Provider (MDPAP). The Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) awarded the contract through an agile program management methodology.

Altamira received one out of three awards to create a prototype of the mission data processing capabilities, a vital element of a new ground control system supporting the current Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) and next-generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) missile warning satellite constellation. Altamira’s teammates for this project are Lockheed Martin, Stratagem, Toyon, CACI, and Spire Digital.

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US Military Holds 1st On-Orbit Hack-A-Sat Competition
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US Military Holds 1st On-Orbit Hack-A-Sat Competition

The U.S. Space Force and Air Force have concluded a capture-the-flag hacking competition aimed at improving the cybersecurity defenses of the U.S. military’s satellite system.

Five cybersecurity research teams competed in the final round of the fourth annual Hack-A-Sat competition that allowed ethical hackers to break into and access information from Moonlighter, a 3U CubeSat built by the Aerospace Corporation and Space Systems Command for cyber exercises, SSC said Monday.

The competition featured two ground-based challenges and seven on-orbit challenges where the teams showcased their skills in spacecraft operations, radio frequency communications and reverse engineering.

Italian team mHACKeroni bagged the $50,000 first-place prize, Polish cyber research group Poland Can Into Space received the second-place prize of $30,000 and U.S.-U.K. team jmp fs:[rcx] got $20,000 for third place.

More than 700 teams competed in the virtual Hack-A-Sat 4 qualification round held in April.

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NIST Releases Reference Tool for Updated Cybersecurity Framework
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NIST Releases Reference Tool for Updated Cybersecurity Framework

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released a reference tool for exploring the draft version of the updated NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

The resource offers human and machine-readable versions of the Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 and enables users to view portions of the document’s functions, categories, subcategories and implementation examples using key search terms, NIST said Tuesday.

This tool will ultimately enable users to create their own version of the CSF 2.0 Core with selected Informative References and will provide a simple and streamlined way for users to navigate different aspects of the CSF Core.

Once the CSF 2.0 is finalized in early 2024, NIST will add Informative References to the tool to form the connection between the CSF and other frameworks, guidelines and resources.

Additional features to the reference tool will be implemented in the coming months.

The CSF 2.0 draft includes an expanded scope and guidance on implementing the framework and adds a sixth function of an effective cybersecurity program.

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Army Debuts Civilian Capability of Education Platform ArmyIgnitED
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Army Debuts Civilian Capability of Education Platform ArmyIgnitED

The U.S. Army has launched the civilian capability of the service branch’s voluntary education and training portal, dubbed ArmyIgnitED.

The Army Civilian Career Management Agency initially tested the portal with over 40,000 civilians in the field of human capital and resource management and has begun enabling its personnel to use the portal on an incremental basis, the service said Monday.

ACCMA ultimately plans to open access for civilians in two divisions and five other career fields to use ArmyIgnitED to pursue funds for education, professional development and training opportunities by fiscal year 2024.

“We expect this new automation to make applying for training easier, and payment to academic institutions and vendors faster,” said Donald Harrison, ACCMA’s program manager for ArmyIgnitED.

As of Aug. 9, nearly 253,000 individuals are using ArmyIgnitED.

The Army expects the portal to reach the full deployment phase in late August and provide additional enhancements, including an interface with the Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army and audit capability.

Launched in 2021, the ArmyIgnitED platform was previously operated by Deloitte. After the Deloitte contract expired, the service tapped BAM Technologies to continue running the portal.

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DARPA Launches 10-Year Lunar Architecture Capability Study
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DARPA Launches 10-Year Lunar Architecture Capability Study

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has put out a call for technical approaches as it launches a seven-month capability study that aims to develop technology concepts that could pave the way for the development of an integrated, multiservice lunar infrastructure.

The 10-Year Lunar Architecture study seeks to build an analytical framework that could define opportunities for commercial and scientific activity on and around the lunar surface and has several thrust areas, including transit or mobility; communications; energy; and other revolutionary orbital or surface infrastructure concepts, DARPA said Tuesday.

“To get to a turning point faster, LunA-10 uniquely aims to identify solutions that can enable multi-mission lunar systems – imagine a wireless power station that can also provide comms and navigation in its beam,” said Michael “Orbit” Nayak, program manager at DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office.

“Just like DARPA’s foundational node of ARPANET grew into the sprawling web of the internet, LunA-10 is looking for those connective nodes to support a thriving commercial economy on the Moon,” added Nayak.

DARPA will accept three-page abstracts through Sept. 6 and will ask the selected respondents to submit 10-page white papers and technical presentations by Sept. 25.

The agency will announce the chosen performers for the LunA-10 study during the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium’s fall meeting in October, ask them to provide a briefing by April 2024 and deliver a final report by June 2024.

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Atlantic Council Report: DOD Needs More In-Depth Exploration of Human-Machine Teaming
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Atlantic Council Report: DOD Needs More In-Depth Exploration of Human-Machine Teaming

The Atlantic Council has released a report on the advantages and limitations of human-machine teaming, and artificial intelligence as a whole, as a tool for the Department of Defense.

The findings, which were published Monday, indicate that DOD must clarify and expand its definitions of HMT to cover wide-ranging applications for the technology.

AI and HMT can increase situational awareness and put DOD at an advantage in multiple combat domains. In administrative functions, they can improve logistics, sustainment, and efficiency in operations, cost and processing times, the council said.

The nonprofit group recommended that in the adoption of HMT, DOD must prioritize human operator training, comfort level and trust to optimize the use of such a partnership. The agency should conduct more experiments to build human trust and identify the strengths, weaknesses and breaking points of their machine counterparts.

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DAF Prepares for Enterprise IT as a Service Wave 1 Rollout
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DAF Prepares for Enterprise IT as a Service Wave 1 Rollout

The Department of the Air Force has conducted a roadshow of enterprise information technology services at various military installations in preparation for the Wave 1 of its Enterprise IT as a Service program.

During the roadshow, selected communication squadrons from eight Air Force and Space Force installations participated in a limited EITaaS program called Risk Reduction Effort to inform the DAF’s transition to an enterprise service model from an in-house base-centric delivery model.

An industry team led by CACI‘s National Security Solutions division secured a $5.7 billion blanket purchase agreement to deliver services to over 800,000 individuals across the DAF under the EITaaS Wave 1 effort.

Wave 1 includes an upgraded IT service management system, enterprise service help desk, image and endpoint management stack, end-user devices and local field services.

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Jinyoung Englund Named Chief Strategy Officer for Algorithmic Warfare at CDAO
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Jinyoung Englund Named Chief Strategy Officer for Algorithmic Warfare at CDAO

Jinyoung Englund, most recently acting director of Defense Digital Service within the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Office of the Department of Defense, has transitioned to the role of chief strategy officer for algorithmic warfare within CDAO.

She spent more than three years at DDS, where she started as a digital service expert before being appointed chief of staff and interim principal director.

Prior to DDS, Englund served for two years as a liaison officer at the FBI’s National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force.

Jennifer Hay, a visiting fellow with the National Security Institute, took over Englund’s responsibilities at DDS by assuming the director position on a permanent basis. She is former head of global government relations at DataRobot who joined DDS in January as principal deputy.

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