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PSC Comments on Federal Contractor TikTok Prohibition
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PSC Comments on Federal Contractor TikTok Prohibition

The Professional Services Council has submitted its comments on an interim rule that would prohibit the use of social media application TikTok on all devices used to perform work on federal contracts.

PSC said Tuesday the U.S. government could educate federal contractors of the potential risks of the app to government data and information and communication technology systems by conducting an “education campaign.”

The Department of Defense, NASA and the General Services Administration published the interim rule in early June.

The council called on the government to publish frequently asked questions based on how it is implementing its prohibition on the video-hosting service within its own systems and consider the appropriateness and ease of prohibiting such an app on employee-owned devices.

The government should reconsider its evaluation of the rule’s economic impact on federal contractors and review the potential impacts on competition, according to a letter sent by PSC to GSA on Tuesday.

PSC also sought clarification on certain terms in the rule and matters related to monitoring compliance.

FedRAMP Launches 3PAO Training Course on Obligations, Performance Standards
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FedRAMP Launches 3PAO Training Course on Obligations, Performance Standards

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program has unveiled a course introducing third-party assessment organizations to obligations and performance standards in the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation R311 policy.

FedRAMP said Tuesday the training course outlines the scope of a 3PAO’s roles and responsibilities related to the assessment of commercial cloud offerings and the process for qualifying an independent assessment organization as a FedRAMP-recognized 3PAO.

3PAO personnel must complete the first mandatory course within 60 days of the training announcement and maintain copies of the certificates in their training records for the A2LA assessment.

In late July, FedRAMP announced that A2LA will review assessment reports to ensure that accredited 3PAO personnel are competent and qualified to evaluate documents from cloud service providers starting on Oct. 1.

The remaining seven courses in the training curriculum will focus on readiness assessment report guidance, security assessment plan guidance, security assessment report guidance, documenting evidence procedures, 3PAO vulnerability scanning methodology and documentation, review of SAR  tables and assessment of penetration testing guidance.

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Air Force Commemorates Boeing KC-46A Tanker Arrival at Travis AFB
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Air Force Commemorates Boeing KC-46A Tanker Arrival at Travis AFB

The U.S. Air Force transported its first KC-46A Pegasus aircraft from Boeing’s facility in Seattle to the Travis Air Force Base in California.

The aerial refueling plane will be housed in a $136.2 million hangar that the service branch completed in May, according to USAF.

The flight was led by Maj. Gen. Joel Jackson, commander of the Air Force District of Washington, with the participation of members of the 60th and 349th Air Mobility Wings units.

Moving forward, KC-46A will be in active operation by the 6th and 9th Air Refueling Squadrons, with the 70th and 79th Air Refueling Squadrons in reserve.

The aircraft features communication, defense and self-protection capabilities to enhance the connectivity, situational awareness and survivability of its crew especially in contested environments. It is designed to replace the KC-10 Extender as the refueling vehicle for Travis AFB.

ORNL Study Yields Breakthrough in Solar Cell Development, Best Practice in Scientific Quantum Computing
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ORNL Study Yields Breakthrough in Solar Cell Development, Best Practice in Scientific Quantum Computing

Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers who used a commercial quantum computer learned that the energetic levels of the four-hydrogen linear molecule meet the requirements of singlet fission, a process that could boost the efficiency of solar cells.

The H1-1 quantum computer used for the study was developed by Quantinuum, formerly Honeywell International, ORNL said Friday.

The findings, which are published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, show the potential of quantum computers as a simulation tool for scientific research.

To describe the quantum states of singlet fission and calculate energetics data, ORNL used a quantum computational solver created by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory based on the Peeters-Devreese-Soldatov approach.

They maximized the use of qubits in the H1-1 computer using a technique called qubit tapering, and through parallel implementation of the four circuits the system. The process could serve as a best practice to speed up the problem-solving process in scientific quantum computing, ORNL stated.

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Microsoft, Council of State Governments Partner for Election Security Initiative
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Microsoft, Council of State Governments Partner for Election Security Initiative

Microsoft‘s open-source voting integrity software ElectionGuard will support a new initiative aimed at improving the transparency and security of U.S. and international elections.

Ginny Badanes, senior director of Microsoft’s Democracy Forward initiative, said in a blog post published Friday that ElectionGuard will be the first project of the Election Technology Initiative, a project led by the Council of State Governments and The Turnout.

ETI will start with incorporating, developing and enhancing ElectionGuard and continue to test the software through pilot elections, the next of which is set to be held in November in College Park, Maryland.

Microsoft unveiled ElectionGuard in 2019 as a free open-source software development kit designed to secure votes placed on electronic voting machines.

“The aim of the project was to enable end-to-end verification of elections, open results to third-party organizations for secure validation, and allow individual voters to confirm their votes were correctly counted,” Badanes said.

ElectionGuard was developed through Microsoft’s Defending Democracy Program in partnership with Galois.

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Laura Stanton: GSA’s Market Research as a Service Could Help Shape Agencies’ Acquisition Strategies
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Laura Stanton: GSA’s Market Research as a Service Could Help Shape Agencies’ Acquisition Strategies

Laura Stanton, a General Services Administration official, said federal agencies looking to find compliant capabilities and suppliers can seek the help of GSA’s market research as a service team to facilitate the acquisition process.

The MRAS team has carried out more than 3,000 requests for information for agency customers in three years, including over 25 percent for information technology category special item numbers on the Multiple Award Schedule, Stanton, assistant commissioner for the office of IT category at GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service, wrote in a blog post published Tuesday.

She said the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army were the top military agency customers of GSA’s MRAS team.

According to Stanton, MRAS experts help guide the acquisition strategies of federal, local and state agencies by helping them develop RFIs and providing them with customized market research reports within two weeks free of charge.

She said these experts use the latest research methods and technology tools and work with GSA’s customer service directors to provide information and help agency customers come up with a list of vetted industry partners that can help meet their requirements.

Stanton cited how the MRAS team helped the Department of Defense find a vendor on the schedule’s IT professional services SIN in support of a project at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and at Fort Irwin in California.

Leidos Helped Complete DOD Chemical Weapons Destruction Effort; James Ridgely Quoted
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Leidos Helped Complete DOD Chemical Weapons Destruction Effort; James Ridgely Quoted

Leidos participated in a successful project to destroy all remaining chemical weapons in the Department of Defense’s inventory and associated manufacturing facilities.

This historic effort was completed in early July, and throughout the process, Leidos offered technical and program support for multiple DOD organizations, the Reston, Virginia-based organization announced on Wednesday.

According to James Ridgely, senior program manager at Leidos, the company’s work encompassed technical expertise, engineering support, compliance with treaty mandates and planning analysis for technical and program efforts as well as public engagement.

“Leidos personnel have been side-by-side with government teams and contributed significantly to key technical and programmatic decisions that led to the safe completion of operations. We’re proud to have been part of making the world a safer place by eliminating these deadly weapons,” he said.

As a project participant, Leidos assisted the Defense Threat Reduction Agency in treaty compliance and inspector interface and supported the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity while it carried out program work across seven sights.

Leidos also helped the Program Executive Office Assembled Chemical Weapons Alternatives destroy the final chemical weapons at Pueblo Chemical Depot in Colorado and Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky.

The initiative took over three decades to complete, and its conclusion reflects the U.S.’ commitment to chemically disarm under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention.

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IARPA Seeks Industry Information to Develop Categorization for Large Language Model Threats
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IARPA Seeks Industry Information to Develop Categorization for Large Language Model Threats

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity issued a request for information on the possible threats and vulnerabilities associated with the use of large language models in intelligence operations.

In a notice posted Monday on SAM.gov, IARPA said the RFI will aid in the development of a framework to categorize the risks in LLM technologies.

The agency is looking to examine threats in “white box” LLM models, which means there is some privileged level of access to code or parameters, as well as “black box” models, which covers those with no privileged access to code.

IARPA is seeking feedback from organizations that may have novel methods to detect and mitigate LLM vulnerabilities, or approaches to quantifying their confidence in LLM results.

Interested parties may submit their response by Aug. 21.

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Cherilyn Pascoe Named Director of NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
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Cherilyn Pascoe Named Director of NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence

Cherilyn Pascoe, former senior technology policy adviser at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has been named permanent director of NIST’s National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence.

She will provide strategic direction and technical leadership for the NCCoE, strengthen relationships with key stakeholders and lead efforts to continue to align the center’s initiatives with NIST priorities, the agency said Tuesday.

Pascoe previously advised NIST leadership on technology policy and strategy, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and privacy. She has served as the lead of the Cybersecurity Framework program and supported a NIST initiative to develop trustworthy AI technologies.

Before joining NIST, Pascoe served over 11 years in staff leadership roles on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, most recently serving as deputy policy director managing the space and science subcommittee.

Space Technology Leaders: 7 Key Figures to Keep an Eye on in 2023
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Space Technology Leaders: 7 Figures to Keep an Eye on in 2023
Photo by anttoniart from Shutterstock.com

Modern space technology has made significant advancements in exploration, deep space research, and aerospace operations, enabling safer and more sophisticated endeavors. At the forefront of this progress are technology leaders who are actively shaping the space domain as a significant area for defense companies and military entities to focus their efforts and accomplish mission objectives.

Below are notable space technology leaders who made significant contributions to the modernization of space-related technologies and operations, along with their visions for 2023 and beyond.

 

Note: The following list features esteemed industry leaders selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of their accomplishments, including their strategic vision, demonstrated impact on the industry, innovative contributions, and leadership prowess. However, this is not an exhaustive list. The industry is filled with talented professionals making significant contributions, warranting close attention for their achievements and potential impact.

Scott T. Scheimreif, Executive Vice President of Government Division at Iridium

Scott Scheimreif, Executive Vice President of Government Division at Iridium
Photo of Scott T. Scheimreif on LinkedIn

Scott T. Scheimreif, has served as our Executive Vice President, Government Programs since December 2012 and previously served as acting Executive Vice President, Government Programs from June 2012 to December 2012. He also served as Vice President, Government Programs from April 2008 to June 2012. He has a wealth of experience in the satellite telecommunications industry and a close working relationship with the Department of Defense (DoD).

In his current role, Scheimreif takes the lead in driving the business development of Iridium’s DoD sector and managing the company’s relationship with the Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services (EMSS) program. Through this collaboration, Scheimreif oversees the development and implementation of Iridium’s services, which cater to the needs of more than 30,000 warfighters and other federal government customers.

 

What’s Next For Iridium in 2023?

 

Scheimreif’s tenure has played a seminal role in the expansion of the company’s voice and data communications offerings for federal government agencies. On January 23, 2023, a significant development took place, granting agencies access to Iridium Certus’ mid-band connectivity and global satellite L-band broadband, as well as essential hardware platforms, airtime, and data services. Scheimreif underscored the importance of these offerings in supporting government personnel and critical DoD missions.

 

Geoff Crowley, Chief Executive Officer at Orion Space Solutions

Geoff Crowley, CEO at Orion Space Solutions
Photo of Geoff Crowley on LinkedIn

Geoff Crowley, the visionary behind Orion Space Solutions, holds the position of founder and Chief Executive Officer. Orion Space Solutions is a pioneering technology development company that specializes in scientific research and offers a broad range of solutions for both space-based and ground-based initiatives. 

Crowley brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the fields of space weather, space physics, and ionospheric physics. With his deep understanding of these disciplines, he leads teams and spearheads initiatives focused on developing new technologies. His areas of focus include satellite development, space transport launchers, specialized GPS receivers, and other groundbreaking advancements.

 

What’s Next for Orion Space Solutions in 2023?

 

Guided by Crowley’s exceptional leadership, Orion Space Solutions successfully deployed the Electro-Optical/Infrared Weather Systems (EWS) CubeSat. This remarkable series of satellites has been purposefully designed to deliver swift and precise weather imagery data specifically tailored for military applications. One of the primary objectives behind the deployment of EWS CubeSat is to replace the aging Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites. These legacy satellites are nearing the end of their operational life, with their fuel expected to deplete between 2023 and 2026.

 

Rob Geckle Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Airbus US Space & Defense Inc.

Robert Geckle Jr., Chairman and CEO Airbus US Space & Defense Inc.
Photo of Rob Geckle Jr. on LinkedIn

Robert “Rob” Geckle Jr. has been an invaluable asset to Airbus US Space & Defense Inc. since 2005, bringing with him a wealth of experience spanning over 20 years. Throughout his career, Geckle has held numerous leadership positions in general counseling, compliance activities, global team leadership, aircraft manufacturing, and aerospace defense from his various leadership roles at Airbus.

In his current role as Chairman and CEO, Geckle assumes the responsibility of driving Airbus’ operations across multiple various international rotations. He also oversees critical areas such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), commercial aviation, defense government contracting, and mitigated defense businesses. 

 

What’s Next for Airbus US Space & Defense in 2023?

 

Geckle’s exemplary leadership and rich professional background were recognized when he received his inaugural Wash100 award in February 2023. This prestigious accolade, bestowed upon him by Executive Mosaic, acknowledged his visionary approach to driving growth in the satellite technology and national security markets, not just for the present year but also for the foreseeable future.

In June 2022, Geckle unveiled Airbus’ ambitious plans to develop satellite laser communication terminals within the next two years. This strategic move aims to meet the growing demand for LCTs in the US space market. Geckle emphasized the increasing need and investment in laser communication terminals, star trackers, and other aerospace elements.

With Geckle at the helm, Airbus continues to chart a path of innovation and expansion, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to address the evolving demands of the satellite and national security sectors. Airbus achieved a noteworthy milestone by signing a study contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to embark on the development of commercial radar systems. The NRO tapped into Airbus’ expertise for this project to advance innovation and allow the US government to conveniently access commercial remote-sensing technologies.

 

Robert Zitz, President and Independent Consultant at Robert Zitz & Associates

Robert Geckle Jr., Chairman and CEO Airbus US Space & Defense Inc.
Photo of Rob Geckle Jr. on LinkedIn

Robert Zitz is a highly-respected industry veteran with a remarkable career spanning over 40 years. Throughout his professional journey, Zitz has closely collaborated with government agencies, focusing on the development of communications, analytics, intelligence, and geospatial data for defense and homeland security missions. He has garnered invaluable expertise from his leadership roles at prominent organizations such as Leidos Inc. and Maxar Technologies.

Presently, Zitz serves as the President and Independent Consultant at Robert Zitz & Associates, where he offers consulting services to both private companies and government agencies involved in defense, intelligence, and homeland security initiatives. Additionally, Zitz advises clients on propelling business growth and achieving mission objectives.

 

What’s Next for Robert Zitz & Associates in 2023?

 

Zitz’s exceptional leadership and influential contributions to both the private and public sectors have been widely recognized, exemplified by his appointment as one of the co-chairpersons of the Space Situational Awareness working group by the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).

The announcement, made on May 2, 2023, marked a significant breakthrough, as Zitz assumed a pivotal role in this important working group. The primary objective of the Space Situational Awareness working group is to disseminate information and knowledge to public, private, and educational partners regarding the integration of enhanced, multi-modal, and ground and space-based sensors in government agencies’ information technology structures.

Under Zitz’s co-chairmanship, the working group will provide stakeholders with continued access to space and equip them with the necessary tools to effectively monitor the aerospace domain.

 

Alex Fox, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer at HawkEye 360

Alex Fox, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer HawkEye 360
Photo of Alex Fox from www.prnewswire.com

Alex J. Fox has been HawkEye 360’s Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer since February 2019. In this role, he oversees the company’s sales, marketing, and business development functions, as well as actively contributing to HawkEye’s mission assurance and aerospace defense initiatives.

Fox has over 20 years of experience in engineering, executive leadership, and innovative space technology. He acquired these valuable competencies from his previous leadership roles at Harris Corporation, IBM, Digital Globe, and Northrop Grumman, among others.

 

What’s Next for HawkEye 360 in 2023?

 

During Fox’s tenure at HawkEye 360, the company achieved a significant milestone by successfully deploying Cluster 6 of radio frequency (RF) sensing satellites in March 2023. These satellite constellations have been meticulously designed to capture RF-based data and analytics multiple times per day, with a frequency as high as once every hour. 

The Cluster 6 RF-based satellites represent a pioneering breakthrough, as they are the first-of-its-kind terminals launched in an inclined orbit. They are specifically tailored to detect, assess, and mitigate military threats in mid-latitude areas. Fox underscored that these offerings enable HawkEye 360 to provide timely, accurate, tactical, and relevant data that address customers’ RF intelligence needs.

 

Jon Check, Executive Director of Cyber Protection Solutions at Raytheon Intelligence & Space

Jon Check, Executive Director of Cyber Protection Solutions Raytheon Intelligence & Space
Photo of Jon Check on LinkedIn

Jonathan “Jon” Check has been the Executive Director of Cyber Protection Solutions at Raytheon Technologies’ Intelligence & Space business segment since May 2018. In this role, Check leads teams focused on the development and implementation of cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to proactively safeguard organizations against evolving threats.

Before joining Raytheon Technologies, Check assumed leadership roles at leading defense and cybersecurity companies such as CRSA Inc., Dell, Synarc, Northrop Grumman, and IBM Global Business Services.

 

What’s Next for Raytheon Intelligence & Space in 2023?

 

The 19th of January, 2023 marked a significant milestone for Raytheon Intelligence & Space, as it proudly assumed the role of the inaugural sponsor for the US Cyber Games & Team. This momentous initiative emerged from a collaboration between Katzcy, a woman-owned small business, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE).

As a distinguished member of the US Cyber Games Advisory Board, Check highlighted the pivotal nature of this partnership in honing talents who will shape and fortify cybersecurity measures to protect the country from potential threats. He further highlighted that this collaborative endeavor guarantees the future of cybersecurity and equips customers with exceptional and unparalleled security solutions that prioritize their safety.

 

Dean Bellamy, Executive Vice President of National Security Space at Redwire Space

Dean Bellamy, Executive Vice President of National Security Space Redwire Space
Dean Bellamy, Executive Vice President of National Security Space Redwire Space

Dean Bellamy, a retired US Air Force Colonel, embarked on a new chapter in May 2021 when he assumed the role of Vice President of National Security Space at Redwire Space. In his distinguished career, Bellamy gained valuable experience in aviation, mission support, strategy programs, satellite operations, and launch spacecraft operations, competencies to his former executive positions at Peraton’s Space Strategy sector.

In his current role, Bellamy will leverage his extensive professional background to lead Redwire’s strategic planning, program management, and space development efforts while meeting the requirements of national space security clients.

 

What’s Next for Redwire Space in 2023?

 

Despite being a relatively new company, Redwire Space has swiftly established itself as a formidable player in the realm of space technology. A testament to its prowess was witnessed on April 3, 2023, when Redwire was chosen to install ExoAnalytic Solutions’ advanced space-tracking software onto a navigation camera situated aboard a currently orbiting satellite.

Renowned for its expertise in engineering machine-vision cameras tailored for spacecraft, Redwire excels in facilitating efficient navigation in close proximity to other celestial objects. Bellamy highlighted that installing these specialized cameras will have ExoAnalytic’s space-tracking algorithms and work as space domain awareness sensors for stars and resident bodies.

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