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DOD Provides Overview of Classified 2023 Cyber Strategy Submitted to Congress
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DOD Provides Overview of Classified 2023 Cyber Strategy Submitted to Congress

The Department of Defense sent Congress its classified cyber strategy for 2023, which aims to implement four lines of effort to address existing and future cyber threats.

The 2023 DOD Cyber Strategy is compliant with the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy of 2022, the agency said Friday.

To formulate the strategy, DOD derived from real-world experience in cyberspace operations as well as the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The agency emphasized the importance of its allies and partners in safeguarding the online domain, especially in the face of adversaries such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. It also intends to collaborate with allies to fight violent extremist and transnational criminal organizations that weaponize Internet-based technologies.

The strategy outlines four complementary lines of defense, which include interagency coordination to reinforce the cyber resilience of critical infrastructure, and investment in the Joint Force’s own resiliency efforts. It also mentioned bolstering DOD’s Cyber Operations workforce through training and technology, as well as leading by example in adhering to international laws and norms on the responsible use of Internet-based capabilities.

DOD will issue an unclassified summary of the 2023 Cyber Strategy later this year.

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GAO Offers Recommendations to Help DOE Advance Insider Threat Program Implementation
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GAO Offers Recommendations to Help DOE Advance Insider Threat Program Implementation

The Government Accountability Office has called on the Department of Energy to track and report the actions it has taken in response to independent reviewers’ findings and suggestions to help fully implement the Insider Threat Program.

DOE should come up with a process to better integrate insider threat responsibilities, assess the program’s human, technical and financial resource requirements and offer recommendations to the department’s secretary on where resources should be allocated to ensure that the program is positioned to meet minimum standards, GAO said in a report published Wednesday.

“Unless DOE identifies and assesses the resources needed to support the Insider Threat Program, it will be unable to fully ensure that components are equipped to respond to insider threat concerns, potentially creating vulnerabilities in the program,” the GAO report reads.

The congressional watchdog recommended that the Insider Threat Program’s senior official clearly define the responsibilities of contractors in the initiative and that the DOE secretary ensure that the program implements a departmentwide approach to handling insider risk.

In 2014, DOE launched the Insider Threat Program as part of efforts to ensure the security of the country’s nuclear weapons systems and related information.

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NIST Posts Framework for Reporting Federal System Vulnerabilities
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NIST Posts Framework for Reporting Federal System Vulnerabilities

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has published recommendations on developing policies and procedures for reporting and managing vulnerability disclosures for federal government systems.

The NIST Special Publication 800-216 outlines a unified federal vulnerability disclosure framework that applies to software, hardware and digital services used across the government, the agency said Wednesday.

According to NIST, the framework seeks to address the proper handling of vulnerability reports regarding information systems owned or controlled by government agencies.

It also establishes a framework for the dissemination of vulnerability mitigation and remediation.

NIST developed the document in collaboration with the Office of Management and Budget and the departments of Defense and Homeland Security.

Treasury Establishes Executive Steering Group to Address Cloud Adoption Risks
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Treasury Establishes Executive Steering Group to Address Cloud Adoption Risks

The Department of the Treasury has formed a new public-private executive steering group to address challenges outlined in the Financial Services Sector’s Adoption of Cloud Services report.

The Cloud Executive Steering Group will provide best practices for implementing hybrid cloud environments, document effective diligence and risk management practices as well as work to improve transparency and cloud service monitoring, the department said Thursday.

In partnership with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the steering group will establish a common set of terms and definitions to support policymaking and industry cooperation.

The group will also collaborate with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to improve information sharing and coordination for the supervision of financial institutions.

CESG will be headed by officials from member agencies and companies of the Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee and the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council.

The co-chairs of the steering group are:

  • Graham Steele, treasury assistant secretary for financial institutions
  • Michael Hsu, acting comptroller of the currency
  • Rohit Chopra, director of CFPB
  • Bill Demchak, CEO of PNC Financial Services
  • Ron Green, Chair of Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council and Chief Security Officer of Mastercard
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DIU Seeks AI-Based Tools to Advance Public Information Collection, Analysis
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DIU Seeks AI-Based Tools to Advance Public Information Collection, Analysis

The Defense Innovation Unit is inviting commercial companies to submit technology proposals for enhancing the collection and analysis of publicly available information using generative artificial intelligence and large language models.

DIU is seeking commercially available AI technologies that can automate information operations discovery and evaluation and provide commanders with understandable representations and visualization of the operating information environment.

The prototype must also provide analysts with content and messaging capabilities, assist them in drafting content and suggest a dissemination plan.

Selected prototype projects must adhere to DIU’s Responsible AI Guidelines, which outline ethical principles for incorporating AI into its commercial prototyping and acquisition programs.

Tools created under the program should be interoperable with the Department of Defense’s Command and Control of the Information Environment technologies.

Local GovCon Personality Ashley Williams Clinches Miss Virginia USA 2023 Crown
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Local GovCon Personality Ashley Williams Clinches Miss Virginia USA 2023 Crown

Executive Mosaic is proud and honored to be the workplace of the new Miss Virginia USA 2023, Ashley Williams.

Local GovCon Personality Ashley Williams Clinches Miss Virginia USA 2023 Crown
Ashley Williams is Miss Virginia USA 2023

Ashley joined the Executive Mosaic team as an event coordinator in July 2022, and for nearly a year, she has played an important role in making our industry-leading events successful, informative and enjoyable for all involved.

“As a talented, hardworking and passionate individual, Ashley is the clear choice to represent the state of Virginia and Executive Mosaic. Her professionalism, upbeat attitude and optimistic spirit have made a clear impact on our members, clients, speakers and employees, and we truly value her contributions to our company’s mission and to the broader GovCon community,” said Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic.

“Ashley has the full support of the entire EM team as she goes on to compete for Miss USA, and we could not be more proud of her,” Garrettson continued.

Prior to being crowned Miss Virginia USA in April, the former Miami Dolphins NFL cheerleader and Florida native served as Miss Reston USA. Ashley will be representing Virginia at the upcoming Miss USA 2023 competition in Reno, Nevada.

Executive Mosaic congratulates Ashley on her success and wishes her well on the national stage!

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SBA, GSA Combine Programs to Pool Small Disadvantaged Businesses for Contracting Opportunities; Isabella Casillas Guzman Quoted
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SBA, GSA Combine Programs to Pool Small Disadvantaged Businesses for Contracting Opportunities; Isabella Casillas Guzman Quoted

The Small Business Administration partnered with the General Services Administration to create a new program that would increase the number of federal contracts awarded to small, disadvantaged businesses.

The initiative combines SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program and GSA’s Multiple Award Schedule Program, SBA said Thursday.

The 8(a) Multiple Award Schedule Pool Initiative will qualify 8(a)-certified SDBs and declare if they are eligible for sole-source and competitive set-aside awards. The process is expected to make them easier to locate for government buyers.

“This joint initiative between the SBA and GSA will increase federal contracting opportunities for thousands of minority-owned and other small, disadvantaged businesses, highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to equity in procurement and delivering against President Biden’s ambitious goal,” SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman remarked.

GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan highlighted the initiative’s benefits to both the government and the small business sector. “We’re excited about this new pool that will make it easier for federal acquisition professionals to find them, buy from them, help them create jobs, and advance agency missions across government.”

HII Shipbuilding Business Completes RCOH & Redelivery of USS George Washington
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HII Shipbuilding Business Completes RCOH & Redelivery of USS George Washington

HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division has returned the USS George Washington to the U.S. Navy following the completion of its refueling and complex overhaul.

The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered vessel is expected to replace the USS Ronald Reagan as the forward-deployed Naval Forces-Japan aircraft carrier in 2024, the service branch said Thursday.

The USS Washington, also known as CVN 73, was the original FDNF-J aircraft carrier deployed in 2008. It was relieved by the USS Reagan in 2015.

In 2017, Newport News Shipbuilding won the $2.8 billion RCOH contract to refurbish CVN 73, a project that took an extended 69-month period.

The ship underwent a four-day sea trial to test the viability of new technology and equipment, as well as operating systems and maneuverability.

“George Washington’s RCOH represents 26 million man-hours of work, that involved refitting and installing a new main mast, updating the ship’s shafts, refurbishing propellers, and modernizing aircraft launch and recovery equipment,” said Capt. Mark Johnson, manager of the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Program Executive Office, In-Service Aircraft Carriers. “Beyond the critical need to defuel and refuel the ship’s two nuclear reactors and to repair and upgrade the propulsion plant, this work touched every part of the ship—and challenged every member of the planning team and ship’s force.”

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Final Rule Modifies DOD’s Contract Award Authority Over Certain Prototype Projects
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Final Rule Modifies DOD’s Contract Award Authority Over Certain Prototype Projects

The Department of Defense has released a final rule that would allow the award of a follow-on production contract to a vendor working on a prototype project without using competitive processes.

The final rule took effect Thursday as an amendment to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement as part of efforts to implement a provision of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, according to a Federal Register notice published Thursday.

According to the notice, section 842 of FY 2023 NDAA allows “the award of a follow-on production contract without the use of competitive procedures, even if explicit notification was not listed within the request for proposal for the prototype project transaction.”

“The statutory revision to the criteria does not implement new requirements; instead it removes one of the requirements,” the notice reads.

DOD said the new policy does not impose new requirements on contracts for commercial products and services and for those at or below the simplified acquisition threshold.

Collins Aerospace to Deliver on Full Rate Production Navy Contract for New Combat Training System; John Sapp Quoted
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Collins Aerospace to Deliver on Full Rate Production Navy Contract for New Combat Training System; John Sapp Quoted

Raytheon Technologies subsidiary Collins Aerospace is set to deliver on a full rate production U.S. Navy award for the Tactical Combat Training System – Increment II Air Combat Training System.

Both airborne and ground subsystems are included in the contract, which will support fielding requirements at a number of the service branch’s training ranges, Raytheon announced from Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday.

“TCTS II addresses today’s peer threat, enabling aircrews to train and improve joint tactics, techniques and procedures in an NSA-certified secure environment,” said John Sapp, vice president and general manager of integrated solutions at Collins Aerospace.

Designed and constructed alongside partner Leonardo DRS, TCTS II is a scalable and flexible open architecture system built to provide secure air combat training among fourth and fifth generation U.S. aircraft as well as international aircraft.

TCTS II aids training initiatives ranging from tactical aircrew unit level training events to force exercise events at mobile and fixed locations globally. It will supplant the Navy’s legacy ACMI tracking systems, providing a single, integrated platform for training management.

The system was flight tested on F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft, during which it demonstrated a long-range, air-to-air and air-to-ground networking capability that allowed for real time data exchanges.

Sapp said that during the assessment phase, Collins Aerospace demonstrated TCTS II’s unique ability to merge into existing infrastructure, tactical intercepts and real-time mission completion alerts.

Offering an open-architecture design, a strong encryption capability, computing power and robust datalink, TCTS II is intended to lay the groundwork for novel training scenarios that incorporate live, virtual and constructive elements.

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