/
Senate Bill Seeks to Address Foreign Adversaries’ Influence in National Security Contracting
Published on
Senate Bill Seeks to Address Foreign Adversaries’ Influence in National Security Contracting

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has proposed a bill that would preclude the Department of Defense from awarding national security contracts to consulting firms that also offer services to foreign adversaries and sanctioned entities.

The proposed Combating Obstructive National Security Underreporting of Legitimate Threats Act would set disclosure requirements on vendors bidding on consulting services contracts and establish an enforcement mechanism for DOD to end contracts that are not disclosed, Ernst’s office said Tuesday.

“While our adversaries are aggressively working against our national security interests, government contractors closely tied to China and Russia are allowed to advise our military and Pentagon officials. This is a clear conflict of interest,” said Ernst, a Senate Armed Services Committee member.

“It’s past time we put safeguards in place to ensure no firms hired by the federal government are working simultaneously to support the agenda of our adversaries,” the lawmaker added.

/
Lockheed’s Maria Demaree Accepts 1st Wash100 Award from Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson
Published on
Lockheed’s Maria Demaree Accepts 1st Wash100 Award from Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson

Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson recently presented Maria Demaree, a vice president and general manager at Lockheed Martin‘s space segment, with her first Wash100 Award.

Her inclusion in the 2023 Wash100 roster of leaders was prompted by her efforts to drive innovations in the space sector, as well as her advocacies to ensure the well-being and growth of Lockheed Martin’s workforce.

Demaree has been with Lockheed for almost 33 years, even before its merger with Martin Marietta in 1995. She has worked in different departments within the company, serving in roles such as senior engineering manager, director of mission systems, vice president of ground systems and solutions and head of the national security space team.

One of her many accomplishments was to lead the modernization activities for the defense contractor’s Joint All Domain Command and Control corporate initiative. She also repeatedly emphasized the importance of customers’ input in Lockheed’s business objectives, especially in emerging technologies.

“I’d like to highlight the importance our customers place in terms of multi-domain convergence. At Lockheed Martin, we’re looking at how to advance the ability to link highly capable platforms into a network that truly provides that awareness as well as command and control access across all security domains,” she said in an interview with ExecutiveBiz.

/
House Bill to Create National Commission on AI Policy
Published on
House Bill to Create National Commission on AI Policy

Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo.; Ted Lieu, D-Calif.; and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., have introduced a bill that would establish a national commission to assess the nation’s current approach to artificial intelligence regulation.

The National AI Commission Act would create an independent body to make recommendations on any governmental structures that may be necessary to oversee AI systems, Buck’s office said Tuesday.

The proposed commission is envisioned to comprise government and industry experts who will collaborate on developing a comprehensive AI policy framework.

Lieu said the commissioners would “make recommendations on the best ways to move forward on AI regulation.”

“Our bill forges a path toward responsible AI regulation that promotes technological progress while keeping Americans safe,” he added.

/
NTIA Publishes Over 1,400 Comments on Proposed AI Accountability Policy
Published on
NTIA Publishes Over 1,400 Comments on Proposed AI Accountability Policy

More than 1,400 written responses were received by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration commenting on its draft artificial intelligence accountability policy.

The comments have been published two months after NTIA issued its request for feedback, which will help shape its policy recommendations to ensure earned trust in AI technology.

The agency drafted the AI Accountability Policy in an aim to guide the development of assessments, audits, and certifications of AI systems. The document is part of a larger effort by the Biden administration to govern AI-related risks and opportunities.

NTIA sought input on the kind of data access needed for the audits, the feasibility of creating incentives for accountability initiatives and suggested approaches to accountability in different industries.

NTIA published a total of 1,447 comments on its draft policy on the Regulations.gov website.

/
911 Veteran Renee Gordon Appointed Vice Chair of FirstNet Authority Board
Published on
911 Veteran Renee Gordon Appointed Vice Chair of FirstNet Authority Board

Renee Gordon, director of the emergency communications center in Alexandria, Virginia, has been appointed vice chair of the First Responder Network Authority board.

Gordon has been a member of the FirstNet Authority board since November 2022 and brings to the position extensive experience in public safety operations, the independent authority said Thursday.

She succeeds Richard Carrizzo, who held the vice chair position for more than two years before becoming the organization’s board chair in April.

“Her deep understanding of the nexus between 9-1-1 and first responder communications will help us further evolve the network and support the men and women who put their lives on the line every day,” Carrizzo commented on Gordon’s experience.

Gordon also led 9-1-1 emergency communications in Baltimore, Maryland, from 2014 to 2020.

/
DOD, GSA, NASA Field Comments on Proposed Information Collection Related to Contract Financing
Published on
DOD, GSA, NASA Field Comments on Proposed Information Collection Related to Contract Financing

The Department of Defense, NASA and the General Services Administration have asked the public to share their feedback and insights on whether the proposed collection of data is needed in order for the federal government to properly perform its acquisition-related functions.

The agencies are soliciting comments on an extension regarding contract financing in compliance with the Office of Management and Budget Regulations and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, according to a Federal Register notice published Tuesday.

Interested stakeholders can also provide their input on whether the information will have practical use and ways to improve the clarity, utility and quality of data to be gathered.

The federal agencies also want the public to suggest ways to reduce the burden of data collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection methods and information technology systems.

Public comments are due Aug. 21.

House NDAA Seeks to Create Personnel Management Structure for Space Force
Published on
House NDAA Seeks to Create Personnel Management Structure for Space Force

A provision in the House’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2024 would establish a personnel management structure for the U.S. Space Force to provide more flexibility for full- and part-time Guardians, Federal News Network reported Monday.

The proposed NDAA would create a new category called “sustained duty,” which is equivalent to regular component duty where personnel serve in military positions on a full-time basis.

To be considered active duty, the House proposal would set minimum requirements, including time spent on active duty and training, for part-time service members.

The measure would provide the Space Force with the authority to place active duty personnel on sustained duty orders and migrate those on sustained duty back to inactive duty status.

The House Armed Services Committee is set to vote on the proposed personnel management structure and the Space National Guard on June 23.

The full chamber has to approve the bills before heading to the conference panel for reconciliation and for integration into the final version of the NDAA.

/
AFWERX to Establish Proving Ground to Test Autonomous Technologies
Published on
AFWERX to Establish Proving Ground to Test Autonomous Technologies

The U.S. Air Force’s innovation arm is planning to establish a proving ground dedicated to testing and experimenting with autonomous technologies and capabilities, Breaking Defense reported Thursday.

Lt. Col. Bryan Ralston, lead of the autonomy prime program at AFWERX, said the technology accelerator has begun building the infrastructure for the testing site to increase “throughput and capability.”

The proving ground will be part of AFWERX’s autonomy prime portfolio that is set to fully launch at the beginning of the next fiscal year. The program is intended to facilitate the collaborative development of autonomy technologies for navigation and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

Ralston plans to carry out up to two tests per week to evaluate new systems and capabilities in the proving ground.

AFWERX began seeking industry comments on the autonomy prime program in September 2022.

/
US Defense Firms Make Strong Presence at Paris Air Show
Published on
US Defense Firms Make Strong Presence at Paris Air Show

More than 400 U.S. defense exhibitors have participated in the 2023 Paris Air Show, which has increased its focus on military equipment and other defense systems driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Agence France-Press reported Monday.

At least 158 aircraft, drones and helicopters are being exhibited at the biennial event, which features 125,000 square meters of space and is expected to draw approximately 320,000 visitors.

The F-35 fighter jet, Eurofighter Typhoon multirole fighter aircraft and the Aarok combat drone are some of the planes that are on display at the event.

The week-long exhibition also highlights the industry’s initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, including the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel.

/
Jim Garrettson Delivers 2023 Wash100 Award to Battelle CEO Lou Von Thaer
Published on
Jim Garrettson Delivers 2023 Wash100 Award to Battelle CEO Lou Von Thaer

Battelle President and CEO Lou Von Thaer accepted his 2023 Wash100 Award during a recent meeting with Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and creator of the Wash100.

The award marks Von Thaer’s eighth induction into the Wash100, an elite group of leaders making an impact on the government contracting industry.

His leadership in the past year has enabled Battelle to win critical contracts including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s four-year Environmental Microbes as a BioEngineering Resource program, an $869 million R&D and engineering project with the U.S. Army and the Defense Health Agency’s $10 billion medical research and development services contract.

The nonprofit organization also established new entities, such as Revive Environmental with partner Viking Global Investors, and the ARCH2 hydrogen energy and technology coalition.

“In the five years since taking the helm of the GovCon industry’s most complex scientific integrator and research colossus, Lou has lifted Battelle’s growth by more than doubling top-line revenue to over $11 billion while overcoming the nation’s limited supply of technologists and engineers,” said Garrettson, creator of the Wash100 Award. “Lou is an enthusiastic and evangelical leader of STEM and environmental solutions, and he leads Battelle with the energetic confidence that comes from decades in the industry,” he remarked.

1 … 547 548 549 550 551 … 2,637