/
Cara Abercrombie Nominated as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition
Published on
Cara Abercrombie Nominated as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition

Cara Abercrombie, deputy assistant to the president and coordinator for defense policy and arms control at the National Security Council, has received a nomination from President Biden to serve as assistant secretary of defense for acquisition, the White House announced Thursday.

If confirmed, Abercrombie will replace Tanya Skeen, who has served in the role on an acting basis since March 2022, and oversee the acquisition and development of new warfighting capabilities.

Abercrombie previously served as acting deputy director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, where she helped align a diverse portfolio of DSCA programs with foreign policy and national security objectives.

She has held various leadership positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense since 2003, including deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia and principal director for East Asia.

Abercrombie also served as special assistant to former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

/
3 Agencies Explicate Strategy to Accelerate Clean Energy Tech Innovation in New Report
Published on
3 Agencies Explicate Strategy to Accelerate Clean Energy Tech Innovation in New Report

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the departments of Energy and State have released a report outlining the administration’s strategy for advancing innovation in the field of clean energy technology.

Titled National Innovation Pathway of the United States, the report details the country’s threefold action plan to meet the goals of the U.S. long-term climate strategy, which seeks to achieve 50 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by the end of the decade and carbon pollution-free electricity grid by 2035, the White House said Thursday.

The three measures in the action plan are investing in research and development for a portfolio of innovations to ensure that there is an adequate set of tech platforms to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050; demonstrating and supporting early deployment of emerging technologies; and using regulations and financial incentives to accelerate manufacturing, deployment and adoption of technologies.

The document includes an overview of clean energy innovation priorities, such as establishing a secure materials and tech supply chain for electric vehicle batteries and increasing point source carbon capture efficiency to at least 95 percent for multiple applications.

Partnerships with the private sector and collaboration of the U.S. government with international partners to address clean energy innovation priorities are also emphasized in the report as key.

/
Gen. Chance Saltzman Calls for Shifts in Mindsets and Methods to Keep Pace With Space Domain Challenges
Published on
Gen. Chance Saltzman Calls for Shifts in Mindsets and Methods to Keep Pace With Space Domain Challenges

Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force and a 2023 Wash100 Award winner, recently cautioned that a “subtle form of complacency” could hinder U.S. operations in the space domain.

During his keynote address at the 2023 Space Symposium on Wednesday, Saltzman highlighted the rich history of U.S. activities in space, but warned against resting too comfortably on continuity, success and expertise, the Space Force reported on Wednesday.

“What we have done and how we have done it has worked and worked well, but I fear we think it will work well forever,” said Saltzman.

“The Space Force, our industry partners, our allies and inter-agency teammates must collectively pivot to new ways of doing business to keep up with the new operating environment,” he said.

Currently, said Saltzman, space is “far more contested and U.S. access to space capabilities is not a given.” In the modern era, there is “increased competition from adversaries able to execute space-enabled attacks on our forces in air, land and sea,” he said.

“We are seeing an incredibly sophisticated array of threats including the traditional SATCOM jammers and GPS jammers to more destabilizing Direct Ascent ASATs across multiple orbital regimes, on-orbit grapplers, pursuit satellites, nesting dolls, directed energy weapons and cyber-attacks,” said Saltzman.

He cited China as one of the strongest and most significant competitors in the space domain. The nation, he said, represents a “pacing challenge” for the U.S.

Also shaping the threat environment is the growing ubiquity of privately maintained, commercially available and sophisticated services in space.

“What was once state of the art and limited to only a few well-resourced nations is now the state of the world and far more accessible and even commonplace. I think you will agree that things are quite different from a threat perspective but also all of the other elements contributing to congestion and competition,” Saltzman said.

Earlier this year, Saltzman shared his three lines of effort to guide the Space Force’s future endeavors. He described them as “just a framework to focus and organize” the service branch’s activities.

“The real work is to go about these activities in a fundamentally different way acknowledging that new problems require new answers derived from new thinking – old ways of doing business will come up short,” he said.

“We must pivot. This is an imperative for the collective national security space enterprise, our industry partners, and our allies,” Saltzman emphasized.

Saltzman said he is optimistic despite these difficulties. He noted the “innovative engine” of industry partners and the “character, courage, connection and commitment” of Space Force Guardians as major advantages in space domain operations.

Gen. Chance Saltzman Calls for Shifts in Mindsets and Methods to Keep Pace With Space Domain Challenges

For additional insight on U.S. space defense activities, the Potomac Officers Club will host its 2023 Industrial Space Defense Summit on April 27. To learn more and register to attend the event, which will connect experts in the field to discuss the role of emerging technologies and public-private partnerships in the space domain, please visit the Potomac Officers Club events page.

/
Lloyd Austin Directs DOD Components to Review Adherence to Information Security Standards
Published on
Lloyd Austin Directs DOD Components to Review Adherence to Information Security Standards

Lloyd Austin, secretary of the Department of Defense and a 2023 Wash100 inductee, has issued a memorandum directing DOD component agencies to immediately assess their compliance with the department’s procedures and standards for protecting classified national security information.

Component agencies should report their findings to the office of the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security no later than May 2, according to the memo signed by Austin on Monday.

The directive states that agencies should adhere to several standards, including accountability, safeguarding, storage and destruction, transmission and transportation, security education and training, reporting of security incidents involving classified information and cybersecurity protocols.

Austin noted that he directed USD(I&S) to oversee a 45-day review of the department’s security policies, programs and procedures in coordination with the chief information officer and director of administration and management.

The secretary said DA&M will advance initial measures to implement the directive and the CIO will release additional guidance for DOD.

“These actions and measures may include, but will not be limited to: restriction or deletion of distribution lists on classified computer networks, allowing limited physical and electronic access to certain intelligence products, granting printing privileges on the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System by exception, requiring proper information handling procedures including encryption of emails, and increasing inspections when people enter and exit Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities,” the memo reads.

GSA, DHS Partner on Advancing Federal Sustainability Goals
Published on
GSA, DHS Partner on Advancing Federal Sustainability Goals

The General Services Administration and the Department of Homeland Security have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on promoting sustainability across the federal government.

Under the partnership, the agencies will share tools, technical expertise and training resources to advance the development of clean energy technologies at DHS facilities nationwide, establish sustainable buildings and promote carbon footprint reduction efforts, GSA said Monday.

The agreement aligns with GSA’s Sustainability Plan, which outlines the agency’s goals to build net-zero emissions buildings, campuses and installations and help federal agencies transition to carbon pollution-free electricity resources.

Nina Albert, commissioner of GSA’s Public Buildings Service, signed the agreement with Krystal Brumfield, associate administrator for the GSA Office of Government-wide Policy, and Tom Chaleki, chief readiness support officer at DHS.

“This agreement is a roadmap for achieving sustainable and resilient buildings not only at St. Elizabeths campus, but also nationwide, so we can achieve a net-zero operational emission building portfolio by 2045,” Albert said.

/
Sen. John Thune: RESTRICT Act for Reviewing Comms Technology Products Reaches Beyond TikTok
Published on
Sen. John Thune: RESTRICT Act for Reviewing Comms Technology Products Reaches Beyond TikTok

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., clarified that a bipartisan bill to regulate information and communications technology such as TikTok does not single out the social media platform, but would establish a review framework for any technology from a foreign-adversary country that could put U.S. national security at risk.

In a testimony before Senate on Wednesday, Thune stated that he wanted to address misconceptions about the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act, which he co-authored with Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., a three-time Wash100 recipient.

“Our legislation, which…codifies an executive order issued by President Trump, as well as a subsequent rule by the Trump Commerce Department, would fill in the gaps in current law and ensure that it is possible to address not just traditional risks from foreign-owned companies but the specific threats posed by foreign-owned digital technology,” said Thune, a ranking member of the Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband.

He noted previous efforts by the U.S. government to crack down on companies including Huawei, ZTE and Kaspersky following evidence showing that their commercial devices were being used by home countries China and Russia to penetrate global communication networks.

He also stressed that the RESTRICT Act would direct the Department of Commerce to conduct a review of such information and comms technology products, develop measures and if possible recommend a ban, to mitigate the risks posed by the products.

“Importantly, our bill would ensure transparency by requiring the commerce secretary to coordinate with the director of national intelligence to provide declassified information on why any measures against technology products from foreign-adversary countries were taken,” Thune explained.

ISG Report Cites Growth in US Public Sector Procurement Modernization
Published on
ISG Report Cites Growth in US Public Sector Procurement Modernization

The U.S. public sector is working to catch up on digital modernization for its procurement processes, the Information Services Group reported Wednesday.

Providers of acquisition outsourcing and platforms are responding by increasing their investments in tools specifically designed for the sector, according to the 2023 ISG Provider Lens Procurement BPO, Transformation and Software Platforms report.

The study found that government agencies were compelled to modernize following mass resignations and supply chain interruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public organizations are replacing legacy systems with modular platforms that feature standardized policy application and enforcement. Public sector entities are also adopting tools with machine learning, automation, and natural language processing capabilities to improve operations.

“Public sector procurement in the U.S. has gone from stagnation to rapid change almost overnight,” said Nathan Frey, partner and lead of ISG Public Sector for the U.S. “We expect this trend to continue at least through 2025 — and probably accelerate.”

Digital Transformation of Contract Management: Automation Imperative for Federal Contractors

GovCon Wire, sister site of ExecutiveGov, is partnering with TechnoMile and research firm Forrester for a webinar on contract management digitalization. The event, themed “Digital Transformation of Contract Management: Automation Imperative for Federal Contractors,” will take place on April 26. Register to hear more about CLM technology adoption and trends.

/
Biden Names Tanya Bradsher as Nominee for VA Deputy Secretary
Published on
Biden Names Tanya Bradsher as Nominee for VA Deputy Secretary

President Biden has announced his intent to nominate Tanya Bradsher, chief of staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs, as deputy secretary of the VA, the White House announced Wednesday.

If confirmed, Bradsher will replace former deputy secretary Donald Remy, who stepped down on April 1 after nearly two years in the position.

Bradsher was appointed as VA chief of staff in 2021 and has since served as senior adviser to Secretary Denis McDonough.

Prior to joining the VA, Bradsher presided on the White House’s National Security Staff as special assistant to the president and senior director for partnerships and global engagement.

Bradsher served in the U.S. Army for 20 years and retired at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2013.

/
CISA, International Partners Release Joint Cyber Guide for Smart City Tech Implementation; Jen Easterly Quoted
Published on
CISA, International Partners Release Joint Cyber Guide for Smart City Tech Implementation; Jen Easterly Quoted

National security agencies from the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand have released joint guidance on mitigating cybersecurity threats posed by smart city technologies.

The guide outlines three key recommendations to help communities looking to implement smart city tools: implementing a secure planning and design process, executing a proactive approach to supply chain risk management and applying operational resilience strategies, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said Wednesday.

According to the Cybersecurity Best Practices for Smart Cities guide, communities must enforce multifactor authentication, implement zero trust architecture, patch systems and safeguard internet-facing services against cyberthreats.

The guidance also recommended that organizations set clear requirements for internet of things supply chains, establish incident response and recovery plans and enhance workforce training.

“The cybersecurity best practices outlined here are designed to help evolving connected communities better protect their infrastructure and sensitive data,” said Jen Easterly, director of CISA and a 2023 Wash100 awardee.

/
Frank Kendall Asserts Transformational Change as Key to Regaining US Space Dominance
Published on
Frank Kendall Asserts Transformational Change as Key to Regaining US Space Dominance

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall urged the U.S. Space Force to lead “transformational change” to boost space capabilities that are becoming a critical component of national security.

Kendall made the remarks in a keynote speech at the 2023 Space Symposium in Colorado, where he also talked about China’s growing space infrastructure, the Air Force said Wednesday.

He said the United States should be nimble and focused on countering China’s military expansion in space, especially given the Asian country’s lack of transparency and disregard for global norms.

A 2023 Wash100 honoree, Kendall recommended that the U.S. and its allies take advantage of their experience and integrated deterrence strategies to defend against emerging threats.

The SecAF also touched on a congressional bill that would give limited authorization to him and other service secretaries for allocating approved budget to new space technologies.

“We are all united in our goal of providing Air and Space forces that can deter and, if needed, prevail against any opponent, anytime, anywhere, including when we project power with our partners wherever it is needed, on or around the planet,” stated Kendall.

“We are seeing success in these efforts. The Space Force is in the midst of a transformation.”

Frank Kendall Asserts Transformational Change as Key to Regaining US Space Dominance

Kendall will be the opening keynote speaker at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2023 Air Force Summit, which will be held on July 18. Registration is open, simple and accessible through this link.

1 … 572 573 574 575 576 … 2,619