/
Executive Order Seeks to Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing Through R&D Investments
Published on
Executive Order Seeks to Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing Through R&D Investments

President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that seeks to promote research and development investments in support of domestic manufacturing and U.S. jobs in critical industries.

The EO would modernize the use of iEdison, the government’s reporting system, to help the public, companies and researchers better understand the country’s innovation environment and require the Department of Commerce to come up with contract terms meant to help agencies gather data on inventions and their manufacturing sites, the White House said Friday.

The new policy would encourage agencies to factor domestic manufacturing in their R&D award solicitations and direct them to streamline the reporting requirements and transition such requirements to the iEdison portal by the end of 2025.

Under the new order, agencies are encouraged to consider adopting a range of authorities used to procure new technologies to support domestic production.

The White House policy would also streamline the U.S. manufacturing waiver process by encouraging agencies to acknowledge receipt of waiver applications within 10 business days and speed up waiver decisions.

It would also direct the Department of Commerce to create public guidance on how agencies should address waiver decisions as part of efforts to enhance the transparency of the waiver process.

NRO Revamps Website Design; Christopher Scolese Quoted
Published on
NRO Revamps Website Design; Christopher Scolese Quoted

The National Reconnaissance Office launched its redesigned website, promising a more user-friendly functionality for individuals and businesses in the intelligence community.

NRO.gov now includes business resources about acquisition opportunities and potential research and development projects, the agency said Wednesday.

The online platform also offers information on job openings and benefits at the office.

Christopher Scolese, NRO director and four-time winner of the Wash100 Award, noted the new site reflects the agency’s forward-thinking culture.

“With its clear language and modern design, I’m confident users will easily find the information they need while getting an accurate picture of our cutting-edge technology and diverse team of highly skilled professionals,” Scolese commented.

/
Stephen Streiffer to Assume Oak Ridge National Lab Director Post in October
Published on
Stephen Streiffer to Assume Oak Ridge National Lab Director Post in October

Stephen Streiffer, interim director and vice president of the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, has been appointed director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

UT-Battelle, which operates ORNL for the Department of Energy, chose Streiffer to assume the leadership role starting in October, the lab said Thursday.

Streiffer, a materials science and engineering expert, spent more than 24 years at Argonne National Laboratory. He started out as an assistant scientist and ultimately became deputy laboratory director for science and technology.

Prior to joining Argonne National Lab, he was lead developer at the Center for Nanoscale Materials and research assistant professor at North Carolina State University.

Early in his career, Streiffer was a research assistant at Stanford University, and later postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute.

“Stephen is a proven leader with diverse experience and a commitment to mission-driven research and development,” said Lou Von Thaer, CEO of Battelle and chair of UT-Battelle.

“Throughout his career, Stephen has leveraged existing strengths to create new opportunities and partnerships that strengthen our nation’s ability to innovate and compete,” added Von Thaer, eight-time inductee into the Wash100 elite annual list of outstanding government contracting leaders.

/
Arnold Punaro: DOD Should Link Acquisition, Requirements & Budget Processes
Published on
Arnold Punaro: DOD Should Link Acquisition, Requirements & Budget Processes

Arnold Punaro, CEO of the Punaro Group, said the U.S. needs 3 to 5 percent real growth in defense budgets to implement the National Security Strategy amid the great power competition with countries such as China and Russia.

“The challenge is not how much we are spending … it’s what do we get from what we’re spending … We should be measuring outputs, not inputs,” Punaro told Paul Lawrence, a retired U.S. Army captain and industry veteran, in a video interview posted on LinkedIn.

Punaro, a previous Wash100 awardee, cited some recommendations highlighted in his book “The Ever-Shrinking Fighting Force,” including the need to streamline the acquisition process within the Department of Defense by eliminating red tape and bureaucracy and the need to reduce the defense overhead while increasing the number of fighting forces and capabilities.

He also called on DOD to advance reforms by linking the requirements, acquisition and budget processes.

Navy, General Dynamics Christen Future Guided-Missile Destroyer DDG 124
Published on
Navy, General Dynamics Christen Future Guided-Missile Destroyer DDG 124

The U.S. Navy has christened a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer manufactured by General Dynamics’ Bath Iron Works subsidiary at the unit’s headquarters in Bath, Maine, DVIDS reported Saturday.

The future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) is named after retired Col. Harvey Barnum Jr., a former U.S. Marine Corps officer who received a Medal of Honor for his service during the Vietnam War.

Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy and a 2023 Wash100 Award recipient, delivered the principal address at the christening ceremony and said Barnum is “among the most distinguished and accomplished public servants alive today.”

In May 2018, Bath Iron Works commenced the construction of the vessel, which employs Aegis baseline technology for anti-air and ballistic missile defense.

/
STRATCOM Opens Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Facility; Gen. Anthony Cotton Quoted
Published on
STRATCOM Opens Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Facility; Gen. Anthony Cotton Quoted

The U.S. Strategic Command has inaugurated the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

The EMS facility will be responsible for reorganizing accounts for force management and direction, situation monitoring, planning and decision-making, the U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday.

As the Department of Defense increasingly relies on effective spectrum management, the center will ensure that the Armed Forces will have uninterrupted communication, precision targeting and information sharing for enhanced situational awareness.

“Today is about moving forward,” STRATCOM Commander Gen. Anthony Cotton remarked. “It’s about implementing a strategy that will advance and protect U.S. strategic advantages in the electromagnetic spectrum. Advantages that are critical for our nation’s defense and security,” added Cotton, who was inducted into the 2023 Wash100.

/
US, Australia Agree to Expand Defense Cooperation; Lloyd Austin Quoted
Published on
US, Australia Agree to Expand Defense Cooperation; Lloyd Austin Quoted

The governments of the U.S. and Australia have entered into agreements to deepen defense cooperation between the countries and increase American rotational presence and capabilities in Canberra, the Voice of America reported Saturday.

The agreements will enable additional visits by U.S. ships and maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, more access to Australia’s military infrastructure, greater collaboration in space and accelerated efforts to help Australia procure its own nuclear-powered submarines.

Under the partnership, the U.S. will allow Australia to support the production of ammunition and missile systems including the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems.

Officials said the U.S. also intends to support the Australian production of 155 mm artillery shells, which are in high demand in Ukraine.

“These initiatives will strengthen our ability to respond to crises in the region while enhancing our interoperability,” said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a 2023 Wash100 awardee.

The agreements were announced at the 33rd annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations in Brisbane, Australia

/
Biden-Harris Administration Launches New Cyber Workforce Development Strategy; Peraton Execs Share Insights
Published on
Biden-Harris Administration Launches New Cyber Workforce Development Strategy; Peraton Execs Share Insights

The Biden-Harris administration has released the four-pillared National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy to cultivate the United States’ cyber workforce.

Intended to provide pathways for Americans pursuing a career in cyber, the plan is informed by three guiding imperatives: leverage adaptable ecosystems to effect change at scale, enable the lifelong development of cyber skills and grow and enhance the cyber workforce through improving diversity and inclusion, the White House shared on Monday.

To lay the foundation for success in an increasingly cyber-dominant world, the first pillar of the strategy aims to provide cyber-related educational opportunities for any interested individual while encouraging cyber skills development and cyber careers.

In preparation for the long-term, the plan also intends to create stronger ecosystems for cyber education across an array of educational levels and focus areas, including K-12 education, colleges and universities and technical schools. In doing so, the Biden-Harris administration plans to invest in educators and cyber education systems while making cyber education and training more accessible and affordable.

Expanding and improving the national cyber workforce is a top priority, and to achieve this goal, the White House will work with various stakeholders, implement a skills-based recruitment and development approach and boost the accessibility of cyber jobs for all Americans, including underserved and underrepresented groups.

Federal workers are a major part of the U.S. cyber ecosystem, and strengthening this segment of the cyber workforce represents the fourth pillar of the strategy. To bolster public sector cyber talent, the Biden-Harris administration intends to promote the benefits of public sector careers, minimize hiring and onboarding barriers, facilitate government collaboration and foster a diverse cyber workforce.

National security contractor Peraton, which has been heavily involved in workforce development on the industry side of the cyber ecosystem, endorsed this strategy.

In a statement released on Monday, Peraton Chief Communications and Engagement Officer Matt McQueen cited the company’s CybHER program, a summer camp for middle school girls with an interest in STEM, as one of Peraton’s efforts to expand the cyber workforce.

“These strategic investments are approaching maturity at a time when national security is faced with a zenith of challenges,” he said.

“We look forward to working with the federal government, industry partners, academia and other stakeholders to close the workforce gap and maintain the United States’ dominance in cybersecurity,” added Scott Cooper, vice president of strategic advocacy at Peraton.

/
Biden Nominates Martin O’Malley as SSA Commissioner
Published on
Biden Nominates Martin O’Malley as SSA Commissioner

Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has been nominated as commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

President Joe Biden announced the nomination on Tuesday, citing O’Malley’s 16 years in public service as adequate credentials for SSA leadership.

O’Malley was first elected to public office in 1999, as mayor of the city of Baltimore. He served two terms and ran for governor in 2006. As head of the Maryland government, he implemented a performance measurement and management program called StateStat, and authorized the eligibility of undocumented immigrants’ children for college tuition in the state.

He currently serves as a fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration and the Metrolab Network, and as adviser at ProtectedBy.AI and Guidehouse.

/
NASA Boosts Online Presence With New Website, Streaming Service
Published on
NASA Boosts Online Presence With New Website, Streaming Service

NASA is revamping its digital platforms, including its flagship and science websites and mobile app, and launching its first on-demand streaming service to make its content and services more accessible online.

The agency said Friday it has released an early, in-progress preview of the beta version of its website, which will serve as a consolidated platform for information on its research projects, climate data and the latest news about its space missions.

“Modernizing our main websites from a technology standpoint and streamlining how the public engages with our content online are critical first steps in making our agency’s information more accessible, discoverable, and secure,” said Jeff Seaton, chief information officer at NASA headquarters in Washington.

The retooled website will feature a common search engine, integrated navigation and optimized publishing capabilities in modernized and secure web tools.

The agency’s ad-free streaming platform is set to go live later in 2023 and will be available via the NASA App on iOS and Android mobile and tablet devices and streaming sites such as Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV.

Space Technologies Forum

ExecutiveBiz will host the Space Technologies Forum on Aug. 29 to convene industry experts and government officials across the space domain for a discussion on the future of the space technology sector. Click here to register and see the confirmed speakers at the event.

1 … 586 587 588 589 590 … 2,703