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OSTP Seeks Public Input on Police Data Collection, Use Practices
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OSTP Seeks Public Input on Police Data Collection, Use Practices

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has begun to solicit feedback from the public to create a report that looks at current data use, collection and transparency practices associated with state, tribal, local and territorial law enforcement activities.

In compliance with a May 2022 executive order, the report will inform efforts to adjust standards for federal law enforcement, implement a more equitable criminal justice system and improve public trust and public safety, OSTP said Thursday.

OSTP is seeking information on best practices and lessons learned from STLT law enforcement agencies related to data collection, use and transparency as well as recommendations on how to improve the ability of STLT law enforcement agencies to gather, use and make transparent disaggregated data regarding law enforcement activities, according to a Federal Register notice.

Responses are due March 30.

DOE Solicits Public Input on Planned Energy Security Foundation
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DOE Solicits Public Input on Planned Energy Security Foundation

The Department of Energy has issued a request for information from multiple stakeholder groups on opportunities to engage with the planned Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation.

In a notice published by the Federal Register on Wednesday, DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions invited responses to seven questions considering a variety of topics, such as the FESI’s role in DOE missions and engagement with organizations both within and outside the department.

The CHIPS and Science Act authorized the establishment of FESI as an independent, nonprofit fundraiser to help speed up the commercialization of energy technologies. 

To define the foundation’s priorities, the agency is seeking input from philanthropic groups, potential private sector investors, DOE national laboratories and other prospective collaborators. 

One key area of concern is how DOE-FESI engagement can better support communities, small businesses and underrepresented groups that are interested in participating in energy tech development and transition.

The agency is open to RFI responses until March 27.

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State Department Proposes International Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI
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State Department Proposes International Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI

The Department of State has published a proposed political declaration to encourage international agreement on what constitutes the responsible use of artificial intelligence in military operations.

Created to introduce non-legally binding guidelines for best practices, the Political Declaration on the Responsible Military use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy calls for the establishment and application of principles governing the design, development and military utilization of AI capabilities, the State Department said Thursday.

Specific areas addressed in the declaration include the need for rigorous testing, monitoring and auditing to ensure security, safety and effectiveness as well as the importance of senior-level assessment and deactivation capability.

The State Department introduced the declaration at the 2023 Summit on Responsible AI in the Military Domain, which was co-hosted by the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.

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Michael Sprang: Army Expects AM General-Produced JLTV Test Vehicles to Emerge From Production Line by July 2024
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Michael Sprang: Army Expects AM General-Produced JLTV Test Vehicles to Emerge From Production Line by July 2024

A U.S. Army official has stated that the service expects AM General to deliver the first test vehicles within 18 months under the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle production recompete contract, Breaking Defense reported Thursday.

Earlier this month, AM General won a potential 10-year, $8.66 billion award to produce up to 20,682 JLTVs and 9,883 trailers for the joint force and foreign military sales customers. The company’s bid was selected over that of previous producer Oshkosh.

“The Army succeeded in obtaining a lower cost than the independent government cost estimate through the recompete,” Michael Sprang, project manager with the Army’s Joint Program Office JLTV, wrote in an email to Breaking Defense on February 14.

Sprang said that AM General has 18 months to set up its production line and assess its manufacturing processes. According to Sprang, the delivery of test vehicles should go as planned in the absence of a protest.

He noted that the military branch expects to issue all remaining orders with the incumbent contractor, Oshkosh, by November 2023 and make orders under the recompete by fiscal year 2025.

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Google Report Offers Insights on Role of Cyber Operations in Russia-Ukraine Conflict
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Google Report Offers Insights on Role of Cyber Operations in Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Google’s threat analysis group has released a report on the role of cyberattacks in Russia-Ukraine conflict and found that threat actors backed by the Russian government have used cyberspace to gain a decisive advantage through an aggressive, multipronged effort.

The attackers have not only targeted Ukraine’s military and government organizations but also its critical infrastructure, public services and utilities, information space and media, Google said in a blog post published Thursday.

According to the report, Russia has worked to shape the public perception of the war by leveraging the full spectrum of information operations with three goals in mind: undermining the government of Ukraine, fracturing international support for the Eastern European country and maintaining domestic support in Russia for the war.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has transformed Eastern Europe’s cybercriminal ecosystem, which may have extended consequences relating to the scale of cybercrime and cooperation between criminal groups globally, Google stated in the blog post.

Also noted in the post was a “trend towards specialization in the ransomware ecosystem that blends tactics across actors, making definitive attribution more difficult.” 

The report, which included additional research from Mandiant and Google’s Trust & Safety organization, concludes that Russian government-backed threat actors will continue to carry out cyberattacks against Ukraine and NATO partners to advance Russia’s strategic objectives and ramp up destructive attacks in response to battlefield developments.

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Justice and Commerce Departments Form New Strike Force to Protect U.S. Technology From National Security Risks
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Justice and Commerce Departments Form New Strike Force to Protect U.S. Technology From National Security Risks

The Department of Justice and Department of Commerce have formed a combined unit tasked with protecting critical technologies from being acquired or used by foreign adversaries for mass surveillance, military weapons development and other threats to U.S. interests.

Operating under the direction of the DOJ’s National Security Division and the Bureau of Industry and Security, the Disruptive Technology Strike Force will work to enforce U.S. laws that prevent the illegal attainment of American technologies by adversaries and maintain national security, the DOJ announced on Thursday.

“Using real-time intelligence and 21st century data analytics, the Disruptive Technology Strike Force will bring together the Justice and Commerce Departments’ expertise to strike back against adversaries trying to siphon off our most advanced technology, and to attack tomorrow’s national security threats today,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

According to the DOJ, the task force will focus on enhancing administrative enforcement of U.S. export regulations, prosecuting criminal violations of export laws and facilitating public-private partnerships and international collaboration in law enforcement.

“We must remain vigilant in enforcing export control laws, which defend military readiness, preserve our technological superiority over our adversaries, and help to protect human rights and democratic values,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen.

To support its mission, the group will also work with the intelligence community and use advanced data analytics and open-source intelligence to support investigations.

The task force also plans to conduct regular training for field offices.

DLA’s Patrick Kelleher Shares Agency Initiatives to Improve Additive Manufacturing Capabilities
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DLA’s Patrick Kelleher Shares Agency Initiatives to Improve Additive Manufacturing Capabilities

The Defense Logistics Agency is taking action to fulfill its four-pronged role in improving additive manufacturing processes, according to Patrick Kelleher, executive director of operations and sustainment at DLA.

Kelleher highlighted the agency’s ongoing AM initiatives, which aim to provide cost-effective data sharing and increased readiness, during the Annual Military Additive Manufacturing Summit in Tampa, Florida earlier this month, the DLA said Wednesday.

“DLA’s role is more clearly defined than ever, and that’s to be a facilitator and enabler of service-driven AM capabilities,” Kelleher said. “We’re focused on eventually procuring AM items designated for DLA supply support. This is only going to be possible with strong collaboration and strategic partnerships with the military services.”

He highlighted the Joint Additive Manufacturing Model Exchange, which provides a single system where users can download and print 3D models of products. JAMMEX was launched in January 2020 for use by the U.S. Army, where it was initially utilized to make surgical masks and face shields during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Currently, Kelleher said, its best use is to produce temporary parts for battle-damaged equipment.

DLA is also developing a remote inspection capability that can reduce the number of steps by tenfold. The alternative assessment option is expected to enable real-time feedback and improve material availability while minimizing contract lead time and travel costs, said Kelleher.

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CBO: Federal Budget Deficit to Hit $1.4T in 2023
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CBO: Federal Budget Deficit to Hit $1.4T in 2023

The Congressional Budget Office has predicted $1.4 trillion in federal budget deficit in 2023 and expects federal debt held by the public to increase from the current 98 percent of gross domestic product to 118 percent of GDP over the next decade.

CBO said it expects outlays to rise from 23.7 percent of GDP in 2023 to 24.9 percent in 2033, driven by rising interest costs and an increase in spending on Social Security and Medicare.

Revenues are expected to decrease to 18.3 percent of GDP in 2023 and fall to 17.4 percent over the next couple of years. In 2025, revenues will begin to increase to 18.1 percent of GDP, which is expected to be reached by 2033.

According to the agency, inflation is anticipated to decrease in 2023 and continue this trend through 2027. The inflation rate is projected to maintain the Federal Reserve’s extended goal of 2 percent.

The report states that CBO projects that the unemployment rate will rise to 5.1 percent at the end of 2023 and later decrease to 4.5 percent by the end of 2027.

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Jen Easterly on NIST’s Plans to Update Cybersecurity Framework
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Jen Easterly on NIST’s Plans to Update Cybersecurity Framework

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s plans to update its Cybersecurity Framework will support CISA’s mission to ensure products sold to the government are secure by design and default, Federal News Network reported Thursday.

“The framework has served as a powerful tool for providing a common taxonomy to help organizations create cybersecurity programs that align with the organization’s risk tolerance, that enable continuous improvement and facilitate communication around complex topics using a common lexicon,” the 2023 Wash100 awardee said.

CISA’s new set of cybersecurity performance goals to guide critical infrastructure owners and businesses in implementing security measures is based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

In January, NIST announced plans to improve its cybersecurity resources, including the Cybersecurity Framework, to keep pace with the ever-changing threat environment. 

According to the agency, the cybersecurity landscape has significantly changed in terms of threats, capabilities and technologies since the framework was first updated in 2018.

NIST aims to incorporate new guidance and resources on supply chain risk management, governance and other areas to better help organizations manage cybersecurity risks.

Chris DeRusha, the federal chief information security officer at the Office of Management and Budget and a previous Wash100 awardee, also commended NIST’s plans, particularly the increased focus on supply chain risks. 

In 2022, OMB unveiled new software supply chain security requirements for federal agencies.

Carlos Del Toro Orders 30-Year Plan to Modernize Navy Infrastructure
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Carlos Del Toro Orders 30-Year Plan to Modernize Navy Infrastructure

Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy and a 2023 Wash100 awardee, has directed the creation of a 30-year plan to modernize naval infrastructure and address a wide range of challenges facing the department in upgrading its piers, bases and other structural assets, Defense One reported Thursday. 

Speaking at the West 2023 conference in San Diego, Del Toro said the multi-year plan will enable the Navy to “take a long-term, medium-term, short-term view” on the department’s most pressing problems and highest priorities in infrastructure modernization.

“It’s about identifying what the worst problems are, right? And trying to address those worst problems first so that they don’t become catastrophic,” Del Toro said.

During the conference, Del Toro spotlighted the Navy’s existing Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, an ongoing effort to upgrade its aging public shipyards into modern facilities.

The initiative focuses on the recapitalization and reconfiguration of four shipyards to “improve the timely return of ships and submarines back to the fleet following maintenance and modernization,” according to Naval Sea Systems Command’s website.

“If we’re going to get better as a Navy, as a military, as a nation, we’ve got to get real about the infrastructure problems that we face,” said Del Toro.

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