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NSF Teams Up with Federal Agencies to Launch AI Program for Minority Serving Institutions
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NSF Teams Up with Federal Agencies to Launch AI Program for Minority Serving Institutions

The National Science Foundation has launched its new Expanding AI Innovation through Capacity Building and Partnerships program, which is intended to increase the involvement of minority serving institutions in artificial intelligence research, education and workforce development. 

ExpandAI follows strategies outlined in the 2019 update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan, which details areas of importance for federal investments in AI research and development, NSF said Wednesday.

“We envision that this program will not only broaden minority serving institution participation in AI research and education but also inspire culturally relevant AI research activities that address the specific needs of these institutions and their communities,” said Abiodun Ilumoka, NSF program director and ExpandAI co-lead.

ExpandAI includes two tracks. The first is centered around building pilot AI programs for minority serving institutions while the second focuses on scaling up existing research and education initiatives as well as promoting new collaborations with AI institutes.

The program was established in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, the Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the DOD Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. 

NREL Creates New Model to Improve Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Production
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NREL Creates New Model to Improve Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Production

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has created a new Hydrogen Analysis Lite Production model to support the techno-economic analysis of various hydrogen production technologies.

H2A-Lite is part of a broader suite of tools used in studies that aim to reduce costs and environmental impacts of the element’s production pathways, NREL said Wednesday.

“The H2A model is rigorous, with process information about each of the production technologies that helps you actually calculate nuanced production scenarios,” said Michael Penev, senior analyst for infrastructure and energy storage analysis at NREL.

“In the Lite model, we are focusing on making that framework more accessible to a wider set of audiences,” he added.

H2A-Lite uses technical and financial variables to provide projections of capital costs, operating costs and revenue. It builds on the H2A model used by the Department of Energy in hydrogen production case studies.

Current methods of producing hydrogen include thermochemical, electrolytic, direct solar water splitting and biological processes. Research is being conducted to make these pathways more sustainable as industries switch to renewable energy and the demand for hydrogen continues to rise.

USASAC Details FMS, Security Assistance Programs & Priorities in FY 2022
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USASAC Details FMS, Security Assistance Programs & Priorities in FY 2022

The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command has provided details on its fiscal year 2022 priorities and initiatives to provide security assistance to Ukraine and other nations through foreign military sales missions, DVIDS reported Wednesday.

USASAC said that since February, it has delivered weapons, training and equipment worth $2 billion to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia and has ended the fiscal year with $14.1 billion in new business.

Training Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior to counter terrorist threats and protect critical infrastructure and managing the country’s Ministry of National Guard modernization initiative were other priorities of the command in 2022.

Over the past year, USASAC’s Security Assistance Training Management Organization also employed 30 security assistance teams in 16 countries in support of its mission to implement security assistance programs.

USASAC also made several leadership changes in FY 2022 including the appointment of Brig. Gen. Brad Nicholson as commander in May, who succeeded Brig. Gen. Garrick Harmon.

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Army Showcases Synthetic Training Environment Technologies at 2022 I/ITSEC
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Army Showcases Synthetic Training Environment Technologies at 2022 I/ITSEC

The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation has demonstrated some of its newest technologies designed to support live and synthetic training during a National Training and Simulation Association-sponsored event in Orlando.

At this year’s 2022 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference, PEO STRI sponsored three booths, with almost all displays focused on the Army’s Synthetic Training Environment, the military branch said on Tuesday.

Karen Saunders, the Army’s program executive officer for simulation, training and instrumentation, said the entire PEO STRI portfolio is instrumental in building the Army’s vision to be more sustainable, modernized and battlefield ready in 2030.

“We are adapting to rapid changes in technology and adversary capabilities, including by converging effects across air, land, sea, space and cyberspace to deliver overmatch,” Saunders said.

Among the technologies showcased were the office’s Persistent Cyber Training Environment, the Reconfigurable Collective Virtual Trainer – Ground for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Squad immersive Virtual Trainer, Improved – Stinger Team Proficiency Trainer II.

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AFRL to Hold Competition to Develop AI-Based Airlift Planning Software
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AFRL to Hold Competition to Develop AI-Based Airlift Planning Software

The Air Force Research Laboratory has invited international researchers to join an online competition to develop new planning algorithms for conducting airlift operations.

The Airlift Challenge will commence on January 23 and continue through February 27 in a virtual setting to identify algorithms designed to enable on-time deliveries and enhance operational efficiency, AFRL said Wednesday. 

“A large demand and tight deadlines make airlift operations difficult to plan even under ideal conditions,” said Andre Beckus, a machine learning researcher at AFRL.

“Unexpected disruptions only further complicate the problem, potentially introducing major delays and stressing planning software to its limits,” he emphasized.

Beckus said the competition will provide a simulation environment where AI agents can interact while being tested against a series of scenarios with increasing complexity.

The evaluation of the AI agents will end when they miss too many deliveries or when a time limit is reached, stated the researcher.

AFRL will select three overall winners and one winner in the student category.

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Bill to Strengthen VA Cybersecurity Signed Into Law
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Bill to Strengthen VA Cybersecurity Signed Into Law

President Joe Biden has signed into law a bipartisan bill that would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to secure an independent cybersecurity evaluation of its critical information systems.

In March, Reps. Frank Mrvan, D-Ind.; Nancy Mace, R-S.C.; Susie Lee, D-Nev.; and Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y; proposed the Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act of 2022, which will require VA to create a timeline and budget to address any weaknesses identified during the assessment.

The measure also directs the VA secretary to submit a detailed report and implementation plan to Congress within 120 days of the assessment’s release and requires the Government Accountability Office to review VA’s plan and assess whether the timelines and cost estimates are realistic.

According to a report by the Congressional Budget Office, VA will be required to select a contractor to perform cybersecurity assessments and measure the effectiveness of the department’s information security procedures under the legislation.

CBO has estimated that implementing the SVAC Act of 2022 would cost $15 million over a period of five years. The figure includes contractor payment, software and hardware needed to detect cyber vulnerabilities in the department’s networks and devices.

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White House Unveils 5th Open Government National Action Plan
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White House Unveils 5th Open Government National Action Plan

The White House has issued a new action plan that includes commitments to advancing transparency, public participation and accountability across the federal government.

Created through months of engagement with civil society organizations and the public, the Fifth Open Government National Action Plan addresses five areas of improvement, the White House said Wednesday.

As stated in the plan, these categories consist of expanding public access to government data, research and information, increasing civic space to engage the public, transforming government service delivery, countering corruption and ensuring government integrity and accountability to the public and ensuring equal justice under the law.

Specific commitments outlined in the action plan include ensuring transparency in federal procurement through Made in America waivers, developing open innovation techniques to engage the public in federal procurement policy making and strengthening agency procurement forecasts to achieve stronger transparency in future contract opportunities.

The action plan aligns with the administration’s goals of advancing equity and inclusion of communities that have experienced exclusion, marginalization and discrimination.

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Montgomery ‘Blair’ Kirk Named Operations Director for NRO Vandenberg
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Montgomery ‘Blair’ Kirk Named Operations Director for NRO Vandenberg

Montgomery “Blair” Kirk, program manager for the Joint Staff’s Deputy Directorate for Global Operations, J-39, has been appointed director of operations for the National Reconnaissance Office Vandenberg in California, he announced in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday.

He will rejoin the NRO’s office of space launch in the summer of 2023.

Kirk previously held the roles of executive officer for the special programs directorate at the U.S. Space Force and chief of systems integration and test at the U.S. Air Force.

Prior to his return to the military branch, he spent four years at the NRO, where he served as deputy chief for the advanced programs branch and later served as launch integration and operations chief.

Earlier in his career, Kirk was deputy commander of satellite command and control operations and a space flight test engineer for the Air Force.

NRO Vandenberg provides operations, security, safety, integration and communications support for NRO payloads launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

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OMB, NARA Issue New Memo to Agencies on Electronic Records Transition
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OMB, NARA Issue New Memo to Agencies on Electronic Records Transition

The Office of Management and Budget and the National Archives and Records Administration have released a joint memorandum setting June 30, 2024, as the new deadline for federal agencies to manage all permanent records in an electronic format.

OMB and NARA extended the deadline to give agencies additional time to complete their move to an electronic environment that may have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agencies said Friday.

By the end of June 2024, agencies must convert their temporary records into an electronic format and transfer their permanent files to NARA in electronic formats with appropriate metadata.

After that deadline, NARA will no longer accept transfers of temporary or permanent analog records.

According to the memo, NARA will release updated guidance and regulations to provide agencies with standards for electronic recordkeeping no later than June 30, 2024.

NARA will also finalize electronic records management standards and requirements for federal agencies buying ERM platforms and services no later than Dec. 31, 2023.

Jeffrey Jennings Retires as Deputy to USAICoE, Fort Huachuca Commander
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Jeffrey Jennings Retires as Deputy to USAICoE, Fort Huachuca Commander

Jeffrey Jennings is retiring from the senior executive service and is stepping down from his role as deputy to the commanding general of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca.

Maj. Gen. Anthony Hale, commanding general of the USAICoE and Fort Huachuca, said Jennings has helped the installation prepare to “compete and win in the multi-domain environment for the future of the Army,” the service branch said Tuesday.

Jennings took on the role in June 15, 2015, following his retirement from the Army after 31 years of military service.

The retired U.S. Army colonel served as chief of staff for the USAICoE and has previously advised five commanding generals.

During his time at Fort Huachuca, Jennings has coached and mentored the installation’s civilian workforce and helped members advance their careers through training opportunities.

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