//
JMA Wireless’ Rishi Bhaskar Talks ‘Economies of Scale’ with POC
Published on
JMA Wireless’ Rishi Bhaskar Talks ‘Economies of Scale’ with POC

In today’s fast-paced technology landscape, keeping up with constant advancements and new developments can be challenging and costly. Rishi Bhaskar, senior vice president and general manager at JMA Wireless, offered his unique perspective on how federal agencies can keep pace with tech innovation at a reasonable price point.

Here’s an excerpt from Bhaskar’s Executive Spotlight interview with the Potomac Officers Club, in which he explains how standards-based technologies can ease the cost burden of modernization for the public sector:

“I am a technologist at heart and believe we need to bring innovation to the world as fast and as safely as possible. We need to take a serious look at how technology is driving efficiency and economies of scale in the private sector. The rate at which technology is advancing it is hard to keep up with for any federal agency. However, a macro trend that does not get enough attention is leveraging standards-based technology solutions, which leads to leveraging global economies of scale and ultimately reducing cost over time. The cost of deploying and maintaining purpose-built, proprietary solutions for the government should decrease significantly as standards-based technology advances. There will always be a place for purpose-built technology in mission systems, however we should take a deeper look at where we can leverage standards-based technology securely to leverage economies of scale.”

Click here to read Rishi Bhaskar’s full interview and learn more about the leaders who have inspired his career in the GovCon sector.

Do you want to be featured in an Executive Spotlight interview? Check out the Potomac Officers Club’s membership options and benefits here.

Gina Raimondo Issues Statement Detailing Omnibus Spending Bill Impacts on Commerce Department
Published on
Gina Raimondo Issues Statement Detailing Omnibus Spending Bill Impacts on Commerce Department

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo has released a statement emphasizing the importance of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 in advancing the Commerce Department’s mission.

Raimondo said in a statement published Thursday that the $11.2 billion in net discretionary funding for the department, a $1.3 billion increase from fiscal year 2022 allocations, will support a range of the department’s programs.

Department initiatives impacted by the bill include efforts to make high-speed internet more available to the public, job training, high-tech manufacturing and basic research, among others.

As funded by the law, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will receive $7 billion in funds for fisheries disaster assistance, fisheries services, climate research and weather forecasting. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will be given $4.25 billion to protect novel ideas and promote technological advancements and the Economic Development Administration will receive $1.54 billion to support economic development organizations and infrastructure recovery programs.

Other organizations affected include the International Trade Administration, the Bureau of Industry and Security and the Minority Business Development Agency. The Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program will also receive funding.

The bill provides an additional $1.9 billion in emergency relief funding for disaster management and response initiatives and other nondefense-related programs.

President Biden signed into law the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government through the end of September 2023. The bipartisan spending package includes $858 billion for defense spending and $773 billion for nondefense discretionary spending.

/
NSF Teams Up with Federal Agencies to Launch AI Program for Minority Serving Institutions
Published on
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
Published on
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
Published on
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.

/
Army Showcases Synthetic Training Environment Technologies at 2022 I/ITSEC
Published on
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.

/
AFRL to Hold Competition to Develop AI-Based Airlift Planning Software
Published on
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.

/
Bill to Strengthen VA Cybersecurity Signed Into Law
Published on
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.

/
White House Unveils 5th Open Government National Action Plan
Published on
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.

/
Montgomery ‘Blair’ Kirk Named Operations Director for NRO Vandenberg
Published on
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.

1 … 654 655 656 657 658 … 2,618