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Michael Duffey Confirmed as DOD Under Secretary for Acquisition & Sustainment
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Headshot of Michael Duffey, under secretary of defense for acquisition sustainment

The Senate on Tuesday voted 51-46 to confirm Michael Duffey as under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment.

In a LinkedIn post published Tuesday, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment said Duffey will serve as the defense secretary’s principal adviser on all matters related to acquisition, logistics, contracting, materiel readiness and the defense industrial base.

He will bring expertise in technology, national security and federal budgeting to the role and lead work on nuclear deterrence, chemical, and biological defense policy and programs.

Breaking Defense reported that Duffey will oversee the Department of Defense’s weapons-making enterprise and the Trump administration’s new acquisition priorities, including the Golden Dome missile shield.

During his Senate confirmation hearing in March, he told lawmakers that he would prioritize advancing defense production capacity, limiting the barriers to new entrants to the defense industry and speeding up the transition of new technologies to the operational phase.

Michael Duffey’s Career Background

Duffey was a partner at Equinox Global Solutions.

During the first Trump administration, he served as associate director for national security at the Office of Management and Budget.

He also held multiple roles at the Pentagon for over a decade, including deputy chief of staff to the DOD secretary; chief of staff to the under secretary of defense for research and engineering; special assistant to the secretary of defense for White House liaison; and deputy director for data analysis.

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Thomas Keane Named ASTP & Health IT National Coordinator
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Thomas Keane is the new assistant secretary for technology policy and national coordinator for health IT.

Thomas Keane has been appointed assistant secretary for technology policy and national coordinator for health IT, according to a LinkedIn post shared Tuesday by ASTP.

As the second ASTP and ninth national coordinator, Keane is tasked with leading the Department of Health and Human Services offices’ health IT initiatives. The executive will also play an instrumental role in developing and implementing the technology strategy of HHS.

Keane’s Career Achievements

Before his new dual role, Keane served in the ASTP as a senior adviser to the HHS deputy secretary. A trained interventional radiologist, he was named the COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund administrator during the pandemic. He also spearheaded the creation of the National Nursing Home COVID Action Network of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, or AHRQ.

Earlier in his career, Keane was employed as a finite element software developer and enterprise software engineer.

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White House Nominates Austin Dahmer, Alexander Velez-Green to Key DOD Leadership Roles
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The White House has nominated Dahmer as assistant secretary of defense and Velez-Green as deputy under secretary of defense.

The White House has nominated Austin Dahmer, deputy under secretary of defense for policy, and Alexander Velez-Green, senior adviser to the under secretary of defense for policy, for key positions at the Department of Defense. 

The 119th Congress recently confirmed receipt of Dahmer and Velez-Green’s nominations to the roles of assistant secretary of defense and deputy under secretary of defense, respectively. 

If confirmed, Dahmer will succeed Mara Karlin, who served as deputy under secretary of defense for policy from 2021, while Velez-Green will replace Sasha Baker, who was sworn into the role of deputy under secretary of defense for policy in 2022. 

Who Is Austin Dahmer?

Dahmer is a defense, intelligence, national security and foreign policy expert who advised Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. He also supported the legislator in efforts to enhance military balance against China in the Indo-Pacific, according to DOD.

Before his work at the Senate, the official was a research consultant for The Marathon Initiative, a non-profit research organization that specializes in developing diplomatic, military and economic strategies.

He also previously held the position of principal policy analyst at SAIC, where he studied defense policies and evaluated wargames for customers in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the intelligence community and the Joint Staff. 

Earlier in his career, Dahmer served as an officer for the U.S. Marine Corps. He was deployed in the East and South China Seas, Japan, Hong Kong and the Philippines. 

Who Is Alexander Velez-Green?

Velez-Green also served as a national security adviser to Sen. Hawley while the legislator sat as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. During his time working in Congress, he engaged with the DOD, the Department of State and the National Security Council. He has led delegations to the Indo-Pacific to monitor Chinese activities and oversee U.S. response to military threats, per DOD.

His career additionally includes positions at The Heritage Foundation, the RAND Corporation, Systems Planning and Analysis and the Center for a New American Security.

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Jerry McGinn: Congress Should Pass Defense Production Act Reauthorization
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Headshot of Jerry McGinn, executive director of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at GMU

Jerry McGinn, executive director of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University’s Costello College of Business and a three-time Wash100 awardee, said Congress should reauthorize the Defense Production Act, or DPA, for another five years to address production challenges with munitions and other materials critical to national security.

Refocusing DPA Authority on Urgent National Security Requirements

In an article published Tuesday on RealClear Defense, McGinn wrote that “For the DPA to be used most effectively, the invocation of its authority should be limited to national defense or national emergency uses such as during COVID.”

“Using DPA outside of these purposes threatens the viability of this unique tool for rebuilding a robust, resilient, and competitive American industrial base,” he added.

The 2025 Wash100 awardee said Congress and the current administration can implement three measures to strengthen DPA for the future. These are using DPA authorities to enhance interagency planning and coordination for national emergencies, delegating project approvals to the secretary-level of agencies with Title III authority under the upcoming DPA reauthorization and employing Title VII to full effect.

McGinn also called for the use of voluntary agreements to help government and industry to collaborate and improve the production of munitions and other industrial capacities.

In the piece, he also urged Congress to bolster the authority of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to stay ahead of foreign threats.

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Sean Duffy, FAA Seek Contractors for Air Traffic Control System Project
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The Transportation Department and its leader Sean Duffy are looking for contractors develop a new air traffic control system.

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has revealed that the Federal Aviation Administration is soliciting industry feedback on potential contractors to develop and implement a new air traffic control system.

Inside the FAA’s RFI & Needs

The DOT said Tuesday the FAA issued a request for information for an integrator with advanced concepts and novel technologies capable of building a reliable air traffic control system designed to enhance safety, minimize delays, revolutionize air travel and enable air traffic controllers to do their job efficiently. The FAA is also seeking new procurement strategies to accelerate the project.

The new air traffic control system is expected to have advanced core infrastructure, including software, hardware, radar and telecommunication networks. The facilities will have advanced capabilities for less power outages, and enhanced safety and efficiency.

“We have an antiquated air traffic control system that is showing its age. In order to implement President Trump and I’s plan for a brand new system, we need the technical expertise and management experience from the best innovators in the world, ” remarked Duffy.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a new, world-class air traffic system. We need world-class innovators to step up and tell us the best way to build it,” said Chris Rocheleau, acting administrator of the FAA.

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DIU Seeking UAS Proposals Under New Agile Development Process
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Project G.I. is a $20M Defense Innovation Unit agile development and deployment process for unmanned systems.

The Defense Innovation Unit is asking industry to propose uncrewed aerial systems and supporting items through its newly launched Project G.I. agile development and deployment process for unmanned systems.

According to DIU, the three-phase Project G.I. program, which has a $20 million prize funding pool, will accelerate the identification, assessment, iteration and integration of ready-now autonomous solutions at scale for participating units.

The agency is interested in less exquisite small and medium uncrewed aerial systems with a high technical readiness level for rapid adaptation to military needs. DIU will hold a webinar on June 17 to answer questions from interested parties. All submissions under the program’s design reference missions should feature mature, mission-ready capabilities that can participate in live evaluations within three months following the solicitation’s release.

Project G.I. Design Reference Missions

The program will evaluate UAS units and other items under three design reference missions, namely First Person View Effects, Kill Chain and a soon-to-be-published emerging problem set.

Proposals for FPV Effects, which aim to develop capabilities for kinetic attacks, should be received by July 10, while submissions for Kill Chain are due Aug. 15.

Project G.I. Phases

Phase one is focused on proposal evaluation and downselection. Selected companies are eligible for up to $50,000 each and will continue to the second phase.

A live demonstration event oriented on a specific design reference mission will be held during phase two. Based on user feedback and evaluation during the demonstration, vendors will be notified if they will advance to phase three and receive up to $500,000 each.

Based on performance in phase two, end-user feedback, capability maturity and available funding, the government may pursue one or more of the following actions during the third phase:

  • Provide cash prizes of up to $3M per company to incentivize further maturation. 
  • Procure and deliver selected systems to partner units for extended testing, assessment and training.
  • Issue a request for prototype proposal and award a prototype other transaction agreement for further prototyping.

Hands-on Testing 

Project G.I. will involve warfighters early in the process, allowing them to test and evaluate products and provide feedback. “Doing this at speed will in turn help catalyze the necessary scaling and readiness through major acquisition and training efforts across the Services that will deliver strategic impact – and will simultaneously support the flywheel of American private sector dynamism in delivering against that strategic need,” said Doug Beck, director of DIU.

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NSF Announces Up to $100M Investment in NextG R&D
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NSF's Verticals-enabling Intelligent NEtwork Systems program is an investment in next-gen wireless communications.

The National Science Foundation has launched a new funding opportunity for research and development related to the next generation of wireless communication systems, or NextG.

The independent agency said Tuesday that the NSF Verticals-enabling Intelligent NEtwork Systems, or NSF VINES, program, will invest $100 million toward accelerating innovations in NextG capabilities and ensure that the U.S. remains a leader in telecommunications technology.

NSF VINES is a partnership involving companies such as Ericsson, Intel and Qualcomm; federal government organizations, including the Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering; and allies from around the world.  

NextG R&D Program Details

According to NSF, the initiative will have two tracks: Use-inspired Fundamental Research and Verticals-Driven Technology Development, Demonstration and Translation.

The first track, Use-inspired Fundamental Research, will focus on areas of the NextG that have high potential for impact. The program aims to identify and develop novel networking techniques and solutions.

The Verticals-Driven Technology Development, Demonstration and Translation track will aim to produce adoption-ready technologies.

NSF VINES will support R&D that employs other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum communications to advance NextG.

“NSF VINES will enhance U.S. competitiveness in advanced telecommunications technologies, including NextG wireless telecommunications and emerging potential NextG vertical industries, and prepare the American workforce for jobs available now and in the future,” said Brian Stone, chief of staff performing the duties of director at NSF.

Emerging NextG vertical industries include connected autonomous vehicles, precision agriculture, remote healthcare and smart grids.

“This important investment from NSF, in collaboration with industry and other government agencies, will help strengthen U.S. leadership and ensure the American people reap the benefits in areas such as self-driving cars, advanced manufacturing, energy infrastructure and beyond,” added Lynne Parker, principal deputy director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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Melinda Rogers Leaves Post as DOJ Chief Information Officer
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Marking an "inflection point" in her life, Melinda Rogers is leaving the Department of Justice chief information officer post

Melinda Rogers shared on LinkedIn that she is leaving her position as chief information officer at the Department of Justice, effective Friday. Her departure from the department marks an “inflection point” in her life, as her twin sons moving away to college would enable her “to do something different,” she noted in her social media post. Rogers added that she anticipates “starting on a new milestone” and keeping the connections that she has established while with DOJ.

Melinda Rogers’ Career

Rogers had a tenure of over four years as the department’s CIO, with her role focused on IT services concurrent with her work as DOJ chief data officer and deputy assistant attorney general, according to her LinkedIn profile. Previous to her CIO position, she served for more than seven years as DOJ’s chief information security officer in charge of cybersecurity, including supply chain risk management and federal regulations compliance. 

Before joining DOJ, Rogers served as assistant vice president at Equifax, managing its service portfolio for fraud detection, identity verification and risk management. She also had previous stints as an account manager at Procter & Gamble and as assistant vice president of NationBank (now Bank of America), managing real estate loan portfolios and customer relations.

Shantrell Collier was appointed in February as the department’s deputy chief information officer. A retired U.S. Army sergeant major, Collier joined DOD in 2022 as the chief of staff to the assistant attorney general of administration.

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Johns Hopkins Lab Promotes Lisa Blodgett to Senior-Level CSO Role
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Lisa Blodgett of Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab has been elevated to the role of chief strategy officer.

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory has appointed Lisa Blodgett, its former force projection sector head, as assistant programs director and chief strategy officer. In her new senior-level role, Blodgett will oversee the lab’s strategic planning, direct its enterprise financial investment, lead engagement with government partners and grow industry relationships, APL said Monday. 

Ralph Semmel, APL director, described Blodgett as “an exceptional leader,” with a firm focus on the lab’s mission

“Her deep technical expertise and broad national security experience will be key to ensuring the Laboratory continues delivering game-changing innovations that will ensure our nation’s well-being long into the future,” Semmel said.

Lead Role in DOD Support Programs

According to her LinkedIn profile, Blodgett held her former role as the lab’s force projection sector head for 10 years. Her work in the sector, which covers nearly one-fourth of sponsored programs that APL runs, included managing projects geared to provide critical capabilities for the Department of Defense. The efforts that she led in the sector covered initiatives on submarine security, electronic warfare, advanced sensor development, precision strike, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. 

Blodgett has been working with APL for more than 34 years, starting out in 1991 as a research engineer providing computer modeling support to the U.S. Navy and later serving as an acoustic analysis. Subsequently, she was appointed business area executive for undersea warfare in 2006 and then sea control before taking the force projection post in 2015.

Membership in Advisory Councils

With her APL experience, Blodgett has been tapped as a council member of several national advisory organizations, such as the advisory council for the National Defense Industrial Association and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory National Security Sciences Strategic Advisory Board. She also chaired the Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Task Force of the U.S. Strategic Command Strategic Advisory Group.

Blodgett holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and master’s degrees in electrical and computer engineering and technical management from Johns Hopkins University.

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Trump Admin Proposes New Funding Mechanism for Technology Modernization Fund
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Trump in his new budget request proposes to fund TMF by collecting unobligated balances of expired discretionary funds

According to the General Services Administration’s fiscal year 2026 congressional justification, the president’s FY 2026 budget request includes a governmentwide provision that would permit GSA, with the Office of Management and Budget’s approval, to fund the Technology Modernization Fund by collecting unobligated balances of expired discretionary funds from other government agencies.

“This proposal offers a dual benefit: it would increase the amount of funding available in the TMF to make continued investments while simultaneously alleviating the burden on the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee,” GSA said in the document.

According to the document, the provision would provide TMF with the necessary funds to help federal agencies modernize high-priority systems, advance artificial intelligence adoption, support cross-government collaboration, improve cybersecurity, enhance public-facing digital services and advance shared services.

Advancing Federal Digital Transformation Through TMF

According to the GSA document, TMF has invested over $1.07 billion in 69 modernization projects and systems upgrades across 34 federal agencies. It has received and assessed more than 290 proposals totaling approximately $4.5 billion in funding demand.

TMF investments have enabled agencies to see dramatic results. These include enabling access to digital service records for millions of veterans and families through the National Archives and Records Administration and strengthening data security and privacy protections for 70 million retirement and disability beneficiaries and their families served by the Social Security Administration.

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