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John Hobbs Named CTO for MDA Transformation & IT Office
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John Hobbs is now chief technology officer at the Missile Defense Agency’s Transformation and IT Office.

The Missile Defense Agency has promoted John Hobbs, most recently director of digital infrastructure, to chief technology officer at the Transformation and Information Technology Office.

Hobbs announced his appointment in a LinkedIn post published Wednesday.

He is an experienced IT professional with skills in cloud, virtualization, information security and systems engineering, among other areas.

John Hobbs’ Career Background

According to his profile on the professional networking site, Hobbs joined MDA in 2022 as a cloud specialist. He also served as cloud and data center manager at the agency.

Prior to MDA, the IT executive worked at Jacobs, where he served as CTO for the ‍Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions program and chief of operations.

He also held IT leadership roles at Northrop Grumman, OPEC and Priority Systems.

Hobbs has a bachelor’s degree in IT from National American University-Colorado Springs.

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Johns Hopkins APL Appoints Robert Vercher as Strategic Deterrence Mission Area Exec
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Headshot of Robert Vercher, strategic deterrence mission area executive at Johns Hopkins APL

Robert Vercher has assumed new responsibilities as the strategic deterrence mission area executive at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. APL said Wednesday that Vercher will ensure the delivery of key engineering and technical capabilities, analyses and evaluations to the U.S. Navy and Air Force. 

“It’s a privilege to lead such a talented team at the forefront of the nation’s nuclear modernization programs, and I am proud to build on the vital contributions that our mission area has delivered for many decades,” the executive commented.

The strategic deterrence mission area works with the U.S. government and industry to evolve legacy systems and capabilities to better meet the needs of current and future threats. 

Vercher succeeds Steve Lewia, who led the lab’s strategic deterrence mission area for nearly 10 years.

Who Is Robert Vercher?

The executive joined APL in 2016 as an analyst for nuclear command, control and communications. More recently, he served as the laboratory’s Air Force strategic systems program area manager, where he was involved in key military initiatives such as the Sentinel weapon system.

Before APL, Vercher was a missile and space officer for the U.S. Air Force. Throughout his 24 years of service, he had multiple leadership positions, including as commander of an intercontinental ballistic missile wing and deputy director of mission assessment and analysis for U.S. Strategic Command. 

“Rob possesses a rare combination of technical expertise, operational experience and strategic vision that positions him to excel in this critical role,” Lisa Blodgett, head of force projection sector at APL, stated. “With his exceptional leadership abilities, I am confident he will inspire and effectively lead high-performing teams, strengthening APL’s commitment to strategic deterrence and continuing to advance our mission to support the warfighter.”

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GSA in Talks With Other Agencies to Take Charge of Several IT GWACs
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GSA has plans to shift NASA’s SEWP, NIH’s CIO-SP3 and several IT governmentwide contract vehicles under its management.

The General Services Administration is working with NASA, the Office of Management and Budget and the National Institutes of Health on plans to move several IT governmentwide contract vehicles under its management, Nextgov/FCW said Wednesday.

Some of the contract vehicles that are expected to transfer to GSA are NASA’s Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement, or SEWP; NIH’s Chief Information Officer–Solutions and Partners 3, or CIO-SP3; Chief Information Officer-Commodities and Solutions, or CIO-CS; and the CIO-SP4 contract, according to plans shared with select GSA personnel during a workforce town hall Tuesday.

According to the report, CIO-SP3 has been extended through April 2026. The NIH Information Technology Acquisition and Assessment Center has yet to award the CIO-SP4 vehicle.

NASA’s Plans for SEWP VI

Nextgov/FCW reported that NASA has several plans for the sixth iteration of the SEWP contract, including adding standalone IT services to the vehicle.

The agency also expects to increase the number of prime contractors on SEWP VI to about 1,000, up from 147 vendors on SEWP V, which is set to expire in October.

Consolidating Federal Procurement Within GSA

The latest development reflects GSA’s expanding role in government acquisition and aligns with an executive order that President Trump signed in March.

The executive order calls for the consolidation of federal procurement of goods and services within GSA as part of a push to remove waste and duplication and enable agencies to focus on their mission of delivering services to citizens. The policy also directs the head of OMB to designate the GSA administrator as the executive agent for all IT GWACs.

GSA Senior Procurement Executive Jeffrey Koses said decisions have yet to be finalized.

“Any potential transitions will be carefully coordinated with our partner agencies and will prioritize continuity for industry partners and federal customers alike. Our shared goal is to reduce duplication and enhance efficiency. As I said in our Workforce Town Hall, GSA is in a position to help save tens of billions of tax dollars for Americans,” Koses told Nextgov/FCW.

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Cybersecurity Advisory Warns of Russian Cyber Actor Targeting Western Organizations
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A digital illustration representing cybersecurity and data protection.

A joint cybersecurity advisory from the United States and allied countries revealed that the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate 85th Main Special Service Center, also known as APT28, Fancy Bear and Forest Blizzard in the cybersecurity community, launched a cyber-espionage campaign targeting Western government organizations, commercial logistics entities, transportation services and technology companies, including those involved in providing assistance to Ukraine.

The National Security Agency, one of the authors of the CSA, said Wednesday that the Russian state-sponsored cyber actor uses password spraying, spearphishing and modification of Microsoft Exchange mailbox permissions, among other previously disclosed and novel tactics, techniques and procedures—a.k.a. TTPs—to infiltrate target entities.

Cyber Risk Mitigation

The advisory urged at-risk organizations to increase monitoring and threat hunting for known TTPs and indicators of compromise to defend against potential cyberattacks. Recommended security mitigations include employing network segmentation and restrictions to limit access; considering zero trust principles when designing systems; collecting and monitoring Windows logs for certain events, especially for events that indicate that a log was cleared unexpectedly; and strengthening and refining the processes that manage digital identities and control access.

The CSA identified the countries with targeted entities, including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine and the United States.

Cyber Operations Linked to Russia-Ukraine Conflict

According to the advisory, the Russian cyber group likely used access to internet-connected private cameras in Ukraine and those near bordering crossings, military installations and rail stations to track the movement of materials into Kyiv. The actors targeted Real-Time Streaming Protocol servers hosting IP cameras primarily located in Ukraine as early as March 2022 in a large-scale campaign, which included attempts to enumerate devices and gain access to the cameras’ feeds, the CSA added.

To defend against the malicious activity, the advisory recommended applying security patches and firmware updates to all IP cameras, disabling remote access and using a firewall to prevent communication with the camera from IP addresses not on an allowlist.

The CSA’s authoring agencies include the NSA, the FBI, the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre, the German Federal Intelligence Service, the Czech Republic Military Intelligence, the Polish Internal Security Agency and the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

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Air Force Conducts Minuteman III ICBM Test Launch
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Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, equipped with a single Mark-21 high fidelity reentry vehicle, was launched on Wednesday from the Western Test Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The launch, performed by a joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command airmen, is part of routine activities designed to ensure the ICBM, which is part of the U.S. nuclear triad’s ground leg, remains a viable deterrent to 21st-century threats, the U.S. Space Force said.

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According to Col. Dustin Harmon, commander of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group dedicated to ICBM tests, the Minuteman III remains the bedrock of the U.S. strategic deterrent until the transition to the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM is completed.

Modernizing the Nuclear Triad

Sentinel is being developed as a replacement for the aging Minuteman III, which has been in service for over 50 years.

The Northrop Grumman-led Sentinel program, however, is facing challenges, including a funding cut and schedule overruns. Building Sentinel was initially expected to cost $77.7 billion, but its future costs are now projected to increase by 81 percent, triggering a Nunn-McCurdy review in 2024.

The review concluded that the program is essential to national security and that no alternatives were identified to provide an acceptable deterrence capability. The Air Force, however, was directed to restructure the program to control costs.

As the program continues to undergo restructuring activities, the service branch found that building new missile silos for Sentinel is needed since the original baseline strategy of converting Minuteman III silos will cause more problems and program delays, Defense News reported.

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CISA, FBI Release LummaC2 Malware Joint Advisory
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Image of a warning sign depicting malware threat

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI have unveiled a joint cybersecurity advisory highlighting the serious threat posed by LummaC2 information stealer, or infostealer, malware.

LummaC2 Malware Advisory

CISA said Wednesday the LummaC2 Malware Targeting U.S. Critical Infrastructure Sectors advisory outlines the tactics, techniques and procedures, or TTPs, as well as the indicators of compromise, known as IOCs, connected to threat actors using LummaC2 malware. The advanced malware presents a serious threat as it can infiltrate computer networks and exfiltrate sensitive data. This can target computer systems utilized by individuals and organizations across critical U.S. infrastructure.

Ongoing Malware Threat Activity

According to the FBI and third-party reports, this malware activity was observed as recently as May 2025. The IOCs detailed in this advisory are derived from LummaC2 malware infections from November 2023 through May 2025.

In light of these findings, CISA and the FBI are urging organizations to review the cybersecurity advisory and implement the recommendations found in the mitigations section.

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NGA, Space Force Ink Agreement on Tactical SRT Program
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Frank Whitworth and Chance Saltzman sign a memorandum of agreement for the TacSRT program.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Space Force have formalized a partnership centered on the latter’s Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking, or TacSRT, program.

The agency said Wednesday NGA Director Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman signed a memorandum of agreement during the annual GEOINT Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 21.

Streamlining ISR Data Acquisition

The partnership establishes a framework that facilitates collaboration and coordination between the two government organizations. It outlines each party’s distinct roles and responsibilities in acquiring imagery-related remote sensing data from commercial satellite operators and disseminating these intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, products. The agreement boosts support to the combatant commands and reduces redundant efforts.

NGA, Space Force Ink Agreement on Tactical SRT Program

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“What [the agreement] really reflects is the quality of collaboration and every echelon that was necessary to work through these procedures,” said Saltzman, a three-time Wash100 Award winner. “I’m excited about this because of what it represents, and that’s really industrial-strength collaboration,” he added.

Whitworth, who has won the Wash100 Award four times, shared Saltzman’s sentiment, describing the formal accord as “a new standard for collaboration.”

What Is the Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking Initiative?

TacSRT is an initiative led by the Space Force designed to swiftly provide combatant commands with unclassified, commercial sensing and analytics. It utilizes Space Force’s service components and enables swift responses to operational requests from the combatant commands.

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Palantir’s TITAN: the Army’s Bet on AI and Connectivity
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The TITAN is more than just another new Army truck, according to Wash100 Award winner and Palantir executive Akash Jain.

Palantir’s Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node, a.k.a. TITAN, is more than just a new truck. It’s the U.S. Army’s big wager on AI and a future of connected battlespace warfare.

The TITAN is a mobile intelligence ground station powered by AI and machine learning integrating sensors, networks and automation. The TITAN will process sensor data from space, high altitude, aerial and terrestrial layers and provide intelligence support to targeting and situational awareness.

The idea is to provide deep sensing capability, enabling long-range precision fires, increasing operational tempo and reducing time from sensor to shooter. The Army has begun accepting deliveries of its first TITAN platforms.

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TITAN & CJADC2

The TITAN program is a cornerstone of the Defense Department’s ambitious Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control, a.k.a. CJADC2, seeks to provide the U.S. an advantage by making informed decisions with greater speed and accuracy than its adversaries. The goal of CJADC2 is to leverage advanced computing technologies such as AI, predictive analytics and machine learning to deliver informed solutions via a resilient and robust network environment.

The TITAN has greater impacts and potential than just another new Army truck, according to Wash100 Award winner and Palantir Chief Technology Officer and President of U.S. Government Business Akash Jain.

“This is a live system that is going to continue to get better, and that is different for the Army and for this type of technology,” he said, according to Axios. “It is very much a software-centric acquisition, where hardware has been built around the software.”

Palantir isn’t developing the truck itself. It’s leveraging a team that includes new entrants and established prime contractors. Anduril, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Pacific Defense, SNC, Strategic Technology Consulting and World Wide Technology are all contributing to the effort.

Software Developer Potential For Army Contracts

Palantir believes its selection for the TITAN shows that software developers are becoming more competitive for Army contracts. Palantir also offers computing capabilities such as data integration and digital twin.

“We might be the first software prime, but we don’t intend to be the only software prime,” Breaking Defense reported Bryant Choung, Palantir senior vice president for defense, as saying. “There is a viable pathway for more software firms to take the lead.”

Palantir’s other transaction authority contract is worth $178.4 million and includes the development and delivery of 10 TITAN prototypes, including five advanced and five basic versions.

Some key TITAN capabilities include:

  • Rapid data processing: TITAN’s AI capabilities will quickly analyze and interpret complicated data streams, slashing the time required to recognize potential threats and opportunities.
  • Improved targeting accuracy: By combining data from various sources, TITAN brings a comprehensive and real-time view of the battlespace, allowing commanders to make better decisions in constantly changing environments.
  • Faster operational tempo: TITAN’s automation abilities reduce the amount of work for soldiers, allowing them to spend time on higher-priority tasks and maintain a faster operational tempo.

Dig into how the Army is advancing network modernization at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Army Summit on June 18 at the Hilton McLean in northern Virginia. Find out which innovative capabilities will be next to test in Project Convergence. Learn about new GovCon partnerships opportunities and boost your bottom line. Sign up today!

Palantir’s TITAN: the Army’s Bet on AI and Connectivity
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CISA Deputy Cyber Chief Confirms Departure
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Matt Hartman is departing CISA, where he serves as deputy executive assistant director for cybersecurity.

Matt Hartman, the deputy executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, will step down on May 31, ending his nearly two decades of service.

In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, Hartman confirmed his departure and reflected on his journey from joining DHS as an IT specialist for the National Protection and Programs Directorate to holding various leadership roles within the agency.

“NPPD and CISA don’t just represent the most critical chapter of my career — this agency is and will remain a critical component of my identity,” the cybersecurity official said.

Matt Hartman’s Public Service Career

Hartman was appointed to his current role in February 2021. He is responsible for leading CISA’s mission to address cyberthreats and vulnerabilities, particularly those related to U.S. critical infrastructure, through collective cyber defense and capacity building.

Previously, Hartman served as the agency’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity in an acting capacity. He also became an associate director who led CISA’s cybersecurity services portfolio, including Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation and the Quality Service Management Office, and supported the adoption of national-level cybersecurity strategy, policy, standards, directives and requirements across stakeholder groups.

Hartman held other leadership roles at the agency, including director of federal network resilience and director of strategy coordination and management.

Before joining DHS, he served Lockheed Martin Information Technology as a program analyst supporting the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Stephen Winchell Named DARPA Director
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Meet Stephen Winchell, DARPA's 24th director, whose career spans government, Navy and the private sector.

Stephen Winchell has officially been appointed director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

DARPA said Tuesday Winchell will serve as the 24th director of the agency.

Stephen Winchell’s Career

The executive was previously part of the Defense Department’s Strategic Capabilities Office and was responsible for its artificial intelligence and autonomy portfolio. Before that, Winchell served as the chief engineer for the Pentagon’s Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team, also known as Project Maven.

Winchell graduated with a bachelor of science in physics from the U.S. Naval Academy and later taught in his alma mater’s electrical and computer engineering department. The Navy Reserve officer previously served as a submarine officer in the Navy. In addition, Winchell was a Presidential Innovation Fellow at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity. He was also employed at a venture-backed start-up focused on AI security early in his career.

“Mr. Winchell’s hard science background and warfighting experience on some of our most technologically complex weapon systems make him a fantastic pick for this critical position,” said Emil Michael, under secretary of defense for research and engineering. “We here at the headquarters welcome him to the team and look forward to working together to ensure that DARPA, as the preeminent innovation agency in DOD, stands ready to address the Department’s most challenging issues,” he added.

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