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House Lawmakers Intro Bills to Promote Investment, Innovation in Satcom Industry
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House Lawmakers Intro Bills to Promote Investment, Innovation in Satcom Industry

Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., ranking member of the panel, have introduced a pair of bills that would promote competition, innovation and investment in the commercial satellite communications industry.

The bills aim to specify the Federal Communications Commission’s satellite licensing rules and authorities, motivate investment in the sector, promote responsible use of space, protect national security and advance U.S. leadership in satellite communications, the House panel said Thursday.

The Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act intends to expedite modifications to certain licenses for satellites or satellite constellations and the Secure Space Act seeks to prohibit the FCC from granting a license for any non-geostationary orbit satellite system to foreign entities that pose risks to U.S. national security.

“To make sure the U.S. – not China – continues to lead this global industry, we must streamline our regulatory processes to unleash innovation while also ensuring our laws fully protect the American public,” Pallone and Rodgers remarked in a joint statement.

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SAP NS2 CEO Harish Luthra on Driving Innovation & Progress in Federal Government
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SAP NS2 CEO Harish Luthra on Driving Innovation & Progress in Federal Government

Cybersecurity has become a major focus in the federal government over the last decade, and especially after the major breaches and attacks we’ve seen in recent years. Harish Luthra, CEO of SAP NS2, spoke with the Potomac Officers Club recently about the importance of the public and private sectors joining forces and building a united front against cyberwar as cyber threats continue to increase.

Luthra touched on cybersecurity and compliance through the lens of executive leadership in this excerpt from his Executive Spotlight interview:

“If you are always leading with security and compliance, you will accomplish the most critical task: driving constant innovation without compromise. As leaders, it’s critical we embrace lifelong learning and adaptability to meet the ever-changing challenges of the federal landscape. Even as a CEO, I’ve made it a priority to understand the full picture — from security controls to emerging government policies. We can never stop anticipating the needs of our customers.”

Read Harish Luthra’s full POC spotlight interview here to find out what changes he would enact in the federal government if given free rein, who has inspired him over the course of his career, and his thoughts on the differences between the commercial and federal realms.

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

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U.S. Army, Leidos Win Award for Innovation That Accelerates DOD Biometric Data Transfer
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U.S. Army, Leidos Win Award for Innovation That Accelerates DOD Biometric Data Transfer

A team of researchers from Leidos and the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office and biometrics division received recognition for developing a technology that speeds up data transfer in the Department of Defense biometric system.

The Biometrically Enabled Watch List Dissemination Management Functionality won the Best Technical Advancement Award at this year’s Federal Identity Forum & Exposition, the service branch said.

The BDMF capability is a result of the collaborative effort of Leidos, the Army Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors and the Defense Forensics Science Center Biometrics Operations Division, a unit of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Implemented on DOD’s Automated Biometric Identification system, BDMF proved effective in reducing the duration of watch list importation from several days down to several hours, and exportation from hours to minutes. It also significantly accelerated the transfer time for large files containing fingerprints, facial recognition images and other data used by the government in critical intelligence targeting and investigations.

“This game changer enables Army data-centric biometrics operations to speed up information for the warfighter to make decisions to protect DOD forces and the homeland,” said Forrest Church, Product Manager for PEO IEW&S Biometrics Enabling Capability.

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Gen. Thomas Bussiere Sworn in as Leader of Air Force Global Strike Command
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Gen. Thomas Bussiere Sworn in as Leader of Air Force Global Strike Command

Gen. Thomas Bussiere has assumed leadership of Air Force Global Strike Command, the organization headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

Bussiere, who served as deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command, will oversee the U.S. Air Force component that manages the nation’s nuclear weapon systems, including the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, and strategic bomber aircraft, the service branch said Thursday.

He replaces Gen. Anthony Cotton, who has served as commander of AFGSC since August 2021 and is scheduled to take command of USSTRATCOM.

Bussiere joined the service branch in 1985 after graduating from the Air Force ROTC program at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, and went on to become a command pilot with more than 3,400 flight hours across the T-38 Talon, F-15C Eagle, B-2A Spirit, B-1B Lancer and F-22 Raptor aircraft.

He also led combat missions during operations Allied Force, Iraqi Freedom, Operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Warrior.

AFGSC provides strategic deterrence, combat support and global strike capability to USSTRATCOM and other geographic combatant commands.

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House OKs $858B Annual Defense Authorization Bill; Rep. Adam Smith Quoted
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House OKs $858B Annual Defense Authorization Bill; Rep. Adam Smith Quoted

The House on Thursday voted 350-80 to pass the compromise version of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, moving the $858 billion defense policy bill to the upper chamber for consideration.

“For the sixty-second consecutive year, Members of Congress have crossed party lines to deliver a defense bill that benefits those in uniform and advances the American people’s national security priorities,” Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement published Thursday.

“The bill supports the largest pay raise since 2007 for service members, authorizes historic funding to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities driving research in science and technology, and sustains America’s innovation edge,” Smith added.

According to HASC, the bill includes a 4.6 percent salary increase for service members.

Defense News reported the NDAA would authorize military aid of up to $10 billion for Taiwan over five years and $800 million for security assistance to Ukraine.

The Senate is expected to decide on the measure next week, according to the publication.

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SSA Seeks to Improve User Experience With Updated Website
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SSA Seeks to Improve User Experience With Updated Website

The Social Security Administration has launched its redesigned website to enable online visitors to easily find the tools they need to accomplish some tasks and facilitate their access to services.

SSA said Tuesday the updated website comes with a new benefit eligibility screener, a tool for submitting applications for a new Social Security Number and replacement cards and an online application process for Supplemental Security Income benefits.

Kilolo Kijakazi, acting commissioner of SSA, said over 180 million people visit SSA.gov annually.

“Whether providing service in person or online, our goal is to help people understand what they may qualify for and seamlessly transition them to an application process,” added Kijakazi.

SSA noted that it will continue to introduce new website improvements and pages in the next few months.

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Bidscale Debuts AI-Powered Market Intelligence Platform for Federal Procurement
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Bidscale Debuts AI-Powered Market Intelligence Platform for Federal Procurement

Bidscale, an Arlington, Virginia-headquartered market intelligence company, has launched an artificial intelligence-powered analytics tool for federal contracting and procurement.

The platform, dubbed Bidscale Connect, enables users to browse federal contracting opportunities, receive AI-generated recommendations for contracts and communicate directly with government contractors and other industry partners, Bidscale said Wednesday.

Raymond Britt, director of business development at Bidscale, said the platform also benefits government procurement efforts by accelerating the market research process.

“Bidscale Connect helps Government users to work through the tedious procurement process faster than ever before. For example, market research that usually takes months or years can be completed in just hours, with the click of one button,” Britt stated.

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Schuyler Moore: CENTCOM Working to Accelerate Tech Delivery to Support Warfighters
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Schuyler Moore: CENTCOM Working to Accelerate Tech Delivery to Support Warfighters

Schuyler Moore, chief technology officer at U.S. Central Command, highlighted during a press briefing held Wednesday at the Pentagon the need to speed up the delivery of artificial intelligence, unmanned systems and other emerging technologies into the hands of warfighters amid rapidly evolving threats.

“And so what that means from a combatant command is that we’re really focused on technology experimentation and what that can look like to create sustained capability, and we believe that a combatant command is the right place for that because it is so critical to get these technologies into the hands of the person that uses it, in the place that they will use it, and against the threats that it will actually face,” said Moore, who was named CTO in October.

Moore responded to a question on how the command integrates AI into its combat operations in the Middle East. 

“We are very mindful and continue conversations with the policy team at all times about what the exact limits of what we can and cannot do in theater are for that,” she told reporters. “Where we’re really heavily integrating A.I. is into historical looking data, so that we understand the patterns of life that are happening in the region.”

She explained how CENTCOM uses AI to help inform the decision-making process and discussed technology development work at the Army’s Task Force 39 and the Navy’s Task Force 59.

Moore was joined by Army Sgt. Mickey Reeve, who talked about his counter-unmanned aircraft system training software.

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Report: Pandemic Relief Theft Reflects Cyberthreat Group’s Potential to Expand Fraudulent Activities
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Report: Pandemic Relief Theft Reflects Cyberthreat Group’s Potential to Expand Fraudulent Activities

Some cybersecurity experts and attorneys said the theft of U.S. COVID-19 relief funds by a cyber hacking group with ties to the Chinese government, dubbed APT41, demonstrates the ability of the group to launch larger fraudulent activities using data it has obtained from the U.S. public, Bloomberg Law reported Thursday.

The U.S. Secret Service told the publication APT41 stole approximately $20 million in pandemic relief funds, including Small Business Administration loans and unemployment insurance funds.

NBC News first reported on the Secret Service’s finding on the hacking group.

Data from a Mandiant study released in March showed that a hacking campaign launched by APT41 compromised personal data and at least six state government websites.

The American Enterprise Institute quoted Haywood Talcove, CEO of the government business at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, as saying, “at least 70% of the money stolen by impostors ultimately left the country, much of it ending up in the hands of criminal syndicates in China, Nigeria, Russia and elsewhere.”

“These groups are definitely backed by the state,” added Talcove, a three-time Wash100 awardee.

Sen. Rob Portman Details Homeland Security Provisions in FY23 NDAA
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Sen. Rob Portman Details Homeland Security Provisions in FY23 NDAA

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 covers 16 priorities he authored, such as measures to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities and disaster preparedness and response efforts.

Among the objectives added to the FY23 NDAA are technical improvements to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s authorizing statute and sharing of cybersecurity and counterintelligence data between the executive branch and Congress, the Senate panel said Wednesday.

The defense authorization bill also comprises a measure to establish an interagency committee for risk assessment and preparation to prepare for high-consequence events and a provision to provide short-term mental health and trauma support resources for first responders and disaster survivors.

Additionally, Portman proposed to expand the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s preparedness programming capability to address technological hazards.

“At a time when our country faces significant security threats from around the world, these provisions will help to ensure our local, state, and federal government has every resource needed to detect and deter risks, whether they be from cyberattacks, terrorism and violent extremism, or weapons of mass destruction,” Portman remarked.

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