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SIPRI Study Shows Continued Global Arms Sales Growth Despite Supply Chain Issues
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SIPRI Study Shows Continued Global Arms Sales Growth Despite Supply Chain Issues

The top 100 arms and military services providers raked in $592 billion in sales in 2021, despite global supply chain disruptions, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute revealed.

The latest SIPRI Arms Industry Database released on Monday showed a 1.9 percent increase in global arms sales, rising for the seventh year in a row.

The 40 U.S. companies in the list accounted for $299 billion in sales, while 27 firms in Europe recorded a combined total of $123 billion. 

Of the 100 largest companies, 21 were from Asia and Oceania, whose share totaled $136 billion. Eight businesses from China reported $109 billion in sales last year.

The report also mentioned regional financial results from Russia, the Middle East, South Korea and Taiwan. Six Russian companies grossed $17.8 billion, while five enterprises from the Middle East shared $15 billion. Four firms based in South Korea generated $7.2 billion, while a Taiwanese company grossed $2 billion in its first time to be included in the SIPRI top 100.

SIPRI experts cited the Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic as two of the biggest obstacles to global supply chain. They said that sales growth in the past year would have been higher if not for these events, and that they will likely cause more shortages.

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Jen Easterly Leads Discussions at CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee’s 5th Meeting
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Jen Easterly Leads Discussions at CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee’s 5th Meeting

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee held its fifth meeting to discuss its 2023 strategic priorities to defend the nation against emerging cyberthreats. 

CISA said Tuesday Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and a 2022 Wash100 awardee, led the discussion with members of CSAC, which comprises industry and government leaders who advise the agency on policies and programs related to cybersecurity.

“I look forward to working with the Committee in the new year to ensure we are continuing to build a more cyber resilient nation to confront the challenges we face in cyber space,” Easterly said. 

Established in 2021, CSAC is chaired by Tom Fanning, president and CEO of Southern Company, and is tasked with supporting the development and implementation of recommendations, policies and programs related to CISA’s cybersecurity mission.

“The Committee members and I look forward to providing strategic recommendations to CISA’s Director Jen Easterly in the coming year to advance CISA’s mission, as they continue to strengthen the cybersecurity posture of the United States,” Fanning said.

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Raj Iyer: Army Completes Migration to Office 365, Google Workspace
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Raj Iyer: Army Completes Migration to Office 365, Google Workspace

Raj Iyer, chief information officer of the U.S. Army, said the military branch has completed its transition from the Defense Enterprise Email system to Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace.

Iyer, a two-time Wash100 awardee, said in a LinkedIn post that the migration enabled the Defense Information Systems Agency to decommission DEE.

In July, Google Workspace received a Department of Defense authorization to handle controlled unclassified information at Impact Level 4.

He announced that the service has moved to discontinue use of Army Knowledge Online and started the process of moving to SharePoint Online by sunsetting hundreds of SharePoint sites.

According to Iyer, the Army has stopped using Unclassified Video Tele Conference worldwide following its move to Microsoft Teams and plans to do the same for Secret VTC in fiscal year 2023.

The military branch has begun divesting more than 70 percent of its desktop hardwired phones and legacy systems as it implements soft phones.

“Each of these divestments is resulting in tens of millions of dollars of savings for the Army that we are pumping back in for further modernization efforts,” Iyer said.

He also mentioned plans for whiteboarding capability and intent to adopt smart collaboration tools.

“We will be replacing all of the legacy display screens with smart collaboration devices with one-touch joining for Teams meetings,” Iyer noted.

Dynetics Joins Forces With Northrop Grumman to Compete for NASA HLS Contract; Steve Cook Quoted
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Dynetics Joins Forces With Northrop Grumman to Compete for NASA HLS Contract; Steve Cook Quoted

Dynetics, a subsidiary of Leidos, has submitted a bid on NASA’s Human Landing System Sustaining Lunar Development contract for the agency’s Artemis Mission.

The Huntsville, Alabama-based organization said Wednesday that it will pursue the award in collaboration with Northrop Grumman.

Commenting on the collaborative bid, Steve Cook, president of Leidos’ Dynetics Group, emphasized Northrop Grumman’s history of working in the space field, which includes being the sole company to have successfully built a crewed lunar lander.

“We will leverage their expertise and legacy of human space exploration, including their ongoing contracts to build the Habitation and Logistics Outpost for NASA’s lunar Gateway and to provide commercial resupply services to the International Space Station, significantly bolstering our pursuit,” Cook said.

Dynetics has been a prime contractor for HLS for over three years. In 2019, the company was selected as one of eleven organizations to work under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration partnership Appendix E task order. It was also selected for the NextSTEP-2 Appendix H contract in 2020 with SpaceX and Blue Origin.

In 2021, the enterprise was one of five companies chosen under Appendix N, a program enabling industry organizations to work with NASA in maturing lander designs and performing risk reduction activities to aid in sustainable lander development.

Northrop Grumman also has a history of serving HLS and has been awarded prime contracts under Appendix E and Appendix H.

More recently, Northrop launched its seventh cargo flight as part of NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract, an endeavor to deliver over 8,000 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station.

“Our capabilities and experience in pioneering human exploration and space logistics will help provide a lunar transportation system that our nation can rely on for years to come,” said Steve Krein, vice president of civil and commercial space at Northrop Grumman.

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Report: Congressional Negotiators Agree to Increase FY23 NDAA Topline to $858B
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Report: Congressional Negotiators Agree to Increase FY23 NDAA Topline to $858B

The compromise version of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act unveiled Tuesday reflects a $45 billion increase to the Biden administration’s defense budget request, setting the topline at $857.9 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The NDAA includes a 4.6 percent salary increase for service personnel and the Department of Defense’s civilian workforce and revocation of the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for the military.

The compromise annual defense policy bill would authorize $1 billion for the procurement of critical metals and minerals for the U.S. defense stockpile, up to $10 billion over five years to fund sales of military equipment and weapons to Taiwan and $800 million for security assistance to Ukraine.

The measure would designate budget for new aircraft, vehicles, hypersonics and microelectronics and funding for intelligence agencies and the State Department.

The bill should clear both the House and Senate before moving to the White House for President Jode Biden’s signature. Congressional negotiators should also reach a deal on an omnibus bill to fund government operations before the existing continuing resolution expires on Dec. 16. 

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Chuck Prow Discusses Future of V2X Post-Merger in Video Interview with Executive Mosaic
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Chuck Prow Discusses Future of V2X Post-Merger in Video Interview with Executive Mosaic

Earlier this year, V2X emerged in the GovCon landscape as a key player in the growing operational segment of the broader federal services marketplace. V2X was formed by the combination of Vectrus and the Vertex Company in July 2022, and at the helm is President and CEO Chuck Prow.

Prow, an eight-time Wash100 Award winner, spoke with Executive Mosaic in a new video interview about the status of the business combination, the new opportunities it opens up for the enterprise and what’s in store for V2X in the new year.

In addition to the merger, Prow discussed the major GovCon landscape trends moving the market more broadly as customers’ missions and needs change.

One particularly impactful shift Prow has noticed is the convergence of physical and digital infrastructures and environments, especially as strategic and tactical networks become more connected.

“It is essential that as our clients’ physical and digital infrastructures converge, we, as providers to that mission, help drive that innovation,” he said in conversation with Executive Mosaic’s Summer Myatt.

Prow also highlighted the strides made by the people and employees who meaningfully contribute to V2X’s current and future success. “What’s most exciting to me is to see the people and the combined cultures come together so quickly,” he said in regards to the merger.

Watch the full video interview with V2X’s Chuck Prow to learn more about V2X and to hear the advice he has for those pursuing executive-level positions in today’s competitive market. 

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IBM Acquires Octo from Arlington Capital Partners in Baird-Advised Deal
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IBM Acquires Octo from Arlington Capital Partners in Baird-Advised Deal

IBM has agreed to acquire information technology modernization and digital transformation services provider, Octo, from Arlington Capital Partners in a deal advised by Baird.

The acquisition, which marks IBM’s eighth this year, is anticipated to augment the organization’s digital transformation capabilities in defense, health and civilian markets and complement its existing IT modernization services, IBM said Wednesday.

John Song, managing director of Baird and Wash100 Award winner, told Executive Mosaic that the transaction “demonstrates the increasing interest in the federal market from diversified commercial companies.” 

As part of the transaction, Octo’s 1,500 employees will join IBM Consulting’s U.S.-based federal market organization, bringing the enterprise’s talent base to 4,200. 

“The combination of Octo’s highly qualified and respected team with IBM’s consulting expertise, technical capabilities and strategic partner ecosystem will enable federal clients to transform faster and better serve citizens,” commented John Granger, senior vice president of IBM Consulting.

Octo CEO Mehul Sanghani expressed his excitement about the deal and said the acquisition will allow the combined enterprise to deliver digital transformation services with “greater reach and scale.”

The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year, pending customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.

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DARPA Seeks Abstracts for IMPAQT Quantum Computing Research Program
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DARPA Seeks Abstracts for IMPAQT Quantum Computing Research Program

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is soliciting abstracts for a program that seeks exploratory research concepts in the field of quantum computing.

The Advanced Research Concept opportunity for the Imagining Practical Applications for a Quantum Tomorrow program, or IMPAQT, is interested in novel applications and algorithms that can use practical quantum platforms that could be demonstrated in the next few years, according to a notice published Monday.

IMPAQT seeks to link quantum computing researchers to application domain experts working on classical platforms to address their target problems.

Potential performers should validate their algorithms using existing cloud-based quantum processor resources. 

The agency will award a research other transaction agreement to selected proposers and expects performers to perform work over a period of 12 months.

DARPA will accept abstracts through June 5.

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University of Maryland, State Department Collaborate on Quantum Tech Info Sharing
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University of Maryland, State Department Collaborate on Quantum Tech Info Sharing

The Quantum Technology Center at the University of Maryland has entered into an agreement with the State Department to share information on the latest developments in quantum technology.

Under the memorandum of understanding, QTC will help the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance expand its knowledge of quantum technology and other emerging technologies and anticipate the global impact of the advancements and innovations in the field, the State Department said Monday.

Through the partnership, the center will also facilitate discussions and networking efforts focused on quantum technology with other U.S. government agencies and commercial partners.

AVC oversees the implementation of certain international arms control agreements and other measures against weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

The bureau also helps advance missile defense and space policy in support of national security objectives.

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Argonne Explores Sustainable Chip Manufacturing as Part of 20-Year Energy Efficiency Pledge
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Argonne Explores Sustainable Chip Manufacturing as Part of 20-Year Energy Efficiency Pledge

Argonne National Laboratory said it is prioritizing energy-efficient computing and nature-friendly manufacturing processes in its microelectronics research.

The laboratory is doing is part as an inaugural partner in the Energy Efficiency Scaling for 2 Decades initiative, which was launched for the semiconductor industry by the Department of Energy.

As of the end of November, 30 microelectronics companies and organizations have pledged to join the public-private alliance and work toward a thousandfold increase in energy efficiency in the next 20 years. Argonne is one of six national labs to participate in EES2, while Intel and Microsoft are some of the private sector entities to express their support.

Argonne will pursue semiconductor computing technologies that require less power and materials that could impede the supply chain. Its other study will focus on novel approaches to minimize the environmental impact of chip manufacturing.

To achieve its research objectives, Argonne will utilize DOE’s Advanced Photon Source in addition to its Center for Nanoscale Materials, Leadership Computing Facility and Materials Engineering Research Facility. It also plans to employ autonomous discovery, which uses artificial intelligence to speed up lab work.

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