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TCOM Honored With 2024 North Carolina Governor’s Export Award
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TCOM Honored With 2024 North Carolina Governor’s Export Award

TCOM has been honored with the North Carolina Governor’s Export Award in the large business category.

The airborne persistent surveillance company said Wednesday it was recognized by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina for its significant achievement in growing international sales and strengthening the state’s export economy.

What Is the North Carolina Governor’s Export Award?

Governor Josh Stein and the EDPNC presented the Governor’s Export Award, which celebrates North Carolina companies that have gained substantial expansion in the international market. TCOM won in the large business category, which honors enterprises with significant export accomplishments and global presence.

Commitment to Airborne Surveillance Innovation

TCOM is committed to enhancing airborne surveillance innovation, intensifying efforts to expand its business worldwide. Its advanced aerostat systems are utilized worldwide, offering persistent surveillance services for a wide range of applications such as disaster response, border protection and military operations.

The company is also dedicated to helping North Carolina boost its presence in the international market.

“We are honored to receive the Governor’s Export Award,” said Ron Bendlin, president and CEO of TCOM. “This recognition reflects the hard work and commitment of our team to deliver cutting-edge surveillance solutions globally. We remain dedicated to advancing our technology and expanding our international reach, contributing to North Carolina’s reputation as a hub for innovation and excellence,” he added.

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OMB Memos Seek to Promote Responsible AI Use, Procurement in Government
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OMB Memos Seek to Promote Responsible AI Use, Procurement in Government

The Office of Management and Budget has issued two memos to facilitate the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence tools and drive efficient AI acquisition in the government.

In a fact sheet published Thursday, the White House said the policies mark the executive branch’s transition to a pro-innovation, pro-competition approach while mitigating unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions on the use of AI and enhancing U.S. superiority in AI innovation.

Fostering Responsible AI Adoption

M-25-21 provides agencies with the tools needed to advance AI innovation while maintaining strong protections for the civil rights, privacy and civil liberties of Americans.

Under the new memo, chief AI officers should promote agencywide AI adoption and innovation for lower risk AI; advise on AI investments and spending; and mitigate risks for higher-impact AI.

The policy directs agencies to produce an AI adoption maturity assessment to monitor progress and needs. It also introduces a “high-impact AI” category to track AI use cases that demand heightened due diligence due to potential impacts on the safety or rights of citizens.

Advancing Efficient AI Acquisition

M-25-22 offers guidance on how agencies could improve their ability to acquire AI tools rapidly, competitively and responsibly.

Under the memo, agencies must support a competitive AI marketplace by maximizing the use of American-made AI systems and services. They should also use performance-based acquisition techniques and establish an online shared repository of tools and resources to help with AI procurement.

The policy outlines specific requirements that avoid vendor lock-in and seeks to eliminate burdensome agency reporting requirements to facilitate the acquisition process.

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DOD Memo Outlines Reporting Instructions for Terminated, Canceled Awards
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DOD Memo Outlines Reporting Instructions for Terminated, Canceled Awards

The Department of Defense has announced a memorandum that provides contracting officers and agreement officers with specific instructions for reporting termination and cancellation actions related to the Trump administration’s efficiency initiatives to the Federal Procurement Data System, or FPDS, and the System for Award Management, or SAM.

DOD said Thursday the memo from the principal director of the Defense Pricing, Contracting and Acquisition Policy, or DPCAP, is in compliance with a Feb. 18 presidential memo titled Radical Transparency About Wasteful Spending.

According to the department, the DPCAP memo applies to unclassified Federal Acquisition Regulation-based contracts and other transaction agreements for prototypes or follow-on production.

How to Report Terminations & Cancellations to FPDS

The memo directs contracting personnel to make the appropriate selection from the options provided in the “Reason for Modification” field in FPDS and select the “RTWS” option in the “Initiative” field in contract action reports submitted to the system for any definitized cancellation or termination modification that is related to the efficiency initiatives.

Contract action reports should be reported to FPDS within three business days.

Posting Special Notices to SAM

The document directs contracting officers to post a special notice in SAM’s Contract Opportunities area to provide details of the unclassified canceled or terminated award reported to FPDS. The special notice is only required if the value of the award is greater than $250,000.

The memo also includes specific instructions for canceled or terminated awards whose statement of work or performance work statement is publicly releasable.

Hegseth’s Memo on Wasteful Spending

In March, Pete Hegseth, defense secretary and a 2025 Wash100 awardee, signed a memorandum to terminate more than $580 million in contracts, programs and grants as part of DOD’s ongoing effort to eliminate wasteful spending.

The memo called for the cancellation of a software development program for the Defense Civilian Human Resources Management System and the termination of over $360 million in additional grants that are not aligned with DOD priorities.

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William Hartman Named Acting NSA Director Following Dismissal of Top Officials
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William Hartman Named Acting NSA Director Following Dismissal of Top Officials

Lt. Gen. William Hartman has been appointed acting director of the National Security Agency several hours after the Trump administration fired top officials at the agency, The Hill reported Saturday.

LTG Hartman will also serve as acting commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and acting chief of the Central Security Service, while Sheila Thomas will be the acting NSA deputy director.

The appointment follows President Donald Trump’s decision to dismiss NSA Director Gen. Timothy Haugh, Brian Walsh, senior director of intelligence, Thomas Boodry, senior director of legislative affairs, and David Feith, senior director of technology and national security.

Trump’s decision to fire the officials was based on recommendations by far-right activist Laura Loomer, who questioned their loyalty. The president said, “Laura Loomer is a great patriot. She’s a very strong person. She makes recommendations on things and people, and sometimes I listen to those recommendations, like I do with everybody. I listen to everybody, and then I make a decision.”

Who Is William Hartman?

Prior to his NSA designation, Hartman was the commander of the Cyber National Mission Force. 

In his military career, the University of South Alabama’s distinguished military graduate held various positions as an infantry, military intelligence and cyberspace operations officer. He was assigned to various countries, including Italy, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey.

He has also received numerous recognitions, including the Legion of Merit with oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf clusters and the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf clusters. 

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NASA Receives HALO Module for Gateway Lunar Space Station
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NASA Receives HALO Module for Gateway Lunar Space Station

NASA has announced that a crucial part of Gateway, the first space station around the Moon, has been delivered to the United States from Italy.

The agency said Friday the Habitation and Logistics Outpost, or HALO, the future space station’s first pressurized module, arrived in Arizona from Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, on April 1. With this development, NASA is closer to launching Gateway.

Preparing for Launch

The HALO module will go through a final outfitting process at Northrop Grumman’s integration and test facility in Gilbert, Arizona. It will then be transported to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to be integrated with Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element. Once ready, the modules will be launched together onboard a SpaceX Falcon heavy rocket.

Supporting Future Moon and Mars Missions

The Gateway space station will play a crucial role in the Artemis program. It is intended to facilitate the return of humans to the lunar surface and pave the way for scientific exploration for future crewed missions to Mars.

HALO will serve as a habitat for Artemis astronauts. It will provide them with living quarters and workspaces and provide what they need for conducting scientific research while preparing for missions to the Moon. The module will have docking stations to accommodate lunar landers, logistics modules and visiting vehicles like NASA’s Orion spacecraft. Furthermore, HALO will support science payloads for research and technology.

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Legislators Reintroduce American Innovation Act for Steady R&D Funding
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Legislators Reintroduce American Innovation Act for Steady R&D Funding

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., have reintroduced the American Innovation Act, a bicameral bill that would ensure annual budget increases at a rate of five percent for critical research at five federal agencies. The bicameral bill will ensure that American scientists at the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Defense, and NASA will have sustained access to funding to create more jobs, strengthen national security and “push our world forward,” Durbin said in a press release posted Thursday. 

“If we want to maintain our status as a world leader in research and technology, we must empower and fund our federal research agencies and retain their top talent,” the democratic whip commented.

Senators Champion American Innovation

According to the press release, the United States is in danger of falling behind adversaries in investment in basic science. Whereas China’s research and development intensity, or percentage of gross domestic product spent on R&D, increased by 500 percent since 1996, America’s stalled. Since the ‘70s, funding for research in the United States decreased tenfold to just about 0.1 percent of the GDP. 

If the trend continues, China will surpass the U.S. in the area of science investments. 

In his statement, Foster highlighted the role played by investments in scientific studies in national security and the economy. 

“Since World War II, investments in science and technology have helped expand our economy, create millions of jobs and advance our national security,” he pointed out. 

“As we confront new and existing challenges, it’s critical that our scientists have the resources they need to ensure our nation remains at the forefront of research and innovation,” the House legislator added.

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Air Force Seeks Prototypes of ‘Flex Fuel’ Power Systems
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Air Force Seeks Prototypes of ‘Flex Fuel’ Power Systems

The Department of the Air Force has issued a solicitation for prototype multi-fuel power systems to back up its existing on-site power sources. The “flex fuel” prototypes DAF wants are designs that not only increase power sources and fuel options but also clean energy systems that reduce costs and minimize maintenance and operational requirements, according to the department’s Thursday Tradewinds post.

Prototype Technical Requirements     

The technical specifications required for prototype proposals include power systems at between the 100-kilowatt and 1 megawatt range, with the initial design’s ideal capacity at 230kW up to approximately 460kW. 

Proponents should also submit prototypes with a capacity factor of less than 30 percent, operating as a stationary platform with integration capability with current government and commercial power infrastructures. In addition, DAF seeks models that can operate using multiple gaseous fuels in varying purities, with at least one conventional fossil fuel as power source.

Video Pitches With Business Model Presentations

Interested parties on the solicitation have to submit a video pitch to the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace Opportunity Page, with May 1 as the submission’s deadline. Besides the solicitation’s technical specifications, the pitch should present a comprehensive business model defining the proponent’s prototyping goals, strategies, activities and alternatives either as a prime contractor, subcontractor or partner.

Additionally, the proposal should detail the prototype’s differences from other similar technologies and services, as well as present prototype financing plans minus the land, site control and project access cost that DAF will provide. After the proposals’ assessment, DAF may opt to negotiate with just one, some or all of the prototype proponents.

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DIU Developing Digital Platform for Simplifying DOD Solicitations
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DIU Developing Digital Platform for Simplifying DOD Solicitations

The Defense Innovation Unit is working with technology companies to develop a secure digital platform for matching private sector capabilities with defense opportunities.

Using advanced artificial intelligence and large language model technologies, the Digital OnRamp platform is envisioned to enhance the process of pairing tech products and services with business opportunities in the defense sector, the Department of Defense said Thursday. The tool will allow users to discover commercial and academic capabilities that meet their mission requirements in a single digital location.

Finding Tech for DOD Mission Problems

The DOD Digital OnRamp will provide a pathway for tech companies to find an opportunity and for DOD employees to find technologies for mission problems, according to Cheryl Ingstad, deputy director of digital platforms and developer ecosystem at DIU. “Imagine the speed and scale of innovation that can be achieved when an AI-enabled platform connects countless companies, professors and students to billions of dollars of DOD opportunities,” she said.

Simplifying DOD Solicitations

The AI-powered system will make commercial and academic offerings visible to agency personnel looking to solve a mission problem. The DOD noted that the Digital OnRamp will simplify solicitations, enable the private sector to discover defense opportunities and accelerate the adoption of commercial technologies.

Currently, DIU is evaluating user experience surveys and technical data from a technology demonstration of the platform in December 2024 to develop requirements for the next stage. The agency is targeting to deliver the minimum viable product in late 2025.

POC - 2025 Digital Transformation Summit

Join us on April 24 at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Digital Transformation Summit to gain insights into how technology innovations are reshaping federal operations, improving efficiencies and enhancing government responsiveness to public needs. Reserve a spot now to attend the important event!

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New Coast Guard Initiative Seeks to Ensure Service Is ‘Always Ready’
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New Coast Guard Initiative Seeks to Ensure Service Is ‘Always Ready’

Adm. Kevin Lunday, the acting commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, has unveiled Force Design 2028, which serves as a blueprint that would ensure the service’s readiness for future national requirements.

Implementation of Coast Guard Force Design

The Coast Guard said Thursday that a team is being formed to coordinate the implementation of FD 2028 and continue initiatives that are already underway.

Commenting on the effort, Lunday said, “We are executing transformational change to renew the Coast Guard. Force Design 2028 will ensure the Coast Guard remains Semper Paratus, Always Ready, to serve the American people.”

FD 2028 Campaigns

FD 2028 focuses on four campaigns, namely: people; organization; acquisition and contracting; and technology.

The people campaign seeks to increase the Coast Guard workforce and make it more capable. Efforts under this campaign include alignment with the Department of Defense‘s standards on physical fitness, body composition and grooming, and the removal of administrative burdens on personnel by reducing redundant reporting requirements.

The organization campaign seeks to adapt the Coast Guard’s construct and processes to ensure the service is responsive to various security threats, changes to technology and evolving operational demands. Efforts under this campaign include the establishment of a USCG HQ director of staff, who will work to streamline decision-making and optimize HQ processes.

The acquisition and contracting campaign seeks to establish a system that will accelerate the delivery of capabilities needed by the Coast Guard to accomplish its mission. Efforts under this campaign include the elimination of acquisition bureaucracy, the increasing of engagement between the Coast Guard and the Defense Innovation Unit and the development of a contract tracking system for improved transparency and accountability.

The technology campaign seeks to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Coast Guard through the adoption of secure technologies. Efforts under this campaign include the establishment of a rapid response rapid prototype team and the use of industry offerings to speed up the IT systems authority to operate process.

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Army to Issue Updated Training Regulation in June
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Army to Issue Updated Training Regulation in June

The U.S. Army will release an updated training regulation on June 1 as part of efforts to streamline training requirements and improve warfighting readiness across the force.

Simplifying Army Training Requirements

The military branch said Tuesday the revised Army Regulation 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development, reduces the number of mandatory training tasks from 24 to 17 and seeks to highlight tasks that are key to warfighting, lethality and readiness.

The service has removed outdated programs, including “Structured Self-Development” and “Resilience Training,” transitioned six tasks to optional training at the commanders’ discretion and reorganized appendices for improved clarity.

According to the Army, the new regulation eliminates administrative burdens and redundancies and aims to provide commanders more flexibility in customizing training schedules to meet mission requirements.

The revised AR 350-1 also promotes alternative methods of training delivery and removes restrictions on the locations and duration of certain training activities.

Gain insights into modernization imperatives, force structure optimization, national security missions and more at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Army Summit on June 18. Register here.

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