/
Booz Allen Launches the Helix Center for Innovation to Showcase Technology; Susan Penfield Quoted
Published on
Booz Allen Launches the Helix Center for Innovation to Showcase Technology; Susan Penfield Quoted

Booz Allen Hamilton has opened a new space within the organization’s Washington, D.C. facility dedicated to showcasing its technology through a variety of methods.

The 9,422-square-foot Helix Center for Innovation includes over 30 demonstrations and activities to immerse clients in Booz Allen’s products, the McLean, Virginia-based company announced on Wednesday.

“The world is being transformed by the rise of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), cyber, 5G, quantum, edge computing, and so many more. The Helix is the physical manifestation of our company’s VoLT (velocity, leadership, technology) growth strategy—leveraging emerging technology to speed solutioning against our clients’ most challenging mission needs,” said Booz Allen CTO and three-time Wash100 Award winner Susan Penfield.

Combining tangible and virtual elements, the space offers simulations, product and capability demonstrations, hands-on activations and interactive environments.

These include the AI Adoption Studio, which gamifies the end-to-end AI lifecycle, the Storytelling Rotunda, a 220 degree, floor-to ceiling screen that visualizes the potential of numerous technologies and the Digital Library, which allows clients to search through over 100 pieces of media focused on Booz Allen’s technology, values and people.

Initial, rotating demonstrations feature various technologies and highlights their uses. A simulated Special Missions event in the Digital Battlespace demonstrates how modern hardware and partner technologies combine to support informed military decision-making. Booz Allen’s AI factory, aiSSEMBLE is also presented to show how crucial technical enablers can accelerate AI projects and scale client services. Additionally, 5G gamification will be used to explain technology developed in the organization’s new 5G lab and its role in current mission challenges.

“The Helix is purposefully designed to explore the art of the possible while demystifying how emerging technologies can be applied to the U.S. government’s current and future challenges,” said Melissa Lazarofsky, director of the Helix.

She also noted the center’s goal of making technology more accessible and understandable for Booz Allen’s clients.

The Helix’s establishment follows multiple achievements for the organization this year, one of which was the launch of BrightLabs, which incubates, prototypes and stress-tests Booz Allen’s technology for enterprise integration.

Additionally, the company formed Booz Allen Ventures, a corporate venture capital department committed to investing in strategic dual-use, commercial technologies to support federal clients. The new division has already invested in Latent AI, Synthetaic and Reveal Technology, which will be showcased in the Helix.

/
Christopher Wray: FBI Has National Security Concerns Over TikTok
Published on
Christopher Wray: FBI Has National Security Concerns Over TikTok

FBI Director Christopher Wray said the Chinese government could potentially exploit social media platform TikTok to gain control over the collection of users’ information, The Record reported Tuesday.

“We do have national security concerns from the FBI’s end about TikTok,” Wray said in response to a question by Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on global threats Tuesday.

“They include the possibility that the Chinese government could use it to control data collection on millions of users or control the recommendation algorithm, which could be used for influence operations if they so choose, or to control software on millions of devices which gives the opportunity to potentially technically compromise personal devices,” he added.

The Department of the Treasury’s Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. is conducting a review of TikTok over national security issues as the video app negotiates to continue its operations in the U.S. Wray said the bureau’s foreign investment unit is collaborating with CFIUS on the review.

Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and a previous Wash100 awardee, and National Counterterrorism Center Director Christine Abizaid joined Wray during the hearing. Mayorkas fielded questions from lawmakers over cybersecurity.

/
Multi-lab Survey Led By Sandia Finds Cybersecurity Flaws in EV Charging
Published on
Multi-lab Survey Led By Sandia Finds Cybersecurity Flaws in EV Charging

A team of researchers led by Sandia National Laboratories found various vulnerabilities in electric vehicle charging that could be exploited by hackers and other cyber threats.

Sandia said Tuesday that it collaborated with national laboratories including Argonne, Idaho, Pacific Northwest and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to conduct the four-year survey.

Security flaws in EV charging ranged from simple credit card hacking during payments to possible interference in grid operations, according to the survey. It showed that not all EV chargers are equipped with firewalls to protect users’ private information and reflected that some of them were easy to corrupt with malicious firmware updates.

To address the weaknesses, the team published recommended solutions such as employing plug-and-charge public key infrastructure to enhance EV owner authentication. They also created a best practices document and started developing a platform that uses cyber-physical data to shield EV charging infrastructure from attacks.

“By conducting this survey … we can prioritize recommendations to policymakers and notify them of what security improvements are needed by the industry,” said Jay Johnson, electrical engineer at Sandia and one of the study’s researchers. He stated that organization hopes the review encourages states to tighten their implementation of physical and virtual security strategies, and “help the federal government standardize best practices and mandate minimum security levels for electric vehicle chargers in the future.”

/
Oak Ridge National Lab Licenses Li-ion Battery Additive to Venture-Backed Startup
Published on
Oak Ridge National Lab Licenses Li-ion Battery Additive to Venture-Backed Startup

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has granted Safire Technology Group exclusive rights to commercialize a lithium-ion battery safety additive developed at the Department of Energy-funded research institution.

ORNL invented the SAFe Impact Resistant Electrolyte, which Safire intends to market for use in electric vehicles, and authorized access to five patents for the technology under a licensing deal, the venture-backed company said Tuesday.

The additive works to solidify liquid electrolytes upon kinetic impact and avert fire and explosion in the event of an EV crash. It is designed for ground as well as vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and other electric-powered defense equipment.

A team of ORNL researchers produced the technology in collaboration with the University of Rochester using funds from the laboratory and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.

The government-backed development project and a Fedtech-sponsored commercialization initiative led to the formation of Safire.

/
Biden Admin, Industry Partners Conclude Nationwide Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint
Published on
Biden Admin, Industry Partners Conclude Nationwide Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint

The Biden administration has concluded a nationwide cybersecurity apprenticeship sprint that resulted in the hiring of more than 7,000 apprentices and the creation of new programs and cybersecurity-related positions by participating partners.

Program sponsors, including CompTIA and IBM, and federal agencies have added 120 cybersecurity-related jobs to pre-existing and new Registered Apprenticeship programs, the White House said Tuesday.

CompTIA has created 5 cybersecurity-focused occupations for a new career pathway program, dubbed CompTIA Apprenticeships for Tech while IBM has expanded its existing Apprenticeship Program with the addition of 30 new roles in areas such as data science, design and cybersecurity.

Cisco has become a new national Registered Apprenticeship sponsor and will use its Networking Academy program to connect work-ready apprentices with public and private businesses looking to hire for key technology positions.

The 120-day apprenticeship sprint was initiated in July by the Biden administration and its collaborators with the aim of strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity workforce.

///
Asad Ramzanali Named OSTP Chief of Staff
Published on
Asad Ramzanali Named OSTP Chief of Staff

Asad Ramzanali, a public policy expert with combined public and private sector experience, has been selected to succeed Marc Aidinoff as chief of staff at the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Ramzanali joined OSTP in May as director of legislative affairs after serving as a legislative director and senior technology policy adviser for Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., a senior member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the White House said Tuesday.

He also served as a legislative fellow focused on banking and technology policy for Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, while his industry career included roles such as manager of corporate strategy and development at finance software developer Intuit.

Aidinoff has served as a senior adviser and acting OSTP chief of staff before taking on the role on a permanent basis in January.

/
Space Command Creates Combined Joint Task Force-Space Operations
Published on
Space Command Creates Combined Joint Task Force-Space Operations

Army Gen. James Dickinson, head of U.S. Space Command, has formed a new entity that seeks to ensure unity of effort among operations of two functional components, Combined Force Space Component Command and Joint Task Force-Space Defense.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Thomas James, most recently head of the Joint Task Force-Space Defense, will serve as interim commander of the newly established Combined Joint Task Force-Space Operations, USSPACECOM said Tuesday.

“The standup of CJTF-SO allows us to operate at the speed of conflict, while providing USSPACECOM the flexibility to focus on supported and supporting requirements,” said James.

“CJTF-SO will serve at the operational level of command as the space functional component to USSPACECOM, with tactical control of presented space forces,” he added.

CJTF-SO will carry out warfighting operations as stated in Joint Publication-1. CFSCC and JTF-SD and their operations centers will report to the newly formed organization.

////
Former NSA Official Teresa Shea Added to Cigent Board of Directors; John Benkert Quoted
Published on
Former NSA Official Teresa Shea Added to Cigent Board of Directors; John Benkert Quoted

Teresa Shea, an experienced government and private sector official specializing in intelligence and cybersecurity, has been appointed to the board of directors of Cigent Technology.

The Fort Myers, Florida-based security program maker said Wednesday that it hopes to utilize Shea’s extensive knowledge culled from decades spent at organizations such as the National Security Agency, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and In-Q-Tel.

Cigent CEO John Benkert, who also worked at NSA, praised Shea’s command of said subject matter and explained that the incoming executive has been a proponent of Cigent’s offerings for years and assisted the organization establish partnerships with several government customers.

“She will provide valuable guidance as we work to develop new relationships with government agencies and fulfill our mission of ending ransomware attacks and data theft, as well as compliance for business and government,” Benkert added.

At NSA, Shea held roles of increasing responsibility, climbing the ladder to ultimately hold the position of signals intelligence director. After closing out her over three-decade NSA tenure, Shea transitioned to the private sector to work at strategic investment organization In-Q-Tel as its executive vice president of technology, helping to lead the company’s objective to invest in innovative start-ups that avail the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Following her stint at In-Q-Tel, Shea was vice president of cyber offense defense experts-CODEX for Raytheon Intelligence & Space. In the past, she has served as an advisor on the boards of MITRE Corporation and the Virginia Tech Hume Center and currently presides on the Electrical and Computer Engineering School Board at Georgia Institute of Technology, the school from which she holds her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

Shea is poised to share her understanding gleaned from working in both government and industry with Cigent as the company works to aid government agencies, especially the Department of Defense, with the safeguarding of its data and information. The executive reportedly sees a future for the company with private sector clients as well.

DOE Opens Application for $250M Clean Energy Loan Program; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
Published on
DOE Opens Application for $250M Clean Energy Loan Program; Jennifer Granholm Quoted

The Department of Energy has begun accepting applications for a new program that seeks to help U.S. states and territories put in place revolving loan funds for energy efficiency and initiate clean energy upgrade projects.

DOE said Tuesday the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $250 million in formula funding through the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program to improve the energy efficiency of existing commercial and residential buildings.

40 percent of the funding is allocated to all state energy offices and the remaining 60 percent is distributed to a group of priority states.

According to DOE, states can allot one-quarter of the funding for grants and technical assistance to small businesses and low-income homeowners as well as prioritize loan applications from disadvantaged communities.

“By expanding access to energy efficiency upgrades for American families and small to medium-sized businesses, we will generate energy savings and deliver cleaner air, helping states and historically underserved communities experience the broad benefits of energy efficiency,” commented Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

/
NASA’s SLS Rocket With Boeing-Made Core Stage Launches as Part of Artemis I Mission
Published on
NASA’s SLS Rocket With Boeing-Made Core Stage Launches as Part of Artemis I Mission

A NASA rocket equipped with a Boeing-built core stage took off Wednesday from a launch complex at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to send the unmanned Orion spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin, on a maiden flight around the moon as part of the Artemis I mission.

Artemis I is an uncrewed flight test designed to assess the performance of the Space Launch System rocket and the capabilities of Orion, Boeing said Wednesday.

The core stage separated from the rocket’s upper stage less than 10 minutes after launch and demonstrated several functions, such as igniting the engines, actuating the hydraulic system and fueling both tanks.

The 212-foot-long core stage is composed of an engine section with four RS-25 engines, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks and intertank section that links the two fuel tanks.

A team at Boeing is developing the core stages at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Core Stage-2 will be used to launch the first manned Artemis mission, while CS-3 is expected to support the mission meant to land astronauts on the lunar surface.

Jim Chilton, senior vice president of Boeing’s space and launch division, said the launch reflects the availability of a “super-heavy lift launch capability” and that the company is ready to support NASA and its international partners in supporting manned missions to explore deep space.

1 … 684 685 686 687 688 … 2,618