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GSA Creates Technology Law Unit as Part of Service Modernization Initiatives
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GSA Creates Technology Law Unit as Part of Service Modernization Initiatives

The General Services Administration has established a technology law division that will provide legal support to the agency’s tech-focused components.

GSA said Thursday the new unit within the Office of the General Counsel is part of its initiatives to streamline, modernize and digitize customer services.

The division is looking to fill various roles including associate general counsel for technology law and assistant general counsel.

“The associate general counsel for technology law will work closely with the most senior leaders across the agency to provide advice and counsel in a developing, but critically important area of public law,” GSA General Counsel Arpit Garg explained. “And the assistant general counsel will provide direct support to our technology-focused components—a great opportunity for a more junior attorney to join our growing team.”

The positions are posted on USAJobs and are open until Dec. 9.

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Defense Logistics Agency Set to Complete Implementation of G-Invoicing System
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Defense Logistics Agency Set to Complete Implementation of G-Invoicing System

The Defense Logistics Agency is working toward completing the implementation of a web-based government invoicing platform in compliance with the Department of the Treasury’s requirement to standardize intragovernmental buy and sell transactions.

DLA has set an April 2024 deadline for its full implementation of the G-Invoicing program to automate the process of receiving payment for goods and services from federal trading partners, the Pentagon reported Monday.

Max Walens, branch chief of DLA G-Invoicing’s General Terms and Conditions Center of Excellence, said the program will require a signed general terms and conditions agreement from trading partners, replacing manual request documents including the DD Form 448.

Treasury had required that federal government agencies implement G-Invoicing by Oct. 1, but challenges facing DLA has pushed back the agency’s transition to the new business process.

Walens noted that the implementation will require significant changes across the organization and will need new software to ensure seamless flow of financial information to the G-Invoicing system.

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Space Systems Command Selects 7 Finalists in ‘Fight Tonight’ Competition
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Space Systems Command Selects 7 Finalists in ‘Fight Tonight’ Competition

Space Systems Command has selected seven innovation teams to compete in the final round of its inaugural Fight Tonight competition, which aims to develop new approaches to building more resilient space systems by 2026.

SSC said Monday that up to $8 million in funding will be awarded to the winning teams to bring their ideas to completion over a period of one to four years.

Out of the more than 80 innovation ideas submitted by SSC personnel, 21 were selected to be presented to a panel of judges led by Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, commander of SSC, and U.S. Space Force Maj. Gen. DeAnna Burt, special assistant to the vice chief of space operations.

Each proposal was evaluated based on its feasibility, innovativeness, impact on warfighters and impact on the 2026 fight.

“China and Russia are proving their capabilities and intentions to disrupt our satellites in space and our way of life on earth. The time to act is now. That’s the mindset and driver behind this competition: What would we need if we had to Fight Tonight,” asserted Capt. Darrell Dancy, an acquisitions program manager and lead action officer of Fight Tonight.

SSC will announce the winning ideas at the 2nd Annual Space Force Ball on Nov. 18.

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Annual ISOA Summit to Examine Current, Future Stability Operations Issues
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Annual ISOA Summit to Examine Current, Future Stability Operations Issues

The International Stability Operations Association will hold its annual summit, Partnering for Global Security: New Era Conflicts and Alliances, at the McLean, Virginia Hilton hotel on Nov. 17 and 18.

To examine global issues in stability operations, this year’s event will consider the areas of security and cybersecurity, logistics, health care, refugees, legal affairs, small business needs and additional contracting support opportunities from organizations involved in stability operations worldwide.

With over 350 attendees, the event hosts leaders spanning the U.S. government and military, contracting, small businesses, non-governmental organizations and academia.

During this year’s summit, speakers from across the industry will discuss mission-critical needs regarding Ukraine, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Region Command, the middle east and Africa.

Keynote speakers featured include Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers, John Tenaglia, director of defense pricing and contracting for the Department of Defense, and General Stephen Townsend, former commander of the U.S. Africa Command and retired Army general.

Other notable participants are three-time Wash100 Award recipient and KBR President Byron Bright and fellow Wash100 Award winner Terry Ryan, CEO of Constellis. The two executives will be participating in a panel discussion moderated by ISOA President and Executive Director Howie Lind, which will tackle topics such as current issues facing government contractors and the effects of events in Ukraine and the Pacific region.

Additional panels held throughout the day will address various issues facing stability organizations including strategic competition, contingency contracting, future threats and more.

As the ISOA’s most prominent event, the summit serves as a key point of connection for the stability community as it brings policymakers, industry leaders, implementers and experts together as ISOA strives to promote strategic engagement for both the public and private sectors worldwide.

For more information about the summit, be sure to visit the ISOA website.

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Air Force Extends Partnership with Virtualitics to Advance AI; Michael Amori Quoted
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Air Force Extends Partnership with Virtualitics to Advance AI; Michael Amori Quoted

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has extended its existing three-year partnership with Virtualitics, an artificial intelligence and data exploration-focused organization.

Under the expanded partnership, Virtualitics will support the creation of a Center of Excellence and provide AI software for the AFGSC’s bomber and missile weapon systems, the Pasadena, California-based company announced on Tuesday.

“We’re extremely proud to grow our partnership with the United States Air Force to solve some of the world’s most complicated problems and support vital missions carried out across the globe,” commented Michael Amori, CEO and co-founder of Virtualitics.

Virtualitics’ AI technology is expected to enhance predictive maintenance, inventory management, supply chain optimization and manpower resource allocation to identify aircraft maintenance needs and align them with necessary resources and parts.

The software will also pair technicians with the correct job to quickly address critical routine maintenance issues to minimize unplanned downtime as key aircraft are kept airworthy.

In continuing the Air Force’s efforts to enhance Mission-Capable rates — or, the crucial figures that determine the health and preparedness of an aircraft fleet — Virtualitics’ AI platform will additionally work to aid the AFGSC in predicting aircraft failure and bolstering the MC rates.

With the company’s transparent AI techniques, the AFGSC will be able to understand its predictions in depth and execute more comprehensive analysis of raw data. The platform is expected to improve the decision-making process across all levels of the command.

Air Force Major General Jeff Taliaferro discussed the significance of working alongside Virtualitics in advancing the command’s AI capabilities.

“Virtualitics makes it possible for not only improved day-to-day decisions but even more importantly deployment decisions. Knowing in advance an aircraft will need a major repair before deployment will enable much better decisions that could save missions and millions of  taxpayer dollars,” he said.

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Biden to Nominate Martin Gruenberg for 2nd Term as FDIC Chair
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Biden to Nominate Martin Gruenberg for 2nd Term as FDIC Chair

President Biden has announced plans to nominate Martin Gruenberg, acting chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s board or directors, to lead the FDIC on a permanent basis.

Gruenberg has been a member of the FDIC’s board since August 2005 and has held chairman and vice chairman roles at the banking regulator, the White House said Monday.

If confirmed by the Senate, Gruenberg would serve his second term as head of the federal agency, having previously completed a five-year term as chairman of the FDIC board from 2012 to 2018.

Prior to joining the FDIC, Gruenberg was a Senate staffer focused on banking, domestic and international financial regulation, trade and monetary policy.

He also served as chairman of the executive council and president of the International Association of Deposit Insurers.

In a separate statement, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, said Gruenberg brings “years of experience shepherding the agency through difficult economic times.”

“With experienced leadership at the helm, the FDIC can continue to address risks to our financial system, increase access to affordable financial services to consumers, and ensure that banks honor their commitment to communities across the country through the Community Reinvestment Act.” Brown continued.

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US Treasury Sanctions Target Russian Military Procurement Network; Janet Yellen Quoted
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US Treasury Sanctions Target Russian Military Procurement Network; Janet Yellen Quoted

The Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on 28 entities and 14 individuals for their involvement in a network that buys microelectronics in support of Russia’s military industry and association with two elites that have ties to the Russian government.

The Treasury said Monday the office of foreign assets control also designated as blocked property eight aircraft operated by a luxury aviation company with links to Suleiman Abusaidovich Kerimov, who was sanctioned in September for being a Russian government official.

“The United States will continue to expose and disrupt the Kremlin’s military supply chains and deny Russia the equipment and technology it needs to wage its illegal war against Ukraine,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

“Today’s actions demonstrate Treasury’s steadfast commitment to targeting people around the world aiding Putin’s war effort and the crony elites who bankroll his regime,” added Yellen.

OFAC sanctioned immediate family members of Kerimov, a Swiss national – Alexander-Walter Studhalter – who has played a key role in Kerimov’s financial network and eight entities with ties to the Swiss national.

Russian businessman Murat Magomedovich Aliev with links to Studhalter was also sanctioned, along with five companies related to Aliev.

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CRDF Global Selected as Platform for CDAC for Ukraine; Mike Dignam Quoted
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CRDF Global Selected as Platform for CDAC for Ukraine; Mike Dignam Quoted

CRDF Global has been selected as the platform for the Cyber Defense Assistance Collaborative for Ukraine.

As the collaborative’s platform, CRDF will help numerous organizations provide accelerated defense aid to Ukraine in the wake of expanded invasions and increasingly intense cyber attacks against the nation, the Arlington, Virginia-based organization announced on Monday.

“By providing the platform for CDAC, we are now able to help companies bring operational cyber defense assistance to Ukraine in an accelerated fashion.  I couldn’t be happier to support this effort and further expand CRDF Global’s capabilities in the cyber security realm,” said Mike Dignam, CEO of CRDF Global.

The organization, which was formed to support the United States in reducing threats after the Soviet Union’s collapse, has a long history of operating in the region. More recent operations include running hackathons, establishing cyber curriculums for universities and providing cybersecurity training for veterans of the 2014 conflict in Ukraine. Additionally, the nonprofit holds a regular meeting with over 100 stakeholders for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

Craig Newmark Philanthropies, which wanted a nonprofit to provide the platform, provided much of the funding required for CRDF to move to its new position.

Greg Rattray, a former National Security Council director, retired Air Force Colonel and expert on cybersecurity and Ukraine, stressed the urgency of the situation and the need to mobilize quickly.

“With the invasion, the Ukrainian government and critical infrastructure operators urgently needed to deal with immediate threats posed by cyber attacks,” Rattray emphasized.

The expert additionally discussed the lack of foreign support within current U.S. cybersecurity networks and the growing number of requests from Ukraine that must be met. He also stated that strengthening the relationship between the public and private sectors surrounding defense efforts is a current priority for the U.S.

Rattray began collaborating with CRDF in developing Ukraine’s cybersecurity strategy prior to this selection alongside Matthew Murray, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Europe, the Middle East and Africa and fellow expert on Ukraine and cybersecurity.

As a result of conversations with U.S. government officials that highlighted the critical need to mobilize the private sector, Rattray developed a network of organizations to support the nation under the Cyber Defense Assistance Collaborative rubric. Those involved include Avast, the Cyber Threat Alliance, LookingGlass Cyber Solutions, Mandiate, Next Peak, Palo Alto Networks, Recorded Future, Symantec and Broadcom, ThreatQuotient and numerous others.

To increase delivery speeds, Murray worked with Ukraine’s National Cyber Security Coordination Center to create a pathway to accelerate the provision of cybersecurity support on a daily basis within the collaborative.

Volodomyr Pavelko, founder of Ukraine’s Global Cyber Cooperative Center, offered commentary on the results of working with CDAC.

“Ukraine needed urgent help to defend critical infrastructure. Collaborating with CDAC to meet specific demands from our government ministries and state-owned enterprises quickly became the way we could obtain that help, and we’ve already seen a significant impact in some of our most important sectors,” he said.

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Army Seeks to Promote Tech-Related Small Biz Projects; Matthew Willis Quoted
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Army Seeks to Promote Tech-Related Small Biz Projects; Matthew Willis Quoted

The U.S. Army is launching a series of projects aimed at providing more opportunities for small businesses while supplying next-generation technology to military personnel.

The strategy involves using part of the service’s Small Business Innovation Research and xTech Prime Competition funds, the Army said Friday.

Fifteen percent of the SBIR funding will be dedicated to the SBIR Catalyst program, which will focus on technological development resulting from collaborations with prime contractors, private companies, and venture capital firms.

The service branch will also take advantage of the xTech program to offer cash prizes, incentives and potential follow-on contracts to prime contractors that team up with small businesses to design soldier-friendly and relevant technologies.

“The strength of our nation is rooted in a strong commercial economy comprised of small businesses that are ready, willing and able to help us build an enduring advantage,” said Matthew Willis, director of Army Prize Competitions and Army Applied SBIR Program.

The service will work on the initiatives in the coming year and assess the pilot test in 2024.

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DCISE Reaches 1K Voluntary Partners for Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Program
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DCISE Reaches 1K Voluntary Partners for Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Program

The DOD-Defense Industrial Base Collaborative Information Sharing Environment within the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center has completed onboarding its 1,000th voluntary partner into the DIB Cybersecurity Program.

Through the DIB Cybersecurity Program, DCISE collaborates with cleared defense contractors to help protect their networks from cyberthreats, DC3 said Thursday.

DCISE serves as the operational arm of the DIB Cybersecurity Program and has attracted a considerable number of major defense contractors.

DCISE provides companies involved in the voluntary onboarding program with free malware analysis, cyber threat intelligence reporting, cybersecurity-as-a-service capabilities and opportunities to engage with industry and government experts.

According to DC3, the program kicked off with only 16 voluntary partners in 2008 and has recorded an average year-over-year partner growth of 24 percent.

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