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Sandia Labs to Invest $5B in New R&D Facilities
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Logo of Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories has unveiled plans for a $5 billion investment in construction projects over the next 10 years.

The investment is intended to expand its facilities to enhance federal research and development initiatives in support of its core national security research efforts, Nextgov/FCW reported Wednesday. 

Sandia National Laboratories’ Top Priorities

The investment will support several construction projects, including a Power Sources Capability Facility and a Combined Radiation Environments for Survivability Testing Facility.

According to Laura McGill, director of Sandia Labs, the new facilities will bolster the lab’s abilities to research emerging technologies, which remains the top priority of the lab. McGill stressed that the lab will focus on radiation environment testing, power source capabilities, nuclear deterrent programming, quantum computing sciences, materials science and artificial intelligence, particularly its possible applications to national security.

“Sandia is really leaning into AI; it’s transforming our national security,” said McGill. “We are strengthening our expertise so that we can safely harness AI to the benefits of our capabilities and our future. At Sandia, we’re developing world-class algorithms to accelerate science and engineering, but also we’re applying it to improve our business operations,” she added.

New Facilities Are Mutually Beneficial

McGill said during a press conference that the planned construction is a “win-win” for laboratory researchers and contracting firms based in New Mexico. She emphasized that the investment provides “a stable source of work and economic opportunity for design firms, construction companies and the skilled tradespeople.”

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DCSA, MTU Build AI Tool for Identifying Foreign Influence in Corporate Documents
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Logo of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency

A collaboration between the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency and a team of students from Michigan Technological University resulted in the development of an artificial intelligence-powered automation tool that could analyze and scan publicly available corporate documents for potential indicators of foreign influence.

The tool, which uses advanced optical character recognition, or OCR, natural language processing and machine learning, achieved 98.9 percent accuracy in document scanning and OCR conversion and 98.3 percent accuracy in data extraction and classification, DCSA said Wednesday, adding that the software extracts details about key personnel and takes only two seconds to generate reports highlighting suspicious connections or patterns. The system also allows users to define and update areas of concern, such as specific foreign affiliations or sensitive corporate roles.

Driving Innovation Through Partnerships With Academic Institutions

Corey Sampson, chief of engineering sustainment for the national industrial security system portfolio in the industrial security systems and services section of the DCSA Program Executive Office, mentored the MTU team, which completed the AI solution over two semesters under the university’s Enterprise Program, designed to provide students with experience in solving open-ended, industry-driven problems.

Sampson said the collaboration demonstrated the potential of academic institutions to drive innovation in support of national security. The team’s work aligns with DCSA’s mission of “safeguarding the nation’s trusted workforce, workspaces, classified information and critical assets through personnel security, industrial security, counterintelligence and insider threat and security training,” he added. 

According to Wallace Coggins, DCSA chief data and AI officer, the partnership with MTU provided an opportunity to gain insights into the latest advancements and potential of AI, supporting DCSA in securing the U.S. defense industrial base and protecting its critical technologies.

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NIST Issues Internal Reports on IoT Cyber Improvements
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The Internet of Things refers to a network of interconnected devices

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity for the Internet of Things program has published two internal reports, or IR, outlining recommended cyber activities for IoT device manufacturers.

Both IR 8572 and IR 8259r1 advance the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020’s requirement to review the federal cyber guidelines every five years, NIST said Tuesday.

Enabling IoT Manufacturers to Meet Customers’ Cyber Expectations

IR 8572 summarizes an NIST workshop on March 5 that discussed upcoming updates to IR 8259, which centers on IoT cybersecurity guidelines for specific industries and use cases. The event also collected feedback from participants on their views about the IoT product lifecycle, expanded discussion of risk analysis, application to industrial contexts and cybersecurity concerns on data management to support privacy goals.

Meanwhile, IR 8259r1 provides best practices for IoT manufacturers to help them develop products that meet customer needs and expectations for cybersecurity. The updated document highlights the NIST mission to address the full IoT product scope and expand maintenance, support and end-of-life considerations for IoT products.

Interested parties are invited to review IR 8259r1 and submit their comments no later than July 14.

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Troy Meink Confirmed as Air Force Secretary
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NRO Principal Deputy Director Troy Meink receiving Senate confirmation to serve as the next secretary of the Air Force

The Senate on Tuesday voted 74-25 to confirm Troy Meink, who has been principal deputy director at the National Reconnaissance Office since 2020, as the 27th secretary of the Air Force, the service branch reported.

Improving Air Force Lethality

During his Senate confirmation hearing in March, Meink said that if confirmed, he aims to “organize, train, and equip the Department of the Air Force to have the lethality needed to deter all potential aggressors, and if necessary, win in conflict.”

“The Department is building and operating some of the most complex systems ever fielded in both air and space,” he told lawmakers. “We need not only the right number of Airmen and Guardians, but also need the right skills, training, support and focus to deliver and operate those systems.”

Maintaining Space Superiority

At the hearing, he noted that maintaining space superiority is a priority. He highlighted the nuclear deterrent’s importance and the need to modernize the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad.

Meink also stressed the need to expand the industrial base, boost competition, develop a more advanced missile defense shield, advance the F-47 fighter jet program and streamline the budgeting and acquisition processes.

Troy Meink’s Career Highlights

Meink has held several leadership roles at NRO, including director of geospatial intelligence systems acquisition and head of signal intelligence systems acquisition.

He served in the Department of the Air Force as deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space and director, executive agent for space staff.

He started his military career as a KC-135 tanker navigator and instructor. He went on to serve as lead test engineer for the design and evaluation of ballistic missile test vehicles for the Missile Defense Agency.

The South Dakota State University mechanical engineering graduate has a doctorate in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Ohio State University.

Gain valuable insights from experts and speakers at the 2025 Air and Space Summit. Save your spot now for this Potomac Officers Club-hosted event on July 31.

POC - 2025 Air and Space Summit
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Army Seeks to Drive Innovation Through xTechSearch 9 Competition for Small Businesses
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Headshot of Matt Willis, director of Army Innovation Programs

The U.S. Army has unveiled the latest iteration of its xTechSearch prize competition to identify new technologies from small businesses and deliver innovative capabilities designed to improve warfighter readiness.

What Is xTechSearch 9?

The service branch said Tuesday xTechSearch 9 is an open topic competition that seeks to identify breakthrough platforms that demonstrate strong commercial viability, technical feasibility and the potential to bring transformative capabilities to the Army.

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology oversees xTechSearch 9 in collaboration with the Army’s Small Business Innovation Research, or SBIR, and Small Business Technology Transfer Program.

Through the competition, the military branch wants proposals from vendors that may not have previously worked with the Department of Defense but can explain how their proposed tech platforms can address a relevant Army challenge.

“The Army understands the importance of maintaining a tactical edge over our adversaries, and keeping the force equipped with new, disruptive technologies is one step of the process,” said Matt Willis, director of Army Innovation Programs. “By hosting open-topic competitions like xTechSearch 9, the Army actively partners with U.S-based small businesses to explore emerging technologies that could significantly impact our modernization priorities.”

Learn more about the latest technological advancements and 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 now!

Structure of the xTechSearch 9 Competition

Small businesses must submit a three-page white paper outlining their tech concept, dual-use potential, feasibility and relevant to Army needs. Proposals are due June 4.

A panel of DOD experts will evaluate the submissions and select up to 60 companies that will move to the finals and join the xTechSearch 9 Accelerator Program. Under this phase, each selected vendor will receive $5,000 in cash prizes.

For the second part of the competition, the finalists will demonstrate their tech concepts and transition plans to a panel of DOD and Army experts. The panel will pick up to 24 winners and award each an additional $25,000 in cash prizes. 

Under the third phase, the selected vendors will have the opportunity to submit an Army Phase I proposal in October. The winners will receive developmental and assessment-based feedback from Army subject matter experts to help evaluate and further develop proposed tech platforms in practical settings.

POC - 2025 Army Summit
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DIA Reveals Evolving Missile Threats in ‘Golden Dome’ Report
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Official seal of the Defense Intelligence Agency

The Defense Intelligence Agency has released an unclassified report outlining the missile threats a sophisticated United States missile defense system should be able to counter.

The agency said Tuesday the missile threat assessment, titled “Golden Dome for America: Current and Future Missile Threats to the U.S. Homeland,” underscores the growing scale and sophistication of missile threats facing the U.S. homeland over the next decade. It also predicts the continuous advancements in both conventional and nuclear-capable delivery systems of potential adversaries.

Get insights on emerging threats and how intelligence plays a vital role in safeguarding the nation against these advanced warfare technologies from top leaders of the Intelligence Community. Register and join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Intel Summit on October 2.

DIA Reveals Evolving Missile Threats in ‘Golden Dome’ Report

6 Missile Threat Categories

The report categorizes these missile threats and inventories into six categories, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, two various types of hypersonic weapons, land attack cruise missiles and fractional orbital bombardment systems.

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NIST’s Digital Identity Lead Says Agencies Must Balance Risk Mitigation, UX
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Graphic representing cybersecurity

Federal agencies will need to find the balance between risks and user experience when developing and implementing digital identity systems, according to Ryan Galluzzo, digital identity lead for the Applied Cybersecurity Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

In an interview, the government tech leader said agencies must look at various factors such as application context and rights, type of data, and who will be using the system, and on what devices. 

“The whole point of the digital identity risk management process is to want to understand what is the application context you’re working in? What are the different users that you have? What kind of data are you accessing? What kind of rights do you have once they are in the application? Can they modify things, just view things, and what’s the potential impact?” Galluzzo asked.

NIST previously published Special Publication 800-63, which consists of four volumes to guide agencies on how they can manage risks with digital identity programs. 

On Privilege Access

The U.S. government has adopted phishing-resistant multifactor authentication as part of its cybersecurity strategy. Agencies are also exploring access governance, such as attribute-based access control, or ABAC. 

According to Galluzzo, ABAC enables system administrators to manage access based on user and transaction attributes. ABAC considers where the user is located, the time of day they are trying to access a system, what kind of device is being used and the type of network it is connected to and applies the appropriate policies.

The official added that his office is specifically looking at passkeys and Fast Identity Online, or FIDO, authentication and credentials used in mobile wallets. He commented that technologies that consolidate increased security and smoother user experience “show a lot of value and gain a lot of traction.”

Learn more about the innovative solutions that can provide security and strengthen resilience across the public sector at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Cyber Summit on May 15. Register for the in-person event here.

NIST's Digital Identity Lead Says Agencies Must Balance Risk Mitigation, UX
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NASA Applies Thermal Protection to Space Launch System Hydrogen Tank
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Wide shot of a NASA Space Launch System rocket being launched

NASA has completed the application of a thermal protection system to the core stage’s liquid hydrogen tank at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.

The agency said Tuesday the recent development brings the Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis III mission closer to launch.

Thermal Protection System

The new addition to the SLS rocket is intended to protect the hydrogen tank from extremely high temperatures during launch and ascent. The specialized insulation will also maintain the temperature of the liquid hydrogen at minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit on the pad before launch. Furthermore, the thermal protection system will safeguard the human crew and other structural components of the rocket.

The insulation sprayed on the tank is made of flexible polyurethane foam tested to withstand extreme conditions. NASA personnel sprayed the large components of space shuttle tanks while in a vertical position. The core stage, however, was sprayed horizontally, marking the first time it was done at Michoud.

Artemis III Mission

Artemis III will build upon the crewed Artemis II flight test by incorporating new critical capabilities, particularly the human landing system and advanced spacesuits. These significant additions aim to enable the first crewed lunar mission to the Moon’s South Pole region. The mission is also intended to prepare for the possibility of landing humans on Mars.

“The thermal protection system protects the SLS rocket from the heat of launch while also keeping the thousands of gallons of liquid propellant within the core stage’s tanks cold enough,” said Jay Bourgeois, thermal protection system, test and integration lead at NASA Michoud. “Without the protection, the propellant would boil off too rapidly to replenish before launch.”

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DIU Seeks Power Generation System for Next-Gen Naval Destroyers
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Defense Innovation Unit seeks industry provider of power generation system for Navy destroyers.

The Defense Innovation Unit is soliciting an innovative technology for the power and propulsion design of the U.S. Navy’s next-generation surface destroyers.

The required power generation system must be capable of supporting the vessels’ operational and technical demands and its components that require high electrical loads, such as advanced sensors, directed energy weapons and propulsion systems, DIU said.

What the Navy Destroyers Need

The Navy needs an architecture that features power distribution capabilities to support various mission requirements. The whole package should include power quality management, dark ship mitigation, casualty power and electric start for proposed engine types. The government also expects the potential contractor to deliver a software-based integrated power and propulsion, or IPS, architecture model and ship IPS test assets to the Navy’s land-based testing facility.

Specifically, the Navy seeks a diesel fuel marine-powered system that employs different motor and drive technologies to achieve an ideal IPS architecture. It should include enhanced operational availability, survivability and flexibility for future upgrades. Interested bidders must also ensure that the technology is supported by a secure supply chain for all components.

The successful vendors will be required to deliver a software-based system model compatible with the Navy’s preferred modeling and simulation software. The systems will then go through land-based testing at Navy partner facilities. Interested parties should submit their proposals no later than May 27.

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NGA Maven Program Exploring Potential Threat Prediction Using AI
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Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, director of NGA, unveiled the next stage of the agency's Maven AI program.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Maven program, an artificial-intelligence-powered image and video processing capability, is exploring new approaches to data and AI that could enable threat prediction, Defense One reported Tuesday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Global SOF event, Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, the NGA director and a four-time Wash100 recipient, said the next chapter of Maven would include new AI reasoning capabilities to detect potential threats, instead of merely identifying objects.

The effort requires creating and training new models “for the pieces of equipment or even behaviors that we want to prioritize,” Whitworth said, noting the role of the agency’s analysts in making models more accurate and confident in detecting threats. He expressed confidence in their ability to train the models; however, he acknowledged that some corroboration is needed to support foreseen threats before briefing a combatant commander or the president.

Computational Problem Hits Maven

NGA took over the Maven program in January 2023 after it was established in 2017 as the Pentagon’s flagship AI project to integrate AI into military workflows. According to the NGA director, the Maven user base rose fourfold within a year, reflecting increasing confidence of commanders across the services in AI.

In an August 2024 conference, Whitworth discussed the computational problem associated with the rising Maven users, saying that the program started to slow down since its 2017 compute level did not change.

At the Global SOF event, the official said the agency has been able to keep up with customer demand because of its continuous work on models to improve accuracy and efficiency and the foresight to acquire enough computing power that matches the demand.

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