/
Johns Hopkins APL Unveils Cislunar Security National Technical Vision
Published on
Johns Hopkins APL Unveils Cislunar Security National Technical Vision

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory has issued a 75-page report outlining its technical vision for advancing security in cislunar space, which comprises the region between the moon and the Earth’s geosynchronous orbit.

The report titled Cislunar Security National Technical Vision tackles national needs in cislunar policy and strategy and discusses technological capabilities needed to ensure stability, transparency and safety in the cislunar region, such as space situational awareness; communications; position, navigation and timing; and reconstitution of space-based capabilities, APL said Monday.

“Our goal is to make a critical contribution in pushing forward the national dialogue around the policy and technology development for cislunar security,” said Steve Parr, a program manager at APL’s space exploration sector and section author and co-editor of the technical vision.

The report offers recommendations for advancing technological developments. To make cislunar PNT service a reality, the document recommends that the Department of Defense should allocate funds to take part in trade studies with NASA to come up with an architecture that meets the needs of the two agencies, leverage the Space Development Agency to rapidly develop capabilities and innovate existing technologies.

Parr and his colleagues created the technical vision by analyzing findings from discussions during the first two Cislunar Security conferences held in 2020 and 2021 and identifying three comprehensive needs for cislunar security: the need for international norms of behavior in cislunar space and lunar surface; need for enhanced space situational awareness; and ability to address norm violations.

//
GAO: DOD Should Designate Entity to Oversee Cyber Incident Reporting
Published on
GAO: DOD Should Designate Entity to Oversee Cyber Incident Reporting

The Government Accountability Office has recommended that the Department of Defense assign responsibility for ensuring cyber incident reporting and document when individuals affected by a breach of personally identifiable information were notified.

Although DOD has reduced the number of cyber incidents, GAO found weaknesses in reporting such incidents, including incomplete data and failure to notify leaders of critical incidents, and that the department did not designate an entity that should oversee cyber incident reporting, according to a report published Monday.

“Until DOD assigns such responsibility, DOD does not have assurance that its leadership has an accurate picture of the department’s cybersecurity posture,” the GAO report reads.

The congressional watchdog said the Pentagon should also improve sharing of cyber incident information related to the defense industrial base and include detailed procedures for determining and informing leaders of critical cyber events in guidance.

According to GAO, DOD has come up with a process for managing all cyber incidents and another one for critical incidents but has not fully conducted either of these two methods.

/
Eric Goldstein: 3 Security Advisory Systems Can Help Advance Vulnerability Management Practices
Published on
Eric Goldstein: 3 Security Advisory Systems Can Help Advance Vulnerability Management Practices

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is working with government and private sector entities to advance and automate vulnerability management in all kinds of U.S. organizations, said Eric Goldstein, CISA’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity.

In a blog post published Monday, Goldstein mentioned the Common Security Advisory Framework, the Vulnerability Exploitability eXchange security advisory, and Stakeholder Specific Vulnerability Categorization system as some elements of its strategy to help improve defenses against software and hardware weaknesses.

Goldstein recommended the expanded use of CSAF, a standard that enables machine-readable representation of information in security advisories. He said the framework will not only automate but also significantly shorten the time it takes to understand the impact of a newly identified vulnerability, formulate remediation processes and communicate the flaw to end users.

VEX, another form of security advisory, can detect if a particular product is affected by a system weakness. Goldstein suggested that vendors can help streamline vulnerability investigations by issuing VEX advisories that indicate whether an organization is at risk.

CISA is encouraging organizations to use SSVC as a guide for prioritizing a known system flaw and its corresponding remediation procedure. The agency created an SSVC webpage containing a decision tree, published a guide and set up a calculator to assist institutions in prioritization.

/
GSA Creates Technology Law Unit as Part of Service Modernization Initiatives
Published on
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.

/
Defense Logistics Agency Set to Complete Implementation of G-Invoicing System
Published on
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.

/
Space Systems Command Selects 7 Finalists in ‘Fight Tonight’ Competition
Published on
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.

/
Annual ISOA Summit to Examine Current, Future Stability Operations Issues
Published on
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.

//
Air Force Extends Partnership with Virtualitics to Advance AI; Michael Amori Quoted
Published on
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.

///
Biden to Nominate Martin Gruenberg for 2nd Term as FDIC Chair
Published on
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.

/
US Treasury Sanctions Target Russian Military Procurement Network; Janet Yellen Quoted
Published on
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.

1 … 726 727 728 729 730 … 2,659