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ACT-IAC Makes Recommendations to Improve Federal Agencies’ AI Accountability Practices
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ACT-IAC Makes Recommendations to Improve Federal Agencies’ AI Accountability Practices

The American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council is urging federal agencies to set or reinforce existing best practices in artificial intelligence accountability to protect their AI systems against threats.

In a white paper published Wednesday, ACT-IAC reported that the U.S. government currently does not have a standard definition of AI accountability, but federal managers can use guidelines from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Government Accountability Office to manage AI risks.

Under Executive Order 13960, government agencies are required to implement physical, technical or administrative safeguards to ensure the proper use and functionality of their AI systems. The EO mandates them to conduct an inventory, provide justification, or retire AI systems if necessary.

In the absence of clear federal guidance, they are encouraged to define their own AI accountability landscape based on their unique mission. ACT-IAC recommended that departments explore GAO’s AI Accountability Framework and NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework.

ACT-IAC also called for the involvement of the Federal CIO Council by means of a discussion group, so that government and industry can exchange ideas on definitions and challenges in implementation.

ACT-IAC Makes Recommendations to Improve Federal Agencies' AI Accountability Practices

Hear leaders from the GovCon industry and the government share their perspectives on notable AI advancements during the Potomac Officers Club’s Annual Artificial Intelligence Summit, which is scheduled to take place on Feb. 16 at Hilton-McLean in Virginia.

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DHS ONL Acting Director Paul Strang Highlights Benefits of NDAA to Chemical Security Research
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DHS ONL Acting Director Paul Strang Highlights Benefits of NDAA to Chemical Security Research

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 is a validation of the Chemical Security Analysis Center, said Paul Strang, acting director of the Office of National Laboratories at the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate.

In a guest post published Monday, Strang said the NDAA enacted by President Joe Biden last month gives full authorization to CSAC and underscores the importance of scientific research in addressing homeland security.

CSAC is the only federal laboratory that uses research, analysis and knowledge management to aid emergency planning and response to chemical threats. It has become the first recourse of ER teams looking for information on chemical event scenarios, Strang asserted.

Since its transition to DHS S&T in 2006, CSAC has been instrumental in the agency’s campaigns, including mitigating the spread of illicit opioids, and preparing for and simulating hazardous chemical dispersions in the military as well as the community.

The center is also a result of DHS’ partnership with the U.S. Army, which has led to the creation of the Chemical Security Laboratory for national readiness, Strang noted.

FCC to Continue With Plans to Reorganize International Bureau; Jessica Rosenworcel Quoted
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FCC to Continue With Plans to Reorganize International Bureau; Jessica Rosenworcel Quoted

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to reorganize the International Bureau into a new bureau tasked with overseeing satellite programs and policy within the agency and a standalone office to support its statutory obligations.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement published Monday that the new Space Bureau will work to align the agency’s resources with its statutory obligations, improve interagency coordination and support future requirements of the satellite industry.

“The satellite industry is growing at a record pace, but here on the ground our regulatory frameworks for licensing have not kept up. We’re working to change that. Today, we are moving forward with our plan to prepare for what comes next,” Rosenworcel said.

Matters of international communications regulation and licensing will be the primary focuses of the standalone Office of International Affairs.

The reorganization is part of the FCC’s Space Innovation agenda to speed up regulatory review processes, expand the satellite broadband services industry and modernize spectrum policy.

Rosenworcel announced plans to reorganize FCC in November 2022.

As a next step, the agency will seek approval from Congress to formalize the planned reorganization.

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DOE Opens Application Period for 2nd Cohort of NREL’s Clean Energy Cybersecurity Program
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DOE Opens Application Period for 2nd Cohort of NREL’s Clean Energy Cybersecurity Program

The Department of Energy is inviting companies and organizations to apply for the second cohort of a National Renewable Energy Laboratory program that supports the development of secure renewable energy technologies.

DOE said Monday the application period for NREL’s Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator is open until Feb. 10 and up to five U.S.-based organizations will be selected to participate in the program’s second cohort.

The chosen organizations will assess technologies designed to identify unauthorized and compromised industrial control system assets attached to a utility’s infrastructure that need to be remediated or removed.

The program offers participants an opportunity to gain professional evaluations of their technologies and partner with other utilities to develop next-generation cybersecurity platforms for clean energy technologies.

CECA is a collaboration between NREL and its utility partners Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Duke Energy and Xcel Energy.

In December, DOE named Xage Security, Sierra Nevada Corporation and Blue Ridge Networks the first cohort of participants in the program.

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Report: US Faces Challenge in Supplying Counter-Drone Tech to Ukraine
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Report: US Faces Challenge in Supplying Counter-Drone Tech to Ukraine

Western analysts and officials say the U.S. is struggling to quickly deploy sufficient equipment for Ukraine to effectively counter the threat posed by the Iran-built Shahed-136 drone that Russia has fielded to attack civilian infrastructure, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The U.S. Department of Defense awarded a contract to L3Harris Technologies to supply 14 Vehicle Agnostic Modular Palletized ISR Rocket Equipment to help Ukraine ground forces fight hostile drones.

According to the report, the first four VAMPIRE units are set to be delivered to Ukraine by mid-2023 and the rest will be ready by the end of the year, highlighting the challenge of supplying enough technologies to the Eastern European country.

Richard Ast, director of unmanned systems technology at DOD’s research and engineering directorate, said at a conference in December that his office was turning to industry to help develop platforms that could counter unmanned systems, particularly autonomous drones being fielded in large numbers.

Companies such as the Netherlands-based Robin Radar Systems and Utah-based Fortem Technologies are reportedly developing their capabilities so that they may counter Iran-made drones as the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its first anniversary.

Bill Haraka, vice president of defense and security at Robin Radar, said the company is working to improve the capability of its sensors to detect Shahed-136 and other larger drones.

Fortem CEO Jon Gruen also revealed that the company has made improvements to its DroneHunter system to help address the threat posed by Iranian drones.

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FAA Seeks Early 2024 Deadline for Aircraft Retrofitting Against 5G Network Interference
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FAA Seeks Early 2024 Deadline for Aircraft Retrofitting Against 5G Network Interference

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to require passenger and cargo aircraft to install technologies to prevent 5G networks from disrupting air traffic monitoring and navigation, Reuters reported Monday.

In a notice issued Monday, FAA said that plane carriers must have 5G C-Band-tolerant radio altimeters or filters approved by the agency by Feb. 1, 2024, amid increasing incidents of inaccurate data reporting by aircraft navigation equipment at U.S. airports.

FAA implemented in December 2021 a directive that bans cargo and passenger flight operations near 5G wireless transmitters if they do not have the agency’s authorization. To give airlines time to retrofit their vessels against interference, Verizon and AT&T volunteered to postpone “some usage” of their C-Band 5G service until July 2023, according to Reuters.

The new directive would require radio altimeters as well as revisions to flight manuals, to indicate that non-retrofitted planes are prohibited from making low-visibility landings.

Trade group Airlines for America responded that the U.S. government should take into consideration that global supply chain delays are making it difficult for companies to complete their upgrades.

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Former Reliable Robotics VP A.C. Charania Joins NASA as Chief Technologist
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Former Reliable Robotics VP A.C. Charania Joins NASA as Chief Technologist

A.C. Charania, formerly vice president of product strategy at aircraft automation services provider Reliable Robotics, has been appointed chief technologist at NASA.

He will work within the Office for Technology, Policy and Strategy and advise NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on matters related to technology innovation, policy and investment, the agency said Monday.

Charania will succeed Bhavya Lal, NASA associate administrator for technology, policy and strategy, who took on the duties of chief technologist on an acting basis.

“Technology plays a vital role in every NASA mission. Making sure that we’re pursuing the best policy objectives allows this agency to continue to serve as a global leader in innovation,” Lal said.

At Reliable Robotics, Charania led the company’s overall corporate growth strategy and partnerships with defense, civilian and commercial customers.

He previously held leadership positions in strategy and business development at Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic and SpaceWorks Enterprises.

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Navy Information Superiority Vision Campaign Plan Outlines 6 Focus Areas for FY 23; Aaron Weis Quoted
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Navy Information Superiority Vision Campaign Plan Outlines 6 Focus Areas for FY 23; Aaron Weis Quoted

Aaron Weis, chief information officer at the Department of the Navy, issued a campaign plan for fiscal year 2023 in December that lists concentrations to achieve the objectives of the Information Superiority Vision.

The FY 2023 set of objectives has six focus areas to help meet ISV goals: optimization of the DON Information Environment for cloud; adoption of enterprise services; implementation of zero trust; use of data to fuel force readiness; Cyber Ready; and Cattle Drive, the Navy said Monday.

To advance the first focus area, DON will continuously deliver IE as code, diversify transport and modernize application and data hosting environments.

For the Cattle Drive initiative, the department intends to advance IT modernization through the realignment of resources and removal of obsolete systems and applications. 

Weis, a three-time Wash100 awardee, said implementing the campaign plan is a “team sport.”

“Successful execution of the FY 23 campaign plan requires active involvement from champions across the DON,” he added.

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Anna Sever Selected as President of Magellan Federal; Derrick Duke Quoted
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Anna Sever Selected as President of Magellan Federal; Derrick Duke Quoted

Anna Sever has been named president of Magellan Federal, Magellan Health’s government services arm.

In her new role, Sever will guide Magellan Federal in upgrading operational controls and modifying processes, structure and technology to better position the company to pursue larger federal opportunities, Magellan Health announced from Frisco, Texas on Tuesday.

“Anna has set a clear strategy to target new markets for growth and expansion for Magellan Federal in the years to come, and I’m excited to see the new ways she will lead,” commented Magellan Health CEO Derrick Duke.

Sever holds over two decades of experience in working with county, state and federal governments in the areas of new business development, capture management and program development with a focus on Medicaid and Medicare, behavioral health, child welfare and developmental disabilities.

Her time with Magellan Federal began in 2021, when she joined the company as senior vice president of its strategy and growth unit.

Before joining Magellan, Sever oversaw Maximus’ health business development unit and contributed to the organization’s work on Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Veterans Affairs initiatives.

Earlier in her career, Sever served as a gubernatorial appointee in an Umbrella Health and Welfare agency, during which she led the operations of the Department of Health and Welfare.

“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the leader of Magellan Federal and manage the team of over 2,500 dedicated individuals offering complex wellness services to our nation’s fighting forces, federal civilian employees and their families,” Sever said.

“I look forward to the work we will accomplish while focusing on our goal to empower government personnel, military service members, and civilians to live a healthier, more productive life,” she emphasized.

Complementing her work in the federal healthcare industry, Sever currently serves as vice president of Norwin Band Aids’ Board of Directors and is a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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James Reagan Appointed to SAIC Board of Directors; Donna Morea Quoted
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James Reagan Appointed to SAIC Board of Directors; Donna Morea Quoted

James Reagan, a five-time Wash100 Award winner, has been appointed to SAIC’s Board of Directors.

Reagan brings four decades of career experience to the board and has worked with both publicly and privately held companies in the defense and federal services industries, the Reston, Virginia-based company announced on Tuesday.

“Both of these highly accomplished leaders are known not only for their stellar technical abilities in their fields, but also importantly, for their personal integrity and values,” said Donna Morea, chair of SAIC’s board of directors.

“Their unique abilities will support SAIC’s unwavering commitment to delivering for our customers, employees and shareholders through the company’s transformational, sustainable, long-term growth efforts,” she added.

Most recently, Reagan held the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer of Leidos before retiring in 2021. He has served as CFO in multiple other government contracting organizations, including Vencore, Vangent, Deltek and PAE, which is now part of Amentum.

Earlier in his career, he was vice president of finance at ICF International.

Throughout his time in the industry, Reagan has focused on driving shareholder value through mergers and acquisitions and growing businesses through process optimizations.

Handlon’s experience includes over 35 years with Marriott International, most recently as executive vice president of finance and treasurer of the company.

Carolyn Handlon was also added to the SAIC board. The pair of new additions raise the board’s total membership to 13, with almost two-thirds of its members being women and people of color.

James Reagan Appointed to SAIC Board of Directors; Donna Morea Quoted

SAIC is sponsoring ExecutiveBiz’s Homeland Security Forum on February 7, which will connect public and private sector leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the DHS as the agency works to promote a culture of resilience within the U.S. To learn more and register to attend, please visit ExecutiveBiz’s events page.

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