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GovCon Expert Emily Murphy: Congress Should Reauthorize Small Business Innovation Research Program
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GovCon Expert Emily Murphy: Congress Should Reauthorize Small Business Innovation Research Program

Emily Murphy, senior fellow at the George Mason University School of Business’ Center for Government Contracting and former head of the General Services Administration, said Congress should reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research program to ensure that the Department of Defense and other federal agencies have continued access to critical technologies.

GovCon Expert Emily Murphy, a three-time Wash100 Award winner, wrote in a commentary published Monday on Defense News that Congress should foster collaboration and establish a framework for future research and development by encouraging agencies to share outcomes from previous SBIR awards.

Lawmakers should also advance the use of open topics for early-stage awards under the SBIR program to attract small businesses that have not taken part in government contracting.

She said open topics ask applicants what research work could benefit a specific agency program.

“SBIR awards should be based on merit and promote national security, transparency and innovation,” Murphy said. “A formula attempting to quantify how many times a business may iterate its innovation to achieve success is dangerous because it takes away the ability of an agency to judge whether sufficient progress is being made,” she added.

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Lt. Gen. Scott McKean: Army’s Project Convergence to Feature Joint Combat Tech
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Lt. Gen. Scott McKean: Army’s Project Convergence to Feature Joint Combat Tech

Lt. Gen. Scott McKean, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Futures Command, said a forthcoming all-service exercise will focus on experimenting joint multinational combat technologies and futuristic defense capabilities.

Project Convergence 2022 will involve not only U.S. special operations forces, but also service members, researchers and industry partners from the U.K. and Australia, the command said Monday.

“Using existing and emerging technologies from space to land and sea, PC22 will experiment with capabilities that protect against air and missile threats as well as those that will allow us to defeat anti-access defenses,” said McKean, who serves as the event’s director this year.

About 300 technology platforms such as unmanned aerial systems, next-generation sensors and autonomous fighting vehicles will be part of the event.

McKean added military participants seek to shine a light on Joint All-Domain Command and Control development efforts by showcasing the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System and the Navy’s Project Overmatch.

The Army plans to introduce the PC22 Technology Gateway, an industry engagement initiative that would enable the service branch to assess new military technologies from the private sector.

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Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey Named Air Force Integrating PEO for C3 and Battle Management
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Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey Named Air Force Integrating PEO for C3 and Battle Management

The Department of the Air Force has announced the appointment of Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey, director of the Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, as the first integrating program executive officer for command, control, communications and battle management.

Cropsey will directly report to Andrew Hunter, the Air Force’s service acquisition executive, and work with Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary of the Air Force for space integration, as he oversees the Advanced Battle Management System and C3BM integration and modernization efforts, the Air Force said Monday.

“Luke’s charge will be to build the organizational infrastructure to solve the complex systems engineering and integration challenge for C3BM across the DAF and externally, and he will be empowered as the leader to make this happen,” Hunter said.

Cropsey will help DAF coordinate with the office of the secretary of defense and other service branches as it contributes to the Department of Defense’s Joint All Domain Command and Control development and deployment initiatives.

Hunter will also name a new chief of engineering for the integrating PEO for C3BM to lead system engineering efforts.

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L3Harris Partners with Embraer on Aerial Refuel Tanker for USAF; CEO Christopher Kubasik Quoted
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L3Harris Partners with Embraer on Aerial Refuel Tanker for USAF; CEO Christopher Kubasik Quoted

Defense contracting company L3Harris Technologies is working on a new aerial fueling technology in collaboration with aerospace component manufacturer Embraer.

The “Agile Tanker” tool will build on a prior Embraer-made tactical tanker aircraft and is designed to enable the operational imperative objectives of the U.S. Air Force, the Melbourne, Florida-headquartered company said Monday.

“U.S. Air Force strategic planners have stated agile combat employment will require refueling platforms optimized to support a disaggregated approach to air dominance in contested logistics environments,” explained Christopher Kubasik, CEO and chairman of L3Harris.

Kubasik, who is a multiple-time recipient of the Wash100 Award, also said that partnering with Embraer will produce a financially viable product with a fast turnaround.

Together, L3Harris and Embraer plan to optimize and evolve the latter company’s KC-390 Millennium tanker model with new boom operations and mission systems that can assist with agile basing and preservation in difficult-to-navigate environments. The new tanker will additionally be built to connect with Joint All Domain Command and Control apparatuses, which are a focus in the aforementioned Air and Space Forces’ operational imperatives.

The KC-390 Millennium is crafted to function in a range of mission types. The latest edition will harness the L3Harris team’s status as an aircraft missionization prime alongside Embraer’s jet-powered hardware to attempt to best serve the needs of the Department of Defense and the USAF.

The aerial vessel is already, pre-update, able to intake fuel, refuel aircrafts with a variable speed drogue, as well as take off and descend onto small and unconventional runways, so that its application can be as widespread and versatile as possible.

Production of the new model will be finalized in the U.S., with post-production modernization and missionization conducted at the L3Harris aircraft modification facility in Waco, Texas.

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Maximus Brings on DHS Expert Jennifer Ferreira to Oversee National Security Expansion; Scott Barr Quoted
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Maximus Brings on DHS Expert Jennifer Ferreira to Oversee National Security Expansion; Scott Barr Quoted

Jennifer Ferreira, an executive formerly with General Dynamics Information Technology, has been appointed vice president of business development at Maximus, with an emphasis on working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In her new role, Ferreira will be part of a push advocating for the usage of technologies like cybersecurity, machine learning and artificial intelligence while concentrating on growing and further fleshing out Maximus’ national security business, the McLean, Virginia-based company said Monday.

Scott Barr, senior vice president for technology and consulting services at Maximus, described that Ferreira’s hire is part of an effort to expand the market reach of the company into the national security sector, informed by the Maximus team’s grasp of the business operations and technology that DHS and other similar agencies are seeking.

Barr also said he thinks Ferreira “will be a huge asset,” while John Mandell, managing director of national security at Maximus, praised Ferreira’s career history, which includes numerous experiences working with DHS and her specific knowledge of “how to implement digital transformation to deliver better services, improving the ability to secure the homeland.”

In past jobs, Ferreira has conducted consulting services to DHS entities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and Intelligence & Analysis, as well as Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

During her over a decade of work in the government contracting field, the newly instated executive has worked as a lead associate at Booz Allen Hamilton, a senior manager at Deloitte and a program manager at SRA, a CSRA company. She is reportedly particularly skilled in analytical and strategic planning and team-building.

Most recently, Ferreira was a program director and, subsequently, a business development director at GDIT, where she led all related DHS, CBP and ICE activities.

Her appointment follows an influx of new additions to Maximus’ team this year. Among others, Marie Russell came aboard as VP of federal alliances in August; Robert Knapp joined as SVP of digital government solutions in June; and Barr came to the company in March.

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Senate Confirms Nathaniel Fick as Head of State Department’s Cyberspace, Digital Policy Bureau
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Senate Confirms Nathaniel Fick as Head of State Department’s Cyberspace, Digital Policy Bureau

The Senate has unanimously confirmed Nathaniel Fick to serve as ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy at the State Department.

Fick will head the newly established Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy and coordinate the nation’s response to international cyberthreats, Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said in a statement published Thursday.

“Our country has lagged behind in shaping policies beyond our shores to defend us in this war without borders. I hope that ends today. This unanimous confirmation is a testament to the importance of the role and to Nate’s impressive qualifications,” King said.

Fick most recently led the information security business of technology company Elastic as a general manager and served as CEO of cybersecurity software developer Endgame. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry and reconnaissance officer.

The Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy became operational in April as recommended by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission to coordinate the State Department’s cyber-related diplomacy and policy initiatives.

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Kathleen Hicks Highlights Biomanufacturing’s Potential to Advance National Security
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Kathleen Hicks Highlights Biomanufacturing’s Potential to Advance National Security

Kathleen Hicks, deputy secretary at the Department of Defense and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, said biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation present transformative opportunities to advance national security efforts.

Speaking at the White House Summit on Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing, Hicks unveiled the Pentagon’s commitment to invest more than $1 billion over the next five years to expand the U.S. bioindustrial manufacturing sector, DOD reported Friday.

“The goal, really, is to help be a key catalyst for a domestic bioindustrial manufacturing base, and more quickly turn basic and applied research into operational prototypes and reliable, reproducible products that can be made at scale,” said Hicks.

In her speech, Hicks said DOD will incentivize industry partners to expand the biotech innovation and manufacturing capacity for critical chemicals for lubricants, energetics and fuels.

The investment comes after President Joe Biden signed an executive order on advancing biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovation in the U.S. to achieve societal goals.

Heidi Shyu, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering and a fellow 2022 Wash100 Award recipient, said the EO will synchronize efforts across the military and federal government to utilize biotechnology to achieve economic, military and technological advantage.

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DHS Announces $1B Cybersecurity Grant Program for State, Local Governments
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DHS Announces $1B Cybersecurity Grant Program for State, Local Governments

The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled a four-year cybersecurity grant program that will provide $1 billion in funding to help state, local and territorial governments protect their information systems against cyberthreats.

The program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is aimed at supporting efforts to identify key vulnerabilities, implement mitigation measures and develop a cyber workforce for the 21st century, DHS said Friday.

DHS has released a notice of funding opportunity, providing a 60-day period for STL governments to apply for grants to fund their current or new cybersecurity programs.

About $185 million of the funding will be made available for fiscal year 2022 and a separate funding opportunity for tribal communities will be released later in the fall.

Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of DHS and a previous Wash100 Award winner, has identified cyberattacks as one of the top threats to homeland security.

“In response, we continue to strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity, including by resourcing state and local communities to build and enhance their cyber defenses,” Mayorkas added.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient, encourages eligible entities to apply for grant funds to defend the U.S. critical infrastructure and communities from cyberthreats.

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GovCon Expert Jim McAleese Offers Analysis of DOD’s FY22 Investment Account Outlays
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GovCon Expert Jim McAleese Offers Analysis of DOD’s FY22 Investment Account Outlays

A McAleese & Associates report says the Department of Defense’s investment account outlays for fiscal year 2022, which include $147 billion in DOD procurement funds and $119 billion in research, development, test and evaluation funds, are -9 percent behind schedule.

Jim McAleese, founder of McAleese & Associates and a three-time Wash100 Award winner, reported that DOD’s operation and maintenance outlay are behind by about $10 billion, requiring a major push to obligate $299 billion in FY 2022 O&M funds by the end of September.

According to the report, the Pentagon’s RDT&E funding of $119 billion for the current fiscal year is about 11 percent or $12 billion higher than the appropriated research funding in FY 2021 and is “two-year money” that can be contractually obligated through FY 2023.

McAleese said the department’s FY 2021 procurement funding reflects a 3 percent increase from the previous fiscal year’s funding and is “three-year money” that can be obligated through FY 2024.

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Combined Program Office to Improve US Capability Against Advanced Missile Threats; Col. Brian Denaro Quoted
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Combined Program Office to Improve US Capability Against Advanced Missile Threats; Col. Brian Denaro Quoted

Space Systems Command is overseeing a new combined program office that seeks to enhance U.S. capability to counter, deter and win against threats posed by competitors in space.

Established in August, the CPO is composed of representatives from SSC, Missile Defense Agency and the Space Development Agency and will help develop and deploy missile warning, missile defense and missile tracking capabilities in support of the U.S. and its allies, the command said Thursday.

“Our adversaries continue to develop missile technologies that are faster burning, dimmer, and more maneuverable,” said Col. Brian Denaro, space sensing program executive officer and head of the new CPO.

“This Combined Program Office, in partnership with SDA and MDA, will drive critical integration across a new resilient multilayer architecture that will warn, track, and defeat these increasingly advanced and elusive missile threats,” added Denaro.

The CPO will help clarify roles, responsibilities and authorities for SSC, MDA, SDA and other mission partners, establish end-to-end system of systems accountability between requirements and weapon system delivery, develop and manage standards and integrate with operators and combatant commands.

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