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Cybersecurity Advisory Panel Offers Recommendations to CISA Director Jen Easterly
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Cybersecurity Advisory Panel Offers Recommendations to CISA Director Jen Easterly

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency hosted the fourth meeting of its advisory panel on Tuesday and committee members offered updates and recommendations to Jen Easterly, director of CISA and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, to help strengthen the country’s cybersecurity posture.

Some of the recommendations offered by the subpanels of CISA’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee are identifying additional approaches to promote the agency’s multifactor authentication campaign and working with the FBI and other agencies within the Intelligence Community to prioritize election officials’ information needs about foreign disinformation, CISA said Tuesday.

The subcommittees also recommended that CISA launch a “311” campaign to provide an emergency hotline in the event of a cyberattack, improve national risk management and share with the courts information on foreign disinformation attacks and hacking.

“I was especially pleased to receive recommendations from our subcommittees specializing in protecting election infrastructure from the threat of foreign malign disinformation and from our experts on building resilience and reducing systemic risk,” said Easterly.

“The insight from these recommendations, and the thoughts of the full committee, promise to make CISA the cyber defense agency this nation deserves,” she added.

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Idaho National Lab Launches 5G Wireless Test Range
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Idaho National Lab Launches 5G Wireless Test Range

The Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory has unveiled a wireless test range to enable government, industry and academic researchers to test 5G equipment and related capabilities and identify and address security vulnerabilities.

INL said Tuesday it secured funding from the office of the undersecretary for research and engineering at the Department of Defense and worked with Mavenir Systems to equip the test range with 5G radios, base stations, antennas, a computerized core network and other cellular equipment.

“As the 5G ecosystem advances and becomes part of our daily lives, information and data security will be a critical consumer demand that we’ll address on this range,” said Dan Elmore, executive director of INL’s Wireless Security Institute.

Amanda Toman, director of 5G transition office and cross-functional team at DOD, said the new 5G test range could enable DOD to continue to advance 5G security, address challenges related to mission-critical communications and help soldiers ensure the security of their operations through any 5G network.

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Lt. Gen. Chance Saltzman: Tech, Training on His Agenda as Space Force Nominee
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Lt. Gen. Chance Saltzman: Tech, Training on His Agenda as Space Force Nominee

U.S. Space Force Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, the White House’s nominee for the role of chief of space operations, said that if confirmed, he would prioritize the development and deployment of space capabilities and ensure the training of guardians for them to operate in contested environments and counter the threats posed by strategic competitors, DOD News reported Tuesday.

“We’re also looking at flexible and innovative ways to make sure that we have viable and flexible career paths for our guardians,” Saltzman told Senate Armed Services Committee members during his nomination hearing Tuesday.

“It’s important that we retain this talent for an extended period of time to get the most out of them. If confirmed as CSO, I would certainly welcome the opportunity to continue to work with members of this committee and other stakeholders to make sure that we get the right organizational structure to take advantage of these capabilities,” he added.

Saltzman currently serves as deputy chief of space operations for operations, cyber and nuclear at the Space Force and would succeed the retiring Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient, once confirmed by the Senate.

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New Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Expedite DOD Procurement Processes to Refill Stockpiles
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New Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Expedite DOD Procurement Processes to Refill Stockpiles

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have introduced a bill aimed at providing the Department of Defense with stronger buying powers to expedite replenishment of U.S. defense stockpiles following delivery of aid to ally or partner targeted by a foreign adversary.

In a press release on Monday, Shaheen said the Securing American Acquisitions, Readiness and Military Stockpiles Act would also cover refilling American stockpiles after the U.S. sent lethal aid to Ukraine to support its defense against Russia.

“As the United States continues to lead the global military aid response to Ukraine amid Putin’s unprovoked war, it has become increasingly critical that we simultaneously ensure the sustainment of our defensive weapons stockpile while also providing the materials our allies and partners need to defend themselves. This bipartisan legislation would enhance our ability to both maintain our own defenses while also helping our friends,” Shaheen remarked.

If passed, the legislation would allow DOD to employ non-competitive procedures for accelerated contract award by amending the emergency acquisition authorities of the department.

“When providing aid to allies under attack, we must ensure we can quickly replenish our own stockpiles in the process. This legislation would authorize faster procurement of weapons and combat articles so helping our allies and partners doesn’t diminish our ability to protect ourselves,” said Cornyn.

Aside from the current bill, Shaheen and Cornyn earlier introduced the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which was signed into law in May, to develop a military lend-lease program aimed at boosting security assistance to Ukraine.

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Labor Department Requests Comments on Proposed Changes to Form LM-10
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Labor Department Requests Comments on Proposed Changes to Form LM-10

The Department of Labor is seeking comments on proposed changes to the Form LM-10 issued by the Office of Labor-Management Standards to require certain employers to report their status as federal contractors or subcontractors.

The department said Monday a checkbox will be included in the form for employers who engaged with reportable activities to indicate if they worked under a federal contract or subcontract in their prior fiscal year.

The form will also add a field for employers’ Unique Entity Identifier and information on the federal contracting agencies, according to a notice posted on the Federal Register.

“The change would give workers access to information about the indirect source of funding used to persuade or surveil them in connection with organizing and collective bargaining,” said Jeffrey Freund, director of the Office of Labor-Management Standards.

Responses to the request for comments are due Oct. 13.

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USMC Maj. Gen. James Glynn Nominated as Deputy Commandant for Manpower, Reserve Affairs
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USMC Maj. Gen. James Glynn Nominated as Deputy Commandant for Manpower, Reserve Affairs

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James Glynn has been nominated to serve as the service branch’s next deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs.

Glynn, the deputy commanding general of Training and Education Command, is also nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, according to a general officer announcement published Friday.

He will take on the role that was previously held by Lt. Gen. David Ottignon, commander general of II Marine Expeditionary Force.

Glynn previously served as the eighth commander of Marine Forces Special Operations Command. He was the deputy commanding general of Special Operations Joint Task Force, Operation Inherent Resolve and director of the Office of U.S. Marine Corps Communication.

His military career started in 1989 after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

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President Biden to Appoint Renee Wegrzyn as Inaugural ARPA-H Director; Xavier Becerra Quoted
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President Biden to Appoint Renee Wegrzyn as Inaugural ARPA-H Director; Xavier Becerra Quoted

President Biden intends to nominate Renee Wegrzyn, vice president of business development at biotechnology company Ginkgo Bioworks, to be the first director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).

Wegrzyn’s prior federal government experience included roles at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Biological Technologies Office and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, the White House said Monday.

At DARPA, Wegrzyn focused on synthetic biology and gene editing to support the agency’s efforts to enhance biosecurity and promote public health. Prior to joining the agency, she worked as a senior lead technologist for more than seven years at Booz Allen Hamilton.

Wegrzyn concurrently serves on the National Academy of Sciences’ standing committee on biotechnology capabilities and national security needs.

“With Dr. Wegryzn at the helm, ARPA-H is poised to drive health innovation and launch bold and ambitious research programs. She will lead us in tackling some of the most pressing health challenges of our time,” said Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and a previous Wash100 Award recipient.

Established in March, the ARPA-H operates under the National Institutes of Health and supports the development of transformative technologies and approaches to improve public health.

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GSA’s New Federal Buying Advisory Panel to Convene Next Week; Robin Carnahan Quoted
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GSA’s New Federal Buying Advisory Panel to Convene Next Week; Robin Carnahan Quoted

The General Services Administration’s newly formed advisory body plans to discuss the role of climate and sustainability in government contracting at an open public meeting scheduled for Sept. 22nd.

GSA said Wednesday the Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee will initially look into potential improvements in laws and processes to ensure the two key environmental issues are factored into federal acquisition programs.

The agency first announced its intent to assemble the panel in April and its Office of Government-wide Policy reviewed more than 100 nominations for committee membership from small businesses, public sector organizations, academic institutions and trade groups.

“As the federal government’s central buyer, it’s GSA’s job to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and at the same time to use our buying power to help fuel American innovation and lighten the environmental footprint of what we buy,” GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan said.

Carnahan will speak at the web-based GAP FAC meeting.

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Maj. Gen. Francis Donovan Nominated to SOCOM Vice Commander Post
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Maj. Gen. Francis Donovan Nominated to SOCOM Vice Commander Post

Major Gen. Francis Donovan, director of the Office of Marine Corps Communication, has been nominated to serve as the U.S. Special Operations Command’s next vice commander.

Donovan will receive a promotion to the rank of lieutenant general alongside his forthcoming assignment, the Department of Defense said Friday.

He previously led the 2D Marine Division for two years and, before that role, served as assistant commanding general of Joint Special Operations Command.

The USMC officer also held a two-year stint as head of the Naval Amphibious Forces, Task Force 51/5, and commanded Marine Expeditionary Forces in reconnaissance platoon, battalion landing and expeditionary brigade operations.

In an overseas assignment, Donovan oversaw a Marine Corps Security Forces Detachment located in Crete, Greece. His other previous roles include leadership of a Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team platoon and a Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Eastern Pennsylvania.

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NASEM Report Assesses Potential Impact of Ligado System on DoD’s GPS Receivers
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NASEM Report Assesses Potential Impact of Ligado System on DoD’s GPS Receivers

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine has issued a report on Ligado Networks’ plan to deploy terrestrial services and its potential impact on the Department of Defense’s GPS capabilities and mission execution.

The NASEM study has found that Ligado’s network will interfere with DOD’s GPS receivers, DOD said Friday. According to the report, Ligado’s user terminals may also interfere with Iridium Communications’ satellite communications network.

The study also considers the Pentagon’s testing measure based on signal-to-noise ratio as a comprehensive approach to interference assessment.

DOD said it looks forward to collaborating with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, the Federal Communication Commission and Ligado on the issue.

NASEM released the report in accordance with a provision of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

In April 2020, FCC approved Ligado’s application to use the L-band spectrum to field a low-power terrestrial network in support of 5G and internet-of-things services.

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