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Lori Wade on Top 3 Data Priorities for Intelligence Community
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Lori Wade on Top 3 Data Priorities for Intelligence Community

Lori Wade, chief data officer for the Intelligence Community within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said one of her top priorities for the IC is achieving data interoperability at scale and speed.

She said the IC should collaborate with industry and academia to advance the adoption of enterprise data services and serve as the foundation of a data-centric ecosystem that pursues the use of machine-enabled analytics.

“Second, we need end-to-end data management planning for the collection and acquisition of data – from why the data is being collected to who will use the data and how,” Wade said in an interview published Thursday.

“If data is an IC asset, then we need a plan for it. We need to plan and solve for the intersection of data integration and mission insight,” she added.

Another priority for Wade is improving the IC workforce’s data tradecraft and acumen.

“It is critical for the IC workforce now and in the future to understand how to work with data and stay current on the ever-changing digital and data landscape for not only Artificial Intelligence or AI, but all the emerging technology to coming,” she noted.

Wade said she intends to enhance the speed of data sharing to support missions by working tech and thought leaders to come up with tactical and strategic options as well as advance diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Senate Committee’s $847B Defense Policy Bill Includes Procurement, Research Funding Boost for Fiscal 2023
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Senate Committee’s $847B Defense Policy Bill Includes Procurement, Research Funding Boost for Fiscal 2023

The Senate Armed Services Committee has released an $847 billion defense policy bill that includes a $13.8 billion increase in procurement funds over the Pentagon’s budget request, Breaking Defense reported Monday.

SASC’s version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which increased topline figures by $45 billion, also offers roughly $7.5 billion more for research, development, test and evaluation programs, according to the publication.

“With broad, bipartisan support this year’s NDAA increases funding for our national defense, invests in the platforms and infrastructure our military needs, and delivers critical resources for our allies and partners around the globe,” Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said in a statement released Monday.

The SASC chairman noted the bill supports investment efforts for hypersonic, artificial intelligence and cyber platforms for the future battlefield.

Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., added the proposed national defense spending increase seeks to help the military offset the effects of inflation on the Pentagon’s buying power.

SASC unveiled its 2023 NDAA four days after the House Armed Services Committee passed its version of the bill, which authorizes nearly $840 billion for military and national security programs.

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DISA Seeks Industry Sources to Manage Agency Financial, Accounting Systems
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DISA Seeks Industry Sources to Manage Agency Financial, Accounting Systems

The Defense Information Systems Agency is searching for potential vendors that can help DISA’s chief financial officer maintain financial and accounting systems.

DISA released a sources sought notice Thursday on SAM.gov to let industry know of its plan for the recompete of financial management and system sustainment services to support accounting operations and compliance functions within the Office of the CFO.

The scope of work includes quality accounting, budget rate generation, execution reporting, variance analysis and business process enhancements.

OCFO CFA also requires assistance to develop software, perform analytical tasks and ensure the agency’s audit readiness. A selected contractor will also review and verify DISA’s workload related to foreign military sales cases.

Deloitte Consulting is the incumbent contractor for the services under a task order awarded through the Chief Information Officer–Solutions and Partners 3 contract vehicle.

DISA expects to issue the recompete award during the fourth quarter of the government’s 2023 fiscal year.

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FBI Warns Investors, Financial Institutions of Fake Cryptocurrency Apps
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FBI Warns Investors, Financial Institutions of Fake Cryptocurrency Apps

The FBI has issued an advisory informing financial institutions and investors that cybercriminals swindled approximately $42.7 million from 244 victims through fake cryptocurrency investment applications.

Criminals operating YiBit, one of the companies named in the advisory, took about $5.5 million from at least four victims between October 2021 and May 2022 by convincing them to download the YiBit app and make cryptocurrency deposits into wallets linked to their YiBit accounts, the FBI said Monday.

These victims received an email informing them to pay taxes on their investments to facilitate withdrawals. After doing so, they were unable to withdraw the funds.

The FBI warning also named another fraudulent crypto investment app associated with criminals operating under the corporate name Supayos. Two victims were defrauded with the Supay app.

The bureau called on financial institutions to inform clients of the fraudulent activity and encourage their customers to conduct online searches of their company names and logos to see if they are being associated with scams.

Investors should verify the legitimacy of an app and be cautious of unsolicited requests to download investment apps, according to the advisory.

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DARPA, Air Force Complete 2nd Flight Test of Raytheon’s Hypersonic Missile With Northrop Scramjet Engine
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DARPA, Air Force Complete 2nd Flight Test of Raytheon’s Hypersonic Missile With Northrop Scramjet Engine

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the U.S. Air Force tested for the second time a Raytheon Technologies-built hypersonic missile powered by a scramjet engine from Northrop Grumman.

The Raytheon version of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept system flew for more than 300 nautical miles at altitudes higher than 60,000 feet and hypersonic speeds faster than Mach 5 after being released from an aircraft during the flight test conducted in early July, DARPA said Monday.

“This most recent test allowed exploration of more of the flight and scramjet engine operating envelopes,” said Andrew “Tippy” Knoedler, HAWC program manager at DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office.

“The Navy and Air Force will have access to the data we’ve collected as they make development decisions for future high-speed weapons,” added Knoedler.

Raytheon said the test flight demonstrated tactical range capabilities, met all other main and secondary objectives and used all lessons learned and data from the initial flight test conducted in September 2021.

The scramjet-powered HAWC missile uses air for sustained propulsion, enabling the weapon to evade defense systems and quickly reach targets.

In April, DARPA announced the completion of a test flight of a Lockheed Martin-built configuration of the hypersonic air-breathing system that runs on an Aerojet Rocketdyne-made scramjet engine.

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CIA Veteran Kirk McClain Tapped as Chief Security Officer of Accenture Federal Services; John Goodman Quoted
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CIA Veteran Kirk McClain Tapped as Chief Security Officer of Accenture Federal Services; John Goodman Quoted

Former Central Intelligence Agency senior officer Kirk McClain has been appointed chief security officer of Accenture’s federal business.

As CSO, McClain is set to take the reins of Accenture Federal Services’ security and intelligence directorate, with responsibilities such as facilitating international management and protection of AFS locations, assets and data, the Arlington, Virginia-based subsidiary said Monday.

“Kirk’s background and expertise will play a key role in sustaining and further developing our security organization and priorities,” remarked John Goodman, CEO of Accenture Federal.

Goodman, who is a five-time recipient of the Wash100 Award, also said that McClain will liaise with various executive team members in his new role, as well as with other facets of Accenture in order to maintain the most secure corporate environment possible and anticipate future threats.

McClain worked for over 34 years at the CIA before retiring in 2018. He occupied a number of ascending leadership roles in both domestic and foreign capacities. After concluding his stint at the CIA, McClain began working for Pacific Architects & Engineers as chief security officer and vice president of corporate security.

In the latter role, the executive handled and safeguarded a business with about 22,000 employees across over 60 countries. His core capabilities include program management, process improvement and customer service to government clients.

At AFS, McClain will also be in charge of supervising corporate risk and ensuring that business activities comply with security mandates and ordinances.

Expressing excitement at the career development, McClain characterized his new colleagues at Accenture Federal as “ dedicated to doing what is right and in the best interest of service to our federal clients, their critical requirements, and protection of broader national security interests.”

The hire of McClain follows AFS’ April addition of Shawn Wells as a member of the cybersecurity team. Wells will likely report to McClain in his cybersecurity duties.

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L3Harris to Produce Missile-Tracking Satellite Constellation for SDA Under $700M Contract; Christopher Kubasik Quoted
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L3Harris to Produce Missile-Tracking Satellite Constellation for SDA Under $700M Contract; Christopher Kubasik Quoted

L3Harris Technologies, the contractor specializing in defense and aerospace offerings, has won a potential $700 million contract from the Space Development Agency for the manufacture of a satellite fleet.

Through the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer satellites, which will feature optical communications terminals and infrared mission payloads, L3Harris will enable the SDA to monitor, single out and follow impending missile threats, the company said Monday.

Christopher Kubasik, CEO and chair of L3Harris, noted that participating in the development of up-and-coming space technologies and shaking up the status quo are integral to L3Harris’ organization-wide objectives.

Kubasik, who is a three-time recipient of the Wash100 Award, also reported that the company is prepared to fulfill clients like the SDA’s needs for diversifying space domain awareness architectures.

The new SDA contract adds to work L3Harris has been conducting under the SDA’s Tracking Layer Tranche 0 contract, presented to the company in 2020. Their team has designed and produced four prototype satellites via the prior award that are set to launch in 2023.

As part of the latest SDA award, L3Harris is scheduled to conceive and deliver a 14-unit satellite constellation, equipped with Ka-band communications payloads and a list of pointing modes, which are geared to match hypersonic missile technology so that the government can properly track it.

Additionally, L3Harris’ team will carry out ground, operations and sustainment efforts in connection with the satellite fleet. The Tranche 1 Tracking Layer contract is a fast-moving effort scaled to the mission-critical and rapidly evolving threats it is attempting to handle and mitigate. SDA Director Derek Tournear commented that the contract process “went from solicitation to award in approximately 120 days.”

The SDA win follows several other space-based technology contracts secured by L3Harris this year. In May, it was announced that the company will assist Northrop Grumman with creating an avionics system for rocket boosters that are intended to help NASA send astronauts to the moon.

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State Department OKs $108M Contractor Technical Assistance Deal With Taiwan
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State Department OKs $108M Contractor Technical Assistance Deal With Taiwan

The State Department has approved the request of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States to purchase contractor technical assistance and related equipment to support Taiwan under a potential $108 million foreign military sales contract.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Friday the proposed sale consists of unclassified spare and repair parts and assembly for tanks and combat vehicles along with technical and logistical support services.

Taiwan will use the equipment and support to modernize its armed forces, boost national defense and maintain political stability and military balance.

The Defense Logistics Agency will determine the principal contractors on the potential FMS deal, which does not call for the assignment of any additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to Taiwan.

DSCA does not expect the agreement to have an adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness.

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Michael Morgan Joins NOAA as Deputy Administrator; Gina Raimondo Quoted
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Michael Morgan Joins NOAA as Deputy Administrator; Gina Raimondo Quoted

Michael Morgan, formerly a professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has received Senate confirmation to serve as assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction and deputy administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Morgan, who brings more than two decades of scientific leadership experience to the position, will oversee agency-wide operations related to weather, water, climate and ocean observations, NOAA said Friday.

“His decades of world-renowned atmospheric and oceanic scientific expertise and dedicated service to the community make him ideally qualified to help guide NOAA’s lifesaving observation and prediction activities,” said Gina Raimondo, secretary of the Department of Commerce.

Morgan said he will work closely with the NOAA team to expand the nation’s earth system prediction capabilities, develop a diverse workforce and create tools designed to utilize authoritative weather and climate data more effectively.

He previously served as the division director of the National Science Foundation’s Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences and a senior legislative fellow on energy and environmental issues in the office of Sen. Benjamin Cardin.

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FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel Seeks to Raise Minimum Broadband Speeds
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FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel Seeks to Raise Minimum Broadband Speeds

Jessica Rosenworcel, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, has called for a faster broadband service and an updated goal for broadband speed in the long term.

In a Notice of Inquiry circulated by Rosenworcel, she pointed out that FCC’s 25/3 speed metric has been surpassed by what was required by internet users and that it was “behind the times.”

“That’s why we need to raise the standard for minimum broadband speeds now and while also aiming even higher for the future, because we need to set big goals if we want everyone everywhere to have a fair shot at 21st century success,” she said.

The national broadband standard is proposed to be raised to 20 megabits per second for upload and 100 megabits per second for download while a separate national goal of 1 Gbps/500 Mbps is encouraged to be set for the future.

The broadband standard of 25/3 Mbps was set by the FCC in 2015.

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