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Jennifer Logan Appointed National Renewable Energy Lab CFO
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Jennifer Logan Appointed National Renewable Energy Lab CFO

Jennifer Logan, chief financial officer and director of business and finance at the Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, will assume the CFO position at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory effective Monday.

NREL said Thursday that Logan will join the DOE-sponsored lab with more than 18 years of defense acquisition and contracting experience.

“I’m looking forward to joining the talented team at NREL and bringing leadership toward positioning the laboratory to fulfill its mission with the best financial tools and processes that are necessary to meet those essential objectives for our energy future,” she said.

Logan started her career at the U.S. Air Force as a contract specialist for Schriever AF Base in Colorado. She left the service branch in 2006 to work as a consultant focused on procurement and acquisition programs within the departments of the Justice and Army.

Three years later, she returned to the government sector as an acquisition analyst at Marine Corps Systems Command and Naval Sea Systems Command.

Logan also led the submarine contracting division at the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Newport News, and worked as deputy chief of contracting at Norfolk Naval Shipyard before she joined Jefferson Lab in July 2018.

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Michael Brown: Pentagon’s ‘Hedge Strategy’ Could Help Speed Up Commercial Tech Adoption
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Michael Brown: Pentagon’s ‘Hedge Strategy’ Could Help Speed Up Commercial Tech Adoption

Michael Brown, director of the Defense Innovation Unit and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, said the Department of Defense’s “hedge strategy” could help establish an “element of surprise” to future fight by accelerating the adoption of commercial technologies to complement its high-profile weapons systems, Breaking Defense reported Thursday.

“The ‘hedge’ is really recognizing the fact that we really would benefit by making a part of our strategy explicitly the development of other capabilities, complementary capabilities, those that can provide some surprise,” Brown said at a virtual event Thursday.

“Why do we need a surprise here? Because our adversaries in some cases have stolen designs for large weapons platforms, China in particular, and then our adversaries…have studied our tactics, techniques, procedures, our way of fighting for years,” he added.

Brown worked with Navy Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, chief of naval research, to develop the hedge strategy, which covers three elements including an architecture that advances resiliency through the adoption of SUMS or small, unmanned, many and smart technologies.

“We’ve developed an acronym called SUMS — ‘small,’ ‘unmanned’ for the autonomous capability, ‘many’ to emphasize the resiliency we need because we can’t assume in a conflict with peer-level adversaries that we’re not going to lose some capability…and ‘smart weapons,’ which really means embedded sensors,” Brown said.

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CDAO, Air Force Test AI-Enabled ‘Smart Sensor’ Autonomous Tech on UAS; Lt. Gen. Michael Groen Quoted
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CDAO, Air Force Test AI-Enabled ‘Smart Sensor’ Autonomous Tech on UAS; Lt. Gen. Michael Groen Quoted

The Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office and the U.S. Air Force carried out a developmental test flight of an AI-enabled autonomous technology aboard an unmanned aerial system between April and May.

CDAO and the service tested the Smart Sensor autonomous platform, which is designed to enable UAS to perform surveillance and reconnaissance missions in contested environments, CDAO said Wednesday.

“This series of test flights saw the team successfully complete most of their technical objectives,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Groen, former director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner.

“We’re looking forward to continued advances as this system and the broader capability it represents speeds toward program transition to the Services,” he added.

CDAO partnered with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to work on the software package, dubbed Smart Sensor “Brain,” and General Atomics on the platform autonomy framework using open architectures.

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MITRE Elevates Two Vice Presidents to New Roles in CAASD, Air/Space Forces Division; Jason Providakes Quoted
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MITRE Elevates Two Vice Presidents to New Roles in CAASD, Air/Space Forces Division; Jason Providakes Quoted

Not-for-profit information technology provider for the government MITRE has announced two new promotions to its executive team.

Kerry Buckley has been appointed vice president of the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development and Eliahu Niewood has been elevated to the position of vice president of air and space forces in the company’s national security sector, the McLean, Virginia-based company said Thursday.

“Kerry and Eli bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from their leadership in defense and intelligence that will help shape our work program and strengthen our position to drive solutions of national impact,” said Jason Providakes, CEO and president of MITRE and a three-time recipient of the Wash100 Award.

In her new role, Buckley will be expected to oversee the company’s domestic and international civil aviation, aerospace and transportation business. The CAASD, her new domain, is a research and development task force that works in tandem with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Buckley has presided at MITRE for over 20 years now, serving in positions such as vice president for intelligence programs in the national security division and director of the organization’s information technology technical center. Before her time at MITRE, she spent time at companies such as Veridian Corporation, an offshoot of General Dynamics and worked in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

“Kerry will build upon MITRE’s significant legacy in aviation safety as we pioneer for a better future and expand our transportation and aerospace work,” remarked Providakes.

As vice president of air and space forces in the national security sector, Niewood is slated to satisfy Air Force service branch goals and marshal the completion of technical capabilities to meet those objectives.

The newly promoted executive has been with MITRE for the last five years, during which time he has administered the development of a newly devised wave of command-and-control technology for the Department of Defense, among other accomplishments. Prior to coming to MITRE, Niewood was a technical adviser to the director of the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office as well as the leader of the engineering division at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

Keoki Jackson, senior vice president and general manager of MITRE’s national security sector said that Niewood’s new responsibilities will include aiding “nuclear enterprise modernization, cyber operations, and superior battle management and logistics in contested environments.”

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Guidehouse Enters Digital Transformation-Focused JV, MPA with TechSur Solutions; CEO Scott McIntyre Quoted
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Guidehouse Enters Digital Transformation-Focused JV, MPA with TechSur Solutions; CEO Scott McIntyre Quoted

Consulting firm Guidehouse has initiated a strategic joint venture and mentor-protégé agreement with technology company TechSur Solutions.

Named 1DTS, the JV will concentrate on public sector-serving digital transformation, cloud-based applications and analytics, Guidehouse said Thursday.

“TechSur offers proven core competencies in mechanizing and automating the process of IT modernization while Guidehouse brings commensurate expertise in digital transformation and IT consulting,” explained Scott McIntyre, CEO of Guidehouse and a six-time Wash100 Award winner.

The partnership is made possible due to Guidehouse’s acquisition of Dovel Technologies and is a function of the U.S. Small Business Administration Mentor-Protégé Program.

The MPA will facilitate Guidehouse’s exchange of knowledge regarding the marketing tools and services such as modernization, enterprise DevSecOps and adaptive artificial intelligence to federal government customers.

1DTS will compound the two organizations’ capabilities in providing digital transformation to government clients like the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Amit Yadav, chief technology officer of TechSur Solutions, said that Guidehouse bolsters the former company’s resources and the JV “strengthens and highlights the technical savvy and expertise of both organizations.”

In the collaboration, Guidehouse’s team is skilled in creating and executing enterprise architecture, integrating systems and developing, operating and fixing software. TechSur’s skill set and interests lie in constructing technical tools that are appealing to human users.

Guidehouse is also currently maintaining a joint venture with business management consulting firm ReefPoint Group called Taurian Consulting. In April, the JV was awarded a five-year contract from the Department of Veterans Affairs to strengthen the VA’s environmental sustainability.

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L3Harris Recognized for Industrial Security Performance; CEO Christopher Kubasik Quoted
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L3Harris Recognized for Industrial Security Performance; CEO Christopher Kubasik Quoted

L3Harris Technologies announced on Thursday that the company has been awarded the highly prestigious James S. Cogswell, which has been awarded since 1966 to commemorate Air Force Col. James S. Cogswell, the first chief of the Unified Office of Industrial Security.

This year, L3Harris has received three Cogswell Awards for outstanding industrial security performance. This marks the 18th straight year that the company has received this honor for at least one award.

“The Cogswell Award recognizes our excellence in governance, proper oversight and our ability to maintain the highest security processes to protect sensitive information,” said Christopher Kubasik, vice chair and CEO for L3Harris as well as a three-time Wash100 Award recipient. 

DoD recognized these L3Harris locations from among 26 facilities within approximately 12,500 industry-wide cleared ones. The facilities earning the award for establishing and maintaining the highest standards in security procedures and program management are in: Greenville, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Cincinnati, Ohio.

“This recognition by DoD is another example of how L3Harris makes security essential in our efforts to support customers with innovative solutions,” Kubasik added.

About L3Harris Technologies

L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. 

The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across space, air, land, sea and cyber domains. L3Harris has more than $17 billion in annual revenue and 47,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries.

 

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Michael Bloomberg Sworn in as Chair of Defense Innovation Board
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Michael Bloomberg Sworn in as Chair of Defense Innovation Board

Michael Bloomberg, founder and CEO of media conglomerate Bloomberg and former mayor of New York City, has been sworn in as chair of the Defense Innovation Board.

Lloyd Austin, secretary of the Department of Defense and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, presided over the swearing of Bloomberg who was nominated to head the independent advisory board in February, DOD reported Wednesday.

Bloomberg will oversee a group of leaders and experts to provide strategic recommendations and advice to defense leaders on technology and innovation to help DOD address top national security priorities.

“The Defense Innovation Board will bring new ideas and outside perspectives to help ensure the Pentagon has the most cutting-edge technologies and practices,” Bloomberg said in a Twitter post.

His appointment follows the completion of Austin’s zero-based review of all defense advisory boards and committees.

Bloomberg founded Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2006 to advance public health, environment, education, government innovation and arts and culture. He also serves as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions and the World Health Organization Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries.

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Bill Nelson Announces New NASA Advisory Council Members Ahead of August Meeting
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Bill Nelson Announces New NASA Advisory Council Members Ahead of August Meeting

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has appointed new members to the space agency’s advisory council ahead of its meeting in August where the panel of experts will review agency programs and top priorities.

The upcoming virtual meeting will convene the 60 members appointed across the council and five committees to discuss NASA’s priorities including climate change, program management and acquisition, diversity and inclusion and commercial and industry partnerships, NASA said Thursday.

New members of the NASA Advisory Council are:

  • John-Paul Clarke, aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics professor at the University of Texas at Austin
  • Kay Bailey Hutchison, former senator and U.S. permanent representative to NATO
  • Ellen Williams, director of the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center
  • Jacklyn Wynn, vice president of strategic programs for the federal health sector at General Dynamics Information Technology

 

Clarke and Williams will chair the committees supporting aeronautics and science, respectively.

“I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments and progress we’ve made to date, and these new additions to the NAC will bring new ideas and solutions to complex problems we face. We are in the midst of another banner year at the agency, and I look forward to hearing from and working with an exceptional NAC,” Nelson said.

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USAF Names Finalist for Fixed-Wing Helmet Development Program
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USAF Names Finalist for Fixed-Wing Helmet Development Program

The U.S. Air Force has moved forward with its fixed-wing helmet procurement effort after the military service chose a design from LIFT Airborne Technologies through a competitive solicitation.

USAF plans to hand down a decision on LIFT’s final prototype after the company completes additional studies, tests and updates of the technology, Air Combat Command said Friday.

The California-based pilot gear maker initially received an other transaction agreement in 2020 to develop a potential replacement for the branch’s aircrew helmet system that was based on a four-decade-old design.

“The legacy helmet was not originally designed to support advances in aircraft helmet-mounted display systems, causing pilots to fly with equipment not optimized for them, especially our female aircrew,” said Scott Cota, an ACC program analyst.

Capt. Timothy James, a program manager at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, noted that the service solicited more than 100 vendor designs through its AFWERX program and subsequently tested promising offerings from the private sector.

Proposals were evaluated against a set of criteria that includes weight, pilot comfort and capability to integrate with helmet-mounted equipment.

The branch expects to offer a contract for the production phase sometime in 2024 and intends to start its phased deployment of the new helmet with F-15E Strike Eagle pilots.

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House Armed Services Committee Backs $37B Boost to FY 2023 National Defense Budget
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House Armed Services Committee Backs $37B Boost to FY 2023 National Defense Budget

The House Armed Services Committee voted 57-1 early Thursday to pass its version of the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act with an amendment that increased discretionary topline figures by $37 billion.

HASC members completed the panel’s markup of the bill authorizing $850 billion in total national defense spending after 17 hours of debates and negotiations over more than 2,000 proposed amendments, the office of Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., said Thursday.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, sponsored the amendment to boost funding levels that would help the Department of Defense offset inflation-related costs and procure weapons systems.

“The bill supports the largest service member pay raise in decades, expands the talent pipeline, and partners with research institutions to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies that will support those in uniform,” said HASC Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash.

The passage of HASC’s defense policy bill comes after the House Appropriations Committee approved a $761.7 billion defense funding bill through a 32-26 vote Wednesday, which represents a $32.2 billion increase from the FY 2022 enacted level.

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