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DOE Selects 16 Projects to Boost US Critical Minerals Supply Chain; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted
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DOE Selects 16 Projects to Boost US Critical Minerals Supply Chain; Secretary Jennifer Granholm Quoted

The Department of Energy has selected 16 projects to receive a total of $39 million in funding to boost the U.S. critical minerals supply chain to support the nation’s transition to clean sources of energy.

The awardees will work to ensure a sustainable domestic supply of minerals to reduce the U.S.’ reliance on foreign sources and provide more clean energy job opportunities to local communities, DOE said Thursday.

The selected projects will work under the Mining Innovations for Negative Emissions Resource Recovery program of DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.

The MINER funds research and development efforts intended to increase the local production of rare-earth elements, including copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium, to support the clean energy transition.

“With these investments, DOE is helping to reinvigorate American manufacturing to reduce our overreliance on adversarial nations and position the nation as a global leader of research and innovation,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

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DHS Sets New Cybersecurity Performance Goals for Critical Infrastructure  Owners, Businesses
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DHS Sets New Cybersecurity Performance Goals for Critical Infrastructure  Owners, Businesses

The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled a new set of cybersecurity performance goals to guide critical infrastructure owners and businesses in implementing security measures. 

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency developed the CPGs to help organizations develop a comprehensive cybersecurity program that aligns with the National Institute for Standards and Technology’s framework, DHS said Thursday.

“The new Cybersecurity Performance Goals will help organizations decide how to leverage their cybersecurity investments with confidence that the measures they take will make a material impact on protecting their business and safeguarding our country,” said Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of DHS and a previous Wash100 Award winner. 

CISA Director Jen Easterly, a fellow 2022 Wash100 recipient, said the agency gathered input from partners from the industry and government to develop a set of baseline measures that critical infrastructure owners can take to reduce risk to their data, networks and systems.

“We look forward to seeing these goals implemented over the coming years and to receiving additional feedback on how we can improve future versions to most effectively reduce cybersecurity risk to our country,” Easterly said.

A national security memorandum issued in July 2021 mandates that DHS develop the CPGs to ensure that critical infrastructure owners and operators have the resources to protect themselves against cyber threats.

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OCC to Establish New Office to Oversee US Fintech Sector; Michael Hsu Quoted
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OCC to Establish New Office to Oversee US Fintech Sector; Michael Hsu Quoted

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is establishing a new office tasked with overseeing the expansion of the financial technology sector.

The OCC said Thursday the Office of Financial Technology will build upon the efforts of the Office of Innovation and coordinate agency-wide efforts to facilitate innovation in the U.S. financial system.

The new office, expected to launch in early 2023, will be headed by a chief financial technology officer reporting to the senior deputy comptroller for bank supervision policy.

“To ensure that the federal banking system is safe, sound, and fair today and well into the future, we need to have a deep understanding of financial technology and the financial technology landscape,” said Michael Hsu, acting comptroller of the currency.

He added that creating an office focused on the fintech sector will enable the agency “to be more agile and to promote responsible innovation, consistent with our mission.”

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Dataminr Launches Crisis Response Program to Support Nonprofits; GovCon Expert Dana Barnes Quoted
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Dataminr Launches Crisis Response Program to Support Nonprofits; GovCon Expert Dana Barnes Quoted

Dataminr announced on Wednesday that the company has launched its Crisis Response program to provide free, limited-term licenses and training for qualified nonprofits to address their need for real-time information during or in the aftermath of major emergencies.

“Historically, local nonprofits on the ground have carried much of the risk during humanitarian crises, while having limited access to critical tools and resources,” said Jessie End, vice president of Social Good at Dataminr.

Jessie End continued to explain that providing more equitable access to crucial information when it matters most. She mentioned the that Crisis Response program is a natural evolution of Dataminr’s long-held dedication to positive social impact.”

Dana Barnes, president of Government with Dataminr and an influential member of Executive Mosaic’s GovCon Expert program, sent his thanks via LinkedIn to Jessie End and Dataminr CEO Ted Bailey for driving the company’s efforts with the program to use artificial intelligence for good.

“Crisis response support is a key component of Dataminr’s social good efforts,” GovCon Expert Dana Barnes explained. “Our Crisis Response Program will provide free, limited-term licenses and training for qualified nonprofits of all sizes.”

Dataminr’s numerous employee volunteers will help its Crisis Response program support a large number of organizations, including those often under-resourced. The Crisis Response program will offer training and support to participating nonprofits for up to eight weeks. Organizations must be registered nonprofits and actively responding to a crisis in order to qualify.

Currently, significant partners with Dataminr, including the United Nations and Direct Relief, are using First Alert, the company’s product for its public sector customers to deliver real-time breaking news alerts for first response within minutes instead of a matter of hours or even days.

About Dataminr

Dataminr delivers the earliest warnings on high-impact events and critical information far in advance of other sources. Recognized as one of the world’s leading AI businesses, Dataminr enables faster response, more effective risk mitigation and stronger crisis management for public and private sector organizations spanning global corporations, first responders, NGOs, and newsrooms.

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NASA Reports $71.2B Economic Output From FY 2021 Agency Programs; Bill Nelson Quoted
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NASA Reports $71.2B Economic Output From FY 2021 Agency Programs; Bill Nelson Quoted

NASA’s investments in space missions and research and development projects such as climate science contributed over $71.2 billion to the economy in fiscal year 2021, according to a new study of the agency’s second economic impact.

The study, conducted by the Voorhees Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, showed the benefits of agency activities reached all 50 states and supported over 339,600 jobs nationwide.

Since the first report in 2019, NASA’s economic output rose by 10.7 percent, due in part to the Moon to Mars campaign. The program yielded almost $2.2 billion in tax revenue, while climate change research and technology investments generated close to $810 million.

Apart from financial and labor benefits, the agency has also been instrumental in the creation of 2,000 spinoffs of its products, processes, technologies or expertise since 1976.

“NASA partners with small businesses, industry, academia, and other government agencies to address engineering challenges, and to transfer out our technologies, capabilities, and data all for public benefit here on Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

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Government, Industry Stakeholders Agree on EV Infrastructure Security Measures
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Government, Industry Stakeholders Agree on EV Infrastructure Security Measures

Public and private sector representatives who attended a forum hosted by the White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director agreed that both sectors must collaborate to assess cybersecurity standards across the electric vehicle ecosystem in order to address opportunities for harmonization and improvement.

The White House on Tuesday published a summary of the forum, which is part of a multi-industry collaboration to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

National Cyber Director Chris Inglis and Principal Deputy National Cyber Director Kemba Walden led the event where representatives from the automobile industry were in attendance, along with officials from the departments of Transportation, Energy and Homeland Security.

Participants agreed that the construction and deployment of EV charging infrastructure should be expedited, with solid cybersecurity safeguards in place.

They also committed to working together to assess the state of standards as well as research and development for IT security in EV charging and supply and equipment.

Government officials said they will use the $7.5 billion allocated by the infrastructure law to invest in projects that will promote EV and EVSE security and resilience.

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Senators Get Update on Administration’s Classification System Reform Efforts
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Senators Get Update on Administration’s Classification System Reform Efforts

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., announced that the White House is leading an effort to reform the classification system as stated by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, a two-time Wash100 Award recipient, in a letter. 

Haines said in the letter that agencies are taking part in a White House-led process that seeks to gather insights on challenges related to the standardization of information management, declassification, classification and the control of sensitive data.

The DNI letter was in response to a call by Wyden and Moran for the Biden administration to update the executive order that establishes rules for government classification and declassification to address urgent concerns in the current system that undermine national security.

“I’m pleased that the Biden administration is committed to reforming the classification system and investing in new declassification technology. I’ll continue watching closely to ensure the White House gets it done and ultimately heeds my call to update the executive order governing classification,” Wyden said in a statement published Wednesday.

Haines also informed the lawmakers of current efforts within the Intelligence Community to improve the declassification process.

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DIU Seeks Proposals for Blockchain-Based Data Protection Tech Development Program
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DIU Seeks Proposals for Blockchain-Based Data Protection Tech Development Program

The Defense Innovation Unit has asked vendors to propose commercial technologies that would enable the integration of components on a Web3 or Blockchain platform designed to ensure the security of data within a federated data system.

DIU said the proposed system should allow for cross-domain or classification-level sharing, use quantum-resistant cryptography, support the use of the common access card, operate as an on-premises platform, integrate with managed service offerings and leverage distributed learning capabilities across domains.

The platform should be deployed on existing hardware systems, include plans to support role-based access control in the future and integrate entity-related application systems using commodity hardware, encryption and cryptographic data structures. 

“We expect a minimal viable product to be delivered in the form of data storage, authorized access, and classification level-based access control,” the DIU notice reads.

Proposals are due Nov. 11.

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Pentagon Unveils National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture, Missile Defense Reviews; Lloyd Austin Quoted
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Pentagon Unveils National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture, Missile Defense Reviews; Lloyd Austin Quoted

The Department of Defense has issued the public versions of the National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture Review and the Missile Defense Review, DOD News reported Thursday.

“By weaving these documents together, we help ensure that the entire department is moving forward together, matching our resources to our goals,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, said in a statement published Thursday.

The 2022 National Defense Strategy highlights the need to strengthen deterrence against China and cites the threats posed by Russia, Iran, North Korea and violent extremist organizations.

The NDS also outlines DOD’s four top defense priorities: defending the homeland, paced to the growing multidomain threat posed by China; deterring strategic attacks against the U.S., allies and partners; deterring aggression while being prepared to prevail in conflict when necessary; and building a resilient joint force and defense ecosystem.

Gen. Austin said the strategy cites integrated deterrence, campaigning and measures that build enduring advantages as ways to advance those priorities.

The 2022 Nuclear Posture Review will advance several measures to ensure a secure and effective deterrent while reducing the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. strategy. These include adopting a strategy and declaratory policy that maintain a very high bar for nuclear employment; taking steps to strengthen extended deterrence and allied assurance; retiring the B83-1 gravity bomb; and canceling the nuclear-armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile program.

The 2022 Missile Defense Review calls for the U.S. to continue to invest in the development of missile defeat capabilities to maintain deterrence and cites the need for the country’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense posture to be comprehensive, mobile, layered and ready to counter adversary missiles.

“To be most effective, it must also be integrated and interoperable with Allies and partners, and underpinned with increasingly robust domain awareness capabilities within a pliable missile defense network,” the document reads.

USSOCOM Seeks Mobile Workstation Concepts
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USSOCOM Seeks Mobile Workstation Concepts

The U.S. Special Operations Command is interested in working with vendors to design, build and test mobile workstations for the transportation of military personnel and server storage to mission areas.

SOCOM said in a notice posted on SAM.gov that SOFWERX, a public-private innovation factory that helps connect industry with military programs, will host a three-day virtual assessment event in January for interested offerors to present their ideas for the support truck prototype project.

The command is seeking three workstations that can accommodate at least four passengers and six racks of server storage, supply multiple internal and external 20A 120 volts alternating current power receptacles and feature a climate-controlled work environment.

The selection process is divided into four phases, with the last phase culminating in federal acquisition regulation or non-FAR contracts with partners that meet SOCOM requirements. 

The main virtual assessment event will run from Jan. 3 to Jan. 5 where selected participants will have the chance to pitch and demonstrate proposals through a one-on-one session with a SOCOM panel of assessors.

Interested parties can submit their concepts for the mobile workstations from Oct. 28 to Nov. 28. Following a review of the submissions, proposers who meet the requirements will receive an invitation to the event on or around Dec. 9. 

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