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OMB Unveils IT Operating Plan; Clare Martorana Quoted
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OMB Unveils IT Operating Plan; Clare Martorana Quoted

The Office of Management and Budget has released a plan to “maximize the impact” of funding allocated for several information technology modernization funds in response to Congress’ request.

The IT Operating Plan provides information on the strengths and strategic goals of the three funds – Information Technology Oversight and Reform (ITOR) Account, Federal Citizen Services Fund (FCSF) and Technology Modernization Fund (TMF).

“We recognize the significant investment that Congress has made in securing and modernizing Federal IT and have assembled this plan to explain how we ensure the wise investment of each dollar Congress has entrusted to us towards its highest use – creating the most impact for the American people,” Clare Martorana, federal chief information officer at OMB and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, wrote in the document.

According to the plan, the three funds – ITOR, FCSF and TMF – and individual agencies are working to pursue four key priorities and these are cybersecurity, IT modernization, digital-first customer experience and data as a strategic asset.

Federal News Network reported that OMB received $200 million in appropriations for its ITOR account under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and now plans to use the remaining funds to expand its pool of technical talent.

TMF secured $1 billion in appropriations through ARP and the TMF Board has accepted more than 130 proposals seeking $2.5 billion from federal agencies and related components as of May 2022, according to the IT Operating Plan.

To maximize its impact, the TMF will identify opportunities for shared services, perform enhanced readiness assessments, demonstrate a new tech investment framework and collect IT modernization performance data and best practices to inform federal IT modernization efforts.

FCSF, which secured $150 million in funding through ARP, will modernize governmentwide priority programs to support high impact service providers and agencies and improve existing shared services, according to the document.

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Lloyd Austin: US Working to Reinforce ‘Guardrails Against Conflict’ With China
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Lloyd Austin: US Working to Reinforce ‘Guardrails Against Conflict’ With China

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, said the U.S. is working to keep communication lines open with China’s defense officials and launching other efforts to build up “guardrails against conflict” with the Asian country, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

“We do not seek a new Cold War, an Asian NATO, or a region split into hostile blocs,” Gen. Austin said Saturday at a defense conference in Singapore.

“We will defend our interests without flinching, but we’ll also work toward our vision for this region—one of expanding security, one of increased cooperation, and not one of growing division,” he added.

His remarks come amid provocative activities by Chinese ships and aircraft in the Indo-Pacific region, which is considered by the U.S. as a priority theatre of operations.

“We’re meeting today at a moment of great consequence for the whole world and not just for Europe,” Austin said. “And I’m here because the rules-based international order matters just as much in the Indo-Pacific as it does in Europe,” he noted.

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Senators Ask Biden to Amend Executive Order on Classification, Declassification
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Senators Ask Biden to Amend Executive Order on Classification, Declassification

Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., have called on the White House 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.

The lawmakers wrote a letter to President Biden urging the administration to make a priority the updated executive order, Wyden’s office said Thursday.

“The complex interagency process necessary to achieve this long-overdue reform demands active leadership from the White House. We therefore urge that the National Security Council be resourced to undertake this process and that you make clear, to the NSC and across the executive branch, that your administration views the completion of a new or amended executive order as an urgent priority,” the lawmakers wrote in the May 25th letter.

Wyden and Moran also called on the Biden administration to make investments in automatic declassification and related technology platforms “to adapt the classification and declassification system to a digital environment.”

In January, the lawmakers agreed with Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, that efforts to improve the declassification system need to be prioritized and funded.

The two senators proposed the Declassification Reform Act in 2020 and have led the upper chamber’s efforts to introduce reforms to the government’s classification system.

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Optical Inter-Satellite Link Reached by SEAKR Engineering in DARPA Project; President Jeff Schrader Quoted
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Optical Inter-Satellite Link Reached by SEAKR Engineering in DARPA Project; President Jeff Schrader Quoted

A Raytheon Technologies subsidiary company has achieved an optical inter-satellite link between two Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency satellites.

In trial one, the SEAKR Engineering team was able to transfer over 280 gigabits of data between the pair of Mandrake 2 satellites at a distance of 114 kilometers, the Centennial, Colorado-based aerospace manufacturer said Wednesday.

“This was a demonstration not only of optical communications in space but also a closer look at some of the foundational building blocks needed for a networked space architecture,” remarked Jeff Schrader, president of SEAKR Engineering and Blue Canyon Technologies.

The on-orbit link presentation was the accumulation of work by SEAKR and a handful of other firms over the course of the last couple of years. SA Photonics administered the satellites with optical links via an Astro Digital bus and ASI was responsible for inputting the software necessary to run the machines.

As the prime contractor for the project—which was entitled Blackjack by DARPA—SEAKR handled the system integration for the satellites.

In 2021, Blackjack was set back by a pre-launch mishap that led to the damage of both satellites. However, SEAKR’s engineers swiftly reconstructed the equipment and had them ready for launch in under six months.

Prior to the Mandrake 2 endeavor, the SEAKR team was at the forefront of the Mandrake 1 program. The first edition reached technical readiness level 9 for high-grade central processing units, which constituted the base elements of DARPA’s Pitboss and future battle management command control and communication apparatuses.

Schrader was appointed president of SEAKR and Blue Canyon from his prior role as vice president of Raytheon Intelligence & Space in late May. SEAKR was purchased by Raytheon in November 2021.

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Redhorse CEO John Zangardi: ‘Comply-to-Connect’ is a Foundational Building Block of Zero-Trust
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Redhorse CEO John Zangardi: ‘Comply-to-Connect’ is a Foundational Building Block of Zero-Trust

John Zangardi, CEO of Redhorse Corporation and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, recently wrote an opinion piece with C4ISR.net, discussing the importance of zero-trust architecture in order to maximize cybersecurity funding and the sense of urgency ensuring the steps that are necessary to protect U.S. networks and financial institutions.

During the featured article, John Zangardi highlighted the deliberate actions that the current administration has taken to confront the emerging threats that are impacting the federal sector as well as the civilian side, industry and the electric, oil/pipeline and water sectors and the impact that

“While I was at DoD and DHS, I viewed Comply-to-Connect and Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation as a path to enforce Zero Trust principles,” Zangardi emphasized…”What compelled me to think that way was the emphasis in the C2C policy to assess an endpoint’s security posture before granting any access to resources on the network…C2C is a foundational building block of Zero Trust ensuring secure access to data.”

In addition, John Zangardi also discussed the importance of maximizing existing resources like the work DISA has done with C2C andCDM programs and the dynamic cyber domain that will continue to provide confidence for operational leaders across the federal government.

“Don’t assume trust. Don’t fall prey to rogue devices. Getting quickly to a Zero Trust architecture is more important than ever,” Zangardi explained. “Implementing C2C is a means available now to continuously identify and control access for all endpoints connecting to the network, making a comprehensive Zero Trust architecture achievable.”

Recently, John Zangardi participated in a video interview with Executive Mosaic to discuss the reputational implications of cyber attacks and the dangers of “putting all your eggs in one basket” with a singular cybersecurity vendor or service provider.

Watch the full video interview with Redhorse’s John Zangardi and hear insights from our previous interview participants at ExecutiveMosaic.com.

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U.S., South Korea Collaborate to Accomplish DOD Technology Goals
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U.S., South Korea Collaborate to Accomplish DOD Technology Goals

David Honey, deputy undersecretary of Defense for research and engineering, has announced the United States and South Korea’s recent talks to align their technological missions.

President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol met in recent months to outline some common goals on technological innovations such as semiconductors, batteries, civil nuclear power, achievements in space and cyberspace, the Department of Defense said Thursday.

“Fully recognizing that [the] scientists, researchers and engineers of [their] countries are among the most innovative in the world, both presidents agreed to leverage this comparative advantage to enhance public and private cooperation to protect and promote critical and emerging technologies,” Honey shared.

The DOD has outlined five focus areas for technological collaboration and shared development with South Korea, all of which directly affect global supply chain security.

Artificial intelligence is the most pressing emphasis for the two countries and they plan to direct resources toward “evidence-based AI assurance and enabling operational effectiveness.”

5G wireless technology, quantum computing, biotechnology and renewable energy sources comprise the other four main thrusts of the partnership.

In a keynote address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Honey explained that the DOD plans to build off the progress made by 5G technology in order to make future discoveries in information technology, which the deputy undersecretary said “is vital to maintaining our economic and national security.”

Quantum computing, meanwhile, is poised to enable the DOD to work out analytical challenges through quantum sensors that could help create tools that eclipse GPS in positionality, navigation and timing.

Biotechnological research is expected to elicit new understandings of how to combat global pandemics and aid performance in tense logistics environments. This focus point in particular necessitates communal participation between nations.

Lastly, according to Honey, methodologies for creating and storing renewable energy are seen as of urgent importance for the DOD. Among these goals are developing more effective batteries, drawing from a wider array of energy sources and diminishing fuel transportation risks.

If completed, the latter targets will “decrease warfighter vulnerability and deliver new operational capabilities for the department,” Honey said.

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NOAA Joins International Effort to Mitigate Climate Change Using Satellite Data
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NOAA Joins International Effort to Mitigate Climate Change Using Satellite Data

The U.S. government has joined an international initiative that aims to combine satellite data with scientific research to track climate change and assess its impacts on global and local scales.

Richard Spinrad, the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, signed the charter during the signing ceremony with Philippe Baptiste, chairman and CEO of the National Center for Space Studies, NOAA reported Thursday.

The Space for Climate Observatory said on its website that it brings together space agencies and international organizations to study and monitor the impacts of climate change on local levels using data from Earth observation satellites and field models.

The initiative aims to develop indicators and tools to help decision-makers prepare and mitigate the effects of climate change on local and global communities.

“The United States, represented by NOAA, strongly supports the establishment of the Space for Climate Observatory, and we are pleased to be among the first signatories of its Charter. We look forward to working with our federal and international partners, including CNES, to turn Earth observations into actionable information to help governments and communities combat the climate crisis and adapt to our changing world,” said Spinrad.

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TaxBit Names Lindsey Argalas as Chief Operating Officer; CEO Austin Woodward Quoted
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TaxBit Names Lindsey Argalas as Chief Operating Officer; CEO Austin Woodward Quoted

Taxbit announced on Thursday that Lindsey Argalas, an accomplished technology executive with more than 20 years of experience, has joined the company as its new chief operating officer. 

Lindsey Argalas, formerly a member of Intuit’s C-Suite, will work across TaxBit’s fast-growing team to help scale the company’s business and operations.

“We are very excited to welcome Lindsey to the TaxBit team,” Austin Woodward, TaxBit co-founder and CEO. “Lindsey is an incredible leader with industry-leading domain experience who will help fulfill our goals as we continue to scale and expand both domestically and internationally.”

The TaxBit Network launched in 2022, saving retail cryptocurrency users tens of millions of dollars in tax preparation fees for the 2021 tax year while producing more than 30 million sets of 2021 tax forms. TaxBit helps companies overcome the tax and reporting challenges presented by digital assets.

“I love Taxbit’s focus on enabling responsible and compliant cryptocurrency and digital asset ownership,” Argalas commented. This focus is supported by a dynamic roster of subject matter experts and technical leaders. I am honored and excited to play a vital role on this team.”

TaxBit has recently established an office in DC, hired Stripe and Meta engineering leaders as the company’s CTO and VP Engineering, and announced a strategic alliance with Deloitte to help organizations automate tax information and cost basis reporting.

In addition, the company also reached unicorn status last year through more than $235 million in funding to drive the fundamental mission of a financial system that is universally accessible and works for everyone and help companies overcome the tax and reporting challenges presented by digital assets.

About TaxBit

Designed by CPAs and tax attorneys, TaxBit is the leading tax and accounting solution for the tokenized economy. TaxBit’s platform serves the industry’s top exchanges, institutional investors, governments, and individuals. 

TaxBit has raised over $235M from the world’s-top investors to enable widespread digital asset adoption by automating the regulatory hurdles of tax and accounting compliance at scale. 

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USMC Lt. Gen. Michael Langley Gets Nominated as USAFRICOM Commander
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USMC Lt. Gen. Michael Langley Gets Nominated as USAFRICOM Commander

U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael Langley, commander of USMC Forces Command, was nominated to take the helm of U.S. Africa Command as a four-star general.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd  Austin, a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient, made public President Joe Biden’s nomination of Langley as USAFRICOM commander via a general officer announcement on Defense.gov.

He would become the first four-star African-American general of USMC if confirmed.

Langley also serves as commander of Marine Corps Forces North and commanding general of Fleet Marine Force Atlantic. His military career includes time working as deputy commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force, commander of Marine Forces Europe and Africa as well as deputy commander of Marine Forces Command and Marine Forces Northern Command.

The USMC lieutenant general also joined the Expeditionary Warfare Division and Joint Integration Officer in the Surface Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; as well as the U.S. Central Command, among his other posts.

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NASA-FEMA Partnership Offers Climate Adaptation Resources; Bill Nelson Quoted
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NASA-FEMA Partnership Offers Climate Adaptation Resources; Bill Nelson Quoted

NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have published an action guide meant to help communities make informed decisions on how to manage the risks of climate change.

The “Building Alliances for Climate Action” publication is an offshoot of a four-week online series the two federal agencies organized in October 2021 to discuss strategies for stronger collective climate action, NASA said Thursday.

The contents of the document include many of the perspectives tackled at the event and other insights and resources that are targeted to increase understanding of the growing threat of climate change and how to address the problem.

“NASA is working hand in hand with FEMA to ensure communities across the U.S. and around the world have the resources they need to adapt in the face of extreme weather – which is increasing due to climate change,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

The two agencies have also worked on other collaborative initiatives related to climate change adaptation, such as providing near real-time, disaster-specific data for public information and earth-observing data for local governments and response agencies to leverage during catastrophic events.

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