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DOE Selects 4 Federal Sites for AI Data Center, Energy Infrastructure Projects
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Energy Secretary Chris Wright on leveraging DOE land assets for AI and energy infrastructure deployment

The Department of Energy has selected Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, Savannah River Site and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant as the sites for artificial intelligence data centers and energy generation projects.

“By leveraging DOE land assets for the deployment of AI and energy infrastructure, we are taking a bold step to accelerate the next Manhattan Project—ensuring U.S. AI and energy leadership,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement published Thursday.

“These sites are uniquely positioned to host data centers as well as power generation to bolster grid reliability, strengthen our national security, and reduce energy costs,” Wright added.

The department chose the sites by evaluating responses to its request for information in April.

DOE Solicitations for AI Data Center, Energy Generation Projects

DOE expects the solicitations to be released in the coming months, detailing the project scope, submission guidelines and eligibility requirements at each site. Private sector partners could be selected by the end of 2025.

The department said it is assessing additional sites that could release solicitations in the future.

Use of Federal Lands for AI Data Centers

The latest DOE announcement supports the Trump administration’s goals of using federal lands for data center and power generation infrastructure projects.

President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order directing the departments of the interior, energy and defense to authorize data center construction on appropriate federal lands.

Under the EO, the current administration requires agencies to streamline environmental reviews and the permitting process for data centers by leveraging existing exemptions and developing new ones to speed up the construction of qualifying projects. 

The order also promotes the use of Brownfield and Superfund sites for data center development and includes the launch of an initiative to provide loans, tax incentives, grants and other financial support for qualifying projects.

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NASA Issues RFP for Advanced Moon & Mars Communications
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Earth and Moon. NASA seeks proposals for a next-generation Moon and Mars communications system.

NASA has started soliciting proposals for advanced communications and navigation systems for future Moon and Mars missions.

NASA Issues RFP for Advanced Moon & Mars Communications

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31 to learn about the latest initiatives aimed at advancing air and space capabilities.

Next-Generation Moon, Mars Communications System

According to the request for proposals issued on July 7, NASA intends to leverage private industry capabilities for critical satellite communications. The agency is particularly seeking concepts for reliable, high-speed communication systems linking Earth-based control centers to the Moon’s surface and establishing a communications relay on Mars that would enable data transfer with Earth.

The potential project aligns with NASA’s initiative to build an interoperable communication and navigation infrastructure in space to boost science, exploration and economic development. 

Interested vendors have until Aug. 13 to submit their responses.

Greg Heckler, deputy program manager for capability development of the space communications and navigation program, said, “These partnerships foster important advancements in communications and navigation. It allows our astronauts, our rovers, our spacecraft – all NASA missions – to expand humanity’s exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.”

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Space Systems Command Activates Two System Deltas
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Space Systems Command Logo. Two System Deltas have been launched by Space Force's Space Systems Command.

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command has officially established two new system deltas, or SYDs, at a ceremony at the Los Angeles Air Force Base on July 10. The SSC said Wednesday that during the ceremony, Col. Stevie Medeiros and Col. Dane Bannach took charge of SYDs 84 and 810, respectively. USSF Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, the SSC commander, led the ceremony.

What Are System Deltas?

SYDs combine SSC program offices responsible for designing, delivering and developing mission systems, following a structured approach to acquisitions. SYDs aim to analyze mission needs regularly and strengthen mission planning by focusing on specific missions, improving teamwork and clearly defining responsibilities.

Some support teams from SSC have already moved to the Space Operations Command, under SpOC mission deltas that handle mission generation, intelligence support and cyber defense.

In 2023, the USSF began matching system deltas and mission deltas from its two field commands. This started with trial pairings, where SpOC’s integrated mission deltas were matched with SYDs from SSC.

SYD 84, 810 Details

SYD 84 will be in charge of space-based missile warning and tracking, which means it will monitor missile threats like hypersonic weapons in space. SpOC Mission Delta 4 will be working with the SYD.

SYD 810 will handle space-based sensing and targeting, which involves environmental monitoring and tactical sensing. The SYD delivers worldwide cloud forecasts and weather images to support planning and execution, and it also provides the military with environmental surveillance vital to operations. SpOC Mission Delta 2 and Space Force component commands will work with SYD 810. 

USSF’s Philip Garrant Shares Thoughts

Garrant called the launch of the two SYDs a “historic day”.

“Through unity of effort, the Space Force’s System Delta framework allows us to streamline the work between acquisitions and operations accomplished through intimate collaboration with our Mission Delta counterparts across the field commands,” he said. 

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GAO Urges DOD to Address Foreign Reliance Threat in Defense Supply Chain
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International supply chain. GAO wants DOD to have more visibility into its supply chain

The Government Accountability Office has called out the limited visibility into the Department of Defense’s global supply chain.

DOD, according to a new GAO report, has over 200,000 suppliers involved in manufacturing advanced weapons and non-combat goods and equipment such as batteries. Although the Pentagon collects partner information, efforts across the department to improve supply chain transparency are uncoordinated.

The congressional watchdog warned that reliance on foreign suppliers poses national security risks for the DOD.

Defense Supply Chain Visibility Challenges

DOD has made efforts to increase transparency across its supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign sources. The Pentagon has already identified steps it could take to mitigate foreign dependency, such as adopting leading commercial practices for supply chain visibility.

GAO pointed out that the Defense Department has not assigned a single organization to oversee the application of leading practices for supply chain visibility. The watchdog also noted that the DOD has yet to identify resources, priorities and time frames for its plan to integrate supply chain transparency efforts across the department.

Moreover, the report revealed that defense officials propose contractually obligating suppliers to submit information related to foreign dependency risks. GAO shared that some DOD officials oppose the proposal, saying that it may be too costly and suppliers may not be willing to share foreign dependency information.

GAO urged the Pentagon to conduct cost analyses and identify challenges of requiring suppliers to provide foreign dependency information.

The report offers three recommendations, all of which DOD concurred with.

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DIU Selects LLNL to Build Telescope for Responsive Space Mission
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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory logo. DIU selected LLNL to build a monolithic telescope.

The Defense Innovation Unit has selected Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to provide a new monolithic telescope for a responsive space mission, which Firefly Aerospace will launch as early as 2027.

LLNL said Thursday the monolithic telescope includes two optical telescopes and an electronics module with an NVIDIA processor and is designed to be robust and highly adaptable for a range of optical payload configurations and missions. It is expected to be completed and delivered within 13 months. Firefly Aerospace will host and operate the device on board its Elytra orbital vehicle, which will be deployed to low Earth orbit, under a cooperative research and development agreement.

New Space Capabilities for DOD

Benjamin Bahney, LLNL’s space program leader, said the mission “will prove a new capability for future highly maneuverable, responsive in-space imaging missions for the U.S. Defense Department in a variety of possible orbits including in deep space and into the lunar regime.”

The anticipated space event will mark LLNL’s third mission to develop rapid space payloads for the Department of Defense, following the Tactically Responsive Launch-2 mission in 2021 and the Victus Haze mission expected for liftoff as early as 2025.  It will support the DIU’s Sinequone project aimed at delivering cost-effective, responsive access to xGEO orbits located a little more than 22,000 miles above the Earth.

“We are thrilled to be selected by DIU for this mission, continuing LLNL’s work to supply the Defense Department with our monolith payloads to support responsive space missions and prove out new capabilities for defense of the space domain,” said John Ganino, LLNL’s space hardware lead.

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White House Issues AI Action Plan
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A workspace featuring computer screens with artificial intelligence elements. The White House released its AI Action Plan.

The White House has unveiled an action plan to help the U.S. achieve global dominance in artificial intelligence.

The White House said Wednesday the AI Action Plan outlines over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars: accelerating AI innovation; building American AI infrastructure; and leading in international AI diplomacy and security.

“This plan galvanizes Federal efforts to turbocharge our innovation capacity, build cutting-edge infrastructure, and lead globally, ensuring that American workers and families thrive in the AI era. We are moving with urgency to make this vision a reality,” said Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and a two-time Wash100 awardee.

David Sacks, the White House’s AI and crypto czar and a 2025 Wash100 Award recipient, said the AI Action Plan provides a roadmap for the U.S. to lead in innovation, global partnerships and infrastructure to win the AI race.

Accelerate AI Innovation

Key policies to advance AI innovation include removing red tape and onerous regulation; ensuring that frontier AI protects free speech and American values; and encouraging open-source and open-weight AI.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to ensure that AI models that the federal government acquires prioritize truthfulness and ideological neutrality.

“These clear-cut policy goals set expectations for the Federal Government to ensure America sets the technological gold standard worldwide, and that the world continues to run on American technology,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a 2025 Wash100 awardee.

Build American AI Infrastructure

Under this second pillar, key policies include creating streamlined permitting for data centers, semiconductor manufacturing facilities and energy infrastructure while guaranteeing security; restoring American semiconductor manufacturing; developing a grid to match the pace of AI innovation; and bolstering critical infrastructure cybersecurity.

Under an EO signed Wednesday, agencies are being directed to streamline environmental reviews and the permitting process for data centers by leveraging existing exemptions and developing new ones to speed up the construction of Qualifying Projects. The order also promotes the use of Brownfield and Superfund sites for data center development and includes the launch of an initiative to provide loans, tax incentives, grants and other financial support for Qualifying Projects.

Lead in International AI Diplomacy & Security

The third pillar’s policy actions include exporting American AI tools to allies and partners; countering Chinese influence in international governance bodies; strengthening AI compute export control enforcement; and investing in biosecurity.

The president on Wednesday signed another executive order directing the secretary of Commerce to establish and implement the American AI Exports Program to drive the development and deployment of full-stack AI export packages.

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Jud Virden Named Laboratory Director for NREL, President of Alliance for Sustainable Energy
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Jud Virden. Virden has been appointed as Alliance president and NREL director.

The Alliance for Sustainable Energy has appointed Jud Virden as its president and the new director of the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, or NREL. Virden will replace Martin Keller and officially assume the role of the laboratory director on October 1, NREL said in a press release. NREL is the main national laboratory in the U.S. for research and development in clean energy, which is managed by MRIGlobal and Batelle.

Commenting on his appointment, Virden said he considered it a privilege to take on the role.

“I am eager to build on NREL’s reputation for scientific excellence and drive meaningful, lasting transformation. I look forward to growing collaborations within DOE, industry, academia, and the national labs—working together to accelerate energy innovation and impact,” he said.

Keller, who has been NREL’s director since 2015, will remain in the lab as a strategic advisor until early November before transitioning as president of the Helmholtz Association in Berlin, Germany.

Who Is Jud Virden?

Virden is the associate laboratory director for the Energy and Environment Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, or PNNL, where he has worked for three decades. He also assumed several executive roles within the company. Under the Energy and Environment Directorate, he became the acting associate director and director of the energy market sector. He was also the deputy associate of the Energy Science and Technology Directorate, the director of transportation programs, technical group leader of the colloids and materials design group and industrial fellow at PNNL.

He began his career as an advanced chemical engineer at 3M. 

Remarks by MRIGlobal’s Ian Colrain, Batelle’s Juan Alvarez

MRI Global CEO and President Ian Colrain and Battelle Executive Vice President of Laboratory Operations Juan Alvarez, co-chairs of the board at the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, welcomed Virden’s appointment.

“Jud’s leadership in driving transformative energy solutions makes him an outstanding fit for NREL,” the co-chairs said.

“He brings a rare combination of scientific rigor, strategic vision, and a collaborative spirit—paired with a deep understanding of DOE priorities and the national lab system. His ability to translate innovation into impact makes him ideally suited to lead NREL into its next chapter,” they added.

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Senate Confirms Trump Nominee Arielle Roth to Lead NTIA
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Headshot of Arielle Roth. Roth will oversee the $42.5 billion BEAD program

The Senate has confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee Arielle Roth to lead the National Telecommunications and Information Administration as assistant secretary of communications and information. On Wednesday, legislators voted 52-41 in favor of Roth’s appointment. 

Who Is Arielle Roth?

Roth has extensive experience and deep expertise in telecommunications. She currently serves as telecom policy director for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. She also held multiple roles at the Federal Communications Commission, including as a wireline adviser for former commissioner Michael O’Rielly. 

In a statement, FCC Chair Brendan Carr congratulated Roth and said the new assistant secretary will play an important role in positioning the United States as a leader in wireless communications. 

“After Congress passed President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which restored the FCC’s spectrum auction authority, it has become even more important to have terrific leaders like Arielle at NTIA to help unlock more spectrum for consumer use,” Carr commented. “Arielle and her team will be critical in the work to restore U.S. leadership in wireless, which promotes our economic and national security.”

She holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of Toronto and McGill University.

Arielle Roth’s Criticism of BEAD

Roth will now lead the Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program, a $42.5 billion initiative to expand high-speed internet access across the country. 

In a previous event, she said the program has “all kinds of legal requirements” and deters participation, driving up costs. She pointed out that BEAD has a strong preference for fiber, which goes against the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 provision on tech neutrality. 

In June, the NTIA issued revised BEAD program rules to remove preference for end-to-end fiber and, instead, call for broadband services that can deliver speeds of no less than 100/20 Mbps.

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DOD Seeks Commercial Tech to Enhance Maritime Awareness
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Department of Defense seal. The DOD is seeking commercially available technology for advanced ocean monitoring.

The Department of Defense has started soliciting information on potential vendors capable of addressing knowledge gaps on various illicit maritime activities.

Enhancing Maritime Awareness & Security

According to the notice issued on the Defense Innovation Unit, the DOD aims to enhance awareness of marine-based activities, including illegal maritime activities, such as drug trafficking, piracy, human trafficking, transport of counterfeit contraband goods, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The department also intends to understand how to safeguard critical and supporting infrastructure in the maritime domain, while assessing implications for force protection.

Four Phases of Development

To realize this objective, the DOD seeks vendors to develop a secure sensing, data-driven commercial edge network architecture. The program includes four development phases.

For the first phase, the potential contractor will leverage existing commercial infrastructure, including fiber optics, pipelines and undersea cables, to detect objects and activity in the ocean and the seafloor and provide the DOD with real-time data. The proposed system will have electro-optical, infrared, electromagnetic, still imagery, full-motion video and geolocation features.

Phase two will cover areas without existing infrastructure by utilizing a commercially available low-profile system to monitor maritime domains and infrastructure for three months or more. This is meant to close surveillance gaps across strategic ocean areas and infrastructure where illegal activities usually occur.

For phase three, remaining coverage gaps will be addressed by validating sensor data transmission pathways, automating data analysis and enabling intuitive data search and visualization.

The final phase will involve advanced commercially available approaches for countering and misleading technologies developed in the earlier stages.

Interested parties can submit their responses until Aug. 3.

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Idaho National Lab, AWS Team Up to Develop AI for Nuclear Energy Ops
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Logos of INL and AWS. INL will access AWS technologies to support the development of AI for nuclear energy applications

Idaho National Laboratory will use Amazon Web Services’ artificial intelligence tools and advanced cloud infrastructure to develop AI for nuclear energy projects.

INL Director John Wagner said Wednesday that the partnership marks a step toward integrating AI into nuclear energy research and development.

“This collaboration underscores the critical role of linking the nation’s nuclear energy laboratory with AWS,” he explained. “By leveraging AWS’s cutting-edge cloud computing and AI solutions, we can accelerate nuclear energy deployment for America.”

AWS Services Available to INL

The INL will tap into Amazon Bedrock, which offers secure and flexible tools for developing generative AI applications and agents

According to Chris Ritter, division director of Scientific Computing and AI at INL, Bedrock will enable government researchers to build AI-powered nuclear energy applications using leading foundation models.

Ritter shared that the national laboratory will also use specialized tools such as Amazon SageMaker and customized chips like Inferentia and Trainium to support mission requirements.

Amazon SageMaker is a fully managed service that aids data scientists and engineers to build, customize and deploy foundational models for various use cases.

INL will also use AWS Compute and AI tools to create a digital twin of small modular nuclear reactors. Scientists could integrate near real-time data from the physical reactors to digital twin, which could pave the way for autonomous nuclear operations.

“AWS’s powerful AI and computing technology will support Idaho National Laboratory’s development of autonomous nuclear reactors to pioneer a future where civilian nuclear operations are safer, smarter and more responsive,” commented David Appel, vice president of U.S. federal and global national security and defense for AWS. “We’re proud to collaborate with the Department of Energy and Idaho National Laboratory to accelerate safe advanced nuclear energy that will strengthen America’s energy leadership and our technological edge.”

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