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Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl on Light Amphibious Warship Program
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Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl on Light Amphibious Warship Program

Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl, commanding general of Marine Corps Combat Development Command and deputy commandant for combat development and integration, said the Navy and the Marine Corps are close to reaching an agreement over the survivability and affordability of the light amphibious warship, Defense News reported Wednesday.

He said coming to an agreement about the vessel’s cost and capabilities could help keep the program on schedule for its planned start of construction in fiscal year 2025.

The Marine Corps wants the warship to provide small units of approximately 75 Marines the capability to discreetly move and carry reconnaissance drones, anti-ship missiles and other weapons systems.

Heckl said the amphibious ship is meant to look like a commercial vessel that could “hide in plain sight.”

“The [Indo-Pacific] sea lines of communication are the most traversed sea lines in the world; it would be a challenge for any power to surveil everything all the time in that area,” he said. “However, if you don’t look like everything else you’re trying to blend in with, you make your adversary’s problem set much simpler.”

Heckl noted that five companies were awarded contracts in June 2021 to work on preliminary designs for the vessel and the Navy-Marine team will evaluate such designs in January.

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DHS Appoints Nicholas Rasmussen as New Counterterrorism Coordinator; Bennie Thompson Quoted
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DHS Appoints Nicholas Rasmussen as New Counterterrorism Coordinator; Bennie Thompson Quoted

Nicholas Rasmussen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, was named as new counterterrorism coordinator at the Department of Homeland Security.

Commenting on the appointment, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the homeland security committee, cited Rasmussen’s previous responsibilities including serving as executive director of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.

“This appointment will greatly help DHS in its mission to monitor, assess, and respond to both foreign and domestic terror threats,” the lawmaker added.

Rasmussen will lead domestic anti-terrorism efforts and policy not only in the DHS but also in component agencies such as the Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection, according to a Yahoo News report on Tuesday.

The official was at the helm of the Countering Violent Extremism programs created in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.

“Today, domestic violent extremists pose the most lethal terrorism threat to our nation, yet global terrorist groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda and their affiliates still pose a very real risk to the American public at home and abroad,” said Thompson.

Rasmussen will replace John Cohen, who was the DHS counterterrorism coordinator until March this year.

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Treasury Seeks Public Comments on Clean Energy Tax Credit Implementation; Janet Yellen Quoted
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Treasury Seeks Public Comments on Clean Energy Tax Credit Implementation; Janet Yellen Quoted

The Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service have released six requests for public comments on the implementation of climate and clean energy tax incentives mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Treasury said Wednesday the notices focus on energy generation incentives, credit enhancements, incentives for homes and buildings, consumer vehicle credits, manufacturing credits and credit monetization.

The release of the notices initiates the process of soliciting public feedback to inform guidance and rulemaking for key provisions of the legislation and provide clarity and certainty to taxpayers.

“The Treasury Department stands ready to meet the responsibility that comes with implementing this legislation and looks forward to engaging with stakeholders and the public who will benefit from the law’s provisions,” said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

The Inflation Reduction Act, which President Biden signed into law in August, includes a $369 billion investment to address the climate crisis and enhance the country’s energy security.

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DARPA Unveils Advanced Research Concepts Initiative; Director Stefanie Tompkins Quoted
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DARPA Unveils Advanced Research Concepts Initiative; Director Stefanie Tompkins Quoted

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched an initiative to rapidly explore novel technology concepts that seek to address high-risk, high-reward “what if” questions.

DARPA said Wednesday the Advanced Research Concepts initiative intends to invest in research that could be transitioned into new technologies for U.S. national security.

The agency will open each ARC topic for up to six months and evaluate on a rolling basis submitted concepts with the goal of awarding contracts for selected ideas within weeks.

One engineer or scientist will be funded as a full-time equivalent to work on the approved concept and find the answer to a particular topic question for 12 months.

“Status quo is a losing strategy. We need to explore many topics to find those rare DARPA ideas that could result in new, game-changing technologies for U.S. national security,” said Stefanie Tompkins, director of DARPA and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner.

The agency said early career scientists and engineers selected under the DARPA Innovation Fellowship Program will come up with topics for the ARC initiative, assess the submitted concepts and manage the participants selected to get ARC funding.

Department of the Air Force Outlines Plan to Address Climate Risks; Secretary Frank Kendall Quoted
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Department of the Air Force Outlines Plan to Address Climate Risks; Secretary Frank Kendall Quoted

The Department of the Air Force has released an action plan detailing three key objectives to address climate change’s impact on its operational capability, resilience and readiness.

The Air Force said Wednesday it plans to address the climate risks by maintaining air and space dominance, making climate-informed decisions and optimizing energy use and pursuing alternative energy sources.

The Climate Action Plan‘s first objective is to ensure installation resiliency and adaptability in the face of climate risks to project air and space combat dominance.

The second priority line focuses on developing a climate-informed workforce and incorporating climate considerations into the DAF requirements, acquisition process, supply chain and wargaming.

For its third objective, the document outlines plans to improve operational energy intensity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt alternative energy sources.

“Our mission remains unchanged, but we recognize that the world is facing ongoing and accelerating climate change and we must be prepared to respond, fight, and win in this constantly changing world,” said Frank Kendall, secretary of the Air Force and a three-time Wash100 Award winner.

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Kris Gorriarán Named New President of Gordian; William Pollak Quoted
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Kris Gorriarán Named New President of Gordian; William Pollak Quoted

Gordian announced on Thursday that Kris Gorriarán, previously of Fluke Health Solutions (FHS), has been named the company’s new president.

“It is my honor to join another successful and high-growth Fortive operating company. I have already hit the ground running with Gordian’s ambitious, customer-focused team,” Gorriarán said.

Kris Gorriarán joins Gordian following her more than six-year tenure with Fluke Health Solutions. During her time with the company, Gorriarán most recently served as its president where she led the delivery of strong business results, as well as high levels of customer, partner and employee satisfaction.

“I have enormous pride in the business and culture that my leadership team and employees have developed together at FHS, as well as the meaningful impact we have made in the healthcare market,” Gorriarán explained.

Gordian is the leading provider of software, data insights and services to the construction and facilities industries. Gordian’s solutions enable efficient and effective procurement and information solutions that deliver rapid deployment and long-term cost savings.

William Pollak, group president of Fortive’s Facility and Asset Lifecycle Group, also expressed his excitement to see Kris Gorriarán join the company given Gordian’s future growth opportunities to provide unrivaled insights, robust technology and expert services for all phases of the building lifecycle.

“Kris is a structured leader with a strong appetite for pursuing growth opportunities in the market through innovative business models and go-to-market strategies,” Pollak explained. “She inspires her teams with a clear and compelling vision, a high level of collaborative engagement with all stakeholders, and an ability to create an empowered, agile, and focused organizational culture.”

About Gordian

Gordian is the leading provider of unrivaled insights, robust technology and expert services for all phases of the building lifecycle. A pioneer of Job Order Contracting, Gordian’s solutions also include proprietary RSMeans data and Facilities Intelligence Solutions.

From planning to design, procurement, construction and operations, Gordian’s solutions help clients maximize efficiency, optimize cost savings and increase building quality.

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ManTech Secures $115M Contract to Research, Enhance USMC Intelligence Systems; David Hathaway Quoted
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ManTech Secures $115M Contract to Research, Enhance USMC Intelligence Systems; David Hathaway Quoted

A division of the U.S. Marine Corps has awarded defense contracting company ManTech a $115 million contract to conduct and advise on technical improvements for USMC intelligence systems.

Through the award, which comes as part of the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s Multiple Award Contract vehicle, ManTech will perform various research, analysis and engineering services, including the testing and creation of autonomous technologies, the Herndon, Virginia-headquartered company said Wednesday.

David Hathaway, executive vice president and general manager of the defense division at ManTech, said that the new contract is a continuation of an ongoing, productive relationship between the company and the USMC.

“This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the Corps’ future and contribute to its excellence in expeditionary intelligence,” Hathaway continued.

ManTech’s efforts under the contract are intended to produce tools that strengthen the USMC’s intelligence arsenal, modernize information networks and combat cyber threats. These technologies will ideally gather, examine, exercise and send out time-sensitive intelligence that is geared to power the direction and tough choices of a wide range of missions.

The company’s team will realize these technologies by evaluating intelligence systems based on endurance and vulnerability and staging models and simulations to confirm their consistency, maintainability and interconnected functionality. In addition, ManTech is charged with leading research and development initiatives, establishing effective information management and sharing processes and participating in software, data and cybersecurity activities.

A further aspect of the DOD IAC award tasks ManTech with carrying out engineering and R&D analysis of USMC’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technology portfolio. The contract was offered by the Marine Corps Systems Command, Program Manager Intelligence Systems Program.

The award comes on the heels of a couple of U.S. Navy contracts presented to ManTech in recent months. In September, ManTech Advanced Systems won a $99.3 million contract to execute engineering and technical services for three naval aviation endeavors, while in August, ManTech landed a $184 million contract to help the Naval Sea Systems Command engineer its surface vessel integrated warfare systems.

Carlyle also wrapped up its acquisition of ManTech last month and earlier this week, it was announced Matt Tait will be its new CEO and president.

DOE Office of Science Gets $400M for FY 2023 Research Funding Program
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DOE Office of Science Gets $400M for FY 2023 Research Funding Program

Department of Energy is allocating $400 million in funding to advance the research and development priorities set by the Office of Science for fiscal year 2023.

DOE said Tuesday the annual funding will be used to support various programs across the Office of Science focused on areas including advanced scientific computing research, basic energy sciences, fusion energy sciences, biological and environmental research and high energy physics.

The Office of Science has released a funding opportunity announcement extending the solicitation period for its financial assistance program until Sept. 30, 2023.

“This comprehensive investment will continue to support DOE — our nation’s ‘solutions department’ — and solidify America’s global leadership in science and technology,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

The funding opportunity is open to federal agencies and federally funded research and development centers not operating under DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

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Schuyler Moore to Lead Central Command’s Innovation Functions as CTO
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Schuyler Moore to Lead Central Command’s Innovation Functions as CTO

Schuyler Moore, former director of science and technology for the Defense Innovation Board, has joined U.S. Central Command to serve as its first chief technology officer.

In her new role, Moore will be responsible for overseeing the overall technology innovation functions at the unified combatant command, USCENTCOM said Tuesday.

Moore most recently served as chief strategy officer at Task Force 59, a newly launched U.S. Naval Forces Central Command task force dedicated to integrating unmanned systems into the 5th Fleet area of operations.

During her tenure at the DIB, Moore provided recommendations on the military uses of artificial intelligence, biotechnology and cyber capabilities and presented a report on 5G technology to Congress and the White House.

“Our strategic approach – summarized by ‘People, Partners, and Innovation,’ relies on bringing in the best talent from across the military and from civilian industry and then empowering that talent,” said Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of USCENTCOM.

Kurilla added that Moore will help the organization “lead on innovation and experimentation for the region.”

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DON CIO Aaron Weis Signs Design Concept Outlining Information Superiority Objectives
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DON CIO Aaron Weis Signs Design Concept Outlining Information Superiority Objectives

Aaron Weis, the chief information officer of the Department of the Navy, has signed a design concept outlining an integrated framework to achieve digital modernization goals across the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

The Capstone Design Concept for Information Superiority serves as an integrated framework for accomplishing DON’s vision to move any information from anywhere to anywhere in a secure manner, the Navy said Tuesday.

“Successful completion of our mission to modernize, innovate, and defend our information to achieve a digital edge that no adversary can match depends on our ability to design, develop, and deploy the best technical solutions,” Weis, a three-time Wash100 awardee, said.

The guidance focuses on the optimization of the DON information environment for cloud, the adoption of enterprise services and the implementation of a zero trust architecture to achieve operational resilience and improve customer experience.

DON will release a supporting major design concept document for each of the three objectives in fiscal year 2023.

“We need to design to ensure resiliency, efficiency, effectiveness, and value, so that sailors and Marines can gain and maintain decision advantage,” said Jane Rathbun, chief technology officer at DON.

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