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CISA Releases Directive to Improve Asset Visibility, Vulnerability Detection; Director Jen Easterly Quoted
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CISA Releases Directive to Improve Asset Visibility, Vulnerability Detection; Director Jen Easterly Quoted

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has issued a binding operational directive mandating that agencies report vulnerability enumeration performance data to improve CISA’s operational visibility into federal networks.

The BOD 23-01, titled “Improving Asset Visibility and Vulnerability Detection on Federal Networks,” establishes baseline requirements for agencies to identify assets and vulnerabilities on their networks and submit reports to CISA at regular intervals, the agency said Monday.

Beginning on April 3, 2023, all federal agencies must perform automated asset discovery every seven days and report identified vulnerabilities on the assets every 14 days.

Jen Easterly, director of CISA and a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient, said that cyber threat criminals pose risks to unprotected critical infrastructure and government networks.

“Knowing what’s on your network is the first step for any organization to reduce risk. While this Directive applies to federal civilian agencies, we urge all organizations to adopt the guidance in this directive to gain a complete understanding of vulnerabilities that may exist on their networks,” Easterly added.

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White House ONCD Seeks Comments on National Cyber Workforce Strategy
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White House ONCD Seeks Comments on National Cyber Workforce Strategy

The Office of the National Cyber Director is requesting the public to comment on its plan to create a national strategy focused on cyber workforce, cyber training and education and digital awareness.

The White House said Monday ONCD has released a request for information to allow stakeholders to provide recommendations and best practices to guide the development of the U.S. cyber workforce with an emphasis on expanding diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

In July, National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, hosted a summit with senior U.S. government officials, private sector executives and thought leaders to discuss how the U.S. government can enhance cyber-focused career pathways.

Participants in the summit included Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and Anne Neuberger, deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology on the National Security Council.

Mayorkas, Easterly and Neuberger are all previous Wash100 Award recipients as well.

Responses to the RFI are due Nov. 3rd.

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US-Australia Space Surveillance Telescope Achieves IOC Status; Gen. John Raymond Quoted
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US-Australia Space Surveillance Telescope Achieves IOC Status; Gen. John Raymond Quoted

The U.S. Space Force and the Australian defense department issued an initial operational capability declaration Friday for a ground-based military telescope being used to monitor deep-space objects.

The Space Surveillance Telescope is designed to capture images of faint objects in geosynchronous orbit and is located at Harold E. Holt, a joint naval communication station in Western Australia, the Space Systems Command said Friday.

“Reaching initial operational capability is a major achievement that underscores the importance of working together to secure the ultimate high ground,” said Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, chief of space operations at USSF and a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient.

“I’m impressed at how far we’ve come together and look forward to continuing our close partnership as we work toward full operational capability.”

SSC will maintain ownership, oversight and management of the system, while Australia will continue to provide services related to training, operators, facilities and infrastructure.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory originally built the infrastructure on the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency funds between 2002 and 2011.

The U.S. and Australian governments transferred SST to its current location under a memorandum of understanding signed in 2013.

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DOE Solicits Ideas to Ensure Grid Tech Supply With Defense Production Act Authority
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DOE Solicits Ideas to Ensure Grid Tech Supply With Defense Production Act Authority

The Department of Energy has issued a request for information to seek public input on using the Defense Production Act to boost technology supply chains, foster clean energy and ensure grid reliability.

The RFI notice comes four months after President Biden allowed DOE to invoke the DPA to expedite domestic manufacturing of clean energy systems such as solar panels, the department said Monday.

The Biden administration is working to strengthen the country’s energy resilience in the wake of global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war on Ukraine, which have disrupted the U.S. energy supply chains and even affected national defense.

DOE is soliciting ideas from industry and public sector stakeholders on how to apply legal authority to address challenges and opportunities in technology supply chains, domestic manufacturing processes in businesses of all sizes, U.S. workforce investment and socioeconomic accessibility of clean energy.

The deadline for submission is on Nov. 30.

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FAA Opens Application Anew for Recreational Drone Test Administrators
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FAA Opens Application Anew for Recreational Drone Test Administrators

The Federal Aviation Administration is on the hunt for more entities to facilitate The Recreational UAS Safety Test as it aims to make the assessment accessible to all recreational drone flyers and ensure proper knowledge and handling of drone operations. 

FAA opened the second round of applications for administrators of recreational drone testing and encouraged those connected with recreational pilots such as educational institutions, manufacturers and aeromodelling firms to apply, the agency said Monday. 

Interested individuals may submit their applications by Nov. 11. The FAA will announce new test administrators in March 2023. 

Under the law, all recreational unmanned aerial system flyers must pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test. 

Through TRUST, the recreational flyer’s understanding of aeronautical safety knowledge and rules for operating drones will be assessed. Since June 2021, TRUST has been administered as an online test. 

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Stephanie Nguyen Becomes Full-Time Federal Trade Commission CTO
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Stephanie Nguyen Becomes Full-Time Federal Trade Commission CTO

Stephanie Nguyen has been appointed chief technology officer at the Federal Trade Commission after holding the role on an acting basis for one year.

FTC Chair Lina Khan made the announcement on Monday, saying Nguyen’s permanent designation will help the agency keep up with the latest technological developments.

Nguyen previously worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a research scientist and at the U.S. Digital Service.

She has more than 10 years of experience in technical product and service development projects in areas such as human-computer interaction and user experience.

In the same announcement, FTC said communications professional Douglas Farrar joined the agency as director of public affairs. He is a former vice president of communications and strategy at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a U.S. House of Representatives legislative aide.

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Space Development Agency Joins Space Force Team; Director Derek Tournear Quoted
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Space Development Agency Joins Space Force Team; Director Derek Tournear Quoted

The U.S. Space Force officially took the Space Development Agency under its wings, in line with a Congress-mandated realignment initiative in the National Defense Authorization Act.

USSF said Saturday the agency responsible for rapid space capability delivery will now report to the Chief of Space Operations for all other matters and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration for acquisition efforts.

“SDA’s proliferated low Earth orbit constellation, as an integral part of the Space Force’s force design, brings resiliency, accelerated capability delivery through spiral development, and rapid technology refresh,” said Frank Calvelli, ASAF/SQ.

He added that the agency would retain its structure and culture.

“As we transfer to the U.S. Space Force, SDA looks forward to continuing our important work on the National Defense Space Architecture, which will deliver critical space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter,” said Derek Tournear, SDA director and previous Wash100 Award recipient.

Originally, SDA was under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, functioning as an independent defense agency that was expected to join the Space Force team. It was established in March 2019.

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Guidehouse Strengthens Financial Services, IT Offerings With Grant Thornton Acquisition; CEO Scott McIntyre Quoted
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Guidehouse Strengthens Financial Services, IT Offerings With Grant Thornton Acquisition; CEO Scott McIntyre Quoted

Consulting firm Guidehouse has concluded its transaction to acquire the public sector advisory business of Grant Thornton LLP.

With the acquisition, Guidehouse adds new expertise and capabilities in financial services, human-capital management and information technology, among other focus areas, the McLean, Virginia-based company said Monday.

Six-time Wash100 Award winner Scott McIntyre, CEO of Guidehouse, asserted that the business combination of Guidehouse and Grant Thornton Public Sector Advisory will yield growth, a more robust line of defense for customers against their most pressing challenges and embolden the company’s aim to seek the realization of new strategic possibilities.

Guidehouse’s intent to acquire the Grant Thornton business was made public in late August. Guidehouse, in turn, operates under the umbrella of Veritas Capital. Veritas CEO and managing partner Ramzi Musallam commented that the new acquisition deal means securing the firm’s status as a harbor of “best-in-class talent, unmatched experience” along with a deep bench of capabilities.

Musallam, who is a seven-time Wash100 Award recipient, additionally noted that Guidehouse is a rapidly expanding enterprise — a fact confirmed by a Consulting Magazine recognition in September — that has logged significant organic and inorganic growth over the last few years.

The firm “is now even better positioned to serve clients and drive lasting value for all stakeholders,” Musallam continued.

Service areas strengthened by the Grant Thornton buy also include data analytics, performance management, as well as energy, health, national security and defense.

Baird was the financial advisor for Guidehouse and Veritas, while Deutsche Bank Securities advised Grant Thornton on financial matters. Milbank LLP and Covington & Burling LLP were the legal team helping Guidehouse and Veritas and Morrison & Foerster LLP and Akerman LLP assisted Grant Thornton on the legal side.

Guidehouse’s latest acquisition comes on the heels of the August announcement of the completion of its purchase and integration of Dovel Technologies. This addition prompted the creation of a new practice called Guidehouse Digital, which concentrates on digital transformation and digital experience enhancement.

The firm also announced restructuring moves — namely, combining its defense and national security divisions — and leadership shifts, such as the appointment of Ed Meehan as chief growth officer, in August.

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DOE Solicits Comments on Draft Guidance for Civil Nuclear Credit Program Application
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DOE Solicits Comments on Draft Guidance for Civil Nuclear Credit Program Application

The Department of Energy is the public to comment on draft guidance for the application for the second award cycle of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-funded program to prevent the premature retirement of U.S. nuclear reactors.

The $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit aims to ensure the continued operations of nuclear reactors across the country in support of the Biden administration’s goal to achieve 100 percent clean electricity by 2035, DOE said Friday.

The draft guidance outlines the timelines, deliverables and supporting information needed from nuclear power reactor owners and operators eligible to apply to the program.

The second award cycle prioritizes nuclear power reactors estimated to shut down within the four years due to economic circumstances. Comments on the draft guidance are due Nov. 4.

“The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law recognizes the contributions of our nation’s existing nuclear reactor fleet in providing reliable, clean power to millions of households and supporting nearly half a million U.S. jobs,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

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Andrea Norris to Retire as NIH CIO, Center for Information Technology Director
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Andrea Norris to Retire as NIH CIO, Center for Information Technology Director

Andrea Norris, a more than 10-year veteran at the National Institutes of Health, is retiring from her dual role as chief information officer and director of the Center for Information Technology at NIH on Dec. 31.

Lawrence Tabak, acting director of NIH, said in a statement posted Thursday Norris is responsible for overseeing the agency’s $1.6 billion technology portfolio supporting the research of 27 institutes and centers, as well as university and medical researchers receiving funding support.

“NIH has benefited greatly from Andrea’s rich knowledge in strategic planning, business management and technology,” Tabak said.

According to Tabak, Norris established the NIH Science and Technology Research Infrastructure for Discovery, Experimentation and Sustainability program that played a key role in facilitating the adoption of cloud computing among biomedical researchers.

“She also led the expansion of Biowulf, which is ranked as one of the top supercomputers in the world devoted exclusively to biomedical research and is NIH’s high-performance computing environment used by researchers at NIH,” Tabak added.

Norris previously served as CIO and director of the Division of Information Systems at the National Science Foundation and deputy CIO for management at NASA.

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