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Sethuraman Panchanathan Resigns as National Science Foundation Director
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Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director of National Science Foundation

Sethuraman Panchanathan announced his decision to resign as director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, effective April 24.

In a statement released by NSF Thursday, Panchanathan expressed his gratitude to Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Congress and NSF personnel.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the director of NSF for the last five years,” said Panchanathan. “I believe I have done all I can to advance the critical mission of the agency and feel that it is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership,” he added.

Panchanathan was unanimously confirmed by the Senate as the 15th director of the NSF in June 2020 after President Trump nominated him for the leadership role in December 2019. He continued to serve under President Biden.

NSF Achievements Under Panchanathan

In an internal email obtained by Nextgov/FCW, the outgoing NSF director highlighted some of the agency’s achievements during his tenure. This includes the deployment of 27 artificial intelligence institutes and the advancement of multiple scientific research discoveries.

“I wish the very best for the agency and will always look proudly at the numerous accomplishments and impact we have had,” added Panchanathan.

Panchanathan’s Career History

Before joining NSF, Panchanathan spent over 27 years at Arizona State University as a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. He held other significant positions at the university, including executive vice president for knowledge enterprise development and chief research and innovation officer. He was also the founder and director of the Center for Cognitive Ubiquitous Computing, director of the Institute for Computing and Information Science and Engineering and founder of the School of Computing and Informatics and the Biomedical Informatics Department.

Earlier in his career, Panchanathan co-founded MotionEase and taught at the University of Ottawa as an associate professor for eight years.

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Government Cloud Security Program Offers Update on FedRAMP 20x
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FedRAMP providing updates on FedRAMP 20x cloud-native authorization framework

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program has provided updates on efforts launched and upcoming initiatives for FedRAMP 20x, a cloud-native authorization framework that seeks to advance the use of automation to accelerate secure cloud adoption across federal agencies.

FedRamp 20x Launched in March–What’s Next? 

Since launching FedRAMP 20x in March, the program said Thursday the FedRAMP team has executed several initiatives to deliver authorizations, facilitate community engagements, improve standards and support the General Services Administration’s artificial intelligence priorities.

When it comes to the authorization aspect, the program has granted FedRAMP Ready designations to seven new cloud services, recognized two new third party assessment organizations and listed five new In Process cloud services for Rev 4 agency authorizations, among other efforts.

Under the standards improvements category to advance FedRAMP 20x, the FedRAMP team has finalized eligibility criteria for the first 20x pilots using stakeholder feedback, prepared a draft standard to demonstrate FedRAMP 20x with explicit criteria for achieving an automated FedRAMP Low authorization and proposed a standard for defining the boundary of FedRAMP authorizations based on public comment.

To improve FedRAMP’s use of AI tools, the program has created a lab environment with resources for generative AI-based learning and prototyping and developed an internal system using GitHub API and GSAi internal tool to review GitHub comments and create executive summaries.

FedRAMP 20x Phase One Pilot

In May, the program will launch the initial phase of the FedRAMP 20x pilot to test how cloud service providers can meet FedRAMP Low authorization requirements using automated technical validation, simple documentation requirements and existing commercial certification to produce machine-readable packages that can be evaluated by trusted third parties.

Qualifying cloud services that complete the first phase will secure a 12-month FedRAMP Low authorization. The program will prioritize such service offerings for FedRAMP Moderate authorization in the pilot program’s second phase.

The program is seeking public comments on proposed key security indicators for FedRAMP 20x Phase One pilot. Responses are due May 24.

FedRAMP is also soliciting feedback on the proposed Significant Change Notification Standard and Minimum Assessment Scope Standard.

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Space Force Environmental Monitoring Satellite Achieves Operational Acceptance
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Space Force’s ML-1A WSF-M environmental monitoring satellite reaching operational acceptance

Space Operations Command, or SpOC, officially accepted on Thursday the ML-1A Weather System Follow-on – Microwave, or WSF-M, satellite, marking an apparent milestone in delivering modernized space-based environmental monitoring, or SBEM, systems.

SpOC said Thursday the Space Force’s ML-1A satellite delivers combat-relevant environmental data to joint warfighters performing mission planning and operations worldwide.

“The operational acceptance of the first WSF-M satellite is a pivotal moment in SSC’s history. It represents the Space Force’s focus on transitioning towards a more affordable, scalable, and resilient weather satellite constellation,” said Col. Robert Davis, program executive officer for space sensing at Space Systems Command.

“WSF-M pinpoints actionable weather data on a global scale 24/7 empowering our joint forces to plan strategically and respond swiftly, no matter the environmental conditions,” added Davis.

The Naval Research Lab at Blossom Point Tracking Facility in Maryland is operating the spacecraft.

What Is ML-1A?

ML-1A is the first WSF-M satellite that launched on April 11 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The space vehicle will augment the key capabilities of the ML-62 Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and is designed to sense, store and transmit microwave raw sensor data to support the Department of Defense’s three high-priority SBEM capabilities by measuring ocean surface vector winds, tropical low-earth orbit energetic charged particle characterization and cyclone intensity. The satellite will also address three more SBEM capabilities: sea ice characterization, snow depth and soil moisture.

The satellite is part of the Space Force’s pivot to hybrid architectures to facilitate weather monitoring to ensure that warfighters maintain critical informational advantage.

Gain valuable insights from experts and speakers at the 2025 Air and Space Summit. Sign up now for this Potomac Officers Club-hosted event on July 31.

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Boeing Halts X-66 Flight Demonstrator Development
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Boeing company logo

Boeing has proposed focusing NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project on long, thin-wing technology, halting the company’s work on the X-66 flight demonstrator, the centerpiece of the project aimed at developing more sustainable commercial airliners.

The current X-66 aircraft adopts a transonic truss-braced wing concept that uses thin-wing technology. Under Boeing’s proposal, the project will prioritize research on the technology, which Boeing identified as having broad applications for potential incorporation into aircraft with and without truss braces, while keeping research into the transonic truss-braced wing concept, NASA said.

The company made the recommendation based on data gathered since the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator research began in 2023 under the Space Act Agreement. 

X-66 as Testbed for Boeing 737 Replacement

Besides supporting NASA’s goal to achieve substantial improvements for next-generation airliner efficiency, Boeing plans to use the X-66 to inform the design of a single-aisle replacement for the 737 in the 2030s, Aviation Week Network reported. According to Boeing, the proposed changes in the project will not substantially affect the development of the new aircraft.

While the new approach is being evaluated and the project is on pause, the company reallocated engineers from the experimental program to the 777X and 737 Max development effort ahead of the 2026 delivery schedules.

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OSC Wants Public Input on Draft Space Traffic Coordination Guide
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OSC Wants Public Input on Draft Space Traffic Coordination Guide

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Space Commerce is soliciting public comments on the third draft on an international standard for space traffic coordination. The space operations working group of a technical committee under the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, developed the document to promote safety and efficient space use, OSC said Thursday.

It added that the draft standards define the requirements of a system for space traffic coordination, or STC, providing readily available, timely, complete and accurate services. The STC system is critical to the standards on data sharing and coordination in space situational awareness, essential elements in the Traffic Coordination System for Space that it is developing, OSC noted.

Operational Transparency in Space

The standards in the 129-page draft, called ISO/CD3 9490, include procedures for collecting, storing and exchanging data pertinent to space safety. The draft offers guidelines on operational transparency in space as required in the Outer Space Treaty and other related United Nations documents on ensuring safety and sustainability in space. 

The guidance includes direction on sharing and exchange of planned spacecraft launches, as well as maneuvers and potential orbital conjunctions. In addition, the ISO draft provides maneuver recommendations and prioritization of spacecraft at risk of collision. A section in the draft also tackles the responsibilities of participants under the STC system.

Commenting on the draft is via an OSC-provided template that may be sent through e-mail, with May 15 as the submission deadline. 

In a related move, OSC published last June the Space Industry Technical Standards Compendium that addresses space traffic coordination and space situational awareness. The office said it will continuously update the compendium and work to convert the resource into an online database.

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MITRE Publishes Report on Government Use of Public, Commercial Data
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The logo of MITRE, a not-for-profit organization supporting the U.S. government.

MITRE has released the results of its research on the scalable and efficient use of publicly and commercially available information, dubbed P/CAI, in the U.S. government. In a paper published Thursday, MITRE identified the challenges and steps the government can take to more effectively utilize P/CAI. 

From Disconnected Efforts to Centralized Acquisitions

P/CAI, also known as open source intelligence, strengthens national security and supports the missions of various agencies. MITRE noted in the report that the assistant secretary of the bureau of intelligence and research at the Department of State sees the “explosion of OSINT” as transformative to how governments process information about global issues and society as a whole. 

However, MITRE found that P/CAI efforts in the U.S. government are disconnected, leading to challenges such as duplicate purchases. There is also a lack of privacy and civil liberties frameworks to address sensitive information. 

MITRE recommends that the government adopt a centralized approach to P/CAI across the government. According to the not-for-profit organization, agencies must leverage the collective buying power of the government. 

Agencies must also use contracting strategies that support efficient procurement through an enterprise model or a modular approach that combines the strengths of different contracting tools. 

In addition, to address concerns over sensitive data in P/CAI, MITRE called for a central library of authorities to track and ensure strict compliance with privacy laws. 

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Ha Nguyen McNeill Named Acting TSA Administrator
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Ha Nguyen McNeill, Acting TSA Administrator

Ha Nguyen McNeill, has been appointed acting administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, former Arizona Sen. Chris Cummiskey shared on LinkedIn Wednesday.

Who Is Ha Nguyen McNeill?

The seasoned national and homeland security professional rejoins TSA from BigBear.ai, where she most recently served as vice president of digital identity growth and acting president of commercial. She spearheaded the company’s efforts to boost revenue and develop new artificial intelligence capabilities tailored for the aviation industry.

The TSA leader worked at Pangiam for nearly three years before it was acquired by BigBear.ai in 2024. She served as executive VP of commercial and CEO and senior VP of strategic consulting. From 2019 to 2021, she was the chief operating officer of Business Software Alliance, where she was instrumental in BSA’s strategic direction and revenue-generating functions. She served as chief of staff and VP of operations during her first stop at BSA from 2014 to 2017.

In between her BSA stints, Ha was the TSA chief of staff. In this capacity, she served as an adviser to the TSA administrator while overseeing several offices, including Legislative Affairs and Policy Coordination and Innovation. She held other leadership roles at TSA, including chief of staff of the Office of Global Strategies and team lead of the Global Strategic and Multilateral Engagement.

The executive also held director positions at the White House, particularly at the National Security Council and the Office of Management and Budget. She had a brief stint at the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate between her two White House tours.

Ha started her career at the DHS, serving as a policy advisor for both the Office of Policy and the Office of International Affairs.

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Army Begins Unified Directory Service Implementation
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NETCOM kicks off transition to Army Unified Directory Service to provide immediate connectivity for soldiers

The U.S. Army’s Network Enterprise Technology Command, or NETCOM, has started implementing a cloud-based directory and device management platform to deliver enhanced security and capabilities to warfighters worldwide.

The Army said Wednesday it will transition all unclassified end-user computers to the Army Unified Directory Service, or AUDS, by the end of September.

What Is AUDS?

AUDS seeks to merge all unclassified Army directories into a single, unified network to help streamline user and device management.

The platform is leveraging artificial intelligence to facilitate integration with a threat intelligence network and facilitate proactive response to emerging threats. It also applies threat detection and endpoint protection measures to improve security.

Improving User Experience

With AUDS, warfighters can access Teams, Outlook and other Army 365 applications from compliant devices without the need for a VPN. 

The device management platform also offers single sign-on features and provides standardized network access controls to ensure seamless connectivity.

Facilitating AUDS Transition

NETCOM has been conducting weekly administrator training and leader orientation sessions to facilitate the transition to AUDS. The command will also configure new systems to meet the AUDS standard.

The military branch is directing commands to submit required software to the AUDS approved product list through the Army Enterprise Service Management Portal.

Gain insights into modernization imperatives, force structure optimization, national security missions and more at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Army Summit on June 18. Register here.

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Google Urges Some Remote Staff to Return to Office
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Google is requiring a return-to-office policy for some remote workers

Google has asked some remote employees to show up at the nearest office at least three days a week if they want to keep their jobs, CNBC reported Wednesday.

Courtenay Mencini, a spokesperson for Google, said the decisions concerning return-to-office arrangements for remote staff are not companywide but are based on individual teams.

“As we’ve said before, in-person collaboration is an important part of how we innovate and solve complex problems,” Mencini said in a statement to CNBC. “To support this, some teams have asked remote employees that live near an office to return to in-person work three days a week.” 

Prioritizing Investments in AI

The technology company has been downsizing various business units in an effort to cut costs, streamline operations and prioritize investments in artificial intelligence and related infrastructure.

Voluntary Exit Packages

At the start of the year, several units within Google started offering voluntary exit plans to some full-time employees.

According to the report, Google Technical Services has required employees to return to the office for a hybrid work schedule or take a voluntary exit plan. The unit also offers a one-time relocation package to remote workers who want to move closer to a Google office.

Remote staff at Google’s human resources unit, called People Operations, who live within 50 miles of an office have been told to either opt for a hybrid work arrangement or prepare to leave the company by June.

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Rick Muller: IARPA Eying LLMs for Next AI Cyber Research
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IARPA Director Rick Muller talking about large language models

Rick Muller, director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, said IARPA considers large language models a major focus area for its next artificial intelligence cybersecurity research program, Federal News Network reported Wednesday.

“What we want to be able to do is understand in the next round, what kind of training skews are brought into a large language model that might give unintended consequences? What type of hallucinations are going on?” Muller said Tuesday at an Intelligence and National Security Alliance-hosted event.

“And then how can we make sure that those models can be trained on classified data and not spew out that data if you ask them nicely?” he continued. “If you read the literature in jailbreaking large language models, sometimes it really just takes asking them in the right way.”

IARPA is now considering the next round of AI research as its current program, TrojAI, is set to conclude this year.

What Is TrojAI?

Launched in 2019, TrojAI is an IARPA program that seeks to defend AI systems from malicious attacks, known as Trojans, by conducting research and developing technology to detect such attacks in a completed AI system.

The program aims to deliver software that can quickly and accurately detect Trojans in AI tools before deployment. It has focused research on various AI domains, including image classification, reinforcement learning and natural language processing.

In September 2023, IARPA hosted a challenge with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to prevent malicious actors from manipulating data used to train AI systems.

Register now for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Cyber Summit on May 15. Listen to experts as they discuss new cyber policies, modernization strategies and other trends shaping the cyber domain.

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