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DHS Freezes Disinformation Governance Board for Close Review; Leader Nina Jankowicz Resigns
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DHS Freezes Disinformation Governance Board for Close Review; Leader Nina Jankowicz Resigns

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has halted progress on its new investigative committee built to research and identify the circulation of false claims and misleading messages.

Initiated in late April by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a previous Wash100 Award recipient, the Disinformation Governance Board has drawn criticism from lawmakers due to its purported potential for censorship and the limitation of free speech.

Officials from DHS strongly refute objections with the board’s mission or capabilities, saying it “was designed to ensure we fulfill our mission to protect the homeland, while protecting core Constitutional rights,” according to a DHS employee speaking to Axios.

While it is momentarily dormant, the board is subject to review by the Homeland Security Advisory Council, an aspect of DHS. The council is slated to examine ways the board can be more transparent about its processes and confirm that it will be protecting First Amendment rights rather than inhibiting them. It will be headed by former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick and is expected to last 75 days.

As a result of the board’s temporary closure and what she has determined as an imminent disbanding altogether, Nina Jankowicz has resigned as Disinformation Governance Board leader.

Jankowicz, who has worked extensively analyzing misinformation at various think tanks, reportedly received online pushback after she was tapped by President Biden to assume the post. Those skeptical of the board expressed concern about Jankowicz’s lack of legal experience and her public-facing media presence.

DHS leaders say the board is intended primarily to study and highlight misinformation promoted by bad actors in Russia, who have been accused of spreading false information to the American citizenry, particularly regarding elections.

The Homeland Security Advisory Council will take the next couple of months to decide the board’s future. In the meantime, possible legal action may be taken against the DHS by a coalition of 20 Republican attorneys general who has called for the board’s immediate termination.

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Air Force Kessel Run Gets Approval for Software Pathway Strategy
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Air Force Kessel Run Gets Approval for Software Pathway Strategy

The U.S. Air Force’s Kessel Run division has secured approval to formally transition to the Department of Defense’s framework for purchasing software-intensive systems.

Kessel Run said Monday its acquisition strategy, dubbed Kessel Run Air Domain DevSecOps Portfolio, has been approved and signed under the Software Acquisition Pathway, known as DoDI 5000.87.

The software development unit aims to consolidate 21 separate program initiatives into a single acquisition strategy and establish five software acquisition pathways under the strategy.

“It helps us align our appropriated funds with our programs of record, in a way that allows us to maintain our DevOps culture and approach to modernization,” said Rachel Mamroth, the deputy chief of acquisitions for Kessel Run.

Mamroth added that the formal transition to the framework for the entire portfolio empowers the unit to keep up with the changing technology landscape.

DoDI 5000.87 establishes policy, outlines responsibilities and recommends necessary steps for building software acquisition programs.

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Raytheon Intelligence & Space Introduces Department 22; Roy Azevedo, Paul Meyer Quoted
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Raytheon Intelligence & Space Introduces Department 22; Roy Azevedo, Paul Meyer Quoted

Raytheon Intelligence & Space announced today that the company has launched Department 22, a strategic business unit focused on rapidly developing next-generation military technologies aimed at widening the capability gap over the nation’s near-peer adversaries.

“Department 22 embodies that same pioneering spirit of our founders. This team is designed to go fast, learn along the way, take big risks and chase what others call impossible,” said Roy Azevedo, president of Raytheon Intelligence & Space and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner. “They are at the forefront of innovation, operating on the edge of discovery with one goal in mind – making the world a safer place.”

Department 22 will focus on developing multi-function systems; miniaturized sensors and systems; cross-domain capabilities; autonomous mission systems; and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing and synthetic biology.

Department 22 plans to hire more than 400 engineers, scientists, and technologists by end of the year. Prior to the department’s launch, the division has operated in relative anonymity under a range of names over the last two decades, including the most recent Advanced Concepts.

Raytheon Intelligence & Space Introduces Department 22; Roy Azevedo, Paul Meyer Quoted
Paul Meyer. President of Department 22 for Raytheon Intelligence & Space

“The technologies we’re creating give us a decisive edge over those who would seek to do our nation harm. To keep ahead of the threat, we need the best and brightest talent from across the country, so we have to start opening up about just what it is we do,” said Paul Meyer, Department 22 president.

About Raytheon Intelligence & Space 

Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business, delivers the disruptive technologies our customers need to succeed in any domain, against any challenge. A developer of advanced sensors, cyber services and software solutions, Raytheon Intelligence & Space provides a decisive advantage to civil, military and commercial customers around the world.

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IRS to Brief Contractors on Agency’s $2.6B IT Procurement Plan
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IRS to Brief Contractors on Agency’s $2.6B IT Procurement Plan

The Internal Revenue Service will host an industry day on June 8 to discuss a potential $2.6 billion contract vehicle for support services to the agency’s information technology application development office and IT programs.

IRS plans to hold a competition for the Enterprise Development Operations Services program among IT category vendors on the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award Schedule, according to a draft solicitation posted on SAM.gov.

The tax agency said it is working to establish a blanket purchase agreement with a seven-year period of performance to address its EDOS requirement.

Task areas listed in the preliminary request for quotation notice are project and program management; agile portfolio management; development, modernization and enhancement; operations and maintenance; service management; transition services; surge support, earned value management; enterprise service; and managed service.

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Young Bang Aims to Speed Up Army Acquisition in Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Role
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Young Bang Aims to Speed Up Army Acquisition in Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Role

Young Bang, the newly appointed principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology at the U.S. Army, wants to ensure that the service will acquire the weapons and systems needed for warfighters to perform missions.

The Army said Wednesday Bang is responsible for overseeing the branch’s software development, procurement and upgrade, data utilization and artificial intelligence adoption efforts.

He also aims to help the service attract professionals with technological know-how and experience to operationalize innovation.

“I understand the cutting-edge technology. I can help the Army build it and buy it. I want to ensure that realistic testing and Soldier feedback are integrated in the acquisition process,” Bang said.

Bang previously served as chief growth officer at Atlas Research and held partner and senior vice president roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, according to his LinkedIn profile.

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AWS Added to Argonne-led Quantum Research Center; Simone Severini Quoted
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AWS Added to Argonne-led Quantum Research Center; Simone Severini Quoted

Amazon Web Services has joined an Argonne National Laboratory-led quantum research center to collaborate with other companies, universities and Department of Energy labs to advance the use of quantum technologies.

As a new member of Q-NEXT, AWS will help research on quantum information control and distribution and address related technology challenges, the company said Wednesday.

The community participation is in line with AWS’ investment in quantum technologies. The company already offers researchers access to quantum hardware and simulation systems via Amazon Braket, its quantum computing service, to help test and run quantum applications. The AWS Center for Quantum Computing was also unveiled in 2021 as part of its pursuit in the field.

“We are excited to join Q-NEXT so we can bring together quantum experts from AWS and other top academic institutions to collaborate on the research and development of new quantum technologies and build a national quantum community,” said Simone Severini, director of quantum computing at AWS.

With the addition of AWS, 13 companies, 10 universities and three DOE national laboratories now comprise Q-NEXT.

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James Smith: Special Ops Forces Acquisition Modernization Would Require Industry Partners to Go Quieter
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James Smith: Special Ops Forces Acquisition Modernization Would Require Industry Partners to Go Quieter

James Smith, acquisition executive at U.S. Special Operations Command, said special operations forces are known to be “quiet professionals” and SOF acquisition should be modernized in a way that adopts the culture of the operators while preserving the commitment to competition, inclusivity and transparency.

“To support them, we must become quieter as well. The way we protected information in the past will not work in the context of integrated deterrence,” Smith wrote in a commentary published Monday on National Defense Magazine.

Smith said he wants academic and industry partners to take additional steps to ensure the security of supply chains. He highlighted the need to reassess how the command drafts requirements, disclose contract awards and determine what information should be divulged to the public.

He noted that the command will urge commercial partners to go quieter as it pursues the modernization of its acquisition process and advances the development of counter-unmanned aerial systems, next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tools, information warfare, untethered logistics and other emerging technologies.

“Our operators have always been well-served by our industry partners. To sustain and improve upon that level of service will require us jointly to deliver capability at a tempo and at a security awareness level that ensures they are prepared for the most contested environments against the most advanced challenges,” Smith said.

“The ‘old’ techniques of program protection and security need to become new again while not losing the agility we’ve acquired over the past few years,” he added.

Smith also shared his views on the SOFWERX platform, the Vulcan portal, small business awards, digital engineering and experimentation with physical prototypes.

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DOE Partners With Frontier Development Lab to Explore Use of AI in Energy, Climate Research
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DOE Partners With Frontier Development Lab to Explore Use of AI in Energy, Climate Research

The Department of Energy’s artificial intelligence and technology office has joined the Frontier Development Lab program as a new federal partner to explore how to apply AI and machine learning tools in addressing challenges related to climate adaptation, energy futures and disaster response.

FDL is an applied AI research program that seeks to address knowledge gaps in Earth science, space and energy by teaming subject domain experts with machine learning professionals, SETI Institute said Wednesday.

The program is a public-private partnership between NASA, U.S. Geological Survey, SETI Institute, Google Cloud, Lockheed Martin, Intel, Nvidia, Trillium Technologies and other domestic and international partners.

FDL will help DOE address seven research challenges, including geomechanics for carbon sequestration, wildfires, adapting energy infrastructure to climate change and concentrated solar power controller optimization.

For calendar year 2022, FDL will also undertake research challenges in the areas of lunar exploration, Earth science, space medicine, heliophysics and astrobiology.

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CISA Warns of Software Product Vulnerabilities; Director Jen Easterly Quoted
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CISA Warns of Software Product Vulnerabilities; Director Jen Easterly Quoted

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released an emergency directive asking federal civilian agencies to apply updates or remove certain VMware products from their networks to help mitigate potential vulnerabilities in such products.

CISA issued the directive after it found that a series of four vulnerabilities in several VMware products were being exploited by malicious cyber actors, the agency said Wednesday.

These impacted VMware products include VMware Workspace ONE Access, VMware Cloud Foundation, VMware Identity Manager, VMware vRealize Automation and vRealize Suite Lifecycle Manager.

According to the emergency directive, all federal civilian agencies should enumerate all instances of impacted VMware products on agency networks and deploy updates or remove them until updates are implemented by May 23.

By May 24, agencies should report the status of all instances outlined in the directive’s first required action.

“These vulnerabilities pose an unacceptable risk to federal network security,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly, a 2022 Wash100 Award winner.

“CISA has issued this Emergency Directive to ensure that federal civilian agencies take urgent action to protect their networks. We also strongly urge every organization – large and small – to follow the federal government’s lead and take similar steps to safeguard their networks,” added Easterly.

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Ericsson Formulates New Group Structure, Promotes George Mulhern to Executive Team; CEO Börje Ekholm Quoted
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Ericsson Formulates New Group Structure, Promotes George Mulhern to Executive Team; CEO Börje Ekholm Quoted

Networking and communications company Ericsson has made new appointments and elevations to its senior-level executive team and altered its group structure, such as creating an enterprise wireless solutions segment.

Among the changes, effective June 1, are the elevation of Cradlepoint CEO George Mulhern to lead the enterprise wireless solutions division and the installation of a global operations group function, the Stockholm, Sweden-based company said Wednesday.

“Ericsson is entering a new phase of growth. The changed group structure that we announce today represents exciting opportunities for our people, our customers and our business,” said Börje Ekholm, CEO of Ericsson.

The newly formed enterprise wireless solutions business area will join the forces of telecommunications equipment company Cradlepoint — which was acquired by Ericsson in late 2020 — and Dedicated Networks. It will hone an effective go-to-market strategy and intends to grow market impacts with Cradlepoint’s 5G technology offerings.

Ericsson’s enterprise wireless solutions business also intends to strengthen existing relationships with service providers and continue the trajectory of the recently released Ericsson Private 5G network.

Playing a key role in this unit formation will be Ericsson senior vice president and head of business area technologies and new businesses Åsa Tamsons, who has reportedly been crucial in expanding and nurturing acquisitions such as Cradlepoint and Dedicated Networks.

Mulhern, the new head of enterprise wireless solutions, has been elevated to senior vice president and secured a place in Ericsson’s executive team.

After offering Mulhern a “warm welcome” to the executive team, Ekholm elaborated, “the new Business Area Enterprise Wireless Solutions will provide the focus and conditions we need to thrive in the enterprise market and secure the next wave of success for this business.”

Alongside these changes in Ericsson’s sweeping structural reconfigurations were the establishment of a cloud software and services business area, led by newly anointed SVP Per Parvinger and the creation of a global operations group function, overseen by freshly named SVP Moti Gyamlani.

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