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Brett Seidle Tapped to Perform Navy Under Secretary Duties
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Brett Seidle Tapped to Perform Navy Under Secretary Duties

Navy Secretary John Phelan has announced that Brett Seidle, a Senior Executive Service member for nearly a decade, will be performing the duties of the under secretary of the Navy.

In a post on the social media platform X on Wednesday, Phelan said Seidle replaces Victor Minella, a U.S. Navy veteran who has been serving as deputy under secretary of the Navy for intelligence and security since 2022.

Seidle will provide oversight and develop policy for defense and naval strategy, intelligence and intelligence-related activities, special access programs, critical infrastructure, space activities, small business programs and the naval audit service.

He will also be responsible for performance management, business operations and risk management within the Department of the Navy, or DON.

Brett Seidle’s Career Background

Seidle has been serving as acting assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, or ASN RD&A, since January.

He previously served as the principal civilian deputy to ASN RD&A, a position in which he provided oversight and policy for Navy and Marine Corps research, development, and acquisition/sustainment programs for shipbuilding, aviation, weapons systems, space and communication systems.

His previous roles within DON include deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, test and engineering; executive director for Naval Surface Warfare Center, or NSWC, and Naval Undersea Warfare Center; and division technical director at NSWC Crane.

Seidle started his career in the private sector as an electrical engineer at General Motors. He also served as plant manager of CMI-Precision Mold casting facility and Alcoa’s Kentucky Casting Center.

The Navy official has a doctorate in public policy from Indiana University.

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EO Directs Agencies to Prioritize Acquisition of Commercial Products & Services
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EO Directs Agencies to Prioritize Acquisition of Commercial Products & Services

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order directing federal agencies to prioritize the procurement of commercially available products and services to eliminate unnecessary expenditures associated with buying custom products where a suitable commercial platform would have met the government’s requirements.

What Are the Requirements for Contracting Officers?

Within 60 days, agency contracting officers should review all open agency solicitations, presolicitations, award notices and sole source notices for non-commercial services and products and submit proposed waivers justifying the need for such products, according to a White House fact sheet published Tuesday.

The proposed waiver should include a price analysis and market research to explain the rationale for pursuing a custom-built product or service.

Within 30 days of receiving the proposed waiver, the approval authority should evaluate each application’s compliance with the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, or FASA, and provide recommendations to advance the procurement of commercial products or services.

The EO directs agencies to submit reports to the director of the Office of Management and Budget detailing their compliance with FASA and progress in implementing the policy.

Non-Commercial Procurement Oversight

Whenever an agency proposes to procure a non-commercial offering, contracting officers should provide the approval authority with an application describing the proposed procurement and stating specific reasons for buying a non-commercial product or service, along with a price analysis and market research.

Approval authorities at agencies will evaluate and approve or deny the proposed procurement in writing. They may also seek input and recommendations from the OMB director.

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AT&T on FCC Authorization, Satcom Trials for FirstNet Users
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AT&T on FCC Authorization, Satcom Trials for FirstNet Users

AT&T expects select public safety agencies on FirstNet, the country’s public safety broadband network, to begin testing satellite communications later in 2025 after its partner AST SpaceMobile secured authorization from the Federal Communications Commission.

AT&T said Wednesday the FCC approval allows AST SpaceMobile to start testing direct-to-cellular satellite connectivity on public safety’s Band 14 spectrum through its BlueBird satellites.

Bringing Satellite Connectivity to First Responders Via FirstNet

“Satellite connectivity on FirstNet is being built with public safety’s unique needs in mind,” said Matt Walsh, area vice president for FirstNet and NextGen 9-1-1 products at AT&T. “First responders need more than the minimum and we are excited to continue building out our comprehensive network to serve the public safety community.”

In 2024, AT&T tested push-to-talk services and other mission-critical capabilities as part of efforts to deliver improved capabilities to first responders.

According to AT&T, FirstNet has a fleet of over 180 satellite-based deployable network assets. Satellite-to-cellular connectivity could extend the FirstNet network’s reach for first responders operating in rural or off-grid sites.

Supporting FirstNet Enhancements, Expansion

In June 2024, the First Responder Network Authority Board approved a $684 million budget for fiscal year 2025 to fund operations and improvements to the nationwide wireless broadband network for public safety professionals.

In February 2024, AT&T and the FirstNet Authority launched a 10-year, $8 billion initiative to further develop and expand FirstNet.

Under the investment effort, the two parties will deliver always-on priority and preemption capabilities across 5G to first responders; build 1,000 new FirstNet cell sites within the next two years; establish a standalone 5G core to improve 5G functionality; and support the move of the Band 14 spectrum to 5G.

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Dean Ball Named Senior Policy Adviser at White House S&T Office
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Dean Ball Named Senior Policy Adviser at White House S&T Office

Dean Ball shared on LinkedIn Wednesday that he has been named senior policy adviser on artificial intelligence and emerging technology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Dean Ball’s Career Highlights

Ball is currently serving as a member of the board of the Alexander Hamilton Institute for the Study of Western Civilization. He was previously a research fellow at the Mercatus Center within George Mason University and a senior program manager of state and local governance initiative at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he led a team of researchers responsible for fostering state and local government partnerships and developing policy initiatives and research designs.

Around the same time, Ball worked as a consultant for non-profit organizations, including Scala Foundation, Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation and Atlas Network. Aside from providing consultancy services, he also served as secretary and treasurer of the Scala Foundation and executive director of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.

Before that, Ball spent over six years at the Manhattan Institute. He was the director of the Adam Smith Society, deputy director for state and local policy and strategic manager.

The OSTP is currently led by its director Michael Kratsios. The two-time Wash100 Award winner also serves as the science adviser to the president.

“It is a thrill and honor to serve my country in this role and work alongside the tremendous team Michael Kratsios has built,” said Ball of his appointment to the OSTP.

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NRO & Space Force Partner Via Rocket Systems Program to Launch NROL-174
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NRO & Space Force Partner Via Rocket Systems Program to Launch NROL-174

The National Reconnaissance Office, in collaboration with the Small Launch and Targets Division of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command, Space Launch Delta 30 and Northrop Grumman, has launched the NROL-174 mission aboard a Minotaur IV rocket from the Space Launch Complex 8 at Vandenberg Space Force Base on April 16.

The agency said Wednesday the NROL-174 mission, facilitated through the Rocket Systems Launch Program, is intended to deploy multiple national security payloads into orbit.

Previous Minotaur Rocket Launches

The NROL-174 is the third NRO mission launched under the Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 contract. The launch builds on previous missions deployed aboard other Minotaur rockets, particularly the NROL-129 and NROL-111 missions in July 2020 and June 2021, respectively. Both missions were launched from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. NROL-174 is the first mission to utilize the Minotaur rocket from Vandenberg since 2011, the last one being NROL-66.

The NRO deployed over 150 satellites in the past two years, with plans to launch 12 more in 2025.

Laura Robinson, director of the NROL-174 mission, commented, “The NROL-174 Minotaur IV rocket was once a Peacekeeper ICBM that sat watch 24/7 in support of our nation’s nuclear deterrent. Now modified for space launch, it completed its final mission of placing a national security payload on orbit, a credit to the decades-long dedication of those who were part of the missile’s early development, maintenance and operations, and innovative conversion into the Minotaur IV rocket.”

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Bipartisan Senators Want to Extend 10-Year-Old Cyberthreat Sharing Regulation
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US legislation

Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., have introduced a bill to extend a provision of a 2015 regulation that facilitates cyberthreat sharing between the federal government and the private sector. In a statement published Wednesday, Sen. Peters said the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 has been critical in addressing emerging cyber threats. 

“As cybersecurity threats grow increasingly sophisticated, information sharing is not just valuable—it remains essential for our national security,” explained the ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

“For the past ten years, these critical protections have helped to address rapidly evolving cybersecurity threats, and this bipartisan bill will renew them so we can continue this collaborative partnership between the private sector and government to bolster our nation’s cybersecurity defenses against a wide range of adversaries,” Peters said.

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Extension Act seeks to extend the provisions of the 10-year-old regulation for another decade. 

The Importance of Sharing Cyber Intel

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 incentivizes companies that voluntarily disclose software vulnerabilities, malware and malicious IP addresses. In exchange for threat information, the government provides legal protections for companies that participate in the program.

Since the law was enacted, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 facilitated strong government-industry collaboration that led to the identification and mitigation of major cyberthreats. 

The law also enables state and local governments and critical infrastructure sectors to strengthen their cybersecurity and become informed of ongoing cybersecurity threats. 

“The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 has been instrumental in strengthening our nation’s cyber defenses by enabling critical information sharing between the private sector and government,” commented Sen. Rounds. “Allowing this legislation to lapse would significantly weaken our cybersecurity ecosystem, removing vital liability protections and hampering defensive operations across both the defense industrial base and critical infrastructure sectors.”

Learn more about threats federal agencies are facing in the cyber domain at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Cyber Summit on May 15. Register for the in-person event here.

Bipartisan Senators Want to Extend 10-Year-Old Cyberthreat Sharing Regulation
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Army Establishes Next Generation Command and Control Office
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Army Establishes Next Generation Command and Control Office

The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications and Network has officially established the Next Generation Command and Control office, dubbed NGC2, during a ceremony at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

NGC2 will advance efforts to enhance the service’s command and control warfighting capabilities and enable commanders to make informed and faster decisions, the Army said Wednesday. Col. Chris Anderson will serve as the office’s first program manager.

Transforming the Army’s Acquisition Business

According to Mark Kitz, program executive officer of PEO C3N, the NGC2 operational objectives mirror an Army-wide vision. “It’s going to change the way we do acquisition. It’s going to change the way we deliver,” added Kitz, who will speak at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Army Summit on June 18. He added that Anderson is a humble leader with “the right attitude,” who will listen and provide a path forward for NGC2.

After accepting the office’s charter, Anderson stressed that the Army is focused on transforming its acquisition business. He noted that the NGC2 mission requires contributions from everybody and partnerships with the industry. “All of these organizations working together on the same problem set will be really powerful,” Anderson said.

Delivering Scalable C2 Services

Under PEO C3N, Anderson will oversee an NGC2 team and collaborate with the Army Futures Command NGC2 product owner to execute continuous delivery of innovative capabilities. The office intends to align requirements and resources with modern commercial software and open systems design practices to accelerate the delivery of intuitive and scalable C2 services.

POC - 2025 Army Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Army Summit on June 18 to gain critical insights on consequential Army initiatives, programs and efforts. Reserve a spot now to attend the important event!

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Navy Chief Info Security Officer Tony Plater Retires
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Navy Chief Info Security Officer Tony Plater Retires

Alvin “Tony” Plater, the Department of the Navy’s chief information security officer, has retired from federal service after nearly a decade at DON.

In a LinkedIn post announcing his retirement, he expressed gratitude for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped his career and said that he was honored to receive the Meritorious Civilian Service award for outstanding service.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication and support of the DON CIO Leadership team, my DON CISO team, service CISOs, colleagues, and mentors,” Plater added.

Plater also announced that he will be joining industry and will disclose details of his move soon.

Tony Plater’s Career Background

As CISO, Plater assessed the impacts, implications and sufficiency of proposed changes to cybersecurity strategies, guidance and standards. He also advised the DON chief information officer on enterprise-level IT security initiatives, cybersecurity innovation and commercial cloud security.

In November 2015, he joined DON as a senior adviser to the department’s CIO.

Before joining government service, the retired U.S. Army IT professional spent more than a decade at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he served as a senior lead technologist focused on providing cybersecurity policy and program support for senior leadership within the Navy and the Department of Defense.

His military career included leadership assignments with Joint Staff J4, U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command and the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade.

Plater also holds multiple industry certifications, including Program Management Professional, Certified Information Security Manager, Certified Information System Security and EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker.

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Executive Order Seeks to Streamline Federal Procurement Through FAR Reform
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Executive Order Seeks to Streamline Federal Procurement Through FAR Reform

President Donald Trump signed on Tuesday an executive order directing his administration to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation, or FAR, as part of efforts to streamline the federal procurement process and remove barriers to doing business with the government.

Within 180 days, the EO directs the administrator of the Office of Federal Public Procurement Policy, or OFPP, to work with the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council, heads of agencies and procurement officials to amend FAR to ensure that the regulation contains only provisions required by statute or essential to sound procurement while protecting national security or economic interests.

OMB Guidance on Executive Order Implementation

The director of the Office of Management and Budget should release a memorandum within 20 days that provides guidance to agencies regarding the EO’s implementation and ensures consistency of policy objectives, the White House said.

The OMB memo should propose agency supplemental regulations and internal guidance that foster streamlined and accelerated acquisition processes.

Ensuring Agency Alignment With FAR Reform

Within 15 days, each agency with procurement authority should assign a senior acquisition official to work with the FAR Council and head of OFPP to ensure alignment with FAR reform. The designated procurement official should offer recommendations regarding any agency-specific supplemental regulations to FAR.

Under the new policy, a regulatory sunset provision will be considered that would result in non-statutory FAR provisions expiring after four years unless renewed by the FAR Council.

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DOE Kicks Off Jefferson Lab Management & Operating Contract Competition
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DOE Kicks Off Jefferson Lab Management & Operating Contract Competition

The Department of Energy has begun soliciting expressions of interest, or EOIs, from interested stakeholders as part of the competition for a follow-on contract to manage and operate the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, or TJNAF.

DOE said Tuesday EOIs are due April 29.

The current management and operating, or M&O, contract for TJNAF, also known as Jefferson Lab, is set to expire on May 31. DOE is processing a one-year extension to ensure seamless continuation of lab operations and provide the department enough time to compete the follow-on contract.

The selected contractor is expected to assume responsibility for the facility’s operation on June 1, 2026.

Where to Get Updates on the TJNAF M&O Contract

The department also launched a public website designed to keep potential offerors and other interested parties informed about the competition process for the TJNAF M&O contract.

The online platform will serve as a repository for important announcements, relevant documents and other information about the competition.

What Does TJNAF Do?

TJNAF is a DOE national laboratory and a federally funded research and development center focused on delivering breakthrough science and technology in the area of nuclear physics.

In addition to conducting research in nuclear physics sciences, Jefferson Lab generates superconducting radio frequency accelerator modules and operates unique facilities and equipment. The national lab also serves as a resource for local and international researchers.

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