/
Report Outlines Technology Transfer Milestones at Federal Laboratories; Mojdeh Bahar Quoted
Published on
Report Outlines Technology Transfer Milestones at Federal Laboratories; Mojdeh Bahar Quoted

The Department of Commerce has released a report detailing comprehensive statistics on the dissemination of technological products from federal laboratories to support mission-critical research and development initiatives in fiscal year 2021.

The report outlines technology transfer activities across the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, NIST said Wednesday.

Among the activities mentioned in the report is the development of an accelerometer by NIST that detects sudden changes in velocity in smaller navigation devices to improve inertial navigation capabilities of military aircraft, satellites and submarines in GPS denied environments.

The report also highlighted that NOAA’s cloud-based Open Data Dissemination platform designed to provide free access to environmental data has allowed the development of an early warning service for natural disasters.

During the period, NTIA ITS continued conducting research and development and testing of the Citizens Broadband Radio Service, according to the report.

“Technology transfer is a critical component of the DOC mission to create conditions for economic growth and opportunities for all communities,” said Mojdeh Bahar, the associate director of innovation and industry services at NIST.

/
Sandia Labs, NASA Partner for Lunar Microgrid Development Project
Published on
Sandia Labs, NASA Partner for Lunar Microgrid Development Project

The Sandia National Laboratories and NASA have embarked on a project to develop microgrid systems to power equipment for the Artemis lunar exploration program’s base camp.

The space agency is designing a controller for an electrical system of a planned habitation unit on the moon while SNL researchers are working on similar technology for a center envisioned to mine and process samples for the mission, the lab said Wednesday.

Additionally, Sandia’s engineering team aims to build a system for connecting microgrids of both the moon habitat and the mining and processing facilities that will be situated far away from the main base.

The team is conducting research to determine the optimal voltage needed to operate the interconnected energy grids, the impact of distance between the lunar facilities on power transmission and whether an electric current converter will be necessary for the connection.

Lab engineers plan to use Sandia’s Secure Scalable Microgrid Testbed and Distributed Energy Technologies Laboratory and Kirtland Air Force Base’s Emera DC microgrid for their project.

The Department of Energy’s electricity office funded the project under a partnership between DOE and NASA.

/
Survey: DOD Personnel Say Future Fight to Require Space-Based Networking Capabilities
Published on
Survey: DOD Personnel Say Future Fight to Require Space-Based Networking Capabilities

A Viasat study has found that 77 percent of Department of Defense employees said they believe that space-based networks and commercial platforms are needed for future fight to meet mission and operational needs.

The Government Business Council surveyed 312 defense personnel from August 2021 to January 2022 for the annual study State of Military Communications and found that 68 percent of respondents said they believe near-peer adversaries will exceed or match U.S. military communications capabilities within five years.

According to the survey, only 19 percent said their organization was making investments in advanced satellite communications systems to support modern warfighter requirements.

The report showed that 73 percent of respondents think U.S. defense communication platforms are falling behind or on par with the technologies used by adversaries and 83 percent said they believe agencies should make enhancements to defense communications a top priority.

The respondents cited artificial intelligence, 5G and cloud computing as the top technologies needed to accelerate defense communications capabilities.

“Government is recognizing the need to modernize defense communications and the value of commercial capabilities,” said Craig Miller, president of Viasat Government Systems. “But cultural change is often more difficult than technological change. DoD personnel see adversaries closing the capabilities gap and know new approaches are needed if the U.S. is going to maintain an advantage.”

Nearly 60 percent of respondents noted that ramping up the use of commercial platforms is key to advancing the Joint All-Domain Command and Control and other joint warfighting initiatives.

“Multi-domain communications and data transport is not only vital to missions, but it will likely be a deciding factor in future conflicts,” noted Miller.

The study also found that 40 percent of DOD personnel said they think their agencies are adequately prepared in the event of a cyberattack on defense communications infrastructure.

/
Mitre-NAPA Report Highlights Need for Global Approach to Space Traffic Coordination; Beth Meinert Quoted
Published on
Mitre-NAPA Report Highlights Need for Global Approach to Space Traffic Coordination; Beth Meinert Quoted

A white paper from Mitre and the National Academy of Public Administration says a global strategy to space traffic coordination is needed to ensure that existing and future users have access to space.

The document offers key measures to protect the future of space use and one of the steps is identifying and establishing an independent convener to bring together various groups across government, academia and industry worldwide.

Other recommendations are establishing greater cyber resilience, improving maneuvers to prevent collisions and conjunctions and creating strategies to promote commercial space competition.

“Space is now a foundational part of the global economy, but safeguards have not kept pace with the evolution of the number and types of players in the environment,” said Beth Meinert, vice president and director of the Center for Government Effectiveness and Modernization at Mitre.

“The U.S. should lead by example, and work with the global space community to develop standards and create the innovative technology required for safety, security, and progress,” added Meinert.

The report builds on the recommendations outlined in NAPA’s Space Traffic Management report in 2020.

//
Lloyd Austin Talks DOD’s FY23 Budget Request at House Hearing
Published on
Lloyd Austin Talks DOD’s FY23 Budget Request at House Hearing

Lloyd Austin, secretary of the Department of Defense and a 2022 Wash100 Award winner, said DOD developed the $773 billion budget request for fiscal year 2023 based on the new National Defense Strategy and that he believes the proposal is sufficient in supporting today’s military, DOD News reported Wednesday.

“We built this budget based upon our national defense strategy, … [and] we were very diligent and careful to make sure that we went after the capabilities that we needed to support that strategy,” Austin told the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Wednesday. “I’m confident that we were successful in doing that.”

The budget request funds programs in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific region.

“This is a very healthy budget and provides a significant capability,” Austin told House lawmakers.

During the hearing, Austin talked about the anti-tank weapons, artillery pieces and other equipment that the U.S. is providing Ukraine. He also called on the Senate to pass a $40 billion Ukraine aid package, which was approved by the House.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Mike McCord, DOD’s comptroller/chief financial officer, also testified before the House subpanel. Milley and McCord are both previous  Wash100 Award.

/
William Nelson Becomes Army Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research & Technology
Published on
William Nelson Becomes Army Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research & Technology

William Nelson, former director of Army Futures Command’s Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing Cross-Functional Team, has transitioned to a new role as deputy assistant secretary for research and technology at the U.S. Army.

He also holds the title of chief scientist in the Army’s acquisition, logistics and technology office and is responsible for overseeing technology programs at service laboratories and development centers, the military branch said May 5th.

“This transition allows our team to realign and deliver total focus to the Army’s modernization priorities,” said Nelson.

As CFT director, he coordinated initiatives to ensure the delivery of assured PNT, tactical space and naval information warfare platforms to soldiers.

Nelson previously served as director of programs and technology at Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Army Forces Strategic Command, where he led research and development efforts that covered space, missile defense, hypersonic weapon technologies and directed energy.

He also spent 13 years at the Missile Defense Agency in various technical and leadership roles.

The Senior Executive Service member delivered a keynote speech at a Feb. 15 virtual forum hosted by ExecutiveBiz Events to share his perspective on the role of defense agencies and public sector organizations in driving innovation to address homeland and national security challenges.

“Our desire and requirement for dual-use technology are ever more present as we push for more advanced systems and platforms,” Nelson said at the Dual-Use Technology in Space Defense Forum.

/
Jonathan Elliott Appointed JAIC Chief of Test & Evaluation
Published on
Jonathan Elliott Appointed JAIC Chief of Test & Evaluation

Jonathan Elliott, formerly a project lead at Mitre, has joined the Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, to serve as chief of test and evaluation.

Elliott said Wednesday in a LinkedIn post he will be responsible for building enterprise tools and shaping best practices for AI T&E activity in his new position.

He spent nearly three years at Mitre and led the nonprofit company’s AI and engineering support to JAIC. 

Before that, Elliott worked for the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Test Resource Management Center as chief engineer of autonomy and AI test technology and at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division as a test engineer.

He had a nearly two-year stint as graduate research and teaching assistant at the University of Maryland.

Battelle Invests in STEM Education with Grant Program; CEO Lou Von Thaer Quoted
Published on
Battelle Invests in STEM Education with Grant Program; CEO Lou Von Thaer Quoted

Battelle, a nonprofit science and technology company, has donated to create a series of extracurricular learning programs that encourage science, technology, engineering and math skills for students.

Offered via Battlelle’s STEM Grant Program, the 11 out-of-classroom initiatives are targeted toward students in central Ohio and are aimed to nurture a wave of up-and-coming, STEM-proficient young professionals, the Columbus, Ohio-based company said Wednesday.

Lou Von Thaer, CEO and president of Battelle, said the programs are designed to both stoke creativity and instill technical proficiency.

“We’re proud to support these community programs that extend STEM learning beyond the traditional classroom,” continued Baer, who is also a seven-time Wash100 Award winner.

Among the new or continuing batch of activities are a day dedicated to science experimentation and STEM career and education information for 100 middle school girls at Capital University; a Columbus Museum of Art-hosted program for students on break from school that nourishes creativity while fostering learning; and a curriculum at Highland Youth Garden that promotes STEM lessons at the outdoor agricultural center.

Additionally, Battelle’s STEM Grant Program will fund a program at the Clintonville/Beechwold Community Resources Center for students K-5 affectionately titled the Kids Club “Full STEAM Ahead” that features multi-disciplinary demonstrations to explicate STEM’s real-world applications.

Baer noted that the programs are intended to echo the work in which the company’s team of scientists and engineers is regularly immersed.

2022 marks the ninth year of Battelle’s investment in STEM education, with a proposed $500,000 for the latest programs. Throughout their near-decade of donations, the company has devoted over $4.8 million to the cause of students in STEM.

In March, Battelle conducted a survey of academics and government officials about pressing environmental concerns such as energy sources and paths for political action.

/
AFS Receives $175M NASA Contract for Crowdsourcing Support, Project Enhancement; Rod Adkins Quoted
Published on
AFS Receives $175M NASA Contract for Crowdsourcing Support, Project Enhancement; Rod Adkins Quoted

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded Accenture Federal Services (AFS) a three-year, $175 million contract to execute crowdsourcing and other crowd-based service delivery strategies.

Under the Open Innovation Services 2 multi-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract, AFS will continue to assist NASA with identifying methodologies and collaborators through crowd-extraction tools in order to successfully complete projects, the company said Wednesday.

AFS Lead Technical Advisor to NASA Rod Adkins said that the crowd-sourcing technologies are able to consult “a network of best-fit industry leaders,” who AFS gathers and connects to federal agencies with a “back-log of challenges” that are uniquely suited to the problem-solvers’ expertise.

“We are thrilled to help NASA leverage innovative methodologies, including fit-for-purpose crowd-based challenges and competitions, to deliver its mission-critical products and services,” remarked Adkins.

The NOIS2 contract allows AFS to enable NASA to realize new endeavors with precision, equipping the agency with a broader range of resources and knowledge bases gained through the crowd-sourcing capabilities.

AFS’ latest win follows a series of large contracts for the company during 2022. In March, AFS landed a $199 million award from the Transportation Security Administration to modernize the department’s credentialing system.

Later the same month, the company won a $118 million contract to perform data management for the U.S. Department of State’s passport and visa network.

/
Veritas Capital CEO, Managing Partner Ramzi Musallam Discusses GovCon Industry Challenges With Executive Mosaic
Published on
Veritas Capital CEO, Managing Partner Ramzi Musallam Discusses GovCon Industry Challenges With Executive Mosaic

Ramzi Musallam, CEO and managing partner of Veritas Capital, recently participated in an exclusive interview with GovConWire, the leading publication for breaking news in the GovCon industry, to discuss the responsive approach that the private equity firm out of New York City is utilizing to better serve its customers and company strategy in the competitive federal market.

The seven-time Wash100 Award recipient also provided a look into his personal history and the significant growth that Veritas Capital has been able to achieve through key acquisitions such as Perspecta and Cubic Corp. within the last year as well as the challenges of managing the 70,000 person workforce across 13 separate companies to drive Veritas Capital into the future.

“While we are a financial firm and a private equity investor, we view ourselves and, quite frankly, are viewed by many as a strategic investor in the marketplace because we have all these companies who are engaged in a similar ecosystem,” Ramzi Musallam explained to Executive Mosaic.

“Veritas Capital uses that to the advantage of the businesses we invest in, and more importantly, their customers, in that we work from where we sit to pair companies together, to go after opportunities that they themselves would not have, or could not have been able to pursue on their own to enhance and optimize outcomes for our companies customers,” said Musallam.

Veritas Capital CEO, Managing Partner Ramzi Musallam Discusses GovCon Industry Challenges With Executive Mosaic
Ramzi Musallam, CEO and Managing Partner of Veritas Capital and a seven-time Wash100 Award winner, during an interview with Executive Mosaic.

As Ramzi Musallam talked about the future of Veritas Capital with Executive Mosaic, he made it clear that his goals are focused on “doing the right things” to deliver on the company’s mission, provide consistent and strong returns for its investors and continue to drive Veritas’ growth and momentum that has taken the federal marketplace by storm.

Visit GovConWire, to read the full exclusive interview with Ramzi Musallam and learn more about his business outlook in the highly competitive GovCon industry and his career accomplishments in Summer Myatt’s “Ramzi Musallam: The Enigmatic Titan.”

1 … 864 865 866 867 868 … 2,664