NIST-FirstNet Authority Partnership Creates Testing Hub for Public Safety Tech Developers, Responders
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NIST-FirstNet Authority Partnership Creates Testing Hub for Public Safety Tech Developers, Responders

The First Responder Network Authority has collaborated with the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish a facility where technology developers can test public safety equipment with emergency response personnel.

The Boulder, Colorado-based Public Safety Immersive Test Center features virtual and augmented reality headsets, a motion capture system and optical tracking cameras for first responders to perform missions such as search and rescue in a simulated environment, the FirstNet Authority said Monday.

Both agencies plan to offer the public safety community, including private and academic entities, free access to the 1,076-square-foot center as part of efforts to drive research, development, training and education in the area.

“In this new facility, users can walk or crawl throughout the space, physically touch walls and furniture, and pick up props like fire nozzles or dummies,” said Scott Ledgerwood, leader of the user experience/under interface group at NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research Division.

Jeff Bratcher, chief network and technology officer of the FirstNet Authority, said the facility was created to help first responders prepare for live-saving missions through an immersive virtual experience.

The partnership looks to equip the center with other technology such as 5G, haptics and edge computing platforms.

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EpiSci Wins Navy’s Drone Software Development Challenge
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EpiSci Wins Navy’s Drone Software Development Challenge

EpiSys Science has won an artificial intelligence-focused prize challenge sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division and the NavalX Midwest Tech Bridge.

ONR said Monday that as the winner of the AI for Small Unit Maneuvers contest, the California-based team could potentially have a cooperative agreement with the Department of the Navy to continue software development and come up with an operational prototype.

The AISUM Prize Challenge was initiated in an effort to gain help in developing hardware-agnostic software algorithms. It consisted of three phases: submission of white papers and virtual presentation; building of software algorithms for simulated scenarios based on a government-furnished virtual map; and installation of algorithms in actual drones and demonstration of area mapping and object identification capabilities as well as indoor maneuverability during a live exercise at NSWC Crane’s Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.

“We can use drones the Navy already has instead of buying new ones. We also can upgrade them or add capabilities by uploading multiple types of software to a single machine,” said Blake Busey, an AISUM technical lead.

The challenge was done over a 10-month period and spared $750,000 in total prize.

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US Chamber of Commerce Asks Lawmakers to Meet President’s Funding Request for TMF
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US Chamber of Commerce Asks Lawmakers to Meet President’s Funding Request for TMF

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has urged the Senate and House Appropriations Committees to support federal information technology modernization efforts by exceeding or meeting the $300 million that the Biden administration requested for the Technology Modernization Fund in its fiscal year 2023 proposed budget.

The organization asked lawmakers through a May 6 letter “to provide flexibility to help ensure agencies can make progress on IT modernization, balanced with continued oversight from Congress to ensure accountability.”

The group cited the need for more funding to help federal agencies meet their cybersecurity goals and needs.

“Agencies are encouraged to either reprioritize funds internally or seek funding from alternative sources, such as the TMF. Additional funding should be made available for agencies that are just getting started on their zero trust journeys,” the letter reads.

The organization also called on Congress to come up with a new approach to improve cybersecurity, prioritize value, measure progress and streamline user experience with government platforms and services and back the approach with workforce training, enhanced partnerships, best-in-class tech adoption and assessment.

The letter was signed by Tom Quaadman, executive vice president for the Chamber Technology Engagement Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

In late April, nine industry group also made the same call to lawmakers to provide funding for TMF.

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Biden Signs Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022
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Biden Signs Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022

President Biden has signed into law a bill that will authorize the administration to lease or lend military equipment to Ukraine and other countries in Eastern Europe through fiscal year 2023, DOD News reported Monday.

The Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 would exempt the administration from certain law provisions that regulate the lease or loan of defense equipment to foreign countries.

One of those provisions is the five-year limit on the loan’s duration or the requirement that foreign countries pay all costs that U.S. incurred in leasing the military equipment.

“I’m signing a bill that provides another important tool in our efforts to support the government of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their country and their democracy against Putin’s brutal war,” Biden said Monday at the Oval office.

“And the cost of the fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is even more costly. That’s why we’re staying in this,” he added.

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Joint Tactical Networking Center Seeks to Establish Framework for Communications Tech Evaluation
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Joint Tactical Networking Center Seeks to Establish Framework for Communications Tech Evaluation

The Department of Defense’s Joint Tactical Networking Center has begun working with other DOD agencies and service branches to come up with a framework for assessing future and current communications products.

The framework seeks to establish a forum that would enable vendors to demonstrate their products that meet electronic warfare and resiliency requirements and provide government leaders, service users and program managers with readily available, searchable and trusted data on programs of record and commercial products, the U.S. Army’s acquisition support center said Monday.

JTNC created the resiliency sub working group to help come up with common processes and terminology to design, test and deploy tactical radio systems that can mitigate interception, detection, jamming and geolocation threats in compliance with the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.

In 2017, the center established a framework to characterize tactical communication platforms and came up with 22 capability areas across five major product categories. Since the adoption of the framework, JTNC has identified more than 200 evaluation goals to help characterize product performance and features.

To date, JTNC has carried out 10 characterization events on tactical satellite communication routers, single-channel handheld commercial radios and other products.

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Report Examines Commercial Smallsat Industry’s Role in US Space Security
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Report Examines Commercial Smallsat Industry’s Role in US Space Security

An Atlantic Council report explores how the government can expand its relationship with the commercial small satellite industry to maintain operational security and superiority in the space domain.

The study, titled “Small Satellites: The Implications for National Security,” identifies possible measures for the Department of Defense, intelligence community and Congress to take advantage of technological advances in the space sector.

Nicholas Eftimiades, an Atlantic Council nonresident senior fellow who authored the report, wrote that the U.S. should update its current approaches to defense acquisition, research, investment, regulation and data classification to compete in the future space ecosystem.

His recommendations for the White House and Congress include enforcing “buy commercial first” policies at DOD and IC agencies and funding research to identify industry-supported national security missions.

The report was based on 25 interviews with former and current leaders from the worlds of government, business and academia who have worked on commercial space or national security programs.

Report Examines Commercial Smallsat Industry's Role in US Space Security

If you’re interested in space innovation, join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2nd Annual Industrial Space Defense Summit on May 17 to hear from government and industry representatives as they share insight into the role of public-private collaborations in building the country’s space defense capabilities.

Register here and don’t forget to check out upcoming events for the GovCon community via the Potomac Officers Club website.

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Peraton Named a 2022 U.S. Best Managed Company for Excellence in Strategy, Corporate Culture; CEO Stu Shea Quoted
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Peraton Named a 2022 U.S. Best Managed Company for Excellence in Strategy, Corporate Culture; CEO Stu Shea Quoted

Peraton has been highlighted among an esteemed group of businesses as a 2022 U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and the Wall Street Journal.

A celebration of companies that achieve highly in strategy and execution and evince strong corporate culture and governance/financial performance, Peraton was one of just 51 organizations selected, the Herndon, Virginia-based company said Monday.

Stu Shea, Peraton’s chairman, president and CEO, detailed how the distinction proves the five-year-old company is “charting a sustainable course for long-term success.”

“We have put in place the right strategy, the right people and the right rules to stand alongside well-run companies spanning every major American business sector,” Shea, a six-time Wash100 Award recipient, added.

The U.S. Best Managed Company honor is bestowed to private American companies that are sophisticated strategic planners with a diverse and passionate workforce and robust financial reports. Peraton is distinguished as the only Virginia-based company as well as the sole national security-focused company among the group.

Peraton was founded in 2017 as the result of Veritas Capital’s acquisition of the government IT services arm of Harris Corporation, in combination the federal IT and mission support business of Northrop Grumman and Perspecta. Its first several years of business have been a steady climb of contract awards and consistent, public sector-focused work, resulting in a $7 billion national security partner.

According to Shea, Peraton saw a “seven-fold expansion in 2021.”

The company is already gearing up for another banner year. So far in 2022, Peraton has received several high-profile contract awards, including a $254 million State Department win for cybersecurity support and a $2.6 billion Department of Homeland Security win for data center and cloud services.

Shea was also recognized with his sixth Wash100 Award in the first quarter of the year.

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David Pekoske Nominated for 2nd TSA Term
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David Pekoske Nominated for 2nd TSA Term

President Biden has announced his intent to nominate David Pekoske for a second term as administrator of the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration.

Pekoske, who was sworn in as the seventh TSA administrator in 2017, oversees the agency’s 60,000-strong workforce and leads the security operations at nearly 440 airports nationwide, the White House said Friday.

During his tenure as TSA administrator, Pekoske assumed the role of DHS secretary on an acting basis and performed the duties of deputy secretary of the department.

The 33-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard also served as a commissioner on the congressionally mandated intergovernmental body Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

Prior to his retirement from the Coast Guard, Pekoske served as vice commandant, chief operating officer and component acquisition executive of the service.

Pekoske has experience providing security, intelligence and counterterrorism support services to various government agencies.

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JetBlue COO, President Joanna Geraghty to Aid Growth Strategy on L3Harris Board of Directors; Christopher Kubasik Quoted
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JetBlue COO, President Joanna Geraghty to Aid Growth Strategy on L3Harris Board of Directors; Christopher Kubasik Quoted

Longtime airline executive Joanna Geraghty has been appointed to the board of directors of L3Harris Technologies.

The addition of Geraghty, which was agreed upon by-election, will leverage her facility with business, operations, technology and talent and brings the L3Harris board to 14 leaders, the Melbourne, Florida-headquartered contractor said Monday.

“Joanna’s intimate knowledge of the aerospace industry and first-hand experience leading a global organization will be invaluable assets as we continue to grow our international market presence and address our customers’ critical missions,” remarked Christopher Kubasik, vice-chair and CEO of L3Harris and a multi-time recipient of the Wash100 Award.

Geraghty is currently president and chief operating officer of JetBlue Airways Corporation. In this role, she is charged with leading the company’s safety and commercial divisions in addition to spearheading its daily activities and frontline team. Geraghty also directs the network, brand and marketing and income management for the company.

The executive has been with JetBlue for over 17 years, throughout which time she has helped coax the company from a regional operation to an international airline that lands over 1,000 planes every day. L3Harris is looking to capitalize on these transformational leadership capabilities through Geraghty’s counsel as a board member.

She feels that L3Harris is poised to answer the demand for fast-acting manufacturing and services in an ever-shifting business landscape.

“I am excited to be a part of L3Harris’ Board of Directors and to contribute to the company’s long-term growth strategy,” Geraghty commented.

Geraghty’s strengths lie in contract negotiation, mergers and acquisitions, program management and employee relations.

The board’s election of the JetBlue executive follows its December welcome of retired Navy admiral Harry Harris to its fold. Harris was also a former U.S. ambassador to South Korea.

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ECS Tops 2022 100 MSPs List for Fourth Consecutive Year; President John Heneghan Quoted
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ECS Tops 2022 100 MSPs List for Fourth Consecutive Year; President John Heneghan Quoted

ECS announced on Monday that the company was named the top managed service provider (MSP) for the fourth year in a row on the annual Top 100 Vertical Market MSPs 2022 list, which identifies and honors the top 100 MSPs in healthcare, legal, government, financial services, and manufacturing-based vertical market expertise to drive annual recurring revenues (ARR).

“We continue to see a shift in the public sector market toward managed services as a preferred service delivery model for access to transformative solutions driving mission outcomes,” said ECS President John Heneghan, who is also a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient. 

“As the top MSP, we have demonstrated our expertise and experience in delivering best-in-breed technologies and enterprise-wide solutions for automation, AI, cybersecurity, cloud, ServiceNow, and advanced analytics,” Heneghan added.

ECS delivers complete cloud infrastructure and application migration services—from design and implementation to management and 24/7 support. With an eye on consulting, security and compliance, we’ll help you stay one step ahead, no matter where you are on your cloud adoption journey.

Recently, ECS release the three reasons to invest in Managed Cybersecurity in 2022, which are for federal leaders to focus on protecting their enterprise immediately as well as reduce the complexity for cyber analysts and securing your data from cyberattacks. 

“ECS is honored to be once again recognized as the top MSP,” said Andy Woods, ECS vice president of enterprise managed services.“By implementing a 24x7x365 managed solution from a global provider, organizations get the advantage of automation, orchestration, and analysis of the threat landscape impacting all verticals. Organizations also continue to achieve cost stability while gaining access to a bench of subject matter expe

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