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Russia’s Central Bank Seeks to Prohibit Crypto Mining
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Russia’s Central Bank Seeks to Prohibit Crypto Mining

The central bank of Russia has proposed to impose a ban on the mining and use of cryptocurrencies and on cryptocurrency exchanges, Reuters reported Thursday.

According to a report issued by Russia’s central bank Thursday, crypto has the characteristics of a financial pyramid that could pose risks to financial stability, a person’s well-being and monetary policy sovereignty.

The Bank of Russia proposed restricting financial institutions from performing operations involving the digital currency and said that systems should be in place to bar transactions that seek to sell or purchase crypto for fiat currencies.

In 2020, cryptocurrency achieved legal status in Russia but the country prohibited its use as a mode of payment.

The central bank associated crypto mining with energy consumption-related problems and noted in the report that crypto users in Russia perform transactions worth about $5 billion per year.

The bank said it would collaborate with authorities in countries where cryptocurrency exchanges are registered to gather information on Russian clients’ operations.

Crypto exchange Binance told the news agency that it would work with regulatory agencies and hoped the central bank’s report would result in discussions to safeguard Russian crypto users’ interests.

POC - Digital Currency and National Security Forum

On Jan. 27, the Potomac Officers Club will bring together distinguished government and industry leaders to discuss the national security aspect of digital currencies. National Cyber Director Chris Inglis will deliver the keynote speech at POC’s Digital Currency and National Security Forum.

Register now for this virtual event via the POC Events page.

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FCC Announces Members of New Technological Advisory Council
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FCC Announces Members of New Technological Advisory Council

The Federal Communications Commission has named the new members of its reestablished Technological Advisory Council, which will be chaired by Dean Brenner, a former Qualcomm executive.

TAC’s first meeting will take place on Feb. 28 with live video coverage as announced by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC said Wednesday.

The council is tasked to help FCC create informed technology policies and identify critical innovation areas including those related to artificial intelligence, emerging wireless technologies, advanced spectrum sharing and 6G.

TAC will also tackle technologies that can restore internet connectivity during disruptive scenarios.

Michael Ha, chief of the policy-focused division within FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology, will retain his position as TAC’s designated federal officer.

Martin Doczkat, chief of the same office’s electromagnetic compatibility division, will serve as the alternate designated federal officer.

The full list of TAC members, which can be found here, includes representatives from AT&T, VMware, Nokia, T-Mobile and RapidSOS, among other companies.

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Oak Ridge Official Sean Hearne Tapped as Research Consortium SURA President, CEO
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Oak Ridge Official Sean Hearne Tapped as Research Consortium SURA President, CEO

Sean Hearne, an official within the Department of Energy’s national laboratory systems for two decades, has been selected as president and CEO of the Southeastern Universities Research Association.

Hearne, the director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Materials Science and Technology Division, will officially take over his new position on Feb. 14, the 59-university consortium said Friday.

The newly appointed executive currently oversees applied materials research involving quantum materials, advanced manufacturing and other areas in support of the DOE, Department of Defense and industry partners.

“He brings a collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and an impressive record of scientific discovery demonstrated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories,” explained David Norton, chairman of SURA’s board of directors.

Before joining the government, Hearne helped develop Intel‘s Cu interconnect technology as a senior process engineer within tits components research division.

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DOD Hypersonics Professionals Meet With Students During California Event; Gillian Bussey Quoted
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DOD Hypersonics Professionals Meet With Students During California Event; Gillian Bussey Quoted

The Department of Defense Joint Hypersonic Transition Office’s university consortium recently introduced hypersonics professionals to participating students during an American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics forum in California.

The JHTO University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics’ meet and greet event enabled students to gain insights on hypersonics work and related opportunities in the industry, the DOD said Wednesday.

According to Gillian Bussey, director of JHTO, the event is an effort by the office to inspire students and explain the future of the aerodynamic technology.

“The JHTO is planning to move out across a spectrum of workforce strategies that include surveys, research, curricula, internships, scholarships, and today’s event provided momentum for these student activities in 2022,” added Bussey.

The event comes as the JHTO consortium plans to award applied and advanced research projects to university-led teams every fiscal year.

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DAF Chief Frank Kendall Presents 7 Imperatives to Maintain Air Force, Space Force Superiority
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DAF Chief Frank Kendall Presents 7 Imperatives to Maintain Air Force, Space Force Superiority

Frank Kendall, Department of the Air Force secretary, recently outlined seven objectives he said the U.S. Air Force and Space Force should take to remain ahead of China and other modernizing rivals.

He told attendees of a Washington think tank-sponsored virtual fireside chat that the U.S. military should not assume that it is still as superior to adversaries as it was three decades ago, the Air Force said Wednesday.

According to him, the military must organize an order of battle for the space domain, form a joint all-domain command and control system, identify components for the Next Generation Air Dominance program that could operate as a unit and improve target acquisition processes.

The official added that mobile and agile bases, readiness and modernized global strike capabilities are also needed to address the current changing security environment.

“I’m trying to instill in the whole department a sense of urgency … these operational imperatives are the things we have to do to be successful and to have a successful deterrent,” shared Kendall.

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Maria Roat Confirmed to Retire as Deputy Federal CIO
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Maria Roat Confirmed to Retire as Deputy Federal CIO

Maria Roat, the U.S. government’s deputy federal chief information officer, will retire from federal service on the last day of March, Federal News Network reported Wednesday.

Roat, who is also a 2020 Wash100 winner, became the federal CIO in May 2020 after serving as the Small Business Administration’s CIO from October 2016.

She became the Federal Risk Authorization Management Program’s first director in 2013 as part of her decade-long tenure with the Department of Homeland Security, where she held a number of executive roles.

Roat’s career also includes work at the Department of Transportation and the U.S. Navy, which she retired from in 2007 after a 25-year service.

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Sen. Gary Peters Presents Cybersecurity Bill for Commercial Satellites
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Sen. Gary Peters Presents Cybersecurity Bill for Commercial Satellites

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., has introduced a bill that would provide cybersecurity resources in support of commercial satellite companies.

The Satellite Cybersecurity Act would task the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to provide recommendations to both satellite owners and operators in the commercial sector, Peters’ office said Wednesday.

CISA may tailor some of these recommendations to small businesses and would additionally release publicly available guidance that companies can use as a reference for satellite-specific cybersecurity.

The bipartisan legislation aims to secure commercial satellites and industrial control systems from cyber threats.

Commercial satellites deliver information to support a variety of everyday activities including navigation, scientific research and agriculture. Industrial control systems allow operators to run critical infrastructure including electrical grids and pipelines.

“It’s clear the government must provide more cybersecurity support to small businesses and other companies that own and operate commercial satellites before it’s too late,” said Peters, who chairs the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

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CGI Lands $34.4M Task Order from US Marines to Grow Inventory Tracking Program
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CGI Lands $34.4M Task Order from US Marines to Grow Inventory Tracking Program

CGI has won a four-year, potential $34.4 million task order from the U.S. Marine Corps to introduce the company’s Marine Corps Platform Integration Center (MCPIC) program to five new Marine bases.

Under the contract, CGI will grow its MCPIC program from three currently active bases to eight, the information technology and business consulting firm announced Thursday.

MCPIC digitally tags equipment via automated identification technology and Internet of Things sensors to allow for a streamlined inventory management.

“We proudly support USMC’s most complex, vital tasks—effectively managing their supply chain in delivering mission-critical equipment and supplies to the right place, at the right time,” said CGI Vice President Chris Hetman.

With CGI’s help, USMC hopes to achieve total asset visibility. The MCPIC program uses passive radio frequency identification to keep tabs on items and equipment on a global level and has already accomplished successful recovery missions.

D.W. Elzie, USMC Deputy Commander, remarked that CGI’s contributions to maintaining inventory tracking and compliance scores have been “critical,” making a “considerable impact on [USMC’s] operational baseline.”

CGI has been working with the USMC on projects for over three decades.

Recently, in January 2022, CGI partnered with the Department of the Interior to develop a modernized data management environment (DME) for the collection and disbursement of federal and Indian royalties.

Like the MCPIC, their DME is an automated system to streamline data.

On the defense side of things, in November 2021, CGI landed a spot on the General Services Administration’s IDIQ ASTRO contract, where it will compete for funding for services related to development, integration, operation and maintenance, as well as robotics.

GSA’s ASTRO contract is sponsored by the Department of Defense.

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2022 Wash100 Voting Begins; Early Vote Results Revealed
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2022 Wash100 Voting Begins; Early Vote Results Revealed

Executive Mosaic, the leading provider in connecting, promoting and branding government and government contracting (GovCon) executives of consequence, announced the winners of the 2022 Wash100 Award on Wednesday to recognize the 100 key executives across the government, industry, military and GovCon sectors who have the most potential to make significant contributions to the federal landscape in the year to come.

With the announcement of the 2022 Wash100 Award recipients, the voting season has officially opened for the GovCon Community to choose who they believe to be the most influential member of our community. Executive Mosaic will accept your votes through April 30th. Cast your ten votes before April 30th to ensure your favorite leaders in our industry are recognized.

After a record-shattering turnout of votes and participation from the GovCon community in 2021, Dr. Stacey Dixon, current principal deputy director of National Intelligence with ODNI, received the most votes in the nine year history of the Wash100 Award and took first place in the Wash100 Vote Standings. It was the first time in the award’s history that a government official secured the top of the standings.

“Following the selection of the industry’s most consequential leaders, Executive Mosaic goes to the community itself to vote on the popularity of those winners,” said Garrettson. ”Over the years, we have seen shifting results but no previous year has seen this volume of participation and such a shift towards the number of winners from government versus GovCon services.”

Early 2022 Wash100 Vote Standings Results

Since Wednesday’s vote opening, BlueHalo CEO Jonathan Moneymaker has surged to the top of the Wash100 Standings and currently has more than double the number of votes as any other winner. Capgemini Government Solutions CEO Doug Lane and CGI Federal President Stephanie Mango sit in second and third place respectively as voting is now underway until April 30th.

Don’t hesitate to get involved in the conversation and jump start your favorite executives in our community to the front of the standings. With your help and your ten votes, we can make this the most competitive and successful year in the history of the Wash100 Award to bring a spotlight to ALL that our elite group of leaders accomplish in the federal landscape.

Visit Wash100.com now to cast your ten votes in the 2022 Wash100 Vote Standings.

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Magellan Joins Centene’s Health Care Enterprises for $2.2B; Federal CEO Oscar Montes Quoted
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Magellan Joins Centene’s Health Care Enterprises for $2.2B; Federal CEO Oscar Montes Quoted

Managed health care company Magellan Health has been acquired by Centene Corporation, along with its subsidiary, Magellan Federal, for $2.2 billion.

As a result of the deal, Magellan will be added to the Health Care Enterprises, a cohort of organizations owned by Centene that operate independently. The deal was announced in January 2021 and completed by January 2022.

“Joining with Centene allows us to leverage the scale and strength of Centene, a Fortune 25 company, as we accelerate the introduction of innovative solutions that address the complex care challenges that our federal customers and participants face,” said Oscar Montes, Magellan Federal CEO.

Alongside Magellan, Centene hopes to be able to offer whole-health, integrated healthcare services that cut costs for high-need populations.

In addition, the partnership will focus on meeting behavioral and specialty health needs and crafting differentiated platform capabilities.

Montes was recently the subject of a GovCon Executive Who Cares feature at GovCon Wire. In the interview, Montes discussed Magellan Federal’s participation in the Hidden Helpers Coalition, which gives aid to children and teens who act as caregivers for their military parents.

He also described how the organization’s mission is to educate health care providers about the uniquely challenging experience military children have.

“Here at Magellan Federal, our job is to support behavioral health and resilience of military service members, veterans, civil servants, and their families. As such, the Hidden Helpers initiative directly aligns with our company’s ethos,” added Montes.

Joining forces with Centene will ensure the continuation of these and other outreach efforts by Magellan.

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