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EverWatch to Become Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Booz Allen; CEO John Hillen Quoted
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EverWatch to Become Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Booz Allen; CEO John Hillen Quoted

Reston, Virginia-based government services company EverWatch will be acquired by Booz Allen Hamilton as a wholly owned arm of the firm.

The EverWatch team is expected to bolster Booz Allen’s artificial intelligence and cyber strategies and will report to National Security Sector President Judi Dotson when the deal closes at the close of the first quarter of the 2023 fiscal year, the firm said Wednesday.

“Booz Allen and EverWatch share a deep commitment to protecting our national interests with advanced technology, mission intimacy, and digital transformation,” commented John Hillen, EverWatch chief executive officer and a past recipient of the Wash100 Award.

Hillen continued that he believes the companies’ combined efforts will be of long-term service to the intelligence community and other government agencies.

Booz Allen retained Jefferies LLC. Legal advisors were Moore & Van Allen PLLC for EverWatch and King and Spalding LLC for Booz Allen. Meanwhile, EverWatch retained Baird as financial advisor for the acquisition process.

Baird is a major player in mergers and acquisitions, having completed 21 acquisitions in 2021, amounting to approximately $7.5 billion in aggregate value. It is stewarded by managing director Jean Stack, a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient and managing director John Song, a 2021 recipient of the same award.

Founded in 2017 as a portfolio company of Enlightenment Capital, EverWatch designs and manufactures intelligent cybersecurity platforms implementing cloud, analytics, AI and machine learning and TechSIGINT. These approaches are said to complement Booz Allen’s arsenal of cyber operations, mission analytics and 5G capabilities.

“The combination with Booz Allen will further deepen innovation capabilities, accelerate our collective support of critical national security efforts, and enhance opportunities for EverWatch’s growing, skilled employee base,” said Devin Talbott, founder and managing partner of Enlightenment Capital.

Dotson added that the fusing of Booz Allen’s “mission experience” with EverWatch’s “classified software development and analytics capabilities” will be instrumental in helping the DOD anticipate future threats.

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Gen. Kenneth McKenzie: US Likely to Supply Egypt With F-15 Jets
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Gen. Kenneth McKenzie: US Likely to Supply Egypt With F-15 Jets

Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, said he believes the U.S. will provide Egypt with F-15 fighter jets, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday.

“In the case of Egypt, I think we have good news in that we’re going to provide them with F-15s,” McKenzie told Senate Armed Services Committee members Tuesday.

His statement comes ahead of the issuance of public notifications by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency with regard to foreign military sales.

In 2013, the State Department ceased pending sales of fighter jets, helicopters, anti-ship missiles and tank components to Egypt to reflect U.S. displeasure over human rights violations as a result of a military coup.

Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command, joined McKenzie during a hearing before the Senate panel about their areas of responsibility.

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Executive Order to Promote Pay Equity, Transparency in Federal Procurement
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Executive Order to Promote Pay Equity, Transparency in Federal Procurement

President Biden has signed an executive order that will require the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to consider proposing rules to improve pay equity and transparency for employees and job applicants of federal contractors and subcontractors to promote economy and efficiency in federal procurement.

The council will consider whether proposed rules should limit government contractors and subcontractors from considering information on past or existing salary of job applicants and employees in employment decisions, the White House said Tuesday.

The council will also assess the possible inclusion of accountability measures in the proposed rules, according to the EO.

The Department of Labor on Tuesday released a directive to ensure that federal contractors comply with their obligation to carry out pay equity audits to identify and address barriers to equal pay in their employment practices.

“The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ directive on pay equity audits is an important measure that will help employers address and prevent pay inequality,” said OFCCP Director Jenny Yang.

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FBI Announces Creation of Virtual Assets Unit
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FBI Announces Creation of Virtual Assets Unit

The FBI has established a new unit that will provide virtual currency-related intelligence, operational and technology support to other divisions across the bureau. The bureau said Tuesday the virtual assets unit will help the FBI track illicit funds, counter illegal activity and attribute criminal actors.

The FBI’s cyber and criminal investigative divisions worked together in the past several months to establish VAU in support of the bureau’s plan to address the need for virtual asset-related expertise in intelligence and law enforcement communities.

“The FBI has a long history of using virtual currency to track criminals profiting from ransomware, soliciting murders-for-hire, and raising funds for terrorist organizations. The VAU will integrate experts across the organization to leverage the outstanding work being done every day,” said Brian Turner, executive assistant director of the bureau’s criminal, cyber, response and services branch.

The FBI criminal investigative division’s financial crimes section oversees VAU, which kicked off operations on Feb. 7th.

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LMI, JAIC Reach Agreement for Data Management Council and Assistance; VP Kristen Cheman Quoted
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LMI, JAIC Reach Agreement for Data Management Council and Assistance; VP Kristen Cheman Quoted

LMI has entered into a basic ordering agreement with the Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center to offer artificial intelligence-related data management and analytic services.

Work under the agreement is designed to boost and strengthen implementation of AI while assisting the department in navigating how to best gather and input data for AI applications, the Tysons Corner, Virginia-based consultancy said Monday.

Kristen Cheman, vice president of digital and analytical solutions at LMI, shared that the company’s team is “thrilled for the opportunity to help the DoD meet their goals of AI maturation, adoption, and sustainment.”

LMI will be collaborating with the JAIC as well as combatant commands to address the various military branches’ AI needs and select fitting places for AI integration.

Cheman said she feels LMI is prepared for their new assignment due to the company’s prioritization of data readiness strategies such as “enterprise data management and synthetic data generation.”

She also noted the consultancy’s “partnerships within the AI software industry, our academic partnerships within the LMI Research Institute, and our staff of over 500 data engineers, data scientists, and developers” as crucial to their role in the agreement.

LMI’s track record in various data pursuits also primes it for the task at hand. Their specialties include data engineering, data integration, data collection and curation, as well as database design and development, data science and project and outreach program management.

The basic ordering agreement is a function of the JAIC Data Readiness Artificial Intelligence Development Program.

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U.S. Army Awards KBR $70M Task Order to Modernize Threat Alert Sensors; President Byron Bright Quoted
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U.S. Army Awards KBR $70M Task Order to Modernize Threat Alert Sensors; President Byron Bright Quoted

KBR has won a four-year, $70 million task order from the U.S. Army to advise and perform maintenance on a threat alert sensor system.

The Houston, Texas-based engineering company said Tuesday that work under the contract will aid the Army’s Program Executive Office Missiles and Space and the Space, Search, Track, Acquire, Radiate, Eliminate Project Office.

“This contract is critical to maintain current sensor readiness, within the Army Fires portfolio, while modernizing sensors to address emerging threats and support future Army multi-domain operations,” commented Byron Bright, president of KBR Government Solutions. With the contract, KBR will continue a 40-year history of servicing Army air and missile defense systems. 

The company will be expected to test and evaluate the effectiveness of Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System sensors and system-of-systems.

KBR’s contributions are also intended to screen and verify future multi-domain operation architectures. Presented via the U.S. Air Force’s 774th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron, the Department of Defense Information Analysis Center’s multiple-award contract vehicle provides the basis for the task order. 

The former organization funds projects to yield discoveries and advancements in research, development, science and technology and for the Defense Technical Information Center.

KBR is already conducting work under another task order from the DoD IAC providing engineering support and testing assistance for the Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target missile system. The contract was announced in February.

Bright was honored with his third consecutive Wash100 Award this year. The distinction is Executive Mosaic’s annual compilation of the most prominent individuals in GovCon, government and industry.

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Qarbon Aerospace, Georgia Tech to Jointly Develop Vertical Lift Structures Under NASA Program
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Qarbon Aerospace, Georgia Tech to Jointly Develop Vertical Lift Structures Under NASA Program

Qarbon Aerospace and Georgia Tech have partnered to develop airframe structures for civilian vertical lift aircraft under a NASA-led university engagement program.

Qarbon Aerospace said Monday it will demonstrate the production of urban air mobility airframe structures through a $5.37 million award granted by NASA’s University Leadership Initiative to Georgia Tech.

The company will also test the applicability of thermoplastic components and maintain advanced structures as a partner of ULI. The effort aims to address the technical challenges in the development of civilian vertical lift vehicles.

Red Oak, Texas-based Qarbon Aerospace provides aircraft assemblies and structural components including wings, engine nacelles and fuselages.

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VA Issues Report on Asset, Infrastructure as Department Aims for Improvement; Denis McDonough Quoted
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VA Issues Report on Asset, Infrastructure as Department Aims for Improvement; Denis McDonough Quoted

The Department of Veterans Affairs has published a report that reviews VA’s assets and infrastructure as part of the VA MISSION Act. The department publishes the AIR report in the Federal Register and delivers the document to Congress as mandated by law.

VA said Monday its Asset and Infrastructure Review features recommendations that aim to improve how the department’s infrastructure addresses veterans’ health care needs and meets modern design standards.

A commission dedicated to AIR will host public hearings before providing its own recommendations to President Joe Biden for further assessment next year.

“VA came to these recommendations by asking ourselves one question above all else: what’s best for the Veterans we serve?” said Denis McDonough, secretary of veterans affairs.

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HII Sends Future USS Fort Lauderdale Transport Dock to US Navy
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HII Sends Future USS Fort Lauderdale Transport Dock to US Navy

Huntington Ingalls Industries‘ Ingalls Shipbuilding Division has officially transferred ownership of a new San Antonio class-amphibious transport dock ship to the U.S. Navy.

The delivery comes after the future USS Fort Lauderdale showcased its material and operational readiness during a series of at-sea and pier-side trials, the Naval Sea Systems Command said Monday.

Once part of the fleet, LPD 28 will provide a capability for transporting U.S. Marine Corps servicemen and equipment and supporting USMC helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft.

The Navy’s 12th San Antonio-class vessel can perform various amphibious assaults, special operations, expeditionary warfare and relief missions. Ingalls is currently building the next two ships of the same class for the Navy, with the third to start in spring.

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DOE Announces Investment in Housing, Building Technology Projects; Jennifer Granholm Quoted
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DOE Announces Investment in Housing, Building Technology Projects; Jennifer Granholm Quoted

The Department of Energy is investing $32 million in more than 30 projects that aim to retrofit buildings and deliver affordable housing technologies.

Seven organizations will demonstrate ways to update the energy and environmental systems of buildings while reducing disruption to tenants, DOE said Monday. These techniques include wall prefabrication, decarbonization tools and drop-in replacements for temperature control systems.

“Faster and more efficient construction and renovation methods that improve our nation’s supply of affordable housing are the kinds of transformative innovations we need to lower costs for working families and build a better America,” said Jennifer Granholm, the secretary of energy.

The projects will apply technologies developed under a previous DOE investment titled the “2019 Advanced Building Construction with Energy-Efficient Technologies & Practices Funding Opportunity.”

The awardees and their respective contract amounts are:

  • Fraunhofer USA Center for Manufacturing Innovation: $4.9 million
  • Home Innovation Research Labs: $4.5 million
  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory: $4.4 million
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory: $5 million
  • Rocky Mountain Institute: $4.4 million
  • Syracuse University: $5 million
  • The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees: $3.6 million
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