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AFRL Finishes Prototype Testing of Non-Toxic Propellant Spacecraft Thruster; Corinne Sedano Quoted
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AFRL Finishes Prototype Testing of Non-Toxic Propellant Spacecraft Thruster; Corinne Sedano Quoted

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has completed testing of prototype thrusters that use low-toxicity propellant to provide satellites with in-space propulsion.

The 1 Newton-class Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-toxic Propellant thrusters (ASCENT) recently underwent a series of hot-fire testing in a vacuum environment at the AFRL Chemical in-Space Thruster Test and Research Site, the laboratory said Monday.

Performance data from the evaluation will inform the development of ASCENT thrusters from the prototyping phase to the upcoming demonstration of flight weight-representative units. 

“This work is important to the U.S. Space Force since it provides satellites with propulsive capabilities that support space resiliency and space domain awareness,” explained Corinne Sedano, AFRL group lead and senior research aerospace engineer.

ASCENT, which already operated in space from 2019 to 2020, provides thrust using a 1990-era propellant designed to feature low toxic levels and improved efficiency.

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Marine Corps F-35Bs Showcase Lightning Carrier Concept Onboard USS Tripoli
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Marine Corps F-35Bs Showcase Lightning Carrier Concept Onboard USS Tripoli

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps recently showcased the concept of providing intelligence collection and strike capabilities using mostly F-35B Lightning II fighters from an amphibious assault carrier for the first time.

F-35B fighters conducted operational tests onboard the USS Tripoli in the Pacific Ocean during the demonstration of the lightning carrier concept from March 30th to April 8th, the Marine Corps said Monday.

The demonstration showed the ability of America-class assault carriers like Tripoli to field either two F-35B squadrons or a battalion-sized sized landing force and assault support aircraft depending on a fleet commander’s needs, explained Capt. Joel Lang, commanding officer of Tripoli.

With numerous F-35Bs onboard an aircraft carrier, combatant commanders gain not just the fighters’ strike capabilities but also the sensors that come with their avionics suite, added Lt. Col. Alexander Goodno, commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225.

The concept, which is part of a service effort to provide more creative options for naval leaders, is not expected to change the make-up of Amphibious Ready Groups and Marine Expeditionary Units.

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Akima Logistics Services Awarded $109.7M USAF Contract for Academy Aircraft Maintenance
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Akima Logistics Services Awarded $109.7M USAF Contract for Academy Aircraft Maintenance

Akima’s logistics services arm has received a 10-year, $109.7 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for technical support.

The firm-fixed-price contract tasks Akima Logistics Services with maintenance assistance on 58 U.S. Air Force Academy aircraft, the Herndon, Virginia-based aviation supply chain company said April 1st.

Work under the contract will take place at two Colorado locations: Peterson Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Academy. ALS will be expected to tow the aircrafts from where they’re stationed – some crafts reside at a USAF Academy auxiliary airfield – and provide tow pilots.

ALS was awarded the contract after a competitive acquisition. Their team reportedly began the project on April 7th with a projected end date of April 6, 2032.

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NGA Seeks Market Info on Expertise, Support Services Under SABER II Contract
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NGA Seeks Market Info on Expertise, Support Services Under SABER II Contract

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency asks industry for market information on technical expertise that can support NGA’s Geoint Services Enterprise Services Development Corps division.

NGA said Monday in a SAM.gov notice it wants to determine the interest of contractors in helping the DevCorps division implement, integrate and augment mission-critical functions and capabilities under the Software Aqua Badge Engineering Resources II contract vehicle.

DevCorps uses Agile methodology to deliver software development capabilities that meet interoperability, accessibility and ease-of-use requirements.

The division will work with NGA’s internal program offices and customers to deliver capabilities through the SABER II contract vehicle. Capabilities resulting from DevCorps efforts support automation, analytical workflow and data services across NGA’s enterprise.

Work under the future SABER II contract would primarily take place in St. Louis and Arnold, Missouri, from July 2023 to July 2027, if all options are exercised. Interested parties may send responses through May 25th.

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OMB Updates Performace.gov to Add Information on President’s Management Agenda Priorities
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OMB Updates Performace.gov to Add Information on President’s Management Agenda Priorities

The Office of Management and Budget is updating the federal government’s performance information website to reflect the priorities set out in the Biden-Harris Management Agenda Vision roadmap.

The move comes shortly after Jason Miller, deputy director for management at OMB, named the officials who will spearhead efforts to achieve the three main PMA priority areas, which are strengthening the federal workforce, improving service delivery and customer experience and managing the business of government.

Kathleen Hicks, deputy secretary of the Department of Defense and a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient, was named one of the workforce priority area leads. She joins Kiran Ahuja, director of the Office of Personnel Management, and Julie Su, deputy secretary of the Department of Labor.

The customer experience priority area leads are Jewel Bronaugh, deputy secretary of the Department of Agriculture; Robin Carnahan, administrator of the General Services Administration; and Donald Remy, deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Don Graves, Andrea Palm and John Tien, the deputy secretaries of the departments of Commerce, Health and Human Services and Homeland Security respectively will oversee the business of government priority area.

The leaders of the first two priority areas have already set their goals and key metrics for measuring the success of their efforts.

Performance.gov went live in 2011 after previously being available only for federal employees. The website discloses to the public the federal government’s performance management efforts as mandated by the Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act of 2010.

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Former National Lab Physicist Marvin Adams Sworn in as NNSA Deputy Administrator; Jill Hruby Quoted
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Former National Lab Physicist Marvin Adams Sworn in as NNSA Deputy Administrator; Jill Hruby Quoted

Marvin Adams, formerly a physicist for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has been sworn in as deputy administrator for defense programs of the National Nuclear Security Administration, following his confirmation by the Senate on April 7th.

He will oversee NNSA’s mission to maintain the safety, effectiveness and reliability of the country’s nuclear deterrent, the Department of Defense said Monday.

Adams most recently taught nuclear engineering and led national laboratory mission support at the Texas A&M University System.

He also held advisory, committee and panel roles for U.S. Strategic Command, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos national laboratories.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm virtually swore Adams into his new role at NNSA.

“NNSA’s science-based stockpile stewardship activities are an immense responsibility and span a wide range of expertise, from the design and engineering of warhead life extensions to supercomputing for weapons simulations to reinvigorating infrastructure,” said Jill Hruby, DOE undersecretary for nuclear security and NNSA Administrator.

“I’m confident Marv will help us deliver on our mission with the urgency we need,” Hruby added.

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Christopher Maier, Gen. Richard Clarke Unveil Special Operations Force Vision and Strategy
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Christopher Maier, Gen. Richard Clarke Unveil Special Operations Force Vision and Strategy

Christopher Maier, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, and Army Gen. Richard Clarke, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, have released an updated vision and strategy to guide the special operations forces amid the evolving security environment, DOD News reported Monday.

“The updated Special Operations Force Vision and Strategy reflects our overarching strategic guidance to the enterprise, highlighting force modernization, force employment, development and design, and helps ensure forces are postured to support the National Defense Strategy,” Maier said in a statement.

The vision statement cites SOF’s core values: honor; courage; excellence; creativity; and respect. It also outlines the characteristics of SOF, responsibilities and plans for the future, including the force’s aim to evolve into a resilient enterprise that can conduct integrated special operations across all domains.

“Special Operations Forces’ full range of core activities, tailored capabilities and deep partnerships provide critical options for campaigning to bolster deterrence,” Clarke said in a statement. “These documents underpin our efforts to build enduring advantage.”

The SOF strategy seeks to create a 10-year framework of strategic aims, resources and strategic efforts to establish “strategic and assymetric advantages” for the U.S. in integrated deterrence, conflict and crisis.

Strategic aims include conducting operations, investments and activities to support priority missions and modernizing SOF concepts, doctrine and capabilities to maximize value to the Joint Force.

The document classifies strategic efforts into five categories: competing and winning for the country; innovating for future threats; preserving and growing readiness; advancing partnerships; and strengthening the force and family.

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CISA Seeks Chief Information Security Officer
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CISA Seeks Chief Information Security Officer

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at the Department of Homeland Security has begun its search for a chief information security officer that will help establish and maintain a data security and risk management program.

The CISO will directly report to CISA’s chief information officer and oversee the agency’s security operations center, security architecture and incident response efforts, according to a USAJobs notice posted Thursday.

Other responsibilities are directing cyber leaders and teams to meet compliance requirements in accordance with CISA’s core values and principles, oversee agency finances and mitigate cybersecurity risks; assisting the CIO and other senior officials at DHS with decision-making and measures related to various data security priorities; and developing incident response and investigation processes and procedures.

CISA is looking for potential candidates with a comprehensive understanding of emerging cyber issues, threat landscape and supply chain risks and have experience in evolving cyber defense capabilities to quickly address changes in the threat landscape.

The agency will accept applications through May 7th.

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Kathleen Hicks Mulls Over Potential Options to Help Startups Navigate DOD Acquisition Process
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Kathleen Hicks Mulls Over Potential Options to Help Startups Navigate DOD Acquisition Process

Kathleen Hicks, deputy secretary at the Department of Defense and a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient, said she was beginning to think about some potential approaches DOD could carry out to help technology startups navigate the “valley of death” and other challenges after hearing some of the issues raised by executives during a roundtable discussion, Breaking Defense reported Monday.

“There will not be government solutions to all of the challenges that the government is facing, with regard to how to kind of manage through that full innovation cycle. That said, I think there’s a lot more that we can do,” she told the publication.

Hicks hinted at making some adjustments to existing incentives to help speed up the acquisition process for startups.

“My view isn’t like, I’m going to magically unlock special secret approaches that haven’t been touched before,” she told reporters. “I think it’s more about how you start to shift the incentives. Are you coming at the right time to solve some of these problems?”

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DLT Solutions Makes Cloud Service Available to Department of Navy Under Licensing Agreement; Mark Johnson Quoted
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DLT Solutions Makes Cloud Service Available to Department of Navy Under Licensing Agreement; Mark Johnson Quoted

Public sector software reseller DLT Solutions has supplemented its licensing agreement from the Department of Navy with a program from Oracle.

The Herndon, Virginia-based company said Monday that it will implement Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in its work under the Oracle II enterprise licensing agreement. The DON intends to migrate some of their applications and content from the data center to the cloud.

“Adding OCI to the Oracle II Enterprise Licensing Agreement provides the DON with a cloud option that increases performance and operational efficiency of traditional and cloud-native applications in a secure and reliable environment,” said DLT Solutions President Chris Wilkinson.

OCI is a hosted environment program through which government users can construct and enact a variety of applications and services. Its features include compute functions and large storage capabilities, along with high-grade security measures built for handling sensitive materials.

The program’s introduction is intended to serve DON needs and mission requirements. Its multi-cloud structure will assist with their elaborate data management and analytics procedures.

Per Oracle Vice President of Federal Cloud Sales Mark Johnson, DLT’s addition of OCI will additionally help “streamline procurement, increase IT asset visibility, and significantly reduce costs for the DON.” Johnson is a two-time Wash100 Award winner.

DLT’s licensing agreement with the DON is beginning its final option year and the contract is worth over $370 million over its whole lifespan. The company is using its own enterprise agreement platform to arrange and negotiate the terms and rollout of the Oracle II enterprise licensing agreement. It is a competitive program that seeks to empower vendors and contract collaborators to maximize revenue and overcome hurdles.

Clearwater, Florida-based information technology distribution company Tech Data Corporation acquired DLT Solutions in October 2019.

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