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Federal Trade Commission: Companies Must Take Steps to Mitigate Log4j Risks
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Federal Trade Commission: Companies Must Take Steps to Mitigate Log4j Risks

The Federal Trade Commission urges companies to address the cyber vulnerabilities associated with the Log4j logging utility software, which records activities in consumer-facing systems.

FTC said Tuesday that Log4j vulnerabilities, when exploited, can risk breaching financial assets and personal information.

Laws like the Federal Trade Commission Act  impose efforts to address software vulnerabilities. The commission cited as an example that Equifax had to pay $700 million for settlements as a result of exposing the personal information of 147 million individuals.

FTC noted that it will fully use its legal authority to deal with companies that have not made efforts to secure consumer data from threats exploiting Log4j vulnerabilities and similar issues.

The commission also advises companies to update their Log4j software package and consult with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s guidance on the vulnerability.

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Octo Expands Federal Healthcare IT Offerings With B3 Buy; Mehul Sanghani Quoted
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Octo Expands Federal Healthcare IT Offerings With B3 Buy; Mehul Sanghani Quoted

Octo has acquired B3 Group, a Herndon, Virginia-based information technology consulting firm that offers digital transformation services.

As part of the transaction, Octo will build upon B3’s 13-year partnership with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to expand its position in the federal health IT modernization market, the company said Wednesday.

Mehul Sanghani, CEO of Octo, commented on the business combination, “Now with even deeper experience across the health space added to our defense, intelligence, national security, and civilian customer base, Octo has greatly enhanced its position to serve as the Federal Government’s complete, end-to-end digital modernization partner.”

Additionally, Sanghani cited B3’s capabilities, such as low-code/no-code technologies and enterprise-level application modernization, along with their more than $1 billion in previous task orders as assets that will assist in Octo’s expansion goals.

B3’s digital transformation offerings include work with platforms such as Salesforce, Microsoft Power Platform, Pega and ServiceNow, in addition to large-scale data governance and cloud engineering services.

The acquisition will allow B3’s existing Digital Transformation and Modernization Lab to work in tandem with Octo’s oLabs environment, a 14,000 square-foot facility dedicated to federal government research and development efforts.

Octo will also inherit B3’s $686 million Digital Transformation Center contract from the VA, which is expected to grow its modernization practice for its federal civilian, homeland security, defense and intelligence customers. Additionally, B3’s executive leadership will remain in place through the deal.

B3 CEO Dwight Hunt noted that the two companies share complementary corporate philosophies and values, which will deliver more robust offerings to federal customers in the healthcare market and allow the enterprise’s employees to pursue enhanced career opportunities.

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Amentum Appoints Charles A. Mathis as New CFO; CEO John Vollmer Quoted
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Amentum Appoints Charles A. Mathis as New CFO; CEO John Vollmer Quoted

Amentum announced on Wednesday that the company has appointed Charles A. Mathis as its new chief financial officer to assume responsibility for Amentum’s corporate finance activities including financial strategy, business operations, accounting, compliance, tax and treasury.

“Charlie possesses extensive expertise across financial and business operations and understands the complex environment in which government services companies operate,” said John Vollmer, Amentum’s CEO and a six-time Wash100 Award winner. 

Previously, Mathis served as the executive vice president and chief financial officer for SAIC from Nov. 2016 until retiring from the position in Jan. 2021. 

In addition, Mathis has also served as the CFO for multiple notable defense contractors in the sector such as Force Protection, Inc. and EFW, Inc., and commercial IT and cloud company ScanSource, Inc.

“I look forward to leading a diverse team of professionals within Amentum’s executive leadership team and finance organization as the company continues its growth trajectory,” Mathis said. “I am particularly excited to explore ways we can create value for the business in 2022 and beyond.”

About Amentum 

Amentum is a premier global technical and engineering services partner supporting critical programs of national significance across defense, security, intelligence, energy and environment. We draw from a century-old heritage of operational excellence, mission focus, and successful execution underpinned by a strong culture of safety and ethics.

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GovCon Expert Mark Amtower: 2022 Federal Civilian Agency LinkedIn Census
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GovCon Expert Mark Amtower: 2022 Federal Civilian Agency LinkedIn Census

In his latest article as a member of Executive Mosaic’s GovCon Expert program, Mark Amtower, a 36-year veteran of the federal and government contracting (GovCon) sector, has released the first two parts of his look into the Amtower’s 2022 Federal Civilian Agency LinkedIn Census. 

In this two-part feature, GovCon Expert Mark Amtower discussed the latest trends and surge of top executives and federal agencies that are utilizing LinkedIn for networking in the government contracting (GovCon) and other areas of the federal landscape. 

“The 2022 Fed LinkedIn census represents a significant increase over 2021. I attribute this to two factors: first and foremost, more federal and DOD employees, including military, joining LinkedIn. There was a surge in federal civilian agencies…These numbers represent a significant opportunity for government contractors to reach out and connect with key influencers.”

GovCon Expert Mark Amtower posted his full two-part feature on LinkedIn. Click here for Part One and click here for Part Two. 

Amtower’s LinkedIn for GovCon webinars are also available through Government Marketing University -https://gmarku.com/product-category/training/

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NIST Calls for Public Comments on Draft Open Banking Cybersecurity Report
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NIST Calls for Public Comments on Draft Open Banking Cybersecurity Report

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking public input on its recently released draft report that defines open banking and provides details about its functions, enablers, cybersecurity and privacy-related issues.

The draft Cybersecurity Considerations for Open Banking Technology and Emerging Standards report also describes the new financial ecosystem and outlines how individuals and small and mid-size businesses in several countries around the world use the technology to move their finances, NIST said Monday.

Report authors from the agency, academe and private sector wrote that open baking is also aimed at streamlining entry to the financial business sector for new financial service providers.

Public comments are due March 3rd.

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U.S., Other Countries Explore Ways to Regulate Crypto
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U.S., Other Countries Explore Ways to Regulate Crypto

Although China, Qatar, Egypt and six other countries have fully banned cryptocurrency, the U.S. and other countries are exploring how to regulate the digital currency, Fortune reported Wednesday.

Gary Gensler, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said he wants to introduce more digital currency regulations. In December, he appointed Corey Frayer as senior adviser to provide advice on policymaking and interagency work related to crypto assets. 

In 2021, lawmakers proposed 35 bills focused on blockchain and cryptocurrency policy in Congress. One of those measures is the Eliminate Barriers To Innovation Act, which would establish an SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission Working Group on Digital Assets that would shed light on differences in blockchain tokens between the two agencies. 

POC - Digital Currency and National Security Forum

On Jan. 27, the Potomac Officers Club will bring together distinguished government and industry leaders to offer the GovCon community an insight into the national security aspect of digital currencies. 

POC’s Digital Currency and National Security Forum will feature National Cyber Director Chris Inglis as the keynote speaker.

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White House Seeks Input on Use of Digital Health Tech in Community-Based Settings
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White House Seeks Input on Use of Digital Health Tech in Community-Based Settings

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is seeking information on digital health technologies that could be used to transform health equity, community health and individual wellness.

The request for information is part of OSTP’s Community Connected Health program that looks into how innovation in science and technology can help reduce the barriers for all citizens when it comes to accessing quality health care, according to a notice scheduled to be published Wednesday on Federal Register.

OSTP is asking community health stakeholders and tech developers to share information on successful models of using digital health tech platforms to strengthen community health within the U.S. and overseas, trends from the COVID-19 pandemic, user experience, barriers to uptake, tools and training, health equity and proposed government actions.

The office mentioned examples of digital health technologies, including health trackers, remote patient monitoring devices, mobile health apps, telehealth and electronic health records.

Interested stakeholders have 60 days to submit comments and feedback on the RFI.

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NASA’s Webb Telescope Completes Sunshield Deployment; Thomas Zurbuchen Quoted
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NASA’s Webb Telescope Completes Sunshield Deployment; Thomas Zurbuchen Quoted

NASA has announced the full deployment of the James Webb Space Telescope’s 70-foot sunshield.

The five-layered sunshield, which launched on Dec. 25th aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the European Space Agency’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, is designed to protect the spacecraft from the heat and light ff the sun, Earth and moon, NASA said Tuesday.

The sunshield’s unfolding started on Dec. 28 and concluded Tuesday, Jan. 4. The development started with the deployment of two pallet structures, followed by the Deployable Tower Assembly, aft momentum flap and membrane covers and mid-booms.

“This is the first time anyone has ever attempted to put a telescope this large into space,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s science mssion directorate. 

Zurbuchen added that the deployment of the sunshield seeks to reflect the human ingenuity and engineering skill that will enable the space science observatory to reach its science goals.

In the next five months, Webb has to deploy its primary and secondary mirror wings, calibrate science instruments and align the telescope optics before it can transmit its first images.

The sunshield’s unfurling and tensioning involved 139 of the telescope’s 178 release mechanisms, approximately 400 pulleys, 70 hinge assemblies, 90 individual cables and eight deployment motors.

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Air Force Vet Wade Koch Joins Valiant as VP of Business Development, Training & Readiness; John Hart Quoted
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Air Force Vet Wade Koch Joins Valiant as VP of Business Development, Training & Readiness; John Hart Quoted

Wade Koch, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former Kratos Defense and Security Solutions executive, has been named vice president of business development, training and readiness for Valiant Integrated Services.

In his new role, Koch will leverage his 25 years of defense industry experience to enhance business development strategies, improve engagement across the government contracting sector and foster relationships with federal agencies, clients and partners within Valiant’s training and readiness business unit, the company said Tuesday.

“Wade’s extensive experience in the training arena will empower us to further build on Valiant’s impressive Training and Readiness legacy as we continue to grow the business and deliver high-velocity training solutions for additional customers and partners in the U.S. and around the world,” commented John Hart, chief growth officer for Valiant.

Koch joins Valiant from Kratos, where he most recently served as vice president of business development. Throughout Koch’s more than seven years with Kratos, he also served in positions including vice president of the company’s aircrew training center and vice president of training services.

His previous private sector experience includes six years as president and CEO of Koch Consulting Group Training Systems, as well as nearly three years with Aviation Training Consulting, where he held senior business development roles.

Additionally, Koch served two decades of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, and he currently sits on the board of directors for That Others May Live Foundation, which focuses on providing support to families of wounded or deceased Air Force service members.

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Kristin Robertson, Brad Tousley Join Raytheon Intelligence & Space Leadership Team; President Roy Azevedo Quoted
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Kristin Robertson, Brad Tousley Join Raytheon Intelligence & Space Leadership Team; President Roy Azevedo Quoted

Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S) announced on Tuesday that Kristin Robertson and Brad Tousley have joined the business unit’s leadership team to further position RI&S to deliver excellence to our customers in 2022 and beyond.

Kristin Robertson has assumed the role of president of its Space & C2 strategic business unit, effective immediately Robertson will serve on the RI&S senior team and report directly to Roy Azevedo, president of RI&S and a two-time Wash100 Award winner.

“Kristin brings a wealth of experience to RI&S as well as a proven track record of leading and growing complex product lines,” said Azevedo. “She and the S&C2 team will help us meet growing space market demand and support our customer’s evolving missions.”

Robertson served as vice president and general manager of autonomous systems at Boeing, leading autonomous technologies, intelligence capabilities and networking solutions from seabed to space. During Robertson’s tenure, she led and grew several multi-billion-dollar product lines.

In addition, Brad Tousley will serve as president of Blue Canyon Technologies, reporting to Robertson as part of the Space & C2 strategic business unit.

Tousley previously served as lead for RI&S’ Advanced Concepts & Technology, and as president of Raytheon BBN Technologies. He joined Raytheon Company in 2019 with deep experience spanning government agencies, the private sector and the U.S. military.

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