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NAVWAR Chief Discusses Innovation, Culture Shift at WEST 2025
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NAVWAR Chief Discusses Innovation, Culture Shift at WEST 2025

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Seiko Okano spoke at the recent 2025 WEST Conference, where she underscored the need for transformative change in order to achieve progress in innovations that would equip the fleet with next-generation capabilities.

‘A Culture Problem’

A news article published Tuesday on the U.S. Navy website reported that for Okano, a shift has to happen in terms of culture and in terms of the development ecosystem.

“This isn’t a technology problem; this is a culture problem. The faster we figure out how to shift this together, I think we win,” the head of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, or NAVWAR, said during one panel.

“The Navy has always prided itself on having brilliant technologists at our research labs, but we should also embrace the really fantastic solutions from industry that we can leverage to help us innovate at speed,” Okano added.

Breaking Down Silos

During another panel, the Navy official noted how the boundaries delineating traditional warfare domains are now being blurred and that NAVWAR has a key role to play in this shift.

“Our role is to deliver a decisive information advantage, requiring speed, agility and adaptability,” Okano explained. And to achieve that, she called back to the need for a culture change.

“The challenge is breaking down silos, fostering collaboration and instilling a culture that embraces rapid change to meet the demands of modern conflict,” the NAVWAR commander said.

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VA Seeks Gen AI Support for Acquisition, Lifecycle Management
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VA Seeks Gen AI Support for Acquisition, Lifecycle Management

The Department of Veteran Affairs is soliciting information on vendors capable of providing commercial generative artificial intelligence technology to support the agency’s acquisition and contract lifecycle management functions.

The technology must be a proven commercial-off-the-shelf platform with analytical tools and GenAI capabilities that can be customized to meet specific use cases, VA said in a Tuesday request for information notice posted on SAM.gov. The tool should also include advanced large language model capabilities.

How Could GenAI Help the VA?

In addition, the AI tech is required to support various government office workflows, including acquisition planning, document generation, pre-award and solicitation, evaluation and award, and post-award management workflows. Specifically, the Strategic Acquisition Center’s Acquisition Integration Services is looking for a system that would help the government accomplish its mission.

According to VA, the required platform needs to comply with federal security standards and be user-friendly, flexible, scalable and configurable for various forms of deployments. It is critical too that the potential provider has demonstrated experience in deploying the technology and delivering the mandatory support to maintain, expand and upgrade it over time.

Interested businesses are encouraged to submit their capability statements no later than Feb. 19.

POC - 2025 Artificial Intelligence Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 AI Summit on March 20 to engage with industry titans and discover the best practices for integrating AI across your organization. Reserve a spot now to attend the important event!

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Pam Bondi Sworn In as US Attorney General
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Pam Bondi Sworn In as US Attorney General

Pam Bondi, former Florida state attorney general, was sworn in as the 87th U.S. attorney general on Wednesday, a day after the Senate confirmed her nomination for the position in a 54-46 vote.

Reuters reported that Bondi vowed to maintain the Department of Justice’s independence and told lawmakers that she would not introduce politics into civil and criminal investigations during her confirmation hearing in January.

“There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice,” she told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I will not politicize that office. I will not target people simply because of their political affiliation.”

Pam Bondi’s Career Background

Bondi served as Florida’s attorney general from 2011 to 2019.

She spent decades as a prosecutor and served as a spokeswoman in Hillsborough County, Florida, where she also served as an assistant state attorney earlier in her career.

The University of Florida graduate led the legal arm of the America First Policy Institute and represented President Trump during his first impeachment trial.

She received her law degree from the Stetson University College of Law.

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NSF Seeks Input on AI Action Plan Development
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NSF Seeks Input on AI Action Plan Development

The National Science Foundation has solicited feedback from the public on the development of an action plan that will outline the priority policy actions needed to sustain and improve U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence. 

According to a request for information published Thursday in the Federal Register, public comments are due March 15.

The U.S. government expects the AI action plan to help ensure that burdensome requirements do not hinder AI innovation in the private sector.

New Executive Order

In late January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that directs the development of an AI action plan as part of efforts to retain U.S. leadership in AI and improve the country’s economic and national security. 

The new policy also revokes existing AI directives and policies that were seen to hamper the country’s AI innovation.

Relevant AI Policy Topics

According to the RFI, responses can address AI-related policy topics, including data centers, hardware and chips, energy consumption and efficiency, open source development, model development, explainability and assurance of AI model outputs and cybersecurity.

The Office of Science and Technology Policy is also interested in submissions that tackle data privacy and security throughout the lifecycle of AI system development and deployment; technical and safety standards; national security and defense; research and development; risks, regulation and governance; education and workforce; innovation and competition; intellectual property; procurement; export controls; and international collaboration.

Interested stakeholders could also suggest concrete AI policy actions to help address the topics raised.

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 20! Register now to hear more about cutting-edge AI innovations from industry and government experts.

POC - 2025 Artificial Intelligence Summit
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Air Force Appoints William Blauser as Acting SDA Director
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Air Force Appoints William Blauser as Acting SDA Director

Breaking Defense reported Wednesday that the Air Force has appointed Rapid Capabilities Office deputy director William Blauser as acting director of the Space Development Agency. 

The appointment follows the department’s decision to place SDA director Derek Tournear on administrative leave. Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, commander of the Space Systems Command, held the acting role prior to Blauser’s appointment.

According to a statement released by the Air Force, the move comes due to the need for full-time leadership at both the SDA and the SSC.

The SDA placed Tournear on administrative leave in relation to Viasat’s bid protest against two prototype agreements, approximately $424 million in value, awarded to York Space Systems and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems.

Blauser’s Career History

Blauser has been with the Air Force RCO since July 2024, leading the office tasked with acquiring and fielding critical new weapon systems based on cutting-edge technologies. 

He has an extensive experience in DOD acquisition. Prior to RCO, he served as vice president of sensors at Systems Technology and Research in Arlington, Virginia, focusing on the integration and execution of sensing and counter-sensing capabilities for national defense.

The new acting SDA director also spent several years at the National Reconnaissance Office as program director of advanced satellite systems and deputy director of NRO’s Survivability Assurance Office.

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NASA Subjects X-66 Semi-Span Model to Wind Tunnel Tests
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NASA Subjects X-66 Semi-Span Model to Wind Tunnel Tests

NASA has conducted wind tunnel tests on the X-66 semi-span model to collect data about the aerodynamic forces that could affect the upcoming X-66 experimental aircraft.

The test results will reportedly help researchers refine the Boeing-built X-66 aircraft design, the space agency said Wednesday. The engineering adjustments could help minimize drag, enhance fuel efficiency and modify the plane’s shape for improved flying qualities.

Generating Data for X-66’s Wing Designs

NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator—dubbed SFD—project tested the X-66 semi-span model at the Ames Research Center in California. The model went through expected flight conditions to generate data for engineering the aircraft’s wing designs and flight simulators.

During the semi-span tests, engineers sought to establish if the forces and behaviors on a model of half an aircraft reflect those on the other half. They used the plane’s larger half, increased its surface pressure level and installed sensors on the wing to record movements. The test measured lift, drag, stability and other key characteristics.

Environmentally Sustainable Aircraft Configurations

NASA engineers will combine all the X-66 test results to determine the changes needed before starting the aircraft wing’s fabrication process. The SFD program is the agency’s collaborative effort with Boeing to develop aircraft configurations that are more economically and environmentally sustainable.

In August 2023, Boeing started modifying an MD-90 airplane to enable the Transonic Truss-Braced Wing configuration testing for the X-66A aircraft development project. The aircraft is scheduled to begin ground and flight testing in 2028.

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Hanscom AFB, UMass Lowell Create Technological Ecosystem
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Hanscom AFB, UMass Lowell Create Technological Ecosystem

Hanscom Air Force Base and the University of Massachusetts Lowell Applied Research Corporation have partnered to boost innovation and strengthen national defense and security.

The Air Force Materiel Command said Wednesday the two organizations officially signed a partnership intermediary agreement, or PIA, on Dec. 13 last year. The agreement was announced during a launch event held on Jan. 30.

Boosting Innovation Through Collaboration

The U.S. Air Force has so far entered into 16 PIAs, with the one between Hanscom AFB and UML ARC being the first in New England. Through these agreements, federal agencies can partner with local governments or affiliated non-profit entities to facilitate technology transfer to non-federal groups and back to the government. This unique contracting mechanism enables businesses and industry partners to collaborate with Hanscom on projects involving command and control, battle management, communication, information systems, enterprise digital infrastructure, cyber, networks, and electronic warfare.

The PIA plays a crucial role in Hanscom’s ability to perform capability assessments, prototyping and transitioning innovations into established programs.

“In the cyber and networks portfolio, we connect the warfighter with secure, superior combat communications capabilities, while energizing and enabling DOD partners to do the same in the areas of cyber, networks, cryptologic and tactical data link systems,” said Maj. Gen. Anthony Genatempo, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center program executive officer for cyber and networks. “First of its kind in New England, the PIA tool will present new options and insight for us to access innovation and carry forward our mission.”

Julie Chen, UMass Lowell chancellor, added, “This agreement between Hanscom and UMass Lowell ARC allows us to double down on the ability to facilitate the technology transfer between the Air Force, partners in the region and the defense ecosystem.”

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Mistral, Zoltix Win US-Singapore Joint Challenge
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Mistral, Zoltix Win US-Singapore Joint Challenge

Startup firms Mistral and Zoltix have won the U.S.-Singapore joint challenge on maritime and unmanned aerial systems, or UAS, defense innovation. 

The event was the first collaboration between the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit and Singapore’s Ministry of Defence under a memorandum of understanding for defense innovation.

Challenge Winners

The first prize challenge involved identifying and scaling dual-use technologies to help ships stationed near the shore continuously detect, track, identify and disrupt unauthorized drones. Mistral won $80,000 for its counter-UAS Victus C2 Gateway offering.

The system features radio frequency sensors and kinetic and non-kinetic effects in a single package that meets the challenge’s operational requirements. 

The Minstral technology is capable of integrating with existing defense systems, which ensures compatibility with operational tools and prevents the creation of proprietary silos.

The second prize challenge, won by Zoltix, required resilient communications with small commercial drones during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, or HADR, missions. 

The startup received $70,000 for its adaptive communication system that features radio operations via automatic sensing and self-adjustment and delivers spectrum activity insights.

The Zoltix technology allows small commercial drones to keep secure and stable connections amid RF-contested environments and dynamically sense and adjust frequencies. These capabilities make it critical to HADR missions and global navigation satellite system-challenged environments.

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Lockheed Demos OSIRIS 5G System Capabilities in USMC Exercise
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Lockheed Demos OSIRIS 5G System Capabilities in USMC Exercise

Lockheed Martin demonstrated the 5G capabilities of the Open Systems Interoperable and Reconfigurable Infrastructure Solution, a.k.a. OSIRIS, during the Steel Knight 2024 exercise of the U.S. Marine Corps in December. Erika Marsall, Lockheed Martin’s C4ISR vice president, called the demo “an important proof point” for the company’s 5G.MIL programs under which OSIRIS is being developed. 

“We will continue to invest in commercial technologies, to develop solutions that can be tailored in a variety of ways, and bring the best capabilities to our warfighters,” the Lockheed executive said.

Stand-Alone 5G Wireless Connection

During the Steel Knight exercise from Dec. 2 to 19, operators of a USMC Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar and a USMC Air Command and Control System tested OSIRIS as a stand-alone 5G wireless communication network for in-flight and tethered unmanned air vehicles. 

The system enabled the dispatch and receipt of battlefield data for real-time decision-making in various combat scenarios, according to Lockheed.  The company added that insights from the exercise will be valuable when deploying 5G capabilities to support the Marines’ littoral operations in a contested environment and in expeditionary advanced base operations.

Three Configurations Tested

The exercise saw the first use of the integrated access and backhaul configuration of OSIRIS, enabling wider 5G mesh coverage. Two other OSIRIS configurations were demonstrated during the exercise: nomadic tower and mobile relay stand-alone. 

Lockheed integrated several 5G subsystems in OSIRIS, including Intel FlexRAN reference software, Intel Xeon processors and Radisys software. The company delivered the initial OSIRIS prototype to USMC in August 2023 after booking a $19.3 million USMC contract in 2021 to prototype the 5G communications network infrastructure testbed. 

Lockheed Demos OSIRIS 5G System Capabilities in USMC Exercise

Join defense and connectivity leaders at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 5G Summit for more insights on how 5G can support warfighters. Register here for in-person attendance to the event on Feb. 27.

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House Bill Eyes Vulnerability Disclosure Rules for Federal Vendors
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House Bill Eyes Vulnerability Disclosure Rules for Federal Vendors

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., has reintroduced the Federal Contractor Cybersecurity Vulnerability Reduction Act of 2025, which seeks to strengthen the federal cybersecurity standards.

The proposal would require the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Defense to update their federal acquisition policies and direct all federal contractors to implement vulnerability disclosure policies, Mace said in a Friday press release.

“This bipartisan bill ensures contractors uphold the same cybersecurity standards as federal agencies, reducing risks before they turn into catastrophic breaches,” the lawmaker added.

What’s in the Bill?

Under the bill, government contractors must adhere to cybersecurity standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The legislation envisions that vulnerability disclosure requirements provide a framework for good-faith researchers to report security weaknesses before they can be exploited, thus reducing the risk of cyberattacks against contractors.

If enacted, the act would mandate OMB to oversee updates to the Federal Acquisition Regulation to enforce vulnerability disclosure requirements for civilian contractors. Meanwhile, the DOD secretary would do the same for the defense sector, ensuring that the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement enforces the policies among defense vendors.

Mace first filed the measure in August 2024 and was taken up by Senators Mark Warner, D-Va., and James Lankford, R-Okla., in the Senate.

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