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House OKs Continuing Resolution to Extend Government Funding Through March 11
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House OKs Continuing Resolution to Extend Government Funding Through March 11

The House on Tuesday voted 272-162 to pass a continuing resolution that would fund government operations at current funding levels through March 11 and provide time to address appropriations bills for fiscal year 2022.

House Appropriations Committee Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said in a statement published Tuesday the stopgap measure is a result of “bipartisan, bicameral negotiation to keep the government up and running.”

“We are very close to an agreement and I am eager to move this process forward. I have every expectation that we can finalize a framework in short order and then work together to fill in the details and enact an omnibus,” DeLauro added.

NPR reported that the legislation is now headed to the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the upper chamber will work on the measure before the current continuing resolution expires on Feb. 18.

“While negotiations on a full-year funding agreement continue, we will in the meantime avoid a pointless and costly government shutdown,” Schumer said Tuesday. “This CR provides a little more time to reach a deal for a spending package. It is the responsible and prudent path forward that eliminates the risk of a shutdown.”

The House’s move marks the third time Congress has approved a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown since FY 2022 started in October.

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USAF Contracts Battelle for Research on Warfighter Safety and Health; Dr. Nicole Brennan Quoted
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USAF Contracts Battelle for Research on Warfighter Safety and Health; Dr. Nicole Brennan Quoted

The U.S. Air Force has awarded research and development contractor Battelle a five-year, $17 million contract to perform research for causes related to warfighter health in combat situations.

The contract aims to produce information about occupational and environmental exposures to USAF’s servicepeople through Batelle’s scientific and technological programs, the Columbus, Ohio-based company said Wednesday.

“Battelle brings a rare combination of world-class military force health protection experts, research, development, test and evaluation experts and specialized facilities to tackle this important work,” said Dr. Nicole Brennan, head of the public and military health division at Battelle.

The personnel Brennan mentions will, via the contract, be expected to provide Air Force planners, commanders, team leaders and healthcare officials with the data and findings critical to creating safe and health-conscious working conditions for airfighters.

The contract is a function of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Airman Readiness Medical Research rollout, which enumerated eight research goals. Battelle’s assignments attempt to undertake three: airman exposure health, cognitive and physiological performance and space exploration research.

Research and development efforts will take place in the 711th Human Performance Wing of the Airman Systems Directorate, under the auspices of the Biosciences Division. Batelle has a 15 year history doing health protection work at this location.

Force Health Protection Solutions Architect and S&T Integrator Paul Pirkle says this work has been beneficial to USAF warfighters in the past, in effect “bolstering readiness, enhancing combat lethality, and protecting the health of forces that project air power.”

Battelle is currently working under another contract from the U.S. Air Force focusing on computational and experimental chemistry and computer modeling procedures. That contract was announced in December 2021.

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Army Research Laboratory, JHU APL Conclude MEDE Material Science Research Program
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Army Research Laboratory, JHU APL Conclude MEDE Material Science Research Program

A 10-year basic research program on material science led by Johns Hopkins University has concluded, with a virtual culmination event co-hosted by Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory.

Twenty-five universities and research organizations from 13 states and three foreign nations composed the Materials in Extreme Dynamic Environments Collaborative Research Alliance, whose materials-by-design strategy has resulted in computational design codes and protective materials for armor, the U.S. Army said Feb. 2.

Patrick Baker, ARL’s director, said MEDE achieved its goal by emphasizing the basic research elements of relevance, team and science.

MEDE academics and DEVCOM ARL researchers have produced  478 peer-reviewed articles, which have been cited more than 8,000 times. The effort’s findings in materials research have supported weight reduction and material performance.

MEDE’s culmination event virtually gathered over 180 individuals including those from U.S. Army Futures Command, the Office of Naval Research, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.

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Air Force Seeks Sources of E-3G AWACS Aircraft Replacement
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Air Force Seeks Sources of E-3G AWACS Aircraft Replacement

The U.S. Air Force has released a request for information on aircraft that could replace its Boeing-built E-3G Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.

According to a sources sought notice on SAM.gov, the Air Force is looking for companies that can deliver at least two production representative prototype command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft before 2030.

The service branch wants potential replacements to feature the same capabilities as its existing AWACS fleet, including an on-board battle management command and control system, line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications, air refueling technology and an airborne moving target indication radar.

Interested companies can submit their responses to the Air Force on or before March 10, ahead of a planned contract award in the fiscal year 2023.

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DSA Lands Two Task Orders to Provide Technical Support for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Environments
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DSA Lands Two Task Orders to Provide Technical Support for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Environments

Information technology company Data Systems Analysts has received a pair of task orders from the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND).

The Joint Enterprise-Omnibus Program, Engineering, and Technical Support Business and Analytical, Engineering and Technical, Information Technology task orders require DSA to offer technical support such as business and data analysis, training, cybersecurity strategy and systems engineering, the company said Wednesday.

“With this award, DSA continues to be a trusted contractor supporting the entire Joint Force,” said DSA Chairman and CEO Fran Pierce, calling the work necessitated by the task orders a “critical mission.”

DSA’s responsibilities under the task orders also include science and technology analysis, specialized software support and providing IT proficiency. These services are intended to aid the JPEO-CBRND in its mission to help warfighters navigate chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear environments.

The U.S. Special Forces entrusts the JPEO-CBRND with the management and administration of CBRN sensors and related technologies, including protective equipment, medical antidotes and defense-use biotechnologies.

As a result of the task orders, DSA will be assisting with these duties, in work taking place throughout the U.S.

DSA is currently performing similar services, such as cybersecurity and infrastructure development and sustainment, for the Defense Intelligence Agency under a 10-year, $12.6 billion contract.

In November 2021, DSA President and CFO John Foley spoke with ExecutiveBiz about landing the DIA contract and other subjects.

On the company’s place in the current tech landscape, Foley shared, “Our organization has traditionally operated within enterprise systems. Within the shifting priorities in cloud, ZTA, and accelerating data, DSA sees pockets of where our traditional offerings have application within the DoD and other agencies.”

The company’s potential to play a role with the other agencies Foley referenced is borne out by the two JPEO-CBRND task orders.

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NCTC Provides Mobile App to Help Partners Access Counterterrorism Intelligence; Director Christy Abizaid Quoted
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NCTC Provides Mobile App to Help Partners Access Counterterrorism Intelligence; Director Christy Abizaid Quoted

The National Counterterrorism Center has released its new mobile app designed to disseminate documents, resources and alerts based on unclassified counterterrorism intelligence.

The aCTknowledge app combines analysis, training and alerting into one counterterrorism platform, where users can read analysis reports, review educational materials, receive notifications and track topics of interest, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said Monday.

Users may employ the app to access real-time intelligence about potential terrorism that can affect national security. “The app empowers its users with the information they need to protect their communities from potential threats,” said Christy Abizaid, NCTC director.

Federal government and military personnel may now access aCTknowledge via the Apple App Store. NCTC plans to make the app available to local, tribal, territorial and state partners in the foreseeable future.

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IRS to Replace Facial Recognition for Authenticating Taxpayers’ Online Account; Chuck Rettig Quoted
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IRS to Replace Facial Recognition for Authenticating Taxpayers’ Online Account; Chuck Rettig Quoted

The Internal Revenue Service is planning to move away from using a third-party facial recognition service in an effort to address taxpayers’ concerns regarding their privacy and security.

The agency said Monday it will continue working on other methods of verification with other government organizations that could authenticate taxpayers creating new online accounts while protecting their personal information.

To ease the transition amid filing season, the IRS will develop an additional short-term authentication option that users can select without going through facial recognition processes.

“Everyone should feel comfortable with how their personal information is secured, and we are quickly pursuing short-term options that do not involve facial recognition,” explained Chuck Rettig, IRS commissioner.

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Gillian Bussey: DOD Needs to Boost Hypersonic Production Capacity
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Gillian Bussey: DOD Needs to Boost Hypersonic Production Capacity

Gillian Bussey, director of the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office, said the Department of Defense will need to boost its production capacity for offensive and defensive hypersonic systems, DOD News reported Tuesday.

Bussey said at a discussion with the Center for Strategic and International Studies that DOD should boost the rates of additive manufacturing for cruise missiles engines and thermal protection systems for glide vehicles.

She said these particular aspects of hypersonics production take the most time and addressing them can produce significant results.

“Those are the things that take the longest. If we can reduce the production time and increase the capacity and you know double, triple, quadruple those production numbers, I think that’s how we’ll really make a difference,” she said.

Bussey also noted that DOD is prioritizing offensive hypersonic systems over defensive ones because the latter presents higher costs and complexities.

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CISA Finances US Team for Upcoming International Cybersecurity Competition; Director Jen Easterly Quoted
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CISA Finances US Team for Upcoming International Cybersecurity Competition; Director Jen Easterly Quoted

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is sponsoring a team of cyber personnel that will represent the U.S. in the June International Cybersecurity Challenge in Greece.

The first-ever U.S. Cyber Team is composed of 20 cybersecurity athletes picked from a capture-the-flag competition in May and evaluated during a three-month invitational combine in July, the cyber agency said Friday.

Jen Easterly, director of CISA and a 2022 Wash100 Award recipient., pointed out that cyber competitions help grow a community of cybersecurity professionals by keeping existing cyber personnel sharp and motivating the next generation of cyber talent.

“While certifications and apprenticeships are important training instruments, games provide a safe and legal venue to practice offensive and defensive techniques in a real-world environment,” added Easterly. 

The sponsorship adds to CISA’s existing initiatives aimed at expanding the existing and future cybersecurity workforce.

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Electrode Device Shows Promise in Spinal Cord Study
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Electrode Device Shows Promise in Spinal Cord Study

Researchers from Switzerland have found that an implanted electrode device enabled three patients with spinal cord injury to stand and walk again, CNN reported Monday.

Participants in the STIMO clinical trial were able to independently take steps on a treadmill using body weight support a day after undergoing surgery to place the epidural device from Onward Medical.

“For the first time, we have not only immediate effect – though training is still important – but also individuals with no sensation, no movement whatsover, have been able to regain full standing and walking independently of the laboratory,” said Gregoire Courtine of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Courtine is one of the study’s authors who led the trial with Dr. Jocelyne Bloch from Lausanne University Hospital.

Using a tablet computer, the researchers stimulated the patients’ trunk and leg muscles by initiating and sending unique sequences of electrical pulses to the implanted device through the pacemaker.

The research team plans to hold a larger clinical trial in the U.S. The study was published in the journal Nature Medicine.

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