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Gen. James Dickinson: Space Command Reaches Initial Operational Capability
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Gen. James Dickinson: Space Command Reaches Initial Operational Capability

Army Gen. James Dickinson, head of U.S. Space Command, said Spacecom has achieved initial operational capability, which marks an inflection point for the Department of Defense’s 11th combatant command, DOD News reported Tuesday.

"United States Space Command has matured to the point where we have strategic effects,” Dickinson said Tuesday at a symposium in Colorado. "It's where we can credibly claim to be organized and effective for employing our enduring, no-fail supporting functions to the joint force," he added.

The general said the new command has over 100 data-sharing agreements with intergovernmental and commercial partners and allies to facilitate information exchange, ensure the safety of spaceflight operations, further advance collaboration and improve space domain awareness.

Dickinson noted that Spacecom has taken part in 24 tier-one war games and exercises and developed command and control capabilities. "Our participation helps test and refine space warfighting command and control relationships," he added.

Space Acquisition Forum

GovCon Wire will hold its Space Acquisition Forum on Sept. 14th. Click here to register for the virtual forum to hear from defense officials as they share their insights on military acquisition reform and modernization efforts.

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CGI Secures $34.4M Contract at CMS’ Center for Program Integrity; Steve Sousa Quoted
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CGI Secures $34.4M Contract at CMS’ Center for Program Integrity; Steve Sousa Quoted

CGI reported on Wednesday that the company has been awarded a five-year, $34.4 million contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Center for Program Integrity (CPI) to implement API Gateway.

API Gateway is an application programming interface that will aggregate data from multiple source systems that seeks to improve CPI’s ability to securely share Medicare provider data and achieve data liberation with openness and collaboration, using full lifecycle management and governance.

“Implementing the API Gateway will enable real-time data sharing between Medicare and state Medicaid, while reducing redundant screening checks and operational costs,” stated Steve Sousa, senior vice president of Consulting Services for CGI Federal.

The first implementation of this scale and type for CMS, it will create a streamlined, data-sharing solution that advances CPI’s mission of detecting and combating fraud, waste and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

“We are pleased to provide this solution and continue our long-standing partnership with CMS. CGI is proud to contribute to the HHS/CMS team for API Lifecycle Management,” said Sousa.

This major evolution from the previous “pay and chase” practice will potentially save CMS and taxpayers millions of dollars and unnecessary resources.

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FedRAMP Revises Cloud Security Package Training Materials
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FedRAMP Revises Cloud Security Package Training Materials

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) office has updated materials that educate companies about the requirements for developing a cloud security package.

A FedRAMP blog post published Tuesday says the revision of the System Security Plan Required Documentation training program aimed to equip and prepare stakeholders in handling package access requests.

The 200A course offers the CSPs with “a deeper understanding of the detail and rigor” needed to accomplish SSP, the primary document of a security package where the company’s information system security controls are outlined. 

The program management office also seeks to acquaint providers with the documentation needed for the submission of the initial package, and provide an overview of FedRAMP’s SSP template.

FedRAMP PMO noted that the update follows the program’s mission of developing a training initiative under the Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity.

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Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Details Reorg Plans for Space Development Agency, Acquisition Office
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Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Details Reorg Plans for Space Development Agency, Acquisition Office

Frank Kendall, secretary of the Air Force and a three-time Wash100 winner, aims to complete the integration of the Space Development Agency into a new space acquisition office before the deadline mandated by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday.

“By statute, this is scheduled to occur on 1 October 2022, but there is no need to wait until then,” Kendall said Tuesday at the Space Foundation’s annual symposium.

He worked with Heidi Shyu, undersecretary for research and engineering at the Defense Department and previous Wash100 awardee, to organize a working group that will facilitate the SDA transition process.

Kendall also noted at the 36th Space Symposium that he is actively looking for potential candidates to fill the position of the assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, which will be subject to Senate confirmation.

“Hopefully there will be an announcement in the not too distant future,” he said.

Under the 2020 NDAA, the Air Force must have a Senate-confirmed service acquisition executive to oversee its space enterprise that will also house SDA by the start of fiscal year 2023. Shyu’s office currently oversees the activities of SDA.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall Details Reorg Plans for Space Development Agency, Acquisition Office

 

GovCon Wire, sister site of ExecutiveGov, will host its Space Acquisition Forum on Jan. 19. Visit the GCW Events page to register for this timely forum and view other upcoming GovCon events.

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DHS, CBP to Deploy Planck-Built Small UAS For Additional Test & Evaluation
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DHS, CBP to Deploy Planck-Built Small UAS For Additional Test & Evaluation

San Diego-based autonomous drone maker Planck Aerosystems has received a $500,000 grant to help the Department of Homeland Security deploy a small unmanned aircraft system in a controlled environment for testing and evaluation.

DHS said Tuesday that Customs and Border Protection agents will use Planck-built sUAS, along with launch-and-recovery equipment, in maritime scenarios and other possible operational settings under a Silicon Valley Innovation Program Phase 5 agreement with the company.

Planck fine-tuned its technology in the earlier stages of development to incorporate comments and requirements from CBP regarding system features such as navigation, target detection, geolocation and “wingman” capability.

The system autonomously launched and landed a drone from a moving vehicle as part of a test conducted in the fourth phase of SVIP.

Ron McNeal, SVIP transition director, said the company's "ability to adapt the technology based on our feedback shows an understanding of what it takes to transition these much-needed capabilities to the government.”

The award given to Planck is part of CBP's collaboration with DHS' science and technology directorate, which oversees the innovation program, to provide border patrol agents rugged and mobile platforms designed to increase their situational awareness in real-time.

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Navy Completes Performance Test of Minesweeping Unmanned Surface Vehicle; Capt. Godfrey Weekes Quoted
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Navy Completes Performance Test of Minesweeping Unmanned Surface Vehicle; Capt. Godfrey Weekes Quoted

The U.S. Navy's Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants has concluded operational testing of a ship-based unmanned surface vehicle designed to remove explosive mines.

The Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) underwent and finished its initial operational test and evaluation on the USS Manchester littoral combat ship off California's coast, Naval Sea Systems Command said Monday.

The IOT&E phase ran between May and June as UISS demonstrated its performance against Navy Instrumented Threat Targets. UISS uses a towed minesweeping payload to remove both magnetic and acoustic mines, as well as magnetic-acoustic hybrids, for mine countermeasures.

The assigned test team demonstrated launch, recovery, maintainability and mission execution of UISS. UISS now awaits data-reliant approval to achieve initial operational capability.

“Completion of this operational test event achieves a major milestone for the UISS Program of Record, and demonstrates continued progress to fielding the full capability of the MCM Mission Package aboard LCS,” said Capt. Godfrey “Gus” Weekes, program manager for LCS mission modules at the Navy.

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Blue Origin Rocket to Launch Tech Demo Payloads Under NASA
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Blue Origin Rocket to Launch Tech Demo Payloads Under NASA

A reusable launch vehicle made by Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space company, will carry six payloads from NASA, universities and commercial entities for space demonstrations.

The 17th New Shepard mission will launch on Thursday from a Blue Origin site located in West Texas, under NASA's Flight Opportunities program, the space agency said Wednesday.

The payloads will demonstrate precision landing technologies, propellant gauging, space-based trash recycling, suborbital biological imaging and other space applications.

NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate provided one of the payloads developed as part of the Safe and Precise Landing Integrated Capabilities Evolution (SPLICE) project.

The SPLICE payload is a navigation system designed the determine the precise landing location as a spacecraft approaches a planetary surface. The system uses various sensors, lasers and a high-performance computer to perform navigation.

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Meredith Berger to Perform Duties of Navy Undersecretary
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Meredith Berger to Perform Duties of Navy Undersecretary

Meredith Berger — assistant secretary of the Navy for energy, installations and environment — has succeeded the retiring James Geurts to serve as the U.S. Navy’s undersecretary.

Berger formerly served as the deputy chief of staff to the secretary of the Navy, a role she held from 2014 to 2017, the Navy said Monday. Her career includes work with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, and the state of Florida’s financial services department.

Geurts will retire on August 28th, ending a 34-year career in government service. This career includes 22 years of work across U.S. Air Force procurement functions before he joined U.S. Special Operations Command as an acquisition executive.

“The Department of the Navy has been strengthened by the wisdom and leadership generated by Mr. Geurts,” said Carlos Del Toro, secretary of the Navy.

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CISA Eyes Industry Partners for 2021 President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition
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CISA Eyes Industry Partners for 2021 President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is exploring potential sources of support services for a national competition that aims to recognize the best cybersecurity professionals in the federal government. 

Specifically, CISA wants information from interested companies that can assist CISA and its cybersecurity division and capacity building subcomponent to facilitate the President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition, according to a request for information notice posted on SAM.gov.

The program features individual and team competitions covering cyber defense, cyber exploitation, forensics and other areas under the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.

The Department of Homeland Security implemented the annual event in 2019 to comply with Executive Order No. 13870, “America’s Cybersecurity Workforce.”

The RFI is requesting vendors to provide information on their experience in hosting online contests, developing cyber training materials, video games and the organization’s cybersecurity knowledge based on the elements under the NICE Framework. 

The notice also asks for the responder’s video editing capabilities, familiarity with Azure cloud environment and capacity to deliver 24/7 participant support. Responses are due Sept. 8th.

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CISA Releases Cybersecurity Guidance Against Ransomware
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CISA Releases Cybersecurity Guidance Against Ransomware

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released a set of procedures organizations can follow when facing ransomware, a form of malware that blocks user access to a system until money is paid.

CISA said it advises against paying money to ransomware and recommends organizations instead follow security measures listed in the publication.

Organizations must secure network operations and prevent further loss of data by isolating affected systems. Further steps include triaging the affected systems and engaging stakeholders.

To keep systems secure against ransomware, CISA advises limiting stored data and implementing best practices for both cyber and physical security.

The U.S. government also launched a new centralized website designed to provide information and guidance on ransomware threats. The CISA publication featured the StopRansomware.gov website as an additional reference.

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