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Navy Conducts Threat Assessment of 5G Tactical Network
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5G network connectivity. The Navy began a threat assessment of a 5G tactical training network.

DVIDSHub reported that the Naval Information Warfare Center, or NIWC, Pacific and Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command, or NCDOC, started a threat assessment of a 5G tactical training network on Sept. 3 at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego as part of Operation Shoehorn.

Operation Shoehorn

Operation Shoehorn is a comprehensive effort that seeks to develop and test a secure 5G tactical network for the fleet.

“5G, to this point, has not been useable because it’s proprietary, meaning we don’t have the visibility needed to detect cyber threats,” said Mike Anderson, NIWC Pacific Joint Tactical Communications branch head. “By using open-source 5G, we are able to solve that proprietary issue and create a defensible tactical 5G network.”

The project aims to develop an open-source 5G tactical network for defensive cyber operations and deployment by the service’s 10th Fleet Cyber Command in alignment with the Pentagon’s effort to establish an enterprise-grade 5G platform in fiscal year 2026.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s FutureG Directorate funds the project.

“Adequate 5G defense capabilities are necessary for the Navy to confidently deploy tactical 5G solutions required to maintain technological superiority,” Anderson said.

Testing NIWC Pacific 5G Network’s Security Through NCDOC’s Red Team

NCDOC deployed its Red Team to NIWC to assess the 5G network’s security and help detect and address vulnerabilities.

“Red Team’s role here is to evaluate the 5G tech stack from an adversarial perspective to hopefully uncover security vulnerabilities in the early stages of development,” said Lt. Erik Faulk, the NCDOC Advanced Capabilities Engineering officer in charge.

“We can use our findings as a training tool that enables defenders to recognize when or if those vulnerabilities are being exploited, so that they can employ their appropriate response actions to secure the network,” Faulk added.

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GAO Urges Air Force to Address Risks in Sentinel ICBM Transition
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Government Accountability Office logo. GAO published a report on Sentinel ICBM transition risks.

The U.S. Air Force faces mounting risks in its effort to replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile with the new Sentinel system, and has yet to create a risk management plan to guide the transition, the Government Accountability Office said in a report published Wednesday.

Transition Strategy Lacks Risk Management

GAO said the Air Force has created an overarching transition strategy and a site-specific plan for F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, the first installation slated to convert to Sentinel; however, it has not developed a transition risk management plan, which is a leading project planning practice. Such a plan would help the service systematically identify, assess and respond to the wide range of risks associated with moving from Minuteman III to Sentinel, the government watchdog noted.

The Sentinel program, originally set to begin transition work in fiscal year 2025, is currently being restructured by the Department of Defense. GAO warned that without a detailed risk management plan, the Air Force is not well-positioned for a successful transition.

Challenges in Testing and Personnel Preparation

The watchdog also found gaps in preparations for operators, maintainers and security forces for the transition. While the Air Force has begun some training initiatives, it has not established a schedule for building a Sentinel test facility, which will be critical to validating new policies and instructions. The absence of a construction timeline could complicate efforts to prepare the force for concurrent operations of both missile systems, GAO said.

Prolonged Reliance on Minuteman III

Delays in Sentinel development mean the Air Force may need to operate Minuteman III through 2050, according to officials interviewed by GAO. Continued reliance on the Cold War-era system creates sustainment challenges, such as parts availability. GAO stressed that these risks must be specifically addressed in a transition risk management plan to ensure strategic deterrence requirements are met.

GAO made six recommendations to the Air Force:

  • Developing a comprehensive transition risk management plan with a risk register and risk report.
  • Establishing a sequenced schedule for completion of the Sentinel test facility.
  • Assessing personnel needs, including potential Reserve Component support.
  • Creating a post-2030 Minuteman III operational test launch plan aligned with Sentinel fielding.
  • Explicitly addressing Minuteman III sustainment risks.
  • Analyzing personnel and materiel implications if intercontinental missiles are re-MIRVed or modified to once again carry multiple warheads.

The Department of Defense concurred with all six recommendations.

Background on the Sentinel Study

The Minuteman III, originally intended to serve for 10 years, has been in operation for over five decades and includes more than 600 facilities across five states. Congress directed GAO to review Air Force transition planning as part of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

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House Approves FY26 NDAA, SPEED Act to Modernize Military, Streamline Defense Acquisitions
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The Pentagon. The House of Representatives voted on the NDAA for fiscal year 2026

Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., is celebrating the passage of the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery, or SPEED, Act and National Defense Authorization Act, also known as NDAA, for fiscal year 2026 at the House of Representatives.

“Today’s vote to advance the FY26 NDAA is a vote to modernize our military, support our troops and restore American deterrence,” the House Armed Services Committee chairperson said Wednesday.

“Along with the One Big, Beautiful Bill, the FY26 NDAA makes a generational investment in our national defense and implements President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda,” the legislator added.

SPEED and NDAA FY26 secured a bipartisan vote of 231-196.

Accelerated Defense Acquisitions

SPEED was proposed by Rogers and Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who serves as a ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. The legislation streamlines the defense acquisition process and ensures the rapid delivery of new capabilities to warfighters.

SPEED intends to shorten the Department of Defense’s process of developing requirements from the current average of 800 days to just about five months.

FY26 NDAA Provisions

The NDAA authorizes $848 billion to modernize the U.S. military, give service members a 3.8 percent pay raise and strengthen border security efforts.

It also codifies over 45 of the administration’s executive orders and legislative proposals and supports the implementation of the Peace Through Strength Agenda.

“The FY26 National Defense Authorization Act ensures our military forces remain the most lethal in the world and can deter any adversary,” commented Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La.

“Under President Trump, the U.S. is rebuilding strength, restoring deterrence, and proving America will not back down,” the House speaker added.

The Senate is expected to vote on its version of the FY26 NDAA in the coming days.

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SDA Launches First Tranche 1 Satellites
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SDA logo. The Space Development Agency launched the first PWSA Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites.

The Space Development Agency has launched the first Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Tranche 1 Transport Layer space vehicles from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

PWSA Goals—Enhancing Low-Latency Communication

The SDA said Wednesday a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket deployed 21 data transport satellites into low Earth orbit. The space vehicles, built by York Space Systems, are part of the agency’s PWSA network, which aims to enhance low-latency communication. The T1 constellation is expected to deliver advanced capabilities starting in 2027, including regional persistence for tactical data channels, advanced missile tracking, beyond-line-of-sight targeting, and UHF and S-band tactical satellite communications.

The agency aims to launch a set of satellites each month for the next nine months to complete Tranche 1.

Remarks From SDA’s Gurpartap Sandhoo 

“The start of Tranche 1 delivery, just over six years since SDA stood up as an agency, is a remarkable accomplishment, highlighting the speed at which the agency moves. More than that, as the PWSA begins to support military operations, it will enhance our strategic advantage by serving the joint warfighting force with operational capabilities previously thought infeasible from LEO,” said GP Sandhoo, acting director of the SDA.

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Sen. Ted Cruz Introduces AI Policy Framework to Boost AI Standing
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Humanoid depicting AI. Sen. Ted Cruz introduced an AI policy framework, including the SANDBOX Act.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has introduced a new legislative framework that aims to boost U.S. global standing in artificial intelligence.

The SCCT said Wednesday the plan involves five pillars or guiding principles to steer the Congress’ actions on AI policy. The framework also advocates for a minimal regulatory strategy to ensure safe AI deployment while addressing potential threats.

Table of Contents

SANDBOX Act

Through the first pillar, “Unleash American Innovation and Long-Term Growth,” Cruz introduces the Strengthening Artificial Intelligence Normalization and Diffusion By Oversight and eXperimentation—or SANDBOX—Act. The legislation proposes a regulatory “sandbox” enabling developers to apply for waivers or modifications to outdated regulations that could impede their ability to experiment with and deploy AI technologies. The Office of Science and Technology Policy will be tasked with coordinating with federal agencies to assess these requests. 

The bill, which aligns with the government’s AI Action plan, involves safeguards to address risks associated with health, public safety or fraud.

Comments From Ted Cruz

“Following this new AI framework can turbocharge economic activity, cut through bureaucratic red tape and empower American AI developers while protecting human flourishing. The SANDBOX Act is the first step. It embraces our nation’s entrepreneurial spirit and gives AI developers the room to create while still mitigating any health or consumer risks,” stated Cruz. 

“The AI framework and SANDBOX Act ensure AI is defined by American values of defending human dignity, protecting free speech and encouraging innovation,” Cruz added.

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CISA Unveils Plan to Strengthen Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures Program
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Nick Andersen, an official at CISA. Andersen said the new CVE roadmap reaffirms the agency's cybersecurity leadership

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has published its plan to enhance its Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, or CVE, program, which identifies and disseminates information about cyberthreats. The agency said Wednesday that the CISA Strategic Focus: CVE Quality for a Cyber Secure Future serves as a roadmap and details priorities to ensure that the program meets the needs of the global cybersecurity community.

The document was developed using feedback from domestic and international partners. According to the agency, it marks the transition of the CVE program from its ‘growth era’ to its ‘quality era.’

“With this strategic vision, CISA is reaffirming our leadership role and seizing the opportunity to modernize the CVE Program, solidifying it as the cornerstone of global cybersecurity defense,” commented Nick Andersen, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA. “In collaboration with the global cybersecurity community, CISA is committed to delivering a well-governed, trusted and responsive CVE Program aimed to enhance the quality of vulnerability data and global cybersecurity resilience.”

CISA Unveils Plan to Strengthen Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures Program

Learn more about emerging security threats to the nation at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12. The in-person networking event will cover U.S. homeland security programs, efforts and strategic initiatives and the implementation of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. Grab your tickets before it is too late!

CISA Shares Vision for CVE Program

According to the document, CISA plans to modernize the CVE infrastructure through the adoption of advanced technologies. The agency intends to implement automation and other capabilities to enhance its CVE Numbering authorities, or CNAs, and expand application programming interface support.

CISA is also aiming to develop minimum standards for CVE record quality and federated mechanisms to ensure that all CNAs that publish a CVE record contain common vulnerability scoring system and common weakness enumeration data. The move is expected to improve data quality to support the future rollout of automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

In addition, the agency said it wants to form deeper partnerships through ensuring that international organizations, academia, vulnerability tool providers, data consumers, security researchers, operational technology companies and the open-source community are better represented in the program. 

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Robert Law Confirmed as DHS Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy & Plans
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Robert Law. The Senate-confirmed DHS under secretary of strategy, policy and plans most recently served as senior counselor.

The Senate on Tuesday voted 49-46 to confirm Robert Law, most recently senior counselor at the Department of Homeland Security, as under secretary of strategy, policy and plans at DHS.

In this capacity, Law will oversee the development and coordination of strategic plans and the department’s long-term goals to improve operational mission effectiveness as well as manage DHS leadership councils and provide analytics and other support to such councils.

Robert Law Confirmed as DHS Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy & Plans

Listen to government and industry executives as they discuss the adoption of AI and other tech capabilities to strengthen national security at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12. Save your spot now for this key GovCon industry event!

Who Is Robert Law?

In January, Law joined DHS as senior counselor to the department’s secretary.

Prior to this position, he was senior editor and director of the Center for Homeland Security and Immigration at the American First Policy Institute.

Before joining AFPI, he served as director of regulatory affairs and policy at the Center for Immigration Studies.

During President Trump’s first term, the DHS under secretary was a senior policy adviser and chief of policy and strategy at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The University of Virginia graduate has a Juris Doctorate from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.

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Drew Myklegard to Step Down as OMB Deputy Federal CIO
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OMB's Drew Myklegard. Former VA executive director will resign as deputy federal CIO of the Office of Management and Budget.

Drew Myklegard is set to officially resign as deputy federal chief information officer on Sept. 22, the Federal News Network reported Tuesday.

Myklegard served as deputy federal CIO at the Office of Management and Budget for over three years. He succeeded Maria Roat, who retired in March 2022.

During his tenure, Myklegard oversaw the digital transformation efforts of the White House’s technology policy office, prioritizing IT modernization and cloud computing. He also managed over $120 billion in federal IT investments and led efforts to enhance the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program.

Myklegard’s Career Highlights

Myklegard worked in the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2018 to 2022. He was the executive director of product engineering and played a key role in implementing the Lighthouse Application Programming Interface platform. He also served as senior adviser to the CIO and director of platform and IT innovation.

The Army Reserve and Technology Modernization Fund Board member spent nearly 10 years with the Army National Guard as an intelligence analyst and strategic planner. Before that, he was an associate at Booz Allen Hamilton for two years.

Myklegard is reportedly returning to the private sector.

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White House Secures Commitments From Major Orgs to Advance AI Education
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Michael Kratsios. The OSTP director cited major organizations’ pledge to provide free AI training and resources to students.

The White House announced that major companies and organizations have committed to providing resources to advance artificial intelligence education among America’s youth.

“As AI reshapes how people learn, work, and communicate, the Trump Administration is committed to ensuring that Americans are equipped to lead the world in harnessing this technology,” Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said in a statement published Tuesday.

“Today we announce new steps in fulfilling this mission as we welcome leaders in business, non-profits, and education who are putting America’s future first and pledging to provide free AI training and resources to students, teachers, and parents across the country,” added Kratsios, chair of the White House Task Force on AI Education and a two-time Wash100 awardee.

White House Task Force on AI Education

The White House Task Force on AI Education was established in accordance with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April to advance AI education, provide workforce development opportunities for American youth and maintain U.S. dominance in AI technology.

The task force is establishing public-private partnerships to provide AI education resources among K-12 students.

Corporations’ Commitment to Advancing AI Education

Google, IBM, NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, Microsoft, OpenAI, Accenture, Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton and ServiceNow are some of the major companies that have committed to providing AI education resources.

Google has committed $1 billion to support education and job training programs in the U.S. The company will provide high school students, teachers and personnel with free access to Gemini for Education. College students will also gain access to Google’s AI for Education Accelerator.

NVIDIA is committing $25 million in funding over the next five years to help develop K-12 AI skills and provide training.

Booz Allen has pledged to educate over 1 million AI learners across the country within the next five years; support the development and dissemination of AI curriculum aligned to K–12 and CTE standards; and hire more than 150 AI registered apprenticeships over the next four years.

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GSA Consolidates Federal Procurement Under New Office of Centralized Acquisition Services
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FAS Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum. Gruenbaum announced the establishment of the Office of Centralized Acquisition Services

The General Services Administration has created the Office of Centralized Acquisition Services, or OCAS, within the Federal Acquisition Service to oversee the government’s purchase of common goods and services worth nearly $500 billion annually.

The office will centralize procurement across agencies to reduce duplication and take advantage of the government’s buying power to secure greater value for taxpayer dollars, said FAS Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, a 2025 Wash100 Award winner, in an internal email obtained by Nextgov/FCW.

Table of Contents

OCAS Responsibilities

OCAS will assume contracting functions across multiple federal agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management and Small Business Administration. It will also manage several contract vehicles, such as the NASA Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement, or SEWP, and the National Institutes of Health IT Acquisition and Assessment Center Chief Information Officer-Solutions and Partners 3 and 4, or CIO-SP3 and CIO-SP4.

“This effort will also streamline and consolidate governmentwide procurement and regulations, reducing duplication and enabling agencies to focus on their core missions,” Gruenbaum wrote in the email.

The creation of the office is in line with President Donald Trump’s executive order on Eliminating Waste and Saving Taxpayer Dollars by Consolidating Procurement, signed in March and the Federal Acquisition Regulation overhaul announced in May.

OCAS Leadership

GSA appointed Thomas Meiron to serve as the office’s assistant commissioner.

Meiron is a longtime GSA official who has been in the agency for over 30 years. According to his LinkedIn profile, he serves as executive director for the FAS 2.0 Program Management Office. In the role, he oversees the implementation of the FAS overhaul.

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