Quick Hits

Oh, it’s on! Feds brawl over cyber talent.

Federal agencies including the Commerce Department have resorted to poaching staff from other departments because of a shortage in cybersecurity skills across government. Yikes! “We’re basically hiring people from one federal agency to another. We’re stealing people from each other, that’s what it’s come down to,” Adre Mendes, Commerce’s CIO said. CyberSeek, a recruiting website for cybersecurity jobs in the U.S., which is funded by the Commerce Department, estimates there are currently 714,548 open cybersecurity jobs nationwide, which includes positions in the public and private sector.
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Chemical sector: you’re on deck! WH has a plan to incentivize cybersecurity.

The WH has their eyes on the chemical industry to tighten its cybersecurity protocols. To encourage some changes, there’s a “voluntary-first” plan set to target the chemical sector in a fourth 100-day sprint to gain insights into the cybersecurity posture of the nation’s critical infrastructure and to ultimately improve its resilience. Public works sectors have already been working on these voluntary programs (CyberSentry, run by CISA), and CISA was quick to say that chemical industry partners were already on board. However, some industry stakeholders are pushing back on the performance-based approach, pointing at NIST standards for critical infrastructure as their preferred approach.
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ICYMI Snippets:

• New $3B US military aid package for Ukraine includes VAMPIRE counter-drone systems.
• Social Security benefits hike could bring retirees extra $1800 in 2023.
• Did you see this news that there’s been a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion?

Top Defense & Aerospace

ICYMI Snippets

• Push for small suppliers to manufacture more 3D printed parts.
• Dutch students are making the world’s smallest and lightest moon rover, called Lunar Zebro. It’s not as cute as Lola, but it’s cute.
• NextGen spacesuits will protect astronauts from radiation.

Defense Contract Awards

• SAIC wins $163M Navy contract to support naval enterprise networks
• Leidos wins medium UUV contract with NAVSEA.
• SecuriGence (a small business) won a $10.6M task mod for IT multi-network support services with DARPA.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Joseph Larson joins DOD as Deputy CDAO.

Follow the Defense Job Openings

• Army is looking for a Director, Software Engineering Center.
• DOD is looking for a Social Media/Public Affairs Specialist.

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Top Intel Community

DARPA to host ANCILLARY proposer’s day Sept. 20.

Proposers Day is for the AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) program. The ANCILLARY program is seeking to develop and flight demonstrate an X-plane with the critical technologies required for a leap-ahead in long endurance, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned air system (UAS) performance. The Proposer’s Day will be held on September 20 at Strategic Analysis, Inc. ECC, 4075 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. EDT.  Virtual options are available; registration is required. The Government will then host an ANCILLARY Expo on the same day Tuesday, September 20th, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EDT at the Strategic Analysis, Inc. ECC, 4075 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA.
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DHS’s Intelligence Information Security Program is “ineffective” according to OIG.

Oh, snap! The OIG recently issued a report saying that the DHS fell back in its intelligence systems’ rating under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act for fiscal year 2021. Specifically, OIG evaluated the department’s security program for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information intelligence systems. The evaluation examined DHS’ security program and security controls for its enterprise-wide intelligence system Classified Local Area Networks, in accordance with FISMA.
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ICMY Snippets

• NRO expands commercial imagery providers.
• Modernizing JWICS is a top priority for DIA CIO.
• Protest over the $947M NGA professional services program.

Intel Contracts Awards

• IARPA announces EQuAL-P teams.
• NSA awards Sacremento State a grant to boost cybersecurity training efforts.
• USAF awards 5 seats on the $4.8B Intel contract.

Follow the Intel Leaders

• Tom Kellermann joins Contrast Security cyber strategy as SVP.
• Johnnie Sharp, Jr. named FBI’s Assist. Director of IT Infrastructure Division.
• Intelligent Waves promotes Kris Perry to VP of Engineering.

Follow the Intel Job Openings

• ONCD is looking for a lead for US defensive cyber planning and operations.
• ODNI is looking for a Director Space Threat Assessment Cell

Top Civilian

Government launches new website to support semiconductor funding law.

A new government website—CHIPS.gov—will be an online resource for the program established by the passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. The website will provide information related to the implementation of the Department of Commerce’s CHIPS and Science Act initiatives, the department’s priorities, opportunities for funding, timelines and requirements, among other information.
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HHS IT leader says agency still working to implement zero trust for all applications.

Speaking at an event this week, George Chambers said the department continues to work on making information on who’s accessing its network, using what equipment, from what location actionable across apps to enable continuous monitoring.
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ICMY Snippets

• How’s the VA adoption of LOGIN.GOV going?
• USDA $100M in biofuel infrastructure grants.
• DoS listening session with industry liaison.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• Amentum JV wins $60M ACOE Environmental Remediation contract.
• NASA awards $290M STEM support IDIQ

Follow the Civilian Leaders

• Joe Niehaus joins LMI as SVP of the logistics market.
• Zaki Saleh joins as SVP of the health & civilian market.
• Tamika Ellis takes a job as Assoc. CIO at NARA.
• Appian names Christopher Jones Chief Revenue Officer.
• Curtis Mejeur joins Bellese as their new CEO.
• James Conrad joins EPA as Deputy CTO.

Follow the Civilian Job Openings

• GAO is seeking a Chief Data Officer.
• Office of Digital Transformation (FDA) is seeking two Supervisory IT Specialists.

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GovCon M&A Corner

ATLAS Space Ops secures $26M in Series B funding led by Mitsui.

ATLAS Space Operations, a global leader in cloud-based space communications solutions, today announced $26 million in Series B Funding led by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The investment round reaffirms confidence in ATLAS’ Ground Software as a Service™ (G-SaaS) approach as a critical solution within the space economy.
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D-Orbit cancels SPAC merger plan.

Sorry for issuing news that no news will be happening! Space logistics company D-Orbit said it has canceled plans to go public by merging with Breeze Holdings Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The cancellation is due to changes in the financial market.
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ICYMI Snippet:

• Carahsoft and 1Kosmos announce partnership.
• Medallia acquires Mindful.
• Work in Corp Dev as a post-merger integration lead at BAH.

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