• OPM finalizes rule for up to 10-year temp appointments of STEM workers: The rule will affect term appointments of +4 and max of 10 years. Rule to take effect Jan. 3.
• Russian-based Killnet hackers attack two fed websites: The group claimed responsibility on Twitter for DDOS against Commerce and DHS CISA. If it was on Twitter it must be true!
• New authentication practices to break old login paradigms: Federal security officials are exploring ways agencies can adopt MFA practices.
• The military has a COVID-related recruiting problem: Marine Corps’ top officer says Pentagon’s vaccine mandate is limiting recruitment.
• Text-to-image AI: powerful tech for making art–and fakes: Why this new trend in synthetic media could be among the most dangerous.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

ICYMI Snippets

• Registration for Dec. 8 Office of Small Business Programs outreach event is LIVE.
• Will they run out? Top US intel official says Russia burning through munitions at “extraordinary” rate.
• U.S. Space Force Chief: the value of space “has been proven out” in Ukraine.
• Retired colonel argues that the next step in military AI is processing data faster.

Defense Contract Awards

• American Systems has won a 10-year DISA contract with a ceiling of $1B for broad testing and evaluation support services.
• Northrop secures five-year $406M USAF engineering services order.
• GDIT wins an $84M contract with DHA for clinical research.
• Noblis MSD wins $187M Navy C41SR Engineering Services contract.
• Client Solutions Architects wins Navy IT Operations contract.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Dewberry names retired Army Major General its new Director of Business Development.
• Defense tech startup Anduril’s Head of Advanced Missions to serve as Chief Scientist.
• CGI Federal’s Navy & Marine Corps sector has a new leader.
• Cognitive Space picks former OUSD(I&S) defense intel director as strategic advisor.
• Former Booz Allen Hamilton principal goes to Exovera as VP of Product Engineering.

Defense Job Openings

• The Army Corps of Engineers is looking for a Program Manager.
• The Navy needs a Deputy Department Head of the Department of Naval Analysis.

• Its engines produce more thrust than any current fighter engine.
• The sleek design allows the F-22 to cruise at supersonic speeds (greater than 1.5 Mach) without using afterburner.
• The controls are so amazing the original operator’s manual read: “you may fly this aircraft with reckless abandon.

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INTEL COMMUNITY

RFI announcement! DIA needs language exploitation and reporting support.

DIA has posted an RFI for nonpersonal services to support the Language Exploitation Branch, National Media Exploitation Center. Responses are due by 4:00 p.m. Eastern on January 7. Supporting areas include identification of intel from collected foreign language data, triage and exploitation of data, database management, and foreign language translation. Read more

Professional Development Help: NGIA posts GTLSS RFI.

NGIA has posted the Geospatial-Intelligence Tradecraft Learning Support Service  RFI, a follow-on procurement to GEOINT Tradecraft Learning Contract, with responses due by Dec. 16. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• With 50-year legacy, NGA’s digital terrain elevation data inches toward next goal.
• NGA wants a Data Architect to create, define, and develop data architecture.
• Intel, surveillance, and recon systems provider Sigma Defense onboards its new CSO.

CIVILIAN

We seeee you: TSA facial recognition system may go nationwide in 2023.

The TSA currently uses facial recognition tech across 16 major airports — that tech may find its way to airports nationwide as early as next year. The tech is currently opt-in: passengers step up to a kiosk, insert their ID, and have their faces scanned. And while passengers can currently choose a standard TSA screening process instead, that may soon change. Read more

After 119 protests, NIH to initiate corrective action on CIO-SP4.

NITAAC has informed the GAO that it will initiate corrective action on the potential 10-year, $50B Chief Information Officer-Solutions and Partners follow-on contract for IT platforms and services after 119 protests were filed. Read more

White House sets new CISA monitoring deadline for agencies.

OMB continues to lead federal agencies away from using manual tools to track cyber metrics through the government, with a new FY23 deadline for tracking 80 percent of systems through the CISA’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM)  Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• SpaceX introduces its shiny new ‘Starshield‘ satellite network.
• NOAA and Microsoft have signed an agreement to work on R&D jointly, using machine learning for climate modeling.
• Red Hat’s VP opens up about open-source tech’s rapid evolution.
• Will CDC’s remote workforce break the government and hinder change?

Civilian Contracts Awards

• HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service has awarded ICF two contracts worth over $45M for digital modernization services.
• FCC has awarded ICF a three-year, $26M contract for modernization of enterprise-wide mission-critical business systems.

Follow Civilian Leaders

Civilian Job Openings

• NASA seeks General Counsel to oversee services across its legal disciplines.
• Dept. of Agriculture needs a Program Manager (Director) — closing date is Thursday!

M&A CORNER

Enlightenment Capital invests in iNovex.

Enlightenment Capital, an aerospace, defense, government & technology investment firm has made a strategic investment in iNovex, a provider of software solutions, cybersecurity, SIGINT, data analysis, and RPA for the IC. Read more