July 19 2023

QUICK HITS

• Congress has ‘no choice’ but to join the AI revolution: Schumer reiterates his support for SAFE Innovation framework.

• Is your proposal process broken? Here are 35 ways to tell if your win rate is suffering because of a bad process.

• OCND acting director withdraws consideration for NCD nomination: Many assumed she’d take over the full-time role at the White House.

• 5 defense contracts supporting warfighter readiness: And the companies that secured some of the largest defense contracts in '23.

DEFENSE & AEROSPACE

Sensitive U.S. military info exposed in accidental emails to Mali.

A simple typo reportedly directed millions of emails with sensitive information to the African country Mali rather than their intended U.S. military recipients. For years, a misspelling of “.MIL” in the suffix of military email addresses as “.ML” — the country domain for Mali — unintentionally led to a “typo leak,” according to The Financial Times, which first reported the story. Read more

Is a central DOD data repository needed for Pentagon AI apps?

As generative artificial intelligence - ChatGPT, for example - continues to embed itself within the nation's defense agencies, one AI company founder believes that a central data repository will soon be essential for AI-powered apps at the Pentagon. Read more

DOD renews PEO summit to improve acquisition collaboration.

PEOs from across the military departments and other DOD acquisition entities recently came together with OSD and Service acquisition leaders to discuss common challenges and solutions in delivering capability at speed and scale. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Pentagon testing generative AI in ‘global information dominance’ experiments.

• US sends F-35s, destroyer to Gulf after Iran-linked ‘alarming events’.

• DOD's National Guard State Partnership Program turns 30 -- what's it like after three decades?

• DOD establishes new Navy Science and Technology Board.

Defense Contract Awards

• ASRC Federal Facilities Logistics wins $320M NASA IDIQ.

• RTX secures $81M Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept contract modification.

• CIDS lands $100M Air Force contract for program, financial management system.

• Amentum awarded $947M Army fixed-wing aircraft support contract.

Follow the Defense Leaders

• Textron Systems names a new VP of Tactical UAS & battlefield connectivity.

• Air Force veteran assumes CISO Role at V2X.

Defense Job Openings

• Army Communications Electronics Command needs a Program Manager (Production).

• NAVSEA needs a Director, Fleet Support Contracts Division.

• Lead NAVSEA's Safety, Environmental, Readiness, and Radiological Controls Group.

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INTEL COMMUNITY

Task Force 99 drone was ‘very effective’ in secretive spy missions, senior DOD official says.

An unmanned aerial system from U.S. Air Force Central’s newly formed Task Force 99 was deployed to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions against a U.S. adversary in the Middle East, and its performance was “very effective.” Read more

ODNI drops its ‘23-’25 IC data strategy.

ODNI has released the IC Data Strategy for 2023–2025, which provides focus areas and actions for all 18 IC elements to accelerate their adoption of common services and efforts. The goal of this acceleration is to make data more interoperable, discoverable, and AI-ready. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Former SAP National Security Solutions CEO joins cBEYONData as Executive Chairman.

• IC discussing adopting an "AI-first" strategy. “We are in that exploration, experimentation phase,” said the AI Director at CIA.

• ODNI needs a Chief of Multimedia to head its Office of Strategic Communications.

LINKEDIN POST

CIVILIAN

USDA CIO: modernizing tech serving 100,000 employees across 29 departments.

Do you think you have a tough job? Gary Washington, who has been the CIO for USDA for six years, may have a tougher one. His department has 100,000 employees across 29 departments, so modernizing technologies can be quite a challenge. Read more

USDA, EPA raising in-office mandates for managers, supervisors.

The EPA has announced a re-entry plan for employees in the Senior Executive Service, Senior-Level, and Scientific and Professional grades. Starting August 27, the employees will be required to come to the office at least four days per two-week pay period. Ugh. Read more

Lawmakers propose $80M cut for US Digital Service.

Lawmakers have approved an appropriations bill for FY24 that would rescind $80M in funding for the Digital Service if it passes into law. The move to recoup funds from the executive branch-housed technology unit comes amid concerns within the federal IT community over its transparency and use of funding. Read more

ICYMI Snippets

• Senate subcommittee eyeing hearing on federal employee retirement backlog.

• New bill aims to simplify federal grant applications, boost funding for underserved communities.

• NIST adds 40 potential quantum-resistant algorithms to growing roster.

• CBP releases new IT strategy for FY2023 to 2027.

Civilian Contracts Awards

• Electrosoft (a WOSB) won a $37.8M contract to establish a security ops center with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

• NIH OD awards $6M project management support services task to Deloitte.

• VA awards Minburn Technology Group (a SDVOSB) a $5M Decision Support Tool task.

• FDA awards Application Research Center (an 8[a] company) a $4M CVM Data Modernization (GoodIT) contract.

Follow Civilian Leaders

• Tria Federal announces new COO.

• Concurrent builds out executive team.

• Executive promoted to SVP-BD at Leidos Health Group.

• Former Salesforce exec appointed Deep Water Point & Associates CEO.

• Lumen North America names new Enterprise SVP.

• NASA Marshall Center Director to retire after 38 years.

Civilian Job Openings

• The Natural Resources Conservation Service needs a Director, Gulf Coast Ecosystems.

• The USDA needs a Director, Employees Services Division.

• NASA's HQ needs a Deputy Chief Information Officer for Strategy.

• This bullet should be 50-85 characters (1-3 lines). Article linked by 1-3 words.

M&A CORNER

LightRidge acquires space electronics supplier Trident Systems.

LightRidge Solutions, a company that owns space and airborne sensor businesses, announced it has acquired space electronics supplier Trident Systems to scale its national security space tech portfolio. The value and terms of the deal were not disclosed. LightRidge is a portfolio company of ATL Partners, a private equity firm. Read more

SHOWER THOUGHTS 🚿

Are microelectronics the next game-changing superpower?

The CHIPs Act is significantly benefitting the microelectronics industry, and there's a lot on the horizon for semiconductor innovation that may help microelectronics become America's next big superpower. Read more

Why do people want to believe in UFOs so much?

In this commentary, a sociologist discusses the interplay between people and groups of people, especially concerning shared beliefs and misconceptions. As for why UFOs and their alleged occupants enthrall the public, the answer may relate to human perceptual and social processes that explain UFO buzz as much as anything that’s up in the sky. Read more

What’s next for the federal government and AI?

Federal employees are going to see AI tools show up in cloud-based productivity suites sooner rather than later, but it's not clear yet how the trending tech will impact public-facing digital services. Read more

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