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Fortress Information Security Names John Cofrancesco VP of BD
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Fortress Information Security Names John Cofrancesco VP of BD

Fortress Information Security has appointed John Cofrancesco as vice president of Business Development. He will bring a demonstrated history of working across the Department of Defense (DoD), federal and computer software sectors.

Cofrancesco is experienced in big data analytics, management and leadership. Prior to joining Fortress Information Security, Cofrancesco served as vice president of Acuity Systems, an information technology and services company.

Before that, Cofrancesco served as vice president of Business Development with Active Navigation, where he developed new business and strategic partnerships. He facilitated cross-selling of company-wide products, services and capabilities. Cofrancesco also contributed to the strategic planning and execution of all sales, marketing and public relations activities.

As lead associate of Booz Allen Hamilton, Cofrancesco served as the company’s management co-lead for the Headquarters Marine Corps Records, Reports, Directives and Forms Management Section (HQMC ARDB) contracts. He was responsible for meeting contract deadlines, deliverables and regulatory requirements.

Cofrancesco also served with Lockheed Martin from 2012 to 2014, before joining Booz Allen Hamilton. With Lockheed Martin, Cofrancesco held the position of HP TRIM lead, where he managed the Department of the Navy’s (DON) electronic records management applications (ERMA) including HP TRIM that had a combined 320 thousand seats on the classified and unclassified NMCI network.

“I cannot wait to see where this new chapter of my career will take me, and to grow and learn within this role,” said Cofrancesco in a recent statement.

Cofrancesco received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from The Catholic University of America (CUA) and graduated from Georgetown University CMAP program.

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GSA FAS Leader Julie Dunne: MAS Contract Vehicle Consolidation Boosted Sales
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GSA FAS Leader Julie Dunne: MAS Contract Vehicle Consolidation Boosted Sales

Julie Dunne, outgoing commissioner of the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), said her team’s consolidation of the Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract vehicle boosted sales from $32 billion to $36 billion between 2019 and 2020.

Dunne said her successor must sustain the consolidation’s results and complementary catalog management work, FCW reported Tuesday. GSA will continue the consolidation with the release of a new common catalog platform through which the agency and contractors would manage offerings in a common user interface.

The FAS leader also mentioned her team’s efforts to integrate supply chain risk management into MAS procurements.

“We’re trying to initiate processes and understand what the threats are and how to deliver the best acquisition solution,” Dunne told FCW.

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Chartis Research Recognizes LexisNexis Risk Solutions with RiskTech100 Award
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Chartis Research Recognizes LexisNexis Risk Solutions with RiskTech100 Award

LexisNexis Risk Solutions has been recognized as the category winner for Financial Crime – Data in the Chartis Research RiskTech100, marking the third year the company has received recognition for the category award, LexisNexis Risk Solutions reported on Wednesday. The RiskTech100 is an annual evaluation of the leading global risk technology providers.

“The category win by LexisNexis Risk Solutions for the third year running reflects the company’s depth in financial crime – and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) in particular,” said Phil Mackenzie, senior research specialist at Chartis-Research. “The company continues to be strong in financial crime data, which can help firms make better risk decisions.”

LexisNexis Risk Solutions has leveraged advanced analytics, global identity intelligence and innovative financial crime technologies to deliver valuable perspectives on risks. The company’s approach has enabled businesses to recognize relevant risk and complete compliance processes.

“Our ability to win this prestigious award for the third year in a row demonstrates our commitment to continuously update our comprehensive global risk intelligence to reflect the current global risk realities,” said Daniel Wager, vice president, global financial crime compliance strategy for LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions

LexisNexis Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe.

We provide data and technology solutions for a wide range of industries including insurance, financial services, healthcare and government. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers.

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NASA, Japan Sign Agreement for Gateway Life Support Capabilities
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NASA, Japan Sign Agreement for Gateway Life Support Capabilities

The Japanese government has inked an agreement with NASA to provide capabilities to sustain the habitation module of the agency's Gateway orbital outpost as part of the Artemis program. 

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will deliver life support technologies and additional workspace to help Gateway crew members carry out work and research efforts inside the International Habitation module, NASA said Wednesday. 

Northrop Grumman partnered with the Japanese government to deliver batteries that will power Gateway's Habitation and Logistics Outpost module. Japan will also study potential updates for the HTV-X spacecraft in a bid to support Gateway's logistics resupply activities. 

"We’re honored to announce this latest agreement with Japan to support long-term human exploration on and around the Moon as part of the Artemis program," said Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient. 

Gateway is designed to support scientific research efforts and function as a rendezvous point for astronauts that will fly to the Moon via the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft. The orbital outpost will also test technologies that will support manned missions to the Red Planet. 

The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA entered into an agreement to incorporate Gateway's life support capabilities into the outpost. 

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DIA CIO Jack Gumtow Issues 4-Year Blueprint for Improving Intell Stakeholder Relationships
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DIA CIO Jack Gumtow Issues 4-Year Blueprint for Improving Intell Stakeholder Relationships

Jack Gumtow, chief information officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), has released his strategy to improve the agency’s customer relationship management throughout a four-year period, C4ISRnet reported Tueday.

The strategy comes as part of DIA’s efforts to address stakeholder feedback and covers objectives such as using automation to drive efficiency and breaking down barriers that result in data silos.

“Our culture will be one that drives decision-making down to the lowest level and gives the workforce the authority they need to execute through collaboration, career mobility, continuous learning, and the ability to use relevant skills across the organization whenever they are necessary,” Gumtow wrote in his strategy.

Other goals detailed in the plan include driving data accessibility, optimizing core services and strengthening workforce skillsets.

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USAF to Migrate Mission-Critical Apps Into Zero-Trust Environment
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USAF to Migrate Mission-Critical Apps Into Zero-Trust Environment

The U.S. Air Force is looking to enhance its cybersecurity in response to the service branch's remote work setup by moving its mission-critical applications into a zero-trust environment, Fedscoop reported Tuesday.

USAF will establish a task force to explore the migration of applications from a defense-parameter setup to an environment that will authenticate all users equally to secure the service branch's technology infrastructure.

According to the report, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) plans to launch a zero-trust reference framework in 2021 to push the Department of Defense's (DoD) agencies in updating their security networks.

The Air Force also rolled out pilot efforts to assess potential migrations to a zero-trust setup amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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DOE Invests in Phase I R&D Work Under 139 Small Businesses
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DOE Invests in Phase I R&D Work Under 139 Small Businesses

The Department of Energy (DOE) has earmarked $37 million to fund Phase I research and development activities under 170 grants issued to 139 small businesses in support of the DOE Office of Science.

DOE said Tuesday the Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer grants have a median value of $200,000 and cover a period of up to 12 months.

Research topics encompass a range of subject areas under the advanced scientific computing, basic energy sciences, biological and environmental research and nuclear physics segments of the Office of Science.

Specific projects include quantum transponders, high spatial resolution neutron imaging, synthetic biology and ultra low radioactivity cables and circuits.

Successful Phase I participants may apply for Phase II grants in fiscal year 2021. Awards under the second phase have a median amount of $1.1 million and cover a two-year period of prototype development work.

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NIST Looks to Update Legislation on Patent Licensing Disclosure; Walter Copan Quoted
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NIST Looks to Update Legislation on Patent Licensing Disclosure; Walter Copan Quoted

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plans to update legislation that mandates companies, universities and non-profit organizations to disclose their inventions that were created through federal investments.

NIST said Tuesday that it is seeking public input on potential revisions to the Bayh-Dole Act or the University and Small Business Patent Procedures Act of 1980. The updates result from collaborations under NIST’s 2018 Return on Investment Initiative.

According to NIST, the revisions will help non-government entities retain rights to inventions while incentiivizing inventors “in the interests of economic vitality and for the public good.”

Changes include a new requirement for agencies to report progress on the Bayh-Dole Act’s implementation as well as additional information on the federal royalties collection process. The updated legislation will also include provisions on modified licensing appeals procedures.

Walter Copan, director of NIST, said the updates serve as a culmination of extensive stakeholder engagement and will help lay the foundation for U.S. technology transfer, entrepreneurship and innovation.

The federal government allocates over $150 billion for research and development per year, NIST noted. Comments on the updated legislation are due on April 5.

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Sehlke Consulting Reports 2020 Results, 2021 Projections; Chad Sehlke Quoted
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Sehlke Consulting Reports 2020 Results, 2021 Projections; Chad Sehlke Quoted

Sehlke Consulting reported that 2020 marked the company’s largest revenue growth year, resulting in a 58 percent increase in revenue, Sehlke reported on Wednesday. Additionally, the company will strive to continue its growth, moving into 2021.

“Since 2013, Sehlke has averaged 101 percent in year-over-year revenue growth. We are proud of what our teams continue to accomplish,” said the company’s founder and CEO, Chad Sehlke.

Sehlke provides comprehensive solutions across Financial Management; Acquisition Management; Logistics and Supply Chain Management; and National Security and Defense Programs.

During 2020, Sehlke integrated technology driven solutions to increase collaboration with their partners, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.  As a result of the company’s flexibility and communications, Sehlke was named one of Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America.

Looking forward, Sehlke will continue this momentum into 2021, delivering advanced performance, innovative technologies and subject matter expertise that will drive best-value solutions. Sehlke reported a run rate that will result in a minimum 67 percent growth.

About Sehlke 

Our Mission and culture of integrity offers comprehensive and leading solutions in Financial Management, Acquisition Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and National Security and Defense Programs.

Our Corporate commitment is to provide our clients with precision inspired performance through innovative technologies, and subject matter expertise driving best-value solutions. We are an ISO 9001:2015 certified organization that utilizes proven and repeatable processes to develop, analyze, and successfully implement our customers’ needs to achieve high levels of cost and schedule predictability.

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Intelligence Community Stands up Council for Commercial Space Systems
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Intelligence Community Stands up Council for Commercial Space Systems

The U.S. intelligence community has established a new council to augment how commercial space systems deliver data for intelligence operations, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday. The Commercial Space Council seeks to identify how to accelerate intelligence deliveries that rely on commercial satellites.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), National Security Agency (NSA), National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) stood up the council to be chaired by David Gauthier, NGA's head for commercial space operations.

Gauthier said the council will work to increase IC's understanding of commercial technologies and advise on the community's policy and strategy.

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