//
Army Uses Data-Sharing Tool to Address Weapons Supply Chain Issues
Published on
Army Uses Data-Sharing Tool to Address Weapons Supply Chain Issues

The U.S. Army has developed the Army Materiel Command Predictive Analysis Suite, or APAS, to facilitate easier information exchange with the Defense Logistics Agency and address supply chain issues.

APAS, which became operational in December 2024, enables the Army to track DLA’s timeline for parts delivery and the agency’s acquisition budget, Defense One reported Friday. The data-sharing tool allows the service to better manage parts inventory to ensure that its weapons systems remain operational.

Enhanced Supply Chain Management

At a Wednesday news briefing, Richard Martin, director of supply chain management at Army Materiel Command, noted that APAS provides the information that DLA needs to make procurement decisions for the Army. “It lets DLA recognize what we are ultimately consuming,” he explained.

Following the suite’s introduction, the Army and DLA started a data-sharing working group and implemented the system with application programming interfaces, or APIs, that allow the organizations to view supply needs and availability. Kristin French, deputy director of logistics operations at DLA, said APIs enable the agency to predict the Army’s future acquisition requirements.

Using Data Performance Metrics

Data-sharing helps the Department of Defense address sustainment and logistics, according to Steven Morani, the acting secretary of defense for sustainment. Currently, the agency employs ADVANA, a data analytics platform, which accelerates its ability to deploy weapons systems performance data into a shared environment. The DOD will use data performance metrics to understand consumption rates and supply materiel to military forces in advance, said Morani, who will speak at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 23.

POC - 2025 Defense R&D Summit

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 23 to hear key DOD officials discuss the development of advanced defense tech, such as unmanned systems. Register now to attend this important event!

/
Commerce Department Issues AI Guidebook for Data Accessibility
Published on
Commerce Department Issues AI Guidebook for Data Accessibility

The Department of Commerce released on Thursday a guidebook to drive its units’ efforts in making public datasets more accessible to generative artificial intelligence tools. 

Titled “Generative Artificial Intelligence and Open Data: Guidelines and Best Practices,” the 79-page roadmap offers actionable steps, such as maximizing documentation availability and accessibility and providing human and machine-readable data documentation. 

Additionally, the guidebook suggests that its agencies adopt the appropriate use of open-source software and formats. It also urges them to publish structured and extensive data and metadata. 

Future Updates to Expect

The guidance is a first version and will be updated periodically, the department said. Future work identified in the guidebook includes focus on exploring digital signatures to protect data integrity and security, particularly for datasets for developing AI models. Metrics or pointers on evaluating AI-readiness of data assets is another area to be looked into.

A working group composed of the department’s AI and data experts was formed by the Commerce Data Governance Board to initiate the drafting of the guidebook in late 2023. The department issued a request for information on the guidance in April and also announced in May four department-wide draft publications on safe AI development.

Register for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 20 to hear more about cutting-edge AI innovations from industry and government experts.

Commerce Department Issues AI Guidebook for Data Accessibility
/
DARPA to Develop Self-Healing Computers
Published on
DARPA to Develop Self-Healing Computers

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency plans to develop self-healing computers that are capable of safeguarding themselves from cyberattacks.

The agency said Friday these capabilities are possible by addressing gaps in forensic data on a data-sharing service dubbed ‘the bus.’

DARPA’s Red-C Program

Defense Department vehicles and personal computers are examples of bus-based systems that lack the proper protection from cyberthreats. DARPA intends to safeguard these critical systems by utilizing the Reclaiming Bus-based Systems During Compromise, or Red-C, program to develop the algorithms that create self-healing systems.

The agency will also look into the possibility of retrofitting firmware with forensic sensors, allowing components to monitor each other. This capability enables on-system detection, repair and inoculation. Existing threat detection services happen off-system.

DARPA recently managed to build a dataset that can detect 99 percent of ransomware. The focus will now shift to the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express and Compute Express Link. The aim is to develop a prototype with PCIe/CXL bus architectures that should enable the system to identify and receive from attacks.

Bernie McShea, DARPA Red-C program manager, said, “The reason these vulnerabilities continue, even in new technology, is because manufacturers build bus systems as a collection of independent black-box components. “We must create better instrumentation and cooperative responses to detect, repair, and inoculate on-system.”

/
OMB Issues FY25 FISMA Reporting Guidance
Published on
OMB Issues FY25 FISMA Reporting Guidance

The Office of Management and Budget has released a memorandum to provide agencies with fiscal year 2025 reporting guidance and deadlines in compliance with the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2014, or FISMA.

The document dated Wednesday was signed by OMB Director Shalanda Young.

CISA’s Responsibilities

The memo seeks to ensure that the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency works closely with federal agencies to establish a coordinated incident response infrastructure.

To advance this effort, CISA will continue to provide OMB with monthly data on federal agencies’ progress in implementing the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program, which is designed to help agencies monitor vulnerabilities in their IT systems in near real-time.

Beginning in FY 2025, CISA will start assessing the capabilities outlined in a 2021 memo to capture the number of endpoints running endpoint detection and response tools and facilitate comparison with manually reported data in CyberScope.

IoT and OT Inventory

To improve the U.S. government’s cybersecurity posture, agency chief information officers should work with asset operators and owners to maintain an enterprise-wide inventory of Internet of Things and operational technology assets.

Inventories should include details about the make, model and specifications of OT and IoT systems, vendor or manufacturer information, network connectivity, software and firmware versions, and security controls.

The memo also includes sections addressing cybersecurity logging, requirements for FISMA reporting to OMB and the Department of Homeland Security, CIO reporting, and other incident reporting requirements.

/
DOE to Back QIS Research Projects in High Energy Physics
Published on
DOE to Back QIS Research Projects in High Energy Physics

The Department of Energy has announced the availability of $71 million in funding over five years to support 25 research projects that will advance the use of quantum information science, or QIS, to make new discoveries in high energy physics.

DOE said Thursday it selected the projects through a competitive peer review process as part of a funding opportunity announcement for the second iteration of the Quantum Information Science Enabled Discovery program, or QuantISED 2.0.

“Quantum information science is opening up new ways for us to understand and explore the universe,” said Regina Rameika, associate director of science for high energy physics at DOE. “With these projects, we are supporting scientists in developing quantum technologies that will empower the next generation of theory and experiment in high energy physics.”

Project Focus Areas

Some of the projects will explore superconducting qubits, atomic sensors and other QIS technologies to improve the sensitivity of experiments searching for new phenomena and use existing and near-future quantum devices to conduct data analysis at particle colliders and address problems in quantum field theory.

/
White House Orders Additional Actions to Strengthen US Cybersecurity
Published on
White House Orders Additional Actions to Strengthen US Cybersecurity

President Joe Biden has signed an executive order that outlines additional measures to improve the country’s cybersecurity by enhancing the U.S. government’s cyber sanctions authorities against ransomware attackers and other threat actors and improving accountability for software and cloud service providers.

Advancing Software Security

The White House said Thursday the EO directs the director of the Office of Management and Budget and secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to recommend contract language requiring software providers to submit to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency machine-readable secure software development attestations, high-level artifacts to validate those attestations.

Software vendors should also submit to CISA a list of their Federal Civilian Executive Branch agency software customers.

The new policy requires the National Institute for Standards and Technology to develop guidance on how to securely deploy software updates to prevent cyber incidents and directs the General Services Administration to create a policy that would require cloud providers to submit suggestions for how clients can secure their use of cloud offerings.

Promoting the Use of AI for Cyber Defense

The EO launches a public-private partnership to implement artificial intelligence to defend critical energy infrastructure from cyberthreats and directs research and development of AI-based cybersecurity tools and techniques.

The measure also seeks to accelerate the adoption of post-quantum technologies and calls for the development of new cybersecurity contract requirements for agency-procured space systems.

//
SDA Seeks New Tech to Enhance PWSA Capability Layers
Published on
SDA Seeks New Tech to Enhance PWSA Capability Layers

The Space Development Agency has issued a broad agency announcement to solicit new systems, technologies and capabilities to upgrade future tranches of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a U.S. military sensing, custody and data transport capability in low Earth orbit.

Published through the updated Systems, Technologies and Emerging Capabilities BAA, the requirements are anticipated to advance existing and upcoming capability layers and mission areas of the PWSA to address evolving warfighter needs, SDA said Wednesday.

Requirement for Novel Tech and Risk Reduction Prototypes

Specifically, SDA requires architecture studies, concepts of operations, modeling and simulation, system designs, key technologies and risk reduction prototypes, which will be used for resilient warfighter communications, advanced/alternate position, navigation and timing, advanced target custody, warning, tracking and defeat, and global battle management.

The effort will support SDA’s mission of developing and deploying certain areas of PWSA capabilities, including integrating leap-ahead improvements for the infrastructure’s transport, battle management, tracking, custody, navigation, and ground and launch layers.

Interested parties are advised to submit executive summaries and proposal abstracts ahead of their full proposals to ensure interest and funding availability. Submissions will be accepted until Jan. 14, 2026.

/
NIST Awards $6.3B to Natcast for Long-Term NSTC Operation
Published on
NIST Awards $6.3B to Natcast for Long-Term NSTC Operation

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has granted Natcast a $6.3 billion contract for the long-term operation of the National Semiconductor Technology Center.

The Department of Commerce said Thursday Natcast will continue developing the NSTC enabling to operate more efficiently, particularly in streamlining the prototyping process and accelerating innovations for a more sustainable semiconductor workforce. The aim is to solidify the United States’ advantage in the semiconductor industry while aligning with the vision of the CHIPS and Science Act.

The award builds upon the commitment to invest more than $5 billion in the NSTC. In addition, it follows the previously announced $1.1 billion awarded by the CHIPS National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program, or NAPMP, to Natcast for advanced packaging activities and capabilities at the CHIPS for America NSTC Prototyping and NAPMP Advanced Packaging Piloting Facility.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, remarked, “The NSTC represents the foundation for the next wave of technological breakthroughs, serving as the anchor institution where the future of semiconductor innovation will be shaped. This long-term agreement with Natcast will help close the gap between invention and commercialization, build a resilient semiconductor workforce, and advance both our national and economic security.”

Deirdre Hanford, Natcast CEO, added, “The NSTC represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the shared infrastructure, resources, workforce and collaboration necessary to secure America’s global leadership position in semiconductor technology.”

In February 2024, the government invested $5 billion in the NSTC to boost domestic chip research and development.

/
DLA Launches New Supplier Pathway Program Search Feature
Published on
DLA Launches New Supplier Pathway Program Search Feature

The Defense Logistics Agency has launched a new tool for small business owners to obtain the contact details for the supply chain of the items or services they are offering.

The agency said Thursday interested businesses can now use a search function on DLA’s Small Business webpage to get in touch with specific contacts.

Supplier Pathway Program

The new search tool represents the initial phase of the Supplier Pathway program designed to guide new vendors in navigating the government’s contracting processes. It also makes it easier for these new entrants, particularly small business owners, to understand the nuances of contracting with DLA.

In utilizing the search tool, users simply enter the supply or service they are offering. This will provide them with search results related to the product or service code and the name of the managing DLA supply chain. The results will also show links to particular supply chains, giving contractors the data they need; this includes instructions about procurement processes and policies.

DLA Vice Director Brad Bunn said, “Arming small businesses with the information they need to create pathways for contracting with us is just one way we’re working to expand our industrial base partnerships. Stronger ties with small businesses will ultimately strengthen our industrial base and lead us to solutions for tough challenges like logistics in a contested environment.”

The next phase of the Supplier Pathway program will provide the detailed step-by-step process necessary to collaborate with DLA.

/
Audit Tackles Agency Cyber Workforce Practice Implementation
Published on
Audit Tackles Agency Cyber Workforce Practice Implementation

The Government Accountability Office on Thursday released a report detailing the results of a study it had conducted on five federal non-military departments to determine the extent to which they had implemented 15 key cybersecurity workforce management practices.

Study Parameters

GAO said in the report that it selected the five agencies — the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Veterans Affairs — because they had the largest number of cybersecurity employees.

In turn, the 15 workforce management practices by which the agencies were evaluated were identified via a review of IT and cybersecurity workforce practices articulated in GAO’s own Key Principles for Effective Strategic Workforce Planning and the Workforce Planning Guide of the Office of Personnel Management.

Inconsistent Implementation of Workforce Practices

GAO revealed in the report that only the DHS showed a consistent implementation of relevant workforce practices, having fully implemented 14 while partially implementing one. The other agencies showed a mix of full, partial and non-implementation, with the HHS fully implementing the fewest and not implementing the most.

According to the government watchdog, the uneven implementation was partially attributable to the agencies handling the management of their cyber workforces at the component level instead of at the departmental level.

Potential Security Issues

“Until the departments implement these practices, they will likely be challenged in having a cybersecurity workforce with the necessary skills to protect federal IT systems and enable the government’s day-to-day functions,” GAO went on to say.

1 … 130 131 132 133 134 … 2,621