Processing....

Logo

Digital News Coverage of Government Contracting and Federal Policy Landscape
Sticky Logo
  • Home
  • Acquisition & Procurement
  • Agencies
    • DoD
    • Intelligence
    • DHS
    • Civilian
    • Space
  • Cybersecurity
  • Technology
  • Executives
    • Profiles
    • Announcements
    • Awards
  • News
  • Articles
  • About
  • Wash100
  • Contact Us
    • Advertising
    • Submit your news
    • Jobs
Logo
News
CBO: Federal Budget Deficit Rose to $587B in FY 2016
by Jane Edwards
Published on November 9, 2016
CBO: Federal Budget Deficit Rose to $587B in FY 2016


BudgetA new Congressional Budget Office report says the federal budget deficit in fiscal year 2016 ended Sept. 30 reached $587 billion, about $148 billion higher than the shortfall recorded in the previous fiscal year.

CBO said Monday the FY 2016 budget deficit was equivalent to 3.2 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product in 2016, up from 2.5 percent of GDP in 2015.

The agency attributed approximately $41 billion of the deficit increase to the shift in the timing of government payments.

Government revenues in FY 2016 hit $3.3 trillion that represented 17.8 percent of GDP in 2016, down from 18.1 percent recorded in the previous year but above the average of 17.4 percent over the past five decades, according to CBO.

The congressional budget watchdog also found that net government spending reached $3.9 trillion in FY 2016, a $166 billion increase in outlays recorded in FY 2015.

Government Technology/News
Navy Kicks Off Search for Automation, Data Analytics Developers for 2016 SECNAC Innovation Awards
by Jane Edwards
Published on November 9, 2016
Navy Kicks Off Search for Automation, Data Analytics Developers for 2016 SECNAC Innovation Awards


additivemanufacturingThe Department of the Navy has begun its search for naval officers, Marines and other service personnel who have developed novel platforms and capabilities in support of the military branch’s missions as part of the 2016 Secretary of the Navy Innovation Awards.

The service branch seeks to recognize innovators in eight categories that include technology development, automated process development, data analytics, innovation leadership, innovation scholar, enlisted innovator, innovation catalyst and outside the box, the Navy said Monday.

Under the technology development category, the Navy seeks new software and hardware platforms in various areas such as additive manufacturing, unmanned systems, robotics, renewable energy, virtual reality and human-machine teaming.

“I want the entire workforce, from the most senior admirals, generals and civilian executives to recruits and officer candidates, to look for ways to improve their organizations and accomplish their missions,” Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said.

The military branch also launched a contest to design trophies for SECNAV Innovation Awards recipients.

The Navy will accept nominations through Dec. 31 and announce the winners in March.

Government Technology/News
DHS, APCO Form Public-Safety Mobile App Security Partnership
by Ramona Adams
Published on November 8, 2016
DHS, APCO Form Public-Safety Mobile App Security Partnership


mobile securityThe Department of Homeland Security and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International have partnered to help the first responder community secure mobile applications.

DHS said Monday its science and technology directorate will offer funds and technical support to help APCO refine an evaluation program that will aid interoperability, reliability and security of public safety apps used by citizens and state and local agencies.

The partnership will build on efforts of DHS’ cybersecurity division and first responders group to secure mobile apps across the federal government as well as APCO’s efforts to educate app developers and determine security requirements for public safety users.

DHS added the collaboration seeks to engage public safety professionals, application developers and security experts through workshops, direct consultation and stakeholder events.

S&T began to fund Kryptowire in 2015 to support efforts to evaluate and protect mobile apps designed for first responders.

APCO will work with Kryptowire to apply the latter’s app testing platform to public safety apps offered on AppComm — APCO’s repository of public safety and emergency response apps.

The nonprofit organization’s online mobile app store offers more than 200 apps for iOS and Android devices.

Civilian/News
Army Reserve, Carnegie Mellon University Establish Database to Support Cyber Talent Identification
by Scott Nicholas
Published on November 8, 2016
Army Reserve, Carnegie Mellon University Establish Database to Support Cyber Talent Identification


PeopleThe U.S. Army Reserve and Carnegie Mellon University have developed a database designed to support cyber talent identification tasks of the reserve unit and help track skills soldiers develop in civilian jobs.

The Army said Friday its reserve component has discussed plans with the Army Cyber Command on the potential adaptation of the Cyber Warrior Database as a standardized tool of the cyber force for talent management.

Col. James Chatfield said CWARD is intended as similar to a casting tool that helps select a particular actor with a specific talent set that fits the need for a particular film.

Chatfield added that the database can support talent identification tasks as well as provide details on the qualifications of soldiers in all the standard Army ASIs as well as a soldier’s practical experience on various missions from their civilian lives and as a cyber soldier and reservist.

Civilian/News
CBO: Senate’s NASA Authorization Bill to Cost $19.4B From 2017 to 2021
by Jane Edwards
Published on November 8, 2016
CBO: Senate’s NASA Authorization Bill to Cost $19.4B From 2017 to 2021


International Space StationA new Congressional Budget Office report says a proposed Senate bill that would require NASA to create a transition plan to facilitate the involvement of industry partners and partner countries in the International Space Station would cost $19.4 billion to implement over five years.

CBO said in a report published Monday that the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2016 would result in the application of pay-as-you-go procedures since its passage would lead to a $35 million increase in net direct spending from 2017 through 2026.

According to the report, the proposed legislation would authorize $19.5 billion in fiscal year 2017 appropriations for NASA and require the agency to develop propulsion systems and strategic framework designed to facilitate human space flight to Mars.

The passage of the proposed legislation “would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits by more than $5 billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027” and would not impose costs on local, state and tribal governments, CBO added.

CBO noted that the bill also lacks private-sector or intergovernmental mandates based on the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not have an impact on revenues.

Civilian/News
NASA Plans 6 Small Satellite Missions to Support Earth Science Research
by Ramona Adams
Published on November 8, 2016
NASA Plans 6 Small Satellite Missions to Support Earth Science Research


CubeSatNASA aims to launch six small satellite missions beginning this month to study Earth’s hurricanes, energy budget, aerosols and weather.

The agency said Tuesday small satellites are often deployed as “secondary payload” aboard other missions’ rockets.

The Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes CubeSat will be launched this month to monitor changes in Earth’s energy budget at the top of the atmosphere to help identify greenhouse gas effects on climate, NASA added.

NASA also plans to launch IceCube and the Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter CubeSats in 2017 to provide data that will support scientists’ study of clouds.

IceCube is designed to measure cloud ice through a miniature high-frequency microwave radiometer while HARP is built to measure airborne particles and the distribution of cloud droplet sizes.

The Microwave Radiometer Technology Acceleration will also be deployed in 2017 with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Joint Polar Satellite System-1 to gather data on temperature, water vapor and cloud ice for weather forecasting and storm tracking, NASA added.

NASA will launch Cyclone, Global Navigation Satellite System — a constellation of eight small satellites that will measure wind intensity over the ocean in efforts to provide insights into tropical cyclones.

The Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats or TROPICS will explore insides of hurricanes through a constellation of 12 CubeSats, according to the agency.

TROPICS will use radiometer instruments based on MiRaTA to regularly measure temperature and water vapor profiles throughout the life cycle of every storm, the agency added.

NASA’s Earth science technology office funds and manages RAVAN, HARP, IceCube and MiRaTA while CYGNSS and TROPICS also benefited from the office’s technology investments.

Civilian/News
Commerce Dept Awards Grants to 24 Universities Via Economic Devt Program Competition; Penny Pritzker Comments
by Jane Edwards
Published on November 8, 2016
Commerce Dept Awards Grants to 24 Universities Via Economic Devt Program Competition; Penny Pritzker Comments


mentorThe Commerce Department has awarded $2.5 million in total grants to 24 universities and colleges as winners of a competition that seeks to build up regional economies and promote innovation.

The department awarded the grants as part of the Economic Development Administration’s 2016 University Center Economic Development Program Competition, the Commerce Department said Monday.

“The investments announced today will allow these higher education institutions to build the public-private partnerships that are so vital to helping America stay innovative and competitive in the 21st century,” said Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.

Awardees will use the grants to implement five-year initiatives, such as the provision of technical assistance to businesses, entrepreneurs and economic development districts; support to the digital game industry; and establishment of a cybersecurity research center.

Awardees include:

  • Becker College
  • Bowling Green State University in partnership with Ohio University in Athens
  • Cleveland State University
  • Delaware State University
  • Marshall University
  • Michigan State University
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • Purdue University in partnership with Ball State University
  • Rutgers University
  • The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Illinois-Champaign
  • University of Illinois-Chicago
  • University of Maryland
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of Puerto Rico
  • University of Rochester
  • University of Southern Maine
  • University of Wisconsin in Madison
  • University of Wisconsin in Menomonie
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

DoD/News
Frank Kendall: Tech Platforms, Operational Concepts Make Up DoD’s Third Offset Strategy
by Jane Edwards
Published on November 8, 2016
Frank Kendall: Tech Platforms, Operational Concepts Make Up DoD’s Third Offset Strategy


Frank Kendall
Frank Kendall

Frank Kendall, defense undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics at the Defense Department, has said DoD’s Third Offset Strategy seeks to maintain U.S. military edge through the combination of operational concepts and technology platforms such as artificial intelligence and automation, DoD News reported Thursday.

Cheryl Pellerin writes Kendall said that he worked with Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work, Arati Prabhakar, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and other Pentagon officials to generate ideas on technologies that will work to facilitate the development of defense capabilities as part of the Third Offset Strategy.

“The idea was that we should be able to operate from a greater range so that things being built to defeat us were less effective,” Kendall told attendees of a Center for Strategic and International Studies-hosted conference.

He also cited the need for DoD to focus more on distributed technological capabilities designed to pose targeting challenges to potential adversaries, Pellerin reports.

Kendall told event attendees that apart from AI and autonomy, the department should also consider other factors in support of the strategy such as intellectual property management, collaboration with industry, independent research and development, technology transition and use of modular designs, the report added.

Civilian/News
Report: OMB Cyber Unit Chief Trevor Rudolph to Join Cyber Startup Whitehawk
by Jane Edwards
Published on November 8, 2016
Report: OMB Cyber Unit Chief Trevor Rudolph to Join Cyber Startup Whitehawk


Trevor Rudolph
Trevor Rudolph

Trevor Rudolph, chief of the cyber and national security unit at the Office of Management and Budget, will step down from his position by the end of November to join cyber startup Whitehawk, Federal News Radio reported Monday.

Sources told the publication that Rudolph will serve as head of business operations and cybersecurity at Whitehawk and will oversee customer relations as well as provide thought leadership to the cyber industry.

Jason Miller writes Rudolph’s planned move to Whitehawk comes as the business prepares to unveil an online community that seeks to help small- and medium-sized firms build up their cybersecurity postures.

Rudolph has helped develop the Cybersecurity Strategy and Implementation Plan and Cybersecurity National Action Plan as well as create a cyber team in charge of government CyberStat reviews during his five years at OMB, Miller reports.

Prior to OMB, he spent three years as an analyst at the Treasury Department, where he authored various recommendations in support of updates to the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Rudolph also served as a senior consultant at Kadix Systems.

Government Technology/News
Army Research Institute Eyes Tool to Match Recruits With Military Occupation Specialties
by Scott Nicholas
Published on November 8, 2016
Army Research Institute Eyes Tool to Match Recruits With Military Occupation Specialties


research and development RDThe Army Research Institute is working to develop a tool that will help guide recruits toward their most compatible military occupation specialty in a push to help soldiers enjoy their work and stay in service beyond one enlistment.

The U.S. Army said Monday Cristina Kirkendall, an Army Research Institute psychologist, and Christopher Nye, an assistant professor at Michigan State University, will use data gathered from 1,000 basic combat training soldiers surveyed in October to develop the Adaptive Vocational Interest Diagnostic.

“A lot of soldiers don’t have information about a job before they enlist… They pick a job based on either the bonuses or what the recruiter said they should choose, or whatever it may be. And, that might just not be the best place for them,” said Kirkendall.

Kirkendall noted that it will take three to four years to implement AVID and it will not replace current testing methods such as the cognitive Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, which is used to determine soldiers’ job eligibility.

Nye added that researchers have also started to develop the Tailored Adaptive Personality Assessment System to gather information on non-cognitive characteristics.

Previous 1 … 2,353 2,354 2,355 2,356 2,357 … 2,627 Next
News Briefing
I'm Interested In:
Recent Posts
  • DOD Shutdown Guidance Limits Contract Work to Pre-Funded Efforts
  • SciTec’s FORGE Missile Warning System Achieves Space Force Operational Acceptance
  • Telos Grows TSA PreCheck Network With New Enrollment Centers in 6 States
  • Trump Signs Executive Order to Restructure Federal Hiring Oversight
About

ExecutiveGov, published by Executive Mosaic, is a site dedicated to the news and headlines in the federal government. ExecutiveGov serves as a news source for the hot topics and issues facing federal government departments and agencies such as Gov 2.0, cybersecurity policy, health IT, green IT and national security. We also aim to spotlight various federal government employees and interview key government executives whose impact resonates beyond their agency.

Read More >>

RSS ExecutiveBiz
  • Cubic DTECH’s Fusion eHPC Platform Earns AWS IoT Greengrass Certification for Edge Operations
  • Hanwha Aerospace, GMP Partner to Pursue Defense Ammunition, Energetics Opportunities
  • Parsons Teams Up With Navy, NCIS to Develop Real-Time Personnel Vetting Platform BEACH
  • Lockheed Lands Army OTA Project Agreement for IFPC 2nd Interceptor
  • Michael Brasseur Named OMNI VP of Strategic Growth, Intel
  • Valiant Welcomes Sean Mattingly as New CEO
RSS GovConWire
  • Lentech President Gregg Einfalt Takes Helm as CEO
  • KBR Lands $99M USSF Task Order to Advance Digital Engineering
  • Forge Forward Secures $149M Navy Contract for Tactical Shore Systems Support
  • Salesforce Taps Andrew Randall as SVP to Lead Government Cloud Product Management
  • Molex to Acquire Smiths Interconnect to Expand Aerospace, Defense Reach
  • SAIC Closes $205M SilverEdge Acquisition, Expanding Tech Portfolio for Government Customers
Footer Logo

Copyright © 2025
Executive Mosaic
All Rights Reserved

  • Executive Mosaic
  • GovCon Wire
  • ExecutiveBiz
  • GovCon Exec Magazine
  • POC
  • Home
  • Acquisition & Procurement
  • Agencies
    • DoD
    • Intelligence
    • DHS
    • Civilian
    • Space
  • Cybersecurity
  • Technology
  • Executives
    • Profiles
    • Announcements
    • Awards
  • News
  • Articles
  • About
  • Wash100
  • Contact Us
    • Advertising
    • Submit your news
    • Jobs
Go toTop