Boeing Chinook aircraft upgrades move to final assembly
A modernization effort for U.S. Army and special operations Chinook helicopters recently achieved a milestone in the wake of the loading of the first engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) helicopter into final assembly this week. Boeing said the contract to develop the next-generation... Read More »
New York lawmakers thwart effort to shift 9/11 health program for first responders
Four New York lawmakers led an effort to defeat a proposal to separate the World Trade Center Health Program, which provides treatment services for first responders and survivors with 9/11-related health conditions, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, according to a June... Read More »
GAO recommends how CBP can help better retain employees
While U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has tripled the number of applications it has received for law enforcement positions in recent years, it has had problems retaining employees. To address this issue, CBP asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to examine CBP’s efforts to... Read More »
First responders embrace FirstNet initiative
Organizers of FirstNet, the nationwide public safety communications platform dedicated to America's first responders, said the endeavor has been fervently embraced. More than 1,000 public safety agencies across 52 states and territories have joined FirstNet, officials noted, nearly doubling the... Read More »
New observatory monitors disease outbreaks and large-scale vaccinations in real time
The hectic nature of public health emergencies may hardly leave officials time to reflect on what lessons are being learned on the ground, and in real time. The Outbreak Observatory aims to change that. Comprised of experts in public health and biosecurity, the Observatory’s team captures... Read More »
Measures seek to bolster border security efforts
A pair of bills introduced by Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) designed to enhance Department of Homeland Security (DHS) border security efforts garnered House approval Monday. The Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) Authorization Act seeks to establish the OBIM as the primary biometric... Read More »
DARPA Summit to include future electronics investment initiatives
Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) officials are incorporating the organization’s Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI) into a three-day gathering designed to galvanize industry professionals. The ERI, introduced in June 2017, is a multi-year, $1.5 billion investment in... Read More »Bipartisan effort urges president to support bans on Chinese telecom companies
Citing significant threats to national security, U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Mark Warner (D-VA) urged the president on Tuesday to reconsider lifting a ban on Chinese telecommunications company ZTE and to support banning government purchases of Huawei equipment. The senators noted in a... Read More »
House approves 10 bills to secure homeland security, identify cyber threats
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved seven bills this week that aim to help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to better identify cyber threats, secure the nation’s borders, shore up transportation security and improve reporting systems for suspicious activity. U.S. Rep.... Read More »
AktiVax awarded federal contract to develop new auto-injector for nerve agent antidotes
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has tasked AktiVax, Inc. with developing an auto-injector that allows drugs designed to counter chemical nerve agents to be administered without specialized training. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)... Read More »
New study shows skills gap exists among cybersecurity professionals
New research from BAE Systems finds a gap between the number of skilled cybersecurity professionals and the number of available positions in corporate America. The BAE study says 50 percent of businesses claim there is a lack of staff with the required security skills and expertise. Further, 40... Read More »
Lockheed Martin secures $364 million missile contract
Global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin has been awarded a 364 million contract to produce Army missiles, the company announced Monday. The production agreement for Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles also applies to a Foreign Military Sales customer. The service... Read More »
New cholera tracking approach may aid control strategies
Researchers recently found that preventing the chain of cholera transmission within households in high-burden areas may significantly impact efforts to reduce the number of cases worldwide. Work by Wellcome Sanger Institute and their collaborators published in Nature Genetics outlined nearly 80... Read More »
House approves bill aiming to secure industrial control systems against cyberattacks
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be directed to secure information and operational technologies used in critical applications to address vulnerabilities under a bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday. The DHS Industrial Control Systems Capabilities... Read More »