News
Swanton Sector appoints new chief patrol agent
Robert Garcia recently was appointed chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector along the U.S.-Canada border. Garcia replaces Chief John C. Pfeifer who retired. “It is a privilege to serve as the chief of Swanton Sector and to work alongside the dedicated and hardworking... Read More »
DOD opens new “Tatooine” cybersecurity facility in Georgia
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Digital Service (DDS) is opening a new cybersecurity workspace in Augusta, Ga., called Tatooine, named after the fictional Star Wars planet. Tatooine is designed to house tech teams – including cyber soldiers and civilian technologists -- cultivate... Read More »
Industrial chemical incidents HazMat risks examined
A blog post written by Stephen Pike, managing director at UK-based Argon Electronics, recently examined the HazMat risks that accompany industrial chemical incidents. Pike maintains chemical manufacturing facilities present potential hazards that, if not properly addressed, could place workers... Read More »
British study discovers flu virus capable of developing resistance to pandemic drug
A drug currently under development for use against flu pandemics is at risk of being outpaced by the virus it is meant to prevent, according to researchers at Imperial College London and Public Health England. In a study, the organizations found that two genetic mutations could bring the flu... Read More »
DOD builds on crowdsourced digital security program with three new contracts
A U.S. government program designed to crowdsource digital security expanded this week through the awarding of three contracts to Silicon Valley-based firms: Bugcrowd, HackerOne, and Synack. Hack the Pentagon, which awards cash bounties for bugs found in Department of Defense (DOD) websites and... Read More »
Raytheon missiles successfully complete test during South Korean Navy exercises
Five SM-2 surface-to-air missiles built by Raytheon Co. recently completed five test flights successfully in exercises conducted at sea by the Republic of Korea Navy. The SM-2 missile allows navies to defend against aircraft and anti-ship missiles as far away as 90 nautical miles and an altitude... Read More »
Emergent launches opioid awareness campaign through nation’s libraries, YMCAs
Emergent BioSolutions is launching a campaign to raise public awareness of the risks of opioids through public libraries and YMCAs. Emergent, through its subsidiary Adapt Pharma, will provide one free box of its NARCAN Nasal Spray along with educational materials to all 16,568 public... Read More »
S&T program seeks to overcome roadblocks to cybersecurity strategy development
Recognizing the need for comprehensive cybersecurity programs, while also realizing the economic difficulties that hinder their development, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently formed a program to answer and address these issues. S&T... Read More »
More than 3,600 public safety agencies utilizing FirstNet
Public-private partnership project FirstNet has officially crossed the 3,600 subscriber mark for United States public safety agencies at the federal, state, local and tribal levels. “FirstNet is being purpose-built to favor the important work first responders do. This is challenging and... Read More »The West, Russia have different views on strategic stability
The West and Russia have increasingly different interpretations of strategic stability, according to a survey of U.S., Russian, and European experts conducted by the Nuclear Threat Initiative. These differences increase the risk of miscalculation, nuclear competition, and escalation.... Read More »
IAEA launches training course to protect nuclear facilities from cyberattacks
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched a new training course on protecting nuclear facilities from cyberattacks. The course, called Protecting Computer-Based Systems in Nuclear Security Regimes, brought together 37 participants from 13 countries for two weeks of training on best... Read More »
Firm to manage civilian transportation contractors in Kuwait
Boeing subsidiary Tapestry Solutions has received an award to monitor contractors who move Army equipment and supplies throughout Kuwait. Officials said the one year contract with one-year options calls for the deployment of Global Distribution Management System (GDMS) software in Kuwait and... Read More »
Discontinued Achaogen program aids Pew’s antibiotic research efforts
Achaogen recently announced that it would supply data from its discontinued LpxC inhibitor antibiotic research program to Pew’s Shared Platform for Antibiotic Research and Knowledge (SPARK). "By sharing these data with the wider scientific community, Achaogen has demonstrated true leadership,... Read More »
Dayton International Airport unveils $1.5M General Aviation Facility
After two years of construction, Dayton International Airport unveiled its $1.5 million General Aviation Facility last week, opening the new facility for international aircraft and passenger arrival. It brings Dayton into the international fold, as foreign aircraft and passengers had to... Read More »
FEMA awards Pennsylvania $60 million in grant funding
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded Pennsylvania more than $60 million in grant funding for firefighters. “Every day, our first responders put themselves in harm’s way to help individuals and families, whether it’s responding to a medical emergency, fire, or... Read More »
Sandia National Labs launches new test rocket program
Sandia National Laboratories has developed a new sounding rocket program to carry experiments and prototypes of missile technology that could significantly cut research and development time for new weapons systems. The High Operational Tempo Sounding Rocket Program, or HOT SHOT, was launched... Read More »
U.S. Army awards $9M autonomous unmanned systems contract to Robotic Research
Robotic Research, LLC of Maryland gained a three-year, $9 million military contract last week for work on Autonomous Unmanned Systems Teaming and Collaboration (AUSTC) for a variety of missions. Robotic Research has worked with the U.S. Army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering... Read More »
Xavier Morales named chief patrol agent for CBP’s Ramey Sector
The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) named last week Puerto Rican native Xavier Morales as the chief patrol agent of Ramey Sector -- the organization’s only station outside the continental United States and within Puerto Rican borders. Morales is a 24-year veteran of CBP, entering service... Read More »
Ribbon cutting held for flight deck simulator
A ribbon cutting ceremony recently was held for the KC-135 Flight Deck Simulator at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Lockbourne, Ohio. In 2016, the Ohio U.S. Congressional members sent a letter to Gen. Carlton Everhart III, Air Mobility Command, on behalf of the Ohio Air National Guard... Read More »
Rep. MacArthur sponsors bill to help students report threats to police
U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) recently introduced the Modern School Threat Reporting Act, which seeks to help schools address school safety concerns. The legislation creates new grants for states to develop a mobile application that allows students and teachers to report threats to local law... Read More »
S&T deploys real-time predictive, situational awareness tech ahead of hurricanes
Hurricanes are a devastating reality for the U.S. coastline, but the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is working to reduce their threat through predictive and support technology. The tools form several important roles in crisis response. For one,... Read More »
Lassa fever surge not linked to single strain or increased human transmission
A genomic analysis published in The New England Journal of Medicine this week revealed that an outbreak of Nigerian Lassa fever cases this year was not caused by any single virus strain or fueled by increased human-to-human transmission. The analysis followed an unusual surge in Lassa fever... Read More »Utah resident charged with ricin-related threats
A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City recently indicted William Clyde Allen, III, of Logan, Utah, on seven counts in connection with ricin-related threats. While Allen pleaded not guilty, the indictment alleges Allen knowingly used ricin as a weapon, mailed a threat against President Donald... Read More »
INTERPOL outlines global policing goals
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) launched last week its Global Policing Goals and is encouraging the international law enforcement community to support them. The Global Policing Goals serve as a framework for the international community to collectively address the... Read More »
SIGA Technologies partners with U.S. Army to study prophylactic use of smallpox drug
SIGA Technologies announced this month that it has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases to study the post-exposure prophylactic use of TPOXX, a drug currently stockpiled by the U.S. government to treat smallpox outbreaks. The Cooperative... Read More »
Researchers analyze connections between Ebola, malaria
Operating on the knowledge that Ebola and malaria are both endemic to Central and West Africa, and that many people treated for Ebola have been found to be infected with malarial parasites as well, researchers from Texas Biomed and the University of Iowa are working to assess a connection between... Read More »
Only a quarter of drug-resistant tuberculosis cases detected, international study finds
Even as tuberculosis (TB) becomes the most common infectious disease in the world, a new study by an international research team has determined that only around 25 percent of new cases of antibiotic-resistant strains are being detected. Such a result marks a need for dramatic changes in... Read More »
Air Force develops cyberattack training tool
The U.S. Air Force 90th Cyberspace Operations Squadron has developed a training tool to help the force’s Cyber Protection Teams, which defends priority Department of Defense networks and systems against such malicious cyber-physical acts, prepare for cyberattacks. The tool, called Bricks in... Read More »
Justice department sets record for violent crime, firearms charges
The U.S. Department of Justice charged the largest number of violent crime and firearm defendants in its history in fiscal year 2018. Citing data from the Executive Office of United States Attorneys (EOUSA), the Justice Department said the number of people criminal felony offenses increased by... Read More »
GAO assesses DOD Afghan defense measures
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending the Department of Defense upgrade Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) units' ability to operate and maintain U.S.-purchased equipment. GAO officials said House Report 114-537 included a provision for the agency to review... Read More »
Federal, state and local law enforcement cooperate in South Texas border operation
The South Texas-based Operation Stonegarden has united federal U.S. Border Patrol officers with state and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to enhance the area’s border security. To date, they have rescued more than 120 aliens from stash houses and have seized weapons, drugs and... Read More »
FDA, DHS announce cooperative partnership on medical device cybersecurity efforts
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently signed a memorandum of agreement to strengthen cybersecurity in healthcare systems and medical devices. Together, the two agencies will seek to create greater coordination and cooperation on... Read More »
BAE Systems technology successfully shares data
BAE Systems technology successfully demonstrated its ability to provide U.S. intelligence organizations with data from BAE Systems’ Geospatial eXploitation Products (GXP) Platform and access to geospatial imagery. The technology, XTS Guard 5, was equipped with the GXP platform demonstrated... Read More »
DHS rolls out new voice-activated system for first responders
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced the launch of a new voice-activated system to help first responders gather critical data while at the scene of an emergency. The system, called AUDREY (Assistant for Understanding Data through Reasoning, Extraction, and Synthesis), is... Read More »