News
Security expert says government should shut down federal IT infrastructure
An expert with the Council on Foreign Relations argued that federal government should shut down as much federal IT infrastructure as possible during the shutdown to avoid security risks. In a recent blog post, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations Robert Knake contended that the... Read More »
GAO issues Army modernization recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued four recommendations to the Army as a means of enhancing the branch's modernization goals. GAO officials said the recommendations stem from the Army's aim to maintain its technological edge over potential adversaries by investing in near and... Read More »
Collaboration aids nuclear explosion monitoring efforts
The Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is partnering with medical isotope producers to enhance nuclear explosion monitoring initiatives. The collaboration involves monitor installation to lend greater insight regarding emission levels and timing. The endeavor... Read More »
Europe, India fund record growth in neglected disease research
In recent years, India and the nations of Europe have poured a record amount of funding into research and development surrounding neglected diseases, reaching more than $3.5 billion in 2017, according to the annual G-FINDER report. The G-FINDER report -- a survey of R&D funding for neglected... Read More »
Raytheon to support cybersecurity systems for US Air Force
Raytheon Co. will support onboard sensors and ground-control systems used by the U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft fleet as part of a $65 million subcontract from aircraft manufacturer and business partner Northrop Grumman. Cybersecurity experts from Raytheon... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative joins Paris Call for cybersecurity
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) has joined 2018 Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace, an organization designed to improve and secure the cyber environment and its critical infrastructure. The Paris Call -- launched on Nov. 12, 2018, by French President Emmanuel Macron -- is... Read More »
Bipartisan NATO support bill advances House
The NATO Support Act, H.R. 676, advanced the House of Representatives Tuesday, which original co-sponsor Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said reaffirms Congressional support in the multinational military alliance. “America’s alliances are a source of strength and security for our country, and among... Read More »
DARPA unveils subterranean environment training initiative
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials have unveiled an initiative designed to afford first responders and warfighters an opportunity to test their skill set in subterranean environments. DARPA officials said in April nine teams will participate in the SubT Integration... Read More »
Saint Louis University begins human testing for experimental TB vaccine
The possibilities of an experimental tuberculosis (TB) vaccine reached a new stage this month, as researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development began phase 1 human clinical trials. The new drug is currently called ID93 and has a unique,... Read More »
Labs to hold an unmanned aerial systems challenge
The joint U.S.-U.K. Swarm and Search AI Challenge: 2019 Fire Hack challenges research teams to discover ways unmanned aerial systems can be used in search and rescue missions. The challenge is sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the United Kingdom Defence Science and... Read More »
House advances bill to place new sanctions on Syria
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill this week that would increase international pressure on Syrian President Assad and his backers. Specifically, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (H.R. 31) would impose new sanctions on human rights abusers and encourage negotiations to end... Read More »
NNSA earmarks $50M to bolster nuclear security
The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) has awarded a pair of university consortia grants totaling $50 million as a means of bolstering nuclear security. NNSA officials said the Georgia Institute of Technology-led Consortium for Enabling Technologies &... Read More »
Legislation seeks to offer NATO support
Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) recently joined their colleagues in introducing a measure designed to emphasize Congressional support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The legislators said the NATO Support Act backs the world's longest-standing military... Read More »
Bell Boeing awarded nearly $144M contract for logistics, engineering support
The U.S military recently awarded the Bell Boeing Joint Program Office, a subsidiary of Textron, a $143.9 million contract for performance-based logistics and engineering support for the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey platform. The 11-month base contract has four one-year option periods. Bell Boeing... Read More »
IAEA holds record training course for radiation dosimetry labs
The largest ever training course for the creation and management of dosimetry labs took place under the guidance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last week, with the goal of promoting international standardization. Dosimeters are the devices used to detect and measure radiation.... Read More »
Bill introduced to create office in White House to oversee technology threats
A bill introduced in the House would create a new office within the White House to serve as a central coordinator to oversee national security threats posed by technology. The office – called the Office of Critical Technologies & Security – would be tasked with interagency coordination... Read More »
TSA needs to increase speed it reports on new technology, GAO concludes
Despite a requirement for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to justify technology purchases costing more than $30 million at least 30 days before awarding a contract, the TSA did not submit its first justifications until last August, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)... Read More »
GAO makes recommendations to DOD on counterdrug program
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) made recommendations to the U.S. Department of Defense on how to best implement the National Guard’s counterdrug program. Since 1989, the DOD has received billions of dollars to fund the National Guard's participation in a counterdrug program focused... Read More »
House Energy and Health Committee leaders request briefing on African ebola outbreak
As an Ebola outbreak continues to affect the Democratic Republic of Congo, leaders from the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee are requesting a situation brief from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In a joint statement issued last week, committee chairman Frank... Read More »Sen. Sullivan assesses latest Missile Defense Review initiative
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) maintains the recent unveiling of the 2019 Missile Defense Review (MDR) is indicative of progress Congress has made with the Trump Administration. Sullivan, a member of the Armed Services Committee, attended the Department of Defense spearheaded program, which officials... Read More »
Leidos secures torpedo countermeasure technologies contract
Information technology, engineering, and science solutions firm Leidos has landed a $36 million Naval Sea Systems Command contract to develop torpedo countermeasure technologies for submarine defense. The work will be performed in Washington, Northern Virginia, Ohio, California, and Florida. It... Read More »
Partnerships seek to enhance vaccine production
An array of global health entities have joined forces to aid the process of developing epidemic responsive vaccines while also, demonstrating safety, efficacy and deployment preparedness. University of Queensland officials said the institution has partnered with the World Health... Read More »Mosquito sparks malaria fears in Ethiopia
A type of mosquito known to transmit malaria has been detected in Ethiopia for the first time, crossing from the Middle East, India, and China, putting more people at risk for malaria in new regions. A Baylor University study identified the mosquito, led by Tamar Carter, assistant professor of... Read More »Harris Corporation awarded $75M order with Marine Corps
The U.S. Marine Corps recently awarded Harris Corp. a $75 million order to provide Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) narrowband satellite communication upgrades. The order, part of a five-year Navy Portable Radio Program contract awarded in 2017, will upgrade the Falcon III AN/PRC-117G manpack... Read More »
DARPA launches program to better secure data, transactions
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched a program to develop hardware and software architectures that can ensure that critical data and transactions are secure and protected as they move between systems. Whether a piece of information is private, proprietary, or... Read More »
Smiths Detection lands radiation portal monitors contract
Smiths Detection has secured a contract with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction office (CWMD) to provide radiation portal monitors (RPM). Officials said the indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) agreement has a $291 million ceiling,... Read More »
Cybersecurity legislation unanimously advances House
The House of Representatives has unanimously advanced the Federal CIO Authorization Act of 2018, which seeks to ensure Americans’ online identities are safe from hackers. Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) said the legislation ensures the Federal CIO oversees digital infrastructure... Read More »
Biosecurity Research Institute seeks applicants for Transboundary Animal Disease fellowship
With the recent completion of their program by Kansas State University (KSU) students, the Biosecurity Research Institute is actively seeking new applicants for its Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) fellowship. The next round of opportunities is now being offered for summer 2019 and an... Read More »
Lockheed Martin awarded contract for anti-ship missiles
The U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force recently awarded Lockheed Martin a $172 million contract to continue the production of the air-launched variant of the Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM). LRASM was designed to detect and destroy specific targets within groups of ships by employing... Read More »
Bill to increase penalties for cyberstalking of children introduced in Congress
A bill to increase criminal penalties for the online cyberstalking of children was introduced in Congress this week. The bill, called the Combat Online Predators, would increase criminal penalties for stalkers by up to five years if the victim is a minor. It also calls for the Attorney General... Read More »
Lawmakers address shutdown, wildfire preparedness efforts
Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) are expressing concerns concerning the federal government shutdown’s impact on wildfire preparedness and prevention. The legislators recently joined 10 of their colleagues in forwarding correspondence to President Donald Trump and... Read More »
Smiths Detection named developer of DOD’s next chemical agent detector
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is pushing forward on new Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detector (AVCAD) solutions to track chemicals on a smaller scale, and to this end, has selected Smiths Detection (SDI) as designer and engineer. The company’s contract will put them in cooperation... Read More »
Raytheon to provide Marines with radar upgrade
The U.S. Marine Corps recently selected Raytheon Co. to equip its F/A-18C/D classic Hornet fleet with radar technology. Raytheon will provide its APG-79(v)4 AESA radar, a scaled version of the APG-79 AESA used by the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force. The APG-79(v)4 shares more than 90... Read More »
Qatar signs agreement with US for DOD activities at Al Udeid Air Base
Qatar’s Ministry of Defense gave its support to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) regarding DOD activities at Al Udeid Air Base (AUAB). The agreement was signed this week during the U.S.-Qatar Strategic Dialogue in Doha, Qatar. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) will help promote... Read More »