News
Air Force touts benefits of new leadership course
Air Force officials are espousing the benefits of a new course designed to aid future squadron commanders in thriving in command posts. Air University’s Leader Development Course for Squadron Command is structured as a foundational course that builds on leadership experiences and education,... Read More »
DHHS launches voluntary cybersecurity practices for health industry
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) published a four-volume set of voluntary cybersecurity practices for the healthcare industry at the end of last year. The publication covers healthcare environments big and small and comes as a result of two years’ work between industry... Read More »
DHS seeking technology proposals from small businesses
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking for proposals from small businesses to address technology needs as part of the DHS Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The new solicitation contains 10 topic descriptions including eight from the Science and Technology... Read More »
Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense gains new expertise with exit of Shalala
The Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense recently bid farewell to one of its founding members, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, the newly elected U.S. Representative for Florida, and welcomed former White House Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco to fill those... Read More »
Huntington Ingalls lands Coast Guard Cutters contract
The Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Shipbuilding Division has been awarded contracts totaling more than $930 million to build two additional National Security Cutters for the Coast Guard. Officials said the fixed-price incentive contracts are valued at $468.75 million for NSC 10 and $462.13... Read More »
FLIR Systems to integrate thermal imaging camera into DJI drones
A partnership between FLIR Systems, Inc. and civilian drone company DJI will provide their Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone with Lepton microthermal imaging cameras for greater close-range capability. The Lepton is a compact camera, integrated into drone systems to give pilots greater side-by-side... Read More »
Justice Department seizes domains used in denial-of-service attacks
The U.S. Justice Department seized 15 internet domains associated with denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks in December. The sites offered customers DDoS attacks that targeted computers with information and prevent them from being able to access the internet. These services are referred to as... Read More »
Emergent applies for FDA approval of anthrax vaccine
Emergent BioSolutions submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for potential emergency use of a new anthrax vaccine the company recently developed. The vaccine, called NuThrax, is being developed as an anthrax vaccine for post-exposure prophylaxis of disease... Read More »
Hackers charged in connection with alleged computer intrusion campaign
Federal authorities recently said two members of a Chinese hacking group have been charged with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The charges against Zhu Hua and Zhang Shilong were announced this week by Rod J. Rosenstein,... Read More »
US Air Force gathers experts to counter physiological episodes
A collection of data scientists, engineers, human physiologists, pilots, and other experts gathered under the guidance of the Air Force Physiological Episodes Action Team (AF PEAT) this week with the goal of reducing physiological episodes. “Hackathons,” as it was called, are sprint-like... Read More »
Contract awarded for construction of California border wall
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently awarded a $287 million contract to SLSCO Ltd. to construct up to 15 miles of primary pedestrian replacement wall and up to 14 miles of secondary wall within the U.S. Border Patrol’s (USBP) San Diego, Yuma, and El... Read More »
Lockheed Martin garners $1.8B missile contract
Lockheed Martin has secured a $1.8 billion contract to produce and deliver Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) and PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors. “PAC-3 and PAC-3 MSE give our customers unmatched, combat-proven hit-to-kill technology to address growing and... Read More »
IAEA holds largest-ever training surrounding radiation management labs
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held the largest training course on the creation and management of dosimetry labs last week, preparing more than ever in the measuring of radiation doses. "In scope and reach, this training represents a milestone in our efforts to boost dosimetry... Read More »
First third-party canine team begins work
The first certified third-party canine team began screening air cargo for explosive devices last week, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said. The development of standards for the use of third-party canines for air cargo screening fulfills a requirement in the TSA Modernization... Read More »
Sen. Rubio urges defense secretary to headquarter US Space Command in Florida
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to outgoing U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis asking him to consider establishing the headquarters for the U.S. Space Command in Florida. Rubio supports the reestablishment of the U.S. Space Command under the auspices of the U.S. Air Force. Rubio... Read More »
New policy will return some immigrants to Mexico during processing
The United States has invoked Section 235 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced last week, which states that anyone entering the United States from Mexico, either illegally or without proper documentation, can be returned to Mexico... Read More »
Blue Ribbon panel lauds Congress for passage of farm bill with provisions to protect food supply
The Farm Bill, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump last week, includes recommendations proposed by the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense to protect the nation’s food and agriculture sector from biological attacks and outbreaks. Among the provisions in the Agricultural... Read More »
Congress passes cyber defense bills
A pair of cyber security bills introduced by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) advanced the Senate last week and will now head to the president’s desk for signature. Both bills aim to strengthen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cyber defenses, establishing both... Read More »
Energy Department warns against Chinese hackers
A group of Chinese cyber actors, known publicly as APT 10, is conducting a campaign of cyber-enabled theft targeting global managed service providers, cloud service providers, and their clients, the U.S. Government reported. The Department of Energy (DOE) recently said APT 10, which is... Read More »
University of Hawaii Zika vaccine candidate holds promise for pregnant women
A vaccine candidate for the Zika virus shows that it is effective in guarding against the infection in non-human primates and is a promising candidate to protect pregnant women as well, scientists at the University of Hawaii announced this month. Since the Zika outbreak of 2015 and 2016 in... Read More »
Belgian researchers develop Zika vaccine
Scientists at Belgium’s KU Leuven Rega Institute recently developed a new vaccine that should prevent Zika virus from causing microcephaly and other serious conditions in unborn babies. The new research and subsequent vaccine are based on the yellow fever vaccine, a closely related virus... Read More »
Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act garners Senate approval
The Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act has garnered Senate approval with lawmakers asserting the measure bolsters efforts to prevent terrorists from using vehicles to execute attacks. The measure directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide a report to Congress regarding efforts... Read More »
GAO makes recommendations for how TSA manages pipeline security
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released 10 recommendations to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator regarding pipeline security efforts. The nation’s interstate pipeline system, which spans more than 2.7 million miles, is used to transport... Read More »
Legislative package introduced in House to bolster US cybersecurity
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a legislative package this week that provides Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel with the resources to combat global cyber security threat. The legislative package – called the SECURE Technology Act – combines three bills previously... Read More »
Argentum receives BARDA grant to advance research into radiation exposure treatment, technology
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Argentum Medical — a company whose invention is widely-used by the military to treat wounds and burns — $8.4 million to continue research on their product to determine its efficacy on radiological injuries after... Read More »
S&T Smart City IoT Innovation Labs developing smarter technologies for first responders, industry
With an eye on enhancing public safety in an increasingly interconnected era, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has created Smart City IoT Innovation (SCITI) Labs to collaborate and develop new and existing technologies. To date, these... Read More »
GAO offers cybersecurity recommendations to Homeland Security, Management and Budget
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a series of cybersecurity enhancement recommendations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The GAO maintains until agencies more effectively implement the government's approach and... Read More »
Lockheed Martin awarded $585M contract
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) recently awarded Lockheed Martin a $585 million contract to design, develop and deliver Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii (HDR-H) in Oahu, Hawaii. HDR-H radar will counter evolving threats by optimizing the defensive capability of the Ballistic Missile Defense... Read More »
Senate advances bill to increase use of unmanned maritime systems
The U.S. Senate advanced bipartisan legislation to increase the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) use of unmanned maritime systems. Unmanned maritime systems are remotely piloted or autonomously operated underwater vehicles that collect data. The bill, the Commercial... Read More »
First responders to receive INTERPOL drone guidelines
INTERPOL officials said the organization has established global drone use guidelines earmarked for first responders investigating device-based criminal incidents. Officials said drones and other technologies are more frequently being used to execute a range of crimes via surveillance,... Read More »
New technology targets hazmat safety, security
A pair of firms have secured federal funding to develop an integrated technology designed to enhance hazardous materials safety and security transporters via first responders, hazmat inspectors and transporters. Officials representing Spill Center, a hazardous materials support and claims... Read More »
U.S. senators request firefighters be included in PFAS exposure study
As many communities struggle with the widespread problem of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of 23 U.S. senators has requested leading federal agencies include firefighters in a PFAS health impact study. The nationwide study, led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and... Read More »
Denver launches enhanced imaging technology to improve security
Denver International Airport, in partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), recently became the first airport in the nation to operate next generation Enhanced Advanced Imaging Technology for checkpoint security screening. The technology uses Advanced Imaging Technology,... Read More »
Health Canada approves Emergent BioSolutions’ new anthrax vaccine
Health Canada, the federal drug approval arm for Canada, has approved a vaccine for anthrax developed by Emergent BioSolutions Inc., the global life sciences company announced on Monday. The vaccine, BioThrax, is designed to immunize people from infectious disease caused by spores of the... Read More »