GovConJudicata Weekly Debrief (11/16–20)
This week's Weekly Debrief covers defense network upgrades, Army data analytics and tech leaders, explosive increase in Navy OTAs, hybrid cloud offers the right mix, NASA using AI to improve space comms, and government contractor fraud.
Defense
"The Defense Department was preparing major upgrades to its defense networks before the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus, however, accelerated those efforts in a major way, beginning with a significant expansion of remote work. For months, hundreds of thousands of Defense employees and contractors have worked remotely, linked together through cloud-based business tools. To bolster those efforts, the Pentagon aims to introduce a new telework tool by mid-2021 that would accommodate remote work with more sensitive data."
DefenseOne – US Army Wants Data Analytics to Spot ‘Emerging Tech Leaders’
"The Army plans to groom a new class of “emerging technology leaders” and wants to use data science and machine learning to identify the best soldiers for the job and where their talents are most sorely needed."
FNN – Navy seeing ‘explosion’ in use of OTA for IT, cyber development work
"The last several years of Defense spending have a seen a more than seven-fold increase in the amount of money being spent through other transaction agreements for technology development. And although the Navy has been a relative latecomer to OTAs compared to its sister services, the approach is taking off in a big way in the areas of information technology and cybersecurity."
Cyber
FedScoop – Hybrid cloud approach offers the right mix of advantages for agencies, IBM report says
"The incoming Biden administration should push agencies to adopt hybrid cloud infrastructure so they can keep up with emerging technology and be more responsive to citizens’ needs, according to a new strategy from IBM’s Policy Lab."
FedScoop – NASA using AI to improve astronaut communications systems in space
"The deep, dark void of space is a place you really want your communications systems to work. So NASA is turning to artificial intelligence to improve helmet-to-helmet connections between astronauts in space."
Justice
Justice.gov – Employee of Government Contractor Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Kickback Charges
"An employee of a government contractor pleaded guilty today to his involvement in a scheme to overbill a contract administered by the General Services Administration (GSA) by approximately $1.25 million, and solicit and receive kickbacks from a subcontractor in exchange for providing that subcontractor valuable contract modifications."
"The former chief executive officer of a U.S. government contractor was charged today in connection with schemes to defraud the U.S. Department of Defense regarding contracts related to U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan."
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