Charles Booth

#ModernCEO gets gritty! For this week's newsletter, I spoke with Toni Townes-Whitley, CEO of SAIC about "gritty tech," which describes what SAIC does but also encapsulates the company's agile, get-it-done approach to tech. At a time when leaders need to communicate purpose to employees and prospects, Townes-Whitley offers a case study in how to get your team engaged. Please check out this week's #modernCEO and let us know how you communicate #purpose. https://lnkd.in/eRP2sz93

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The US #Navy just issued an article detailing the success of their #ZeroTrust implementation for Flank Speed. The top line is that the #security environment they’ve developed achieved 100% (91 of 91) of the Zero Trust Target level activities and nearly 100% (60 of 61) of the Advanced ZT level activities outlined in the Department of Defense’s Zero Trust strategy. As a result, the US Navy is well ahead of the Department’s 2027 goal for implementing Zero Trust at a Target activity level within their systems.   Our team is honored to support the Navy's deployment and configuration of Microsoft security solutions for Flank Speed and help DoN achieve this historic milestone. This is a testament to the defenders within DoN who are working tirelessly to deploy a comprehensive and integrated solution to protect their systems and personnel. If you want to learn how to implement a similar solution in your department or agency, see our implementation guide here: https://lnkd.in/gSxmS8uN #ZeroTrust #DoD #Microsoft #CyberSecurity Nadia Matthews, Steve Faehl, Gregory Knepper

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G2 Ops, Inc. is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in our ongoing work with the U.S. Navy. Our Embedded Cyber Resiliency (ECR) tool suite has been actively supporting the Navy’s Situational Awareness, Boundary Enforcement & Response (SABER) system, a critical solution for enhancing cybersecurity on Navy surface ships. The ECR suite enables rapid and automated cybersecurity analytics, security control mapping, and much more—making it a game-changer for protecting complex systems and improving mission resiliency. This achievement, backed by $59.6M in Phase III funding, showcases the powerful impact of digital transformation on cybersecurity. It also highlights how G2 Ops is helping the Navy create an efficient and unified data environment that proactively addresses cyber threats. We’re incredibly proud to contribute to the next generation of cybersecurity solutions for the Navy, and we’re excited for what’s next! #Cybersecurity #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #Resiliency #Navy #CyberDefense #G2Ops

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DoD Weapon System Production and Sustainment at Risk: National Security Implications of Port Disruptions The recent U.S. port strike resolution may seem like a temporary reprieve, but it highlights significant vulnerabilities for the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain—particularly in the context of weapon system production and sustainment. As labor costs rise and U.S. ports struggle with automation adoption, increased shipping fees and delays could severely impact the delivery of critical components needed for military platforms, from aircraft to precision-guided munitions. In a time of rising tensions with near-peer adversaries like China, these disruptions pose a real national security risk. The U.S. is already facing a $19 billion backlog in weapon transfers, including to key allies like Taiwan, and studies have shown that the U.S. could run out of long-range precision munitions in less than a week in the event of a major conflict. Supply chain vulnerabilities like these will only be exacerbated by rising costs and port inefficiencies. Furthermore, reliance on alternative foreign ports, particularly those in Mexico, where China has significant influence and investments, could introduce additional risks. Supply chain visibility in these ports is less robust, increasing the potential for foreign adversaries to exploit weaknesses in the defense industrial base. The DoD has already acknowledged its limited visibility into the lower tiers of its supply chain. This is a critical oversight that needs urgent attention, especially when many critical materials and electronic components are sourced from regions vulnerable to adversary control. The inability to track these vulnerabilities across the supply chain means delays and disruptions could cascade, undermining weapon system production and sustainment. To mitigate these risks, the DoD must accelerate its supply chain risk management efforts, modernize its industrial base, and reduce reliance on foreign ports by investing in domestic production capabilities. The development of “ever-warm” production lines for critical materials, as well as increased automation at U.S. ports, are key strategies that can enhance resilience and ensure the U.S. is prepared for any conflict scenario. Now more than ever, a robust, resilient, and secure supply chain is essential to maintaining military readiness and safeguarding national security. Govini #SupplyChainRisk #SupplyChainRiskManagenent #NationalSecurity #DoDLogistics #DefenseLogistics #WeaponSustainment #DefenseIndustrialBase #DefenseReadiness

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In a new eBook from Federal News Network, #BoozAllen experts Imran Umar and Erica Banks share lessons learned from DOD’s Thunderdome project and how they can be applied to federal civilian agencies as they implement #zerotrust architectures of their own with the help of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program. Other #cybersecurity insights focus on #cloud, #EDR, and OT systems.

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📣 Usul (YC S24) helps defense contractors increase their PWin! Here's a case study on how we turn your 5 hour workflows to 5 seconds: 1) Find all recent DoD programs for your capability 2) Identify how much budget is allocated from DoD funding lines 3) Contact relevant PEOs to shape requirements before they hit SAM.gov If you struggle navigating government data or have to Ctrl + F around tens of tabs to identify DoD opportunities, we'd love to to help you out!! #defensetech #govtech #govcon #ai #dod

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🚀 Exciting news from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)! 📢 DISA's Chief Data Officer, Caroline Kuharske, announced at the AFCEA International's TechNet Cyber conference that DISA is preparing to unveil an updated data strategy that will cover fiscal years 2025 through 2027. This new strategy will build upon the existing data strategy and focus on integrating data governance and policies into the backend systems. The previous data strategy, implemented from 2022 to 2024, aimed to improve data architecture and enable transparency and data sharing. DISA is now in the final stages of implementing this plan and transitioning to an integrated data architecture. But they're not stopping there! The upcoming strategy will also include initiatives to integrate emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), into data operations. DISA will collaborate with its emerging tech directorate and leverage AI for data reporting and automation. This aligns perfectly with the Department of Defense's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office's 2023 Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy. But DISA isn't working alone. They will gather insights from the DoD CDAO and partner with U.S. Cyber Command and JFHQ-DoDIN to deliver critical and actionable data to the warfighter. It's all about leveraging the power of data and AI to support our defense forces and ensure their success. This is an exciting step forward in the world of data strategy and technology integration. DISA's commitment to innovation and collaboration is commendable, and it's great to see them embracing the potential of AI and emerging technologies. Let's stay tuned for the official unveiling of DISA's updated data strategy in the coming months. I'm sure it will pave the way for even greater advancements in data governance and operations. What are your thoughts on this news? How do you think AI and emerging technologies will impact data operations in the defense sector? Share your insights in the comments below! 👇 #DISA #datastrategy #AI #emergingtechnologies #defenseindustry #innovation

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I’ve been involved with applied Defense RDT&E for over 20 years (wow that slaps) and been the Principal or Technical Lead on over 100 programs. As a Human Factors / Cognitive Systems expert, I often have the luxury of finding a way to meaningfully contribute to any research program that catches my interest, simply due to the fact that everything (at least that interests me) is aligned to enabling, amplifying, or protecting a human user.  Our new OTA with SOCOM represents the first time in a quite a while where the stars are aligning to provide a perfect opportunity that has a Operator-centric focus, a customer that understands the importance of that focus, the funding and runway to achieve meaningful outcomes, and a Defense-related mission need that is at once salient today, critical for the future, and directly in line with the emerging technologies that interest me most today.  Needless to say, it’s an exciting time for me, and our rapidly growing team of engineers, data scientists, and operational experts, to be challenged with an impactful operational problem to solve. 

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Major news for Defense Contractors! The CMMC Final Rule (CFR 32) has entered its last phase before publication, setting up the formal third-party assessment system. All public comments have been addressed, and the CMMC final rule is projected to be published in the Federal Register around September-October this year. Following publication, there will be a 60-day period before it goes into effect. From early 2024 to March 2025, assessors will begin conducting CMMC assessments and certifications at full speed. The DFARS clause (48 CFR) adding an audit and certification requirement for contract awards will likely go into effect around March 2025. For DoD contractors, now is the time to prepare for audits, Preparation typically take 9 to 18 months. Don't risk interruptions in your ability to obtain and keep DoD contracts. Has this convinced your leadership that CMMC is real? If you're scrambling, consider solutions that provide a clear path to compliance. Quatronics guides companies on what to do, how to do it, and when to stay compliant. Act now to maintain your DoD contracts without disruption.

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It's worth checking out and ensuring your business is ready.

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When it comes to missions of consequence, we need to leverage the nation's full breadth of talent. The ACCESS Act will enhance the United States' competitive edge against our adversaries. This legislation enables the government to leverage people from nontraditional backgrounds to face the evolving challenges of national security. The prioritization of mission-critical skills over degrees creates a new pipeline of cyber and tech professionals that will help our customers keep pace today and meet the threats of tomorrow.  https://lnkd.in/ey58bd5U

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The DoD's new #digitalengineering directive has put the industry on notice to improve processes and traceability to increase our armed forces’ operational readiness. Are you prepared to share your product #data securely? Check out this #blog to learn how to ensure you align with the DoD's latest instruction #digitalthread #PLM #innovation

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