Eric P. Strauss

Data is critical for a global connected U.S. Army, but as the service ingests data from disparate sources and battlefields all over the world, Army leaders want to ensure it is not inundated with data that it cannot use. “There’s too much damn data out there, and we can’t overload our warfighters and our leaders with too much data,” Army Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Young Bang said at an AUSA Cyber & Information Advantage Hot Topic event earlier this month. Michael Diorio, senior vice president of global operations at Dataminer, added that data can be collected from sources as diverse as sensors, tweets, videos, photos, audio broadcasts or transponders. As billions of data points are ingested to one location, the totality of information can give a clear picture of a location or event. “It’s been talked about for years that data is the oil, but at the same time, there wasn’t necessarily the technology to really analyze all this data, look at causal inference and then correlations. And so what we do with our large language models and foundation models is really look at the strength of signal that is happening around an event,” Diorio said.

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“To date, each U.S. military service has built its own systems and capabilities — which in many cases don’t even talk to themselves within their respective service — creating integration challenges at the joint level. Ultimately, capabilities must come together at the four-star, joint combatant command level where that commander integrates each service capability to determine which is the best available to execute the mission. While the Pentagon has been undertaking a years-long initiative that involves the patchwork effort of stitching and retrofitting old systems together, it’s looking to set data standards going forward to ensure systems at the very least are compatible and somewhat interoperable.” […] ““Data is the key to JADC2 … that realization of decoupling applications from the underlying data is what will allow network scaling to occur,” John Waterston, chief engineer for the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s Advanced Command and Control Accelerator…” https://lnkd.in/ea8qsFDf

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An interesting summary from Holland and Knight on the new #CMMC rule 32CFR170 which went final last Friday. I found their final paragraph particularly interesting... "The above is just the tip of the iceberg when thinking about the intricacies of the CMMC program and the implications for the DIB (including contractors far down the supply chain). Companies in the DOD supply chain would be wise to not delay further and ensure they are properly certified." At 470 pages the assessment community (C3PAO's and CCA's) are still getting their minds wrapped around the many aspects including significant changes that will impact how we assess Organizations Seeking Assessment (OSAs). The fundamental point though that DIB companies "would be wise to not delay further" is of course spot on. As Jacob Horne, Robert Metzger and others have been saying for a while, the time is past to get moving on having a cybersecurity program that supports CMMC compliance. There is a LOT of detail and nuance in a document with a word count 80% the New Testament. That said the fundamentals remain. First have a Program. This is not going to be something solved by either writing policies in a long weekend nor by buying a single tool. The #1 aspect of this or any program are the people executing it. These are activities that will need to be done now and into the future as long as an organization has a DoD contract or subcontract. The first thing to do for any program is pick the leader. Who will do this? Who will direct the work and make sure it stays on track? Do it in house, hire contractors, buy tools, whatever needs to be done... Who is the leader of your CMMC Program?

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🤝 Jonathon Monken and Erin Brousseau are looking to #CONNECTatSUMMIT. Message them to talk about Converge Strategies, LLC + Association of Defense Communities (ADC)'s latest release #TransmissionExpansionforNationalDefense (TREND). Explore TREND. https://bit.ly/CSLTREND_24 About TREND. Presents concepts to encourage conversations between national defense and #electricity industry stakeholders to enhance the U.S. #transmission system’s national defense capabilities.

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During a three-week effort, Future Vertical Cross Functional Team (FVLCFT) partnered with U.S. Army DEVCOM C5ISR Center, U.S. Army DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center and the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center (RTC) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida to advance Launched Effects (LE) behaviors and characteristics for the #warfighter. FVL completed Phase 3 of the advanced networking waveform characterization during the experimentation. The team collected data on multiple radios and waveforms during multi-ship flights at extended operational ranges against both contested and uncontested environments. Data gathered will be used to inform future aviation modernization; and to validate, modeling and simulation efforts. The intent was to learn about the trade space of long-range air to air; and air to ground communications. The emphasis is increased range and endurance for future LEs combined with a low probability of detection, and a low probability of jamming from perceived threats. LE surrogates successfully demonstrated teaming behaviors, characteristics, and attributes against both contested and uncontested conditions as they negotiated the test area. The Eglin experimentation is a key component of the #FVLCFT efforts to help the US Army “transform in contact,” accelerating the delivery of technology, and capabilities into the hands of our warfighters. #DeliverArmy2030 #TransformInContact Army Futures Command I PEO Aviation I U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence I U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command

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"The Open Announcement will significantly accelerate the timeline to project award, which will bring critical capabilities to the industrial base faster. This effort also supports the critical Supply Chain Resiliency Focus Areas identified as part of President Biden's Executive Order 14017, On America's Supply Chains." "'This Open Announcement will solicit new ideas for research or prototype project solutions that will benefit our industrial base,' said Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (ASD(IBP))." It addresses the following critical sectors and areas of interest: **Strategic and Critical Materials **Kinetic Capabilities **Energy Storage and Batteries **Castings and Forgings **Microelectronics **Workforce Development **Small Unmanned Aerial Systems **Submarine Industrial Base **Space Industrial Base **Emerging Manufacturing Technology Visit the open call to see if you may be interested in submitting your white paper by September 2024. #opencall #solicitation #submarinesupplychain #defenseindustrialbase #dib #sib #workforcedevelopment #castingsandforgings

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Chief of Naval Operations Discusses Navigation Plan 2024 | Sept. 20, 2024 | By Joseph Clark, DOD News Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti discussed her recently released Navigation Plan for America's Warfighting Navy 2024 during a discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a public policy think tank in Washington. Franchetti's plan outlines her guidance to the fleet to meet future challenges and expand the Navy's contribution to the joint warfighting ecosystem.  She noted the key role the Navy will play in maintaining the United States' military advantage amid a changing geopolitical environment and increasing competition with China. "China is clearly the pacing challenge," she said. "They are on [...] a wartime footing." The CNO added that China presents a multidomain challenge encompassing not only military, but also economic competition. She noted China's lack of transparency about its actions around the globe, and their affinity for use of dual-use technologies to accomplish its aims. Read on Department of Defense: https://lnkd.in/gUf5qfCu

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Future oriented security cooperation. Working closely with our Allies and Partners is an important component to support the NDIS-IP.

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The Commission of the National Defense Strategy calls for "urgent and major change" and "fundamental alterations to the way DoD operates..." Established by Congress to review and assess the 2022 National Defense Strategy, the Commission has presented its report, including recommendations: "The United States faces the most challenging global environment with the most severe ramifications since the end of the Cold War. The trends are getting worse, not better." "Fundamental shifts in threats and technology require fundamental change in how DoD functions. DoD is operating at the speed of bureaucracy when the threat is approaching wartime urgency." "U.S. industrial production is grossly inadequate to provide the equipment, technology, and munitions needed today, let alone given the demands of great power conflict." "Congress should pass a supplemental appropriation to begin a multiyear investment in the national security innovation and industrial base. Additionally, Congress should revoke the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act spending caps and provide real growth for fiscal year 2025 defense and nondefense national security spending..." Full report at the link. #defenseindustry #freedomsforge #defensetech #defenseinnovation https://lnkd.in/exiK--xg

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USAF reexamining #NGAD procurement effort to include underlying operational concept (crewed, uncrewed, optionally crewed, etc.).

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As the U.S. DOD incorporates AI adoption in weapons systems operations, it is critical to accelerate innovations in predictive scenario analysis. AI-enabled modeling and simulation enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and readiness, ensuring faster, more precise responses to evolving threats.

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Did you see the article from Patrick Tucker, "Navy slow to adop modern ship-designing tools, GAO finds" The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recently released a report highlighting the U.S. Navy's lagging shipbuilding efforts due to its slow adoption of digital design tools. These tools, such as 3D modeling and digital twinning, have revolutionized the process of building commercial ships and military aircraft, enabling faster design, prototyping, and experimentation. The report, titled "Navy Shipbuilding: Increased Use of Leading Design Practices Could Improve Timeliness of Deliveries," emphasizes the importance of embracing these digital tools. With the United States heavily reliant on new ships to deter potential conflicts in the Pacific, where China's naval presence is rapidly growing, timely shipbuilding is crucial. The report cites instances where commercial shipbuilders and maintainers have successfully implemented digital twinning, augmented reality, and high-fidelity 3D design rendering. However, the Navy's slow provision of vendor-furnished information (VFI) data, necessary for feeding digital models, and the use of outdated 2D design information for legacy ship classes pose significant challenges. The shipbuilders express a need for the Navy to explicitly demand the use of new digital tools in design and to provide a stronger business case for investing in their acquisition and implementation. The GAO report offers seven recommendations to the Navy and lawmakers, including requirements validation, to address these issues. The Navy has concurred with the recommendations, recognizing the importance of embracing digital design tools to enhance shipbuilding efficiency and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving naval landscape. #AI #Quantum #Cybersecurity #Leadership #Industry40 #DigitalTwin #MBSE #IOT https://lnkd.in/gcXmNvmH

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Must watch for anyone in UK and NATO Defence capability development, especially in the operational space: US Army - Enabling Modern Software Development and Acquisition Practices. Defence capability is data and software driven - established practices are outdated and WILL be changed. On 11 March the US Army published its directive to modernize its Software Development and Acquisition Practices. This is a really good insight into the logic and content of the directive which I highly recommend. "This policy represents a significant effort to comprehensively adjust our legacy software development processes in line with private sector best practices. These changes will fundamentally reshape how we develop and acquire software, making us more agile and innovative.” The Directive seeks to move Army practices away from waterfall and requirements driven practices (still at the core of most military software acquisition processes despite talk of agile) into a user led development through initiatives such as: high level capability needs statements, digital capability Centres of Excellence, agile testing and Authority to Operate (ATO). Adopt today!! #defencetransformation #digitaltransformation #multidomainoperations #MargaretBoatner #EdBarker

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I hope you might read this short historical case study published at The National Interest of how President Eisenhower changed out his entire Joint Chiefs of Staff at the beginning of his administration to pursue a new National Military Strategy (The New Look) while cutting the Pentagon's budget and bureaucracy. The case study is derived from primary source documents reviewed at The National Archives, the Eisenhower Library, and the Wilson Papers at Anderson University, Anderson, IN. https://lnkd.in/ewPKdKC9

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Defense innovation community + acquisition network: Please take a look at this invaluable research survey on DoD acquisition that USSF Officer, Roman Tillman, is conducting with the goal of informing a set of best practices that can be codified in creating USSF acquisition doctrine. Driving innovation can be thankless, heavy work, but THIS is a tangible way to get your voices heard + support work that has the potential to inform the next generations of defense acquisition - informed by lessons learned, inspired by the warfighter, and committed to the mission. Endless thanks to you & your thought leadership, Roman Tillman. I'm beyond excited to see what you create -- I'm certain we need it. Tagging some wonderful humans/leaders/champions for defense innovation & acquisition within my network who come to mind (+ I admire!) that may have particular interest in this survey and/or know of others to tag/share with for increased DoD visibility: Kerry Kearschner Dolores Kuchina-Musina, Ph.D. Kim Crider Justin Fanelli Jason Rathje Bonnie Evangelista Gary Koch Angela Falcini Steven Geary Adam Rentschler David H. Reggie Wesley, MSSI, PMP Matt MacGregor Scott Bewley ken kato Nicolas M. Chaillan Robert McDonald Jr. Matthew Culp Brian DeLong Robert McDonough, MBA, PMP, LSSYB Jaska Cason Gabe Mounce Alonso Segura Kris Saling Greg Fox Albert Arnold Nick Cervantes Raj Sharma Elizabeth Reynolds Tate Westbrook Mark Bailey Daniel Carroll Clayton Duncan Candace Wright Gina Sims Travis Ledwith John Shultz Strategic Institute for Innovation in Government Contracting + SO MANY MORE!

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Dr. Mark T. Esper, the 27th secretary of defense and author of the New York Times bestseller, “A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times.” "All this demands that DOD accelerate its across-the-board adoption of AI and advancement of robotics and autonomy. It is an asymmetric advantage the U.S. must master first and retain preeminence over. This means investing far more in these technologies, adopting commercial standards and processes as much as possible, capturing all the department’s data in a central repository, prototyping and testing far more aggressively and showing a willingness to deploy needed systems even when one’s confidence level is less than 100%. At the same time, the Pentagon must continue to do these things responsibly, beginning with the ethical principles for AI that I established in February 2020. As the war in Ukraine rages on, we must heed the lessons from it and do everything in our power to ensure our military has the advanced AI, robotics and autonomy tools it needs to fight — and win — the battles of tomorrow. Doing so, and with a far greater sense of urgency, will serve us incredibly well in any future conflict; especially if we must face off against our greatest strategic threat today — a People’s Republic of China — with the world’s largest and most concentrated armed forces."

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As the Army streamlines its use of digital engineering, the service is promoting new standards that will enable interoperability and data sharing between government-and industry-owned digital environments, according to a senior official. https://lnkd.in/eT9_5wnw #digitalthread #digitaltwin #digitalengineering #canvasenvision

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