Jeff Lunsford

Over the past few years the team at Summit 7 has had more than 3,600 conversations with individual defense contractors of all sizes. And the number one question, by far? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲? But, while the DoD provides very loose estimates for the cost of CMMC assessments, they have never estimated the cost of implementing the security requirements assessed by CMMC. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗲: DoD thinks companies should be spending 𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟬.𝟱% of revenue on security. However, the government has estimated the cost to implement and maintain NIST SP 800-53, the big brother to NIST SP 800-171. Since we know a little something about both, we did some math. We framed the numbers against our own operations and the solutions we've engineered for nearly 1,000 defense contractors and made it into a webinar that you can watch on-demand. Register at the links below 👇

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Our Business Management team is #DefiningPossible in SO many ways! Opportunities across the country from #MelbourneFL to #SanDiegoCA, and in-between (#IukaMS, #ClearfieldUT, #PalmdaleCA, and #RedondoBeachCA). Let Melanie Hilson and myself know if you have questions or want to know more. #northropgrumman #SharedSuccess #BusinessManagement

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Beyond excited to announce the launch of the Platform One Solutions Marketplace! Huge shout out to the team and everyone who worked on this incredible leap forward in government acquisitions. Some of the many highlights: 1. Continuously open solicitation - Industry can submit DevSecOps solutions and be evaluated continuously, unlimited proposal submissions and evals every 30 days. 2. A digital, web based medium for DoD users to conduct market research with vendors in a post competition environment and immediately negotiate and award a variety of contracts and agreements. 3. A major focus on non-traditionals, startups, small business, commercial products and services, due to a very low barrier to entry and continuous feedback loops. 4. The P1SM is completely decentralized, allowing all other DoD users to use the marketplace without paying a fee or ordering authority training by meeting all the competition requirements for OTA's (10 USC 4021 and 4022), CSO's (DFARS 212.70) and BAA's (FAR/DFAR Part 35).

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Wondering how the security clearance adjudication process differs between the DoD and the DOE? Here's a quick breakdown. #clearancejobs #nationalsecurity

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The fundamentals that enable every materiel solution that our warfighters employ...IPS! Integrated Product Support (IPS) all 1️⃣ 2️⃣ elements are necessary to accomplish materiel and system readiness. The foundation is Product Support Management and the framework holding it all together is the Design Interface. A acronym that I created to help me remember them is PDSS-MPT-STM-FI Each of these is an integral role in the Major Capability Acquisition Pathway, whether that be at: 🔺 Materiel Solutions Analysis 🔺 Technology and Maturation and Risk Reduction 🔺 Engineering and Manufacturing Development 🔺 Production and Deployment 🔺 Operations and Sustainment If you find the above intriguing or interesting, explore LOG0460 in the Defense Acquisition University catalog and dive in! I am in it now as I continue my journey towards my next #credential in Product Support Management Fundamentals. #lcsp #ips #psm #lcl #dau #mca #ioc #foc #lifelonglearner

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New update from the DoD on the CMMC program. “We are moving forward, we’re hoping by the first quarter of calendar year [2025] we’ll be able to start enforcing this and putting this in contracts as we go forward. We just keep plugging along because this has been discovered learning, and they’ve got so many roadblocks that have popped up and so much resistance to this, but we feel this is super important,” - David McKeown, DCIO(CS) & SISO Read the article for more details. #cmmc #dod #cybersecurity

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​The Cyber Resilient Weapon Systems Body of Knowledge (CRWS-BoK) is a living, curated and authoritative guide to the most relevant and important knowledge needed to advance the engineering of secure and cyber-resilient weapon systems. Learn about the tool giving engineers, program managers, and researchers the information they need at https://lnkd.in/eKa3pS_7

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Leadership in the Military: Guiding Our Enlisted Leadership in the military is more than a position; it's a commitment to mentor, inspire, & guide. As a leader, the most rewarding aspect is seeing the growth & development of our enlisted members. 1. Lead by Example: Actions speak louder than words. Demonstrating integrity, dedication, & resilience sets the standard for others to follow. When leaders consistently exhibit these traits, they create a culture of excellence & accountability. It's about showing up every day with a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, & willingness to tackle challenges head-on. Enlisted members look up to their leaders as role models, & it's our duty to embody the values & behaviors we expect from them. 2. Communication is Key: Clear, consistent communication fosters trust & ensures everyone is on the same page. It's essential to listen as much as you speak. Effective communication involves not just giving orders but also providing context & understanding. It means being transparent about goals, expectations, & feedback. Open lines of communication help to build a cohesive team where everyone feels valued & heard. Encourage questions, provide constructive feedback, & be approachable. 3. Empower & Trust: Give enlisted members the tools & opportunities to succeed. Trust them to take on responsibilities, make decisions, & learn from their experiences. Empowerment is about more than delegating tasks; it's about building confidence & competence. Provide training, resources, & support, then step back & let them take the lead. This not only helps in their personal growth but also strengthens the overall team by fostering a sense of ownership & accountability. 4. Mentorship Matters: Take the time to mentor & develop your team. Share your knowledge & experience, but also be open to learning from them. Mentorship is a two-way street. While you impart wisdom & guidance, be open to new ideas & perspectives that junior members bring. Regularly engage in one-on-one sessions to discuss their career goals, challenges, & aspirations. A strong mentorship bond can significantly enhance their professional development & morale. 5. Recognition & Accountability: Celebrate achievements, no matter how small. At the same time, hold everyone accountable to maintain high standards & continuous improvement. Recognizing accomplishments boosts morale & motivates further success. This can be through formal awards or simple verbal acknowledgment. Equally important is holding the team accountable. Constructive criticism, when necessary, should be delivered with the intent to improve, not to discourage. This balance of recognition & accountability ensures a high-performing & motivated team. Leadership is a journey, not a destination. By investing in our enlisted members, we build a stronger, more resilient force capable of facing any challenge. #Leadership #MilitaryLeadership #Mentorship #SpaceForce #AirForce #TeamDevelopment #NCO #SNCO

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Navy, Marine Corps pitched three systems for first Replicator batch Read more on the link below. #defense #sbir #military #jointwerx @jointwerx @blackhaysgroup #governmentcontracts #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #consulting #strategy #leanstartups #startup #growthhacking

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 Home»Event News»Sea Air Space 2024»Concept Turns Oil Rigs Into Mobile Missile Defense and Supply Bases - Concept Turns Oil Rigs Into Mobile Missile Defense And Supply Bases - Gibbs & Cox (a Leidos company) wants to convert oil rigs into mobile missile defense and resupply bases in a concept shown at Sea Air Space 2024. - “MODEP is a large floating island base designed to bolster the layered defense of national interest. It can linger at an ideal distance from shore and is capable of independent operation for over 12 months,” -  The company claims that both the ballistic missile defense and depot variants could travel at a speed of 5-8 knots to cover around 200 nautical miles a day. “Stability in all sea states, including waves up to 60 feet tall,” was claimed by the company. Total endurance for MODEP is expected to be 150 days and a total range of 4000 nautical miles without refueling. The concept also offers 6-20 MW of extra mission power, a maintenance and repair shop for warships, a 2.3 million gallon fuel capacity, and an initial payload capacity of 8000 metric tons. - According to Gibbs & Cox, a converted platform could support air defense or strike missions at a capacity five times that of an existing U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Concepts claim that the conversion could hold up to 512 vertical launch system cells or 100 large missile launchers, the latter of which refers to a requirement set forth by the Navy’s DDG(X) program for a more capable launching system that could support larger missiles such as hypersonics. In this air and ballistic missile defense configuration, the company highlights that the platform’s height of 45-90 meters above the waterline will provide “optimal visibility and surveillance” to the associated sensors. Leidos Gibbs & Cox also noted that its concept for ballistic missile defense at sea “reduces risks and costs associated with land-based defense systems.” It should be noted that Japan was considering an oil rig conversation similar to MODEP as an alternative to its canceled Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system. https://lnkd.in/eEqVmivC

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Good first step. But the ATO process as a whole is still slow and extensive. Yes, cyber security is very important. But what if systems came with a baseline requirement that allowed commanders to take prudent risk, connect the system to the network with an Interim ATO, and experiment?Then work the actual ATO after the operational need is addressed.

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AI and crowdsourced data make for a powerful dynamic duo. Employing crowdsourcing allows AI to identify patterns and trends that might otherwise escape notice, while AI brings the added precision of machine analysis to the table. Business leaders can have immediate access to valuable ground-level perspectives, agencies like the DoD can enhance their operations to ensure safety and success in their ventures, and doctors worldwide can pool their observations to enhance patient care. But along with all that potential comes risk. Privacy must be protected, policy gaps need to be bridged, and ethical guidelines must be in place. The goal isn't just to gather data, but to ensure it's used for the right purposes and in the right way. https://lnkd.in/e7rmRMZb

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Candidates applying for civil service jobs with the Department of Defense “have been so soured by the application process in the time it takes to hear back that they’ve completely written off working for the government; they’ve given up. And that makes me sad because these people were once banging down the gates wanting to work for the government, and have been beaten down so badly by the process that they just said it’s not worth it anymore. They did want to serve the country, but if they can’t even have the opportunity to hear back on a job application, then why would they put forward any more effort?” Check out this article from the ClearanceJobs podcast with the amazing Lindy Kyzer as we discuss why federal hiring is so hard. #government #hiring #civilservice

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How can risk management tech help you achieve your mission objectives? Hear from experts from Riskonnect, Elbit Systems of America, and BWX Technologies to find out. ⚡Register: https://bit.ly/3KJCp3k Featured Speakers: -Robert Crawson, Riskonnect, Inc. -Steve Lundquist, Elbit Systems of America -Joel Sema, BWX Technologies, Inc. #ProjectRisk #ActiveRisk #RiskManagement #ElbitProud #ElbitAmerica #Innovation #BWXTNews

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Calling all Army data professionals! New Data Stewardship Roles have been established for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). This memo details the critical positions for data dominance. Find your role and dominate the data battlefield! #ArmyData Read the FULL memo ➡️ http://spr.ly/6049dDMXf

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I ran across this article today and it brought back some memories. In 1997, I was working operations at Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, VA and was tasks with working with an extremely early version of this. It was stored in the old indoor pistol range that had one side closed off due to issues with lead levels. The other side had a cage with this device in it. It did not look this good back then at all. It had a projection screen, projector and rifles that had these super awkward hoses that led to air compressors that would mimic recoil when the triggers were squeezed. I think this was the very first technical issue I ever worked on in my life. This is the government we are talking about so this super expensive equipment was just thrown around sitting there basically in peices. I had to hook the thing up with no manual and figure out how it all worked. This thing had a laserdisc component to it that would change its flow depending on the users results. It was also not very accurate for the user. They were still figuring out how to make it accurate back then. I used to have to run through scenarios for hours and sometimes it was right on, other times you could be right up on the screen and firing point blank range and miss. The amount of time you had to commit to it just to boot the thing up was completely inefficient. Once we got it at least operational, we had local high school kids coming in as part of JROTC field trips to try it out. I remember they thought it was neat. They always seems to have a good time. We only had 2 scenarios back then. One was a simulated rifle range. The other was a short combat scenario set in the Middle East. This one I liked as about a third of the way into the scenario, there is a woman who would walk up to the user asking for help and pointing to a on the other side of the screen. I would always watch the users rifles immediately go to that spot and meanwhile the woman would brandish an AK-47 and start throwing lead at the user to which they would almost all immediately fail due to death. It was a peak inside what this platform could be capable of. After I transferred to the actual rifle range, that device sat untouched for my last 2 years. Not sure if they got what they wanted out of it or if they just did not have anyone who figure out the damn thing. I am glad to see that it is still being used and it looks amazing now. Sometimes technological advancement comes very slow. It does come though and we have to be patient in the meantime. This device is now called ISMT and is being used for some really good purposes. I just wanted to share as o had not thought about this device in years and was happy to see it up and running. I hope the testing we put this thing through back then made a difference and helped to make ISMT what it is today. https://lnkd.in/gz_SXaFi

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⏳ #CMMC becomes effective in just six days. Why is this important for defense contractors? Because - Compliance Means More Contracts. Our CMMC Readiness Signal takes minutes to complete and provides your organization with: 1️⃣ How you currently stack up against CMMC 2️⃣ Resources to address identified deficiencies 3️⃣ Actionable steps to kickstart your compliance journey Trade 5 minutes of your time to know what the next 9-12 months of your compliance journey will look like. 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q02_4GXD0

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