Michael Stewart

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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ICYMI: Earlier this month, CSPS published its annual FY 2025 Defense Space Budget Brief. Robert (Sam) Wilson breaks down the FY 2025 budget submission, which reflects the United States Department of Defense's continued emphasis on the transition to a new model for defense space operations. In coming years, the Space Force will likely take additional steps toward a more distributed and proliferated approach for defense space capabilities. 🔗 Read the full brief here: https://lnkd.in/eQRkCBgK #SpacePolicy #NatSecSpace #SpaceForce

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The highlights from the SASC FY25 NDAA Summary include: • $25B topline above FRA caps • Streamline Milestone A and B approvals • Strengthens Middle Tier of Acquisition authority • Reinforces the need to reform DoD budget and requirements processes • Increased approval thresholds for OTAs • UAS and C-UAS initiatives • AI and Emerging Tech #NDAA #FY25NDAA https://lnkd.in/gJmJ2wpv

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Fully agree with Pete Modigliani and Matt MacGregor in their analysis of winners and losers in the House Appropriations Committee's FY25 Defense Appropriations Bill. Pay raises for service members are great, but prioritizing aircraft (many which are already delayed) over missiles is a poor signal to industry. "Yet at a time when our aircraft, ships, and munitions inventories are at historic lows, while the CCP churn out massive quantities of new systems, this is the worst time to cut procurement budgets. This does not enable production at scale. This does not incentivize new entrants into the industrial base to compete for production contracts." "Aircraft are undoubtedly important assets but at a time when munitions are acknowledged as being in critically short supply, the cuts to those accounts are not encouraging." https://lnkd.in/exu7Y337 #defenseindustry #defensebudget

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Stepping into the future with #DISANext - a comprehensive 5-year blueprint from the Defense Information Systems Agency. Spearheading industry change through its 4 fundamentals: Secure Capabilities, Strategic C3, Modernization, and Data. Hear from the visionary himself, Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner about the strategic imperatives of this plan: https://bit.ly/3WcCrb2. Paving the way for advanced #Cybersecurity and #strategy!

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The Air Force may restructure the Sentinel ICBM program's procurement strategy, potentially opening ground infrastructure elements to wider competition to address cost overruns and enhance efficiency. Opportunities for CRG Clients: 1. Competitive Bidding Strategies -       Advice: Develop proposals highlighting specialized capabilities in ground infrastructure projects, focusing on cost reduction and innovative solutions. -       CRG’s Expertise: CRG's experienced proposal management team can assist in crafting compelling bids that showcase your company's unique strengths and cost-saving measures, ensuring your proposals stand out in the competitive landscape.   2. Scalable Infrastructure Solutions -       Advice: Propose modular and scalable infrastructure solutions that can be implemented in phases, allowing for flexibility and adaptation to changing requirements. -       CRG’s Expertise: CRG can guide your team in designing modular solutions and developing detailed implementation plans, leveraging our technical expertise to ensure your approach meets the Air Force's needs for adaptability and efficiency.   3. Advanced Project Management Techniques -       Advice: Emphasize the use of advanced project management and agile methodologies to ensure timely and on-budget delivery of infrastructure components. -       CRG’s Expertise: CRG offers comprehensive project management services, including the integration of agile methodologies. Our experts can help streamline your project execution processes, ensuring milestones are met and budgets are adhered to, thus enhancing your project's credibility and reliability.   4. Innovative Technology Integration -       Advice: Integrate cutting-edge technologies such as AI-driven predictive maintenance and smart construction techniques to enhance the infrastructure's reliability and performance. -       CRG’s Expertise: With our deep knowledge of advanced technologies, CRG can assist in identifying and implementing the latest AI and smart construction tools. We provide ongoing support to optimize your infrastructure's performance and ensure its sustainability, aligning with the Air Force’s future-focused requirements.   CRG has a proven track record of facilitating client wins and helping manage billions in TCV on defense and government contracts worldwide. Leveraging our expertise can help you navigate the complexities of defense procurement, ensuring your innovative solutions meet stringent military requirements and maximize market opportunities. Visit http://crgroupinc.com or reach out at [email protected].   #CRG #ICBM #ICBMInfrastructure #USAF #AIIntegration #USAirForce #AgileMethodologies #NorthropGrumman #LockheedMartin #GovCon #DefenseAcquisition #StrategicDeterrence #DoD #NationalSecurity #Boeing #Raytheon #GeneralDynamics #L3Harris #Honeywell #BAE #Leidos #SAIC #BoozAllenHamilton #GeneralElectric #Textron #ElbitSystems #BallAerospace #UnitedLaunchAlliance #EDGE

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⚠️ Whoever wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election will face a chaotic geopolitical landscape. Over the past two decades, we've seen the consequences of misguided military adventurism that has eroded public trust and the American appetite for democracy promotion tied to military intervention. Yet today, some policymakers are pushing for a new global struggle between democracy and autocracy. The problem? There’s a growing dissonance between what the American public believes and what some of these policymakers are attempting to achieve. Launching a new ideological struggle against ill-defined threats will limit Washington's strategic options in the long run. 🎥 Check out the below clip for my full take 🔽 👉 Do you think we need a foreign policy reset? Share your thoughts below! 🔄 If this message resonates, share it with your network. #innovation #futurism #socialmedia

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The Department of Defense (DoD) has released a new Open Announcement through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) OTA, accepting unsolicited White Papers for DPA Title III and IBAS funding. Membership in DIBC is free and open to U.S. organizations, as well as international partners from the UK, Australia, and Canada. Key Sectors: - Kinetic Capabilities - Energy Storage and Batteries - Castings and Forgings - Strategic and Critical Materials - Microelectronics - Workforce Development This Open Announcement accelerates project awards and supports critical supply chain resiliency. Submit your White Papers by September 30, 2024, to contribute to a robust and secure industrial base. Learn more at the DIBC OTA website. #DoD #Innovation #DIBC #SupplyChain #DefenseProduction #GalliumSolutions

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The DIB recently recommended to restructure the currently separate Offices of the Under Secretary for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S) and Research and Engineering (R&E) in an effort to eliminate stovepipes and remove barriers to entry for our international partners following Congressional direction six years ago to create two separate offices from the former Office of the Under Secretary for Acquisition Technology and Logistics (AT&L). The DIB recommended creation of a new office called the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for International Industrial Cooperation in order to centralize otherwise fragmented elements of international cooperation across the DoD and provide a single authority for international defense industrial cooperation. Words matter and this recommended organizational name is precise in that it reflects a clear message that allies and partners should be deeply integrated into the DoD acquisition enterprise. Charles Phillips, DIB board member states this office “would help DoD to better take advantage of innovation happening in allied nations…with the two currently separate offices, it can be perplexing for allies to know how to get involved with partnerships.” I’d like to see this effort gain traction as it checks these 3 important boxes: ✅ Eliminates stovepipes ✅ Integrates allies into our capability development efforts ✅ Leverages diversity from our international partners to speed innovation Let's go!

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ICYMI: a media snippet ✂ Post: Surviving the Push: Legacy Space Companies and the SDA Do excuses matter in a market full of capable competitors (one of them extraordinarily aggressive)? A recent SpaceNews article prompted me to revisit an analysis I wrote nearly two years ago. In it, I asked whether legacy satellite manufacturers, such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, could accomplish something they rarely (if ever) do: build inexpensive satellites quickly, with no delays, for the Space Development Agency (SDA). That agency is attempting to avoid the usual lengthy acquisition death spirals. At the time, I noted that the SDA was nudging legacy manufacturers to buy into its new space technology acquisitions model. At the time, the question I posed was: Could the legacy manufacturers adapt to the SDA’s needs? I thought they might, but it was not a confidence-inspired belief. While both companies offer in-house satellite buses, sensors, etc., neither could build satellites quickly (for reasons listed in the analysis). I assumed their inability was why both companies turned to smallsat manufacturers such as Terran Orbital and Airbus OneWeb to help meet the SDA’s requirements. This seemed to work for them, as Lockheed deployed 10 SDA satellites in 2023, and Northrop is on track to deploy its Airbus-based satellites for SDA in September 2024. Since that article, the SDA has begun pushing instead of nudging. Not all legacy companies appear to be dealing well with these shifts in military space acquisitions. L3Harris, yet another military-focused aggrecorporation, appears to be one of those. The SpaceNews article portrayed it as a company under stress. L3Harris publicly blamed both space industry supply chain and Moog for its inability to meet the SDA’s schedule (despite having over three years to build four small satellites). Why the company felt compelled to... Get it in full: https://lnkd.in/eM87f2H2

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Matt and Pete nail the analysis of Congress-DoD budgeting activity again. But they might have under-examined one key trend... This budget markup shows serious concern about #ContestedLogistics. Although the Navy took serious cuts to many programs, budget lines for logistics platforms tell a different story. Logistics platforms that received plus ups: - CH-53 (Heavy Lift Helo) - KC-130J (Tanker) - V-22 Osprey (Troop Transport) - Fleet Oiler - Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship - Ship to Shore Connector Non-Logistics platforms that received plus ups: - F-35 Missiles and surface combat capabilities received severe cuts. To me, the essence of how we do logistics is very important. Our proficiency, culture, and experience will serve us well. But there is no substitute for sheer mass. The House Appropriations Committee clearly recognizes that we need more ships. #Logistics #Congress #DoD #Budget #Defense #DefenseTech #DefenseTechnology #Acquisitions #Shipbuilding #Ships

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"When Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks signed a memo to initiate changes in the Department of Defense’s classification policy for space programs, the move marked a tangible moment in the push to adapt traditional classification policies for a modern space era." #classification #classified #classificationpolicy #elaranova #spacesecurity #nationalsecurity #internationalspace #thoughtleadership #SpaceForce #Pentagon #DOD #nationaldefense #CSpO

Spaceport needs increase- In the House Armed Services Committee's draft fiscal 2025 defense policy bill, concerns were raised about the increased launch demands on the two main spaceports - Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida (Space Florida) and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. United States Space Force is exploring options to increase the number of launches its existing ranges can support through an initiative called Spaceport of the Future. The bill lists potential alternative sites (and GSA members), including Virginia Spaceport Authority's Wallops Island in Virginia, Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska, and the only U.S. inland vertical launch facility - Spaceport America in New Mexico. 👉 Read the article at https://lnkd.in/eYRSJUiC Image- © Provided by Defense News

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The Sentinel ICBM program's cost overruns highlight the need for integrated acquisition strategies that address both missile systems & infrastructure. CRG provides expertise in navigating these complex landscapes, aligning strategies with compliance & engaging stakeholders to ensure clients lead in delivering innovative, cost-effective defense solutions. CRG’s SME-Based Opportunities, INTERIM Advice & Differentiators: Opp - Holistic Acquisition Strategies: Prioritize a balanced approach that integrates missile systems w/ critical infrastructure. · Advice: Use digital engineering tools to simulate full system lifecycles, identifying cost drivers early. · Differentiator: CRG’s lifecycle cost analysis helps clients foresee risks, optimizing missile & infrastructure components. Opp - Open Competition for Infrastructure: Encourage competitive sourcing for infrastructure to drive innovation & cost reductions. · Advice: Advocate for modular design principles & open competition strategies for ground elements. ·   Differentiator: CRG connects clients with top-tier SMEs & suppliers for cost-effective, modular solutions. Opp - Agile Contracting Models: Use agile contracting to adapt to evolving program requirements. ·   Advice: Employ OTAs & phased contracts to incorporate new tech flexibly. ·   Differentiator: CRG’s contracting expertise balances innovation w/ compliance, speeding up project timelines. Opp - Advanced Cost Management: Employ predictive analytics for proactive cost control. ·   Advice: Use AI-driven forecasting to continuously monitor expenses & identify savings opportunities. ·   Differentiator: CRG’s cost optimization strategies ensure clients manage budgets effectively, avoiding overruns. Opp - Digital Twins Integration: Utilize digital twin tech for real-time insights into system performance. · Advice: Invest in digital twins for predictive maintenance & proactive lifecycle management. · Differentiator: CRG’s digital twin integration enhances system reliability & readiness. Opp - Collaborative Engineering: Foster government-industry collaboration to refine designs & address challenges. · Advice: Form IPTs to refine designs & address technical issues iteratively. ·   Differentiator: CRG’s collaborative approach ensures efficient, unified program outcomes. CRG’s expertise positions us as the partner of choice for defense contractors aiming to lead in the program. Engage with CRG to leverage these opportunities and drive your success in advancing national security. Connect at crgroupinc.com or [email protected]. #USAF #AirForce #DoD #Acquisition #MissileDefense #ICBM #CostManagement #InnovationInDefense #Engineering #Hardware #SDLC #Software #Procurement #NorthropGrumman #Boeing #LockheedMartin #Raytheon #GeneralDynamics #BAE #L3Harris #Leidos #Aerojet #Honeywell #Parsons #OrbitalATK #Kratos #Textron #Dynetics #SierraNevada #Teledyne #SAIC #Perspecta #JacobsEngineering #Bechtel #GeneralAtomics #CACI #ManTech #HII

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RFP: Historic Battlefield Public Interpretation Scoping Project, Battle of Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Inc. (ATHA), a private nonprofit organization, is seeking proposals from qualified consultant teams to conduct a survey of existing interpretation of the Battle of Bladensburg and the War of 1812 within the county as well as a comprehensive review of modern best practices in battlefield interpretation with a focus on inclusive storytelling, creative engagement, and new technologies. The Battle of Bladensburg, fought on August 24, 1814 in Prince George’s County, Maryland holds significant importance in both state and national history due to its immediate tactical consequences, its impact on national morale and political dynamics, and its lasting cultural and symbolic significance. During the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, the State of Maryland, under then-Governor Martin O’Malley, supported a robust commemoration that resulted in historic research, large events, and many new interpretive signs. These documents, photos, and signs continue to stand on the landscape 10 years later. The goal of this project is to inventory, assess, and plan for the retention, repair, removal, and/or replacement of War of 1812 public history interpretation elements in Prince George’s County, Maryland – specifically the Battle of Bladensburg. This project is funded in part by at National Park Service Battlefield Interpretation Grant for scoping (planning and development) and does not include plan implementation. Proposals are due Monday, July 1, 2024 via email. A confirmation receipt will be sent to all applicants. Interviews will take place, as needed, in July with a project award decision made on Monday, July 29, 2024. The project needs to be completed by Tuesday, December 31, 2024. ATHA encourages proposals from consultants with expertise in history, parks, education, interpretation, and placemaking. We are dedicated to actively seeking out and partnering with consultants from a wide range of backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability status, and socio-economic background. We believe that diverse consultants bring unique insights and expertise that enrich our projects and drive innovation. https://lnkd.in/eueYEMvt

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🚀 Exciting Concept Alert! Gibbs & Cox, a Leidos company, is revolutionizing naval defense with its Mobile Defense/Depot Platform (MODEP) Concept, unveiled at Sea Air Space 2024. Addressing the U.S. Navy’s capacity challenges in the Western Pacific, MODEP transforms surplus oil rigs into heavily armed mobile missile defense and resupply bases. Dave Zook, Solutions Architect & Combat Systems Department Manager at Gibbs & Cox, emphasized the urgency of solving capacity issues and keeping ships in forward stations. MODEP, a large floating island base, boasts a 12-month independent operation capability and offers stability even in waves up to 60 feet tall. It features 6-20 MW of extra mission power, a maintenance and repair shop, a 2.3 million gallon fuel capacity, and an initial payload capacity of 8000 metric tons. The concept supports air defense or strike missions at a capacity five times that of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, with up to 512 vertical launch system cells or 100 large missile launchers. This includes support for larger missiles like hypersonics, meeting the Navy’s DDG(X) program requirements. Moreover, MODEP facilitates the sustainment of surface combatants and nuclear submarines through Afloat Forward Staging Base configuration, offering stable options for VLS reloading at sea, depot repair capability, and expanded mission potential. What's more, Gibbs & Cox estimates that conversion from civilian to military use could be achieved within approximately 24 months, utilizing existing offshore oil and gas technology. With 4-6 commercial platforms in the United States ripe for conversion, this concept promises a cost-effective and timely solution to critical naval defense challenges. Are you intrigued by this innovative approach to naval defense? Let's discuss how MODEP could shape the future of maritime security! #NavalDefense #Innovation #MODEP #SeaAirSpace2024

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Are you at the 2024 Air, Space & Cyber Conference by Air & Space Forces Association? Founding Partner Maj Gen (Ret) Kim Crider moderated Monday's "The Digital Enterprise" panel, and will moderate the "Cyber and Communications: Gaining the Edge in Great Power Competition" this Wednesday. Learn more and explore the agenda of this year's #AFANational at the link below!

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Defense Tech and Acquisition: Pivot or Perish Edition Many executives across Washington are 🚨 sounding the alarm 🚨 that bold change is needed to address the critical national security threats. This week Matt MacGregor and I cover top stories like: • CNAS Defense Task Force Report by Michael A. Brown, Ellen Lord, Andrew Metrick, and Robert Work • Op-eds by Robert Gates, David Petraeus and Andy Yakulis • DoD scales production of munitions • Hudson Institute panels on Defense Innovation • Army Awards Robot Contracts • Marines get new C-UAS systems by Epirus • Navy needs to shipyards • Air Force reoptimizes and disaggregates • Space Force gets more software vendors • Congress punts on a defense budget with a CR https://lnkd.in/ePag2XE8

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