FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Military transitions. Editor Lindy Kyzer offers, “You used to be an adventurer, but now you’re a civilian – and happy about it. If going back overseas isn’t for you, here are a few cleared jobs for former special ops vets and overseas adventurers to consider. . . .”
Smart social networks. Contributor Christopher Burgess advises, “The DSS and FBI have . . . issued their own counterintelligence brochures dealing with the broader cyber threat. The rather robust FBI brochure on elicitation is especially apropos when it comes to social networks, as the techniques used in face-to-face personal engagement are applicable to social network engagement. Elicitation is an art form, and when exercised by the intelligence professional, it is difficult not to engage. The FBI suggests . . . .” Read the FBI’s “Elicitation Techniques.”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
Cooling in Korea. AP’s Hyung-Jin Kim and Foster Klug report, “After 40-plus-hours of talks, North and South Korea on Tuesday pulled back from the brink with an accord that allows both sides to save face and, for the moment, avert the bloodshed they’ve been threatening each other with for weeks. In a carefully crafted, though vague, piece of diplomacy, Pyongyang expressed ‘regret’ that two South Korean soldiers were maimed in a recent land mine blast Seoul blamed on the North. While not an acknowledgement of responsibility, let alone the ‘definite apology’ South Korea’s president had demanded, it allows Seoul to claim some measure of victory in holding the North to account.” See also, “North, South Korea reach agreement to ease tensions.”
Drone OPCON. Defense One’s Marcus Weisgerber and Patrick Tucker report, “A decade ago, as the U.S. military scrambled to gear up for unexpectedly lengthy wars, the Air Force declared that it should oversee all Pentagon drones that flew higher than 3,500 feet. Its argument was simple: these new weapons were being developed and purchased in tremendous quantity and significant diversity. Without a single controlling agency, the thinking went, the various services’ drones might waste money, fight poorly together, or even blunder into the path of another service’s manned aircraft. The Air Force lost that battle . . . .”
Jihad’s rifts. The Long War Journal’s Bill Roggio and Thomas Joscelyn report, “The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), two Central Asian groups that have been allied with al Qaeda in the past, have taken different sides in the ongoing struggle between the Islamic State and al Qaeda for the leadership of the global jihad. . . . It is not clear what effect, if any, the differences between the IMU and IJU will have on the Uzbek and other Central Asian jihadists fighting in Syria.”
[Dis]continuing resolution. Defense News’ Aaron Mehta reports, “Around 50 new start programs for the US Air Force are at risk if the Pentagon is forced to operate under a continuing resolution, the service’s top officials warned Monday. Secretary Deborah Lee James and Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff, warned that a long-term continuing resolution would severely hamstring the service at a time when it is attempting to simultaneously recapitalize multiple fleets and maintain training and end strength among airmen.”
Raptors responding to Russia. Defense Tech’s Brendan McGarry reports, “Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James is making good on her threat to send the F-22 Raptor fighter jet to Europe for the first time in response to Russian aggression in the region. Earlier this summer at the Paris Air Show, James said the U.S. may deploy a squadron of the fifth-generation stealth fighter jets made by Lockheed Martin Corp. to the continent in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea from the Ukraine and support for separatists in the country. During a press conference Monday at the Pentagon, the secretary announced that Raptors would, in fact, be heading to the region ‘very soon’ . . . .”
CONTRACT WATCH
Billion dollar comms contract. Military & Aerospace Electronics Editor John Keller reports, “U.S. Navy military communications experts are earmarking more than three-quarters of a billion dollars for new military situational awareness communications terminals . . . . Officials of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) in San Diego announced two contracts Friday worth as much as $880.8 million to build and maintain the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Low Volume Terminal (LVT). The MIDS-LVT is the data communications terminal that enables U.S. and allied military forces to exchange tactical information securely in near-real time using the Link 16 military tactical data exchange network. Link 16 is designed to exchange text, imagery, and digital voice messages.”
FedDataCheck checks out. Government Executive’s Charles S. Clark reports, “According to Jeff Sopko, executive vice president of the Alexandria, Va.-based PotomacWave consulting firm, about 20 percent to 30 percent of records in the government’s procurement database contain errors. . . . The proofreading tool devised by the woman-owned PotomacWave has won subscribers at the Veterans Affairs, Energy, Treasury, Education and Health and Human Services departments, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has undertaken a three-month trial. The company also performs similar work at the Homeland Security Department.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Artificial photo synthesis. Vice News’ Aaron Cantú reports, “A new study from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia is a reminder that even if the political will to ditch fossil fuels is in short supply, the technology to produce energy that generates zero greenhouse gases is growing more advanced. Scientists there have developed the most efficient means yet of producing hydrogen-based fuel from solar power, a process that mimics natural photosynthesis. The man-made photosynthesis uses sunlight to separate hydrogen atoms from water molecules in a solar-powered ‘leaf.’ Researchers used inexpensive materials to convert solar energy into a current that split apart hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the water.”
Cyber accountability. Reuters’ Jonathan Stempel reports, “A U.S. appeals court said the Federal Trade Commission has authority to regulate corporate cyber security, and may pursue a lawsuit accusing hotel operator Wyndham Worldwide Corp of failing to properly safeguard consumers’ information. . . . Congress has not adopted wide-ranging legislation governing data security, a growing concern after high-profile breaches such as at retailer Target Corp, infidelity website Ashley Madison, and even U.S. government databases.”
Cyber justice. FierceGovernmentIT’s Dibya Sarkar reports, “[R]apidly emerging web technologies can help law enforcement, court and corrections officers get timely and/or on-demand access to information, track the health levels of offenders and alert them about the whereabouts of individuals, among other benefits. . . . As a result of these advances, officers could more easily and quickly search for records across several systems, assemble a criminal history and review related and linked information . . . .” Read Rand’s “Using Future Internet Technologies to Strengthen Criminal Justice.”
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
Oh, well that’s better. “U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush said on Monday it was ludicrous to describe his use of the term ‘anchor babies’ as offensive to immigrants, saying his original comments referred more to Asians coming to the United States to give birth. Bush’s remarks came at a news conference in McAllen, Texas, near the border with Mexico, where he was asked whether using the ‘anchor babies’ term in a radio interview last week could affect his ability to win Hispanic votes.”
Wild about Harry. “President Obama on Monday thanked Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for backing the Iran nuclear deal, a top second-term priority for the president. ‘Harry’s leadership matters,’’ Obama said during a speech in Reid’s home state of Nevada. ‘It sends a message that Congress should support this historic diplomatic breakthrough and not block it over the objections of most of the world.’ Reid’s support provided a major boost to the White House’s effort to prevent Congress from rejecting the deal.”
OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS
“The War That Congress Won’t Declare.” The Atlantic’s Garrett Epps argues, “There are institutional reasons why the two branches are content to make war-and-peace decisions in silence. But we the people don’t have to accept that. We can insist that Congress take this matter up, and we can also insist that they treat this life-and-death issue as if they were grown-ups.”
“Why Defense Can’t Buy Cyber Stuff Fast Enough.” Government Executive’s Daniel E. Schoen argues, “Three things are certain: Speedier acquisitions may not be not sufficient, but such speed is necessary for cybersecurity; agile is faster and cheaper and delivers better quality than waterfall; and doing and being agile will require substantial cultural changes within the Defense Department.”
“7 traits of great mentors.” Fast Company contributor Susan Johnston offers, “If the following sounds like a tall order, then remember that you don’t necessarily have to find all of these traits in a single person. . . . But in a general sense, here are the traits that make great for excellent mentor material.”
