FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Polygraph policies. “Besides the questionable ‘science’ behind them, polygraph examinations carry another dubious distinction: they have generally been made illegal for private employer use, yet the government has exempted itself from those same mandates. . . . Where polygraph examinations are allowed, they are subject to strict standards for the conduct of the test, including the pretest, testing and post-testing phases.”
Getting cleared. “Many individuals are under the false impression they get to ‘keep’ their clearance after they separate from military service or leave a cleared job. It’s important to note that at any time, a clearance is under the purview of the government. And what the government giveth, the government may take away.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Russians spies hacking away. “Russian government hackers penetrated the computer network of the Democratic National Committee and gained access to the entire database of opposition research on GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump . . . . The networks of presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were also targeted by Russian spies, as were the computers of some Republican political action committees . . . .” (Washington Post) See also, “U.S.-Russia Espionage Rivalry Evolves.”
CIA, Black Site COBALT, and the look of torture. “The CIA black site prison had 20 cells. Described as ‘stand-alone concrete boxes,’ the cell block was outfitted with stereo speakers that played music 24 hours a day to prevent captives from communicating with each other. Captives, who first arrived there in September 2002, were often held in total darkness. Some were subjected to mock executions. Four of the cells at the black site — it was located in Afghanistan and code-named COBALT, but it was also referred to as the Salt Pit — had ‘high bars… to which prisoners can be secured.’ These four cells were designed specifically for sleep deprivation.” (Vice News) See also, “Grim details of agency interrogation program.”
Senate Cybersecurity Caucus convenes. “Cybersecurity has become a hot topic in Washington and, in response, a group of senators has convened a new Senate Cybersecurity Caucus with the stated goal of keeping their colleagues up-to-date on the latest legislation, policy discussions and cyber news. In introducing the new caucus on June 14, Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Cory Gardner, R-Colo., noted cyberattacks account for $120 billion in economic harm and stolen intellectual property each year. While awareness of the problem is growing, the ever-changing nature and complexity of cybersecurity can make it hard for people to get up to speed, including senators and their staff.” (Federal Times) See also, “New spear-phishing campaign targeting US officials.”
Addressing the encryption conundrum. “While there are many reasons for the increase in the rate of terrorist use of strong encryption, including the Snowden disclosures, the phenomenon presents very real consequences for our nation as we face additional challenges in finding and stopping those who wish to do us harm. . . . the opportunity exists for Silicon Valley and the government to work together to find a solution that enables the continued use of encryption for beneficent purposes, but restores the government’s long-existing capability to gain access to the communications of terrorists . . . .” (Lawfare)
CONTRACT WATCH
GPS for undersea navigation. “BAE Systems engineers are developing an experimental GPS-like undersea navigation system to enable manned submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to navigate accurately with sonar beacons instead of inertial measurement units (IMUs) or with Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation. Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., have chosen the BAE Systems sensor processing and exploitation group in Merrimack, N.H., for the Positioning System for Deep Ocean Navigation (POSYDON), program . . . .” (Military & Aerospace Electronics)
Acquisition reform in the Senate-passed NDAA. “The Senate on Tuesday easily approved an annual defense policy bill that authorizes roughly $602 billion in base defense and war spending — baiting a presidential veto. . . . Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and the committee’s Ranking Member Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., both lauded the passage of the bill, stressing the aggressive acquisition reform measures it contained. That includes closure of the Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer’s office and shifting its duties to two new defense undersecretaries for innovation and acquisitions management. It also contains far-reaching language that would curb cost-plus contracts and be more inclusive of contractors from outside the Beltway.” (Defense News)
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may be dead. “ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has reportedly been killed in a US air strike in Raqqa. His death, reported by the respected Turkish daily Yenis Safak, would be a major blow for the jihadists and comes only days after 49 innocent people were killed in an Orlando nightclub by a man pledging allegiance to ISIS. . . . A Pentagon spokesman told MailOnline they were not aware of any ‘high value targets’ having been killed.” (Daily Mail) See also, “ISIS Reportedly Dealt Massive Blow From Above” and “ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ‘killed in US-led air strikes in Syria.’”
Taliban take Char Chino in Uruzgan. “The Taliban took control of a district center in the central Afghan province of Uruzgan after several days of fighting Afghan forces who are reported to have been supported by US forces. . . . The Taliban currently control 39 districts in Afghanistan and contest another 43 . . . . Districts under Taliban control are being administered by the group, or it controls the district center. Typically the Taliban controls all of the areas of a district except the administrative center in contested districts.” (The Long War Journal)
Death knell for the Quadrennial Defense Review. “Whatever version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) emerges from the House-Senate conference process later this year, it seems likely that the 20-year old Quadrennial Defense Review process will be replaced by something else. Rather than confront a strategic planning process that is already partially baked when he or she walks in the door, the next secretary of defense may have to design one from the ground up.” (War on the Rocks)
Policy tango on the South China Sea. “Southeast Asian countries withdrew a statement that expressed the region’s deep concerns over tension in the South China Sea, where China is involved in protracted territorial disputes with some of its neighbors. The strongly-worded statement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), released by the Malaysian foreign ministry, did not name China directly but warned against raising tension in the waters, where Beijing has been building artificial islands and increasing its military presence.” (Reuters) See also, “A Quick Vanishing Act at an ASEAN Meeting” and “China spy ship ‘shadowing’ U.S., Japanese, Indian naval drill in Western Pacific.”
