This week, President Joe Biden said during a speech at IBM in Poughkeepsie, NY that he plans to pardon anyone who’s been convicted in federal court for marijuana possession. While it’s not clear how many people this will apply to, the White House did note that thousands of people have federal convictions for marijuana possession.
It’s important to note that this does not indicate any change to legalize marijuana at the federal level. So far, the White House has remained content with leaving that decision to the states. Decriminalizing the drug could help some clearance holders or applicants if a criminal record due to marijuana possession has been holding them back. But it does not open up the floodgates for future use for clearance holders. Adjustments continue to made on prior usage. However, marijuana remains illegal on the federal level and currently, shows no sign of changing.
Contract Opportunities to Watch: Palantir
Palantir was selected by the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) to support their supply chain. Palantir’s software will be used to make better forecasts about equipment maintenance with their AI/ML capabilities. The ability to find efficiencies or issues within the Army’s supply chain will help to minimize breakdowns and missing parts. The award totals $85.1 million over five years.
“We are excited to support the AMC’s predictive maintenance and supply chain optimization efforts,” said Akash Jain, President of Palantir USG. “Building upon our years of experience supporting the Army, we look forward to serving the logistics community and mission partners as they address such an essential aspect when operating in contested environments.”
AMC awarded the contract following an initial competitive prototype phase.
Key Employer in the Cleared Industry: ClearanceJobs
Cleared Opportunities
BAE Systems opened its new $150 million engineering and production facility in Austin, TX – the latest step in a series of strategic facility investments across the country, including in Manchester, NH; Cedar Rapids, IA; and, Huntsville, AL.
The 390,000-square-foot facility is located in Parmer Austin Business Park. Half of the facility will be dedicated to manufacturing. The new campus also includes engineering design, laboratory, and office space. At the new site, the company has expanded its state-of-the-art manufacturing capability with a streamlined design that is easily reconfigurable to match evolving technologies. Expansion space exists within the manufacturing facility ready to take on future growth.
The facility is located near Capital Factory, a hub for entrepreneurs in Texas. BAE Systems is a member of Capital Factory’s Innovation Council and collaborates with startups and small businesses to accelerate the development of new defense technology.
“We are growing our business, our talent, and our brand in Central Texas,” said Dave Harrold, vice president and general manager of Countermeasure & Electromagnetic Attack Solutions at BAE Systems Electronic Systems. “Our goal is to double our workforce in Austin over the next several years.”
