Google is looking forward to adding their expertise in the DoD’s new cloud initiative. The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) director Michael Brown confirmed during the 2021 Aspen Security Forum that Google is ready to be back in the game with the DoD. While the New York Times reported that Google is “aggressively pursuing” the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) program, Brown’s words confirmed Google’s interest for the new opportunity. JWCC is the DoD’s replacement opportunity for the canceled Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) program. Brown Also confirmed the legwork that Google has put into competing on contracts with the DoD by getting the proper certifications completed in order to be ready to compete.
Layoffs Impacting the Cleared Industry
| Verizon |
While the telecom employer, Verizon, may have plenty of business, it still doesn’t stop them from having to go through the process of a layoff season. While 2021 Q3 earnings were reportedly strong, Verizon has had to make cuts to its 130,000- person workforce. While Verizon hasn’t provided a specific number of employees, they have confirmed that cuts were made. They have also enforced the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for their non-union personnel – in keeping with the current mandates. “The industry-wide shift in consumer trends and expectations is driving the need for us to do things differently. This is an ongoing process as we continue looking at ways to enhance our customer’s experience, while helping to make the business more efficient,” a Verizon spokesperson said in a statement to CRN. |
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Hiring impacting the Cleared Industry
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L3Harris Technologies |
L3Harris Technologies has plans to expand in Michigan with a total capital investment of $2.58 million, creating up to 50 more jobs at their facility in Cascade Township. This location already has 234 employees, and this investment consolidates and grows the manufacturing footprint for L3Harris.
“This expansion by L3Harris will help us continue Michigan’s economic growth and recovery,” said Governor Whitmer. “Investment will create good-paying jobs in West Michigan, further boost our state as a defense hub, and support business growth. We will build on our economic momentum to usher in a new era of prosperity for our families and communities.” “With assistance from The Right Place and their partners at the MEDC, we will expand our Grand Rapids operations to meet our growing, diverse client base,” said L3Harris Technologies President of Commercial Aviation Alan Crawford. “The Greater Grand Rapids region offers the skilled employee base and thriving business environment we need, so we look forward to our continued success here.” |
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Cleared Employer at Work: CISA
Federal agencies like CISA know they need professionals with a cross section of experience in order to be successful. Help Defend Today, Secure Tomorrow. Find job opportunities.
Opportunity to Watch
Jacobs has made a strategic investment in HawkEye 360, the industry leader in radio frequency (RF) geoanalytics, providing commercially available precise mapping of global RF emissions.
Jacobs and HawkEye 360 have also entered into a distribution arrangement under which Jacobs will enhance its digital intelligence suite of technologies and solutions with HawkEye 360’s RF spectrum analytics and collection automation offering.
“Hawkeye 360’s satellite constellation and intuitive RF analytics platform is a game-changer for consumers of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT),” said Jacobs Critical Mission Solutions Senior Vice President of Cyber & Intelligence Caesar Nieves. “Increased spectrum awareness is imperative to near-peer competition and achieving the objectives laid out in the National Security Strategy. Leveraging Jacobs’ expansive global position in defense, intelligence and civilian markets, we will be working collaboratively with Hawkeye 360 to unlock new insights about threats, targets and assets of interest.”
Hawkeye 360’s RF satellite technology is at the forefront of emerging commercial RF and ISR capabilities changing the landscape of GEOINT. Increased RF sensing is essential to provide a more complete picture of the global threat landscape. Hawkeye 360’s existing satellite clusters collect vast swaths of RF data and use AI and machine learning to provide situational awareness of hard-to-track targets.
Jacobs and HawkEye 360 also intend to leverage their new relationship to identify additional opportunities for collaboration.
“Hawkeye 360 is delighted to partner with Jacobs, a world-leading innovator in defense, intelligence and civilian capabilities in space,” said Hawkeye 360 CEO John Serafini. “As investors in our company, we will collaborate with Jacobs to deliver our RF geoanalytics technology to address the critical challenges of a broader set of clients.”
Recent wins demonstrating Jacobs’ leadership within the GEOINT landscape include a $302 million, single-award National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency IDIQ contract to provide wide-ranging cyber, digital services and modern software engineering that support GEOINT.
