Hello, Guest!

Weekly Roundup
Nov 21 – Dec 4 2014


A Note From Our President & Founder Jim Garrettson

Leaders at GovCon firms and federal agencies returned from the Thanksgiving holiday this week and soon after learned of two potential developments that could lift some uncertainty.
Ashton Carter, formerly the Pentagon’s number two official and a long-time defense leader, is reportedly in the frame for an appointment as the successor to the departing Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.
Carter is recognized throughout the sector for his experience in management of large budgets and acquisitions and would, if confirmed, be responsible for leadership of the military through one of the largest transformations it has ever seen.
On Capitol Hill, House and Senate leaders have hammered out a compromise defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2015 that adds $5 billion funds to combat the Islamic State group and maintains the Air Force’s fleet of A-10 jets.
The House is set to vote on the bill this week and the Senate will likely hold its vote next week.
From an industry point of view, Huntington Ingalls CEO Mike Petters has attributed uncertainties over government spending to how GovCon firms have approached research and development spending.
Petters told Reuters that contractors need “clear signals” from government on where its investment priorities are in order to identify potential growth areas and sales leads.

                 

To start its 2015 calendar of events, the Potomac Officers Club will host ‘2015 Intel Summit’ onJan. 21. and National Intelligence Director James Clapper will deliver the keynote address in a half-day forum for GovCon executives and agency leaders in attendance.
POC has also secured Acting DIA Director David Shedd, Defense Intelligence Director Jim Martin, INSA President Ambassador Joe DeTrani and Michael Allen of Beacon Global Strategies as speakers for this must-attend forum.
Click here to register and save your seat at this summit and to learn more about our future events.

THIS WEEK’S TOP NEWS STORIES 
Dan Johnson Appointed Info Systems-Tech Group EVP at General Dynamics
Johnson will continue as IT unit president, a role he has held for six years.
Barbara Humpton Promoted to COO at Siemens’ US Federal Org
Humpton joined Siemens Government Technologies when it started in 2011.
Tom Arseneault to Head Electronic Systems at BAE’s US Arm, Retain COO Title
Arseneault’s 14-year BAE career includes time as CTO, product sectors EVP.
John Pranzatelli, MBDA’s US President, Adds CEO Title
Pranzatelli became president in 2012 after three years as VP of strategy & operations.
FTC Clears Engility-TASC Deal, Firms Eye 1Q 2015 for Closure
Transaction still subject to vote by shareholders from both companies.
Tony Smeraglinolo: Consolidation Would Facilitate ‘Mission Readiness’ in Govt Sector
Engility’s CEO describes the effects of industry consolidation in speech.
Unisys to Migrate DOJ’s Crime Data Resources to Cloud Platform; PV Puvvada Comments
The project will support law enforcement agencies at the state & local levels.
Bridget Lauderdale Named Lockheed Corporate Strategy, BD SVP
The 25-year company veteran was formerly aeronautics operations VP & GM.
Steven Omick Joins Vencore as ACS Lab President
Omick previously led Rincon Research as CEO and holds 18 years of experience in the intelligence community.
GovCon Executives Offer Their ‘Top 10’ Recruiters for 2014
Leaders from the sector’s biggest firms give our staff the executive recruiters “you need to know.”
Dwight Hunsicker on Globecomm’s Gov’t Market Pursuits and Keys to Manage Bandwidth, Data
Globecomm’s government chief charts the SATCOM market’s history in Q&A.
Lawmakers Propose Federal IT Reform With 2015 Defense Authorization Bill
FITARA seeks to give CIOs greater authority over IT contracting functions.
Michael Vickers: ‘Cybersecurity a Job for Everybody’
The Pentagon’s intelligence undersecretary discusses role of public-private partnerships in cyber defense.
Michael Rogers: Cyber Attackers Can Disrupt US Infrastructure Systems
NSA’s director outlines global threat picture in Capitol Hill testimony.
Lockheed Completes Systems Made Simple Buy
Syracuse, NY-based SMS holds position on a VA IT modernization contract vehicle.
Air Force Awards 9 Spots on $800M Advisory Services IDIQ
Contractors will compete for work to support U.S. Strategic Command over five years.
IARPA Taps IBM, Northrop, Raytheon BBN Teams for Cryogenic Computer Tech Program
Awardees will perform R&D work on a future superconducting computer.
Michael Huerta: FAA Focuses on Drone Education, Enforcement for Public
The FAA’s chief says drone usage guidelines could be completed within 9 months.
David Laufman to Lead DOJ’s Counterespionage Arm
Laufman worked as a CIA analyst in the 1980s and congressional investigator in the 1990s.