Noblis MSD a recognized market leader in U.S. Navy network design where BENS member Glenn Hickok is President, has been awarded a prime $187M US Navy C4ISR Engineering Services Contract.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and BENS member Paul Charles, President and CEO of American Battery Factory (ABF), announced on December 6, 2022 that Tucson, Ariz. has been selected as the site for the first in a planned series of battery cell gigafactories based in the United States.
Motorola Solutions, Inc. where BENS board member Mark Hacker is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer has been involved in a 6-year fight to bring Hytera (a Chinese competitor) to justice for stealing the companies trade secrets. Mr. Hacker stated that, “It’s a stark reminder of how challenging it is for U.S. companies to get results when China steals their IP. The cost, resilience, conviction and courage needed for a U.S. company to fight China is astonishingly high (even when they are caught “red handed”) which is unfortunate for our country.”
On December 5th President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate BENS member Michelle Giuda, Director of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue to serve as a Member of the International Broadcasting Advisory Board.
On Wednesday, December 7th, BENS hosted Lieutenant General Dagvin (DAG) Anderson, USAF, the Director for Joint Force Development (J7). Lt. Gen. Anderson discussed how the current crisis in Ukraine has highlighted a number of important challenges related to supply chains and future technology needs.
On November 28 – 30th, a BENS delegation visited the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division. The visit included discussions with leadership, a tour of the Northeast Regional Laboratory, case briefings, meetings with the New York Cyber Investigations Group, and more. The trip wrapped up with a morning visit to a Bronx training facility where Members were fully immersed in the tactics and training of DEA’s Special Response Teams (SRT).
PODCASTS
ICYMI: The Honorable Ellen M. Lord, former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
Ms. Lord emphasized that commercial technology is becoming increasingly important to the warfighter. To that end, the DoD must have the capability to immediately grant a contract when they find a technology that fits a critical need.
BENS Energy and Technology & Innovation Councils co-hosted experts from the net zero accelerator, Breakthrough Energy. Dr. Adria Wilson and Farah Benahmed provided an in-depth update on the state of two energy technologies critical to meeting the Nation’s carbon reduction goals – clean hydrogen and advanced nuclear. Both technologies continue to show great promise but scaling and investment remain hurdles to broader adoption.
ADVISORIES AND EXTERNAL EVENTS
CENTCOM CHIEF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICER BRIEFING
On December 7th, U.S. Central Command Chief Technology Officer Schuyler Moore briefed the Pentagon Press Corps on artificial intelligence and unmanned systems at the Pentagon. Moore was joined by Army Sgt. Mickey Reeves, the winner of CENTCOM’s 2022 Innovation Oasis.
The San Antonio Corporate Security Symposium (CSS) takes place on March 30, 2023. This event and its topics will include speakers from the private sector, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other state and local government agencies.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are releasing this joint CSA to disseminate known Cuba ransomware IOCs and TTPs associated with Cuba ransomware actors identified through FBI investigations, third-party reporting, and open-source reporting.
The Convergence of National Security and Homeland Security
On December 5th, Secretary Mayorkas delivered keynote remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the convergence of “national security” and “homeland security,” and emphasized the critical role of the private sector in our work to protect Americans and U.S. national security interests. Click here for full transcript.
Disentangling the Digital Battlefield: How the Internet Has Changed War (War on the Rocks)
Contact Hannah Beitler, Policy Associate, to submit content for consideration in this newsletter: HBeitler@bens.org
BENS EVENTS
December 13 | Virtual (Members Only) Virtual (Members Only) discussion with Dr. Tymofiy Mylovanov, the Former Ukrainian Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture to discuss the Ukraine’s other frontline – It’s Economy.
December 13 | Holiday Open House Join us to put some jingle in your jangle! Finalizing 40 years of festive fun with the return of BENS’ DC Holiday Open House, we are looking forward to an evening of heavy hors d’oeuvres, bubbly beverages, and captivating conversations!
Multiple Dates, Locations BENS Texas luncheon discussions on China and the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party with Col Heino Klinck, USA (Ret.), Senior Associate, CSIS, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia.
A ramp-up in nuclear weapons is not always a bad thing
September 9, 2024
The People’s Republic of China is currently on a nuclear tear, building up its arsenal from roughly 500 warheads today to as many as 1,500 by 2035. It is also…
Ukraine’s Gamble: The Risks and Rewards of the Offensive Into Russia’s Kursk Region
September 9, 2024
On August 6, Ukraine launched a bold offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, leveraging surprise and speed to quickly bypass Russian defensive lines. Since then, Ukraine has captured a significant tract…
On Monday, Reuters reported my discovery that Russia is building what appears to be the first deployment site for its experimental nuclear-powered cruise missile, the Burevestnik—which the United States calls the SSC-X-9…
