Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said there’s no debating the “why” of zeroing in on AI — because it can give us better decision advantage, especially given our pacing challenge with competitors like China. But at least two key roadblocks are standing in the way of rapid, responsible AI development and advancements for the Pentagon.

Stay up to date with the latest AI advancements at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual AI Summit on March 21. Register here. 

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Since we last spoke with Hector Collazo, he has been laser-focused on integrating artificial intelligence tools into the strategies of IT provider Sev1Tech, in his role as chief technology officer. In this latest Executive Spotlight interview, Collazo breaks down his current perspectives on AI and explains why it’s a crucial aspect of today’s tech landscape, among other discussion points.

If you're a government contractor and you want to explore the field and its applications in the defense and federal markets, it's imperative you save a spot at the upcoming March 21 AI Summit.

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An Advanced Air-Launched Effects platform was released from an MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft system while in flight during a demonstration conducted at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah in November last year. General Atomics' aeronautical systems business said Thursday that the launch capped a series of demo activities of the A2LE platform, which covered not only flight but also manufacturing and structural testing.

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Army Secretary Christine Wormuth was included in Executive Mosaic's esteemed roster of 2024 Wash100 Award winners for continuously driving initiatives in support of the envisioned Army of 2030 and the early developmental phases of the Army of 2040. This is the second time that the Army leader was named among Executive Mosaic's annual list of 100 elite leaders in the government and government contracting space.

Vote for Wormuth as one of your favorite awardees at Wash100.com. This year's popular vote competition runs through April 30, so cast your 10 votes now!

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The decrease in military retention rates is a major issue for national defense. The scarcity of seasoned leaders impacts military effectiveness and raises questions about lower job satisfaction in the defense forces.    The U.S.’s overall military retention rate was 55% in 2021, highlighting the need for improvement. Inadequate compensation, toxic leadership, and limited freedom […] More

Executive Mosaic, the premier media and events organization in the government contracting sector, is honored to announce the 2024 edition of the highly anticipated Wash100 Award. Now in its historic 11th year, the Wash100 Award recognizes the top 100 industry executives and government leaders in the GovCon community for their outstanding leadership, positive impact and […] More

The Department of Defense has awarded SkyWater Technology's subsidiary in Florida and the state's Osceola County a contract that would fund the tooling of the Center for Neovation semiconductor manufacturing facility. Work under the contract involves the acquisition and installation of equipment that would enable to use of Deca Technologies' fan-out wafer level packaging technology and the implementation of Deca's Adaptive Patterning design-during-manufacturing capability at the Florida fab, SkyWater said Wednesday.

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The State Department has approved the Japanese government's request to purchase advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles manufactured by RTX from the U.S. government under a potential $224 million foreign military sale agreement. RTX will serve as the principal contractor on the potential FMS deal that covers the procurement of 120 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM and three AMRAAM C8 guidance sections, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Friday.

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BlueHalo, an Arlington Capital Partners portfolio company, has acquired Ipsolon Research, a provider of high-performance, ultra-small form factor software-defined radios, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is intended to support BlueHalo's current strategic and technological priorities by accelerating rapid prototyping and product delivery and promoting quality within its supply chain.

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Semiconductor and fiber lasers provider nLIGHT will work as a subcontractor to Kord Technologies on a $34.5 million U.S. Army contract for the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense prototyping effort. DE M-SHORAD aims to install 50kW-class high energy laser weapon systems on Stryker vehicles, improving their defenses against a variety of threats, including unmanned aircraft systems, nLIGHT said Monday.

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Divergent Technologies has closed its Series D equity financing, totaling $230 million. Divergent said Monday that Hexagon AB invested $100 million and led the capital raising round, which included new and existing institutional and family office investors.

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nLIGHT will continue developing a high energy laser prototype under the second phase of the HEL Scaling Initiative of the Department of Defense's Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research & Engineering. The phase two award now has a total value of $171 million after the DOD exercised additional options.

Interested in learning more about the DOD's research and development activities? Hear from OUSD(R&E)'s Heidi Shyu, one of the speakers at the Potomac Officers Club's 10th Annual Defense R&D Summit. Register here to join the event.

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