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SOFWERX – Trusted Capital AI Virtual Venture Day Starting 24 June 2020

June 17th, 2020

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Trusted Capital, in concert with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), and the Department of Energy (DOE), will host an AI-focused Trusted Capital Virtual Venture Day.

Trusted Capital events are designed to bring together DoD-critical companies and capital providers to align their existing capabilities with national security interests.

The goal is to facilitate funding of companies with critical technology to provide risk mitigation against adversarial influence in supply chains and funding channels.

Trusted Capital maximizes the public-private partnership model. The U.S. government screens capital providers and companies for national security risks prior to offering participation in Venture Days and the Trusted Capital program. Eligible companies are firms offering technologies and capabilities critical to national security and seeking to secure sources of funding in support of the defense industrial base. Eligible capital providers are investment groups that support U.S. national security sectors that align with their investment portfolio.

Approximately 10 qualifying AI companies will deliver their pitches and funding needs to trusted providers of capital weekly over the course of several weeks. If your organization is accepted in Trusted Capital, you will receive an opportunity to prepare a five-minute pitch video with one minute at the end for questions from the capital providers and acquisition community.

This program will be administered on a first-come, first-serve basis for those companies that qualify to participate in the Trusted Capital Marketplace (TCM).

AI sectors of interest:
• Autonomous Vehicles
• Machine Vision and Image Recognition
• Machine Learning
• Robotics and Scale Automation
• Navigation System
• Language Processing and Recognition

Potential participants will undergo the due diligence required to pass a national security review for entrance into the Trusted Capital Venture Day and Trusted Capital Marketplace.

Submission Deadline: 22 June 11:59 PM EST

Visit events.sofwerx.org/trustedcapital to enter.

Posted in Digitization, SOF | Comments Off on SOFWERX – Trusted Capital AI Virtual Venture Day Starting 24 June 2020

The Catalyst Accelerator Unveils Next Cohort: Cyber for Space Applications

June 17th, 2020

Discovering Innovative Tech to Keep our Nation’s Cyber-Physical Systems SecureColorado Springs, Colo – June 11, 2020 – The Catalyst Accelerator (CA) announced its next cohort, Cyber for Space Applications, launching September 1, 2020. The goal of the CA is to increase Space Force [TS1] awareness and rapid acquisition of commercial, dual-use space technology by providing relevant business development training to Accelerator companies and connecting these entrepreneurs with users, decision makers, and potential new customers in the DoD and commercial realms. Eight companies will be chosen to participate in the program held at Catalyst Campus in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“How might we apply cyber technologies to secure the next generation of space operations and increase resiliency?” the problem statement poses. Cyber-physical systems are becoming more integral than ever before, introducing new sets of unique problems in both public and private sectors. It is vital that we come together to identify, understand and limit areas where threats could arise before they are exploited. The Cyber for Space Applications Accelerator, powered by the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, will be a 12-week, semi-residential program. Participating companies will receive a $12K-grant through the Catalyst Accelerator’s Corporate Sponsor, Booz Allen Hamilton, with an additional $3K available at the end of the Accelerator program when all deliverables have been met.

At the end of the program, all participating companies will have the opportunity to pitch to government stakeholders, industry leaders and commercial investors during a demonstration day. This enables cohort companies to raise awareness of their capabilities in order to solicit additional capital or follow-on government funding for further technological development.

KiMar Gartman, the Catalyst Accelerator Program Director, states, “We are excited to assist the Air Force and Space Force in finding companies with unique cyber solutions that will secure the next generation of space operations and increase resiliency. We look forward to collaborating with our dynamic space community to offer the very best program possible!”

Captain Keith Hudson, Government Lead for the Cyber for Space Applications cohort, stated, “As we face increasing cyber resiliency challenges in space, the upcoming Accelerator provides an opportunity for the USSF and AFRL to connect with small businesses to develop the necessary solutions to those challenges.”

Applications for the Cyber for Space Applications Accelerator will be closing August 3. The Catalyst Accelerator will be holding “Ask Me Anything” sessions on June 18 and July 23 to address inquiries related to the current CA Problem Statement along with other general program questions potential applicants may have.

For updates and other relevant announcements regarding the Cyber for Space Applications Accelerator, follow this cohort on social media with #CACSA. Interested applicants may learn more about the program and apply on the Catalyst Accelerator’s website, CatalystAccelerator.Space/Cyber-for-Space-Applications/.

Posted in CEMA, Disruptive Tech, Press Release | Comments Off on The Catalyst Accelerator Unveils Next Cohort: Cyber for Space Applications

New SOF Protective Mask Undergoing Testing at Dugway Proving Ground

June 17th, 2020

Personnel at the Combined Chemical Test Facility are preparing for the arrival of the Avon M53 protective mask in late May, developed with features to meet the requirements of Special Operations units.

Extensive testing is expected to begin in June at Dugway Proving Ground, the nation’s primary facility to test defenses against chemical and biological agents.

“The Avon M53 is highly regarded by users and agencies throughout the world due to its protective features,” said Test Officer Andrew Neafsey. “We will aggressively challenge this mask in order to verify the high level of performance required.”

The M53 is a variant of the currently issued Avon M50 mask, designed by the Department of Defense to meet the requirements of the Joint Services General Purpose Mask.

Like the M50, the M53 is designed to resist traditional chemical and biological warfare agents, select Toxic Industrial Materials (TIM), and particulates (including radioactive dust).

Among the features of the M53 variant is a wider field of vision, ballistic protection and scratch resistance of the eyescreen, and connection to either a canteen or hydration bladder for drinking.

The M53 is designed to work with most PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) without having to remove or change components. It can supply its wearer with filtered air from surroundings, tanks, air purifying respirator or rebreather.

The M53 is built by Avon Protection Systems of Cadillac, Michigan, a U.S. subsidiary of Avon Rubber of the United Kingdom that has been making respirators and protective masks since the 1920s.

By Albert Vogel

Posted in Admin | 6 Comments »

ADS Inc – Remote Health Solutions – SDNA-1000 COVID-19 Saliva-Based Test Kit

June 17th, 2020

ADS Inc is the exclusive distributor of Remote Health Solutions’ SDNA-1000 test kit to the Department of Defense. it is the only FDA EUA at-home COVID-19 saliva-based test kit for sale directly to U.S. government entities.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
-The only FDA EUA-authorized Saliva -Collection Device for COVID-19 testing
Proven to stabilize and protect -COVID-19 RNA during specimen transport in all extreme
temperatures over 10 days
-Engineered to reduce at-home user and self-collection errors
-Sample collection is done through saliva (spit) as opposed to nasal swab
-97.50% sensitivity
-100% Positive Predictive Value (PPV)
-97.56% Negative Predictive Value(NPV)
-24-hour laboratory turnaround time (not including shipping time)

For a quote, visit www.adsinc.com.

Posted in ADS, COVID-19 Pandemic, Medical | Comments Off on ADS Inc – Remote Health Solutions – SDNA-1000 COVID-19 Saliva-Based Test Kit

The 75th Ranger Regiment Announces Permanent Activation of the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion

June 17th, 2020

Effective June 16, 2020, the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment is officially activated and an enduring part of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

The Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion was provisionally activated on May 22, 2017 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

It was announced in October 2019, that the battalion would became a permanent part of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

“Within Sullivan’s Charter for the 75th Ranger Regiment, we continue to evolve as an ‘awesome force composed of skilled, dedicated Soldiers who can do things with their hands and weapons better than anyone,’” Lt. Col. Timothy Sikora, Commander, Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion said.

“Today the intelligence and cyber Rangers remain at the top of their fields, able to do things with their tools that are rarely matched by their peers.”

“Each one of the RMIB Rangers earned their tan beret and scroll the same as every other military occupational specialty in the 75th Ranger Regiment formation,” Sikora added. “Everyone is a Ranger first.”

Whether it is unmanned aircraft systems operators, all-source analysts, geospatial analysts, human intelligence collectors, technical operations, electronic warfare or cyber analysts, RMIB Rangers make up the majority of Ranger-tabbed Soldiers in their specialties.

“In deployed and garrison environments, the RMIB adapts to meet the needs of the 75th Ranger Regiment,” Sikora said. “We are 75% towards our authorized fill and continue to actively recruit motivated Soldiers from all specialties to join our team.”

For more information on serving with RMIB, go to: www.benning.army.mil/Tenant/75thRanger/RMIB-ABOUT or email 75recruit@socom.mil or 75officerrecruit@socom.mil.

About the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion

The battalion’s mission is to recruit, train, develop, and employ highly trained and specialized Rangers to conduct full spectrum intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber, and electronic warfare operations in order to enhance the Regimental Commander’s situational awareness and inform his decision-making process. Presently, the RMIB consists of a headquarters detachment and two companies.

The staff and command group are embedded within the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment. It leads the Regiment’s recruitment and management of intelligence Rangers, synchronizes intelligence training and operations across the Regiment and with other special operations and conventional forces, and also provides intelligence support to the Regimental staff.

The Military Intelligence Company possesses a diverse mix of capabilities which include all-source analysts, geospatial analysts, human intelligence collectors, counterintelligence agents, and unmanned aerial systems. This enables the company to conduct multi-discipline collection and production, expeditionary imagery collection and processing, exploitation, and dissemination of raw data, and all-source analysis, to further enable the Regiment’s training and operations.

The Cyber Electromagnetic Activities Company integrates and synchronizes cyber, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and technical surveillance in support of the Regimental Commander’s objectives. The CEMA Company represents a new approach in line with the Army’s intent of fielding a modernized force capable of operations on any front. The multi-domain concept provides a non-linear approach where all events can occur across the environment at any time. CEMA places emphasis on innovation, technological advancement and electronic pursuit to support real time operations against any threat, digital or otherwise.

Rangers Lead the Way!

Posted in CEMA, Forces Focus, ISR, SOF | Comments Off on The 75th Ranger Regiment Announces Permanent Activation of the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion

AFRL, AFSOC Launch Palletized Weapons from Cargo Plane

June 17th, 2020

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —

Through a partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Air Force Special Operations Command successfully released simulated palletized munitions in three airdrops at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, Jan. 28 from an MC-130J Commando II, a multi-mission, combat, transport and special operations tanker.

This successful Phase I operational demonstration represents a milestone in executing a palletized munitions airdrop, which refers to the delivery of a large volume of air-launched weapons at any given time.

In this case, munitions stacked upon wooden pallets, or Combat Expendable Platforms, deployed via a roller system. AFSOC used an MC-130J Commando II since its cargo area supported the release of multiple, relatively large munitions.

AFSOC aircrew released five CEPs rigged with six simulated munitions, the same mass as the actual weapons, including four Cargo Launch Expendable Air Vehicles with Extended Range across a spectrum of low and high altitude airdrops. These long-range, high precision weapons destroy moving and non-moving targets.

“In the end, the demonstration accomplished all objectives,” said Jerry Provenza, AFRL CLEAVER program manager. In the three airdrops, all five CEPs separated cleanly from the aircraft, and the munitions separated from the CEPs.

“This successful (demo) is evidence of our commitment to evolve innovative weapons concepts and enhance our partnership with AFSOC to meet the needs of the National Defense Strategy,” said Col. Garry Haase, director of AFRL’s Munitions Directorate. “CLEAVER represents a different approach to launching large numbers of long-range weapons, which will bring a new dynamic to the high-end fight.”

The employment of these weapons directly advances the Air Force palletized munition experimentation effort, an innovative concept in which a multi-engine platform carrying large quantities of network-enabled, semi-autonomous weapons accompanies remotely piloted aircraft and fighter jets in combat missions.

The CLEAVER, while first envisioned by AFRL’s Center for Rapid Innovation, is now led by program managers from AFRL’s Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base. Dr. Alok Das, AFRL senior scientist and CRI director, leads a rapid reaction team that provides solutions to the warfighter’s highest priority urgent needs.

Das explains that the CRI is “in the business of innovation” by developing non-traditional solutions that address operational challenges. After assembling the subject matter experts and forming a collaborative team, the CRI developed the prototype CLEAVER.

For this Phase I demonstration, an AFSOC 27th Special Operations Wing MC-130J aircraft flew to the range from Hill AFB, accompanied by an Air National Guard 137th SOW MC-12W Liberty chase aircraft flying from Salt Lake City International Airport. This turbo prop plane with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, made real-time observations, capturing photos and video during three airdrops.

In future demonstrations, AFSOC will release CLEAVER glider vehicles, powered vehicles, and full-up vehicles with optional Warhead and terminal guidance. Provenza said AFRL’s Munitions Directorate will provide vehicles and SMEs in Phase II and beyond. He asserts that AFRL is committed to this strategic partnership with AFSOC.

By Whitney Wetsig, Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Aviation, Guest Post, weapons | Comments Off on AFRL, AFSOC Launch Palletized Weapons from Cargo Plane

New Research Creates Neutralizing Sponge for Dangerous Chemicals

June 16th, 2020

Dr Simon Holder, Reader in Organic Chemistry at the University of Kent (UK) and Dr Barry Blight, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of New Brunswick (Canada), have developed a new method for containing and deactivating neurotoxic chemicals like VX and sarin.

These weapons, known as nerve agents or neurotoxins, are highly potent and fast acting. Small doses can cause rapid paralysis and death, as the chemicals disrupt the connection between the body’s nerves and muscles.

These internationally banned liquids are aerosolised purposely to inflict damage on large geographical areas and are considered to be weapons of mass destruction (WMD’s).

In a project funded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) of the UK Ministry of Defence, the Kent team investigated new methods of bulk decontamination of chemical weapons.

The result of the research was the “Metal-organic framework (MOF)-containing polymer sponge”.

This is a sponge developed to swell and absorb dangerous neurotoxins and make them safer to handle, which also contains the MOF chemical catalyst, created to accelerate the chemical’s breakdown, diminishing the neurotoxins into safer components.

To research this safely, researchers used substances to simulate the presence of neurotoxins without risking exposure to dangerous chemicals. Following this, Dstl tested the prototype material with the real nerve agent to confirm the effect.

“Less than five kilograms of the MOF-containing polymer sponge can absorb, immobilize, and safely destroy a 55-gallon drum of these toxic chemicals. It is very exciting to consider the potential this has in combatting dangerous chemicals in the future,” said Dr. Holder, who is also director of research at Kent’s School of Physical Sciences.

The research paper has been published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces: pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acsami.9b18478

Swell and Destroy: A Metal–Organic Framework-Containing Polymer Sponge That Immobilizes and Catalytically Degrades Nerve Agents

Authors: Yaroslav Kalinovskyy, Alexander J. Wright, Jennifer R. Hiscock, Toby D. Watts, Rebecca L. Williams, Nicholas J. Cooper, Marcus J. Main, Simon J. Holder, Barry A. Blight

Posted in CBRNE, Press Release | Comments Off on New Research Creates Neutralizing Sponge for Dangerous Chemicals

Outdoor Retailer Online is Happening July 21-23

June 16th, 2020

Let’s gather online this summer!Mark your calendar! Outdoor Retailer Online is coming next month. From July 21-23, 2020, the outdoor community can connect, collaborate, and have the important conversations the show is known for. This summer it’s all online in an interactive environment.

DISCOVER

The show floor at Outdoor Retailer curates all that’s new and upcoming in the outdoor industry, and the Outdoor Retailer Online platform will promote the same joy of discovery that comes with walking the aisles. Exhibiting brands can showcase their product lines and news on their own customizable page. And retailers, buyers, designers, and media can search and discover what brands have available across all seasons – current inventory, upcoming for fall/winter, and new for spring/summer 2021.

LEARN

Like the in-person summer show, Outdoor Retailer Online will open with the Industry Breakfast hosted by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) on the morning of Tuesday, July 21. Three days of live education presented within the platform will follow in scheduled time slots from July 21-23, and all sessions will be available on-demand after they end. These conversations will cover topics important to our industry both now and moving forward, including diversity and sustainability, reopening and rebuilding, and strategy for business and industry growth.

CONNECT

While we’re all craving personal connection right now and miss the opportunity to come together as a community this summer, we are also mastering new online communication tools. Outdoor Retailer Online allows for exhibitors to host multiple live video conversations simultaneously within their page, and to book appointments or interviews within the platform. Scheduled events throughout the three days will also provide networking opportunities for all attendees to connect, reconnect, and have important conversations to support the growth of businesses and our industry.

Since the cancellation of Outdoor Retailer Summer Market due to COVID-19, it’s been our goal to provide a valuable space for our community to strengthen businesses, network, and stay united.

We appreciate your patience as we looked for a solution, not a reaction. We know from many conversations over the past weeks, and from reading through the surveys, we needed an online space that: supports your reimagined sales seasons; allows for the discovery of new brands, products ,and retailers; provides an outlet for marketing and media communication; and gives us all a way to stay connected. It needed to be a space where we can listen, learn, and grow together.

Capturing it all, and everything we gain from days at the show, in an online space is a challenge. There are a lot of layers to the shows. But we hope Outdoor Retailer Online will provide you tools and an efficient space to support your business.

We also plan to bring fun and inspiration – Outdoor Retailer and the outdoor industry wouldn’t be complete without it. The 10th annual Outdoor Retailer Inspiration Awards will be hosted on the platform on July 22 (nominations are open!), and keep an eye out for more events to be announced. Read more in the press release here.

If you’re a brand interested in exhibiting or sponsorships, contact your Account Executive today. For all attendees, we’ll have more information soon around registration, the exhibiting brand list, and education schedule.

While live programming will run for three days, the Outdoor Retailer Online platform and its tools will be accessible to registered exhibitors and attendees through the summer. Use when best works for you.

We’re excited to introduce this platform, and we want it to be a place for your business and our community to find tools for moving forward and thriving. Know that we’re always here to support you, and we look forward to working with you in the coming weeks as Outdoor Retailer Online comes to life.

Marisa Nicholson

Senior Vice President and Show Director, Outdoor Retailer

P.S. Also save the date for the winter show when we can all gather again – January 27-29, 2021, back in Denver!

Posted in Outdoor Retailer, Press Release | Comments Off on Outdoor Retailer Online is Happening July 21-23