Simons Center News

Michael J.K. Kratsios, Chief Technology Officer of the United States and Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, spoke with Nand Mulchandani, Acting Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center at DoD, during a “Fireside Chat” on September 10. The chat was part of the 2020 Department of Defense Artificial Intelligence Symposium and Exposition. […]

A recent report details efforts by the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Interior, and the Department of Agriculture to strengthen military readiness and protect the environment. The 2020 Sentinel Landscapes Accomplishment Report was published on August 26, and reviews projects carried out during fiscal year 2019. According to William Jordan Gillis, the assistant […]

The White House released a new policy regarding the protection of U.S. space systems on September 4. Space Policy Directive-5, or SPD-5, focuses on space systems that enable communication, navigation, weather monitoring, and other capabilities vulnerable to cyberattacks. “Through establishing cybersecurity principles for space systems, Space Policy Directive-5 provides a whole-of-government framework to safeguard space […]

September is National Preparedness Month, a time to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. This year’s theme is “Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.” As our nation continues to respond to COVID-19, the wildfires in the west, and other natural disasters, it’s especially important to think about what you […]

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) have issued a joint technical alert about an ongoing bank robbery scheme perpetrated by North Korea. According to the alert released on August 26, North Korean hackers are targeting banks in multiple […]

On August 17, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an advisory guidance document to help non-federal public and private entities better understand the federal laws and regulations that may apply to the use of capabilities to detect and […]

In August, representatives from the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Energy, and Microsoft met virtually to discuss their efforts to develop artificial intelligence (AI) that would help first responders engaged in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. The goal of this partnership is to mitigate natural disasters by protecting property and lives, including those […]

On August 20, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a joint statement on the meeting of the Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council (GCC). The GCC met virtually to discuss Election Day preparations and other areas of coordination between the federal government and state and local election officials. According to the statement, the federal […]