The Cyber Statesman

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a major reorganization to enhance its technology, cybersecurity, data, and AI strategy and policy functions. This new structure introduces a new office and begins the search for permanent positions of chief technology officer (CTO), chief data officer (CDO), and chief AI officer (CAIO). The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) will be renamed the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and ONC (ASTP/ONC). Oversight for technology, data, and AI policy and strategy will shift from the Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA) to ASTP/ONC. This move aims to streamline and clarify the previously distributed responsibilities across various HHS offices. National Coordinator Micky Tripathi will be named assistant secretary for technology policy and national coordinator for health IT, as well as acting CAIO. ASTP/ONC will establish an Office of the CTO to oversee department-level and cross-agency technology, data, and AI strategy and policy, including the Office of the CAIO, Office of the CDO, and a new Office of Digital Services. The department will also host a webinar on Aug. 1 to discuss these opportunities. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of this reorganization to address the pressing issues of cybersecurity, data, and AI in the healthcare space, ensuring the department is agile, accountable, and strategic to meet current and future challenges. #HHS #technology #cybersecurity #AI #data #healthcare #CTO #CDO #CAIO #policy Source- https://lnkd.in/g5_UB-2H

The Department of Energy (DOE) is prioritizing energy consumption for artificial intelligence (AI) technologies as a critical mission area. Helena Fu, director of the Office of Critical and Emerging Technologies, highlighted the rising energy demands from AI and machine learning (ML) systems at an Axios forum. Fu emphasized the opportunity to advance clean firm power, which doesn't rely on weather conditions like solar and wind, through industry partnerships. The increased energy demand is due to various factors, including data centers, electrification, and the resurgence of manufacturing in the U.S., making this a pivotal moment to align data center demands with clean energy commitments. The DOE is actively addressing the energy challenges posed by AI through initiatives like the Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence for Science, Security, and Technology program. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has also directed an advisory board to investigate future tech-driven energy demands. One promising solution comes from the DOE’s Exascale Computing Project, which aims to develop energy-efficient AI computation systems through successful public-private partnerships. Despite the anticipated energy needs, Fu believes that AI will significantly benefit scientific discovery across various disciplines, leveraging the expertise at national labs to develop powerful models in partnership with industry and academia. #artificialintelligence #machinelearning #cleanenergy #datacenters #energyconsumption #sustainability #DOE #energyefficiency #publicprivatepartnerships #scientificdiscovery Source- https://lnkd.in/g7taYCjs

The Marines are gearing up to enhance every squad with advanced tools to combat drones, aiming to provide comprehensive defense capabilities from logistics units to reconnaissance teams. Current anti-air systems like L-MADIS offer some protection but fall short against the increasing threat from enemy drones, as experienced by Ukrainian troops. To address this, the Corps is seeking squad-portable tools that can identify and neutralize drones up to 55 pounds within a half-mile, with an investment similar to the gear used for jamming IEDs in past conflicts. Solutions under consideration include smart optics for firearms, low-end anti-air missiles like APKWS, and multi-layered sensor networks for early drone detection. The September competition aims to attract companies with AI-enabled cameras and other innovative technologies to test these solutions. The Corps is particularly interested in integrating data from various sensors into the Tactical Android Kit for enhanced battlefield visualization. AI could play a crucial role in this counter-drone strategy, helping quickly identify enemy UAVs and direct automated defenses. Post-trials, the goal is to deploy some of these advanced systems to a Marine Air-Ground Task Force, potentially in the Pacific, within the next year, marking a significant step forward in the Marines' counter-drone capabilities. #marines #dronewarfare #counterdrone #militarytech #defensetech #AI #UAV #innovation #security #militarystrategy Source- https://lnkd.in/eYXMzUv2

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) are leveraging new AI technologies across scientific domains impacting national security research. With the installation of the Venado supercomputer, featuring NVIDIA’s Grace Hopper chips, LANL is pioneering AI-powered computation in scientific modeling and simulation. This initiative promises to enhance research areas like climate change and molecular dynamics, where AI can significantly reduce simulation time and increase result accuracy. Galen Shipman, a computer scientist at LANL, highlighted the joint investment from both the weapons and science computation sectors, expecting these capabilities to impact critical missions. LANL's AI integration extends to national security applications, including classified research areas. The Venado supercomputer supports AI capabilities that can be used in classified settings to enhance the U.S. nuclear stockpile management and other critical missions. Researchers are also employing machine learning models to improve their bioscience research, with plans to expand AI use to other mission areas. With support from congressional funding and partnerships with companies like OpenAI, LANL aims to stay at the forefront of AI-driven scientific innovation, ultimately transforming research processes and accelerating discoveries in various fields. #lanl #ai #nationalsecurity #supercomputer #nvidea #venado #climatechange #moleculardynamics #machinelearning #innovation Source- https://lnkd.in/gWZ5yQak

The Navy is set to release new guidance for "structured divestment" of legacy IT systems, aiming to enable smarter investments in modernization, according to a memo from Acting CTO Justin Fanelli. This approach builds on the Navy's Operation Cattle Drive, launched in 2020, which saved $150 million by 2022 through IT consolidation. The memo outlines steps for identifying and eliminating redundant systems, enhancing the Navy's digital transformation efforts through agile-centered design concepts. The Department of the Navy CIO, in coordination with the assistant secretary for financial management, will lead these initiatives, with results to be shared on specific Microsoft Teams channels and involving relevant cyber command expertise. #navy #itmodernization #digitaltransformation #structureddivestment #operationcattledrive #technology #cybersecurity #government #innovation #technews Source- https://lnkd.in/g3J99iw9

The Department of Energy (DOE) has unveiled an AI roadmap under the Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence for Science, Security, and Technology (FASST) initiative, aimed at enhancing national security, developing the AI workforce, and driving energy and science breakthroughs. This effort includes creating optimal datasets for AI training, building AI-capable computing resources, and developing trustworthy AI models. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm highlighted FASST’s potential to leverage DOE’s advanced supercomputing and research infrastructure for technological advancements. Legislation by Sens. Joe Manchin and Lisa Murkowski supports FASST, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to lead in AI innovation to maintain global competitiveness. #ai #artificialintelligence #technology #innovation #energy #nationalsecurity #supercomputing #research #workforce #datascience Source- https://lnkd.in/dmTFN6pV

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has updated its guidance on patent subject matter eligibility to support innovation in critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). Effective July 17, this update, mandated by President Biden's October 2023 AI executive order, provides clarity on evaluating AI inventions with three new examples illustrating the application of eligibility analysis. These examples address AI-specific limitations, AI-based speech signal analysis, and AI models for personalized medical treatment. USPTO Director Kathi Vidal emphasized the commitment to fostering innovation and encouraged public feedback on this guidance, which will enhance understanding and application of patent eligibility criteria. Public comments are accepted until September 16. #uspto #patent #trademark #ai #innovation #technology #guidance #artificialintelligence #emergingtech #publicfeedback Source- https://lnkd.in/g43huwkD

The NSA has released a new Cybersecurity Information Sheet (CSI) offering recommendations to automate routine tasks, enabling a sharper focus on advanced threats. This CSI, part of a series on zero trust systems for the DoD, targets the final pillar: automation and orchestration. Highlighting the value of a Zero Trust framework, NSA’s director of cybersecurity, Dave Luber, emphasized its accessibility and practical applications. The CSI advises leveraging automation and AI to handle repetitive tasks, enhance critical functions, and coordinate security operations, ultimately speeding up threat detection and response. This marks the culmination of NSA’s guidance on zero trust pillars, with more resources forthcoming to aid organizations in adopting these principles. #cybersecurity #automation #zerotrust #nsa #orchestration #infosec #machinelearning #artificialintelligence #defense #datasecurity Source- https://lnkd.in/eC8KmSfZ

The Marine Corps has unveiled a groundbreaking AI strategy, marking a significant milestone in their digital modernization efforts. Lt. Gen. Matthew Glavy emphasized the urgent need for AI to enhance decision-making in combat, as seen in the Ukraine conflict. The strategy outlines five key goals: comprehending mission-specific AI applications, creating a repository of AI use cases, boosting AI skillsets across the force, scaling AI deployment with modernized data management, and integrating cybersecurity into AI efforts. The Marine Corps aims to leverage AI for both combat and business operations, addressing challenges like technology misalignment and competency gaps. Collaborations with Defense Department components, international allies, industry, and academia will drive AI innovation and adoption, ensuring the Marine Corps stays ahead in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. #MarineCorps #AI #DigitalModernization #ArtificialIntelligence #MilitaryTech #DefenseStrategy #Innovation #Cybersecurity #AIIntegration #FutureWarfare Source- https://lnkd.in/g89-rtQK

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has begun constructing the Leadership-Class Computing Facility at the University of Texas at Austin, set to be operational in 2026. This facility, housing Horizon, the largest academic supercomputer dedicated to open-scientific research, aims to enhance computational resources for addressing critical challenges. Horizon promises a 10x improvement in simulation performance over its predecessor, Frontera, and a 100x leap for AI applications. This project supports the National AI Research Resource, providing essential computational and data resources. With a $457 million investment, this initiative involves collaboration with several institutions, expanding access and capabilities nationwide. #computing #supercomputer #nsf #research #ai #science #technology #innovation #collaboration #hpc Source- https://lnkd.in/gBa6zpBv