Weekly GEOINT Community News

NGA Awards Leidos Contract to Sustain Web-based Applications; U.S. Center on AI Policy Comes to Georgetown; IBM Launches Watson Government Service; More

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NGA Awards Leidos Contract to Sustain Web-based Applications

Leidos was awarded an $85.5 million follow-on contract by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) to provide sustainment and adaptive maintenance for nine NGA mission applications. The single award, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract has a one-year base followed by four option years. Work will be performed in Gaithersburg, Md.Alexandria, Va., and Tucson, Ariz.

NGA, SLU Kick Off Geospatial 101 Series

The Geospatial 101 series, co-hosted by NGA and Saint Louis University, aims to raise awareness of geospatial science in the greater St. Louis area. In the first event of the series Feb. 4 at SLU, NGA image scientist Laura Santos and Vasit Sagan, associate professor in SLU’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, gave an overview of the science behind remote sensing. Upcoming sessions include “Mapping Health” March 4 and “How Humans and Machines Work Together” March 18.

U.S. Center on AI Policy Comes to Georgetown

A $55 million grant is creating the largest center in the United States focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and policy at Georgetown University. The Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), to be housed at Georgetown’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, will combine world-class AI expertise and advanced computing with Georgetown’s extensive networks in security policy. Funded by the Open Philanthropy Project, it will deliver nonpartisan analysis and advice on AI and other emerging technologies to U.S. and international policy and academic communities. Dr. Jason Matheny is CSET’s founding director.

IBM Launches Watson Government Service

NextGov reports IBM recently made its Watson AI system available across all cloud platforms, meaning government agencies running Amazon, Microsoft, or other cloud services can now use IBM’s technology in their enterprise environment. The service comes packaged in IBM Cloud Private for Data, an open-source, containerized cloud environment that groups can stand up in different parts of their IT infrastructure. Read the full story.

GSA Negotiates Government-Wide Agreement for Dell EMC

As part of the IT Schedule 70 Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) Enhancement Program, the General Services Administration (GSA) negotiated a government-wide enterprise acquisition agreement with Dell EMC for virtual computing environment solutions. This agreement will provide agencies with access to Dell solutions that reflect additional discounts based on the buying power of the entire federal government. The agreement provides government buyers with negotiated pricing and easy access to Dell EMC capabilities that address the many aspects of the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative and FITARA through virtual computing solutions. 

Riverside Research Funds $50K in STEM Scholarships

Riverside Research funded more than $50,000 in scholarships for the fourth consecutive year for students pursuing defense, intelligence, or STEM related degrees. The scholarships awarded for the 2018-2019 academic year supported eight students through partnerships with colleges, universities, and USGIF. In the coming months, Riverside Research will also promote STEM education by sponsoring events such as WashingtonExec’s K-12 STEM Symposium

Esri Publishes Human Geography Textbook 

Esri announced last week the publication of Introduction to Human Geography Using ArcGIS Online. The book is written by professor J. Chris Carter, who has been teaching human geography and GIS for more than 15 years. Pushing readers to better understand the human society and its impact on our planet, this college-level textbook challenges students to ponder the “why of where” with questions such as: How do physical features contribute to unique places and regions? What can local obesity rates tell us about food access? Why do people live where they do?

Peer Intel

Native appointed Chris Incardona as its new vice president for the public sector. Incardona has more than 25 years of experience with companies such as Airbus, Boeing, GeoEye, DigitalGlobe (MAXAR), and, most recently, as the vice president for strategic program development at Orbital Insight.

ICEYE announced the appointment of Steve Young as vice president, business development and sales. Prior to joining ICEYE, Young worked at BAE Systems, most recently as campaign director, Typhoon and chief of staff. In 2015, he helped co-found Earth-i, after a previous role as head of business development and sales for Surrey Satellite Technology. ICEYE also hired Leola Moss as vice president, product delivery and operations. Prior to joining ICEYE, Moss worked as the director of pipeline operations for Planet and spent three years as a senior program manager for Google. Her background includes positions at Skybox Imaging, GeoEye, Space Imaging, and the United States Air Force.

Image Credit: IBM

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