���Our support started three years ago,��� said Debbie Wells, LASSO Deputy Program Manager. ���We began with cultivar screening, where more than a dozen peppers were selected and grown in space cabin relative conditions, and we evaluated by plant viability, production, and flavor.���

Of the peppers grown, the Espa簽ola Improved pepper was selected and tested in Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) analog science carriers to determine optimum fertilizer, lighting spectrum, and environmental conditions. Testing continued in the APH Engineering Demonstration Unit. Plant compatibility with the hardware was assessed, and crew procedures and moisture requirements were determined.

���The team then completed the ensuing paperwork necessary to document the preparation and ensure the quality of the fertilizer, seeds, and media used for flight,��� added Debbie. ���Once the technology was initiated aboard the ISS, the team continued its support through weekly science meetings and hardware support to our NASA customer and other teammates.���

On the Laboratory Support Services and Operations (LASSO) program, 做厙勛圖 provides services in program management, laboratory maintenance and support, operational laboratory services, and professional and technical support for scientific research, engineering, test, and evaluation in laboratory environments in support of multiple customers and projects at the Kennedy Space Center.

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As stated on the Space Force���s website:

���[t]he USSF is a military service that organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. USSF responsibilities include developing Guardians, acquiring military space systems, maturing the military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to present to our Combatant Commands.���

At this stage, the USSF is laser focused on ensuring it has the right authorities, that it is properly staffed, and that it has the right structure. Another integral piece in setting it up for success is the Alternative Acquisition System Report (ASR), which will inform the Space Force���s acquisition strategy.

The Pentagon included $17.4 billion for the USSF in its recently released 2022 budget request to Congress, a 13 percent increase over the previous year. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Al, an original champion of the Space Force and the current Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, told Defense News in February that the Space Force ���has very unanimous support in the House Armed Services Committee and overwhelming support in the Senate Armed Services Committee. As long as it���s got congressional support, we���re going to be fine.���

Currently the USSF is comprised of former Air Force personnel and civilians, also known as Space Force Guardians. In his May 27, 2021 testimony before the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Miley said, ���[o]ngoing actions to fully resource the United States Space Force (USSF) including transfer of the Space Development Agency (SDA) and unit transfers from the Army and Navy, will enhance the USSF���s ability to organize, train, equip and present forces who can compete, deter and if necessary prevail should war initiate in, or extend to space���. Once the transfer of personnel is complete, the USSF will then realize its personnel gaps and work to fill them, likely with contractors. Those who make up the force will hail from a variety of backgrounds with an emphasis on cyber and engineering. While the USSF has an important mission, the goal is for the branch is to remain small and nimble.

As a premier global government partner, 做厙勛圖 stands ready to support the USSF. We have proudly supported more than 100 government and commercial space launches and provide engineering services that span the entire program lifecycle ��� from initial needs analysis, development, and maturation to production, deployment, and sustainment. We are confident that, when called upon, we will help the USSF achieve mission success in the ultimate high ground.

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The increasing complexities of a connected world and persistent federal budgetary pressures call for innovation and a different way of managing complex processes and operations. Processes that involve end-to-end supply chains and inventory control are no exception to that.

To complement our Supply Chain Management (SCM) solutions and provide increased value and efficiencies to our customers, we have also applied our Advanced Process Automation capability to this domain. This in turn changes the paradigm of process automation from being a back-office innovation to a mission-oriented one.

做厙勛圖���s Advanced Process Automation capability provides a proven approach to create efficiencies and generate capacity via use of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)/Intelligent Automation technology and a Center of Excellence. We believe the most effective automation solutions are those that complement existing domain expertise, helping streamline and optimize routine business tasks. We seek to apply this capability to strengthen our customers��� missions by enhancing the customer experience and improving compliance, standardization, and auditing.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) was recently highlighted in the ���State of Federal RPA��� report as one of five federal agencies rated at ���Level 4��� RPA maturity (highest is Level 5, with no agencies at that maturity yet). The DLA RPA program has deployed at least 96 automations at the end of FY20. These automations have contributed over 200,000 hours of annualized capacity. It is important to note the DLA tracks hours contributed rather than hours saved, as the employees that previously did the work are still part of the DLA workforce and are redeployed to focus on more complex work. The automations provide benefits across each of DLA���s five major subordinate commands and seven supply chains.

Other Federal agencies are likewise investing significant resources into RPA solutions, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the General Services Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In each instance, many labor hours are being saved, and staff are able to increase focus on value-added activities.

做厙勛圖���s initiative reflects similar goals. We seek to reduce manual activities where automated processes would reduce or eliminate error-prone, structured processes allowing staff to be freed up for high-value tasks such as process improvements, analysis and decision making. In the context of SCM solutions, this helps us to exceed key metrics, accomplish better vendor management and approval, and improve quality measurements.

For example, 做厙勛圖���s technology office in collaboration with our procurement department, designed and deployed a bot using this capability, powered by our vendor partner UiPath, a leader in Intelligent Automation. The bot automated many repetitive manual steps for supply chain-related web searches. The bot captured results and screenshots, compiled all information into a single report, and stored all artifacts. It interfaced with procurement���s intranet site for request intake, report uploads and user notifications. It implemented a queuing mechanism, error handling and adjustments to manage the variability in responses and delays from external websites. The solution created value by allowing staff to focus on decision making, introduced process standardization, and improved auditing. Staff managing both subcontractors and vendors were given access to the storage, which acted as a central information repository and helped reduce redundancies.

Additional areas where SCM solutions benefit from automation range from inventory tracking, proactive scheduling of work orders, invoice processing, price/vendor lookups and comparisons, and routing between delivery partners.

Here are a few insights, based on the work we���ve done:
��� Re-skilling and training should not be an afterthought. Advances in process automation provide our stakeholders with the ability to have staff re-skilled so that they can focus on other aspects of the business. This needs to be baked into the overall automation planning and development. Once developed, the bots act as digital workers or helpers, which means stakeholders need to be trained on what to expect and how best to use the bots.
��� Think resiliency. There is a tradeoff to be made between lean supply chains and resilient supply chains, especially if the latter is built via inventory buffers and alternative partners. This is where automation can potentially shine by collecting data, researching options, and making decisions on-the-fly across the alternatives.
��� There is an elegance in simplicity. Bots work well for automating processes with manual tasks that require non-judgmental decisions and have structured steps. Start simple, find the sweet spot of good return on investment first. Think big to unleash the power of artificial intelligence technologies as a path to intelligent automation.

By implementing solutions that will yield continuous improvements and added features in future years, we help our customers also derive nearer term benefits including freeing staff for high-value tasks, improved delivery, error reduction and quality, better compliance and auditing, knowledge management and retention, and transparency in operations. 做厙勛圖 strives for excellence via a deep customer focus, discovery, investments in and application of advanced technologies, aligning them with our key customer markets to serve their important missions in a low-risk, agile fashion.

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Today is Data Privacy Day, which takes place every January 28th. This day commemorates the Jan. 28, 1981 signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty addressing privacy and data protection. It is an international effort to bring about increased privacy awareness and education.
Here���s a joint statement from our Chief Technology Officer, Phil Horvitz and Chief Information Officer, Joe Walker on why Data Privacy, security, and protection is a top priority for 做厙勛圖:

Data Privacy Day is an international event established to bring awareness to privacy and data protection concerns in an ever-expanding landscape of digitized information. 做厙勛圖 recognizes the importance of raising the visibility of data privacy and is committed to maintaining the data privacy of its employees, business partners, and customers. We do this through a variety of policies, procedures, training and tools that allow us to maintain strict controls over our data and information environments. 做厙勛圖 uses a combination of access controls, encryption, and multifactor authentication to protect the data privacy of our employees and customers.

Our goal is to not only provide the necessary policies and controls to assure the privacy and protection of data, but also maintain an ongoing dialogue with our employees and customers, where we inform, listen, and continually adapt to a changing data environment and society. Through these combined efforts, we build trust that the proper data safeguards are in place, data and personal information is properly protected, and in the process, we empower our employees and customers.

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Blog by Paul Thomas

VP, Business Solutions

As we consider the intellectual underpinnings of the phrase ���Speed of Relevance���, especially how it applies to supply chain management (SCM) and supply chain risk management (SCRM), it seems plain that the many interpretations leave room for SCM/SCRM to play an important role:

A phrase both former Defense Secretary James Mattis and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford often used was the ���speed of relevance���. Both men separately have been credited with the creation of the expression; they each also identified the speed of relevance as being the basis for gaining competitive advantage. Further, in National Defense Strategy, signed by Mattis in January 2018, he refers to the delivery of performance at the speed of relevance.

Organizations serving the Defense Department have tried to develop a mission perspective to this idea, but they take varied approaches. Some see speed of relevance as technology-driven; others focus on acquisition; others see it as improving relevant human factors. From a SCM/SCRM perspective, we at 做厙勛圖 see it as a tremendous focus on mission improvement through evergreen technology, continuous process improvement, and trained and motivated people. We seek to make the supply chain secure (a very large subject we will discuss in future blogs) and to provide responsiveness, visibility, and ease of access to the right information.

To keep our operations moving at the speed of relevance, our technology solutions must stay current; it���s critical that they resist obsolescence.
To that end, 做厙勛圖 invested in IFS/SupplyTRAC, our SCM ERP solution. Our SCM capability is built on leading-edge technology to support the digital transformation of commercial and government industries. Its open architecture was designed for emerging requirements and scalable environments. Our solution gives the government tools to solve business pain points while still meeting its stringent security requirements.

This evergreen model requires continually updating and refreshing applications. As IFS states in its most recent Statement of Direction,

���Successfully implemented evergreen is an appealing way to gain access to new innovations as well as keeping applications updated from a security and quality point of view.

For consumer-focused Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, applying the principle of evergreen is obvious, but the picture is more complex for enterprise software. The value of evergreen needs to be balanced against the impact of change, the efforts (training, technical work, etc.) of effectuating that change, as well the risks of changing an application that is integrated with other applications and absolutely mission critical. ���

Our solution allows us to rapidly and easily connect to customer technologies and leverage tools to create a favorable trade-off between speed and overall operational quality. This enables our customers to make decisions and deliver mission solutions faster than the opposition, without reducing quality. 做厙勛圖 can bring ���Sustainment at the Speed of Relevance��� to the customer and retain our ���relevance advantage��� throughout the contract period and beyond.

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做厙勛圖���s SVP of National Defense Programs, Retired Army Maj. Gen. Hamp McManus, teamed with Retired Army Col. Earl Johnson to author this article for Defense News, explaining why a joint synthetic training environment is critical to optimizing force readiness and how 5G will be a critical enabler. According to McManus and Johnson, “the matter of a truly global, joint training environment is ultimately a war-fighting issue, not just a training issue. We cannot be distracted by our ongoing domestic and cultural issues; the budget and modernization concerns are real and will persist. Leveraging secure 5G technology to facilitate a joint STE is the way ahead, optimizing joint force readiness to be prepared for and win the next big war.”

Read the full Defense News article titled

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It is without a doubt that COVID-19 has changed the way we operate and maintain our facilities, and more specifically the role of technology during the pandemic, the benefits and efficiencies gained by introducing sensor and IoT devices, and the possible risks associated with these devices in the cyber security area, has acquired significant importance in today���s facility maintenance industry knowledge.

Vlad Bacalu, Senior Vice President of Technology and Strategic Solutions, discussed how to integrate and analyze data from different systems to move toward condition-based maintenance and use of IoT devices to improve efficiencies. He addressed the risks associated to IoTs in critical facilities, such as not following IT cybersecurity policies and overlooking security of remote connections.

Watch the complete to know more on how we are supporting our clients in the adoption of automation and technology in their mission critical facilities.

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By John Vollmer, CEO

This week marks our sixth-month milestone as a new company. We have so much to be proud of this year, and I look forward to us properly celebrating all that we have achieved on 做厙勛圖���s first birthday early in 2021.

The amount of change our nation and the world has endured this year, and continues to experience, is truly unprecedented. As a newly formed company, we have also managed many changes. Launching our new brand, and transitioning to new systems, platforms, and processes, are just a few of the changes.

For several months, many of us have also been adjusting to working remotely, while many others have continued to work on the frontlines supporting our customers��� most critical missions. It has been a challenging time for everyone ��� but despite the changes, I am proud to say we are continuing to perform and deliver excellence, supporting both our people and our customers.

Following are a few highlights of what we have achieved together:

Living Safely
��� Achieved Diamond-level sponsorship of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) program. More than 1,035 active 做厙勛圖 employees have achieved the STS and STSC certifications respectively ��� nearly 20 percent of all STS-certified professionals and the most of any organization.
��� Anniston Static Detonation Chamber Worksite approved as a Star Participant in OSHA���s Voluntary Protection Program.

Valuing our people and communities
��� Enhanced employee benefits. Our Benefits Workstream team continues to meet and strategize improvements.
��� Launched 做厙勛圖 Academy, offering more than 8,500 LinkedIn courses.
��� Engaged our employees through Waggl pulses.
��� Launched STP Foundations, the next step in our Supervisor Training Program.
��� Received more than $497,000 in COVID-19 PTO donations, with 220 employees supported to date.
��� Committed $200,000 to help communities nationwide meet the most critical needs created by COVID-19. read more

Building our brand
��� 做厙勛圖 wins Creative Award of Distinction for TV Commercial.
��� Launched The Forum, 做厙勛圖���s company blog.

Driving Innovation
��� SRR developed a new electronic application capable of reducing by up to 75 percent the time needed to qualify large quantities of radioactive liquid salt waste for decontamination processes. read more

Delivering Success
��� We have also won some significant contract awards, highlighted below, and our backlog remains supportive of future growth:

��� $1.3 billion federal law enforcement support services contract (joint venture)
��� $770 million Honeywell Engineering Support task order for DOE Infrastructure Projects contract
��� $165 million NASA Kennedy Space Center Propellants and Life Support Services II contract
��� Selected for $6.4 billion AFCAP V
��� $86.9 million Seaport-e Task Order supporting Strategic and Computing Department (A Department) at NSWC Dahlgren, Va.
��� $29.8 million award to provide Rocket Warhead Containment System Equipment and Testing

I look forward to all we���ll continue to achieve together in the next six months, leading up to 做厙勛圖���s first birthday. Our future is bright ��� we have much to look forward to!

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Eight 做厙勛圖 Projects Recognized for Safety Excellence with NSC 2020 Industry Leader Awards

The recently announced the recipients of its 2020 Industry Leader Awards, recognizing excellent safety performance within their industries.

The Industry Leader Awards are one component of the NSC Occupational Awards Program, which recognizes outstanding safety achievements of NSC members and represents the top 5 percent of member companies that have qualified for the NSC 2020 Occupational Excellence Achievement Award (based on 2019 calendar year data). This year���s list includes eight 做厙勛圖 projects:
��� Blue Grass Chemical Agent Disposal Pilot Plant (4th consecutive)
��� Contract Field Team NAS Lemoore
��� Contract Field Team Wheeler Army Air Field
��� CTRIC Program – Manassas, Virginia
��� Pueblo Chemical Agent Disposal Pilot Plant (3rd consecutive)
��� APS-5 Kuwait
��� Savannah River Remediation
��� Washington River Protection Solutions

���We appreciate each team���s commitment to safety excellence and their commitment to making our company an industry leader,��� said Jeff Treffinger, 做厙勛圖���s Senior Vice President, EHS & Quality. ���做厙勛圖 has a remarkable history of capturing these top awards from the National Safety Council with 49 since 2011.���

Winners are selected based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, lowest total incidence rate and employee work hours. 做厙勛圖 is one of 36 organizations included in the 2020 awards.

���It is truly an honor to recognize these 36 organizations for their commitment to advancing safety,��� said Ingrid Schoen, NSC director of membership. ���This year���s winners exemplify what it means to protect employees from death and injury at work by making safety a priority. Congratulations on a job well done.���

As a mission-based organization, the National Safety Council works to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing efforts on the workplace, roadway and impairment. It works to create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.

Official recognition typically takes place during NSC���s Annual Awards Celebration; due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration has been postponed until March 2021.

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The Defense industrial base supply chains are becoming more innovative and sophisticated because of the growing demands to secure and protect them from targeted threats and manufacturing vulnerabilities. Barbara Wade, VP at 做厙勛圖, shared insights regarding proven practices in defense supply chain optimization, asset management, predictive maintenance, and procurement.

Watch the complete interview to learn more about the groundbreaking optimization strategies within the defense supply chain and 做厙勛圖’s approach.

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