Defense Business Briefing -- April 27, 2021

Welcome to today's Defense Business Briefing, your weekly roundup of the latest defense industry news.

This week's top story

Pandemic's effect on small business will soon start to be fully measured

In late January 2020, executives at the Ocala, FL-based small business Veterans Trading Co., which specializes in value-added supply chain services, started to get concerned the COVID-19 virus was likely to hit their business.

News & notes

Raytheon says it has received subpoena related to DOJ pricing investigation

Raytheon Technologies executives said the company has received another subpoena from the Justice Department in connection with an investigation into defective pricing of several contracts won by the company's missiles and defense business.

SAIC acquires Koverse

Science Applications International Corp. said it has agreed to acquire Koverse, which specializes in a data management platform that enables artificial intelligence and machine learning.

AI company Shield AI opens new office, names retired colonel to VP role

Shield AI, a San Diego-based, venture capital-backed defense technology company, has opened a new Washington, DC-area office and named retired Army Col. Johnny Cochran vice president of strategic engagements.

Smith seeks new business dynamic with defense contractors

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smtih (D-WA), who will help shape the upcoming defense policy bill, said today he wants the Pentagon to change the way it does business with defense contractors, especially with intellectual property arrangements, so the government can lower costs and promote greater competition.

CACI says effects of pandemic 'are still here'

CACI International executives said they are lowering their fiscal year 2021 sales guidance because of a "greater than expected impact" from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Appointments & promotions

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory names Lord senior fellow

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory said it has named former Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord a senior fellow.

Former NSC official joins lobbying firm

Lobbying firm Ballard Partners said today it has hired Alex Gray, a former National Security Council chief of staff.

AIA hires Prowitt

The Aerospace Industries Association said it has named Peter Prowitt chief operating officer, effective in July.

What's happening

The week ahead

Senior Pentagon officials are slated to speak at a variety of events around Washington this week, while several large defense contractors hold annual earnings calls.

For  Inside Defense subscribers

Analysts say Brown nomination reflects continued DOD emphasis on software

Defense industry analysts say the selection of Michael Brown, who previously headed Symantec and, more recently, the Defense Innovation Unit, to lead Pentagon acquisition signals a continued emphasis on software modernization and faster innovation.

Pentagon to release 'zero trust' cybersecurity strategy this year

The Pentagon will release a strategy to guide the move toward what the Defense Department's top IT official says is a "pivotal" shift in network security, as officials are also warning against vendors hawking holistic "zero trust" technologies.

DOD approves first pilots with CMMC requirements, plans RFP release this summer

The Pentagon's acquisition office has given its approval for the first contract solicitations with cyber certification requirements, and the rollout of the requests for proposals is expected in the summer, according to a Defense Department spokeswoman.