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The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 12, 2023
By John Liang
December 12, 2023 at 2:01 PM

This Tuesday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on nuclear command, control and communications provisions in the fiscal year 2024 defense policy conference bill, an Air Force investigation into the leaks of classified information on the Discord social media platform and more.

In the section of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization conference bill that would establish nuclear command, control and communications as a major force program, Congress would also require the Defense Department to submit budget materials on the program each year, including comparisons to the prior year and assessments of significant changes, priorities and risks:

Congress would designate NC3 as major force program

Congress would order the Defense Department to make nuclear command, control and communications a major force program and establish a team for cyber defenses of that program, according to the defense policy conference bill text released last week.

The Air Force inspector general this week released a report on the leaks of classified information on the Discord social media site:

Air Force IG: Inconsistent guidance on information security contributed to Discord leaks

If proper security reporting protocol had been followed, the Air National Guardsman charged with allegedly leaking classified documents could have been stopped months before his arrest in April, the Air Force inspector general found.

Document: Air Force IG report on Discord leaks

"Non-kinetic" effects are forces and capabilities used in warfare that do not need physical force to operate, like cyberspace operations and information strategies:

DOD updates non-kinetic force development goals laid out in the 2023 NDAA

The Defense Department is making progress on a congressional request to integrate "non-kinetic" forces into military situations, as requested by the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, as the year wraps up and House and Senate lawmakers agree to an FY-24 defense policy bill.

The Missile Defense Agency conducted a successful Ground-based Midcourse Defense system intercept test this week:

New '2-/3-stage GBI' intercepts target, breaking nearly 5-year 'strategic pause' in GMD testing

A new variant of the Ground-based Interceptor successfully stopped an intermediate-range ballistic missile today over the Pacific Ocean using a booster that utilized only two of three available rocket stages -- demonstrating the ability to release the kill vehicle earlier, significantly expanding both the engagement area and time available to counter inbound threats.

Our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity this week chatted with the head of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on the cyber provisions in the FY-24 conference bill:

FDD's Montgomery evaluates cyber provisions in compromise defense policy bill package

Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies struck a positive tone on the House-Senate compromise version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, while noting that some cyber provisions didn’t make the final cut.

Marine Corps to hold virtual ARV industry day in February
By Nick Wilson
December 12, 2023 at 12:45 PM

The Marine Corps is planning a virtual industry day for its Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle as the program continues progressing through a prototype assessment phase, according to a Tuesday announcement.

The industry day is scheduled for Feb. 29 and will take place via a virtual platform, the notice states, adding that more information on the event will be posted to SAM.gov “on or about” Jan. 19.

The notice was released by Army Contracting Command, which is serving as the ARV contracting authority on behalf of the Marine Corps’ program manager for Light Armored Vehicles.

Since early fiscal year 2023, the Marine Corps has been testing ARV prototypes produced by contractors General Dynamics Land Systems, Textron Systems and BAE Systems in a competitive prototype assessment phase that is now expected to stretch into FY-26.

The service plans to add an additional ARV mission role variant -- equipped with a 30mm gun and turret -- to this assessment. Only two contracts for ARV-30 prototypes will be awarded, according to a service spokesperson, who said this approach “supports the Marine Corps decision to pursue a purpose-built ARV solution.”

The program office plans to publish a request for proposals in the second quarter of FY-25 to advance the program into the engineering and manufacturing development phase, with a contract award anticipated in the second quarter of FY-26.

The Marine Corps’ FY-24 budget request includes $63.6 million in research and development funding for the program.

SOCOM awards Boeing $271M contract for six remanufactured Chinooks
By Dan Schere
December 11, 2023 at 5:25 PM

Army Special Operations Aviation Command has awarded Boeing a $271 million contract to produce six remanufactured MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters, the company announced today. The contract is part of the Army's modernization push, according to Boeing.

The contract was awarded through a “noncompetitive modification to an existing delivery order,” according to a Dec. 8 Pentagon notice. Work is expected to be completed by May 2027.

Boeing’s Block II fleet have redesigned fuel tanks, a stronger fuselage and an improved drivetrain, according to the company. Boeing delivered the first MH-47G Block II to SOCOM in September 2020.

Heather McBryan, Boeing’s vice president and program manager for cargo programs, said in a statement Monday that “with the new and improved MH-47G Block II aircraft, USASOAC is not only receiving the most capable Chinook helicopter, they are also provided the flexibility to add additional upgrades as their needs evolve over time.”

The Army is also scheduled to decide on a CH-47F Block II procurement strategy by the end of this calendar year. As of Monday there were no updates, according to the service’s Program Executive Office for Aviation.

The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 11, 2023
By John Liang
December 11, 2023 at 1:58 PM

This Monday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on a big missile defense intercept test this morning, the Pentagon's Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program, Army artificial intelligence/machine learning efforts and more.

The Missile Defense Agency conducted a successful Ground-based Midcourse Defense system intercept test this morning:

New '2-/3-stage GBI' intercepts target, breaking nearly 5-year 'strategic pause' in GMD testing

A new variant of the Ground-based Interceptor successfully stopped an intermediate-range ballistic missile today over the Pacific Ocean using a booster that utilized only two of three available rocket stages -- demonstrating the ability to release the kill vehicle earlier, significantly expanding both the engagement area and time available to counter inbound threats.

More missile defense news:

New 'era of missile-centric warfare' has arrived, elevating import of missile-defense systems

The conflicts in Ukraine and Israel have ushered in a new "era of missile-centric warfare" and elevated the importance of missile defense systems, demonstrating in real-world events capabilities previously relegated to intelligence forecasts and baked into key policy documents, including the 2022 National Defense Strategy, according to a senior Pentagon official.

The latest cyber defense news from our colleagues at Inside Cybersecurity:

FDD's Montgomery evaluates cyber provisions in compromise defense policy bill package

Mark Montgomery of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies struck a positive tone on the House-Senate compromise version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, while noting that some cyber provisions didn’t make the final cut.

Pentagon plans to hold public meeting on CMMC rulemaking after official publication

The Defense Department will hold a public meeting on its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program after the proposed rule implementing the initiative is published in the Federal Register, according to the latest unified agenda and regulatory plan.

Some Army artificial intelligence/machine learning news:

Army's Project Linchpin will initially support TITAN

Project Linchpin, the Army's new initiative to create a pipeline of artificial intelligence and machine learning, will support the service's Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) in its initial stages, a service official said last week.

The FY-24 defense authorization conference report has language on implementing the U.S.-U.K.-Australia defense cooperation agreement:

Defense policy bill looks to clear the way for AUKUS implementation

The draft conference defense policy bill, agreed to by House and Senate lawmakers this week, includes several provisions aimed at implanting key aspects of the AUKUS security partnership, with provisions enabling the sale of Virginia-class submarines to Canberra and loosening export control laws for Australia and the United Kingdom.

In a letter sent late last week, House Armed Services readiness subcommittee Chairman Mike Waltz (R-FL) and Ranking Member John Garamendi (D-CA) call for a Government Accountability Office review of V-22 Osprey operations and maintenance practices:

Lawmakers call on GAO to review Osprey safety after deadly crash

The chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services readiness subcommittee have asked the Government Accountability Office to review V-22 Osprey operation and maintenance practices to determine the factors responsible for a series of accidents that have occurred during aircraft missions and training exercises.

Document: Lawmakers' letter to GAO on V-22 review

Senior Pentagon official to leave position next week
By Georgina DiNardo
December 11, 2023 at 12:59 PM

The Defense Department announced today that Mara Karlin, assistant defense secretary for strategy, plans and capabilities, will be leaving her role next week for academia.

Karlin, who is also performing the duties of the deputy defense under secretary for policy, will be stepping down from her role after nearly three years. Karlin also served as the acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs during her tenure.

Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, will take over Karlin’s position performing the duties of the deputy defense under secretary for policy.

“I deeply appreciate Dr. Karlin's dedication, strategic acumen, and her profound commitment to public service,” Sasha Baker, acting defense under secretary for policy, wrote in the press release. “Her contributions significantly strengthened the department's strategic approach and preparedness for future security challenges. As Dr. Karlin embarks on her next chapter, we wish her the very best and are confident that her impact on national security will continue to resonate for years to come.”

During her time at the department, Karlin “managed the writing and ongoing implementation of the National Defense Strategy,” according to a press release today.

Karlin also led strategic counsel for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the creation of a new emerging capabilities policy office; the formation of AUKUS; modernizing U.S. force posture in the Indo-Pacific; reforming the security cooperation workforce; and evolving the Defense Planning Guidance, Guidance for the Employment of the Force as well as the Contingency Planning Guidance, according to the release.

Throughout 2021, Karlin led DOD’s international relations with almost 150 countries in the Middle East, Europe (including NATO), Africa, Russia, Eurasia and the Western Hemisphere.

Boeing appoints new COO
By John Liang
December 11, 2023 at 9:13 AM

Boeing today announced Stephanie Pope has been appointed as the company's new executive vice president and chief operating officer.

In this newly created position, effective Jan. 1, 2024, Pope will report to Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun.

As COO, Pope will "oversee the performance of the company's three business units with responsibility for driving supply chain, quality, manufacturing and engineering excellence across the company," a Boeing statement reads. The business unit CEOs, the Boeing chief engineer and the president of Boeing Global will report directly to Pope, while the senior corporate functional leaders will continue reporting to Calhoun.

Pope currently leads Boeing Global Services and has overseen that unit since April 2022. Her successor will be named at a later date, the company said. Before that, she was chief financial officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. She's been with the company for nearly three decades.

GMD test this morning
By Jason Sherman
December 11, 2023 at 8:27 AM

The Defense Department plans to conduct a test of the homeland ballistic missile defense system today, launching a Ground-based Interceptor from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA this morning.

The unit executing the launch on behalf of the Missile Defense Agency, Space Launch Delta 30, announced the planned test is set for between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time.

The week ahead
By John Liang
December 11, 2023 at 5:00 AM

Senior defense officials are slated to speak at a number of congressional and industry events this week in the Washington region.

Monday

The Association of Old Crows holds its annual International Symposium and Convention, which runs through Wednesday in National Harbor, MD.

The Hudson Institute and National Defense Industrial Association co-host the Joint Integration and Interoperability Symposium.

Tuesday

The House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee holds a hearing on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

Wednesday

Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of Army Futures Command, speaks at a virtual and in-person AUSA Coffee Series event.

The Space Enterprise Council holds its Global Space Summit at the Italian Embassy in Washington.

The House Armed Services personnel subcommittee holds a hearing on military recruiting shortfalls.

Thursday

AFCEA NOVA holds an Air Force IT Day in Arlington, VA.

GovExec holds an event on "The Role of Trusted AI in the DOD."

The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 8, 2023
By John Liang
December 8, 2023 at 1:15 PM

This Friday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization conference bill released this week, along with coverage of the Poland-based Aegis Ashore unit and more.

We start off with more Army and Navy coverage of the defense authorization conference bill:

Authorization conferees require Army to inform Congress on tactical vehicles strategy

House and Senate lawmakers agreed to a fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill that would require the Army to submit a tactical wheeled vehicle strategy every five years, beginning with the FY-25 budget.

Authorizers give go-ahead to Navy's Air Warfare Rapid Capabilities Office

Lawmakers plan to establish a Naval Air Warfare Rapid Capabilities Office to expedite the development, testing and fielding of naval air warfare capabilities, according to the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill released late Wednesday.

Army active-duty end strength numbers reduced by conferees in FY-24 authorization bill

Conferees reduced the Army's active-duty end strength from 452,000 to 445,000 in the conference version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, according to a congressional aide.

Authorizers OK cut in Navy carrier air wings

The Navy will no longer be required to maintain 10 carrier air wings (CVW), according to the fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill released late Wednesday.

The Poland-based Aegis Ashore unit should be ready to go next week:

After 'grossly unacceptable delay,' Aegis Ashore Poland set for Navy inventory, maintenance

Aegis Ashore Poland -- a key component of the Obama administration's 2009 initiative to defend U.S. deployed forces and NATO allies in Europe from Iranian ballistic missile threats -- will drag itself over the finish line next week after five years of construction delays when the Navy formally adds the land-based system to its inventory.

The Marine Corps' No. 2 uniformed officer spoke at a U.S. Naval Institute event this week:

Mahoney: Navy and Marine Corps need a bigger budget for significant force-structure changes

The Navy and Marine Corps will require a larger budget and significant changes in force structure to counter China in a quickly evolving security environment, according to Marine Corps Assistant Commandant Gen. Christopher Mahoney, who is performing the duties of the service's top two positions.

Satellite news:

SDA to add 18 more satellites on T2TL Beta variant satellite constellation

The Space Development Agency is planning to add another 18 space vehicles on the Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta variant satellite constellation, according to Derek Tournear, the agency director.

Army announces initial delivery of Precision Strike Missile Increment 1
By Dan Schere
December 8, 2023 at 11:27 AM

The Army today announced Early Operational Capability delivery of the Precision Strike Missile Increment 1, following successful production qualification testing last month at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

PrSM Increment 1, considered the Army’s next-generation Long Range Precision Fires weapon, is launched from M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems. It is “capable of neutralizing targets at standoffs greater than 400 kilometers,” (248.5 miles) according to the Army.

Army acquisition chief Doug Bush said in a statement Friday that PrSM will “provide Joint Force commanders with a 24/7, all-weather capability that will counter the enemy’s ability to conduct combat maneuver and air defense operations.”

“The rapid development and delivery of this capability is a prime example of the Army’s aggressive use of new acquisition authorities from Congress that allow us to move at much greater speed to get improved equipment to soldiers,” he said.

The conference version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill, agreed to by House and Senate lawmakers this week, includes a provision directing the Army secretary to brief the congressional defense committees on the PrSM program by Feb. 29, 2024. The briefing is to include:

  • Analysis of the industrial base capacity to meet “steady-state and wartime surge requirements” in five years.
  • Options for accelerating PrSM munitions beyond current future years defense program projections.
  • A plan to reach procurement of 400 PrSM munitions per year in the shortest amount of time.
  • Funding profile and technology risk assessment of accelerating PrSM Increment to reach initial operating capability by FY-27.

Bush had said during a congressional hearing in April that PrSM could be “a very good candidate” for multiyear procurement in the future.

Lawmakers grant DOD's request for early prototyping authority
By Tony Bertuca
December 7, 2023 at 4:44 PM

The conference committee version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill would allow military service secretaries greater authority to initiate the rapid prototyping for new-start weapon systems.

The provision, which began as a legislative proposal in March and was championed by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, would allow military secretaries to “initiate urgent or emerging operational development activities for a period of up to one year, in order to leverage an emergent technological advancement of value to the national defense to address a military service-specific need, or to provide a rapid response to an emerging threat identified by a military service,” according to the bill.

Kendall, speaking at an annual Space Symposium held in Colorado Springs, CO, in April, said the authority is necessary for the service to move more quickly to counter emerging technological threats.

“The problem that I have is the amount of time I have to wait for Congress to act on the things we want to do,” he said.

The Pentagon, in its initial legislative proposal, said the current practice of waiting for new-start prototype approval until the next budget cycle is hobbling the department’s ability to compete with China, “particularly given the routine practice of extended continuing resolutions in which new-start reprogrammings are not allowed.”

Kendall, speaking in April, said he submitted 12 new-start programs with the Air Force’s budget after completing analysis for his seven Operational Imperatives.

“So, a year has passed since we did the analysis and formulated our recommendations, so what’s happened in that year?” he said. “We took those to [the Office of the Secretary of Defense], we went through the [program objective memorandum] program and the budget process over the summer, we put them into the budget, we submitted the budget to the Congress, and now we’re waiting for the Congress to act.”

Kendall said at the time that much of the prototyping and design work could have begun long ago.

“I could have started a lot of those things a year ago,” he said. “Now I’m going to wait a good year, I would expect, and I’m worried it might be longer than that” if there is an extended continuing resolution.

Congress, in fact, did end up passing a stopgap CR that, for DOD, runs through Feb. 2.

Bush says Army has nominated three systems for Replicator
By Dan Schere
December 7, 2023 at 4:38 PM

The Army has nominated three drone systems for the Pentagon’s new Replicator initiative, service acquisition chief Doug Bush said today.

The Pentagon’s Replicator initiative, announced this summer, aims to field thousands of low-cost, attritable, autonomous drone systems in two years or less. In the next few weeks, the Defense Department will select its “first tranche” of systems to be included in Replicator.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said on Nov. 21 that those selections will be made from programs within DOD’s research and development pipeline.

Bush said during an event hosted by Defense One in Washington Thursday that the three systems the Army has nominated are ones that are in production rather than those requiring R&D. He provided few details on the three systems, saying that they are “bigger than a quadcopter, but smaller than an MQ-1.”

Bush said he was optimistic the Defense Department would select at least one of the systems for Replicator.

“OSD will decide, but I think we’ve got some real good candidates,” he said.

“One of the things [Army Chief of Staff] Gen. [Randy] George has talked about is wanting to go faster on unmanned capability. That pairs perfectly with what Replicator is trying to do,” he said.

New DOD 'concierge' will identify candidates to fight communication barriers
By Georgina DiNardo
December 7, 2023 at 4:24 PM

(Editor’s note: This story has been updated following additional information from DOD regarding “transition concierge” work as a service.)

A senior Defense Department official announced the creation of a new "transition concierge" service that will work to help strengthen communication channels between government weapon system developers and non-traditional, commercial defense companies.

“The concept of a transition concierge is actually the doorway into that community who can act as that translator between the weapon system developer and a non-traditional technology deliverer so that you can marry the two up together,” Dave Tremper, deputy assistant defense secretary for acquisition, integration and interoperability, said at a DefenseOne conference today.

Tremper said DOD is searching for candidates to do the job, adding that he expected the job to be up and running in the “next few months.”

“We are identifying candidate [program executive officers] that we can work with to establish that communication pathway,” he said.

Tremper said there is a “significant language barrier” right now between government weapon system developers and non-traditional, commercial companies.

“There’s tons of acronyms that are used in a day in the life,” Tremper said. “If you take a non-traditional and you put them into that world, a non-traditional will talk about this technology and what it does and [say], ‘My God, it’s disruptive.’ You’ve got warfighters and DOD acquirers who can’t translate the significance of what they are talking about into their weapons systems, and you’ve got tech deliverers who don’t understand the acronyms that the warfighter and the acquisition is using.”

The INSIDER daily digest -- Dec. 7, 2023
By John Liang
December 7, 2023 at 2:38 PM

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news from the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization conference report released late last night and more.

House and Senate lawmakers late last night released the conference report for the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill. Here's our coverage so far:

House and Senate lawmakers advance bipartisan FY-24 defense authorization bill

House and Senate lawmakers have agreed to a fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill, releasing the text of the 3,000-page legislation last night that would, among numerous other things, authorize $886 billion in total national defense spending.

Congress set to limit Air Force fighter jet retirement plans

Congress is teed up to place limits on several Air Force-requested aircraft divestments in its fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill.

Conference FY-24 defense bill drills down on Army night vision approach

The conference version of the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill continues the trend of close congressional scrutiny on the Army's night vision procurement strategy.

Defense policy bill features provisions on cyber red teaming, State Dept. capacity building

Lawmakers have reached an agreement on the fiscal year 2024 defense authorization bill that includes provisions on modernizing cyber red teams, evaluating the creation of a U.S. Cyber Force and creating a fund at the State Department for capacity building.

Lawmakers limit Air Force's ability to buy more than six KC-46As

The Air Force will not be allowed to purchase more than six additional KC-46 tanker aircraft under the final lot of the contract with Boeing, according to Congress' fiscal year 2024 defense policy bill released Wednesday.

A senior NATO official spoke about Ukraine with reporters this morning during a Defense Writers Group breakfast:

Senior NATO official calls for more aid to Ukraine amid congressional arguments

While Congress remains mired in debate over whether to provide additional support to Ukraine, a senior NATO official today said that continued aid -- and U.S. leadership -- is vital for the nation's survival.

The House Armed Services cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee hearing featured testimony from experts with backgrounds in innovation and commercial/government relations:

Think tankers suggest paths for 'disruptive' DOD innovation

A House Armed Services subcommittee held a hearing today in which think-tank analysts told lawmakers the Defense Department needs to continue to focus on "disruptive innovation" that will advance emerging technologies to counter global adversaries like China and Russia.

Document: House hearing on 'back to the future'

More coverage from this past weekend's Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, CA:

'Pernicious effects' of sequester could begin rippling before April if CR extended again

SIMI VALLEY, CA -- Any extension of a stopgap spending measure beyond early February would be "pretty calamitous" for the Army, triggering immediate consequences that include delaying weapon system acquisition milestones, delaying production-ramp decisions and cancelling training, according to a senior service official.

Read our full Reagan Forum coverage here.

After a year of testing initial prototypes, designed by competing contractors General Dynamics Land Systems, Textron Systems and BAE Systems to serve as the ARV command, control, communications and computers/unmanned aircraft systems (C4UAS) mission role variant, the service now plans to procure ARV-30 prototypes for further testing:

Marine Corps to extend ARV prototyping phase and procure additional mission role variant for testing

The Marine Corps is extending the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle prototype evaluation period until at least fiscal year 2026 and preparing to add an additional mission role variant, equipped with a 30mm gun and turret, to the assessment.

According to the Space Force, Integrated Mission Delta prototypes will assist in streamlining operations and "increase capability development" by combining the functional areas under one command:

Space Force sees 'emerging successes' from new IMD prototypes

The Space Force is seeing "emerging successes" from its Integrated Mission Delta prototypes within two months of their launch that aims to combine service activities under one command, the service said in a Dec. 5 statement.

First BRAVO hackathon to be held inside combatant command
By Georgina DiNardo
December 7, 2023 at 12:42 PM

The Defense Department announced today that it will host a "multiclassification hackathon" Feb. 5-9, using Indo-Pacific operational theater data to find solutions to combatant command challenges, marking the first time a hackathon will be held inside a COCOM.

The hackathon, an event technology companies commonly use to develop prototypes that can tackle enterprise hurdles linked with data, will occur at one of the DOD AI Battle Labs in Oahu, HI, and is working in collaboration with the Defense Innovation Unit, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Army Pacific Command and the Air Force.

The Air Force started organizing these events, known as BRAVO hackathons, in 2021 in attempts to use classified operational data to advance learning and capability development. This hackathon, called the BRAVO 11 Bits2Effects, will be the fourth BRAVO hackathon overall.

DOD announced their plans to form AI battlelabs in September, highlighting that hackathons hosted at the labs will help develop and strengthen the military’s artificial intelligence capabilities.

The Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office will host the BRAVO 11 Bits2Effects hackathon in an effort to allow innovators the space and ability to develop and use “data-driven effects during competition and conflict,” according to a DOD press release.

According to the release, past hackathons have influenced DOD programs in areas like “large language models, space launch, flight telemetry and biometrics, unmanned systems, personnel recovery, security classification, sensing and targeting and battle damage assessment.”

People who want to participate in the hackathon may apply to be a “hacker,” a “hacker subject matter expert” or a “supporter.”

Applicants for “hacker” can have a wide range of experience, including “operational and warfighter expertise, software development, data science, machine learning, design and user interface/user design, data visualization and product management,” according to the release.

For the “hacker subject matter expert” role, applicants should be government employees or government contractors who have experience leading one or more teams through a use case or dataset.

Applicants interested in the “supporter” role should be government employees or government contractors with administrative support experience who can help the event by running security, assisting supplies delivery, putting social events together, organizing attendee check-in and delivering science fair materials, according to the press release.