Author Archive

Mark Rockwell

Mark Rockwell is a senior staff writer at FCW, whose beat focuses on acquisition, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy.

Before joining FCW, Rockwell was Washington correspondent for Government Security News, where he covered all aspects of homeland security from IT to detection dogs and border security. Over the last 25 years in Washington as a reporter, editor and correspondent, he has covered an increasingly wide array of high-tech issues for publications like Communications Week, Internet Week, Fiber Optics News, tele.com magazine and Wireless Week.

Rockwell received a Jesse H. Neal Award for his work covering telecommunications issues, and is a graduate of James Madison University.

Click here for previous articles by Rockwell. Contact him at mrockwell@fcw.com or follow him on Twitter at @MRockwell4.

Defense Systems

DHS tests tech to spot rogue wireless devices

The Department of Homeland Security's research and development arm is testing a portable wireless device detection system that would track down unauthorized gear.

Defense Systems

GSA explains lowered DEOS price tag

GSA worked with the Defense Department and vendors to push more efficiencies into the DEOS cloud contract, ultimately resulting in a lowered ceiling, said the contract's manager.

Defense Systems

Second wave solicitations coming for DOD 5G test sites

The Defense Department plans to award the first three of seven new 5G test bed contracts in the spring.

Defense Systems

GDIT hangs on to DEOS cloud contract

The Pentagon re-awards DEOS cloud contract to GDIT, but lowers the ceiling value from the original award, from $7.6 billion to $4.4 billion.

Defense Systems

GSA's next-gen IT contract will have CMMC requirements

Polaris, the General Services Administration's developing Alliant 2 small business contract replacement, will have CMMC clauses.

Defense Systems

DHS, Coast Guard acquisition officials need closer watch, report finds

The Department of Homeland Security needs to be consistent in nominating and designating acquisition oversight officials.

Defense Systems

US has a ‘China problem,’ cyber commission says

To shore up security of information and communications technology, the nation must reduce its dependency on suppliers from rival powers, especially China, according to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

Defense Systems

DHS confident on election cybersecurity

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's efforts to help state and local governments secure their election critical infrastructure are in an intense home stretch for 2020, according to the agency's top risk manager.

Defense Systems

Telework exposes vulnerabilities in older ID systems

Adversaries are adapting to the shifting identity authentication gaps on federal and commercial networks created by the remote work environment, according to federal security experts.

Defense Systems

'Huawei ban' means contract modifications

The General Services Administration is seeing high rates of acceptance of contract modifications from contractors to comply with acquisition rules in the 2019 defense bill.

Defense Systems

Energy Department's AI office looking for partnerships

Two recently announced artificial intelligence collaborations show how the technology can affect real world problems, according to the head of the Energy Department's AI office.

Defense Systems

Pentagon advances domestic drone plan

The Defense Department names five U.S. vendors for domestic sourcing of small drone aircraft.

Defense Systems

IARPA pursues advanced radio eavesdropping defenses

The intelligence community's research arm wants to use smart radio tech to find elusive signals might signal efforts to tap remote transmissions.

Defense Systems

Contractor questions linger as Huawei ban takes hold

Federal contractors are still facing uncertainty about new rules to get rid of Chinese-made gear.

Defense Systems

Army extends software contracts under ITES

The Army's enterprise software office extends a multiple award contract.

Defense Systems

As Huawei ban looms, waivers are an option

Waivers for a looming federal rule prohibiting agencies from signing new contracts with companies that use a list of Chinese-made communications gear are only a temporary fix, says one expert.

Defense Systems

Deadline looms for contractors to ditch banned Chinese equipment

A broad federal prohibition on contractors that use gear from a host of Chinese tech makers goes into effect in mid-August.

Defense Systems

Lawmakers call on Army to coordinate small-drone defenses

A bipartisan amendment would charge the Army with coordinating defenses against small drones across the Defense Department.

Defense Systems

Pandemic fuels cloud demand, shift to apps

The remote work challenges under the COVID-19 pandemic mean that once "nice-to-have" technologies are now mission critical, leaders said.

Defense Systems

NTIA backs Pentagon on Ligado 5G license

The Commerce Department is asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse a plan to permit a commercial 5G provider to set up shop in spectrum adjacent to the global positioning system.