ExecutiveBiz ExecutiveBiz covers emerging companies in Washington's government contracting sector.

Executive Mosaic is honored to present Dana Barnes, senior vice president of the public sector with Palo Alto Networks, as a 2021 Wash100 Award recipient for driving digital transformation and for his thought leadership across the technology and government contracting (GovCon) sectors. In Sept. 2020, Barnes was appointed as the senior vice president of U.S. public sector at Palo Alto Networks.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has extended its partnership with San Jose, California-based hardware security company Tortuga Logic to use the latter's security verification product for semiconductor research and development. Tortuga said Tuesday the extended licensing agreement, which comes as part of DARPA's Toolbox effort, enables the agency to deploy the company's Radix chip verification tool for assurance and verification procedures associated with semiconductor manufacturing.

Unmanned aircraft system manufacturer Martin UAV has publicly unveiled a new vertical takeoff and landing platform intended to support applications such as logistics, search-and-rescue, firefighting and energy operations. Martin UAV said Tuesday that the V-BAT 128 UAS has the capacity for rapid assembly, vertical hover and flights of up to 20,000 feet.

Geospark Analytics has received a contract through the second phase of the Small Business Innovation Research program to create a mass notification capability for the U.S. Air Force. The company said Tuesday it will implement the artificial intelligence-based feature into the Geospark-made Hyperion system of USAF to deliver risk and threat notifications to the service branch.

Sandeep Shilawat, vice president for cloud and edge computing at ManTech International, wrote in an article published Tuesday that agencies should consider cloud as foundational to their digital transformation efforts. One of the first elements to consider as agencies factor cloud into their digital modernization plans is determining the cloud consumption model to ensure that they have the talent and other resources in place to support cloud efforts, he said.

Frank Muth and John Roberti, former military officers who are now private sector executives, have been named independent members of the National Defense University Foundation's board of directors. Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO of defense company Govini and a former Department of Defense staffer, also joined the board with Muth and Roberti, NDU Foundation said Tuesday.

Amazon Web Services has launched a four-week program that seeks to provide technical, mentoring and business support and resources to space startups worldwide. AWS and investment group Seraphim will pick 10 companies to take part in the AWS Space Accelerator, which will take place in June and provide startups technical training to help them advance research and development efforts and growth initiatives using cloud.

BAE Systems has received a four-year, $42.5 million task order to help the U.S. Navy integrate shore-based landing systems that guide the trajectory and ensure the flight safety of naval aircraft. The company said Tuesday it will support the integration of instrument carrier and instrument landing systems, which enhance the navigation of Navy aircraft via radio beam signals.

Zscaler has partnered with cybersecurity company Steel Root to jointly conduct vetting support to defense industrial base entities seeking to comply with the  Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program. The companies intend to integrate Steel Root's CMMC-focused compliance services with Zscaler's zero-trust access technology that has been authorized under the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, Steel Root said Tuesday.

General Atomics' aeronautical systems business and CP Technologies have partnered to build a mobile military-grade workstation that will replace the U.S. Air Force's Ruggedized Aircraft Maintenance Test Station. The Portable Aircraft Control Station will be designed and manufactured by the two companies to support direct connect aircraft pre- and post-flight operations and engine functions through the use of multi-touch displays and Intel Xeon processors, CP Technologies said Tuesday.

Amentum will carry out sustainment and maintenance work for the Commander, Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet as part of a potential three-year, $57 million task order under the Contract Field Teams contract. The company will deliver corrosion control, flight line, organizational, field and depot-level maintenance services to support various U.S. Navy systems at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Amentum said Tuesday.

Daniel Elwell, former deputy administrator at the Federal Aviation Administration, has retained his seat on Dedrone's advisory board. Elwell will help Dedrone develop strategies for the defense and aviation markets and provide counsel on regulatory affairs, the company said Tuesday.

Saab flew a Gripen multirole fighter jet that includes a 3D-printed replacement hatch during a March 19 trial. The company said Tuesday it replicated the original hatch using a PA2200 nylon polymer and a 3D printer as part of efforts to understand how the process could accelerate the process for maintenance personnel to fix aircraft parts that were damaged while operating in remote missions.

Kevin Plexico, senior vice president of Information Solutions for Deltek, has received a 2021 Wash100 Award, which marks his second consecutive Wash100 win, for his leadership and commitment to the government contracting (GovCon) sector and his vision to recognize federal contracting opportunities and the potential shifts to emphasize our nation's adoption of the latest emerging technologies.

Executive Mosaic is pleased to introduce Andy Green, executive vice president and president of Technical Solutions at Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), as a winner of the 2021 Wash100 Award, the highest honor the government contracting (GovCon) sector has to offer, for his efforts to drive strategic growth for HII through significant contract awards and key partnerships with industry leaders.