Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
The 2nd Space Operations Squadron took formal command of Architecture Evolution Plan 7.5, the largest GPS architectural change in operational history, after its successful installation at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado on Nov 16, 2018.
By Inside GNSS
The Russian military jammed GPS signals during a major NATO military exercise in Norway between October 16 and November 7, according to multiple published reports this week. The military exercise involved thousands of U.S. and NATO troops, CNN reported, citing the Norwegian government.
By Stan Goff
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a new effort to ascertain the real-world risks posed by the loss of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) service and how those risks might be reduced, said James Platt, director of DHS’s PNT Program Management Office. On the table is testing, best practices, partnerships, a new management approach and possibly standards and a backup system.
By Dee Ann Divis
The Air Force officially announced Friday that Lockheed Martin had been awarded a $7.2 billion contract to build 22 GPS III Follow-on (IIIF) satellites.
By Dee Ann Divis
Though the Senate approved next year’s funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) just before its Labor Day break there are still hurdles to overcome before the fiscal year runs out on September 30. For the most part further delay should not greatly impact GPS efforts — as long as stopgap funding is secured to keep DOD’s doors open — but extending the deadline will likely put the GPS IIIF program on hold.
By Dee Ann Divis
The newly signed Defense Authorization Act incorporates a number of GPS-related provisions though a measure ordering the creation of a GPS timing back-up was pulled by conferees as they hammered out their final deal.
By Dee Ann Divis
While news broke last week of a Department of Defense (DOD) policy to prohibit GPS-enabled devices in deployed settings, no one should expect a drop in usage of popular devices such as Fitbit fitness trackers from the general public.
By Stan Goff
The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) is excited to announce the addition of Al Di Leonardo and Patty Mims to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. USGIF’s Board includes 26 directors representing the many aspects of the broad and expanding GEOINT Community.
Di Leonardo is an experienced intelligence and special operations officer and is widely recognized as a subject matter expert in analytical tradecraft, and Mims is currently director of Global National Government at USGIF Organizational Member Esri.
“I am pleased that professionals of this experience and caliber are part of the USGIF leadership,” said The Honorable Jeffrey K. Harris, Chairman of USGIF’s Board of Directors.
Di Leonardo has more than 25 years of government experience centered at the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and Joint Special Operations Command. As a career U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, he earned the Bronze Star Medal from U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for his work in Afghanistan and Iraq and led SOCOM’s first geospatial big data innovation cell. After retiring from the Army, Di Leonardo founded HumanGeo, a tech company that created software solutions at the intersection of big data, social media, and geospatial intelligence that he later sold to The Radiant Group. As president of The Radiant Group, he led the integration of five companies while simultaneously rebranding the team as “Radiant” and significantly growing revenue, leading to Radiant’s acquisition by DigitalGlobe.
“Al brings rich operational and analytic experience across important market sectors to the USGIF boardroom,” Harris said. “His understanding of both mission and business effectiveness will be invaluable to help drive the USGIF working groups and technical forums.”
In her current role at Esri, Mims oversees all business development across the U.S. federal government, including intelligence, defense, public safety, and civilian as well as provides support to nonprofit programs globally and national government organizations around the world. Mims was Esri’s Director of Intelligence Programs from 2012 to 2015, and in this role managed all activities across the U.S. Intelligence Community and State Department. She has also held positions at Esri as team lead for the company’s Defense Installation Team and account lead for the Defense and Intelligence Team. Prior to joining Esri, Mims worked for an international software company where she supported customers around the world as manager of Technical Support and Training.
“Patty operates at the intersection of commercial and defense and intelligence geographic information systems,” Harris said. “Her market understanding and technical expertise will add great value to the Foundation as we help build improved tradecraft.”
By Inside GNSS
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will conduct demonstrations of GPS receivers this fall to support the buying plans of first responders, the Coast Guard and other agencies within DHS. The tests aim to clarify how well the receivers stand up to jamming and spoofing while being used on small, unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS or drones) for maritime missions.
By Dee Ann Divis
Harris Corporation has been awarded three multi-award IDIQ contracts with ceilings totaling $1.5 billion to provide the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) with geospatial data services for up to 10 years.
Harris will create, manage and disseminate high-quality geospatial-intelligence (GEOINT) information for use by the U.S. intelligence community and military worldwide under contracts that cover all three areas of NGA’s JANUS program – geography, imagery and elevation.
By Inside GNSS
Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions division announced that it will highlight its family of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS)-based modules and LRU solutions designed for system integrators seeking to rapidly and cost-effectively deploy Assured Position, Navigation and Timing (A-PNT) services at the 2018 Joint Navigation Conference, July 9-11 (Booth #109), the largest U.S. military Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) conference of the year with joint service and government participation.
By Inside GNSS
The U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Center (NAVCEN), and its commander Captain Russell Holmes, received special honors at a ceremony where Holmes officially took his leave for New Orleans and a new post as officer in charge of marine inspection for the outer continental shelf.
By Dee Ann Divis
The issue at hand is whether the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) should allow a change in the use of frequencies close to those used by GPS. Virginia-based Ligado Networks wants to repurpose its satellite frequencies to also support ground-based telecom services. Testing done several years ago and expanded upon more recently has shown such a system could seriously interfere with GPS receivers.
Some three months after a meeting of the key federal agencies using and running the GPS program, they have yet to release a letter stating their recommendation on whether to allow the development of a potentially interfering telecommunication service.
By Dee Ann Divis
In response to the growing threat of GPS/GNSS interference in military operations, Orolia is presenting its Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Solutions at this week’s Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, France.
By Stan Goff
ION’s Joint Navigation Conference (JNC) 2018 early bird registration deadline is Friday, June 15. The JNC, sponsored by the Military Division of the Institute of Navigation, will be held July 9-11, 2018 (FOUO U.S. ONLY) at the Hyatt Regency, Long Beach in Long Beach, California; and the U.S. ONLY CLASSIFIED sessions will be held July 12, 2018 at The Aerospace Corporation.
Book your hotel room by Friday, June 15 to take advantage of discounted conference hotel room rates – Plus, save an additional $200 on your conference registration when staying in the conference hotel. To claim this discount you will be asked to enter your reservation confirmation number from the Hyatt Regency Long Beach at the start of the registration process. This discount will not be applied retroactively, so be sure to book your hotel room first and enter the confirmation number when you register.
PLEASE NOTE: Attendance Restricted
Conference attendance for both FOUO U.S. ONLY (July 9-11) and U.S. ONLY CLASSIFIED (July 12) sessions will be screened by the Joint Navigation Warfare Center and will be restricted to U.S. ONLY. Admission to the classified session will be limited to the capacity of the room and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, to those who submitted visit requests in advance. Attendees requiring onsite security validation will be processed on a space-available basis. You are encouraged to submit your visit request early.
To check out the JNC program and for additional registration information, click below:
By Inside GNSS
