Department of Defense Office of Inspector General

White Collar Defense Partner Joins Growing Dallas Office

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Dallas, Nov. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Barrett R. Howell has joined the firm’s Dallas office as a partner in the White Collar Defense & Investigations group.

Key Points: 
  • Dallas, Nov. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Barrett R. Howell has joined the firm’s Dallas office as a partner in the White Collar Defense & Investigations group.
  • Barrett has been defending companies and individuals in high-stakes white collar criminal fraud investigations, prosecutions, and civil enforcement actions for over two decades.
  • “We are excited to welcome Barrett to our Dallas office,” said Grant S. Palmer , Blank Rome’s Chair and Managing Partner.
  • “Barrett is a great addition to the white collar team,” said Jerry D. Bernstein , Partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations group.

OPEXUS Announces 18th Annual Summit Focused on Changemakers in Government Technology

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 17, 2023

This daylong, multi-track educational summit themed “Unstuck: Being a Changemaker in a Changing Government,” will attract government leaders to discuss best practices and explore solutions to current process and operational changes.

Key Points: 
  • This daylong, multi-track educational summit themed “Unstuck: Being a Changemaker in a Changing Government,” will attract government leaders to discuss best practices and explore solutions to current process and operational changes.
  • "This year’s Summit will bring together changemakers invested in sharing best practices and working together to increase efficiency and build trust in public institutions,” said Howard Langsam, CEO of OPEXUS.
  • “In 2023, OPEXUS has been focused on ‘getting government unstuck' by engineering built-for-government process management solutions that deliver the advanced software that public-sector employees need and deserve.
  • ), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), focused on being a change-agent, diversity of thought, and leadership lessons from her long career in government.

Citizens Against Government Waste Releases Issue Brief on the F-35 Alternate Engine

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Today, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released a new issue brief, “The F-35 Does Not Need an Alternate Engine,” co-authored by CAGW President Tom Schatz and Director of Research Sean Kennedy, which details why the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) alternate engine should not be developed and how it is a waste of the taxpayers’ money.

Key Points: 
  • Today, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released a new issue brief, “The F-35 Does Not Need an Alternate Engine,” co-authored by CAGW President Tom Schatz and Director of Research Sean Kennedy, which details why the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) alternate engine should not be developed and how it is a waste of the taxpayers’ money.
  • Upgrading the existing engine would be far less costly, and the alternate engine is not compatible with all three versions of the JSF, making it illogical and particularly wasteful to fund its development.
  • Questions have also been raised about pilot safety if the alternate engine is deployed, and any alleged harm to the industrial base from using a sole-source engine is overblown.
  • This issue brief is part of CAGW’s and CCAGW’s multi-faceted effort to stop members of Congress from unnecessarily wasting billions of dollars on the duplicative and unnecessary alternate engine.”
    Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement, and abuse in government.

US Department of Defense Acquires Smiths Detection’s Next Generation Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Smiths Detection , a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, today announces that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has selected Smiths Detection to supply 122 portable Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors (AVCAD).

Key Points: 
  • Smiths Detection , a global leader in threat detection and security screening technologies, today announces that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has selected Smiths Detection to supply 122 portable Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors (AVCAD).
  • This follows the successful development and testing of a next generation field based AVCAD system by Smiths Detection after an award in 2018.
  • This award continues a Smiths Detection legacy of providing the US Department of Defense with chemical detection solutions, and follows the successful deployment of tens of thousands of detectors over the three decades.
  • Smiths Detection, Inc. President, Inder Reddy said, “Smiths Detection has partnered with the Department of Defense to provide more than 91,000 Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD) units over 16 years.

Phoenix PharmaLabs’ Lead Compound, PPL-138, Offers Promise as PTSD/AUD Treatment

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023

Dr. Cippitelli has been examining the ability of the drug to reduce alcohol consumption in anxiety-susceptible or anxiety-resistant PTSD subjects.

Key Points: 
  • Dr. Cippitelli has been examining the ability of the drug to reduce alcohol consumption in anxiety-susceptible or anxiety-resistant PTSD subjects.
  • “We chose this model of PTSD because it produces a wide range of comorbidities experienced by those diagnosed with PTSD.
  • A patent application for the Use of PPL-138 for treatment of PTSD/AUD has just been filed.
  • In addition to the company’s lead compound, PPL-138, Phoenix has a portfolio of 25 other compounds that have the potential to treat pain, substance abuse and addiction.

CalmWave Appoints Dr. Richard Schaefer, Chief Health Informatics Officer of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to Board of Advisors

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 8, 2023

CalmWave , the company leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to bring Operations Health to hospitals, today announced the appointment of Dr. Richard Schaefer, Chief Health Informatics Officer (CHIO) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to the company's board of advisors.

Key Points: 
  • CalmWave , the company leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to bring Operations Health to hospitals, today announced the appointment of Dr. Richard Schaefer, Chief Health Informatics Officer (CHIO) of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to the company's board of advisors.
  • He has written and published studies on clinical evidence-based medicine which highlights the criticality of transparent AI in clinical applications.
  • Schaefer is at the forefront of using data and analytics to deliver the best healthcare solutions for our veterans.
  • This includes serving as the Pharmacy Data Migration Lead for the Department of Veteran Affairs Electronic Health Record Modernization program.

SourceAmerica announces 2023 Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C.

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 28, 2023

VIENNA, Va., Aug. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SourceAmerica®, an AbilityOne® authorized enterprise committed to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, announced today that its annual Grassroots Advocacy Conference will take place September 11-14, 2023, at the Hilton Washington D.C. National Mall at The Wharf.

Key Points: 
  • VIENNA, Va., Aug. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SourceAmerica®, an AbilityOne® authorized enterprise committed to increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities, announced today that its annual Grassroots Advocacy Conference will take place September 11-14, 2023, at the Hilton Washington D.C. National Mall at The Wharf.
  • "We know how important it is for members of this community to become self-advocates and to convey their experiences to Congress and other policymakers."
  • Other conference highlights will include:
    SourceAmerica will present AbilityOne Congressional Champions Awards to members of Congress who have demonstrated a commitment to serving constituents who are blind or have disabilities.
  • To learn more about the Grassroots Advocacy Conference, please visit https://www.sourceamerica.org/get-involved/public-policy/grassroots-advo...

As suicides rise in the US, the 988 hotline offers hope – but most Americans aren't aware of it

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 28, 2023

Emmy Betz: Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States.

Key Points: 
  • Emmy Betz: Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States.
  • We had been seeing suicide rates rise from about 2000, up until around the COVID era.
  • There was a small dip in rates during those COVID years, which was great, but unfortunately we’ve now seen rates increase again.
  • In 2021, there were 48,000 suicide deaths in the U.S., which is about one every 11 minutes.
  • Particularly concerning are increases in suicide rates among young individuals of color, where there have traditionally been lower suicide rates.
  • It’s really important that journalists talk about suicide, and that we raise awareness, and we get these messages out.
  • There are guidelines from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and other large organizations that really spell out best practices for journalists.
  • Watch the full interview to hear more about the 988 hotline and suicide prevention.

MUFON Statement on House Oversight Committee Hearing Titled UAP: Implications on National Security, Public Safety, and Government Transparency

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Throughout the hearing, members of congress raised compelling points that strengthen MUFON's mission and current claims.

Key Points: 
  • Throughout the hearing, members of congress raised compelling points that strengthen MUFON's mission and current claims.
  • "The more we understand, the safer we will be," concluded Rep. Garcia in his opening statement.
  • MUFON also extends their commendation to the three witnesses who courageously shared their testimonies on UAPs and their personal encounters.
  • Rep. Burchett is planning to take up legislation on UAP reporting, asking Rep. Garcia to potentially co-sponsor, during the hearing.

Graphite One Awarded $37.5 Million Department of Defense Grant Under the Defense Production Act

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 17, 2023

The DoD grant to Graphite One follows the designation of graphite as one of the battery materials deemed under the DPA law to be "essential to the national defense."

Key Points: 
  • The DoD grant to Graphite One follows the designation of graphite as one of the battery materials deemed under the DPA law to be "essential to the national defense."
  • The DPA funding allows G1 to accelerate its Feasibility Study covering its Graphite Creek Project 35 miles north of Nome, Alaska.
  • "This Department of Defense grant underscores our confidence in our strategy to build a 100% U.S.-based advanced graphite supply chain – from mining to refining to recycling.
  • With the United States currently 100 percent import dependent for natural graphite, Graphite One is planning to develop a complete U.S.-based, advanced graphite supply chain solution anchored by the Graphite Creek resource.