Pete Sessions

I was thrilled to learn that the U.S. Department of State plans to establish three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (#FFRDCs): public-private partnerships that conduct innovative R&D for their USG sponsors on topics that cannot be effectively met by the government or the private sector alone. FFRDCs are required to have a long-term strategic relationship with the agency that supports them, allowing the FFRDC to recruit and retain scientific and technical expertise, conduct R&D to meet the needs of the sponsoring agency; and offer independent scientific and technical advice. From my days as an FSO at State and as a consultant on national security and technology for the past five years, I’ve strongly advocated for State to join its Executive Branch brethren – Commerce, NIST, DOD, NSA, Energy, HHS, DHS, NIH, Treasury, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, NASA, NSF, the Social Security Administration, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission – in establishing an FFRDC. This was a recommendation I encouraged the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence to include in its 2021 Final Report to the White House and Congress, so it’s heartening to see State finally proceed.  Better late than never! State wants to create three FFRDCs to conduct R&D on: (1) Operational support for acquisition planning and development for new technologies; and operational analysis to identify institutional and capability gaps and how to fill them; (2) Emerging threats, concept exploration, and experimentation and evaluation, developing new concepts, models, prototypes, and proof-of-concept demonstrations, and test-beds, and (3) #IT and #Cyber Operations. I hope this important step, when implemented, will facilitate two more steps that State should take to be a global leader on technology for diplomacy for the rest of the 21st century: (1) Establish an in-house “Technology for Diplomacy” R&D lab that builds off of the FFRDC's work, to conduct internal R&D, prototyping, scaling, and deploying of #AI and other emerging technologies that empower American diplomats, and (2) Fund "Small Business Innovation Research" (#SBIR) Grants to leverage the innovative and entrepreneurial talents of U.S. small technology companies to offer their own innovative tech ideas to bolster US diplomacy and build a private sector constituency for the State Department in America’s vibrant tech startup ecosystems. All of this in due time. The immediate next step is for innovation stakeholders (like FedTech) to give feedback on the proposed scope of the work to be performed by the FFRDCs and on already-existing capabilities in these areas that the Department should consider. Exciting to see State make a long-term commitment to #innovation #technology #entrepreneurism #startups #diplomacy #natsec #leadership.

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Attention Veterans! Are you looking to enhance your career prospects and open up new opportunities in the civilian workforce? Join us for our Veterans Employment Workshop! Event Details: Date: July 22 - 23, 2024 Time: 8 AM to 4 PM Location: 137th Special Operations Wing Oklahoma City, OK Why Attend? 1. Expert Guidance: Receive personalized advice from career counselors who understand the unique skills veterans bring to the workforce. 2. Resume Building: Learn how to craft a resume that stands out and highlights your military experience in a way that appeals to civilian employers. 3. Interview Skills: Get tips and practice on how to ace job interviews and communicate your strengths effectively. 4. Networking Opportunities: Connect with potential employers and other veterans who are also transitioning to civilian careers. 5. Job Search Strategies: Discover the best methods and resources for finding job openings that match your skills and interests. 6. Supportive Environment: Join a community that respects and values your service, offering support every step of the way. Seats are limited, so reserve your spot today! We look forward to helping you take the next step in your career journey.

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Just a couple of updates as I am getting a lot of questions: 1) An ESS is a 1740 under the GS / NAF systems. But, we call the person in this role the VolEd PM or VolEd Chief for the Marine Corps. 2) Yeah, the person may be able to telework, but this is not a remote position. 3) Yes, this person sits on the InterService Voluntary Education Board and represents the MC’s Voluntary Education position with the other VolEd Service Chiefs and OSD. 4) No, this is not a GS position. We are NAF. Hope this information helps folks decide if the position is a good fit.

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Drive efficiency. Maximize results. Our GSA and FedMall expertise ensures smooth procurement processes for your DOD and federal needs. With a focus on compliance and value, we streamline sourcing from initial contract negotiation to final delivery. Our commitment to excellence means you can navigate federal procurement confidently, knowing your requirements are met with precision and reliability. #FederalProcurement #GovernmentContracts #ComplianceExcellence #ProcurementEfficiency #ContractNegotiation #ValueDriven #ReliableSourcing #DefenseContracts #GovernmentSuppliers #ProcurementStrategy #EfficientSourcing #ExcellenceInProcurement

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🔆 🔸 DRFP ALERT 🔸 🔆 WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK AND WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! See the latest RFI, which has been updated to a DRFP here: https://lnkd.in/gqjSAdH5 #DRFP #ArmyDigitalOdyssey #ArmyModernization #InformationSharing

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🎙️ New FEDtalk Episode: What the Presidential Transition Means for Federal Contracting! 🎙️ catch the full episode at: https://lnkd.in/dGgeuV4S Get ready for an insightful discussion as host Jason Briefel interviews Troy Cribb, Director of Policy at the Partnership for Public Service, on the impact of the upcoming presidential transition on the federal acquisition workforce and contractors. 📝 In this episode, Troy Cribb shares valuable insights from her experiences working at the General Services Administration (GSA) and in government, highlighting the critical role of procurement and contracting during a transition period. The conversation dives into:    🔑 Key dates and deadlines that agencies need to know   📑 The importance of preparing briefing materials for incoming teams   💼 How the transition impacts GovCon, contracting priorities, and industry spending   ⚖️ Compliance essentials for preventing waste, fraud, and abuse With the presidential transition fast approaching, agencies and the acquisition workforce must stay informed to ensure a smooth and efficient handover. 🎯 Key Takeaways:   1️⃣ Agencies have been prepping for months, guided by senior career staff and the Federal Transition Coordinator at GSA.   2️⃣ The acquisition workforce must be aware of potential shifts in priorities and contracting opportunities.   3️⃣ The Partnership for Public Service offers resources to support the transition for federal agencies and appointees. 👉 Tune in now to get the full story and understand what’s ahead for federal contracts and procurement during the transition! #FEDtalk #PresidentialTransition #FederalAcquisition #Procurement #Contracting #GovCon #Government #GSA #PublicService #TransitionPrep #FederalWorkforce

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Get tips on preparing a DoD SBIR/STTR proposal from one of the top presenters on the proposals in a Wichita State University programs sponsored webinar

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This post is very insightful. The SBIR/STTR program is a great approach to provide early non dilutive funding/wins/avenues into DOD and other government agencies. However, without clearer success criteria and a team that can engage with program offices and folks on the Hill (as well as a many other factors) will forever limit an SBC’s ability to transition through the valley of death. Special topics present great opportunities but again there is little to no clarity on success criteria that provide clear understanding on how an SBC can be truly “considered” as a viable vendor. Let me know what your thoughts are on the SBIR/STTR program!

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The Department of the Air Force has issued a final draft Request for Proposals (RFP) for Department of the Air Force Strategic Transformation Support II (DAFSTS II), a $5 million program focused on managing and improving strategic transformation at the enterprise level. This multi-award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) presents a significant opportunity for firms specializing in management, logistics, and strategic consulting services. Now is the time to start preparing your proposals and positioning your team for success in this transformative project. Key Opportunity Details - Status: Pre-RFP - Anticipated Solicitation Date: September 2024 - Projected Award Date: June 2025 - Contract Value: $5,000,000 (Estimate) #airforce #business #businessdevelopment #govcon #governmentcontracting #ostglobal #ostglobalsoutions #smallbusiness #usaf #winmorebd

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Unlock Federal Contracting: The Middleman Strategy Revealed In this video, discover how to tap into federal contracting opportunities without needing niche expertise. Learn about the middleman strategy and see how you can connect local businesses with federal needs, all while working from home. Join the journey towards financial freedom today! #FederalContracting #MiddlemanStrategy #BusinessOpportunities #PestControl #HomeBusiness #GovernmentContracts #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #ContractingTips #FinancialFreedom

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Audit readiness and PPBE reform are vital for driving the Marine Corps’ financial transparency and mission success! As the DOD advances toward a clean audit, smart investments and strong collaboration with Congress will ensure we stay mission-ready and future-focused.

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How to Scale Your Federal Government Contracting Business and Reach Your I Quit Number Discover the steps to scale your federal government contracting business and achieve your I Quit number. Learn how to incentivize and keep your small business performing well, and how to scale your operations for long-term success. #FederalGovernmentContracting #ScalingBusiness #IQuitNumber #SmallBusinessTips #BusinessGrowth #GovernmentContracts #Entrepreneurship #FinancialGoals #SuccessStrategies #BusinessScaling

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Love hearing the future as General Tony Bauernfeind took command to focus on #leadership and #critalthinking development at #USAFA. His vision aligns with what it'll take to succeed in Cold War 2.0 and #AI enabled #national defense, according to George Takach 2024 book: "Victory in what history will call the Battle of the Taiwan Strait will be a determined by the degree of each side's mastery over four critical technologies: AI, semiconductor chips, quantum computers, and biotech.... The success (or failure) of these four depend on two factors: quality of the #STEM grads coming out of master's and PhD programs... and how well each camp has integrated these innovations into their respective weapons systems and defense ecosystems. Fusing civilian and military #innovation is very hard work. Never before will so much depend on so few college grads." #leadershipmatters Thankful for the #cadets, faculty, research #PBL, and grad shool pipeline at the United States Air Force Academy. https://lnkd.in/gX6VRKPT

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It’s National Preparedness Month— are you ready for disaster to strike? ✅Make A Plan ✅Build A Kit ✅Stay Informed More Preparedness Tips: tdem.texas.gov/prepare

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"Intelligence analysis is a notoriously difficult craft. Practitioners have to make predictions and assessments with limited information, under huge time pressure, on issues where the stakes involve millions of lives and the fates of nations. If this small bureau tucked in the State Department's Foggy Bottom headquarters has figured out some tricks for doing it better, those insights may not just matter for intelligence, but for any job that requires making hard decisions under uncertainty." Those tricks? 1. Empower experts 2. Avoid groupthink 3. Incorporate feedback continuously

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6AC & the South Dakota Unified Judicial System release a new report after a statewide evaluation of public defense services. The report finds that South Dakota’s locally funded, decentralized county-based public defense system erodes the adversarial system of justice. The report, summarized in a blogpost by David Carroll & Aditi Goel, discusses issues like the state's recoupment practice that can chill the right to counsel, and the lack of independence & state oversight.   In response, South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen said: “This report includes a thorough, and sometimes candid, look at some of the current challenges the state faces as it seeks to fulfill the constitutional obligation to ensure the right to counsel for indigent people who are facing the prospect of jail or prison.” He added, “We will continue to study the report in the months to come and work with the other branches of state government to ensure the right to counsel for eligible people no matter where they are in South Dakota.” #SixthAmendment #PublicDefense #RighttoCounsel

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ELECTION DAY 2024: Tomorrow's elections will impact the office of lieutenant governor and second-in-command in at least 14 states and territories! Learn more about NLGA Members and the office of lieutenant governor at www.NLGA.us.

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