Tag Archives: Aurora

Building a Resilient Supply Chain Domestically and Globally

Posted on by

While the supply chain issues of the pandemic (remember the lengths we went to, to get toilet paper?) may seem like ancient history, the fragility of global supply chains remains a reality that our government needs to address for long-term economic stability. The Biden Administration has issued a number of orders and goals around shoring up supply chain practices for physical goods as well as software. In June, a new executive order formalized the role of a White House counsel on supply chain resilience.

Defining Resilience

A resilient supply chain is defined as one that can "easily adapt, rebound, or recover when faced with economic shocks." Creating a resilient environment requires boosting domestic manufacturing, supporting research and development, fostering innovation, strengthening critical infrastructure, and recruiting high-quality talent. The White House Council on Supply Chain was first convened in November 2023 to discuss these very measures, and this latest order has specific action items to deliver before the end of 2024. Continue reading →

Creative Solutions to Close the Cybersecurity Skills Gap

Posted on by

In the last 12 months, more than 769,000 cybersecurity jobs were posted in the United States. Unfortunately, there are not enough trained cyber professionals to meet this need across government and private industry, but the roles need to be filled. A report issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in late 2021 named the cybersecurity skills gap as a leading cause of risk for Federal agencies. To meet this need and risk head-on, the government is coming up with creative ways to fill cyber positions.

Funding Scholarships

The DoD had been looking to set up military-style academies focused on cyber education; however, the direction has shifted in the latest National Defense Authorization Act. The latest proposal recommends establishing a DOD Cyber and Digital Service Academy within existing universities and colleges. This means that students studying certain cyber and digital service disciplines could receive up to five years of tuition and room and board. In exchange, recipients would agree to work for the DoD for the same number of years that they received the scholarship. This is not unprecedented. The National Science Foundation's CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Program has been in place since 2000. It has placed over 4,500 people in government organizations including DoD, the National Security Agency and state and local governments in return for their scholarship. Continue reading →