Ad with podcast series title "tackling government challenges through science and technology" a Federal News Network Podcast Series, sponsored by NoblisNoblis is the exclusive sponsor of a year-long podcast series produced by Federal News Network (FNN)/WTOP.

This series titled, “Tackling Government Challenges through Science and Technology,” features interviews with technology and innovation leaders from civilian and defense organizations within the federal government. In each episode guests will discuss how they are working to solve a mission-related challenge by applying science and technology – and brainpower. Check back here for new and upcoming episodes throughout 2022. Find the podcast series and further insights on the Noblis FNN microsite.


Molecular Surveillance Advances with IT, Skills Investments

Duncan MacCannell, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office of Advanced Molecular Detection talks about advancements in technologies for detecting and identifying pathogens to prepare for the next public health challenge.


Applying Digital Twins to Your Business Processes

In this segment, Pat Meharg, chief architect – model-based systems engineering and Scott James, senior scientist discussing how digital twins can be applied to business processes.


Noblis’ Senior Machine Learning Engineer Bakes Risk Management and Ethics into Artificial Intelligence 

In this segment, Abby, a senior machine learning engineer and principal investigator at Noblis, discusses the Artificial Intelligence (AI) renaissance and how to manage risk and ethics and mitigate harm that can come from this new technology.


Homeland Security Science & Technology (DHS S&T) Directorate Prepares for an Unpredictable World

This segment features the DHS undersecretary for science and technology, Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov, on preparing for an unpredictable world.


New HHS Research Agency Embarks on Mission to Tackle Far-Reaching Health Problems

At barely a year old, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health may be — as its director, Renee Wegrzyn, describes it — an agency still in its infancy. Even so, ARPA-H has a big agenda and an equally big budget of $2.5 billion to tackle it.


NASA’s Sky for All Reimagines the Future Airspace

If you think the nation’s airspace couldn’t get any busier, think again. Given what’s literally on the horizon, NASA’s Sky for All program has begun developing an architecture and system of systems to ensure the envisioned increase in traffic happens safely and sustainably. Federal News Network speaks with Jeanne Yu, chief strategist for Sky for All.


How DTRA Keeps Tabs on Potential Threats Worldwide

It may not be a household name, but the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, or DTRA, marks 25 years in business this year. It operates in some 50 countries around the world, including within the U.S. armed forces’ combatant commands. DTRA helps build the U.S. military’s capabilities to counteract so-called CBRN threats – chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear – as weapons of mass destruction. Federal News Network speaks with Rebecca Hersman, director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) on how they are keeping tabs on potential threats worldwide.


Intelligence Community (IC) Uses People and Technology to Harness Growing Data

The IC is managing burgeoning volumes of data. One reason for this is the growth in sources of data. To their traditional data-gathering activities, analysts have been steadily adding open-source and commercial data as they seek to enrich analytic capabilities. Federal News Network spoke with Dr. Stacy Dixon, principal deputy director of National Intelligence and Tonya Wilkerson, deputy director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on how the growth and mixing of classified, sensitive and open data brings both technology and human capital challenges.


How the FAA is Transforming in to a Data-Centric Enterprise

In this episode, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Chief Data Officer, Natesh Manikoth, will discuss how the FAA’s long-term modernization of the national airspace (NAS) is turning that crucial network into an info-centric NAS.


Evolving Bio Surveillance in the Post-Pandemic Era

Dr. Katharine Jennings, lead scientist Noblis Applied Sciences Research Center and senior manager, discusses the benefits and challenges of whole genome sequencing for biosurveillance and what it means for the federal government.


Digital Transformation You Can Measure

Everybody, it seems, is talking about digital transformation. But what exactly is digital transformation? Jim Soltys, Noblis Senior Fellow for Federal Civilian Solutions, sheds light on the subject and what it means for the federal government.


Is Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) your first step towards digital transformation?

Listen to a discussion on how to benefit from MBSE featuring Pat Meharg, Noblis’ Chief Architect – MBSE.


NASA Researchers Advance Flight Both in Space and in the Air

From landing people on Mars, to supersonic flight without the boom, to managing safe operation of uncrewed flyers: The fourth episode in this podcast series features NASA Ames research chief and top-flight scientist describing the big challenges and the technologies they’re exploring to meet them.

Featured Speakers:

  • Dr. Jay Bookbinder, NASA AMES Associate Center Director for Research and Technology
  • Parimal Kopardekar, Director of NASA Aeronautics Research Institute

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

This segment in the series is a two-part panel discussion highlighting AI.

Part 1 Designing and Planning for Trusted AI Systems: 
Part 2 Implementing an AI Plan:

Featured Speakers:

  • Jesse Rowlands, AI Strategic Officer, Defense Logistics Agency
  • Rajiv Uppal, Chief Information Officer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • Taka Ariga, Chief Data Scientist and Director of the Innovation Lab, Government Accountability Office
  • Chris Barnett, Chief Technology Officer, Noblis

Autonomous Vehicles

The first episode in the series featured Captain Pete Small, U. S. Navy, program manager for Unmanned Maritime Systems discussing the Navy’s aims and strategies for vessels without crews on board.

Using Science and Technology to Solve Critical, National Challenges

The Noblis Family of Companies: Noblis, Noblis ESI, Noblis MSD and MikrosFor more than 25 years, Noblis has been an innovator within the federal government, committed to enriching lives and making our nation safer while investing in the missions of tomorrow. As a nonprofit, Noblis works for the public good, bringing together the best possible combination of science, technology and engineering expertise and solutions, in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Together with our subsidiaries, we work with a wide range of government clients in the defense, homeland security, intelligence, law enforcement and federal civil sectors. Learn more at noblis.org/about.

Noblis Research: Transforming Innovation into Practical and Sustainable Solutions

At Noblis, applying innovative thinking and inventions to these challenges is an integral part of how we serve our clients and their missions. We transform new and novel ideas and inventions into practical, sustainable solutions that increase mission performance and efficiency. Learn more at noblis.org/r-d and contact us to discuss your challenges and solutions to address them.

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image of autonomy at scale book coverAutonomy At Scale: Intelligent Machines Advancing Technology to Improve Our Future

Autonomous machines are poised to transform the way we travel, distribute, and deliver goods and how we explore, manage and monitor the sea, surface, air, space, and extra-terrestrial environment. This document explores the promise, costs, and challenges associated with emerging massive-scale systems of autonomous machines in key domains and use cases. Visit our page to learn more and download the full “Autonomy At Scale” book or choose from individual chapters.

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Orchestrated Autonomy: Noblis’ Award-Winning Concept

Our concept orchestrates the motions and actions of unfamiliar, connected, and autonomous machines. With this concept, systems of autonomous machines are safer, more productive, and more equitable. Learn more about the concept and watch our video.

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