Author Archive
Mark Rockwell
Mark Rockwell is a senior staff writer at FCW, whose beat focuses on acquisition, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy.
Before joining FCW, Rockwell was Washington correspondent for Government Security News, where he covered all aspects of homeland security from IT to detection dogs and border security. Over the last 25 years in Washington as a reporter, editor and correspondent, he has covered an increasingly wide array of high-tech issues for publications like Communications Week, Internet Week, Fiber Optics News, tele.com magazine and Wireless Week.
Rockwell received a Jesse H. Neal Award for his work covering telecommunications issues, and is a graduate of James Madison University.
Click here for previous articles by Rockwell. Contact him at mrockwell@fcw.com or follow him on Twitter at @MRockwell4.
DHS tests tech to spot rogue wireless devices
The Department of Homeland Security's research and development arm is testing a portable wireless device detection system that would track down unauthorized gear.
- Mark Rockwell
GSA explains lowered DEOS price tag
GSA worked with the Defense Department and vendors to push more efficiencies into the DEOS cloud contract, ultimately resulting in a lowered ceiling, said the contract's manager.
- Mark Rockwell
Second wave solicitations coming for DOD 5G test sites
The Defense Department plans to award the first three of seven new 5G test bed contracts in the spring.
- Mark Rockwell
GDIT hangs on to DEOS cloud contract
The Pentagon re-awards DEOS cloud contract to GDIT, but lowers the ceiling value from the original award, from $7.6 billion to $4.4 billion.
- Mark Rockwell
GSA's next-gen IT contract will have CMMC requirements
Polaris, the General Services Administration's developing Alliant 2 small business contract replacement, will have CMMC clauses.
- Mark Rockwell
DHS, Coast Guard acquisition officials need closer watch, report finds
The Department of Homeland Security needs to be consistent in nominating and designating acquisition oversight officials.
- Mark Rockwell
US has a ‘China problem,’ cyber commission says
To shore up security of information and communications technology, the nation must reduce its dependency on suppliers from rival powers, especially China, according to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.
- Mark Rockwell
DHS confident on election cybersecurity
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's efforts to help state and local governments secure their election critical infrastructure are in an intense home stretch for 2020, according to the agency's top risk manager.
- Mark Rockwell
Telework exposes vulnerabilities in older ID systems
Adversaries are adapting to the shifting identity authentication gaps on federal and commercial networks created by the remote work environment, according to federal security experts.
- Mark Rockwell
'Huawei ban' means contract modifications
The General Services Administration is seeing high rates of acceptance of contract modifications from contractors to comply with acquisition rules in the 2019 defense bill.
- Mark Rockwell
Energy Department's AI office looking for partnerships
Two recently announced artificial intelligence collaborations show how the technology can affect real world problems, according to the head of the Energy Department's AI office.
- Mark Rockwell
Pentagon advances domestic drone plan
The Defense Department names five U.S. vendors for domestic sourcing of small drone aircraft.
- Mark Rockwell
IARPA pursues advanced radio eavesdropping defenses
The intelligence community's research arm wants to use smart radio tech to find elusive signals might signal efforts to tap remote transmissions.
- Mark Rockwell
Contractor questions linger as Huawei ban takes hold
Federal contractors are still facing uncertainty about new rules to get rid of Chinese-made gear.
- Mark Rockwell
Army extends software contracts under ITES
The Army's enterprise software office extends a multiple award contract.
- Mark Rockwell
As Huawei ban looms, waivers are an option
Waivers for a looming federal rule prohibiting agencies from signing new contracts with companies that use a list of Chinese-made communications gear are only a temporary fix, says one expert.
- Mark Rockwell
Deadline looms for contractors to ditch banned Chinese equipment
A broad federal prohibition on contractors that use gear from a host of Chinese tech makers goes into effect in mid-August.
- Mark Rockwell
Lawmakers call on Army to coordinate small-drone defenses
A bipartisan amendment would charge the Army with coordinating defenses against small drones across the Defense Department.
- Mark Rockwell
Pandemic fuels cloud demand, shift to apps
The remote work challenges under the COVID-19 pandemic mean that once "nice-to-have" technologies are now mission critical, leaders said.
- Mark Rockwell
NTIA backs Pentagon on Ligado 5G license
The Commerce Department is asking the Federal Communications Commission to reverse a plan to permit a commercial 5G provider to set up shop in spectrum adjacent to the global positioning system.
- Mark Rockwell