Month: April 2022

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Security News: Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim Delivers Remarks in Commemoration of Earth Day

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Remarks as Prepared

Good morning, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and happy Earth Day. I am so thrilled to be seeing all of you in person. Thank you for volunteering to be here on this beautiful day.

I am pleased that Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division is with us. AAG Clarke and the Civil Rights Division are invaluable partners in our work to advance environmental justice for communities around the country, and it is wonderful for us to be volunteering together here today.

I would like to thank Washington Parks & People for partnering with ENRD on this project, and all the work they have done to create beautiful greenspaces in the District of Columbia.

I am honored to be a part of the ENRD team because of the commitment to the environment that is demonstrated every day by all of you, not just on Earth Day. It is fitting that this group, which has done so much to protect the environment throughout the nation, has the longstanding tradition of taking a day to do in-person, local projects like this one.

Please think of your work here today as a celebration of all we have achieved this year. I am very pleased to announce that today we are releasing our Accomplishments Report for Fiscal Year 2021. I encourage you not only to read it, but also to share it with anyone who may be interested in our work and in working with us.

In the past year, ENRD has taken great strides in advancing the interests of the American people in environmental and natural resources matters.

We have fought against the climate crisis, through our enforcement efforts and our defense of client agencies. We have worked to provide a voice and relief to overburdened environmental justice communities through inclusive approaches and processes. We have worked to hold polluters accountable. We have defended the decisions of our client agencies across the many important programs they administer.

And we have had remarkable success in those efforts, with favorable outcomes in 99.4% of our civil enforcement cases, 90.2% of our civil defensive cases, 98.9% of our criminal cases and 100%of our condemnation cases.

This has been a year we should all be proud of. And today, I want us to keep in mind how all actions taken to protect our world add up.

When Marvin Gaye grew up in this neighborhood, he would come to this park to sit by the stream, write music, and sing. Everyone should be able to access safe, green and healthy spaces that give them a place to live and to dream. Your work here today will help provide such a space for the residents of this community.

Thank you for listening, and thank you in advance for everything we will achieve together ― today, and in the upcoming years.

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Security News: Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Releases Accomplishments Report for Fiscal Year 2021

Source: United States Department of Justice News

The Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) today released its Accomplishments Report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The report highlights ENRD’s strong enforcement of our nation’s environmental and natural resources laws, efforts to advance environmental justice and role in our nation’s response to the climate crisis. 

“I am proud to serve alongside the remarkable attorneys and staff who dedicate their professional lives to advancing the interests of the American people in environmental and natural resource matters,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “ENRD has an incredibly important mission to protect public health and welfare by enforcing the nation’s environmental laws, safeguarding our breathtaking landscapes and precious natural resources, preserving the rights and resources of American Indian and Alaska Native nations, defending federal agency actions and enabling critical infrastructure projects, among other things.”

In 2021, ENRD litigated and won meaningful remedies from polluters who imperiled overburdened communities across the nation, including in America’s heartland, the Southeast, downtown New York City and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Going forward, Assistant Attorney General Kim pledged that ENRD will work “to ensure that all Americans — regardless of race, color, national origin or income — are treated fairly and can engage in the decisions that affect them.”

ENRD also prioritized efforts to combat climate change, as part of the President’s whole-of-government response to the climate crisis. Last year, ENRD brought civil and criminal cases to limit damaging pollution from sources like petroleum facilities and oceangoing vessels. The division also worked to protect natural resources by defending floodplain control projects and cracking down on those who unlawfully fill wetlands, illegally harvest timber and more. The division defended the authority of other federal agencies to take critical steps needed to alleviate the effects of climate change, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

In FY21, ENRD worked on more than 4,000 matters. It obtained over $1.5 billion in civil and criminal fines, penalties and costs recovered. It secured federal injunctive relief valued at over $5.1 billion. And through its defensive and condemnation litigation, it saved the United States more than $443 million. ENRD achieved a favorable outcome in 99.4% of its civil enforcement cases, 90.2 percent in its civil defensive cases, 98.9% of its criminal cases and 100% of its condemnation cases. 

The achievements described in the report add to ENRD’s storied legacy, which dates back 113 years. Its work is all the more important now, at what Assistant Attorney General Kim called a “pivotal moment in our nation’s history,” for environmental and natural resources issues.   

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Defense News: NIWC Atlantic Offers Business Community Glimpse into Product Needs of Navy, Marine Corps

Source: United States Navy

SBIOI gatherings, which are sponsored by the Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA), foster small business interest in working with a government lab and offer an understanding of the rapid acquisitions tools available.

The Charleston-based events also help NIWC Atlantic engineers and technologists excel in information warfare, connecting them personally with emerging innovators in the commercial space.

“We are so grateful to the CDCA and our industry partners here for enabling this environment of collaboration,” Peter C. Reddy, NIWC Atlantic executive director, told a packed room of nearly 375 business leaders.

Under the Small Business Act, the Department of Defense has statutory targets regulating how many acquisition dollars are obligated to small business. NIWC Atlantic’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) seeks to award 39% of all eligible obligated dollars on prime contracts to small business concerns, according to Robin Rourk, OSBP deputy director at NIWC Atlantic.

More than halfway through the fiscal year, NIWC Atlantic has already awarded 46% of all eligible dollars to small business.

“These outreach events are critical to continuing to increase our small business numbers and diversity,” Rourk said. “Small business innovation brings speed and agility to the information war.”

Unique at this year’s first SBIOI was the attendance of Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM) Director of Contracts Johany Deal and her team of contracting officers, who travelled from Quantico, Virginia, to brief business leaders.

“There exists a very dynamic relationship between MARCORSYSCOM and NIWC Atlantic,” Reddy noted. “With business technology developers here in the audience today, we look to leverage these teaming connections even more as we rapidly deliver capabilities that meet the needs of the warfighter today and tomorrow.”

As the Marine Corps continues solidifying its doctrine of recognizing “information” as the seventh warfighting function, Reddy said it’s no secret the information domain will be where future battles are fought and decided.

Leaders from the Expeditionary Warfare Department at NIWC Atlantic held the longest panel discussions of the day focused on the services they provide MARCORSYSCOM, the Marine Corps organization responsible for overseeing every technology and piece of gear placed into the hands of Marines.

Ashlee Landreth, who leads the Expeditionary Warfare Department, spent time providing the audience a high-level understanding of the latest national defense strategies that affect her workforce and the capabilities they are developing and fielding.

“Our nation’s success in the Indo-Pacific region will depend on the ability of our naval and special operations forces to sense and make sense across systems while operating in a contested maritime environment,” Landreth said. “As the lead systems integrator for many of those enabling systems and capabilities, we are in a unique position to work with industry to achieve our technical interoperability goals and meet key objectives of national strategy.”

Throughout the day, military leaders discussed technical growth areas at NIWC Atlantic, industry forecasts and upcoming opportunities to partner with the Navy.

In addition, Steve Harnig, NIWC Atlantic’s director of contracting, delved into various metrics related to contracts and explained the command’s mission in achieving data-driven results.

“Every time we engage with industry, the goal is to not only share our priorities and what business opportunities are available but also demonstrate the overall transparency of our operations,” Harnig said. “I view our industrial base as stakeholders in the information warfare business, and I try to build trust during events like SBIOI so that we can foster excellent working relationships.”

Following the event, CDCA President Gary Jaffe said the continued strength of the defense industry’s relationship with NIWC Atlantic was highlighted, made especially noteworthy with the Marine Corps contracting professionals in attendance this year.

“This milestone for the CDCA, coupled with the amazing growth we’ve experienced, underscores the importance of our mission as we seek to protect, strengthen, advocate for, and grow industry’s ability to deliver valuable solutions to our warfighters,” Jaffe said.

Two more SBIOI events are scheduled to take place this year on July 13 and Oct. 20.

About NIWC Atlantic

As a part of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, NIWC Atlantic provides systems engineering and acquisition to deliver information warfare capabilities to the naval, joint and national warfighter through the acquisition, development, integration, production, test, deployment, and sustainment of interoperable command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cyber and information technology capabilities.

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Defense News: CECOS Hosts First Annual Civil Engineer Corps Architect Community Development Symposium

Source: United States Navy

The symposium, designed by Capt. Pete Maculan, the CECOS commanding officer, provided mentorship to naval civil engineer corps (CEC) officers and increased their knowledge about strategic communication and engineering licensure. 
 
“This was an opportunity for senior architects to address issues within the civil engineer officer community,” stated Maculan. “This inaugural event was a great success.  We met all of our objectives and I’m looking forward to next year’s event.” 
 
A portion of the symposium was dedicated to the professional development of junior CEC officers. Junior architects were able to ask senior CEC community members questions about career progression and how they could better help the architect community at their level. On day two of the event,  breakout teams were utilized to help personalize mentoring and share local practices.

The three day symposium was held both in-person and virtually. With the help of the newly created CECOS broadcast team, the event included attendees from around the world, as far away as Djibouti, Africa.

“It was a production that connected our presenters from all over the globe, allowing the exchange of personal real world experiences. This new technology between live streaming and future broadcasting in our newly designed studio is not only a faster vehicle to get information out, but also cost saving for the Navy.” stated Mr. Patrick Shelby, CECOS audiovisual production specialist.

CECOS, located at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, California, provides Seabees, civil engineer corps officers, facility engineers and environmental professionals with the necessary skills, knowledge and education to enhance lifelong learning and to provide quality support to the fleet.

For more info about CECOS, visit www.netc.navy.mil/CECOS/ or follow CECOS on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CivilEngineerCorpsOfficersSchool/

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Security News: Benton Harbor Fbi Safe Streets Task Force Leads To Conviction Of Felon Possessing Firearm

Source: United States Department of Justice News

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN —U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Joseph Favorite, 24, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced to serve 120 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering also imposed a period of supervised release of 3 years to follow.  Both the 120 months’ incarceration and 3 years’ supervised release are the statutory maximum terms a judge can impose for a felon possessing a firearm. 

          Members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force arrested Favorite on July 1, 2021, following an investigation into his illegal firearm possession and a search of his residence.  At the time, Favorite was a parole absconder and had an active warrant for assault with a deadly weapon stemming from a June 27, 2021, incident involving a firearm.  During the search of Favorite’s bedroom, investigators found a loaded 9mm pistol with 50-round drum magazine attached.  Favorite was prohibited from possessing the firearm because he was previously convicted in 2016 of assault to do great bodily harm and assault with a dangerous weapon.  Favorite pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on January 13, 2022.  In sentencing Favorite to 120 months’ custody, Judge Beckering expressed concern for Favorite’s “violent history” and “disturbing” conduct, and noted he contributed “to the escalating violence in Benton Harbor.”

          U.S. Attorney Birge said, “My office remains committed to supporting law enforcement task forces that collaborate to address the violent crime plaguing our communities—particularly gun violence.  We will continue to work together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.” 

          “For years, this defendant committed violence against the citizens of Benton Harbor and its surrounding communities with impunity,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan.  “I want to thank our partners in the Benton Harbor FBI Safe Streets Task Force for all of their hard work on this investigation and for their efforts to keep our communities safe.”

          This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky and investigated by the Benton Harbor FBI Safe Streets Task Force. The Safe Streets Task Force includes law enforcement officers from the FBI, Michigan State Police, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Benton Township Police Department, Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department, and the Michigan Department of Corrections.

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