Month: May 2022

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Security News: Mitchell Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm

Source: United States Department of Justice News

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Mitchell, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on May 12, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Mason Means, age 23, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Means was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 21, 2021, and pleaded guilty on December 3, 2021. The charge stems from Means, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, illegally possessing a Cobra, model CA-380, .380 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, which was found after Means came into contact with law enforcement in March 2021 in Pine Ridge.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.

Means was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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Security News: Members of Darrin Southall Drug Organization Sentenced in Federal Court

Source: United States Department of Justice News

MOBILE, AL –Two members of Darrin Southall’s drug trafficking organization were sentenced in federal court on May 13, 2022, making a total of six defendants sentenced thus far.  Joining Southall, Eric Alonzo Windham, Terrance Santez Malik Watkins and Willie Demarcus Oliver were Shamartess Monique Whitsett, 26, and Randale Demorris Hinton, 40, both of Mobile.   Whitsett and Hinton entered guilty pleas to the charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in September of 2021.

According to court documents, Southall ran a continuing criminal enterprise involving the distribution of massive amounts of controlled substances in the Mobile, Alabama, area, and the laundering of drug proceeds through bank accounts and nominees. Court documents identified Whitsett as a courier recruited by Southall to handle and transport drug money in exchange for deliveries of cocaine and heroin.  Hinton, Southall’s cousin, was a large-scale cocaine distributor who also manufactured and distributed crack cocaine.  According to evidence adduced at Hinton’s sentencing hearing, Hinton also carried firearms to defend members of the organization and the drugs and drug proceeds generated through drug sales.
   
United States District Court Judge Kristi Dubose imposed a sentence of 135 months imprisonment in Hinton’s case. The judge imposed a sentence of 15 months in Whitsett’s case, citing her lesser role in the offense and the relatively short time frame of her participation in the massive conspircy.  The judge further ordered that each defendant would also serve five years on supervised release following their imprisonment.  As conditions of their supervision, each defendant will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and they will be subject to a search of their persons and premises upon reasonable suspicion.  No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that each defendant pay $100 in special assessments.  Each defendant’s interest in a long list of seized property was ordered forfeited to the United States.
 
The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

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Green Proving Ground Program Selects Innovative Technologies that Enable Transition to Net-Zero Carbon

Source: United States General Services Administration

May 16, 2022

Selections include GPG’s first electric vehicle supply equipment technologies

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Green Proving Ground (GPG) program, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has selected six innovative building technologies for evaluation in GSA’s inventory, including the program’s first selections of electric vehicle (EV) charging technology. The GPG program leverages GSA’s extensive real estate portfolio to evaluate innovative building technologies in real-world settings. Evaluation results enable GSA to make sound investment decisions in next-generation building technologies. An additional three technologies will be tested through DOE’s commercial building partners.

The American-made technologies were chosen in response to GSA’s most recent Request for Information seeking technologies for net-zero carbon buildings. The evaluations are intended to validate the technical and operational characteristics of the technologies and their potential for future deployment.

“By using GSA-controlled facilities as a proving ground for innovative clean energy technologies, we can help spur new industries in areas such as energy-saving windows, smart pumps, microgrids, and more,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “This demonstrates how our facilities can serve as a catalyst for American innovation that can create good-paying, clean energy jobs, save money for taxpayers and leave our kids a healthier planet.”

C02-Based Heat Pump, Dalrada (Escondido, CA) – Decarbonizing heating is key to achieving Net-Zero. This combustion-free heat pump promises to increase heating and cooling efficiency by capturing and reusing thermal energy while reducing global warming potential. Using carbon dioxide as the refrigerant, this heat pump can deliver cooling down to -22°F and heating up to 250°F.

Solar PV Tracking, Rocking Solar (Monroe, OH) – According to DOE, commercial buildings consume 35% of the electricity in the U.S. This single-axis solar tracker promises to increase commercial rooftop solar photovoltaic production by adapting a proven utility tracking technology with a new low-profile rocker design that reduces friction, motor size, and the cost of sun-tracking.

Non-Metalized Window Film, 3M (St. Paul, MN) and NGS (Atlanta, GA) – Windows are the weakest energy-efficiency link in the building envelope, but replacing them can be cost-prohibitive. This non-metalized window film promises to increase window thermal performance with increased durability, reduced reflectivity, and no cell signal interference. The exterior version is expected to effectively block heat transmission, making it an efficient option even on coated or dual-pane tinted glass. The interior version incorporates additional technology that meets current GSA standards for blast resistance.

Additive that Increases Heat Transfer, Endo Enterprises/Pace49 (Bellingham, WA) – Closed-loop heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems rely on water to transfer heat energy throughout a building. This hydronic additive promises to improve the heat transfer properties of water to reduce energy use in closed-loop HVAC systems.

The program also selected two technologies aimed at unlocking the value of electric vehicle batteries to not only power vehicles, but to interact dynamically with a building’s electric load and the local electric grid. The resulting assessment of these new technologies will refine GSA’s understanding of the requirements needed to support an all-electric fleet. The technologies will be tested at demonstration projects, called Applied Innovation Learning Laboratories, at GSA-controlled facilities across the country. At these sites, GSA will work with federal partners, industry, and local utilities to test new technologies that will support an all-electric fleet.

EV Charge Management, WeaveGrid (San Francisco, CA) – The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to electrifying the 450,000 vehicles in the federal fleet. This EV charge management solution supports that goal by integrating embedded vehicle telematics with utility signals to optimize charging based on vehicle use, utility rates, and the carbon content of delivered power.

Bi-directional EV Charging, Fermata Energy (Charlottesville, VA) – Bi-directional EV charging can be used to stabilize the grid by strategically using EVs to either power local building loads or send energy back to the grid. This vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology is expected to turn EVs into energy storage assets, increasing resilience and lowering the cost of EV ownership.

Reference above to any specific company, product, technology or service does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation or favoring by GSA. More information on the above technologies and other ongoing evaluations can be found at GPG’s Ongoing Assessments webpage.

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About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing approximately $75 billion in annual contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.

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Defense News: NEXCOM’s NEXT gen Scholars Program support students

Source: United States Navy

The Navy Exchange Service Command’s (NEXCOM) NEXT gen Scholars Program offers qualified students the opportunity to win $2,500, $1,500, $1,000 or $500 each quarter for earning good grades in school. The next drawing is at the end of June 2022.

To enter the drawing, students must be full-time with a “B” grade point average equivalent or better, as determined by their school system. Homeschooled students can also qualify with acknowledgement that the student has a “B” average or equivalent record of accomplishment.

Students must bring their current report card or other performance document to any NEX, fill out an entry card and have any documentation validated by an NEX associate. Once entered, the students will be given a coupon good for $10 off a one-time NEX purchase of $20 or more.

Eligible students include dependent children of active duty members, reservists and military retirees as well as U.S. civilian Department of Defense employees stationed outside the continental United States and U.S. civilian employees of firms under contract to the Department of Defense outside the continental United States. Students must be enrolled in 1st through 12th grade. Dependent children without an individual Dependent Identification Card must be accompanied by their sponsor to submit their entry. Each student may enter only once each grading period and must re-enter with each qualifying report card.  

Thanks to its vendor partners, NEXCOM has awarded a total of $826,500 in savings bonds and monetary awards to students since the program’s inception in 1997.

For more information on the NEXT gen Scholars Program visit myNavyExchange.com/NEXTgen.  

Quick Facts

The Navy Exchange Service Command’s (NEXCOM) NEXT gen Scholars Program offers qualified students the opportunity to win $2,500, $1,500, $1,000 or $500 each quarter for earning good grades in school. The next drawing is at the end of June 2022.

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Defense News: Destroyer Forrest Sherman Receives Painting of Former Namesake Ship

Source: United States Navy

 A former operations officer of destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931) gifted a painting to the crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), April 27.

Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. George Keller presented the painting, a departure gift he received when concluding his tour on Forrest Sherman (DD-931), to commanding officer of Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) Cmdr. Greg Page and the Forrest Sherman crew. The painting will be hung in the Lion’s Den Café, the crew’s mess decks.

Keller explained how walking around the newer Forrest Sherman gave him flashbacks to great memories he had on the former destroyer, which was first in its class and named for the 12th chief of naval operations, several decades ago.

“This vessel is a hell of a lot bigger than DD-931! Seeing all of the Sailors working around the ship, with smiles on their faces, is something great to see,” Keller said.

In June 1972, Forrest Sherman (DD-931) embarked on a UNITAS XIII deployment and headed to South America. Keller was the operations officer aboard the ship for the deployment. During the deployment, the ship sailed from Connecticut to Puerto Rico. From there, the ship sailed around South America for several months.

“I think the UNITAS deployment was my fondest memory during my time on Forrest Sherman,” said Keller. “UNITAS was something I always wanted to do, and I was lucky enough to participate in the Shellback ceremony. I remember pulling into Cartagena, Colombia, and I was driving the ship inbound for our port visit. The winds and seas were just perfect. All I needed was a little rudder, all back to stop the ship, and over line one.”

UNITAS is a series of evolutions in which U.S. Navy ships circumnavigate the South American continent, operate with several foreign navies, and return to the Atlantic through the Panama Canal. Held each year since 1959, ships have participated in this long-standing exercise, which includes traditional at-sea exercises and in-port training activities. It presents an opportunity to build capabilities and cooperative relationships among U.S., South and Central American maritime forces.

Forrest Sherman (DD-931) was built by the Bath Iron Works Corporation at Bath, Maine, on October 27, 1953, and was commissioned on February 5, 1955. After commissioning, she transited to her home port of Naval Station Newport and arrived on January 15, 1957. Some of her most notable deployments included NATO Operation Strikeback, where she screened a carrier strike group off of Norway, and Operation Inland Seas, where she served as the escort to the Royal Yacht HMY Britannia with President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Queen Elizabeth II embarked.