Category: MIL-OSI

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Security News: Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and Japan Fair Trade Commission commemorate the 25th Anniversary of U.S.-Japan Competition Cooperation Agreement

Source: United States Department of Justice 2

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Commissioner Reiko Aoki of the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) met yesterday in Washington, D.C., to mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of an agreement between the United States and Japan concerning cooperation on anticompetitive issues. 

“The Japan Fair Trade Commission is one of our closest and most important international partners,” said Assistant Attorney General Kanter. “We are grateful to the JFTC for our long history of sharing best practices, discussing common challenges and working together on competition issues affecting both of our countries. We look forward to continuing our close relationship with the JFTC in the future.”

“I want to thank Commissioner Aoki and the Japan Fair Trade Commission for being here today to commemorate this historic agreement,” said FTC Commissioner Bedoya. “The cooperation between the United States and Japan on competition issues extends back to 1976, long before this agreement was signed, making it the U.S. antitrust agencies’ longest-running bilateral consultation with any foreign competition agency. Our long and productive relationship reflects a mutual commitment to foster and enhance competition cooperation to the benefit of both countries, and the United States is grateful for this continuing relationship.”

“Challenges to competitive markets, domestically and globally, have evolved since the agreement was signed, the first such agreement for JFTC,” said JFTC Commissioner Aoki. “The evolution of technologies and markets is proof of our successful cooperation in maintaining well-functioning markets. I would like to thank Assistant Attorney General Kanter and Commissioner Bedoya for this opportunity to celebrate our success and confirm our commitment for the next quarter century and beyond.”

Under the 1999 competition cooperation agreement, the Justice Department, FTC and JFTC committed to notify each other of enforcement activities that may affect the other’s important interests and render assistance in enforcement activities where possible in order to contribute to the effective enforcement of the competition laws of each country.

Commission Aoki, Assistant Attorney General Kanter and Commissioner Bedoya attend the meeting.

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IRS Information Technology Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes from Government Subcontractor Whom He Attempted to Extort

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Maryland man pleaded guilty yesterday to accepting cash bribes in exchange for helping acquaintances and their businesses procure and continue work on subcontracts with the IRS.

According to court documents, Satbir Thukral, 62, of Germantown, worked for the IRS as a computer engineer and supervised various information technology contracts. In September 2018, Company 1 began working on a subcontract for the IRS that Thukral supervised. Starting in October 2018, Thukral sought cash payments from Company 1’s owner, Individual 1, constituting a portion of the earnings from Company 1’s work on the IRS subcontract. Between 2018 and 2020, Individual 1 made multiple cash payments to Thukral totaling more than $120,000. In February 2021, when Individual 1 told Thukral that Individual 1 would not pay any more money, Thukral attempted to extort Individual 1 by threatening that Individual 1 would suffer economic consequences if the payments did not continue. In early February 2023, Individual 1 recorded an in-person meeting with Thukral at the direction of law enforcement. During the meeting, Individual 1 told Thukral that the FBI had asked about bank withdrawals that Individual 1 had made to pay Thukral, and Thukral instructed Individual 1 to lie to the FBI about the nature of the cash withdrawals. Later that same day, to assist and induce Individual 1 to lie to the FBI and to further the concealment of the payments, Thukral returned a portion of the proceeds that Thukral had received from Individual 1.

In a separate scheme, in July 2022, Thukral received approximately $2,800 in cash from a manager at a prime contractor with the IRS. The manager made the payment, in part, in return for Thukral’s facilitating the continued employment of two underqualified individuals at two other IRS subcontractors with whom the manager had an affiliation. In addition, at the time of the payment, the manager believed that Thukral, who had been selected to serve on a three-person panel that would have evaluated the technical feasibility of bids of an upcoming IRS contract valued at approximately $200 million, could influence the valuations to the manager’s benefit.

Thukral pleaded guilty to acceptance of bribes by a public official. Thukral faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) made the announcement.

The FBI and TIGTA are investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Christopher Sarma for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.

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Defense News: USS Shiloh Holds Change of Command

Source: United States Navy

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM — The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) held a change of command ceremony in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, August 29.

Capt. Bryan E. Geisert relieved Capt. Adam G. Cheatham as the commanding officer aboard Shiloh. Cheatham assumed command of Shiloh in October 2021. His next tour will be at Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific.

Geisert’s sea duty tours include USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS George Washington (CVN 73), and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) where he was awarded the Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 21 Junior Officer Award for Excellence in Tactics. Most recently, he commanded the USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). His shore duties include J5 planner for the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps and the chief of staff at the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) in Little Creek, Virginia.

“I am humbled and honored to be the 19th Commanding Officer of USS Shiloh,” said Geiser. “Your professionalism, teamwork, warfighting prowess, your experiences coming together as a team is truly impressive; and I am very fired up to be part of it.”

“It is truly an honor to have served as captain of this amazing warship for the past 34 months,” said Cheatham. “You have spent a tremendous amount of blood and sweat because you executed the extraordinary task of keeping this 32 year-old ship operational, yet you remained strong. That strength is an embodiment of this ship’s namesake. Like the soldiers of the Battle of Shiloh, it is only through the strength and hard work of you, the crew of Shiloh, that this ship has been as successful as it has been.”

Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Capt. Joseph Ring also addressed the crew. “Shiloh is manned with some of the very best of America’s maritime streetfighters… Shiloh and her surface warriors, I hope, will be put onto the battlefield first because they will deliver,” he said. “For the last 34 months under Capt. Cheatham’s command, she operated in every body of water conducting various operations with great class, professionalism, and expertise.”

Ring told Cheatham, “You have taken great care of Shiloh and her crew and executed every mission, we are all so grateful for everything you’ve done. Congratulations on a very successful command of a cruiser.”

In 2022, from November to December, Shiloh escorted the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and again from June to August, in 2023. Shiloh also conducted missions in the Philippine Sea, Guam, Sea of Japan, South Pacific Sea in vicinity of Fiji, and in Hawaii Operational Area. These were multinational exercises strengthening relations and ensuring maritime stability and security in the region. In September of 2023, Shiloh successfully conducted a homeport shift to Hawaii, after being stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, for the past 17 years.

Shiloh is homeported in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Shiloh is assigned to Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, a combat ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of its allies and partners in the region.

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Defense News: NAS JRB Fort Worth Reaches Milestone with New Squadron Operations and Flight Simulator Facility for F-35 Wing

Source: United States Navy

NAS JRB FORT WORTH, TEXAS –A significant milestone in the modernization of the United States Air Force (USAF) Reserve Command (AFRC) was reached with the Military Construction (MILCON) of a new two- story squadron operations facility and simulator facility set to be complete fall, 2024 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Fort Worth. This completed project will support the delivery of 5th generation fighters to the 301st Fighter Wing, the USAF AFRC first stand-alone F-35 wing.

This project, consisting of over 55,000 square feet of new facility space, required coordination of multiple groups involving subject matter experts, engineers, trades, and occupants.
Civil Engineer Corps, United States Navy, Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division Director Lt. Isaac Leskowat provided, “The prime contractor on the project is Conti Federal Services, and oversight is provided by the Fort Worth Office of Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Region Southeast. The USAF Reserve 301st Fighter Wing will be the end users of the facility. Also coordinating with multiple other agencies and offices for facility commissioning, ensuring specification and environmental compliance, as well as coordinating simulator installation with Lockheed Martin’s team. There are more teams involved with the project to include the USAF program transition team that oversees the transition from the F-16 to the F-35. Coordination has been a critical piece of this project.”

The construction project began with the development and requirement for design back in 2016. It was then awarded in September 2021 which involved the demolition of existing structures and the construction of the new facility space. Along with any construction project, challenges emerge.

“Every day is a challenge in construction, but it’s about how you approach those challenges, and who you have in your corner on your team to address and overcome those challenges. The project started out with demolition of existing facilities and was immediately besieged by geotechnical issues and delays. Since then, the project team has overcome every manner of circumstance from severe weather damages, implementing enhanced security postures, overcoming design and construction conflicts, and managing schedules to mitigate mission impacts,” said Leskowat.
The new facility will provide the 301st Fighter Wing with the necessary infrastructure to support the F-35 mission. The squadron operations facility will serve as the command and control center for the wing, while the simulator facility will provide pilots with the opportunity to train on the F-35 in a realistic simulated environment.

Upon the completion of this project, Leskowat shared his thoughts on what it does for the base and our community.
“This demonstrates the continual development of the capabilities at NAS JRB Fort Worth and truly highlights the relationship of the joint DOD tenants that make us successful day in and day out,” Leskowat commented. “The personnel that come to work at the base, and the reservists who dedicate their time to serve their community, state, and nation are members of the community right here in Fort Worth, as well as surrounding areas. It is a great opportunity and privilege to ensure the highest level of combat readiness through the deployment of the F-35 and the development of the necessary competencies and proficiencies that follow.”

NAS JRB Fort Worth is the first and finest joint reserve base, known for training and equipping air crews and aviation ground support personnel, while supporting missions such as airlift, aerial refueling, and global mobility, making it an integral part of national defense infrastructure.

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Defense News: USS New York: The Floating Museum at Sea

Source: United States Navy

SOUDA BAY, Greece – USS New York (LPD 21) is the fifth ship of the United States Navy to bear the name New York. Designed to transport and land Marines, equipment and supplies, the ship is equipped to operate in high-density and multi-threat environments, either independently or as a key member of an amphibious readiness group. New York is a multi-mission warship capable of conducting a wide range of operations, including ship-to-shore and air missions.

New York was the first of three U.S. Navy ships built to honor the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. USS Arlington (LPD 24) and USS Somerset (LPD 25) are the other two San Antonio-class ships built to serve as living memorials.

In September 2003, 7.5 tons of steel recovered from Ground Zero were melted down and forged into the New York’s bow stem, embedding the DNA of the 2,977 victims into the heart of the vessel. The ship’s interior is adorned with murals, posters and patches that serve as reminders of that tragic day, allowing the crew moments to pause and reflect on the ship’s profound connection to 9/11.

“Every ship in the Navy has an important namesake,” said Capt. Benjamin W. Oakes, commanding officer of USS New York. “However, the relationship this ship has with the state of New York, New Yorkers, first responders – past and present – survivors, victims’ families, and the events of 9/11 make New York special. There is an increased sense of purpose here. This ship and its legacy continue to inspire each crew to rise to the highest level of performance. Every Sailor and Marine wants to be at their best here.”

Lt. Jason Moore, chaplain representative of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Special Operations Capable (SOC), along with Lt. Camea Baksh, provides spiritual support to the Sailors and Marines aboard New York. When at sea, they carry on a daily tradition of reading a short epitaph of a 9/11 victim before the evening prayer broadcasted over the ship’s public address system. These spoken memorials share not only the victim’s biographical details but also their interests, passions and personal stories.

“I enjoy reading these stories because they remind me why we serve and what this ship represents,” said Moore. “The events of that day had a profound effect on our country and my generation in particular. When I joined the Marine Corps, 9/11 was front and center in our minds.”

To honor the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Damage Control “Flying Squad,” which is a team made up of the ship’s first responders to casualties, and the 2025 fiscal year Chief selectees will lead a ramp “climb” walk, representing the 110 flights of stairs that New York City firefighters ascended during rescue efforts at the World Trade Center. Additionally, a new mural commemorating 9/11 will be unveiled to the commanding officer and crew to honor the lives lost on that fateful day.

“On 9/11, first responders ran full force towards the threat ,” said Oakes. “This same sense of purpose exists in our commitment to our duties. As the nation’s 9/11 ship, with the global 9-1-1 force embarked onboard, this crew is ready to answer any call and sail bow-first into danger. This ship and her crew embody the same resilience, grit, and determination as the first responders and those who have fought for our freedom and democracy for over 250 years.”

While operating in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of responsibility, USS New York supports U.S., Allied, and partner interests, including in the Eastern Mediterranean, to promote regional stability and deter aggression. The presence of the integrated Navy-Marine Corps team aboard New York provides flexibility and enhanced capability to both NAVEUR-NAVAF and U.S. 6th Fleet.

USS New York departed Norfolk, Virginia, on May 22, 2024, for a scheduled deployment to the NAVEUR-NAVAF area of operations.

The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group consists of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), USS New York, Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51), and the embarked 24th MEU SOC.