NewzIntel.com

Category: Military Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Whitehouse Welcome GAO Report on Use of Beneficial Ownership Information to Bolster Fraud Detection

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    WASHINGTON – Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) welcomed the release of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining the use of beneficial ownership information in law enforcement or Inspectors General investigations to detect fraud and misconduct in government programs.
    Grassley and Whitehouse requested the report last Congress as part of their ongoing bipartisan work to improve government accountability and transparency, combat illicit finance and bolster the U.S.’s anti-corruption efforts.  
    “For decades, criminals, cartels and foreign terrorists have used shell companies to steal taxpayer dollars, launder their ill-gotten gains and endanger American lives with lethal drugs and violent crime. Last Congress, Senator Whitehouse and I uncovered just one aspect of these systemic weaknesses in lax Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registration,” Grassley said. “In order to fight this pervasive form of fraud, and support President Trump’s agenda of cutting waste, fraud and abuse, Inspectors General must know who the true owners of U.S. corporations are. FinCEN ought to swiftly implement GAO’s recommendations and provide Inspectors General access to the company registry of beneficial owners.”
    “America is engaged in a clash of civilizations, between rule of law and international corruption and kleptocracy. Senator Grassley and I worked for years to pass the Corporate Transparency Act to support law enforcement’s ability to go after fraudsters, cartels, and criminals, who routinely use shell companies to stash dirty money in plain sight,” Whitehouse said. “This timely GAO report details how company ownership reporting betters our government’s approach to cracking down on fraudsters stealing government money and benefits at the expense of honest small businesses and taxpayers.”
    Findings:
    The GAO report found that some private companies competing for government contracts or applying for federal benefits perpetrated fraud against the government through obscuring their ownership information. The report recommends that the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) work with Inspectors General to facilitate the use of beneficial ownership information to bolster fraud detection, anti-corruption and illicit finance risk.   
    The report describes how shell company schemes result in significant financial losses and threaten our national security and public safety, including the theft of $93 million from Medicare to the transfer of sensitive military technology to foreign countries. About 85 percent of Inspectors General reported that beneficial ownership information could help prevent and investigate fraud in the government.  
    Background:
    Grassley and Whitehouse were the original sponsors of the TITLE Act, the precursor to the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The CTA was designed to play an important role in protecting national security and public safety by providing law enforcement and national security officials with the names of the true owners (“beneficial ownership information”) of U.S. corporations and other legal entities. This information aids the government’s efforts to combat terrorist financing, money laundering, sanctions evasion, proliferation financing, tax evasion and other forms of illicit finance carried out through shell and front companies.  
    The CTA was the culmination of more than a decade of painstaking bipartisan congressional deliberation. The measure passed as part of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act and was supported by a wide range of stakeholders, including national security experts, law enforcement, anti-corruption groups, human rights organizations, faith communities, financial institutions, real estate organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, labor unions and the first Trump Administration.   
    Read the full report HERE.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, Bennet Press Defense Dept on Continued Moving Issues for Relocating Military Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) wrote to the commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) General Randall Reed to follow up on their concerns that as USTRANSCOM continues to implement the Global Household Goods Contract, GHC, to streamline its relocation process, military families are experiencing delays and confusion related to the contract transition, and the remedies available to them.

    “We appreciate actions taken so far that are aimed at blunting the impacts of the GHC transition to our servicemembers and their families, which have included holding some household goods shipments in the legacy system, as well as increasing USTRANSCOM’s oversight of the HomeSafe Alliance contract performance,” wrote the senators. “We are concerned, however, that the ongoing challenges with the contract transition and the large anticipated volume of moves in the coming months will continue to result in servicemember move disruptions and delays in their moves.”

    In the letter, the senators highlighted the importance of communicating with service members about their rights during the relocation process. 

    The senators continued, “You are also likely aware that the challenges with the implementation of GHC has generated a significant amount of online discussion surrounding military moves. To help prevent confusion or misinformation regarding moves, USTRANSCOM and service Transportation Offices must increase their communication with transferring servicemembers and their families, as the Army did in January to explain changes in personally procured moves. I encourage you to take additional steps to ensure servicemember understanding of their options, rights, and remedies during this transfer season.”

    The senators also noted the impact of President Trump’s staffing cuts and hiring freezes at the Department of Defense, and requested a detailed assessment of how these moves are impacting USTRANSCOM’s operations.

    The senators concluded, “To better assess the impacts of these haphazard cuts, please provide me a report detailing the staffing structure at USTRANSCOM that supports servicemember household good moves, including the number of billets for civilian and military personnel who support the GHC transition and manage the HomeSafe Alliance contract, the number of vacancies in those billets in AY23, AY24, AY25 to date, specifically identifying any new vacancies since January 20, 2025. We are requesting the same data from each of the military branches to better assess the impacts of Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem’s personnel management choices on servicemembers and their families to ensure that they are managing this important issue with the urgency it demands.” 

    A copy of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear General Reed:

    We write in appreciation of our servicemembers and their families, and in continuation of my effort to support them and work with U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) on the implementation of the Global Household Goods Contract (GHC) with HomeSafe Alliance. We appreciate the continued focus from your team on remedying GHC implementation challenges, in keeping with USTRANSCOM’s commitments to our military community as they enter the permanent change of station (PCS) peak season. We will continue to monitor this PCS season and your efforts to ensure our military, and you, have what you need to undergo this transformation with minimal impact to those we serve.

    We appreciate actions taken so far that are aimed at blunting the impacts of the GHC transition to our servicemembers and their families, which have included holding some household goods shipments in the legacy system, as well as increasing USTRANSCOM’s oversight of the HomeSafe Alliance contract performance. We are concerned, however, that the ongoing challenges with the contract transition and the large anticipated volume of moves in the coming months will continue to result in servicemember move disruptions and delays in their moves. We understand that HomeSafe Alliance is required to compensate servicemembers for some of the costs they incur because of these delays.

    You are also likely aware that the challenges with the implementation of GHC has generated a significant amount of online discussion surrounding military moves. To help prevent confusion or misinformation regarding moves, USTRANSCOM and service Transportation Offices must increase their communication with transferring servicemembers and their families, as the Army did in January to explain changes in personally procured moves. We encourage you to take additional steps to ensure servicemember understanding of their options, rights, and remedies during this transfer season.

    Finally, we are concerned that recent reports of staffing cuts and hiring freezes at the Department of Defense and military services may negatively impact servicemember moves as the military heads into peak transfer season. The firings of probationary employees and other federal employees, many of whom are military spouses or veterans, have exacerbated the disruptions caused by preexisting vacancies and create new disruptions across the federal government. This heedless hobbling of complex government functions house outsized negative impacts on customer service and customer experience. To better assess the impacts of these haphazard cuts, please provide me a report detailing the staffing structure at USTRANSCOM that supports servicemember household good moves, including the number of billets for civilian and military personnel who support the GHC transition and manage the HomeSafe Alliance contract, the number of vacancies in those billets in AY23, AY24, AY25 to date, specifically identifying any new vacancies since January 20, 2025. We are requesting the same data from each of the military branches to better assess the impacts of Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Noem’s personnel management choices on servicemembers and their families to ensure that they are managing this important issue with the urgency it demands.

    We request this response by May 16, 2025. We appreciate your attention and look forward to continuing to work closely with you on this matter. Thank you for your time and consideration. should be placed.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tillis, Coons, Kiley, and Peters Reintroduce Landmark Legislation to Restore American Innovation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Carolina Thom Tillis
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, and Chris Coons (D-DE) and Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-CA) and Scott Peters (D-CA) reintroduced the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will restore patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields while also resolving legitimate concerns over the patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system. It also affirms the basic principle that the patent system is central to promoting technology-based innovation.
    “Clear, reliable, and predictable patent rights are imperative to enable investments in the broad array of innovative technologies that are critical to the economic and global competitiveness of the United States, and to ensuring the national security of our great country,” said Senator Tillis. “Unfortunately, a series of Supreme Court decisions have rendered patent eligibility law unclear, unreliable, and unpredictable, resulting in U.S. inventors being unable to obtain patents in areas where our economic peers offer patent protection. This is particularly concerning in the economically critical areas of biotechnology and artificial intelligence. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, while addressing inappropriate judicially created eligibility limitations by creating clear rules for what is eligible. We cannot allow foreign adversaries like China to overtake us in key areas of technology innovation due to the current state of patent eligibility law. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders on this important matter. Passing patent eligibility reform is one of my top legislative priorities.”
    “When American innovators know their ideas are eligible for patent protection, they take the risks that push us into the future – whether that’s the next medical test or the latest AI technology,” said Senator Coons. “PERA restores clarity to the law on what can be patented and what cannot – guidance that federal courts have been requesting for years and that the Supreme Court has refused to provide. Congress must step up to provide America’s inventors with the stable legal foundation they need to produce the cutting-edge technologies that power our economy.”
    “American innovators have been at a disadvantage in recent years because of the U.S. patent system,” said Representative Kevin Kiley. “Convoluted Supreme Court rulings and tests on subject matter eligibility have made it increasingly difficult for inventors to receive patents, leading to foreign companies overtaking our own. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bi-partisan Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will dramatically reverse this trend, and unleash a tide of economic growth and job creation here at home.”
    “For more than two centuries, a U.S. patent has guaranteed inventions will be protected from theft, helping the U.S. become the innovation capital of the world. San Diego, in particular, is the proud home of a thriving life sciences and technology ecosystem that has benefited from these protections,” said Representative Peters. “Over the last 15 years, however, several Supreme Court decisions have created confusion about what exactly is eligible for a patent. Innovators, consumers, and even the judges who adjudicate patent law have called on Congress to provide clarity on what can be patented. I look forward to working with Congressman Kiley, Senator Coons, and Senator Tillis to advance our Patent Eligibility Restoration Act and protect American innovation.” 
    “Congress has not made substantive changes to what subject matter is patentable in the United States since the Patent Act of 1793, making it difficult for courts, inventors, and the public to understand how 21st-century technologies fit within an 18th Century patent statute,” said Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2018 to 2021. “I commend Congress for advancing PERA in order to finally modernize our patent laws and promote U.S. global leadership in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and other modern technologies.” 
    “PERA provides the clarity needed to unlock the full potential of cutting-edge technologies and solidify U.S. leadership in scientific and technological breakthroughs,” said David Kappos, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2009 to 2013. “We cannot allow legal uncertainty to stall the next wave of American innovation.”
    “Patent Eligibility is an important issue for cancer patients – both for life-saving, early diagnosis and for promising new treatments.  PERA will provide the certainty needed to enable innovative breakthroughs to reach patients. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute applauds Congress for introducing and advancing this important bill – the patients are waiting.” – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
    “Passing PERA is essential if the US is to catch up to Europe and Asia, especially China,” said Judge Paul Michel (retired). “They make eligible for patenting many classes of inventions held ineligible here. The very uncertainty of the zone of eligibility is itself an obstacle to companies getting the investments they need to compete both domestically and globally. Only Congress can fix this chaotic mess because the courts are trapped in their own harmful precedents.” 
    “In my former court, which hears patent cases on appeal, concurring and dissenting opinions in patent eligibly cases have proliferated,” said Judge Kathleen O’Malley (retired). “Veteran jurists have described the state of affairs as ‘incoherent,’ ‘unclear,’ ‘fraught,’ and ‘inconsistent.’ The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would return clarity to patent eligibly law and encourage continued innovation in key emerging technologies – technologies that are central to the United States remaining the world’s innovation leader.”
    “NCLifeSci thanks Senator Tillis for reintroducing the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025, which restores the confidence in our nation’s patent laws by bringing much needed clarity to Section 101 of the Patent Act. Confidence that the life sciences industry needs to robustly invest in the future of medicine. For too long, fields like diagnostics, precision medicine, cell and gene therapy, RNA medicine, and digital health have been threatened by unclear and uncertain patent-eligibility standards that put America’s innovators at a disadvantage, and that discourage local investment. Through this legislation, our members – which include leading innovators who operate cutting-edge gene therapy manufacturing facilities here in North Carolina and research potential treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s and cancer —will be able to continue to take the bold risks and make the high levels of investment necessary to take fields like these to their next level, with the confidence that our patent laws will continue to hold up through future waves of technological progress.” – NC Life Sciences Organization 
    “The Innovation Alliance applauds Senators Tillis and Coons and Representatives Kiley and Peters for sponsoring the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will provide much needed predictability and clarity to the hopelessly confused law of patent eligibility.  The Supreme Court has provided no workable framework to guide patent owners or the courts, and it has repeatedly refused to clarify the law, rejecting requests by the Federal Circuit and others to do so time and again. Investment dollars are flowing out of the United States as a result, jeopardizing the future of America’s innovation economy. It is past time for Congress to act.” – The Innovation Alliance  
    “This bipartisan and much-needed bill would strike a decade of judicial tinkering that has needlessly turned the question of patent eligibility into a confusing mess and harmed the U.S. versus our economic competitors. While the U.S. has spent a decade holding back innovations in areas such as fintech, diagnostic solutions and medical devices trying to figure out whether they are ‘abstract’ or not, our competitors are moving forward and protecting these inventions. PERA would be particularly beneficial to American startups and innovators by providing the clarity needed to attract investment for new ventures in essential areas such as medical devices, diagnostics, manufacturing and a whole new range of advancements powered by software.”- Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs
    “AUTM – the association representing technology transfer professionals – thanks Senators Tillis and Coons and others for their leadership in introducing PERA. This legislation is crucially needed to address the ambiguities that the courts have created about what is, and what is not, patent eligible. At a time when the U.S. is competing for innovation leadership, its patent system needs to clearly delineate this process so that it can move forward on numerous discoveries that otherwise would wither on the vine.” – AUTM
    “The reintroduction of the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) marks a pivotal move toward restoring clarity and consistency in U.S. patent law. By providing clear statutory guidelines, PERA offers inventors, entrepreneurs, and research institutions the certainty needed to innovate confidently. We commend Senator Tillis and Senator Coons for their leadership on this critical issue and remain committed to collaborating with Congress to support a patent system that fosters transparency and predictability.” – American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
    “The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform applauds Congress for reintroducing PERA. This legislation represents a significant step forward in clarifying patent eligibility while maintaining necessary standards on what is ultimately patentable.  21C applauds these efforts as they will make sure that the United States remains the most attractive place in the world to invest, invent, and grow.” – The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform (21C)
    The following organizations support the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act: Innovation Alliance, C4IP, AUTM, AIPLA, IEEE-USA, USIJ, MDMA, BIO, NCLifeSci, Adeia, Nokia, Sisvel, Conservatives for Property Rights, Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund, U.S. Business & Industry Council, Center for a Free Economy, Center for Individual Freedom, American Policy Center, Less Government, 60 Plus Association, American Association of Senior Citizens, Frontiers of Freedom, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, Center for American Principles, Prosperity for Us Foundation, Market Institute, Inventors Defense Alliance, Lauder Partners, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Heritage Action, 21C, Netlist, and FICPI.
    Background:
    Unfortunately, due to a series of Supreme Court decisions, patent eligibility law in the United States has become confused, constricted, and unclear in recent years. This has resulted in a wide range of well-documented negative impacts – inconsistent case decisions, uncertainty in innovation and investment communities, and unpredictable business outcomes.
    As of 2021, all 12 then-sitting judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit lamented the state of the law. Witnesses and stakeholders from a wide array of industries, fields, interest groups, and academia have testified and submitted comments confirming the uncertainty and detailing the detrimental effects of patent eligibility confusion in the United States. There is now widespread bipartisan agreement in Congress and across all recent Administrations that reforms are necessary to restore the United States to a position of global strength and leadership in key areas of technology and innovation, such as medical diagnostics, biotechnology, personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, 5G, and blockchain.
    The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act achieves this critical goal by restoring patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields, while also resolving legitimate concerns over patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system, which is a system aimed at promoting technology-based innovation. As a general approach, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, but eliminates the overly malleable set of current judicial exceptions – replacing them with five specific, defined statutory exclusions. By eliminating and replacing the current judicial exceptions, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act provides predictable patent eligibility for important computer-implemented technological developments and medical advances, creating a solid bedrock for America’s innovation future.
    Full text of the bill is available HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Owners of Roofing Companies Indicted for Tax Evasion

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – Two roofing company owners were indicted for their failure to file tax returns and pay tax on income, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    The Indictment charges Steve Mitchell, also known as “Sonny Mitchell,” of Edison, New Jersey, and Samuel Mitchell of Bohemia, New York with four counts each of tax evasion.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    Steve Mitchell, Samuel Mitchell, and others operated roofing businesses under several different names.  Despite earning approximately $881,730.26 and $1,397,960.21, respectively, in income from roofing customers from 2018 through 2021, Steve Mitchell and Samuel Mitchell failed to file tax returns with the IRS and pay tax on their income.  Instead, Steve Mitchell and Samuel Mitchell took affirmative steps to conceal their income from the IRS, including by providing false social security numbers to check cashing businesses that they used to convert customers’ checks to cash, which prevented the check cashing businesses from reporting the cashed checks to the IRS as required by law.

    In addition to the income from the roofing customers, Steve Mitchell also received income from an elderly individual for what the elderly individual thought was an investment in a COVID mask-making business.  In 2020 and 2021, Steve Mitchell converted over $4.2 million in checks from the elderly individual into cash.

    The tax evasion counts each carry a maximum potentially penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation leading to the charges.

    The government is represented by Assistant U. S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark.

    The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

                                                               ###

    Defense counsel:

    Steve Mitchell:            Michael A. Baldassare, Esq.

    Samuel Mitchell:        Robert Scrivo, Esq.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Ringleader of Bank Fraud Conspiracy Case Receives Lengthy Federal Prison Sentence

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Destane Glass, 24, of Shreveport, has been sentenced by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Glass was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $539,578. In addition, Judge Hicks ordered that Glass’s sentence run consecutive to a 37-month federal prison sentence she is currently serving for Payment Protection Program fraud, making her sentence a total of 172 months (14 years, 4 months).

    According to evidence presented in court, beginning on or about January 1, 2021, and continuing through October 31, 2022, Glass and her co-conspirators conspired to commit bank fraud from USAA Savings Bank (USAA Bank), Navy Federal Credit Union, and JP Morgan Chase Bank. Glass was the ringleader of this conspiracy and directed and recruited others to participate in the scheme to defraud the banks. Glass was indicted, along with 20 other defendants, in April 2024 in connection with this federal bank fraud scheme. 

    USAA Bank was a financial institution whose deposits were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  Teleperformance was a multinational company that provided a wide variety of business services including operating a call center in Shreveport, Louisiana.  The call center provided customer service for USAA Bank.  Teleperformance employees had access to USAA Bank customer information including, but not limited to, customer names, the age of customers, account balances, and account numbers. Glass was not an employee of Teleperformance but conspired with others who were to execute a scheme to defraud USAA Bank.

    As part of the conspiracy, Glass worked with her co-defendants to improperly obtain account holder information so that the information could be used by Glass to create counterfeit USAA Bank checks. She instructed her co-defendants to target elderly bank customers whose bank accounts held high account balances as they would be less likely to regularly check their accounts. Glass created counterfeit checks on USAA Bank totaling $2,149,621 from accounts accessed by her co-defendants.  After she created the checks, Glass used social media and other methods to recruit individuals in the Shreveport area with bank accounts to use their accounts to deposit the counterfeit checks.

    Once the counterfeit checks were deposited into the accounts, Glass and others, worked to withdraw the funds at various locations to include area casinos. Glass and her co-conspirators would share the proceeds generated from negotiating the counterfeit checks. 

    ZarRajah Z. Watkins, 23, of Shreveport, who also participated in this scheme and was charged as a defendant in this case was sentenced today. Watkins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $397,930. 

    All of the other defendants charged in this case have now pleaded guilty and received their sentences.

    This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and Shreveport Police Department and was prosecuted by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Passaic County Man Admits to Using An Explosive to Damage a Chase Bank ATM

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County man admitted to using an explosive to damage a Chase Bank Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) in Prospect Park, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Nicolas Torres, 42, of Passaic, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Julien X. Neals in Newark federal court to a one-count information charging him with using an explosive to damage real property used in interstate commerce.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    In the early morning hours of July 5, 2022, Torres was captured on surveillance video approaching the Chase Bank ATM in Prospect Park, New Jersey and igniting an item in front of the ATM. Several seconds later, an explosion was seen at the ATM. Torres was seen fleeing the location with two individuals.

    In addition to the surveillance video, cellular phone location data placed Torres in the area of the Chase Bank at the time of the explosion. The investigation also revealed that Torres had traveled to Pennsylvania the day before and purchased approximately $1,000 worth of fireworks.

    The use of an explosive to damage real property used in interstate commerce charge carries a statutory minimum of 5 years in prison, a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2025.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, and the Prospect Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Rausch, with the investigation leading to today’s plea.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky of the U.S. Attorney’s National Security Unit in Newark. 

                                                               ###

    Defense counsel: Adalgiza A. Núñez, Office of the Public Defender

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Leads Push to Mitigate Cybersecurity Risks Associated with Unsecured Networks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC — This week, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led a letter with several colleagues commending Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr on his decision to establish the new Council for National Security within the FCC, and urging him to use the council to mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with unsecured routers.

    In part, the members wrote, “The recent proliferation of cybersecurity incidents underscores the need for the entire federal government to work together to address and deter cyber threats. We write to you today because we believe there is more the FCC can do to reduce the likelihood of such incidents. As the backbone of the Internet, routers play a critical role in securing communications for consumers and businesses. When these devices are insecure, they can serve as gateways for cyberattacks. For example, weak, default, or easily predicted passwords make routers vulnerable to exploitation. Malicious actors can exploit these vulnerabilities in routers to disrupt service, steal sensitive data, or even launch attacks against critical infrastructure…”

    “We are increasingly concerned about the prevalence of these devices and that unsecured routers may allow the CCP to surveil American data or disrupt our networks. Although the Department of Commerce is reviewing whether or not to ban routers made by Chinese-owned companies in the future, many of these devices remain on our networks, which nefarious actors could still leverage.”

    The letter outlines several examples of how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has repeatedly tried to leverage private companies and create backdoors in our critical infrastructure technology. The letter also highlights that under Chairman Carr’s leadership, the Council for National Security can take action against the CCP by leveraging equipment authorization to require routers to allow only uniquely identifiable devices known to the household and securely authenticated by the network owner.

    See the full letter HERE or read the full text below.

    Dear Chairman Carr,

    Firstly, we write to commend your decision to establish the new Council for National Security within the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a crucial step in safeguarding America’s telecommunications infrastructure. Congress stands ready to work with you on this initiative to reduce America’s dependence on foreign adversaries, mitigate cyberattack vulnerabilities, and ensure U.S. supremacy in critical technologies.

    As you know, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has worked diligently to combat the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) efforts to leverage private companies to create backdoors in our telecommunications infrastructure. For example, the House of Representatives just recently passed H.R. 866, the ROUTERS Act, to safeguard Americans’ communications networks from foreign-adversary controlled technology, including routers, modems, or devices that combine both. Additionally, in the 118th Congress, the House passed H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which prevents foreign adversary-controlled applications from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating Americans through online applications like TikTok. Congress also worked to ensure that the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program, or the “Rip and Replace” program, received proper funding to remove untrusted equipment such as Huawei and ZTE from our networks.

    Last year, the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party released their Joint Investigation report into Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company (ZPMC), a PRC-owned and operated company. The investigation yielded that ZPMC, or a third-party company contracted with ZPMC, installed cellular modems onto STS cranes currently operational at U.S. ports. These installations fall outside the scope of any contract between the affected U.S. ports and ZPMC. The modems created an obscure method to collect information and bypass firewalls in a manner that could potentially disrupt port operations.

    Even more recently, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reported that the Chinese-made Contec CMS8000 patient monitors contained a hard-coded IP address linked to an unidentified third party, allowing for reverse backdoor functionality. This vulnerability allows for remote access of the medical device and may allow for potential manipulation, risking patient safety and compromising sensitive health data.

    These are just a few examples of how the CCP will use every tool at its disposal to undermine U.S. economic and national security interests to further its agenda. The recent proliferation of cybersecurity incidents underscores the need for the entire federal government to work together to address and deter cyber threats. We write to you today because we believe there is more the FCC can do to reduce the likelihood of such incidents.

    As the backbone of the Internet, routers play a critical role in securing communications for consumers and businesses. When these devices are insecure, they can serve as gateways for cyberattacks. For example, weak, default, or easily predicted passwords make routers vulnerable to exploitation. Malicious actors can exploit these vulnerabilities in routers to disrupt service, steal sensitive data, or even launch attacks against critical infrastructure.

    It has been reported that TP-Link, a Chinese company, owns roughly 65% of the routers used in U.S. homes and small businesses. Additionally, the Department of Defense and other federal government agencies have used TP-Link Routers before. Multiple TP-Link routers have been added to the National Institute of Science (NIST) National Vulnerability Database for containing a directory traversal vulnerability, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to access sensitive files by sending specially crafted requests.

    We are increasingly concerned about the prevalence of these devices and that unsecured routers may allow the CCP to surveil American data or disrupt our networks. Although the Department of Commerce is reviewing whether or not to ban routers made by Chinese-owned companies in the future, many of these devices remain on our networks, which nefarious actors could still leverage.

    With the new Council for National Security, the FCC can take various actions to mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with unsecured routers. The FCC could leverage equipment authorization through the Telecommunications Certification Body to require routers to allow only uniquely identifiable devices known to the household and securely authenticated by the network owner onto a customer’s network. These steps represent broadly accepted minimum security practices under NIST guidance and are necessary first steps toward protecting our nation’s consumers and networks from cyber risks. Other immediate-term options, such as prohibiting any new sales of TP-Link routers, or requiring ISPs to block new TP-Link routers from being added to home networks, would stop the influx of these devices on networks. Additionally, as we think beyond TP-Link routers, ISP authentication will strengthen U.S. networks’ ability to defend themselves against future untrusted Internet of Things (IoT) devices joining their networks.

    We are confident that, under your leadership, we can advance national cybersecurity initiatives

    and create robust strategies to strengthen U.S. networks against cybersecurity threats. Together,

    we can foster a secure digital environment that instills trust and confidence among users

    nationwide.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Traveling the Green Mile

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    —————
    @usarmysoldiers from the @25thInfantryDivisionand Philippine Army Scout Ranger Regiment complete joint training in jungle warfare at Camp Tecson, Philippines, during Salaknib 25.

    The final exercise, known as the “Green Mile,” tested participants through a three-mile physical endurance course including a murky jungle lake swim.

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
    —————
    Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!

    Like the DoD on Facebook: http://facebook.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Instagram: http://instagram.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/DeptofDefense

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUhZ70lQ9oU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis Signs Bills Into Law Expanding Access to Behavioral Health Care and Higher Education for Military Connected Coloradans

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Governor also signs new laws focused on cell phones in the classroom and increased transparency for library resources 

    DENVER – Today, Governor Polis joined by Lt. Governor Primavera, signed legislation to expand healthcare access and services for veterans and military-connected families, and provide tuition waivers for eligible members of the Colorado National Guard.

    • SB25-247 – Tuition Waiver & Colorado National Guard Members, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges and Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Representatives Shannon Bird and Rick Taggart
    • HB25-1132 – Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program, sponsored by Representatives Sean Camacho and Rebekah Stewart, and Senators Nick Hinrichsen and Jeff Bridges 

    “In Colorado, we are committed to expanding support and opportunities for our valuable military community, by saving military-connected families more money on healthcare and reducing the cost of college for the next step in their careers. Thank you to the sponsors for creating legislation that uplifts and protects Colorado’s important military community,” said Governor Polis. 

    “Colorado has always proudly stood behind those who serve — and today, we’re reaffirming that commitment,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera. “With these bills, we’re taking real steps to continue supporting our military members, their families, and Veterans. We honor your service not just in words, but through meaningful action. Colorado is proud to stand with you and is committed to being the best home for our military-connected communities.” 

    Governor Polis also signed bills into law promoting transparent and healthy educational practices in Colorado to help Colorado students grow academically and succeed. 

    • SB25-063 – Library Resource Decision Standards for Public Schools, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, and Representatives Lorena Garcia and Jenny Willford.
    • HB25-1135 – Communication Devices in Schools, sponsored by Representatives Meghan Lukens and Mary Bradfield, and Senators Janice Marchman and Lisa Frizell. 

    “Finding ways to create engaging and productive learning environments for Colorado students that foster stronger learning and bolster student engagement is critically important. This legislation strikes a balance between helping students learn better in the classroom and have access to technology when needed,” said Governor Polis. 

    Governor Polis signed the following bill into law administratively: 

    • HB25-1185 – Child Conceived from Sex Assault Court Proceedings, sponsored by Representatives Meg Froelich and Jenny Willford, and Senator Mike Weissman. This bill is bipartisan. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Introduces Daniel Zimmerman, Trump’s Nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
    Zimmerman has served in Hagerty’s office as a Congressional Executive Fellow
    WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced Daniel Zimmerman, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, at the Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing.  Zimmerman, a 16-year CIA officer, has served in Senator Hagerty’s office as an Executive Branch detailee since January 2024.  During President Trump’s first term, he was detailed to the White House and worked on the Abraham Accords negotiations under then-Senior Advisor Jared Kushner.

    *Click the photo above or here to watch*
    Remarks as prepared for delivery:
    Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed, thank you for holding today’s confirmation hearing.
    It is my honor to introduce my good friend Daniel Zimmerman—President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.
    Daniel is tailor-made for this role.
    For nearly two decades, Daniel has served with distinction at the Central Intelligence Agency, the White House, and, most recently, in the United States Senate.
    While many of the details of his career remain classified, I can share a few anecdotes that highlight his experience and expertise.
    Daniel has risked his life in warzones, working with special operations forces out of Soviet-era bunkers in Iraq to hunt ISIS and other terrorists.
    He has dealt face-to-face with Russian energy oligarchs and traveled the world—from Europe, to the Middle East, to the Indo-Pacific—on sensitive matters related to energy and trade security.
    And Daniel was one of the first people whom the White House hired to support the historic Abraham Accords, which is one of President Trump’s signature achievements from his first term and is still bearing fruit in the Middle East today.
    For the last 15 months, I have had the pleasure of having Daniel on my Senate staff as a detailee.
    During this time, I have found that that his tremendous leadership skills and knowledge of global issues are matched only by his humility and qualities as a colleague and a friend.
    Daniel is the right person to serve as the next Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and I urge the members of this Committee to move quickly on his nomination.
    Thank you for the time this morning.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lawler Leads Bipartisan Effort to Curb Federal Use of Toxic PFAS Chemicals

    Source: US Congressman Mike Lawler (R, NY-17)

    Washington, D.C. – 4/30/2025… Today, Reps. Mike Lawler (NY-17), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Pat Ryan (NY-18) introduced the PFAS-Free Procurement Act, a bill aimed at reducing harmful chemical exposure by prohibiting the procurement of products containing perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), commonly known as PFAS. 

    These chemicals are linked to a variety of health issues, including cancer, liver damage, and developmental harm. The bill prioritizes the procurement of safer, PFAS-free products. The bill prohibits federal agencies from renewing or entering into contracts for products containing PFOS or PFOA, including nonstick cookware, cooking utensils, furniture, carpets, and rugs treated with stain-resistant coatings. The legislation takes effect six months after enactment and will apply to all contracts entered into after that date.

    “Across New York and the nation, communities grapple with the long-term consequences of PFAS contamination, threats to public health, drinking water, and environmental safety. As stewards of taxpayer dollars, we have a responsibility to ensure the federal government is not perpetuating this crisis through its procurement practices. The PFAS-Free Procurement Act takes a measured, forward-looking approach that protects public health, encourages safer alternatives, and leverages the purchasing power of the federal government to drive meaningful change,” said Congressman Lawler (NY-17).

    “In Michigan, PFAS contamination has touched nearly every corner of our state. Our communities have led the charge in confronting these harmful substances, and now it is time for the federal government to do the same. The bipartisan and bicameral PFAS-Free Procurement Act extends the Department of Defense’s sensible prohibition on PFAS products to most federal acquisitions. This common-sense, bipartisan bill will protect Michigan communities and take a bold step toward eliminating these harmful, forever chemicals from our daily lives,” said Congresswoman Stevens (MI-11).

    “The federal government shouldn’t be fueling the PFAS crisis—it should be leading the fight to end it. The PFAS-Free Procurement Act sets a clear standard: safer products, stronger accountability, and a healthier future. As Co-Chair of the PFAS Task Force, I’ll keep pushing for real reforms that put public health and environmental responsibility first,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick (PA-01).

    “PFAS and other toxic forever chemicals continue to pose health risks to Granite Staters and communities nationwide. We must take comprehensive and commonsense action to combat PFAS contamination and ensure the well-being of Americans. This bipartisan legislation would require federal agencies to prioritize procuring PFAS-free products to protect federal employees and individuals who visit federal facilities, like veterans at the VA and seniors at Social Security offices. The federal government should be a leader in addressing PFAS contamination, and this bipartisan legislation is an important step forward,” said Congressman Pappas (NH-01).

    “Our communities have suffered from exposure to PFAS for too long – I refuse to let your kids or mine be exposed to these toxins any longer,” said Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18). “I’m proud to be leading the fight against PFAS exposures, and am excited to join my colleagues in supporting this vital legislation to ban the purchasing of PFAS-contaminated materials in federal buildings, protecting families, kids, and seniors from further exposure.”

    Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

    ###

    Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Texas Army National Guard supports Southern border mission

    Source: US National Guard (video statements)

    As a part of Operation Lone Star, Texas National Guard Soldiers work with U.S. Border Patrol agents along the Rio Grande to deter, detect, and interdict illegal border crossings and transnational criminal activity along the southern border on April 23, 2025. (Video by Master Sgt. Amber Monio)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ha0jtY3N2c

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: GSI Technology, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GSI Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSIT) today reported financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.

    Summary Financial Results Table (in thousands, except per share amounts)

      Three Months Ended 12 Months Ended
      Mar. 31,
    2025    		 Dec. 31,
    2024    		 Mar. 31,
    2024    		 Mar. 31,
    2025    		 Mar. 31,
    2024
    Net revenues $ 5,883     $ 5,414     $ 5,152     $ 20,518     $ 21,765  
    Gross margin (%)   56.1 %     54.0 %     51.6 %     49.4 %     54.3 %
    Operating expenses $ 5,575     $ 6,978     $ 7,172     $ 20,975     $ 32,254  
    Operating loss $ (2,276 )   $ (4,055 )   $ (4,514 )   $ (10,835 )   $ (20,431 )
    Net loss $ (2,230 )   $ (4,029 )   $ (4,321 )   $ (10,639 )   $ (20,087 )
    Net loss per share, diluted $ (0.09 )   $ (0.16 )   $ (0.17 )   $ (0.42 )   $ (0.80 )
                                           

    Lee-Lean Shu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our fourth quarter revenue increased 14% year-over-year and 9% sequentially to $5.9 million, reflecting strong demand for our legacy SRAM chips. This performance, combined with disciplined cost management, led to a significantly reduced net loss and lower cash burn for the quarter.”

    Mr. Shu continued, “ I am excited to announce that we secured an initial order for our radiation-hardened SRAM from a North American prime contractor, with follow-on orders expected in fiscal 2026. This sale also carries a significantly higher gross margin than our traditional SRAM chips. In parallel, we are actively pursuing heritage status for this chip, which will improve our market readiness and open important new sales channels. On the APU front, we expect to receive production-ready Gemini-II chips and Leda-2 boards by the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2026. In addition, our Gemini-II SBIR programs with the Space Development Agency (SDA) and US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) remain on schedule. We delivered a server with a Leda-2 board to AFRL and will soon ship a Gemini-II card to SDA. Funds from these programs are offsetting our R&D expenditures for Gemini-II.”

    Mr. Shu concluded, “We are especially excited about a recent enhancement to Plato: adding the integration of a camera interface directly into the chip. This and other enhanced connectivity features create a compact, all-in-one optimized AI and LLM engine for edge devices, particularly well suited for agents requiring object recognition. With the ability to process data locally, without relying on cloud infrastructure, Plato now offers a powerful and flexible accelerator for next-generation edge computing applications. The new capability has increased strategic interest in Plato, and we are currently in preliminary discussions with multiple parties to secure partnerships to fund the next phase of development.”

    Commenting on the outlook for GSI’s first quarter of fiscal 2026, Mr. Shu stated, “Our current expectations for the upcoming first quarter of fiscal 2026 is for net revenues in a range of $5.5 million to $6.3 million, with gross margin of approximately 56% to 58%.”

    Fiscal Year 2025 Summary Financials

    The Company reported net revenues of $20.5 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, compared to $21.8 million for fiscal 2024. Gross margin was 49.4% for fiscal 2025 compared to 54.3% in fiscal 2024. The decrease in gross margin was primarily due to product mix and the effect of lower revenue on the fixed costs in our cost of revenues.

    Total operating expenses were $21.0 million in fiscal 2025, compared to $32.3 million in fiscal 2024. Research and development expenses were $16.0 million, compared to $21.7 million in the prior fiscal year. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $10.8 million, compared to $10.6 million in fiscal 2024. The decline in research and development expenses was primarily due to cost reductions announced in August 2024. Research and development expense in fiscal 2024 included pre-production mask costs of $2.4 million related to our Gemini-II product.

    Research and development expenses in fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024 were reduced by $1.2 million and $440,000, respectively, reflecting government funding under the SBIR programs. Operating expenses in fiscal 2025 include a gain on the sale of assets of $5.8 million from the sales of the Company’s headquarters building in Sunnyvale, CA, in a sales and leaseback transaction.

    The operating loss for fiscal 2025 was $(10.8) million compared to an operating loss of $(20.4) million in the prior year. The fiscal 2025 net loss included interest and other income of $326,000 and a tax provision of $130,000, compared to $414,000 in interest and other income and a tax provision of $70,000 in the prior fiscal year.

    Net loss for fiscal 2025 was $(10.6) million, or $(0.42) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(20.1) million, or $(0.80) per diluted share, for fiscal 2024.

    Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Summary Financials

    The Company reported net revenues of $5.9 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, compared to $5.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and $5.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Gross margin was 56.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to 51.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and 54.0% in the preceding third quarter of fiscal 2025. The sequential increase in gross margin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 was primarily due to higher revenue and product mix.

    In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, sales to KYEC were $1.7 million, or 29.5% of net revenues, compared to $544,000, or 10.6% of net revenues, in the same period a year ago and $1.2 million, or 22.7% of net revenues, in the prior quarter. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, sales to Nokia were $444,000, or 7.5% of net revenues, compared to $694,000, or 13.5% of net revenues, in the same period a year ago and $239,000, or 4.4% of net revenues, in the prior quarter. Military/defense sales were 30.7% of fourth quarter shipments compared to 35.5% of shipments in the comparable period a year ago and 30.0% of shipments in the prior quarter. SigmaQuad sales were 39.3% of fourth quarter shipments compared to 42.4% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and 39.1% in the prior quarter.

    Total operating expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 were $5.6 million, compared to $7.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and $7.0 million in the prior quarter. Research and development expenses were $3.0 million, compared to $4.8 million in the prior-year period and $4.0 million in the prior quarter. Research and development expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 were reduced by $870,000, reflecting government funding under the SBIR programs. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $2.6 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to $2.4 million in the prior year quarter and $3.0 million in the previous quarter.

    Fourth quarter fiscal 2025 operating loss was $(2.3) million compared to an operating loss of $(4.5) million in the prior-year period and $(4.1) million in the prior quarter. Fourth quarter fiscal 2025 net loss included interest and other income of $52,000 and a tax provision of $6,000, compared to $108,000 in interest and other income and a tax benefit of $(85,000) for the same period a year ago. In the preceding third quarter, net loss included interest and other income of $70,000 and a tax provision of $44,000.

    Net loss in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 was $(2.2) million, or $(0.09) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(4.3) million, or $(0.17) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and a net loss of $(4.0) million, or $(0.16) per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2025.

    Total fourth quarter pre-tax stock-based compensation expense was $512,000 compared to $693,000 in the comparable quarter a year ago and $429,000 in the prior quarter.

    At March 31, 2025, the Company had $13.4 million in cash and cash equivalents, compared to $14.4 million at March 31, 2024. Working capital was $16.4 million as of March 31, 2025 versus $24.7 million at March 31, 2024. Stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2025 was $28.2 million, compared to $36.0 million as of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024.

    Conference Call

    Management will conduct a conference call to review the Company’s financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025 and its current outlook for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time) today.

    To participate in the call, please dial 1-877-407-3982 in the U.S. or 1-201-493-6780 for international approximately 10 minutes prior to the above start time and provide Conference ID 13753362. The call will also be streamed live via the internet at www.gsitechnology.com.

    A replay will be available from May 1, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time through May 8, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time by dialing toll-free for the U.S. 1-844-512-2921 or international 1-412-317-6671 and entering pin number 13753362. A webcast of the call will be archived on the Company’s investor relations website under the Events and Presentations tab.

    About GSI Technology

    Founded in 1995, GSI Technology, Inc. is a leading provider of semiconductor memory solutions. GSI’s resources are focused on bringing new products to market that leverage existing core strengths, including radiation-hardened memory products for extreme environments and Gemini-I, the associative processing unit designed to deliver performance advantages for diverse artificial intelligence applications. GSI Technology is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, and has sales offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.gsitechnology.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding GSI Technology’s expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available to GSI Technology as of the date hereof, and GSI Technology assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include those associated with the normal quarterly and fiscal year-end closing process. Examples of risks that could affect our current expectations regarding future revenues and gross margins include those associated with fluctuations in GSI Technology’s operating results; GSI Technology’s historical dependence on sales to a limited number of customers and fluctuations in the mix of customers and products in any period; global public health crises that reduce economic activity; the rapidly evolving markets for GSI Technology’s products and uncertainty regarding the development of these markets; the need to develop and introduce new products to offset the historical decline in the average unit selling price of GSI Technology’s products; the challenges of rapid growth followed by periods of contraction; intensive competition; the continued availability of government funding opportunities; delays or unanticipated costs that may be encountered in the development of new products based on our in-place associative computing technology and the establishment of new markets and customer and partner relationships for the sale of such products; and delays or unexpected challenges related to the establishment of customer relationships and orders for GSI Technology’s radiation-hardened and tolerant SRAM products. Many of these risks are currently amplified by and will continue to be amplified by, or in the future may be amplified by, economic and geopolitical conditions, such as changing interest rates, worldwide inflationary pressures, policy unpredictability, the imposition of tariffs and other trade barriers, military conflicts and declines in the global economic environment. Further information regarding these and other risks relating to GSI Technology’s business is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in such filings.

    Source: GSI Technology, Inc.

    Contacts:

    Investor Relations:

    Hayden IR
    Kim Rogers
    385-831-7337
    kim@haydenir.com

    Media Relations:

    Finn Partners for GSI Technology
    Ricca Silverio
    415-348-2724
    gsi@finnpartners.com

    Company:

    GSI Technology, Inc.
    Douglas M. Schirle
    Chief Financial Officer
    408-331-9802

           
    GSI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (in thousands, except per share data)
    (Unaudited)
                 
      Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
      March 31, Dec. 31, March 31, March 31, March 31,
        2025     2024     2024       2025     2024  
                 
    Net revenues $ 5,883   $ 5,414   $ 5,152     $ 20,518   $ 21,765  
    Cost of goods sold   2,584     2,491     2,494       10,378     9,942  
                 
    Gross profit   3,299     2,923     2,658       10,140     11,823  
                 
    Operating expenses:            
                 
    Research & development   2,966     4,037     4,818       16,005     21,689  
    Selling, general and administrative   2,609     2,997     2,354       10,763     10,565  
    Gain from sale of assets   –     (56 )   –       (5,793 )   –  
    Total operating expenses   5,575     6,978     7,172       20,975     32,254  
                 
    Operating loss   (2,276 )   (4,055 )   (4,514 )     (10,835 )   (20,431 )
                 
    Interest and other income (expense), net   52     70     108       326     414  
                 
    Loss before income taxes   (2,224 )   (3,985 )   (4,406 )     (10,509 )   (20,017 )
    Provision (benefit) for income taxes   6     44     (85 )     130     70  
    Net loss $ (2,230 ) $ (4,029 ) $ (4,321 )   $ (10,639 ) $ (20,087 )
                 
                 
    Net loss per share, basic $ (0.09 ) ($ 0.16 ) $ (0.17 )   $ (0.42 ) $ (0.80 )
    Net loss per share, diluted $ (0.09 ) ($ 0.16 ) $ (0.17 )   $ (0.42 ) $ (0.80 )
                 
    Weighted-average shares used in            
    computing per share amounts:            
                 
    Basic   25,604     25,546     25,297       25,498     25,144  
    Diluted   25,604     25,546     25,297       25,498     25,144  
                 
                 
    Stock-based compensation included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
                 
      Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
      March 31, Dec. 31, March 31,   March 31, March 31,
        2025     2024     2024       2025     2024  
                 
    Cost of goods sold $ 42   $ 50   $ 53     $ 199   $ 228  
    Research & development   263     121     331       1,010     1,411  
    Selling, general and administrative   207     258     309       1,053     1,199  
      $ 512   $ 429   $ 693     $ 2,262   $ 2,838  
                 
    GSI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (in thousands)
    (Unaudited)
             
        March 31, 2025 March 31, 2024
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 13,434   $ 14,429
    Accounts receivable     3,169     3,118
    Inventory     3,891     4,977
    Other current assets     2,961     1,954
    Assets held for sale     0     5,629
    Net property and equipment     808     1,148
    Operating lease right-of-use assets     9,547     1,553
    Other assets     9,507     9,656
    Total assets   $ 43,317   $ 42,464
             
    Current liabilities   $ 7,074   $ 5,365
    Long-term liabilities     8,017     1,129
    Stockholders’ equity     28,226     35,970
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 43,317   $ 42,464

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How the US ‘war on woke’ and women risks weakening its own military capability

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bethan Greener, Associate Professor of Politics, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

    US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a visit with Michigan Air National Guard troops, April 29. Getty Images

    With US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s “proud” cancellation this week of the military’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) program, the “war on woke” has found its latest frontier – war itself.

    Stemming from a United Nations Security Council resolution in 2000, the WPS initiative aimed to increase the participation of women in public institutions, including in the security sector and in peace-making roles.

    The WPS agenda aims to better understand how women, men, boys and girls experience war, peace and security differently. It increases operational effectiveness and supports the underlying goal of gender equality, described by the UN as the “number one predictor of peace”.

    In the military context, it emphasises the need to increase the participation of women and to better protect non-combatant women in war, particularly from the prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence.

    The decision to end the program as part of a wider war on diversity, equity and inclusion seems to assume national security and military power are incompatible with the promotion of racial and gender equality.

    In other words, it assumes certain types of people aren’t really cut out to be “warfighters”. And it asserts that anything other than basic skill (such as weapons handling) undermines readiness and ability in warfare.

    History and the available evidence suggest both ideas are wrong.

    The archetypal warrior envisaged by Hegseth and others is one who relies on very traditional concepts of what constitutes a warrior and who that might be: not female, definitely not transgender, ideally also not gay.

    Recent bans on transgender personnel in the US military, the removal of mandatory mental resilience training, and the
    “disappearance” from US museums and memorials of the records of the military contribution of women and minorities, reinforce these ideas.

    The ideal soldier, according to the new doctrine, is straight, white, physically fit, stoic and male. Yet people of all stripes have served their countries ably and with honour.

    Hard-won progress in retreat

    Military service is allocated a privileged kind of status in society, despite (or perhaps because of) the ultimate sacrifice it can entail. That status has long been the preserve of men, often of a particular class or ethnicity.

    But women and minorities around the world have fought for the right to enter the military, often as part of broader campaigns for greater equality within society in general.

    But there remains resistance to these “interlopers”. No matter their individual capabilities, women are painted as too physically weak, as a threat to combat unit cohesion, or a liability because of their particular health needs.

    Women, in particular, are often perceived as being too emotional or lacking authority for military command. Minorities are seen as requiring distracting rules about cultural sensitivity, presenting language challenges, or are stereotyped as not cut out for leadership.

    But problem solving – a key military requirement – is best tackled with a range of views and approaches. Research from the business world shows diverse teams are more successful, including delivering higher financial returns.

    At a more granular level, we also know that minority groups have often outperformed other military units, as exemplified by the extraordinary feats of the New Zealand Māori Pioneer Battalion in World War I and the 28th Māori Battalion in World War II.

    Women, too, have proved themselves many times over, most recently in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As well as matching the skills of their male counterparts, they also had different, useful approaches to roles such as intelligence gathering in conflict zones.

    US Marines on a military exercise – but history shows us there’s more than one type of successful soldier.
    Getty Images

    The ‘woke warrior’

    The competence of military personnel is not determined by sex, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. Rather, competence is determined by a combination of learned skills, training, education, physical ability, mental agility, resilience, experience, interpersonal skills and leadership qualities.

    Any suggestion that military units are best served by being made up of only heterosexual men with “alpha” tendencies is undermined by the evidence. In fact, a monocultural, hypermasculine military may increase the potential for harrassment, bullying or worse.

    Modern military roles also involve a much wider range of skills than the traditional and stereotypically male infantry tasks of digging, walking with a pack, firing guns and killing an enemy.

    In modern warfare, personnel may also need to engage in “hearts and minds” counterinsurgency, or in “grey zone” tactics, where specialisations in intelligence, cyber or drone piloting are more highly prized. Militaries are also much more likely to be deployed to non-warfighting roles, such as humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

    This isn’t to say “controlled aggression” and other traditionally alpha-male attributes don’t have their place. But national military strategies increasingly stress the need to train ethical and compassionate soldiers to successfully carry out government objectives.

    The evolution of war requires the evolution of the military forces that fight them. The cancellation of the Women, Peace and Security program in the US threatens to put a stop to this process, at least in that country.

    Despite Pete Hegseth’s claim to be increasing “warfighting” capability, then, there is a real chance the move will decrease operational effectiveness, situational awareness and problem solving in conflict situations.

    Far from being peripheral, the Women, Peace and Security program is central to the future of all military activity, and to developing conceptions of war, peace and security. Hegseth’s “proud moment” looks less like winning a “war on woke” and more like a retreat from an understanding of the value a diverse military has created.

    Bethan Greener does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How the US ‘war on woke’ and women risks weakening its own military capability – https://theconversation.com/how-the-us-war-on-woke-and-women-risks-weakening-its-own-military-capability-255710

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AIR MARSHAL TEJINDER SINGH TAKES OVER AS AOC-IN-C TRAINING COMMAND

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 6:57PM by PIB Delhi

    Air Marshal Tejinder Singh took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command on 01 May 2025. After assumption of his new appointment, the Air Marshal paid homage to the brave hearts by laying wreath at the Training Command War Memorial. 

    An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Air Marshal Tejinder was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on 13 June 1987. He is a Category ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor with over 4500 hours of flying, an alumnus of Defence Service Staff College and National Defence College. He has commanded a Fighter Squadron, a Radar Station, a premier Fighter Base and was Air Officer Commanding, Jammu and Kashmir. His varied staff appointments include Operational Staff at a Command HQ, Air Commodore (Personnel Officers-1) at Air HQ, Deputy Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Financial (Planning) at HQ IDS, Air Commodore (Aerospace Safety), Assistant Chief of Air Staff Operations (Offensive) and ACAS Ops (Strategy) and Senior Air Staff Officer, Eastern Air Command at Shillong, Meghalaya. Prior to his present appointment, he was the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air HQ (VB). 

    In recognition of his meritorious services he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal in 2007 and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022, by the Hon’ble President of India. 

    *** 

    JS/AS

    (Release ID: 2125877) Visitor Counter : 100

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: US Secretary of Defense dials Raksha Mantri; Extends condolences for the loss of innocent lives in Pahalgam terror attack

    Source: Government of India

    US Secretary of Defense dials Raksha Mantri; Extends condolences for the loss of innocent lives in Pahalgam terror attack

    Pakistan exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism & destabilising the region; Global community must explicitly and unequivocally condemn & call out such heinous acts: Shri Rajnath Singh

    US stands in solidarity with India & supports India’s right to defend itself: Mr Pete Hegseth

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 6:06PM by PIB Delhi

    US Secretary of Defense Mr Pete Hegseth, on May 01, 2025, called Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to express his sympathies and condolences for the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives in the recent dastardly attack by terrorists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. During the conversation, Raksha Mantri told the US Secretary of Defense that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations. 

    “Pakistan has been exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism, and destabilising the region. The world can no longer turn a blind eye to terrorism,” Raksha Mantri said. He added that it is important for the global community to explicitly and unequivocally condemn & call out such heinous acts of terrorism. 

    The US Secretary of Defense reiterated full support of the US government in India’s fight against terrorism. US stands in solidarity with India and supports India’s right to defend itself, he said.

     ***

    VK/Savvy

    (Release ID: 2125837) Visitor Counter : 190

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Aquarium Calls Troops to Storm the Beach for May the 4th Beach Cleanup

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Aquarium Calls Troops to Storm the Beach for May the 4th Beach Cleanup

    Aquarium Calls Troops to Storm the Beach for May the 4th Beach Cleanup
    jejohnson6

    FORT FISHER

    Out-of-this-world and all for the planet, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF) invites the community to the 2nd Annual May the 4th Beach Cleanup on Sunday, May 4, 8:30 -10:30 a.m. at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. Hosting beach cleanups is one of many ways the Aquarium leads the community in protecting the environment and it is a vital part of the NCAFF mission to inspire appreciation and conservation of our aquatic environments.

     

    “The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is excited to storm the beaches with volunteers from the community, and together, make a difference for the ocean,” said Keely Beard, NCAFF green team representative. “Our green team is committed to leading in projects at the Aquarium and in the community that energize us all to take action for the planet.”
     

    Just in Time for Sea Turtle Nesting Season

    The May the 4th Beach Cleanup is a family friendly way to remove obstacles and trash just as sea turtle nesting season gets underway. Many look forward to donning their favorite costume while taking on the important work of preserving the beautiful Fort Fisher shore.

    Join the May the 4th Beach Cleanup

    Things to Know

    • Wear your favorite costume for a contest!
    • Cool prize for the costume contest winner!

    What to bring

    • Reusable Water Bottles
    • Reusable Gloves

    What NOT to bring*

    • Single-use plastic bags
    • Single-use plastic gloves
    • Single-use plastic water bottles or coffee cups

    *The Aquarium will provide water refill stations, reusable gloves and buckets/bags for trash pickup.

    Leaders in Sustainability

    The Aquarium leads by example offering water refill stations, compostable cups, plates and utensils at the food deck and only aluminum bottles in our vending machines. We also only percolate and pour Bird Friendly® coffee at the Aquarium for staff and events. If you want to head to the Aquarium after the beach cleanup, please reserve tickets at NCAFF Reservations.

    About the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher  
    The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is just south of Kure Beach, a short drive from Wilmington, on U.S. 421. The site is less than a mile from the Fort Fisher ferry terminal. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission: $12.95 ages 13-61; $10.95 children ages 3-12; $11.95 seniors (62 and older) and military with valid identification; EBT card holders: $3. Free admission for children 2 and younger and N.C. Aquarium Society members and N.C. Zoo members.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Apr 28, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Adm. Holsey Meets with President Milei and Defense Leaders in Argentina

    Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

    U.S. Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), visited Argentina April 28 – May 1, 2025, and met with Argentine President Javier Milei and senior defense leaders to discuss strengthening the longstanding U.S.-Argentina defense partnership.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Delivers Statement from Coach Bruce Pearl to Commemorate Israel’s Independence Day

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville

    WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) delivered a statement from Auburn Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl during a Special Committee on Aging hearing on Israel’s Independence Day. The hearing was focused on combatting antisemitism.

    The hearing featured several witnesses, including former Congressman Ted Deutch and Rabbi Mark Rosenberg.

    See excerpts from Sen. Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks to all of you for being here and your heartfelt statements. Very, very much needed. Before I start my questions, I wanna read a statement here from a good friend of mine. His name is Coach Bruce Pearl, who is currently in Jerusalem, and he’ll be there for a couple of weeks. He would have loved to have been here.

    ‘Shalom from Jerusalem. I’m an American Jewish college basketball coach visiting my ancestral homeland. Yesterday was Israel’s Remembrance Day. Today is Israel’s Independence Day. This is a very emotional time for everyone here because this country has been at war since birth.

    Hours ago, I left Knesset where I was in attendance, along with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Herzog, and about a thousand citizens honoring the fallen. I’m angry. I’m very angry. What I would ask of this committee is the courage to speak to our educators. We must teach our children. I’m very proud that in the state of Alabama, we have mandatory Holocaust education for middle school students. If we choose not to teach them, somebody else will. None of us can explain […] it or understand why the Jewish people have been targeted.

    We have to do two things. We have to protect ourselves from those who want to kill us, and we have to try to live exemplary lives so that maybe the uncertain won’t hate us. Our educational institutions want to stay neutral, leaving our young people to find out the truth on their own. I am proud to be an American. This country saved my family’s life, rescuing my grandfather from Ternopil in 1929. I will be forever grateful.’

    God bless Coach Bruce Pearl, Auburn University. The issue we’re seeing today on college campuses, and this is from me, is being reinforced by the culture and values being taught on all the campuses. Good people in this country are being taught that Palestinians are the freedom fighters and the people who are being oppressed. They are being taught that the facts on the ground of the Middle East are not true. Why is this happening on university campuses?

    It’s the same reason why our players would kneel for our flag and the national anthem. Because they’re not being taught to love this country. They’ve been taught that they’re oppressed. They have not been taught to love and appreciate the opportunities this country gives them. They have not been taught what’s really going on in the Middle East.

    Young people wanna have a cause, and they have now chosen to stand against freedom because of lies and propaganda. So, congressman, we have unfortunately seen antisemitic attacks spike since the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack. Many of the victims of these attacks have been elderly Jewish Americans. How can the United States government better protect its citizens, particularly the elderly from such attacks?”

    DEUTCH: “Senator Tuberville, thank you. First of all, I appreciate your reading that statement from Coach Pearl who stopped at the AJC Global Forum in New York on his way to Israel. We are, as I’m sure you are, quite proud of his leadership on these issues. There is an enormous amount that Congress can do. I want—it’s important though to emphasize that facts really matter here, and what you said is so important. Some of the protests that we saw, the ones that happened on October 8th and 9th, were not protests about anything that Israel was doing, the IDF, Israeli Defense Forces, hadn’t even gone into Gaza to defend the people of Israel and the Jewish people. The people who took to the streets immediately [took] to the streets with signs that had a terrorist and a hang glider as their call to action were there to do one thing, which is to support the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered 1,200 Jews and whose goal is the destruction of Israel and the massacre of Jews.

    Congress can play a vital role both in helping to keep seniors, Jewish seniors, and all Jews safe by focusing on security and nonprofit security grants. Congress can play an important role in helping everyone understand and identify what antisemitism actually is for those who don’t spend time thinking about this the way that we believe the country should in passing the Antisemitism Awareness Act. And we think that Congress can play a really vital role in making sure that on those campuses when the civil rights of Jewish students are violated, when anyone’s Title VI rights are violated that the Office of Civil Rights, the Department of Education, has the funding necessary to actually conduct the investigations and hold those who committed these acts accountable. Accountability matters on campuses across America. Jewish students have the right to speak out and feel safe like every other group on campus.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. Rabbi, I am proud that we now have the most pro-Israel and pro-Jewish President of my life back in the White House. President Trump has made it clear: if universities continue allowing antisemitic propaganda on their campuses, they will lose their federal funding. Outside of this, what steps do universities and school administrators need to take to put an end to all this?”

    ROSENBERG: “Well, firstly, they need to follow the law, and I hope that if the law is on their side, why don’t we see college campuses go rob 14 stores every day? Why don’t we see iPhones, Android phones go missing every day? Why? Why don’t the 7/11s around the colleges don’t have a problem with people coming into the store? Because there is law and order. And I strongly believe that if what my friend over here said that if we do that, we’re not gonna have an issue. If people are taught to love like young children, they need to know what’s right and what’s wrong. And right now, it’s right, it’s a movement, it’s a cause, and I’ve been to college campuses myself. And, you know, for 40 plus years, I grew up in upstate New York. I never experienced anything whatsoever, we all got along.
    Now at this time of my life, I have to walk on a college campus and feel weird that I’m wearing a yamaka. I don’t feel that I’m gonna be robbed. I feel that I’m gonna be identified because I’m a Jew.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. My time is up, but I appreciate y’all coming and speaking the truth. And as my buddy and fellow coach Bruce Pearl would say, I think one of the biggest answers to this question is education. We need to educate people the right way. Thank you and God bless you.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Commerce Committee Unanimously Passes Sullivan-Whitehouse FISH Act to Combat Illegal Foreign Seafood Harvest

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

    05.01.25

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) thanked their colleagues on the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee for unanimously passing their Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act yesterday. The FISH Act would combat foreign illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by blacklisting offending vessels from U.S. ports and waters, bolstering the U.S. Coast Guard’s enforcement capabilities and partnerships, and advancing international and bilateral negotiations to achieve enforceable agreements and treaties. The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

    [embedded content]

    “The geopolitics of the North Pacific and the Arctic are changing dramatically, with Russia and China increasing their aggression and ruinous activities near Alaska’s waters,” said Sen. Sullivan. “One particularly insidious threat is Chinese and Russian fishing fleets that ignore basic seafood harvest rules and best practices, and ravage fish stocks without regard for any other users or future generations. These grey fleets, which literally utilize slave labor in many cases, are a cancer on fisheries throughout the world and undercut our fishermen, who fish sustainably. I want to thank my Commerce Committee colleagues for unanimously passing our FISH Act and fighting back against IUU fishing on behalf of our fishermen and coastal communities.”

    “I thank Senator Sullivan, my longtime partner on oceans issues, for his leadership in shepherding the bipartisan FISH Act through the Commerce Committee. Our bill cracks down on illegal pirate fishing operations to level the playing field for Rhode Island fishermen and processors who play by the rules, and will help nurture the fisheries that keep our oceans and coastal communities so healthy and vibrant,” said Sen. Whitehouse, co-founder of the Senate Oceans Caucus.

    The FISH Act builds on prior landmark legislation against IUU fishing, including the Maritime SAFE Act, authored by Senators Wicker and Chris Coons (D-Del.) and signed into law in December 2019 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.

    Key provisions of the FISH Act: 

    • Direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a blacklist of foreign vessels and owners that have engaged in IUU fishing.
    • Direct the administration to address IUU fishing in any relevant international agreement.
    • Direct the U.S. Coast Guard to increase its work with partner countries and increase at-sea inspection of foreign vessels suspected of IUU fishing.
    • Direct the administration to report to Congress on how new technologies can aid in the fight against IUU fishing, the complexities of the seafood trade relationship between Russia and China, and the economic costs of IUU fishing to the U.S.

    On April 17, President Trump signed an executive order, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” directing the Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), and Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force to assess seafood competitiveness issues and collectively develop a comprehensive seafood trade strategy. Among these strategies, the USTR will examine the relevant trade practices of major seafood-producing nations, including IUU fishing and the use of forced labor in the seafood supply chain.

    Senators Sullivan and Whitehouse have worked together extensively on ocean sustainability issues, most notably on the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever to address the global marine debris crisis, which became law in 2020.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep.Torres and Rep. Min Sound the Alarm on Dangers of Cutting Civilian Faculty at Service Academies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    May 01, 2025

    Letter warns that reducing diversity in military education jeopardizes readiness and global leadership capabilities

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres and Congressman Dave Min sent a letter to Secretaries Hegseth, Noem, and Duffy raising urgent concerns about reported plans to cut civilian faculty positions at U.S. service academies. These reductions would limit diversity of thought, impairing the ability of military officers to effectively lead in a rapidly changing world.

    The letter follows alarming reports that the Department of Defense, under the influence of an executive order, is seeking to replace civilian instructors with military personnel. These changes come amid ongoing efforts to limit diversity in the armed forces, including disturbing moves like the banning of books at the Naval Academy and the suspension of courses that promote intellectual diversity.

    “We cannot afford to narrow the diversity of ideas that shape our future leaders,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres. “Our service academies must remain places where critical thinking thrives—where students engage with different perspectives and ideas that challenge their thinking. Cutting civilian faculty members, who bring specialized knowledge and institutional memory, undermines that mission.”

    “The idea that the military should avoid exposure to diverse viewpoints is not just short-sighted—it’s dangerous,” Congresswoman Torres continued. “Military leaders must be able to think critically, understand complex global dynamics, and lead diverse teams. Cutting civilian faculty will harm that essential preparation.”

    “Cutting civilian faculty members will eviscerate our ability to effectively train the next generation of military leaders,” said Rep. Min. “It is essential that military officers can think critically and understand differing perspectives in order to respond to ever-evolving threats. Depriving future leaders of these opportunities will only hurt our national defense and military readinesses.”

    Congresswoman Torres and Congressman Min are calling on leaders to reassess these plans and to ensure that the quality of education at service academies remains intact. Urging full transparency and answers on how these staffing changes will impact academic quality, cadet outcomes, and the critical development of military leaders.

    Cosigned by: André Carson, Jim Costa,  Robert Garcia, Steven Horsford, Henry Johnson, Robin Kelly, Eleanor Norton, Marilyn Strickland, Suhas Subramanyam , Bennie Thompson,  Paul Tonko, Marc Veasey

    Full letter

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Don Davis Votes in Support of Defense Funding Package

    Source: US Congressman Don Davis (NC-01)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) issued the following statement after voting to support a defense funding package during the first-ever U.S. House Armed Services Committee budget reconciliation markup.  

    “One of my top priorities has been preventing the retirement of the F-15E aircraft at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and securing increased F-15EX procurement. We are also committed to strengthening our workforce pipeline by expanding shipbuilding job opportunities for North Carolinians in shipyards like Newport News. I believe this defense package moves us in the right direction,” said Congressman Don Davis. “Preserving jobs and investing in Seymour Johnson Air Force Base is vital to our readiness and national defense.” 

    The House Armed Services Committee passed the defense funding package by a margin of 35-21. 

    Highlights include:

    • $127.5 million to prevent the retirement of F-15E aircraft
    • $3.15 billion to support F-15EX aircraft procurement
    • $678 million to accelerate the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program to build semi-autonomous drones that fly alongside manned fighters 
    • $34 billion to support shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base (including $4.6 billion for a second Virginia-class submarine in fiscal year 2027 and $450 million for additional maritime industrial workforce development programs)

    Other highlights include:

    • $9 billion for servicemember quality of life (including $1.2 billion for military housing and $100 million for childcare)
    • $5 billion for border support and counter-drug missions
    • $11 billion for Pacific deterrence

    There are 94 F-15E fighters at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base employs more than 6,200 military and civilian personnel. Congressman Davis’ Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA provision prohibits F-15E divestment through at least Fiscal Year 2027. The bill now moves to the Budget Committee. 

    Timeline of action on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base:

    • On November 20, 2023, Congressman Davis toured Seymour Johnson Air Force Base during an official congressional delegation visit to deepen his understanding of its operations and challenges of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and to express unwavering support for the brave men and women in uniform.
    • On March 13, 2024, Congressman Davis delivered remarks on the House Floor regarding plans by the Air Force to divest a combat squadron and strip away 520 jobs at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. A Full Video of Congressman Davis’ speech on the House Floor is here.
    • Congressman Davis sent a letter dated March 29, 2024, to President Joe Biden urging the administration not to divest an F-15E aircraft fighter squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Read the full letter here.
    • On April 17, 2024, Congressman Davis questioned the Secretary of the Air Force at a House Armed Service Committee hearing on what communication he or his team had had with the local community, what the economic impact of divestment would be, and whether the U.S. Air Force planned to deliver the late report on force structure decisions.
    • On May 14, 2024, Congressman Davis announced a provision prohibiting the retirement of F-15E aircraft until at least Fiscal Year 2027.
    • On December 11, 2024, Congressman Davis voted to support the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA (Public Law 118-159), which includes his provision prohibiting the retirement of F-15E aircraft until at least Fiscal Year 2027.
    • On March 7, 2025, Congressman Davis submitted his Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA priorities, including several requests in the defense funding package, including F-15EX procurement, F-15E maintenance and upgrades, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft funding.

    Military installations in eastern North Carolina include Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and Fort Bragg.

    Congressman Don Davis is a 1994 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and a U.S. Air Force veteran. He serves as the vice ranking member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee where he serves on the Readiness and Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittees. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman Touts Progress of Bipartisan Veteran Suicide Prevention Effort, Presses VA on Extending Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, advocated reauthorization of the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program and noted the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) backing at a committee hearing on enhancing outreach to support veterans’ mental health. The Fox Grant Program, which he authored alongside Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and is currently scheduled to sunset in 2025, provides essential funding for mental health outreach and suicide prevention in veteran communities.

    “This program was created out of a dire need to improve community-based resources to address the veteran suicide crisis,” said Boozman. “Veterans who battle mental health challenges respond best to support from those they know and trust, a need this program is critical in meeting.”

    Boozman questioned Thomas O’Toole, M.D., Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Health for Clinical Services and Deputy Chief Medical Officer at the VA, on the program’s established success and the critical importance of funding reauthorization. In O’Toole’s exchange with the senator, he agreed the program’s emphasis on identifying and reaching out to veterans struggling as well as coordinating with veteran families and communities is crucial to saving lives.

    “Grantees are able to effectively engage specific population groups that may be at higher risk for suicide,” O’Toole said about the potential for extending and expanding the number of organizations receiving Fox Grant Program funds. “That is our hope and aspiration.”

    Boozman also pressed the VA official on the aspects that have made it a success and its future prospects.

    “These community groups have credibility in the communities where veterans live. These are peers. These are organizations that are engaging veterans’ families,” O’Toole said. “The wrap-around and holistic approach is complimentary to what VA does.” 

    Click here to view Boozman’s exchange with O’Toole.

    The Boozman-Warner reauthorization legislation, introduced earlier this year, would:

    • Reauthorize the Fox Grant Program until Sept. 30, 2028, and increase the total authorized funding for the grant program from $174 million to $285 million;
    • Expand the maximum potential award from $750,000 to $1.25 million;
    • Direct the VA to collect additional measures and metrics on outcomes to better serve veterans; and
    • Require annual briefings for VA medical personnel to improve awareness of the program and increase coordination with providers.

    The program is named in honor of Parker Gordon Fox, a veteran and former sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, who died by suicide on July 21, 2020, at the age of 25.

    Click here for full bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven Introduces Andrea Travnicek at Senate ENR Committee Confirmation Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
    05.01.25
    Senator, Nominees Discuss Advancing Water Supply Projects, Ensuring Access to Taxpayer-Owned Energy Resources
    WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week introduced Dr. Andrea Travnicek at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee hearing on her nomination as Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Hoeven outlined Travnicek’s depth of experience and qualifications for the role, which covers a range of issues relevant to agriculture, energy and water development in North Dakota. During his remarks, Hoeven discussed with Travnicek, as well as Leslie Beyer, the nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Lands and Minerals Management, the importance of:
    Ensuring access to reliable water supplies for North Dakota’s communities.
    Hoeven continues working to advance his legislation to increase authorizations under the Dakota Water Resources Act (DWRA).
    The increased funding from the Municipal, Rural, and Industrial (MR&I) program is needed to complete water supply projects like the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) and the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply (ENDAWS).

    Keeping U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) surveys of oil and gas reserves updated, reflecting the latest technologies and industry practices.
    Maximizing access to taxpayer-owned energy resources, including the abundant oil, gas and coal reserves that fall under federal control.
    The senator highlighted his North Dakota Trust Lands Completion Act, which would allow equal-value exchanges to reduce fragmentation of state and tribally-owned lands and minerals, while supporting greater development of these resources.
    Hoeven also stressed the need to provide regulatory relief and streamline federal permitting.

    “Dr. Travnicek has a stellar background for the position of Assistant Secretary for Water and Science. Not only does she have a depth of technical knowledge, but she has a record of collaboration across all levels of government, with tribes and private stakeholders,” said Senator Hoeven. “We look forward to working with her to advance critical priorities for North Dakota, including completing more drought-resistant water supply projects. At the same time, her role overseeing the USGS is essential in unlocking our nation’s energy potential, helping to identify the vast recoverable, taxpayer-owned energy resources. Through updated USGS surveys, as well as needed regulatory relief and streamlined permitting, we can maximize the benefit of our oil, gas and coal reserves and truly make the U.S. energy dominant.” 
    Dr. Travnicek holds a Ph.D. in Natural Resources Management/Communication from North Dakota State University. During President Trump’s first term, she served as a deputy assistant secretary at Interior. Most recently, she was Director of the North Dakota Department of Water Resources. As governor, Hoeven appointed her as a senior policy advisor in his office following her service with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Sacramento, California.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warren Statement on Army Right-to-Repair Victory

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    May 01, 2025

    Washington, D.C. – Today, in response to the Secretary of the Army, Daniel P. Driscoll’s announcement that the Army will ensure right-to-repair provisions are included in future Army contracts, Senator Warren, a long-time advocate of the policy, released the following statement:

    “I pushed the Army Secretary to get right-to-repair in the Army done, and I’m glad he kept his word. This reform means the Army will be more resilient in future wars, and it will end the days of soldiers being dependent on giant defense contractors charging billions and taking months and months to get the equipment they need repaired. It’d be a big win for our country if all of the services followed Secretary Driscoll’s lead to stand up to military contractors, side with warfighters, and commit to right-to-repair in every single contract.”

    In January 2025, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, secured a commitment from Mr. Dan Driscoll, then-nominee for Secretary of the Army, about his views on enhancing the Army’s right to repair its own equipment. The exchange is below.

    Senator Warren also pushed Trump’s Navy Secretary and Military Transportation Command Chief on committing to allowing servicemembers to repair their own equipment. They agreed.

    Senator Warren has been a leader on Right-to-Repair in the military:

    1. In December 2024, Senator Warren and Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) introduced the Servicemember Right-to-Repair Act, which would require contractors to provide DoD with “fair and reasonable” access to repair materials. It would also require cost-saving proposals to cut sustainment costs without reducing performance requirements, mandate a report on cost-saving strategies to enhance transparency, and require DoD to assess the cost-effectiveness of access to intellectual property throughout a program’s life cycle. 
    2. Senator Warren also wrote to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recommending $2 trillion in proposals to save taxpayers money, including tackling repair restrictions that the Government Accountability Office found “could save billions of dollars.” At the hearing, Mr. Driscoll agreed with this recommendation.
    3. In September 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent two letters denouncing the costly restrictions imposed by Pentagon contractors on the Department of Defense (DoD) that bar the military from repairing its own military equipment and instead force it to pay billions of dollars extra to contractors.
    4. In July 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren included a provision in the Senate Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA that would require Pentagon contractors to provide DoD with “fair and reasonable” access to repair materials.

    Transcript: Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Mr. Daniel P. Driscoll to be Secretary of the Army
    Senate Armed Services Committee
    January 30, 2025

    Senator Elizabeth Warren: Congratulations on your nomination, Mr. Driscoll. So what I’d like to do is continue the conversation we started in my office. The Army buys a lot of stuff, from tanks to helicopters. They buy a lot of stuff from big defense contractors. Those giant companies often sneak restrictions into the contracts. They hog up the software rights or the technical data, all to prevent service members from being able to repair their own equipment. So today I would like to talk through an example so we can see the difference in banks with the Army is not hamstrung by right-to-repair restrictions. 

    Last year, the Army needed a new cover for a safety clip, but the contractor told the Army they couldn’t have it for months and these safety clips would cost $20 a pop. Now, thankfully, the Army had managed to keep right-to-repair restrictions out of this contract and was able to 3D-print the part in less than an hour for a total cost of 16 cents. 

    Now, Mr. Driscoll, does being able to get the parts we need in hours – maybe minutes – instead of months, and for nickels instead of dollars, help U.S. readiness and national security? 

    Mr. Dan Driscoll, nominee for Secretary of the Army: Unequivocally, Senator. 

    Senator Warren: Good. You know, when right-to-repair restrictions are in place, it’s bigger profits for giant defense contractors, but also higher prices for DoD and longer wait times for service members who need to get equipment repaired so they’re ready to go. 

    Chairman Wicker has an acquisition reform agenda which calls for a complete review of data rights across the Department of Defense. I think that is exactly right because it would help put the Army fully in command of the equipment that it has paid so much for. 

    So, Mr. Driscoll, let me ask you, if confirmed, will you work with this committee to identify more opportunities where the Army can save money and time by making their own parts and fixing their own equipment? 

    Mr. Driscoll: If confirmed, unequivocally, Senator. 

    Senator Warren: Would you like to expand on that at all? 

    Mr. Driscoll: This type of innovation happening in the private sector at scale in a lot of ways seems to have not trickled into the Army as much. If we think about engagement with a peer like China, being able to repair our parts in areas around the world will be crucial to that. And, if we are having six-month delays in CONUS and paying 100x the rate, that is not scalable in an actual conflict, and so I’m totally supportive, Senator. 

    Chair Wicker: That was a very good answer, Mr. Driscoll. 

    Senator Warren: It was an excellent answer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, right-to-repair restrictions have truly gotten out of control. And they threaten our national security. In some cases, the Army cannot even write its own training manual without a sign-off from a contractor. My Servicemember Right to Repair Act would help fix this problem. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Lt. Col. Wigton flies the F-15EX Eagle II, latest fighter in the Air Guard. Why do you serve?

    Source: US National Guard (video statements)

    From Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau: Yesterday, I had an awesome backseat ride in the F-15EX Eagle II with Lt. Col. Brandon Wigton, a fighter pilot with the Oregon National Guard’s 142nd Wing. Lt. Col. Wigton flew for the Navy and now flies the latest next-gen fighter in the Air National Guard. Go Guard!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PYRCtUbs-U

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Raytheon Companies and Nightwing Group to Pay $8.4M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Non-Compliance with Cybersecurity Requirements in Federal Contracts

    Source: US State of California

    Raytheon Company (Raytheon), RTX Corporation, and Nightwing Group LLC, and Nightwing Intelligence Solutions LLC (collectively, Nightwing), have agreed to pay $8.4 million to resolve allegations that Raytheon violated the False Claims Act by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in contracts or subcontracts involving the Department of Defense (DoD). Raytheon is a subsidiary of Arlington, Virginia-based defense contractor RTX Corporation (formerly known as Raytheon Technologies Corporation). In March 2024, RTX Corporation sold its Cybersecurity, Intelligence, and Services business, which since became part of Dulles, Virginia-based Nightwing. The settlement resolves conduct that allegedly occurred between 2015 and 2021, prior to Nightwing’s acquisition of the business.

    The settlement was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service Cyber Field Office, Special Agent in Charge William W. Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office.

    “Cyber threats have grown in size and reach in recent years, leaving no room for complacency among those in the public sector, private sector, or even among private citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia. “Government contractors must comply with the cybersecurity rules that govern their performance and be candid about their compliance. This settlement reflects the Government’s commitment to pursue contractors that fail to live up to those expectations.”

    “As cyber threats continue to evolve, it is critical that defense contractors take the required steps to protect sensitive government information from bad actors,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue our efforts to hold contractors accountable when they fail to honor their DoD cybersecurity commitments.”

    The settlement resolves allegations that Raytheon and its then-subsidiary Raytheon Cyber Solutions, Inc. (RCSI), failed to implement required cybersecurity controls on an internal development system that was used to perform unclassified work on certain DoD contracts. The United States alleged that Raytheon and RCSI failed to develop and implement a system security plan for the system, as required by DoD cybersecurity regulations, and failed to ensure that the system complied with other cybersecurity requirements contained in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012 and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-21. FAR 52.204-21 requires federal contractors to apply basic safeguarding requirements to information systems that process or store federal contract information. DFARS 252.204-7012 requires contractors to provide adequate security for information systems that process or store covered defense information. The settlement resolved allegations that Raytheon used its noncompliant internal system to develop, use, or store covered defense information and federal contract information during its performance on 29 DoD contracts and subcontracts.

    “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, is steadfastly committed to upholding the integrity of all business systems used to process and store defense information,” said Special Agent in Charge DeChellis of the DCIS Cyber Field Office. “DCIS, along with our investigative partners, will continue to protect our service members and military technological edge by ensuring defense contractors strictly adhere to their cyber security contractual obligations.”

    “Failure to implement cybersecurity requirements can have devastating consequences, leaving sensitive DoD data vulnerable to cyber threats and malicious actors,” said Special Agent in Charge William Richards of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Procurement Fraud Office, Andrew AFB, Md. “AFOSI, alongside our investigative partners and the Department of Justice, will continue to combat fraud affecting the Department of the Air Force and hold those accountable that fail to properly safeguard sensitive defense information.”

    “This settlement further demonstrates the resolve of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and our law enforcement partners to protect and defend the assets of the United States Army,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office.”

    “Strict compliance with contractual cybersecurity requirements is of dire importance to adequately safeguard sensitive information from sophisticated adversaries, assure the safety of our warfighters, and maintain our military’s competitive edge,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our federal partners remain committed to investigating entities that do not responsibly protect critical information entrusted to them.”

    The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery.  The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Branson Kenneth Fowler, Sr., a former Director of Engineering with Raytheon, to receive a $1,512,000 share of the settlement amount.  The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Doe v. Raytheon Co. et al., No. 21-cv-2343 (D.D.C.).

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from the Air Force Materiel Command, AFOSI, DCIS, NCIS, and Army Criminal Investigation Division.

    The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Darrell Valdez of the District of Columbia and Senior Trial Counsel Kimberly Friday of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.

    The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Seven Romanian nationals charged with immigration offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    GREAT FALLS – Seven Romanian nationals accused of crossing illegally from Canada into Montana appeared yesterday for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

    Two defendants, Ionut Gheorghe, 27, and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe, 32, pleaded not guilty to transporting illegal aliens, which, if convicted, carries a maximum punishment of five years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.  Adi Marinescu Gheorghe was also charged with illegal reentry of a removed alien, which is punishable by two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

    The other five defendants, Mihai Mahaela, 40, Sorin Sandu, 45, Conte Nicolae, 19, Alin Amadeus Musuroi, 23, and Lacrimoara Nicolae, 51, each pleaded not guilty to illegal entry of an alien. If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to six months in prison, fined $100,000, and placed on supervised release for one year.

    Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. All seven defendants were detailed pending further proceedings.

    The government alleged in court documents that Ionut Gheorghe and Adi Marinescu Gheorghe were each driving a van on April 25, 2025. The other defendants were passengers in the vans, which the U.S. Border Patrol detected illegally crossing into the United States at approximately 2:30 a.m. Law enforcement located the vans traveling south on I-15, stopped the vehicles, took the occupants into custody, and transported them to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for further investigation and processing. In total, the two vans contained 21 men, women, and children.

    The United States Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, and the United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

    The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    PACER case references: 25-50, 25-51, 25-52, 25-53, 25-54, 25-55, 25-56.

    The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Elizabeth Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Spree of Armed Robberies

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    TRENTON, N.J. – An Elizabeth, New Jersey man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for committing a series of three armed robberies, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

    Dayshawn Brimfield, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi to a five-count Information, charging him with one count of bank robbery, two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle. Judge Quraishi imposed sentence in Trenton federal court.

    According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

    On April 2, 2021, Brimfield robbed a bank in Hazlet, New Jersey. Brimfield entered the bank and handed a teller a note, which stated, among other things “This is a Robbery I have a Gun I will Kill Someone if you do not follow these instructions.” On April 17, 2021, Brimfield stole a motor vehicle in Elizabeth, New Jersey, which he used as the getaway car in his later robberies. On April 20, 2021, Brimfield robbed a convenience store in Aberdeen, New Jersey. Brimfield entered the store and displayed the handgun that he was carrying to the cashier before taking money from the store’s register and fleeing the scene. On April 20, 2021, Brimfield robbed another convenience store in South Plainfield, New Jersey. Brimfield entered the store and pointed a handgun at the cashier. Brimfield took the cashier’s wallet and cellular phone before emptying the store’s registers and fleeing the scene. Brimfield fled New Jersey in the stolen vehicle, but was ultimately apprehended by law enforcement in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Brimfield led officers on a brief, high-speed chase before crashing into a fence on the side of the highway.

    In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Brimfield to 5 years of supervised release and ordered restitution to the victims of Brimfield’s offenses.

    U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Red Bank Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly; detectives of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago; as well as officers of the Hazlet Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Mulligan; the South Plainfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter J. Papa; and the Nebraska State Patrol with the investigations leading to this sentencing.

    The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander E. Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

                                                               ###

    Defense Counsel:        Teri S. Lodge, Esq. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Announces Prosecution of Title 50 Charges Following Joint Visit to New Mexico National Defense Area

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison today announced the filing of 82 new Title 50 charges for unauthorized entry into the newly-designated National Defense Area along New Mexico’s southern border, following a high-level visit with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael Banks.

    The charges mark the first large-scale use of a novel criminal statute targeting unauthorized entry onto federally protected military defense property, a move enabled by the recent transfer of control over a 170-mile stretch of borderland-known as the Roosevelt Reservation-from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Defense. This corridor, now treated as an extension of U.S. Army Garrison Fort Huachuca, is subject to enhanced military patrols and surveillance, with U.S. troops authorized to temporarily detain and transfer individuals to federal law enforcement for prosecution.

    The newly filed Title 50 charges carry potential penalties of up to one year in prison, supplementing existing immigration-related offenses. The Justice Department’s actions underscore a coordinated federal response to border security, leveraging expanded military and prosecutorial authority to deter unlawful crossings.

    “The Department of Justice will work hand in glove with the Department of Defense and Border Patrol to gain 100% operational control of New Mexico’s 170-mile border with Mexico,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison reiterated following the meeting. “Trespassers into the National Defense Area will be Federally prosecuted—no exceptions.”

    (left to right) Defense Secretary Hegseth, U.S. Border Patrol Chief Banks, USA Ellison

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico will continue to aggressively prosecute all violations within the National Defense Area, in close partnership with the Department of Defense and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

    MIL Security OSI –