Federal - Executive Branch
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from the U.S. Executive Branch, covering all aspects of the Obama administration including cabinet departments, federal agencies, regulatory and independent agencies.
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Binding of uranyl cations to a Zr-based metal-organic framework by density functional theory
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
We use density functional theory to investigate the interactions of cerium, americium, and curium nitrates with crown ethers. Our calculations reveal that the modeled structure of cerium nitrate in crown ether is in good agreement with experimental data, exhibiting a strong binding energy of -2.5 eV. Our results demonstrate that crown ether can also bind americium and curium, providing insights into the potential applications of crown ether in
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following abstract of a journal article:
We use density functional theory to investigate the interactions of cerium, americium, and curium nitrates with crown ethers. Our calculations reveal that the modeled structure of cerium nitrate in crown ether is in good agreement with experimental data, exhibiting a strong binding energy of -2.5 eV. Our results demonstrate that crown ether can also bind americium and curium, providing insights into the potential applications of crown ether inradionuclide removal. Finally, we explore the impact of substituting nitrogen for oxygen in crown ether and find that this substitution significantly increases the binding energies. These findings demonstrate the potential for crowns in the design of radionuclide trapping systems.
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Original text here: https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/binding-uranyl-cations-zr-based-metal-organic-framework-density-functional-theory
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Director Travels to ALL INside Community Dallas
WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness issued the following news on April 24, 2024:
This week, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) Director Jeff Olivet and USICH Senior Regional Advisor Tamara Wright traveled to Dallas, Texas, to meet with city and county leaders and homelessness service providers.
Dallas recently received $22 million in first-of-its-kind funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The city is using the funding to launch a new and innovative initiative to better integrate mental health and substance use treatment
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WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness issued the following news on April 24, 2024:
This week, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) Director Jeff Olivet and USICH Senior Regional Advisor Tamara Wright traveled to Dallas, Texas, to meet with city and county leaders and homelessness service providers.
Dallas recently received $22 million in first-of-its-kind funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The city is using the funding to launch a new and innovative initiative to better integrate mental health and substance use treatmentinto housing-focused outreach and permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness. The federal money will also be used to help more people experiencing homelessness enroll in Medicaid and other government assistance for which they are eligible. While in Dallas, the USICH team toured a permanent supportive housing building integrating this innovative approach, along with HUD Regional Administrator Candace Valenzuela; Dallas Homeless Solutions Director Christine Crossley; and local providers, including Sarah Kahn, the CEO of Housing Forward, the Continuum of Care (CoC) that coordinates local homelessness services.
Olivet also held meetings with Dallas Deputy City Manager Kim Tolbert, Dallas Homeless Solutions Assistance Director Wanda Moreland, and City Councilmember Jesse Moreno, to discuss their challenges and solutions.
Dallas is one of several communities across the country participating in the White House and USICH's ALL INside Initiative. Since last year, the federal government has embedded federal officials and deployed federal teams in ALL INside communities to help cut red tape that makes it difficult for people to move off the streets and into homes. A few highlights from Dallas' ALL INside Initiative include:
* Setting aside 100 Dallas County Housing Authority housing vouchers a year for people experiencing homelessness (and pursuing similar changes for the area's other housing authorities)
* Developing a process to acquire and convert properties into affordable and/or permanent supportive housing
* Lowering barriers for people experiencing homelessness to get IDs and Social Security cards, which are often required to receive housing and services
Dallas' efforts are making a difference. From 2022 to 2023, chronic homelessness dropped 32% and unsheltered homelessness dropped 14%, according to HUD's Point-in-Time Count. Part of those drops are also due to the R.E.A.L. Time Rehousing Initiative that began in 2021 with the help of federal funding and emergency housing vouchers from the American Rescue Plan. Since then, the city and the CoC helped more than 6,000 people overcome homelessness.
"Homelessness is deadly--but solvable--and Dallas shows that communities can humanely and effectively help people move off the streets and into homes. We are encouraged to see Dallas is using federal and other funds to innovatively expand access to not just housing but health care," said USICH Director Jeff Olivet. "When we treat homelessness like the public health crisis that it is, and with the same urgency as a tornado or pandemic, we can end homelessness."
While in Dallas, Director Olivet also presented at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs One Team Conference on Homelessness and participated in a panel alongside other federal officials and national advocates.
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Original text here: https://www.usich.gov/news-events/news/usich-director-travels-all-inside-community-dallas
New Dual-Military Monitor Aims to Smooth Assignment Process
QUANTICO, Virginia, April 26 -- The U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Command issued the following news:
By Capt. Sarah Eason, Headquarters Marine Corps
Deployments, permanent changes of station, and long work hours are just some facets of military service that put a strain on a marriage. The pressure increases when both parties in the marriage are service members. Manpower Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, is creating a dual-military monitor billet to alleviate stresses associated with dual-military couples' orders assignments process.
Statistics show that as of March 20, 2024,
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QUANTICO, Virginia, April 26 -- The U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Command issued the following news:
By Capt. Sarah Eason, Headquarters Marine Corps
Deployments, permanent changes of station, and long work hours are just some facets of military service that put a strain on a marriage. The pressure increases when both parties in the marriage are service members. Manpower Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, is creating a dual-military monitor billet to alleviate stresses associated with dual-military couples' orders assignments process.
Statistics show that as of March 20, 2024,there are 8,695 Marines are married to another service member. Approximately 2,500 Marines in a dual-military marriage execute PCS orders every year. Nearly 60 percent of married female Marines are married to another service member. Given these statistics, it's no surprise that the Marine Corps recognizes that co-locating dual-service couples is complicated. In the past, if complications arose, there wasn't a single dedicated effort to tackle the issue. Manpower Management recognized the issue and acted, creating a dual-military monitor to ensure that dual-military couples have a dedicated resource. The dual-military monitor ensures efficient coordination occurs between the couple's primary military occupational specialty monitors.
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"The Commandant of the Marine Corps made the commitment to keep dual-military families together... Manpower Management created this billet to ensure that commitment is honored."
- said Staff Sgt. Nancy Acuna, the Marine selected to be the dual-military monitor with Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments.
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The dual-military monitor assists in various processes for dual-military couples. These include reporting marriages to administrative centers, requests for co-location, and streamlining the separation waiver process. Staff Sgt. Nancy Acuna, the Marine selected to be the dual-military monitor with Manpower Management Enlisted Assignments, will also serve as a resource for dual-military families on career options for geolocation selection, guidance on timeline execution, and available programs.
For inter-service dual-military couples and active-reserve Marine couples, the dual-military monitor facilitates communication with Marine Corps officer and enlisted duty monitors, reserve monitors, and detailers or assignments personnel from other Services.
"My job is to ensure that dual-military families feel supported by the service," said Acuna. "They've made the commitment to the Marine Corps, and we recognize them by making the orders assignments process as concise and easy as possible."
Stresses associated with dual-military marriages often cause one of the members to exit the service. The dual-military monitor will help talented Marines stay in uniform while keeping their family together. It's a professional and personal win for Marines. It demonstrates the service's dedication to refining policies and processes to best serve the individual Marine and optimize the capability of our force.
Additional information will be released in an upcoming Marine Administrative Message.
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Original text here: https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/3755669/new-dual-military-monitor-aims-to-smooth-assignment-process/
Exploring How the Business & Enterprise Systems Small Business Office Supports Warfighters - PODCAST
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, April 26 -- The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center issued the following news:
By Joe Danielewicz, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs
The Air Force partners with small businesses across the country, with a Small Business Office attached to each Air Force Life Cycle Management Center installation. As a knowledgeable resource about Air Force acquisition practices, and through engagement with events like Vendor Industry Days, the office is a vital component in supporting the needs of warfighters.
In this Leadership Log podcast, we chat with
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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio, April 26 -- The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center issued the following news:
By Joe Danielewicz, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs
The Air Force partners with small businesses across the country, with a Small Business Office attached to each Air Force Life Cycle Management Center installation. As a knowledgeable resource about Air Force acquisition practices, and through engagement with events like Vendor Industry Days, the office is a vital component in supporting the needs of warfighters.
In this Leadership Log podcast, we chat withYolanda McCain, Director of the Small Business Office within the Business and Enterprise Systems (BES) Directorate.
McCain discusses a variety of topics related to her work, including:
How her office's work acquiring resources for Air Force warfighters through outreach with the small business community:
"I interact with companies and learn more about who they are in terms of their capabilities, in terms of the experiences and things that they have and how those relate to what they can bring to our government requirements in the acquisition process and how they can help to solve some of the challenges that we as a government face in terms of solutions that we need for warfighters..."
How small business members can participate in Vendor Industry Days on 22 May 2024:
Industry partners "will hear from some of the stakeholders and requirement owners and those acquisition teams regarding some specific acquisitions. And then there's always a component where we strive to provide updates or educational information regarding some of the exciting things going on from a technical perspective within BES."
Encouragement for women to grow their Air Force Careers:
"Be open to asking questions to learn more from a... wide group of people with various experiences or with varied experiences from your own" [immediate work groups]... and also "branching out and making introductions and connections and receiving feedback from those outside of that circle as well."
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To hear the full conversation, watch above or on YouTube (https://youtu.be/sWl2Gm0wlcM). You can also listen by searching "Leadership Log" on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Overcast, Radio Public or Breaker.
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Original text here: https://www.aflcmc.af.mil/NEWS/Article-Display/Article/3756145/exploring-how-the-bes-small-business-office-supports-warfighters-podcast/
DOD Issues Readout of Secretary Austin Call With Romanian Minister of National Defence Tilvar
WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following readout of Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III's call on April 25, 2024, with Romanian Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar:
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Pentagon Spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke yesterday with his Romanian counterpart, Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar, to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine and continuing coordination for additional security assistance for Ukraine.
The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the Ukrainian people
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WASHINGTON, April 26 -- The U.S. Department of Defense issued the following readout of Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III's call on April 25, 2024, with Romanian Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar:
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Pentagon Spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke yesterday with his Romanian counterpart, Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar, to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine and continuing coordination for additional security assistance for Ukraine.
The two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the Ukrainian peopleand condemned Russia's unlawful war of choice. Secretary Austin recognized Romania's position as an anchor of stability on NATO's Eastern Flank and thanked Romania for continuing to host U.S. and Allied forces.
Both leaders look forward to continued coordination through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and future bilateral engagements.
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Original text here: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3755863/readout-of-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iiis-call-with-romanian-minister/
Calif. U.S. Attorney: Former Executive Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $400,000 From San Diego Non-Profit
SAN DIEGO, California, April 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release on April 25, 2024:
Katherine Lu Acquista, former Director of Operations and Accounting for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she stole more than $400,000 from the non-profit for her personal benefit.
The Economic Development Corporation, known as EDC, works to maximize San Diego's economic prosperity and global competitiveness. As Director of Operations and Accounting, Acquista
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SAN DIEGO, California, April 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California issued the following news release on April 25, 2024:
Katherine Lu Acquista, former Director of Operations and Accounting for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that she stole more than $400,000 from the non-profit for her personal benefit.
The Economic Development Corporation, known as EDC, works to maximize San Diego's economic prosperity and global competitiveness. As Director of Operations and Accounting, Acquistahad access to the EDC's bank accounts, credit cards, checkbook and payroll system. According to her plea agreement, Acquista put personal expenditures on EDC's credit card and directed the accounting department to issue checks from EDC to herself.
To conceal her scheme, Acquista caused false entries to be made in the non-profit's accounting system to account for the missing funds. For example, Acquista put personal charges on the EDC credit card, and then caused the expenditures in the EDC's accounting system to be entered as charges for maintenance and repairs or for office supplies. Similarly, Acquista directed that checks be written to herself from the EDC bank account but then caused the checks to be entered into EDC's accounting system as charges for recurring IT expenses. Acquista admitted in her plea agreement that as a result of her scheme the EDC lost $433,275.89.
"This defendant took funds that were supposed to make San Diego a stronger business community and spent them on herself," said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. "Our office takes embezzlement from local businesses very seriously and will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases."
"Ms. Acquista worked for an organization whose goal is to help the San Diego community; however, she chose to abuse her position of trust within the organization," said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge John Kim. "The FBI remains committed to ensuring that individuals who deliberately compromise the integrity of their position and organization for personal gain will be brought to justice."
Acquista is scheduled to appear before U.S. District Judge Battaglia for sentencing on July 15, 2024, at 9 a.m.
DEFENDANTS ... Case Number 24CR0765-AJB
Katherine Lu Acquista ... Age: 47 ... Escondido, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Wire Fraud - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison; $250,000 fine or the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/former-executive-pleads-guilty-stealing-more-400000-san-diego-non-profit
Air Education & Training Command Occupational Safety Team Earns Top Air Force Honor
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, April 26 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news:
By Tim Barela, Safety Directorate, Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command's Occupational Safety Division won the 2023 Colonel Will L. Tubbs Memorial Award for Occupational Safety, which recognizes the best ground safety program in the Air Force, the Air Force Safety Center announced April 23.
"I extend my personal congratulations to you and your teams on a job well done," said Maj. Gen. Sean Choquette, Air Force chief of safety and
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JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, April 26 -- The U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command issued the following news:
By Tim Barela, Safety Directorate, Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command's Occupational Safety Division won the 2023 Colonel Will L. Tubbs Memorial Award for Occupational Safety, which recognizes the best ground safety program in the Air Force, the Air Force Safety Center announced April 23.
"I extend my personal congratulations to you and your teams on a job well done," said Maj. Gen. Sean Choquette, Air Force chief of safety andthe commander of the Air Force Safety Center, in his announcement of the Air Force winners. "Thank you for setting the highest safety standards and increasing our combat readiness!"
AETC's Occupational Safety Division set themselves apart from other major commands, field commands, direct reporting units and field operating agencies by producing the "most effective ground safety program" in the Air Force for fiscal year 2023, according to the safety center's award announcement.
"I'm very proud of our entire safety team across all of the disciplines," said Col. Will Phillips, AETC director of safety, "but occupational safety really raised the bar in 2023! They enhanced safety Department of the Air Force-wide through closing gaps in tactical vehicle safety, disseminating a critical fire prevention bulletin throughout AETC and to the other major commands, and working to ensure risk management is properly integrated into all accession syllabi. The thing I like most about our team is that they don't wait for anyone else to solve a safety issue first. They jump in, figure it out, and then share what they've learned with the safety center and the other major commands across the Air and Space Forces."
AFSEC even identified AETC's occupational safety purchasing process as a best practice for purchasing unique vehicles, such as utility task vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and golf carts, by creating a form that considers both safety and logistics when deciding the appropriate UTV to purchase. This critical risk management measure ensures units are "getting the right tool for the job instead of purchasing a high-powered off-road vehicle when you really only need one that goes about 15 mph to haul some tools across the flight line, for example," said Robbie Bogard, AETC Occupational Safety Division chief.
Bogard said he is especially proud of his team's continued refinement of the command's high-risk training programs in 2nd Air Force and within the Special Warfare Training Wing, as well as the risk management reviews, which have helped reduce hazards to AETC's student population.
Other notable achievements included:
-The team designed and executed an AETC commander-directed risk management audit. They visited four wings, examining security forces, firefighters, special warfare, services and SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, escape) training; interviewed 225 Airmen on operational risk; and drafted six recommendations to enhance risk management across 65,000-plus personnel, including the youngest recruits and highest-risk training operations.
-Following a Class A building fire mishap, AETC's occupational safety team took immediate action to notify AFSEC and other commands of a recalled power supply. This initiated a DAF-wide search in which 102 recalled units were identified and removed from service, avoiding imminent threats to personnel and property.
-The Air Force Safety Center lauded the team for aiding in reviving the "101 Critical Days of Summer" campaign by publishing 13 safety newsletters and 10 safety posters, stressing risk management in historically hazardous areas. They also posted more than 120 articles, infographics and videos on the web and social media to support the campaign.
AETC's occupational safety staff has 85 years of safety experience, collectively. Staff members served as military training leaders, military training instructors, recruiters, podium instructors at the safety schoolhouse and a career field manager, as well as filling safety positions at AFSEC and NATO and serving on multiple safety investigation boards, Bogard said.
"This experience allowed us to truly understand the mission and how to become mission enablers, who help leadership come up with solutions that target mishap-free operations," he said.
Bogard also says team chemistry plays a big role in their success. "We aren't just co-workers; we're friends," he said. "We truly like each other, which makes coming to work each day a pleasure."
Bogard is quick to point out, though, that this is a team award that stretches well beyond the walls of the headquarters safety staff.
"This award recognizes and acknowledges the hard work all AETC occupational safety staffs in the field accomplish daily," he said. "This safety team is made up of seasoned professionals, leading programs at their wings, while simultaneously providing training to the new safety personnel we assign them. It can be a tough, thankless job at times; so, we are very appreciative of this honor and what it says about the stellar efforts of our occupational safety pros across First Command."
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Original text here: https://www.aetc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3756540/aetc-occupational-safety-team-earns-top-air-force-honor/