ARL Weekly News – June 1, 2018

HQ
The Fiscal Year 2018 Information Technology Security Assessment & Authorization activities for ARL took place between March 26, 2018 and May 31, 2018. On May 31, Rick Jiang (System Owner) presented the package to Gary Matlock (Authorizing Official), Jeremy Warren (Co-Authorizing Official), and Ariel Stein (Acting Director). James Brown (OAR IT Security Officer) and Fred Shen (ARL Acting Information Systems Security Officer) also participated in the presentation. 55 of 115 required security controls were assessed this year: 94.5% fully satisfied and 5.5% partially satisfied. The system has been granted a full Authorization to Operate with three Plan Of Action and Milestones items.

FRD
Southeastern Idaho had another round of severe weather on Thursday 31 May. Hail up to about 1 inch diameter fell in Idaho Falls early in the afternoon. A tornadic thunderstorm passed through the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) later in the afternoon, with radar-indicated hail exceeding 2 inches at some times. A number of photos and videos verified that a tornado had touched down. FRD coordinated with INL security on alerting staff about the weather hazards. Fortunately, the tornado appears to have moved over undeveloped areas. One of FRD’s tall towers close to the storm’s track stopped transmitting data around the time of the event. Technicians have not yet been out to the tower as of Friday morning.

In May, personnel from the Department of Energy (DOE) Headquarters visited Idaho Falls to review programs at the DOE Idaho Operations Office, including the long-term partnership with ARL. The headquarters staff were supportive of the partnership and indicated that they will help expedite the approval process for a new NOAA-DOE agreement starting in October. DOE Idaho also has received their fiscal year 2018 program guidance.

ATDD
LaToya Myles attended her first American Geophysical Union (AGU) Honors and Recognition Committee Meeting as a newly-appointed member. The meeting was held May 29-31 in Washington, DC and focused on committee orientation, recommendations for improving nomination and selection policies and procedures, and planning for the Honors Program at AGU’s Centennial Fall Meeting in December. The committee maintains oversight of AGU’s honors and recognition programs at all levels – Union-wide (medals, fellows, awards, and prizes) and Sections.