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Pentagon Looks to Silicon Valley for Innovation

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 04.24.15

In a move designed to attract commercial technology companies into DoD contracting, the Pentagon has announced plans to open a Silicon Valley office and provide venture capital to identify and fund innovative technologies that can improve national defense. Although traditionally Silicon Valley companies have been wary of contracting with DoD because of its bureaucracy and rigorous intellectual property requirements, Pentagon leaders have pledged to address these concerns to entice high technology companies and to enable DoD to compete with commercial technologies utilized by our adversaries.


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Client Alert | 5 min read | 12.23.25

An ITAR-ly Critical Reminder of Cybersecurity Requirements: DOJ Settles with Swiss Automation, Inc.

Earlier this month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Swiss Automation Inc., an Illinois-based precision machining company, agreed to pay $421,234 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by inadequately protecting technical drawings for parts delivered to Department of Defense (DoD) prime contractors.  This settlement reflects DOJ's persistent emphasis on cybersecurity compliance across all levels of the defense industrial base, reaching beyond prime contractors to encompass subcontractors and smaller suppliers.  The settlement is also a reminder to all contractors not to overlook the often confusing relationship between Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and export-controlled information....