| Issues | - DEFENSE
- Lobbied on H.R. 2500 and S. 1790, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 with respect to the following issues: Repeal expansion of probationary period (House Section 1101) (House Armed Services Committee staff). Repeal of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) personnel caps and requirement to offset civilian growth with arbitrary reductions (House Section 1103) (Rep. Norcross) Consolidated direct hire authorities within existing limits and required Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) study to evaluate steps to improve competitive hiring process and diversity of workforce (with required input from unions and other stakeholders) (House Section 1111) (Rep. Houlahan). Direct Secretary of Defense Report not later than Mar 2020 concerning demographic impacts of Reductions In Force (RIF) on or after Jan. 1, 2016 (when order of retention during RIFs changed) by Defense Component segregated by performance evaluation criteria. House Report Item of Special Interest pp. 169-170. (Rep. Bishop and HASC Committee staff). Trump Space Force at will anti-labor provisions not implemented
- but issue will come back next year with requested DoD recommendations on personnel authorities. Space Force provisions enacted in both House and Senate bill. Review of Conflicts of Interest in Organizational Analysis of the Department of Defense -House p. 478-9 -(Rep. Brown). Clarified responsibility for Requirements Validation for Services Contracts in Planning, Programming and Budgeting process (Section 813 -Amending 2329 of title 10) (HASC Committee staff). Directs Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit of Borrowed Military Manpower replacing DoD civilian employees impact on readiness (including unit status reports) -(Re. Houlahan) Direct GAO review on misuse of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring missions. -(Rep. Norcross). Direct Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) review of total force management processes to increase size of DoD civilian workforce based on force structure and readiness. (Rep. Norcross and HASC Committee staff). GAO Review of Defense Resale Optimization Study preventing merger of DecA with Exchanges until review Completed and Congress reviews - House Section 631. Rep. Speier and Rep. Gallego). Limits medical reorganization until report provided to Congress. Section 716 (HASC Committee staff) Strengthens federal antidiscrimination laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and expands accountability. (HASC committee staff) Provide authority for 12 weeks of paid Family Medical Leave to federal employees. (Maloney Speier Amendment striking markup language that would have exempted acquisition workforce from chapter 71 of title 5 Prohibit BRAC (Senate section 2702) Repeal the 25% Defense Agency targets and replaces with study requirement (Senate section 901(a). Prohibit use of funds to privatize temporary lodging on military installations (Senate section 2702)/ Support sections 711-715 providing additional direction on reorganization of military health system Support sections 641-643 providing a more participatory framework from entities affected by the Executive Resale Board framework involving Commissaries and Exchanges
- provides for expanded beneficiary pool through user fees. Commissary and Exchange report language directs GAO review on the impact of Defense Resale reform on DecA sales, patrons and employees, savings, etc. (Senate Report p. 199-202). Directed report language on full time support manpower study on the mix of dual status military technicians, Active Guard and Reserve personnel and federal civilian employees employed under title 5 under supervision of state Adjutants General (Apr 2021) (Senate Report p. 189) Directed report language on implications of acquisition reform of past five years on the organic industrial base (Feb 2020). (Senate Report P.225). Uncertified cost data. (Senate Report P. 228-9). Directed report language on service contract inventory reform (Mar 2020). (Senate Report P. 226-7) Directed report language on expanding capacity of child care facilities to include private sector p. 177 Support Casey Amendment (SA 568) addressing locality pay disparity did not get in Oppose Perdue Amendment (SA 315) expanding direct hire authority for AF Depot Maintenance and Repair to other occupational series. Oppose Lankford (SA 485) repealing 180 day waiting period for hiring retired military. Oppose Leahy-Graham Amendment (SA #569) that would weaken enhancement of authorities on forfeiture of federal benefits by the National Guard in section 1037 of the base NDAA bill. Oppose Cruz Amendment (SA 500) providing tiered preference eligibility for members of Reserve Component for federal jobs. Oppose Sullivan Amendment (SA 463) authorizing contracts for overhaul, repair or maintenance of naval vessels.
- HEALTH ISSUES
- Lobbied to increase the federal government's share of health benefits for its employees and retirees. Lobbied against Senate FY 2020 Budget Resolution proposal to increase Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)employee premiums.
- FOOD INDUSTRY (SAFETY, LABELING, ETC.)
- FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on the contracting out of federal employee jobs and potential food and public risks. Lobbied against funding cuts of the meat and poultry inspection program. Lobbied on recommendations to further expand the program of putting plant employees, not inspectors, in charge of quality control and contamination. Lobbied against USDA's plan to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Continued participation with coalition of labor and consumer groups to oppose the Food Safety and Inspection Services' (FSIS) proposed rule on hog slaughter to eliminate hundreds of FSIS online inspector positions and transfer their responsibilities to rank and file hog company employees.
- HOUSING
- FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- GOVERNMENT ISSUES
- FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied against implementation of pro-contractor revision of OMB Circular A-76, contracting out, and contractor compensation. Lobbied for protection of blue collar pay, white collar pay, minimum wage, federal retirement systems, and union representation. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1534, the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act that would grant federal workers 12 weeks of paid FMLA. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, granting public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1174, the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2019,to amend chapter 81 of title 5, creating a presumption that a disability or death of a federal employee in fire protection activities caused by any of certain diseases is the result of the performance of such employee's duty. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1255, the Federal Firefighter Pay Equity Act, to provide for more accurate computation of retirement benefits for federal firefighters. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1327 and S. 546, the Never Forget the Heroes: Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act. Lobbied in support of S. 858, Protecting Military Firefighters from PFAS Act, requiring the Secretary of Defense to provide blood testing for firefighters in the Department of Defense to determine potential exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1195, the Law Enforcement Officer Equity Act, to include certain federal positions within the definition of law enforcement officer for retirement purposes. Lobbied for H.R. 748, Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019, to the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage for which there is an excess benefit (high-cost plans). Lobbied for H.R. 860, Social Security 2100 Act, to increases various Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) benefits and related taxes. Lobbied to support, S. 478 and H.R. 1170, Social Security Expansion Act, to enhance Social Security benefits and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program
- CIVIL RIGHTS/CIVIL LIBERTIES
- FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriation-lobbied on proposals to compromise the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions (EEOC) ability to protect employees from employment discrimination, including staffing cuts and contracting out. Lobbied in support of increasing BOP funding levels language to end augmentation of corrections workers, hire more correctional officers, and phase out the use of private prisons. Lobbied in support of H.R. 99, the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make murdering a law enforcement officer an aggravated factor in sentencing for a capital crime. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5292, the 2020 Census Accountability Act
- H.R. 4013, the 2020 American Census Investment Act
- and S. 2366, the Census Funding Cap Adjustment Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, in particular it provision to expand the participation of eligible voters in elections and end voter suppression. Lobbied in support of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system
- BUDGET/APPROPRIATIONS
- FY 2020 Budget Resolution--lobbied against the President's FY 2020 budget and House FY 2020 Budget Resolution. Lobbied in Senate and House to oppose any cuts to federal employee pay and benefits to offset increased defense spending. Lobbied against negative impact on federal employees' retirement by requiring employees pay additional salary towards retirement,privatizing of airport screening jobs, and reduction in benefits for on-the-job injuries. FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied for additional funding of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard (USCG), Federal Protective Protective Service (FPS), and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Specifically, lobbied for retention of prohibitions against the OMB Circular A-76 process in the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) and on certain positions in CIS related to investigating and adjudicating immigration rights benefits. Lobbied for funding to increase number of Transportation Security Officer (TSO) full time equivalents (FTEs) and other personnel issues. FY 2020 Defense Appropriations--lobbied to clarify section 8012 carried over from FY2019 Defense Appropriation. Section 8012 currently only prohibits managing the DoD civilian workforce to an End Strength. Clarification would return to prior language in earlier Defense Appropriations that prohibited managing the civilian workforce to arbitrary Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Caps. Clarification also returns to earlier Defense Appropriation language that would require the DoD civilian workforce to be solely managed based on workload, available funding and the total force management policies of section 129a of title 10. Clarification also would prohibit the sue of appropriated funds in reducing the civilian workforce absent an analysis of impacts on workload, fully burdened costs of the total force of military, civilian employee and contractor, and impacts on military force structure, readiness and stress on the All Volunteer Military. Clarification also would bar the sue of appropriated funds for inappropriate use of term or temporary hiring authorities for enduring functions. Lobbied to add a new policy enforcement provision that would restrict the use of appropriated funds unless the following statutory requirements were complied with: the contractor inventory statute in section 2330a of title 10
- the contract services budget statute in section 235 of title 10, as well as the successor statute in section 2329 of title 10 for improved planning, programming and budgeting of contract services
- as well as compliance with the requirement for standard total force management guidelines or checklists that comprehensively contain the full statutory definitions and restrictions against contracting inherently governmental functions, closely associated with inherently governmental functions, personal services lacking statutory authority, guards and firefighter positions in CONUS, publicity experts, interrogators, critical functions, including core logistics, and compliance with the moratorium against public-private competitions. This provision would be an enforcement mechanism against illegal direct conversions of government employee work to contract. FY 2020 Military Quality of Life/Veterans Affairs Appropriations--Lobbied for funding to hire new employees to fill vacancies
- provisions to provide adequate funding for VA health and benefits programs and against further contracting out. Lobbied for the inclusion of language to prevent unilateral implementation of collective bargaining agreements. FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, and working conditions of federal employee jobs and proposed EPA spending cuts. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3582, the Recognizing the Environmental Gains in Overcoming Negligence Act (REGION Act) to ensure that no EPA office be closed, consolidated, or eliminated using funds made available in any appropriation act for any fiscal year. FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, funding cuts to services such as college aid for students, rural health care services, and funding the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and status of collective bargaining. Lobbied against Administration proposal to close and transfer Forest Service Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers FY 2020 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations--lobbied to continue the government-wide moratorium against public-private competitions and to clarify that the moratorium also applies to any conversion of federal government employee jobs to contract performance, including through privatization o facilities and infrastructure, and is not just limited to prohibiting public-private competitions pursuant to OMB Circular A-76. FY 2020 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations--lobbied for higher funding levels for Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and continued prohibition of closure of minimum security camps
- lobbied for funding to hire adequate numbers of correctional staff
- end the use of augmentation to compensate for lack of hiring correctional officer positions
- alleviating overcrowding at high-security institutions
- need to increase unit officer staff at high security institutions
- and reduce the use of BOP contract prisons. FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations--lobbied on contracting out, pay, benefits, and working conditions of federal employees. FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on contracting out of federal employee jobs and funding cuts to the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Lobbied against Administration's proposal to relocate and reorganize the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied against Administrations proposal to implement the New Swine Inspection System FY 2020 Energy and Water Appropriations--lobbied against any cuts in funding for fossil fuel research conducted at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). Lobbied to restore adequate funding to the Social Security Administration. Lobbied against any limitation or elimination of official time to all appropriations bills. Lobbied for prohibition of realigning the Army Civilian Works program from Corps of engineers to Department of transportation and Department of Interior. Lobbied in support of H.R. 3351, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, to provide FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies, including Treasury, Executive office of the President, the Judiciary, DC, and Several independent agencies Lobbied in support of H.R. 264, the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which provides FY2019 appropriations to agencies responsible for regulating the financial, telecommunications, and consumer products industries
- collecting taxes and assisting taxpayers
- managing federal buildings and the federal workforce
- and operating the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, and the District of Columbia. Lobbied in support of H.R. 265, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the Forest Service, which is included in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill also provides appropriations for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Farm Credit Administration. Lobbied in support of H.R. 266, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and related agencies. The bill provides annual appropriations for most of the Department of the Interior Lobbied in support of H.R. 267, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. Lobbied in support of H.R. 268, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, providing $12.1 billion in FY2019 supplemental appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for expenses related to the consequences of recent wildfires, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters. Lobbied in support of H.J.Res. 28 - Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, providing continuing FY2019 appropriations to several federal agencies through the earlier of February 15, 2019, or the enactment of the applicable appropriations legislation. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and ends the partial government shutdown that began after the existing CR expired on December 21, 2018, because seven of the remaining FY2019 appropriations bills have not been enacted. Lobbied in support of H.R. 648, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, providing FY2019 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 6 of the 12 regular FY2019 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 2157, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, providing $17.2 billion in FY2019 supplemental appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for expenses related to the consequences of recent wildfires, hurricanes, volcanos, earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters. Lobbied in support of H.R. 2740, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Legislative Branch, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, providing FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 4 of the 12 regular FY2020 appropriations bills Lobbied in support of H.R. 3055, the Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, providing FY2020 appropriations for several federal departments and agencies. It includes 5 of the 12 regular FY2020 appropriations bills
- AGRICULTURE
- FY 2020 Agriculture Appropriations--provisions relating to pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of USDA employees. Lobbied for language prohibiting any funds from being spent to reorganize or relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Lobbied to prohibit funds from being spent to finalize or implement the New Swine Inspection System
- LABOR ISSUES/ANTITRUST/WORKPLACE
- FY 2020 THUD Appropriations
- Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations
- Energy and Water Appropriations
- Financial Services Appropriations
- and Interior and Environmental Appropriations--Lobbied for report language in FY 2020 Mil-Con VA to direct the VA Secretary to use appropriated funds to hire new employees to fill vacancies. Lobbied in support of Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) Temporary Term Extension Act, to allow the term of the current and only MSPB member to be extended and avoid having a vacant Board. Lobbied against the confirmations of Andrew Maunz and Dennis Dean Kirk for the position so Vice Chairman and Chair, respectively, for the MSPB. Lobbied for nomination of Julia Clarke for a position on the Board. Lobbied against any attempts the expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act government-wide. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1254, the Equal COLA Act, to achieve parity between the cost of living adjustment to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System. Lobbied in support of S. 165, the Federal Unemployment Compensation Equality Act of 2019, to amend current law to clarify that Federal employees excepted from a furlough are eligible for unemployment compensation. Lobbied in support of S. 222, to require payment of interest on back pay for employees affected by a lapse in appropriations. Lobbied in support of H.R. 953, to help prevent negative credit reporting due to a government shutdown. Lobbied in support of S. 464, Protecting Employees' Security Clearances Act (PESCA), which requires consideration of a lapse in appropriations as a mitigating condition when assessing financial consideration for security clearances. Lobbied in support of S. 426 and H.R. 1073, Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, to provide federal employees with a 3.6% salary adjustment in 2020. Lobbied in support of S. 521 and H.R. 141, Social Security Fairness Act, to repeal the government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions. Lobbied in support of S. 530 and H.R. 1316, Federal Labor-Management Partnership Act, to establish the Federal Labor-Management Partnership Council. Lobbied in support of S. 24, Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, so employees of the federal government or a District of Columbia public employer who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations beginning on or after December 22, 2018, to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Lobbied in support of H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act, To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes. Lobbied against H.R. 605, Official Time Reporting Act, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit an annual report to Congress relating to the use of official time by Federal employees. Lobbied for H.R. 1309, Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, to require DOL to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors Lobbied for H.R. 790/S. 262, Federal Civilian Workforce Pay Raise Fairness Act of 2019, to increases by 2.6% the rates of basic pay for most federal civilian employees for 2019. Lobbied for H.R. 582, Raise the Wage Act, to increase the federal minimum wage for regular employees over a 7-year period, for tipped employees, and for newly hired employees who are less than 20 years old. Lobbied for H.R. 1235 MSPB, the Temporary Term Extension Act, to extend the term of office for currently serving members of the merit systems protection board by 1 year.
- VETERANS
- Lobbied on H.R. 2045, Veterans Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act of 2019 or the VET OPP Act (draft legislation) and establishment of Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. Lobbied against the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA)decision to change standards for Veterans Service Representatives and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against the Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) decision to change standards for attorneys and potentially dismiss employees. Lobbied against contracting out of Paralegals at BVA. Lobbied for comprehensive changes to internal VBA processes for claims, including changes to the VBA National Work Queue. Lobbied against contracting out of Compensation and Pension Exam positions. Lobbied for reintroduction of legislation (H.R. 6101) to repeal aspects of the VA Accountability Act. Submitted written statements/recommendation to the VA on walk-in clinic use and access standards as they begin the regulation writing process for the VA MISSION Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1133 and S. 462 to restore full Title 38 collective bargaining rights. Lobbied for AIR Act funding moratorium. Lobbied MilCon-VA for staffing language to address vacancies. Lobbied on the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 Lobbies on the processing of complex claims within the Veterans Benefits Administration, including how it relates to Military Sexual Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury Lobbied on the Reassignment of RVSRs from the Philadelphia, PA Pension Management Center Lobbied on the ongoing negotiations of the VA Employee Contract Lobbied for Congressional oversight on the VAs behavior during the negotiation of a new collective bargaining agreement. Lobbied against Section 501 of S. 785 that would convert VA psychologists from hybrid Title 38 to full Title 38. Lobbied against Section 601 of S. 785 because it could increase outsourcing of telehealth. Lobbied against S. 221 that would eliminate the right to clear record agreements and report VA Providers to state licensing boards and National Practitioner Data Bank for minor infractions
- NATURAL RESOURCES
- FY 2020 Interior and Environmental Appropriations--lobbied on provisions relating to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, job security, and contracting out of Department of Interior (DOI) employees.
- HOMELAND SECURITY
- FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on the pay, benefits, contracting out, staffing levels, funding, and job security of DHS employees in CIS, ICE, CIS, FEMA, FPS, USCG, and TSA. Lobbied in support of S. 944, the Strengthening American Transportation Security Act, which would grant Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) rights under Title 5 of the U.S. code and H.R. 1140, the Rights for TSA Officers Act. Lobbied in support of H.R. 372, Honoring Our Fallen TSA Heroes Act, ensuring public safety officer benefits to TSOs killed or injured in the line of duty. Lobbied against ending the full-time health care subsidy for new part-time TSOs. Lobbied against transferring airport exit lane monitoring responsibilities to airports. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO staffing. Lobbied in support of increased funding for TSO compensation. Lobbied in support of collective bargaining protections. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1433, DHS MORALE Act, to address workforce morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lobbied in support of H.R. 1171/S. 472, Funding for Aviation Screeners and Threat Elimination Restoration (FASTER) Act, to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure that revenues collected from passengers as aviation security fees are used to help finance the costs of aviation security screening by repealing a requirement that a portion of such fees be credited as offsetting receipts and deposited in the general fund of the Treasury.
- FOREIGN RELATIONS
- FY 2020 Foreign Operations Appropriations--lobbied on the provisions related to the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of Department of State employees.
- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
- Budget allocations involving the pay, benefits, staffing levels, and job security of DC Government employees. Lobbied in support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, in particular its provision in support of statehood for the District of Columbia.
- IMMIGRATION
- FY 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations--lobbied on provisions on CPB, CIS, and ICE relating to contracting out, pay, benefits, staffing levels, safety, and job security of these DHS employees. Lobbied to prevent further closure of USCIS international field offices.
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California Institute of Technology (dba Caltech)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (dba MIT)
DCS Corporation
The KeyW Corporation
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
University of Maryland, College Park