FCW Insider: Nov. 1

This year's list of Rising Star Award winners makes clear there's tremendous talent coming up through the ranks, from NASA to NIST and at vendors and even in academia. Check out our profiles of the 21 early-career phenoms who are driving change in government IT.

The Government Accountability Office warned that agencies are putting billions in spending at risk by not taking steps to raise skills and competencies in the IT workforce. Lia Russell has more on GAO's big audit of IT workforce planning at 24 federal agencies.

David Robbins, a former contract fraud specialist at NASA and the Air Force and now a partner at the D.C. law firm Crowell and Moring just wrote a book on federal procurement fraud. He spoke with FCW's Mark Rockwell about how to navigate confusing contracting rules.

The nonprofit group Defending Digital Campaigns announced partnerships with vendors to offer free or cheap cybersecurity services to candidates running for federal office. The Federal Elections Commission granted the group a waiver in May to offer the free services. Derek B. Johnson reports.

Quick Hits

*** Axios is reporting that Chad Wolf, a senior Department of Homeland Security official and President Donald Trump's pick to serve as undersecretary for the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, will step in as acting DHS secretary. Kevin McAleenan departed on Oct. 31, per Axios.

*** Census operations for the 2020 population count are "generally on track" according to a Government Accountability Office update, but some preparations are still pending including two new authority to operate certifications for information systems and one requires ATO renewal.