Digital Government

Defense Preps New Web Portal

The Defense Department plans to launch a new Web portal, <a href=http://www.defense.gov>Defense.gov</a> on Aug. 17, which will serve as "the table of contents for DoD," Tom Dorsz, deputy director for the public Web at the Pentagon, told me.

Digital Government

Facebook? No, e-mail is fine

Agencies have good reason to be concerned about Facebook, writes FCW columnist Judy Welles.

Digital Government

Navy CIO says cybersecurity is an urgent national issue

The Navy's CIO said today that cybersecurity must evolve rapidly to deal with the most serious economic and security challenge of the 21st century.

Digital Government

Can Technology Fill Staffing Gap?

I <a href="http://wiredworkplace.nextgov.com/2009/08/craig_newmark_on_gov_20_federal_it_workers.php">spoke</a> with Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.org, a bit last week about innovative Web 2.0 projects in the federal government and what projects have potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the workforce.

Digital Government

Social Security e-health records requirements draw fire

Critics say Recovery Act contracts to automate the agency's medical disability program and cut wait times for medical records to determine disability claims could slow innovation.

Digital Government

Butler Tapped for Cyber/Space Policy Slot

The Defense Department appointed Robert Butler, who previously ran Computer Science Corp's military intelligence biz in San Antonio, Texas, as the new deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber and space policy.

Digital Government

Time-In-Grade May Not Go Away

The Office of Personnel Management is withdrawing its plan to abolish the one-year time-in-grade requirement for federal employee promotions. OPM <a href="http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-19174.pdf">announced</a> in the <em>Federal Register</em> on Tuesday that it would withdraw proposed regulations to abolish the time-in-grade rule after the agency determined that it would be more productive to consider the merits of the time-in-grade issue as part of a more comprehensive review of pay, performance and staffing issues.

Digital Government

Roosevelt Scholars

Alex Parker over at <em>Government Executive</em> writes that lawmakers have renewed their push to pass the Roosevelt Scholars Act (H.R. 3510), which would create scholarships for graduate students in exchange for a federal service commitment. The increased attention to the effort comes amid new reports that the government needs a more robust workforce with a range of skills, particularly in the <a href="http://wiredworkplace.nextgov.com/2009/07/cyber_insecurity.php">cybersecurity arena</a>.

Digital Government

GSA's new chief acquisition officer to wear multiple hats

Some IT industry executives question Michael Robertson's lack of procurement experience, but agency officials say he was hired to be an innovator.

Digital Government

Final public meeting on combating counterfeit technology this week

Industry and government officials hash out concerns about excessive liability for contractors.