Ideas
O'Hare a CIO Now in Charge
In case you missed the <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090330_1662.php">news on Monday</a>, GSA assistant commissioner of the Federal Acquisitions Service's Integrated Technology Service John C. Johnson announced his retirement effective May 2.
Ideas
Kundra's Ideas Shape Book
A forthcoming book, "Democratizing Data," by e-government guru W. David Stephenson probably provides some inside knowledge of President Obama's future tech agenda. That's because the book's former co-author is none other than newly appointed Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra.
Ideas
Waiting on VA -- No Longer, CIO Named
The job for the chief information officer at the Veterans Affairs Department still hasn't been filled. We had heard VA was supposed to announce it on March 26. But it didn't happen. Roger Baker, former Commerce Department CIO in the Clinton administration, is <a href="http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/02/baker_obamas_choice_for_va_cio.php">rumored</a> to be the front runner -- and has been for nearly two months.
Ideas
A Conficker Worm Diagnosis
Federal agencies worried that they might be infected with the dreaded computer worm "Conficker," which has infected more than 10 million computers worldwide, now have a tool to find out.
Ideas
It's the Drawing Board for Real ID
At a event on Friday, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano had no kind words to say about Real ID, which was passed by a Republican-controlled Congress in 2005 to require states to issue new high-tech driver's licenses that incorporate a range of security features. Speaking to reporters following a press event this afternoon, Napolitano described the legislation as "enormously expensive," "containing a lot of uncertainly," and lacking adequate "constitutional governance."
Ideas
Alliant awards due tomorrow
GSA sent out an update today to inform us that the $50 billion Alliant GWAC will be awarded on Friday, with the initial announcement coming on <a href="http://www.fedbizopps.gov/">FedBizOps</a>. Immediately after the award is posted, we should be bringing you the names of the companies who have been selected to receive awards.
Ideas
Online Town Hall the First Step
For those of you who missed <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090325_2084.php">this</a>, President Obama held his first online town hall meeting today and it was broadcast live on whitehouse.gov. According to the <a href=http://www.whitehouse.gov/openforquestions/>White House</a>, almost 93,000 people submitted more than 104,000 questions, which the public voted on.
Ideas
DeSeve's Tech Savvy a Plus
As Government Executive Staff Correspondent Robert Brodsky points out in an <a href="http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=42344&dcn=todaysnews">article</a> on the appointment of Edward DeSeve to implement the recently enacted economic stimulus package, DeSeve's technology experience will come in handy.
Ideas
Alliant Awards Coming March 30
A General Services Administration spokesman just told Nextgov that the agency is expecting to make the Alliant awards on March 30 and issue a press release the same day.
Ideas
Times Tickin' for Transparency Directive
This week marks the halfway point to a self-imposed deadline for the Obama administration to issue a directive outlining what agencies will need to do to make government more transparent, participatory and collaborative.
Ideas
DeSeve Named to Recovery Act Post
Edward DeSeve, the deputy director for the Office of Management and Budget for about two years in the Clinton administration, has been named special adviser to the president, assistant to the vice president and special adviser to the OMB director for implementation of the Recovery Act. According to the press release sent out Monday evening:
Ideas
Guthrie Named ODNI CIO
In case you missed <a href="http://twitter.com/Nextgov/status/1362927917">this</a> on Friday afternoon, President Obama nominated <strong>Priscilla Guthrie</strong> to be chief information officer at the Office of Director of National Intelligence. Guthrie, currently director of the Information Technology and Systems Division at the nonprofit Institute for Defense Analyses, was previously deputy assistant secretary of Defense and deputy CIO in the Defense Department from 2001 to 2006.
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In Search of IT Workers
Agencies routinely say it needs information technology specialists, and with initiatives to follow stimulus spending and to make government more transparent, the need for technologists will only increase. Earl Devaney, Obama's stimulus watchdog, <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090319_7366.php">lamented</a> on Thursday while testifying on the Hill about the IT challenges he faces.
Ideas
Avoiding a Space Arms Race
Bob Brewin reported on a House Armed Services Committee hearing held on Wednesday during which a consultant with the Council on Foreign Relations said the United States should pursue anti-satellite weapons that could disable foreign-operated satellites.
Ideas
Obama Likes UNC as Hoops Champ
President Obama posted his <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/18/March-Madness-At-the-White-House/">NCAA bracket</a> on whitehouse.gov.
Ideas