Acquisition
McCain blasts Air Force acquisition of GPS
Arizona Republican John McCain blasted an Air Force program to acquire a next generation operating control system that is central to the service’s GPS modernization plans.
People
Big changes coming to VA OI&T
Some 100 days into her tenure, Department of Veterans Affairs CIO LaVerne Council is reshaping one of the government's biggest civilian side IT shops.
Modernization
GSA issues RFP for EIS telecom contract
The wait is over: After years of preparation, the government's $50 billion telecom RFP has hit the street.
Cybersecurity
Fed employee, service member IDs hacked, given to ISIS
The U.S. is blaming a shadowy foreign hacker for sharing stolen data on more than 1,000 feds and U.S. service members with Islamic State militants.
Emerging Tech
Venture Capital Giant Marc Andreessen Joins Board of Government Transparency Startup
The Silicon Valley startup just raised $25 million, and could pursue the federal market in a year or two, says CEO Zac Bookman.
Acquisition
GSA puts its art collection online, Category management goes big and more
News and notes from around the federal IT community.
Modernization
Video: This App Uses Kids' Obsession with Phones to Teach Coding
This program uses a much more colorful coding language than Ruby or Python.
Cybersecurity
DOD to Create Database of OPM Breach Victims
The Pentagon's Defense Manpower Data Center plans to store the information in a “holding file."
Cybersecurity
OPM: ‘There’s No Way’ to Isolate Background Check Systems from the Internet
"Air-gapped" computers are used by defense organizations, nuclear power plants and other environments that require the tightest security.
Cybersecurity
White House Seeks Cyber Policy Guru
Duties include creating policy recommendations and reviewing governmentwide cybersecurity workforce policies, procedures and programs to close any existing gaps,
Cybersecurity
How FITARA helps federal CIOs straddle IT and finance roles
Being an effective CIO means mastering multiple disciplines. Four CIOs new to their posts explain the demands of the role, and how new rules strengthen the CIO's hand in federal organizations.
Emerging Tech
Amid High Demand, Peace Corps Turns to Cloud
Using a cloud-based solution to also help fill volunteer openings across 140 countries is part of changes the agency made to personalize its recruitment efforts.
Cybersecurity
OPM security chief: You're gonna need a bigger boat
There's a playbook for what to do when a big data breach hits, says an OPM official who learned it all the hard way.
Digital Government
The Military Is Creating Vampire Drones That Die in the Sun
Like meeting the one true death, the Pentagon wants a drone that dissolves by morning light—or in 4 hours, whichever comes first.
Cybersecurity
5 books for your reading list
There are important lessons for federal IT managers in recent fiction and nonfiction books alike.
Modernization
Peace Corps breaks records, moves hiring tech to the cloud
As applications spike, the team behind the agency's volunteer onboarding technology is forging ahead into hybrid cloud and social engagement.
Digital Government
18F Takes on 'Micropurchasing' Experiment
The team is building an online system that could help federal agencies make "micropurchases" for software code.
Cybersecurity
FBI: Your New Chip Cards Aren’t a Cure-All for Fraud
The agency warns consumers who use them: Stay vigilant.
Digital Government