People
NORAD follows Santa's trip with new apps
For the 55th year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command continues its tradition of tracking Santa Claus as he makes his way through the world delivering gifts. This year NORAD taps Twitter, Facebook, Google Maps and mobile technology as its little helpers.
Cybersecurity
Analysis: Cybersecurity's Double-Edged Sword
IT managers should arm networks to not only fight off attacks, but also to stop them in advance.
Digital Government
Defense tool linking disaster relief community set to relaunch by end of year
All Partners Access Network will improve chat functions and registration, as well as add e-mail.
Modernization
President's Council seeks to accelerate government network advances
The PCAST report highlights areas of national priorities in IT R&D, such as health, education, transportation and energy, and the research frontiers the nation should tackle next.
Digital Government
VA aims to eliminate claims backlog by 2015
Department currently faces a pile-up of 274,142 cases.
Digital Government
White House issues policy on political interference with federal scientists
Under the new rules, applicants for scientific jobs must be evaluated based on technical knowledge.
Digital Government
Senate passes bill to improve agency performance
The Senate has passed legislation that would require federal agencies to set measurable performance goals and improve coordination to avoid duplication.
Digital Government
Implementing the cloud-first policy? Start with e-mail.
Agency managers charged with moving applications to the cloud over the next 18 months should start with web-enabled applications such as e-mail to meet the Obama Administration’s “cloud first” mandates, government and industry observers say.
Digital Government
NASA chooses Keegan as associate deputy administrator
NASA named Richard Keegan as the agency's associate deputy administrator on Dec. 16. He replaces Charles Scales, who has held the position since April 2007. Scales is retiring.
Digital Government
Yes, it’s called the Office of Work/Life/Wellness
The Government Accountability Office on Dec. 16 released a study on the effectiveness of OPM’s Office of Work/Life/Wellness.
People
Spending bill withdrawn
Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev) abandons omnibus budget bill, which included pay freeze for civilian feds; promises to work with Republicans on short-term compromise.
Cybersecurity
Napolitano calls for cybersecurity partnership
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the government is emphasizing cybersecurity in part because it has ramifications beyond the Internet.
Acquisition
Senate has insourcing provision in spending bill
A major spending bill in the Senate would require agency officials to show their attempts to first convert jobs from contractors to federal employees before having the public and private sectors compete for the work.
Digital Government