Digital Government

Canadian firm to become bigger player in U.S. federal IT market

Purchase of U.S.-based defense and intelligence technology provider will position the Montreal company to do more business in the Beltway.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity bill would penalize agencies for noncompliance

The Executive Cyberspace Authorities Act would require a review of cyber threats and proof of adherence to FISMA when submitting annual budgets.

Digital Government

Air Force finds cheaper way to air-deliver supplies to troops

Alaska-based squadron successfully tests system that uses a supercomputer to crunch weather data to determine exact moment to drop equipment and food to crew members to the ground.

Digital Government

Telework—blessing or curse?

The move to implement telework in the federal workplace suffered a setback on May 6 when the House rejected the Telework Improvements Act.

Digital Government

Data.gov shows how not to do open government

Speakers at the Open Government and Innovations conference say too much of the data on Data.gov isn't usable by everyday people or even developers. That needs to change if agencies are to deliver on the Open Government Initiative.

Digital Government

Chiefs Want to be iPad, Kindle Friendly

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stands out as a social media pioneer in the Defense Department, having <a href=http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/07/jcs_chair_on_facebook_with_lot.php>launched</a> his own Facebook page in July 2009 and is a regular Tweeter.

Ideas

Broadband Legal Battles Loom

A legal battle looms on the horizon after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski released plans today on how the agency would fight to restore regulatory powers over the Internet.

Ideas

Apps Speed NY Subway Commute

While Washingtonians are just grateful when Metro subway cars move, some New Yorkers want mobile apps that will point them to the most convenient seats in New York City Transit cars.

Ideas

Virtual Worlds on the Rise

In her blog on Thursday, Paulette Robinson, the assistant dean for teaching, learning and technology at the National Defense University, <a href=http://science.dodlive.mil/2010/05/06/virtual-worlds-in-government%E2%80%A6-oh-my/#more-2056>posted an item</a> on Thursday about her effort to create a group in the federal government to talk about the use of virtual worlds in the federal government. It started out slow she said, but now the Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds has 1,600 members - and a <a href=http://www.ndu.edu/irmc/fcvw/fcvw10/index.html>conference</a> starting May 13.

People

Living with stovepipes

Effective executives learn to reap the benefits of stovepiped organizations while still enabling collaboration, writes blogger Steve Kelman.

People

Acquisition 2.0 can breathe new life into battered workforce

More online engagement with the private sector could help federal acquisition workers develop better solicitations in less time, according to one reader.

Digital Government

Cyber Workers Need Training

A new report by Cisco and (ISC)2 highlights the importance of training and obtaining professional certifications to current and future federal information security workers, particularly as chief information security officers increasingly move into more managerial and policy-focused roles.

Modernization

Eye in the sky: NOAA satellite program aids oil spill response

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's satellite organization has a test imagery program that's getting some real use in fighting the oil spill in the Gulf.

People

Acquisition hiring can be a hit-or-miss proposition

Without a standard checklist to refer to when hiring for your agency's acquisition workforce, blogger John Klossner writes that the ability to decipher nonverbal clues may be the next best thing.

Digital Government

Open source is NASA's next frontier

NASA's new CTO proposes a brave new universe for the space agency -- one in which officials will have to conquer their fears of open-source projects.

Digital Government

HHS' Easy Decision Database

Sorting through health insurance options is no picnic. Too many choices, not enough easy-to-find information.

People

Telework improvements bill falls short in House vote

The House of Representatives today failed to pass the Telework Improvements Act that would direct federal agencies to name telework coordinators and to set policies to maximize use of teleworking.

Acquisition

Here's the pitch: An acquisition workforce reality show

As with all things in our culture, if we really want the world of acquisition training to be better known and understood, we need to create a reality show for it.

Acquisition

Is open source the cure for what ails VA's e-records?

An industry group convened by VA CIO Roger Baker is advising that VistA move to an open source platform and phase out MUMPS.

Digital Government

Online knowledge management tool keeps FAA inspectors on same page

Federal Aviation Administration air facility inspectors centralize their information in an online resource library.