Digital Government
Lawmaker questions White House official's use of Gmail
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., charges the reported use of Webmail by Deputy Chief Technology Officer Andrew McLaughlin could indicate an attempt to 'circumvent the laws associated with openness and transparency.'
Digital Government
Navy Seeks Vets For Cyber Force
The Navy is looking for a few good veterans to staff its cyber force, offering openings at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Norfolk, Va.
Ideas
Facebook Fracas
Facebook, the popular social networking site, is facing concerns from users over proposed revisions to its privacy policy. The changes, which would allow third-party access to user information, is receiving a chilly reception among members, according to <a href=http://www.inc.com/news/articles/2010/04/facebook-users-protest-proposed-privacy-changes.html>Inc.</>
Digital Government
Working Where and When You Want
My former beat partner Alyssa Rosenberg <a href="http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=44987&oref=todaysnews">writes</a> at <em>Government Executive</em> that the Office of Personnel Management is launching a pilot project to test a new workplace flexibility program. The pilot, based on the results-only work environment, or ROWE, model created by Jody Thompson and Cali Ressler, will give 400 employees the freedom to decide where and when they work, as long as they meet high performance standards.
Digital Government
Another high-level administration officials takes to the blog
National archivist David Ferriero gets credit for starting his own blog, but he ought to loosen up a little, writes blogger Brian Robinson.
Digital Government
VA health IT study comes with caveat, researcher says
A researcher of a recent study said the Veterans Affairs Department may have saved billions of dollars from using health IT, but the actual savings are not known.
Digital Government
The 2010 Rising Star Awards: A call for nominations
The 1105 Government Information Group is now accepting nominations for the 2010 Rising Star awards program. This annual program honors up-and-coming government and industry employees who are making a mark in the federal IT community. The deadline is May 17.
People
VA highlights IT innovation, crowdsourcing in open government plan
Among other initiatives, the VA plans to set up ongoing competition to come up with new ideas for improving the agency's services and operations.
Digital Government
Are You an IT Ninja?
We've all heard about the importance of using buzzwords to punch up résumés. But there's a new buzzword entering the mix, particularly for information technology workers: "ninja." <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303410404575151843265692682.html?mod=e2tw">reports</a> that the term, which is becoming a popular buzzword on IT résumés, is meant to imply that the applicant can take on any challenge that's thrown at them. Social networking Web site LinkedIn reported that the growth of "ninja" as a new buzzword far outpaced the growth of other trendy titles in 2009.
Digital Government
IT Procurement, Happily Ever After
If Aesop were writing today, he might spin a cautionary tale about the selection of electronic health records. The moral? A proprietary system that looks like a golden goose may turn out to be a costly pile of sour grapes. Or something like that.
Cybersecurity
Navy's World Class Cyber Command
When it comes to cybersecurity, the U.S. Navy is way ahead of its time, says Alan Paller, director of research for the SANS Institute, where I work as managing editor.
Acquisition
SBA now will give grades, not colors
SBA has revised its annual Small Business Procurement Scorecard format to help clarify grades.
People
New lifeline for the poor and underprivileged arrives via mobile health
Because of White House involvement, Text4baby is probably the most high-profile example of mobile health. Its success is likely to give more attention to a health information technology approach that has been in development for at least three years and is on the cusp of expanded federal regulation.
Modernization
Need precedes the deed of moving to the cloud
NOAA's use of cloud computing for the National Weather Service's Web site could be a model for other agencies.
Acquisition
Clarity is key to avoiding icy government-industry relationship
Daniel Gordon, administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, is trying to clarify the guidelines for government contractors. For industry executives, getting his attention is as important as hearing what he has to say.
People
What's on Sonya Thompson's bookshelf?
The deputy assistant director/chief information officer of the Federal Bureau of Prisons shares her current favorites.
Modernization