Digital Government

Are Feds Overpaid?

<em>USA Today</em> has an interesting <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-04-federal-pay_N.htm">article</a> that claims that federal employees earn higher average salaries than private-sector workers in several occupations, including information technology. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, federal workers earned an average salary of $67,691 in 2008 for occupations that exist both in government and the private sector, while average pay for the same jobs in the private sector was $60,046 in 2008, the article states.

Acquisition

Tony Costa named GSA associate administrator

Costa will find areas where GSA can compile a package of agencywide services to offer its clients.

Digital Government

Government maps path to geospatial data

Geospatial experts see game-changing shift in geospatial technology, empowering federal managers not just geospatial specialists.

People

People on the move, events in the news

The General Services Administration has picked three new regional administrators.

Digital Government

Help a govlooper

When Antonia Broadwell, wife of former U.S. Geological Survey employee David Broadwell, was diagnosed with a serious form of cancer, the GovLoop community swung into action.

Modernization

DOD brass takes jaundiced view of thumb drives

The thumb drive, the ubiquitous device that has revolutionized portable computer storage and cornered the market on conference souvenirs, can't quite shake its reputation in the Defense Department as a modern-day Typhoid Mary.

Digital Government

DOD welcomes Web 2.0 to its networks

Defense Department officials released a long-awaited set of policy directives for the use of social networking and other Internet technologies, a move that earned positive and negative reactions.

Cybersecurity

Are DHS contractors running amok?

Two heavyweights from the Senate want to know who is running the shop at the Homeland Security Department. And whoever it is, the department's inspector general would like to speak with them.

Digital Government

Generational Views on Privacy

Wired Workplace was in San Francisco on Thursday covering the RSA Conference. Given my interest in generational issues, I was particularly interested in a session titled "Security and the Generation Gap," conducted by Bruce Schneier, a technologist and leading author on security issues. I expected the session to focus on some of the research about how different generations, particularly Millennials, perceive information security and privacy. Instead, the session focused on the responsibilities that all generations currently hold to protect privacy and ensure individuals, not technological systems, have control.

Cybersecurity

Uncle Cyber Sam wants you

The cyber spooks and watchdogs in the Obama administration are coming out of the shadows, making a full-court press to engage industry and the public in their crusade against cyber war.

Digital Government

Navy picks pair for shipboard network support

Contracts are for CANES program, designed to streamline and consolidated Navy information technology networks aboard its ships.

Digital Government

E-Retirement System on the Way?

Modernizing the federal government's retirement system, including moving from paper to electronic records, has long been a priority of the Office of Personnel Management. But as I <a href="http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1008/101608b2.htm?oref=rellink">reported</a> back in 2008, modernizing the system has not been without its challenges.

Digital Government

IT companies strut their stuff for feds

Kathy Ireland hosted a federal information technology fashion show on March 4.

Acquisition

Note to DOD IG: "Assisted acquisition" does mean "provide help"

DOD IG guidance moves GSA's Office of Assisted Services in the wrong direction, subtracting rather than adding value for their government customers.

Digital Government

Kaiser official defends security practices for veterans health data

Electronic data exchange safer than U.S. Mail, Kaiser official says.

Acquisition

GSA administrator Johnson to speak at FOSE

Johnson, GSA's new administrator, will speak at 11 a.m. March 25 at the Washington Convention Center.

Digital Government

More details emerge on Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative

The White House on March 2 released a summary of the 12 parts of a classified, expansive computer security initiative that was started in January 2008.

Digital Government

Geospatial apps help temper Mother Nature's fury

Government agencies find that linking sensors to other geospatial data could improve emergency management, environmental monitoring and homeland security.

Digital Government

No cyberwar? Say it ain't so, Howie!

Is there such a thing as a cyberwar? Some top officials say no, but others disagree. Who wins the war of words?

Digital Government

A mappable mashup

The National Weather Service's Ridge 2 system fuses ground-based radar and human-created weather alert data with geospatial data and makes it available to other agencies and the public.