Ideas
DARPA's Mad Science?
Wired had a field day decrying Darpa's proposed project, BioDesign, as a "mad science" project to "re-write the laws of evolution to the military's advantage, creating 'synthetic organisms' that can live forever -- or can be killed with the flick of a molecular switch." If that sounded just a little alarming, the fine print of Darpa's FY2011 budget didn't help placate enraged readers.
Digital Government
The C-level goes green
The General Services Administration is looking for a c-level executive to oversee the development and execution of “greening strategies” for public buildings.
Digital Government
Recruiting Vets for Info Security Jobs
Commission and now the new director of government affairs for (ISC)2, said he has been working with (ISC)2, the Government Advisory Board and the Information Systems Security Association for more than two years on an initiative that aims to bring more veterans into federal information security jobs. "They [veterans] are particularly adept, already trained and have security clearances," he said. "That would be a golden opportunity to take advantage of."
Modernization
Snowfuggedaboudit: Practical experience reveals telework isn't as easy as it sounds
Althogh this winter's record-breaking mid-Atlantic snowfall provided the perfect opportunity for telework to prove itself, some who tried it found that it's easier said than done.
Cybersecurity
Cyberattack simulation highlights vulnerabilities
A simulation exercise today showed the legal and technical problems a cyberattack could cause.
People
10 suggestions for improving the USA.gov feedback process
Blogger John Klossner writes that nothing productive will come of the online suggestion process until we return to a world without anonymity, and offers 10 ideas to make the process more productive, as well as more entertaining.
Digital Government
Committee considers changes to meaningful use definition of EHRs
A health IT policy committee is meeting tomorrow to discuss modifications to the recent proposed regulations for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records.
Acquisition
Contract management: Glass half empty or half full?
Where GAO finds problems with DOD contract management, blogger Steve Kelman finds reason for hope.
Acquisition
Senator: Military in Afghanistan has improved its contract oversight
The military has improved slightly regarding audits and contracting oversight in Afghanistan, a senator says.
Digital Government
OPM to Review 3Rs Bonuses
The Office of Personnel Management has launched an effort to enhance the oversight of recruitment, relocation and retention (3R) bonuses, largely due to concerns about the continued growth of such payments given recent labor market conditions.
Digital Government
Departments award nearly $1B in grants for health IT
Federal departments have awarded $386 million for state health information exchanges, $375 million for health IT regional extension centers and $225 million for health IT training.
Digital Government
Study gauges interest in cloud computing, green IT
The survey found that one in three government IT professionals expect to implement a social networking initiative in the next 12 months, independent of any stimulus funds their agency may receive.
People
Navy plans social network for off-duty hours
The Navy plans to develop an internal social network that will track what service members want to do during their off-duty hours.
Digital Government
DOD policy targets weak link in information security
The Defense Department has issued a new policy to protect military information that travels between unclassified networks administered by contractors and the government, reports Federal News Radio.
Digital Government