Modernization
Security upgrades highlight DISA buying surge
The Defense Information Systems Agency plans to bolster security features embedded in its far-flung networks and data centers via several acquisition projects planned for the twilight of fiscal 2009.
Digital Government
General Eyeing Top Doc Job?
I'm picking up medium strength signals that retired <a href=http://www.health.mil/bioDetail.aspx?ID=4>Army Gen. Elder Granger</a>, who served as program executive officer for the TRICARE management activity in the Military Health System, would really like to become the next assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, replacing Dr. S. Ward Casscells, who <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090430_7776.php>retired this April</a>.
People
Insourcing fad misses the point (and misleads agencies)
Agencies that rush to bring contractor work back into the fold could be making a big mistake, according to several readers.
Ideas
Another Cyber Guru Leaves
The same week that the acting White House cyber chief stepped down, the Homeland Security Department has lost one of their cybersecurity officials. <em>The Washington Post</em> <a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/07/AR2009080702805.html>reported</a> that Mischel Kwon submitted her resignation after five years as the director of DHS' U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, or US-CERT, which was established in 2003 to coordinate the government's response to cyberattacks.
People
Michael Robertson becomes GSA's chief acquisition officer
Michael Robertson, who has worked closely with President Barack Obama since his 2004 Senate campaign, has become chief acquisition officer at GSA.
People
States urged to start now on health exchanges
The State Alliance for e-Health released guidance for helping state governments plan for health information exchanges.
Modernization
Customs agency ponders acquisition storefront
Officials want to use a “storefront” e-procurement Web site to streamline the purchase of preapproved products and track orders.
Digital Government
Training IT Workers On the Cheap
<a href="http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/340583/6_ways_to_train_your_employees_on_the_cheap?taxonomyId=10&pageNumber=1">Computerworld</a> has the goods on how organizations can offer their information technology workers valuable training, even when budgets are tight. While the article is aimed at the private sector, I think there's some valuable advice for training federal IT workers as well.
Digital Government
Point-Counterpoint
Examiner.com is running a <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-3040-Life-in-the-Cubicle-Examiner~y2009m8d6-PointCounterpoint-preview-James-Hamilton-vs-Dudley-B-Dawson">series of debates</a> about generational issues in the workplace. Over the next four weeks, James Hamilton and Dudley B. Dawson, both workplace reporters, will go head-to-head on issues such as Generation Y's impact on the workplace, employee loyalty, flexible work schedules and pay. The readers decide the winner of each topic. I plan to give my two cents, and I'm anxious to see which writer comes out on top.
Modernization
DISA asks industry for help with new priorities
DISA wants to deliver on-demand, enterprisewide technology services across the Defense Department.
Cybersecurity
US-CERT director resigns
Mischel Kwon, director of the Homeland Security Department's operational cybersecurity team that handles cyber incident detection, warning and response activities for civilian agencies’ networks, has resigned. She will join RSA in early September.
People
Rising Star Robert Lech
Lech developed a grant-reporting system to help the Housing and Urban Development Department meet the requirements of the recovery act.
People
Rising Star Zhenia Klevitsky
Klevistsky contributed her time and expertise to numerous organizations in the federal IT community, including ACT-IAC, AFCEA and the Association of Proposal Management Professionals.
Cybersecurity
Rising Star Richard J. Renomeron
Renomeron led a team of engineers that provides the Office of Management Budget with an array of systems for developing budgets, including the much-lauded Max Federal Community wiki.
People
Rising Star Harold Schliesske
Schliesske stepped into a variety of roles to support the deployment and management of biometric systems in Iraq and other tactical environments. He updated systems at 10 installations in Iraq, and the reduced demand for staff and equipment is expected to save $700,000 a year.
Cybersecurity
Rising Star Beth Sherry Maloney
Maloney served as social-media evangelist and educator, both within Palladian and in the federal IT community at large. She also managed the transition of the Treasury Department’s HSPD-12 initiative to the General Services Administration’s USAccess shared-services program.
People
Rising Star Louis Carrion
Carrion fielded the Army’s Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care program to all 13 Air Force facilities throughout the war zone in Iraq. He coordinated the network installation command infrastructure, trained providers on MC4 best practices and cleared any hurdles to deployment.
Modernization
Rising Star John Collier
Collier designed and developed an advanced multi-intelligence analyst system. He came up with a design that could fit on a couple of laptops or be scaled to a system that involves hundreds of systems.
Modernization