Modernization
White House mulls making NASA a center for federal cloud computing
A network that shares images and statistics with international partners and academics also could provide IT services to agencies as part of Obama's push to consolidate the government's tech infrastructure.
Digital Government
Defense Comms: The House Giveth
The House Appropriations Committee approved a budget for the high-powered <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090220_1669.php>Wideband Global Satcom System</a> in fiscal 2010 of $626.7 million in its version of next year's <a href=http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/DoD_FY10_FC_Summary_07.22.09.pdf>appropriations bill</a>, an increase of $425 million from the president's requested budget.
Digital Government
Social Media Survey
The Call To Serve initiative -- a joint effort by the Partnership for Public Service and the Office of Personnel Management -- is planning a workshop for September that will focus on federal agencies' use of social media for recruiting. The workshop is part of an annual Effective Hiring Workshop Series for federal agency representatives. In the meantime, the Partnership and OPM are asking federal employees to fill out a survey on what areas should be covered in the workshop.
Ideas
Howell Addresses Interior Lawsuit
Today at <a href="http://www.affirm.org/">AFFIRM's</a> annual leadership awards luncheon, OMB deputy administrator for E-Government and information technology Mike Howell, formerly CIO at the Interior Department, was awarded with organization's top prize for executive leadership in federal information resources management. Following the award Howell made some brief remarks about leadership and then addressed a controversial topic.
Digital Government
Outsourcing Cyber Efforts
A <a href="http://ourpublicservice.org/OPS/publications/viewcontentdetails.php?id=135">report</a> on the state of the <a href="http://wiredworkplace.nextgov.com/2009/07/cyber_insecurity.php">federal cybersecurity workforce</a> released on Wednesday by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service highlights that there are often good reasons for hiring contractors to fill immediate or short-term hiring needs in the federal government, or when budgetary constraints limit the number of full-time employees an agency can hire. Without an adequate pipeline of talent coming in to fill federal cybersecurity positions, the report states, the response at many agencies has been to turn to contractors to perform sensitive government information technology work, vulnerability analysis, intrusion detection, digital forensics and protocol analysis.
Digital Government
Health information exchanges rise to 57
Fifty-seven community-based health information exchanges are operating, up from 42 the year before, according to a survey by the nonprofit eHealth Initiative.
People
Military health records project set to expand
A Defense Department pilot program designed for easy access to medical files could propel government and military recordkeeping into the 21st century, a CIO said.
Cybersecurity
Panel OKs bill that would increase cybersecurity oversight
A Senate committee has approved a bill that would require the president to notify Congress about existing and new cybersecurity programs that involve personally identifiable information.
Cybersecurity
DHS launches YouTube channel
The Homeland Security Department has a new YouTube channel with links to YouTube videos by FEMA, the Coast Guard and other agencies.
Modernization
The other silver linings
Government outfits like the Army recruiting service, Washington, D.C., city government, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence show that there are other valuable benefits of cloud computing, such as rolling out new applications more quickly, creating functionality that was difficult or impossible to achieve before, and building a common platform to enable better information sharing.
Modernization
Cloud comparison
This table compares the three models officials have when building their IT portfolios: A fee-based public cloud; a shared cost, government-only private cloud; or the traditional buy and manage your own.
Digital Government
Senate amendment would end questions of small-business priority
Sen. Landrieu's amendment would take away any priority one type of business may have when competing for government contracts.
Modernization
The lasting legacy of the Apollo space program
NASA and other sites offer different perspectives on the historic and contemporary importance of the Apollo program.
Acquisition
Congress, administration move into protected territory
The government is having a debate about certain small businesses that live by special rules — from ANCs to companies in historically underutilized business zones.
Modernization
IG: DHS should get new infrastructure data system
The Homeland Security Department should finish the acquisition process for a new system that will be used to keep track of critical infrastructure, DHS' inspector general said.
Digital Government