Digital Government

Army morale chief to use Web tools to connect with soldiers, their families

Social media increasingly influences how federal employees network, panelists say.

Digital Government

Transparency advocate: Fed Web sites have moral obligation

Vital links can feed discussion, debate and politics, Internet expert tells government and industry leaders.

Digital Government

Army tests weapons systems geared to the 20-something video gamer

The service salvages high-tech gizmos from its canceled $160 billion Future Combat Systems program to field systems to seven infantry teams by 2014.

Cybersecurity

Congress must do more to protect grid from cyber, nuclear attacks

DHS has shown "neither an understanding nor a willingness to consider the problem of electromagnetic threats," specialist tells a House panel.

Digital Government

Upcoming FCW Feature

Update on topic and writer for upcoming FCW feature.

Digital Government

Upcoming FCW Feature

Update on topic and writer for upcoming FCW feature.

Ideas

Nixon Tape Transcripts 'Interpretations'

It likely is impossible to produce a perfect transcript of the infamous Nixon tapes because audio fidelity was not taken into consideration in designing the White House tape-recording system, reports Steven Aftergood, author of an e-newsletter and blog on government secrecy published by the nonprofit Federation of American Scientists.

Ideas

Recovery Board Won't Fix Ham Goof

The independent board overseeing stimulus spending will not correct information on Recovery.gov that indicates the government is paying more than a million dollars for two pounds of frozen ham, a spokesman for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board said on Monday.

Digital Government

Filling the Gaps

The Senior Executives Association has launched a survey of GS-14s and 15s or their equivalents to gauge their interest in applying for and serving in the Senior Executive Service, Senior Level and Scientific and Professional positions. The purpose of the survey stems from concerns that many talented and able federal employees do not aspire to positions in the SES, largely because it would mean a loss of locality pay and a guaranteed annual pay raise, increased hours and responsibilities and executive pay overlap with the General Schedule and other personnel systems.

Digital Government

Leadership Still Trumps Digits

I spent a couple of days last week hanging out with the Army Evaluation Task Force at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. They're testing all kinds of exotic systems and networks key to the Army's future modernization projects, and I wondered if troops in the future will be into battle at the click of a mouse.

People

DOD is top source of 2009 Rising Star award winners

The Defense Department seems to have a knack for either attracting or nurturing rising stars in the field of information technology.

Acquisition

Vets could get edge on no-bid contracts at VA

A new bill would require the Veterans Affairs Department to give priority to veteran-owned small businesses when outsourcing work with no competition.

Cybersecurity

DHS another step closer to departmentwide debarments

DHS on July 16 published a new interim rule on suspensions and debarments for nonprocurement-related entities.

Ideas

Show Me The Plan!

I don't know if Roger Baker is a "<a href="http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/07/rock_star_cios.php">rock star</a>" CIO, but I do think Mr. Baker is an extremely competent one who seems intent, along with his boss, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, on creating a new standard for IT governance, risk management and project accountability in the federal government.