Digital Government
What's a chief transition officer?
Microsoft Federal has named a new kind of CTO. Carolyn Brubaker, chief transition officer, tells Nextgov how the company is preparing for the Obama administration and what it's hearing about how the incoming team might use technology to transform government.
Digital Government
Series of firms win Defense contracts to provide new RFID technology
Procurement will bring competition to an area long dominated by Lockheed Martin subsidiary.
Digital Government
Controversy mounts over Obama transition team member's ties to Hindu group
New evidence shows Shah's involvement in VHP of America was greater than acknowledged
Ideas
One Rosy IT Spending Outlook
If you want to feel better about the prospects for information technology spending, CompassIntelligence.com is the place you want to go. <a href="http://www.govtech.com/gt/articles/572700">They say federal IT spending</a> will hit nearly $100 billion by 2012. They also report that federal IT spending in 2008 increased 5.3 percent and they forecast 2009 spending will jump 5.5 percent again.
Digital Government
FCW Insider: Fed 100 deadline extended
Good news for those of you struggling to complete Federal 100 nominations by the original Dec. 23 deadline: You have some more time.
People
Letter: EMP threat scarier than "Saw V"
A reader writes that the potential damage from an electromagnetic pulse attack is particularly alarming because EMP attacks appear to be easy to stage.
People
Transition Watch: Human resources officers face familiar, new challenges
In addition to recruiting and retaining talented employees, agency chief human capital officers must integrate and manage a blended workforce and bolster federal leadership.
Modernization
Public safety group urges $15B broadband investment
The Public Safety Spectrum Trust wants the Obama administration to fund a nationwide broadband network that commercial users and first responders would share.
People
Transition Watch: Real ID, ready or not
The Obama administration will inherit a real mess in the 3-year-old effort to mandate state adoption of digital identification card standards.
People
Towns picks oversight committee staff members
Rep. Edolphus Towns has named Ronald Stroman to be staff director and Michael McCarthy to be deputy staff director for the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
People
SSA to use health network to evaluate disability claims
The Social Security Administration will trim the decision-making process by days or weeks for 2.6 million disability applicants annually.
People
FedTracker: Obama taps retired admiral for top intell spot
President-elect Obama has nominated retired Navy Adm. Dennis Blair has been nominated to be the next director of national intelligence. The choice affirms Obama's stated preference for a strong military manager in the DNI post.
Cybersecurity
DHS Privacy Office: Fusion centers endanger privacy
Unclear chains of authority, excessive secrecy, military and private-sector involvement, and the use of personally identifiable information raise concerns.
People
Also in the News: Bush e-mail, record transfers may stretch into 2009
The data transfer has been imperiled by a combination of technical glitches, lawsuits, and lagging computer forensic work.
Digital Government
OMB: Standards will boost financial performance
As part of the Financial Management Line of Business, new accounting standards strive to help consolidate and improve agencies' various accounting practices.
Cybersecurity
IG: FEMA acquisition workforce still not prepared
DHS' inspector general said in an audit of FEMA's acquisition workforce that the agency is not adequately prepared to effectively respond to a disaster.
Digital Government
Letter roundup
A roundup of letters regarding security clearance delays, postal bonuses and 3-D displays.
People
Transition Watch: Blair tapped for top Obama intell role
Retired Navy Adm. Dennis Blair will be the next director of national intelligence.
People