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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.
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Get a Life!: Taking time off
This is one of those rare weeks when Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas occur during the same period of time. Federal workers get a 4-day weekend this year and maybe even a few hours more as offices often permit early departures the day before Christmas.
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Transition Watch: Blair tapped for top Obama intell role
Retired Navy Adm. Dennis Blair will be the next director of national intelligence.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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FedTracker: Kerry likes Obama's SBA choice
President-elect Barack Obama has chosen a seasoned venture capitalist to head the Small Business Administration. Obama's announcement earlier today drew cheers from Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship committee.
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Researchers get supercomputer time from DOE
The program gives scientists access to powerful supercomputers to speed research.
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OMB: Agencies will reduce security clearance delays
Plans advance to automate clearance process, start policy reforms, increase accountability and expand reciprocity.
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Letter: Suggestions for OPM
A reader has suggestions for the Office of Personnel Management to streamline the job application process.
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FCW Insider: Nancy Ferris retires
Government Health IT senior editor Nancy Ferris is winding up a 30-year career, retiring at the end of the month. Those of you read Government Health IT, a sister publication to FCW in 1105 Government Information Group, may have some idea what a loss this is.
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Klossner: The CTO tryout
FCW cartoonist John Klossner ponders what skill level upper management technology positions should require.
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Transition Watch: Obama picks old hands for Interior. Agriculture top posts
President-elect Obama will nominate Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) to be his Interior secretary, while Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has the nod to become secretary of Agriculture.
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FedTracker: Obama picks Chicago neighbor to head Education
President-elect Barack Obama has picked Arne Duncan, superintendent of Chicago's public school system, to be Secretary of Education and to spearhead the new administration’s attempts at education reform.
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Letter: Obama's accessibility refreshing
A reader writes to express approval for President-elect Barack Obama's radio address posted to YouTube.
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The Lectern: Contracting in a time of mega-deficits and economic downturn
Government contracting has a number of chronic challenges that need addressing but that can't be fixed overnight. Meanwhile, there is a chance for our contracting workforce, and the incoming administration, to score some quick contracting wins that are related to the current economic and budget situation.
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