People
Agencies can conduct background checks on contract employees, court rules
The Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that the federal government is authorized to perform background checks of people who work under government contracts.
Digital Government
NASA names new deputy chief technologist
NASA Chief Technologist Bobby Braun has announced the appointment of Michael J. Gazarik as the agency's deputy chief technologist.
People
NASA picks deputy CIO for IT security
Valerie Burkes, former Associate CIO for Cyber and Privacy Policy and Oversight at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was named by NASA CIO Linda Cureton as Deputy CIO for IT Security at NASA.
Digital Government
NASA chief technologist gets AIAA's von Karman Award
Bobby Braun has won the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics von Kármán award given annually to people who have distinguished themselves technically in the field of astronautics.
Digital Government
NASA chooses Keegan as associate deputy administrator
NASA named Richard Keegan as the agency's associate deputy administrator on Dec. 16. He replaces Charles Scales, who has held the position since April 2007. Scales is retiring.
Digital Government
Astronaut Alan Poindexter leaves NASA
Veteran NASA astronaut Alan Poindexter has left the agency to return to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.
People
WikiLeaks spurs NASA to emphasize information protection
NASA issued an internal memo to employees on Friday reminding them about the safe handling of confidential information in response to the WikiLeaks "cablegate" scandal.
People
NASA moves too slow on projects, GAO says
The slow pace of innovation and acquisition at NASA is unsustainable and hinders the agency's mission, according to a Government Accountability Office report issued earlier this week.
People
Feds at work ... in bunny suits
The bunny-suited techs work 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. PDT, Monday through Friday, so you're sure to catch them at work as they add robotic arms, a geology lab, a rock-vaporizing laser and lots of cameras.
People
NASA opens photo-sharing site
NASA is inviting the public to add information and other comments on its historic photo collection on Flickr Commons.
Modernization
NASA makes 3G iPhone available to employees
NASA has added 3G iPhones to its Outsourcing Desktop Initiative list that makes the devices available to employees.
Digital Government
Bolden comments on employees, contractors at NASA IT Summit
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden spoke at the first-ever NASA IT Summit at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
Modernization
Can the Apple iPad get any workplace respect?
Apple's iPad tablet computer is attracting some interested glances from government
Digital Government
NASA's Davis goes to VA
Jerry Davis, chief information security officer at NASA, is leaving to join the Veterans Affairs Department.
Digital Government
NASA could get funds for solar-storm warning system
Congress is considering legislation that would provide funding for NASA to better predict solar storms, which can interfere with electronic communications on Earth.
People
Teachable moments from NASA's social media project
NASA debuted its "Spacebook" internal social media system to allow more collaboration a year ago; now it is yielding lessons about how to use Web 2.0 technologies.
Digital Government
OpenGov Tracker puts the best open-government ideas in one place
Two NASA developers, working on their own time and with no budget, built a site that lets the public submit, rank and comment on ideas on how agencies can best fulfill the goals of the Open Government Directive.
Modernization
How have NASA's Mars robots lasted 24 times longer than expected (so far)?
NASA's two Mars Rover vehicles were designed to last only 90 days but, six years later, they're still operating.
Cybersecurity
Obama rockets to space with new policy
The Obama administration released a new policy for space exploration that calls for maintaining and enhancing space-based positioning, navigation, and timing systems, as well as protecting access to the radio-frequency spectrum.
Digital Government