Digital Government
Student Vets Launch GI Bill Survey
The <a href="http://www.studentveterans.org/">Student Veterans of America</a> has launched an <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=oDtSpL46ocpUF_2bgEZy_2f37g_3d_3d">online survey</a> to help it determine whether veterans have received benefits under the <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090820_1761.php">new GI Bill</a> on time.
Digital Government
The Three Star Navy Cyber Command
I hear that the Chief of Naval Operations will sign off on creation of a new Fleet Cyber Command by the end of this month, and it will have a three star boss. The Air Force and Army cyberwar outfits only have two star commanders.
Digital Government
RFID tags eyed to track Washington-area patients in case of disaster
System would serve one private, two federal hospitals.
Digital Government
Ask The Chairman - On YouTube
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, <a href="http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/07/jcs_chair_on_facebook_with_lot.php">a well known Twitter and Facebook fan,</a> has now added YouTube to his social media arsenal. He's invited troops to join him for a YouTube-driven virtual town hall between now and the end of the month.
Digital Government
Brit Praises DoD Guidance Forum
Roy Wulff, Chief Information Officer for the British Defence staff at the British Embassy in Washington gave the Pentagon a "well done" for its use of a <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090810_5115.php>blog</a> to develop policy within the U.S. Defense Department.
Digital Government
VA prepares for flood of education claims under new GI bill
Agency has hired more examiners to handle the influx of requests anticipated during the next two months as tuition rates are set.
Digital Government
Juicy Reports on VA IT Shop Coming
The Veterans Affairs Department's inspector general has completed two reports (<a href="http://www.va.gov/oig/publications/reports-list.asp">listed here</a>) whose titles are ripe for tabloid headlines: "Administrative Investigation Misuse of Position, Abuse of Authority, and Prohibited Personnel Practices Office of Information & Technology Washington, D.C." and "Administrative Investigation Nepotism, Abuse of Authority, Misuse of Position, Improper Hiring, and Improperly Administered Awards, OI&T, Washington, D.C."
Digital Government
Obama and the 9/11 GI Bill
Yesterday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Phoenix, Ariz., President Obama <a href=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-the-veterans-of-foreign-wars-convention/>called</a> for a new reform effort in the Veterans Affairs Department. He said VA should harness the best computer system to cut red tape, reduce the backlog of claims, slash wait times and deliver benefits sooner.
Digital Government
Consultant Eyes Arkansas House Seat
Bernie Skoch, an executive vice president with <a href=http://www.sussconsulting.com/>Suss Consulting Inc.</a>, wants you to know that he has launched his <a href=http://skoch2010.com/>campaign</a> for the 3rd District seat in the U.S. House. The Northwest Arkansas district, which includes Fayetteville and Bentonville, home of Wal-Mart, is currently held by Republican John Boozman, who serves on the Veterans Affairs and Foreign Affairs committees.
Digital Government
Ukuleles!
This one is pure fun. Thanks to Al Gore and the miracle of the Internet, I can listen to radio stations around the world from my home base in The Original Las Vegas, N.M., including BBC Radio 3, which is in the midst of its "Proms" season -- probably the best live classical music festival in the world.
Digital Government
Wait, Only 57,000 Vet Claims Pending
In response to <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090813_9181.php?oref=topstory>my story</a> on Thursday that the Veterans Affairs Department has a <a href=http://www.vba.va.gov/REPORTS/mmwr/2009/081009.xls>backlog of 191,338</a> unprocessed educational benefits claims, VA sent along some background information in an attempt to clarify the situation.
Digital Government
E-health committee calls for multiple groups to certify records systems
Decision would remove conflict of interest that critics charge is endemic in the certification process.
Digital Government
The Final Four for VHA Job
I have some pretty good intel that the Veterans Affairs Department has narrowed its search for new undersecretary of health and head of the Veterans Health Administration to these four candidates:
Digital Government
VA likely to miss deadline to process education benefits claims
Backlog of 200,000 claims await processors, but some universities and colleges will allow veterans who have unpaid tuition and housing bills to remain in school.
Digital Government
Defense Preps New Web Portal
The Defense Department plans to launch a new Web portal, <a href=http://www.defense.gov>Defense.gov</a> on Aug. 17, which will serve as "the table of contents for DoD," Tom Dorsz, deputy director for the public Web at the Pentagon, told me.
Digital Government
Butler Tapped for Cyber/Space Policy Slot
The Defense Department appointed Robert Butler, who previously ran Computer Science Corp's military intelligence biz in San Antonio, Texas, as the new deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber and space policy.
Digital Government
General Eyeing Top Doc Job?
I'm picking up medium strength signals that retired <a href=http://www.health.mil/bioDetail.aspx?ID=4>Army Gen. Elder Granger</a>, who served as program executive officer for the TRICARE management activity in the Military Health System, would really like to become the next assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, replacing Dr. S. Ward Casscells, who <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090430_7776.php>retired this April</a>.
Digital Government
Defense asks the public for help forming social media policy
Pentagon launches a first-of-its-kind blog to ask individuals their opinions about what stipulations the military should put on sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Digital Government
Marines and Social Nets: We Goofed
Despite more than 1,000 news reports to the contrary, the Marine Corps <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090807_7858.php?oref=topnews>did NOT ban</a> access to social network sites this week.
Digital Government