Digital Government
AHLTA Definition Contest Update
Last month I kicked off a <a href=http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/05/the_ahlta_definition_contest.php>contest</a> for the best definition of AHLTA, the Defense Department's electronic health record system that used to stand for the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application.
Digital Government
Targeting youth, Military Health System adds social networking tools
The move is aimed at attracting more young troops who make up the agency's largest group of patients but are among the least likely to visit the site.
Digital Government
VA/SPAWAR Deal: No SEWP
The Veterans Affairs Department has an instruction in place that all information technology purchases go through the governmentwide Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (<a href="http://www.sewp.nasa.gov/">SEWP</a>), managed by NASA.
Digital Government
New GI Bill Ripoff
One of the key tasks the VA IT shop has assigned to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center is the <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20081029_2928.php">development of a claims processing system</a> for the new GI Bill, formally known as the <a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h2642enr.txt.pdf">Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act.</a>
Digital Government
Kudos for fast VA Response
I have complained in the past about my queries to the VA going into as black hole. No more, thanks to Katie Roberts, the new VA press secretary.
Digital Government
Pile On for $1.5B Navy Contract
At least four major industry teams submitted bids on Wednesday for the Navy's <a href=https://e-commerce.sscno.nmci.navy.mil/Command/02/ACQ/navhome.nsf/homepage?readform&db=navbusopor.nsf&whichdoc=0713C6E52C4D7BA28625751C0079AB6B&editflag=0>Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services</a> (CANES) contract.
Digital Government
VA 'relinquished oversight' of IT projects under agreement
Agency did not know basic details of millions of dollars of IT work contracted out to SPAWAR, including higher-than-average management fees.
Digital Government
NPS to Vets: Polish On -- Soon
The National Park Service plans to accommodate veterans and active duty troops who shine the <a href=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=212>base of the flagpole</a> at the Vietnam Memorial. But it has asked the polishers to wait until it changes the patina from its original dark brown to a brighter finish, Stephen Lorenzetti, deputy superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, told me.
Digital Government
Vietnam Memorial Brass Polishing Update
No one seems to think it's a good idea for the National Park Service to bust a couple of veterans for polishing the brass on the base of the flagpole at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, based on the comments I received on an <a href=http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/06/park_police_dont_shine_that_br.php>item I wrote on Monday</a>.
Digital Government
Bing, Brewin, Obama and DISA
Microsoft's <a href=http://www.bing.com/?FORM=MFEHPG&PUBL=Google&CREA=userid1743go51d367c64cb6b50c6d8b0b7fe5f35618>Bing</a> search engine went live today, and I decided to test it against Google with my all-time favorite search term, "Bob Brewin."
Digital Government
Air Force uses jets for long-range communications on battlefields
New system will provide almost round-the-clock radio communications over a battlefield from an altitude of 40,000 feet.
Digital Government
Park Police: Don't Shine That Brass
This bit goes under the heading of "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished."
Digital Government
Auditor blasts VA for poor IT management and oversight
Problems were caused by a poorly planned transition to a centralized management model, but a former departmental CIO says that charge is 'silly and untrue.'
Digital Government
The Consumer's Guide to Intel Nets
The public affairs folks over at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence were kind enough to send me a copy of a <a href=http://www.dni.gov/reports/IC_Consumers_Guide_2009.pdf>handbook</a> that is distributed to intelligence professionals, which, among other things, highlights some top-secret networks that until now have been, well, top secret.
Digital Government
CIO Guthrie's Big Task
Priscilla Guthrie <a href=http://techinsider.nextgov.com/2009/03/priscilla_guthrie_named_cio_fo.php>started work</a> this week as the intelligence community chief information officer. Dennis Blair, director of national intelligence, emphasized that one of her key tasks will be to "advance our information sharing goals."
Digital Government
Bio-Labs Cyber Threats Ignored?
Laboratories that conduct research on dangerous biological agents such as anthrax have not paid much attention to the potential of cyber threats or cyber intrusions, the Defense Science Board <a href=http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2009-05-Bio_Safety.pdf>said in a report</a> released this week.
Digital Government
Defense Intelligence Agency launches IT services contract
Procurement estimated to be worth $6.6 billion over five years.
Digital Government
Mega Cyber Brief Coming Soon
It's hard to figure out who's on first in the cybersecurity game, as the White House slogs its way through a <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090326_7200.php>60-day cybersecurity review</a>, the National Security Agency stands up a <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090506_4087.php>Joint Functional Component Command for Network Warfare</a> and the Homeland Security Department <a href= http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090309_2252.php>jockeys</a> to run the cyber mission outside of the Defense Department.
Digital Government
Defense launches campaign and Web site to destigmatize traumatic stress
The developers of the Real Warriors site aim to show how troops can seek help for illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder without jeopardizing their military careers.
Digital Government