Cybersecurity
Pentagon should establish fourth military service to wage cyberwars
'Inhospitable cultures' in the Army, Navy and Air Force push out personnel with technical expertise, which a cyber branch would foster, authors contend.
Digital Government
No Bonuses for Field Docs
As far as I can determine the reason the taxpayers - that's you and I - have to fund $165 million in bonuses for employees of AIG Financial Products is they came up with the ideas a few years back to create trillions of dollars worth of arcane and cockamamie financial products known as credit default swaps.
Digital Government
'AHLTA is Intolerable'
That's the title of the <a href=http://www.house.gov/hasc/calendar_next_week.shtml>hearing</a> that the House Armed Service Committee's subcommittee on Joint Military Personnel and Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities plans to hold on March 24. It will be on the Defense Department's AHLTA (<a href= http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/02/oh_ahlta_is_a_proper_noun.php>remember, not an acronym</a>) electronic health record system.
Digital Government
Casscells Plans to Leave In April
I've learned that Casscells, who <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20080718_9200.php>told me a year ago</a> that Military Health System clinicians found AHLTA "intolerable" plans to end his tour as the Defense "Top Doc" at the end of April.
Digital Government
Defense urged to develop a weapon to disable foreign satellites
But advice comes with warnings about costs, creating destructive space debris and unleashing a new arms race.
Digital Government
Platoon Of Generals Take the Hill
There's just under 20 generals from all four services testifying on Capitol Hill today, according to a handy <a href=http://www.defenselink.mil/today/index.aspx?ShowDate=03/18/2009>list</a> put out by the Defense Department press shop, along with a handful of assistant or under secretaries, which put the number of top Defense managers on the Hill today well above 20.
Digital Government
Delay of weather satellite launch causes concern about future forecasts
Timeline now extends into the end of the life cycle for satellites now used to forecast weather.
Digital Government
Mea Culpa
Last week in my item on the Military Health Systems ceremony to honor fallen docs, I said ABC anchor Bob Woodruff, wounded in Iraq, recovered at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. I was, of course, wrong. Woodruff recovered at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Digital Government
Forget JTRS for FCS, Try WiMax
The Government Accountability Office < href=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09288.pdf>reported</a> on March 12 that the wideband version of the Joint Tactical Radio System will not be ready to support the Army's $159 billion Future Combat System program until 2017 or 2018 -- that's two years after the service starts fielding all FCS vehicles, gadgets, and gizmos.
Digital Government
Obama proposes terminating system that backs up GPS
Telecom industry, federal agencies and specialists say growing risks to the Global Positioning System increase the need for it.
Digital Government
News Flash: Acquisition Workers Needed
We all know that's not news, but it's good to get an annual reminder from the Government Accountability Office that there are too few people managing too many programs that cost too much.
Digital Government
Army Bites GAO Back On FCS
The Government Accountability Office added another $21 billion to the price tag of the Army's Future Combat Systems program, which currently stands at $159 billion, in a <a href=http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09288.pdf>report</a> released on Thursday. The Army fired back in press call on Friday with a squad of two and three star generals.
Digital Government
Defense profits from tech advances, falling telecom prices
DISA cuts cost for a faster network in the Pacific by more than a third.
Digital Government
Pinnipeds, Tattoo Removal and Neurofeedback
That's just some of the items funded by <a href=http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?category=&type=Project&proj_id=1961&action=Headlines%20By%20TCS>more than 8,000 earmarks</a> worth just short of $8 billion in the <a href=http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_omni2009_2.htm>2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill</a>, which <a href=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/03/12/obama_signs_earmark_laden_spending_bill/>President Obama signed</a> on Wednesday.
Digital Government
VistA, 'Gold Standard' of EHRs
That's what Eric Shinseki, secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department, told a House VA committee hearing on Tuesday. So, if this is the view of the boss, why, oh why, is VA so intent on ripping out the Gold Standard Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) electronic health record system for a new-fangled deal called Health eVet.
Digital Government
Defense, VA to launch shared e-record system
Registration system is designed to handle delivery of benefits and medical care.
Digital Government
Verizon to Light it Up
I asked Marlin Forbes, regional vice president for Verizon's Federal Defense and International Services division, what kind of high-speed circuits his company will supply the Defense Department users with under the contract, called the Defense Information Systems Network transmission services-Pacific II contract. Forbes answered, "We're going to supply the customers with light."
Digital Government
DISA awards $2.5 billion Pacific communications pact to Verizon
Contract covers terrestrial and satellite telecomm services to military bases and federal agencies in the command region.
Digital Government
IT receives slight budget increases, some cuts in omnibus bill
Senate would boost funding for food and air safety, but cut Justice's spending on financial management system and security analysis center.
Digital Government