Digital Government
How the iPad Informs Cyber Command
In his <a href=http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/FC092310/AlexanderStatement.pdf>testimony</a> given before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Gen. Keith B. Alexander, commander of the U.S. Cyber Command, cited Apple's iPad, which costs $499 and up, as an example of the challenges the nation faces as it attempts to operate in a global and amorphous cyber space.
Digital Government
Pentagon reassigns head of Defense Centers of Excellence
Army Col. Robert Saum has been reassigned within TRICARE Management Activity, which manages health plans for military personnel, pending the results of an investigation.
Modernization
Army looks to Kindles, iPads and smart phones for the battlefield
To keep the power flowing to the handheld devices, the service also is experimenting with new lightweight solar and fuel cell systems that provide hours of energy.
Digital Government
Shinseki, IBM and Agent Orange Claims
In July, the Veterans Affairs Department <a href=http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/193853.php>awarded</a> IBM a $9.1 million contract to develop within three months a system to process claims for Vietnam veterans suffering from diseases stemming from exposure to the Agent Orange defoliant sprayed in that country by the Air Force. (The service's units had the motto: "Only you can prevent forests.")
Digital Government
Pentagon investigating director of psychological centers of excellence
Army Col. Robert Saum is the second chief in the organizations short history of operation, fueling congressional concerns about top management.
Digital Government
Coast Guard's Approach to EHRs
If everything goes to plan, by the end of September the Coast Guard will award a <a href=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=02e709e7aefc828619352eacd7ae3247&_cview=0>contract</a> for a spanking new commercial electronic health record system that will replace a network based on an ancient version of the Defense Department's electronic medical system.
Modernization
Soldiers show some ingenuity during tests of next-generation radios
The Army holds a two-week exercise to determine the limits of a new advanced communications system that allows troops to tap into broadband to send satellite images and to talk in chat rooms.
Digital Government
Army Testing Combat Gizmos
White Sands Missile Range, N.M. -- The Army is conducting pass-or-fail tests here of <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100409_1179.php>battlefield communications systems</a>, including wideband versions of the Joint Tactical Radio System, and robots and sensors, said Paul Mehney, a spokesman for the service's integration operation.
Digital Government
Afghanistan in Your Hand
The Program for Culture and Conflict Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., has developed a database on Afghanistan to help in managing aid and development projects.
Digital Government
How a lawn mowing contract is changing Defense acquisition
One way the Pentagon will meet Secretary Gate's goal to cut $100 billion in spending will be to replicate the Naval Sea Systems Command's standard solicitations for services, which increase competition and save money.
Digital Government
First Define the Terms
The Defense Department forks over about half its annual budget -- about $200 billion -- on acquisition of services such as information technology, transportation and upkeep of bases. It's track record of managing these buys is even worse than its record on the procurement of weapons systems, Ashton Carter, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, told a Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday.
Digital Government
Researchers: Navy SEALS' new brain injury test has high false-positive rate
The Defense Department looks for ways to detect concussions in the battlefield, but most tools have a high number of misdiagnoses.
Digital Government
Delays for GI Bill Claims System
I have picked up strong signals that the Veterans Affairs Department has hit another speed bump with its 9/11 GI bill claims processing system.
Digital Government
Google Instant on Kundra, Kushi, KOAT
Google's new instant search feature promises results instantaneously with every letter typed into the search bar. But I find it more annoying than useful.
Digital Government
Holistic Worker Comm
The leaders at the Defense Logistic Agency's Disposition Services outfit, which sells or finds a way to reuse surplus or outmoded military property, has such poor employee communications that it decided it needed some outside help to develop a <a href=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=13555f4deab36ec01bf4cc120dab4f7e&_cview=0>management transformation thingy</a>.
Digital Government
Protest filed against massive VA tech contract
Vetrepreneur says the Transformation Twenty-One Total Technology procurement will not distribute awards to veteran-owned businesses as required by law.
Digital Government
VA's FLITE Crashes Again
In July, the Veterans Affairs Department <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20100713_9998.php>shutdown</a> most of its grand scheme to update its asset-and-bean-counting systems, the $400 million Financial and Logistics Integrated Technology Enterprise program, due to a high risk of failure.
Digital Government
VA abruptly issues second contract for Agent Orange claims system
Vendors and veterans groups say the nearly identical solicitation to one awarded to IBM in July indicates concern the technology giant might not be able to deliver within the required time frame.
Digital Government