Author Archive

Frank Konkel

Executive Editor

Frank Konkel
Frank Konkel is Nextgov’s executive editor. He writes about the intersection of government and technology. Frank began covering tech in 2013 upon moving to the Washington, D.C., area after getting his start in journalism working at local and state issues at daily newspapers in his home state of Michigan. Frank was born and raised on a dairy farm and graduated from Michigan State University.
IT Modernization

The Tech Side of Trump’s Plan to Reorganize Government

The plans would force government to get digital, as well as improve the way it provides services to citizens.

  • By Aaron Boyd and Frank Konkel
Emerging Tech

NSA ‘Systematically Moving’ All Its Data to The Cloud

The National Security Agency is all-in on cloud.

  • By Frank Konkel
CIO Briefing

Commerce, Interior, Energy Top New Government Customer Experience Rankings

A new report rates how federal agencies provide customer experience.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

GSA Seeks Industry Feedback to Better Harness Tech Spending Data

The government wants to get a better grip on the money it invests in IT and digital services.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon’s Second Multibillion Cloud Contract to Be Bid in Coming Months

Officials say the Defense Department’s multibillion Defense Enterprise Office Solutions contract is expected to be bid out in the fourth quarter of this fiscal year.

  • By Frank Konkel
Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana W. White Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana W. White
IT Modernization

Pentagon Answers JEDI Pricing Questions But No RFP Yet

For the first time, the Pentagon’s JEDI cloud procurement has hit a time snag.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Another Defense Agency to Tap CIA's Commercial Cloud

Documents indicate the Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center aims to provision secret and top secret cloud services from the Amazon-developed C2S Cloud.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon’s MilCloud 2.0 Could Host Classified Data by 2019

The cloud offering is close to meeting stringent requirements to host secret and top secret classified data.

  • By Frank Konkel
CIO Briefing

Agency Grades Get Worse in Latest FITARA Scorecard

Eleven agencies dropped and five agencies improved in Congress’ latest FITARA scorecard.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Microsoft Scores Big Cloud Deal with Intel Community

The announcement could improve the company’s chances for the Defense Department’s JEDI competition.

  • By Frank Konkel
Emerging Tech

Pentagon Wants Cloud Secure Enough to Hold Nuke Secrets

The Pentagon’s JEDI cloud will be designed to store the government’s most sensitive classified information, including nuclear secrets.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon Orders Fourth Estate Agencies to Move to MilCloud 2.0

A memo from the Pentagon’s chief information officer issues a timeline for some agencies to migrate to the cloud.

  • By Frank Konkel
Emerging Tech

Amazon, Facebook and Other Tech Giants Will Talk AI With White House

Executives from nearly 40 companies will discuss ramifications and regulations of artificial intelligence with White House officials.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Tech Firms Ask Congress to Intervene on Pentagon JEDI Contract

A group representing 80 technology companies is asking Congress to make sure the cloud procurement is a transparent process.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

How a Pentagon Contract Sparked a Cloud War

Amazon and Google are taking on defense contractors in a heated battle for billions in government contracts.

  • By Frank Konkel
CIO Briefing

Defense Department is Pursuing Another Multibillion-Dollar Cloud

This cloud is focused on collaboration and business tools.

  • By Frank Konkel
IT Modernization

Pentagon Releases Second Draft RFP For Multibillion Dollar JEDI Cloud

The final JEDI draft request for proposal includes answers to more than 1,000 questions industry posed in the first draft RFP.

  • By Frank Konkel
Ellen Lord meets the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 during the International Air Show in the Dubai World Center in November. Ellen Lord meets the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 23 during the International Air Show in the Dubai World Center in November.
IT Modernization

DOD Official Says It Won't Halt Other Cloud Contracts Because of JEDI

The Defense Department pushed back against rumors that its JEDI cloud acquisition would stifle its other cloud contracts.

  • By Frank Konkel
President Donald Tr, ... ] President Donald Tr, ... ]
CIO Briefing

Despite Amazon Ire, Trump Not Involved in Pentagon Cloud Contract

The Pentagon plans to continue as planned with its cloud acquisition.

  • By Frank Konkel
Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin Former Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin
CIO Briefing

Shulkin’s Firing Leaves $16B Effort to Merge DoD/VA Health Records Up In The Air

Secretary Shulkin championed a contract with Cerner to develop a new health records system for Veterans Affairs, but the deal seems precarious now.

  • By Frank Konkel