Author Archive

Frank R. Konkel

Executive Editor, Nextgov

Frank R. 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.
CIO Briefing

The Government’s Paperwork Problem is Undermining Public Trust

An audit suggests agencies are doing a poor job of assessing the burden their information requests place on the public.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
Policy

White House Lays Groundwork for Improving Government Customer Experience

The Office of Management and Budget’s new Circular A-11 provides guidance to federal agencies in establishing customer experience frameworks.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
Emerging Tech

Army Developing Simulated Missile Launchers to Improve Combat Training

The goal is to train pilots and other crew members on how to respond to shoulder-fired missiles and rocket launchers.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
Cybersecurity

DHS Aims to Turn Mobile Devices into No Phishing Zones

The Homeland Security Department and 16 other agencies are upgrading their mobile device security.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
Cybersecurity

DHS Looks to Improve Cyber Capabilities for Financial Services

The Homeland Security Department’s innovation unit is seeing how open-source technology can defend from emerging threats.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
IT Modernization

GSA: Phase II Centers of Excellence Bids Will Begin in July

Officials from the General Services Administration and Agriculture Department met with industry about the next phase of IT modernization efforts.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
CIO Briefing

Congress Questions Trump's ZTE Deal

Plus the other goodies tucked into the National Defense Authorization Act federal employees need to know.

  • By Joseph Marks, Frank R. Konkel and Heather Kuldell
IT Modernization

GAO Rules Against Pentagon's Experimental $950 Million Cloud Deal

The Government Accountability Office recommended the Defense Department terminate a contract awarded to REAN Cloud in February.

  • By Frank R. Konkel and Heather Kuldell
IT Modernization

VA Signs $10 Billion Health Records Contract With Cerner

VA will formally pursue the same health records platform as the Pentagon.

  • By Frank R. Konkel and Heather Kuldell
IT Modernization

Initial Tests Find Defense Department’s MHS Genesis ‘Not Operationally Suitable’

The test director recommends delaying further fieldings.

  • By Frank R. Konkel and Heather Kuldell
CIO Briefing

Marketing Your Mission and Other Ideas to Help Agencies Attract Young Talent

The administration wants more young people in its government ranks, especially in tech.

  • By Frank R. Konkel

Featured eBooks

The State of Customer Experience
The Role of Chief Data Officers
The Government's As-a-Service Future
IT Modernization

With No Permanent Leadership, VA Forges Ahead on $16 Billion Health Records Effort

The Veterans Affairs Department will press on with its electronic health records contract without a permanent secretary or chief information officer.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
IT Modernization

IRS’ 60-Year-Old IT System Failed on Tax Day Due to New Hardware

Congress and watchdogs have been warning the IRS to upgrade its systems for years.

  • By Frank R. Konkel and Aaron Boyd
Policy

House Armed Services Chair Wants to Cut DISA and Number of Defense CIOs

Draft legislation from Rep. Mac Thornberry would eliminate several Defense agencies, including DISA.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
CIO Briefing

Bill Would Create Federal Customer Service Standards

And once set, it would bake them into agency performance plans.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
CIO Briefing

General Dynamics Completes CSRA Buy

General Dynamics finalized its acquisition of IT contractor CSRA for $9.7 billion.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
CIO Briefing

Bidding War Over? CACI Withdraws Offer To Buy CSRA

CACI withdrew its $7.2 billion offer to purchase IT contractor CSRA.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
CIO Briefing

General Dynamics’ Acquisition of CSRA Is An Even Bigger Deal Than You Thought

If General Dynamics’ $9.7 billion acquisition of CSRA goes forward, the company will be the federal government’s largest technology services provider by a wide margin.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
IT Modernization

Industry Sounds Off On Pentagon’s Cloud Strategy

The Defense Department received more than 1,000 comments from industry regarding its JEDI cloud acquisition.

  • By Frank R. Konkel
IT Modernization

Google Cloud Targets Federal Government

Google wants to compete with Amazon, Microsoft and other companies for a share of the government’s massive cloud computing market.

  • By Frank R. Konkel