Top CBP procurement execs show lighter side at Industry Day

Feb. 22 was Industry Day for Customs and Border Protection's Information and Technology Office, and Bob Neubert was wondering how it came to be that he was scheduled to speak for an hour, while other CBP officials had only 20 minutes to fill.

“I found out how that happened,” said Neubert, director of enterprise networks and tech support. “I learned that Barry [Brown, director of enterprise data management and engineering] made the schedule.”

A few minutes later, Charles Armstrong, the agency's CIO, introduced Phil Landfried, executive director for the Targeting and Analysis Systems Program Office. Landfried very recently was promoted to membership in the Senior Executive Service, Armstrong said.

“I hope I'll still be a member after today,” Landfried joked as he took the podium.

Valerie Isbell, executive director of the Passenger Systems Program Office, said her office is only seeking out the toughest federal contractors for her unit’s upcoming software development, modernization, operations and maintenance contract.

“If you don’t want to sleep with a BlackBerry next to your bed, you probably won’t be interested in this procurement,” Isbell said.