FCW Insider: July 22

Shelby Pierson is stepping into the newly created role of intelligence community election threats executive.  Derek Johnson reports on Pierson's background, and on what Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats expects out of the position.

A newly released information security audit found the IRS falling short in 14 different areas.  Derek has more on the Government Accountability Office's findings and recommendations.

Four House Republicans are urging President Donald Trump to stay out of the Defense Department's JEDI procurement decisions. Lauren C. Williams explains the argument legislators are making. 

Federal shared service providers can help agencies meet the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act's reporting requirements.  Mark Rockwell reports on early adopters' experience. 

Quick Hits

*** The head of the Defense Innovation Unit said the U.S. isn't doing enough to mitigate the China threat.

"What China is doing, in my mind, is the most strategic threat of our generation. If you look over the long term, China is the relationship that we have to understand and get right," DIU Director Michael Brown said during a July 19 panel discussion at the Aspen Security Forum. "And in my mind, we're not doing the amount we should do to prepare for that."

Brown went on to say that China's economy eclipsing the U.S. has strong implications for national security and that the U.S. will need to invest heavily in STEM education and federal research and development.

"National security follows economic security and prosperity, and technology is the new battleground that allows economic prosperity," he said.

Brown also touched on recent controversies surrounding Microsoft and Google employees denouncing their companies' involvement with DOD projects, saying the Defense Department should work to be an easier partner to work with.

DIU was involved with Google's Project Maven. "It becomes more complex with these global, multinational (companies)," he said. "We need to be an easier customer for those companies, and that's about speed and getting some money to the right customers."

***Navy Vice Adm. Michael Gilday has been nominated to be the next chief of naval operations, acting Defense Secretary Richard Spencer announced July 18. Gilday, who is currently serving as director of the Joint Staff, has also been nominated for a promotion to admiral. A 2018 Fed100 winner, he was previously the commander for U.S. Fleet Cyber Command and was instrumental in improving the Navy's cyber operations, including defending against the WannaCry malware threats.

***The Defense Department's watchdog agency found that DOD's former chief spokesperson Dana White misused authority over subordinates. White stepped down from the position in 2018 amid rumors of misconduct. The DOD inspector general determined in its report released July 18 that White had her staff conduct personal services for her and accepted gifts from them.

*** The deadline for Government Innovation Award nominations is Aug. 2 Submit your picks for individual Rising Stars, Public Sector Innovations and Industry Innovators today!