Ideas

Bypassing Procurement Can Introduce Some Unwanted Visitors

Agencies need to make sure they vet open source code for vulnerabilities before they use it.

People

Can the AF's Kessel Run scale across the DOD?

Everyone wants a piece of the Air Force's agile software development program. Here's how the program could scale to the other services.

Modernization

TSA Wants Industry Input on Its Proposed Agile Contract Vehicle

The agency plans to tap the contracts for its modernization initiatives.

Cybersecurity

DOD extends and expands bug bounty program

The Department of Defense and the Digital Defense Services have awarded another set of contracts under its $34 million bug bounty program to cover sensitive hardware and physical assets.

Digital Government

Air Force wants to make 'Kessel Run' standard in tech acquisition

The Air Force's CTO Frank Konieczny said the service is considering a directive that every acquisition have a Kessel Run-like agile development component.

Ideas

How to Stop Technical Debt from Eating Your IT Budget

Before federal agencies can modernize, they need to figure out how to tackle the workarounds in old systems.

Digital Government

USAF's plans for agile, DevOps, cloud

Steven Wert, USAF's digital program executive officer, said the service is looking to pivot to agile development.

Acquisition

Air Force rolls out PEO Digital

The service is rebranding and changing its acquisition structure to reflect new statutory authorities and its agile approach to development.

Ideas

How to Overcome Technical Debt in IT Modernization Projects

The shortcuts you take to make deadline can come back to bite you later.

Digital Government

Mission-driven design thinking

Identify customers, listen to their needs and map their journeys to identify pain points and areas for improvement and reinvention.

Cybersecurity

Software group backs curbs on LPTA in defense bill

BSA/The Software Alliance supports a move in Congress to limit use of "lowest price technically acceptable" standards in federal IT contracting.

People

DOD releases new digital engineering strategy

The strategy emphasizes the need for culture shift, formalized development processes and innovation to modernize legacy defense systems.

Digital Government

Census seeks software help for internet response

As Census wraps up its in-field test of operations and systems that will be used in 2020, the bureau is seeking information about software related to its survey questionnaires.

Cybersecurity

DHS tried to take 5 legacy IT programs agile. Here’s what happened

The Department of Homeland Security ran a yearlong agile acquisition pilot program with five existing programs from FEMA, TSA, ICE and USCIS.

Acquisition

USAF edges toward an agile future

Air Force IT acquisition lead Maj. Gen. Sarah Zabel said that agile didn't make the program objectives memo for 2020 but an embrace of agile development remains a goal.

Cybersecurity

DLA looks to reduce cyber risks by slashing application footprint

The Defense Logistics Agency Director Lt. Gen. Darrell Williams is concerned about supply chain vulnerabilities and thinks reducing the number of applications on DLA's network will reduce risk.

Ideas

Rapid Prototyping to Improve Government Systems

Two former U.S. Digital Service staffers on their approach to iterative design and software development.

Modernization

How technical debt makes government software crap, and what we can do about it

It takes a deliberate, concerted effort from experts to carefully untangle all the threads of bad software development practices and return the effort to coherence.

People

USDS to certify new acquisition specialty

The U.S. Digital Service is adding a digital services contracting certification to create a cadre of "technology acquisition mavericks."

Modernization

The Defense Innovation Board’s 10 Essential Rules for Developing Software

The “commandments” adapt industry best practices for the Pentagon, but every agency could learn from them.