Digital Government
Huh? Air Force Blocks Pentagon Channel
The Air Force -- and let's make it really clear, we're talking here about the U.S. Air Force headquartered in the Pentagon -- has blocked computer access to the <a href=http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/>Pentagon Channel</a>, the Defense Department's 24/7 news channel designed to provide personnel with "more timely access to military information and news."
Digital Government
Oops, There Goes Yet Another Laptop
I think I could write a monthly feature on lost or stolen government laptops. The <a href=http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/pcola/Pages/default.aspx>Naval Hospital Pensacola</a> in Florida reported the latest stray on Tuesday.
Digital Government
House Hearing on VA-SPAWAR Deal
The House Veterans Affairs Committee's Economic Opportunity Subcommittee has just shoehorned into its schedule next week a hearing on the interagency agreement that the Veterans Affairs Department put together with the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.
Digital Government
NATO Wants to Go Virtual
<a href=http://www.act.nato.int/>Allied Command Transformation</a>, which does the change thing for NATO, has a <a href=https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=45e9ec68b6f188da12279571ab64ee79&_cview=0>request for proposals</a> on the street to build a virtual headquarters to run operations in Asia.
Digital Government
Defense Does Speak a Separate Language
Quite often, when I read an acronym-laden Defense Department document I am convinced that folks in the military speak a language that bears only a passing resemblance to English.
Digital Government
IG Slams VA IT Shop - Again
The Veterans Affairs Department lack of in-house expertise to support, manage and execute complex information technology projects contributed to the near collapse of the department's efforts to develop a <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090331_5665.php>new replacement patient scheduling application</a> at a cost of $167 million over eight years, the VA Inspector General said in a <a href=http://www.va.gov/oig/52/reports/2009/VAOIG-09-01926-207.pdf>report</a> released yesterday.
Digital Government
Paper-Based Records Interchange?
Based on an <a href= https://www.mpm.osd.mil/documents/MRWG_June_Brief_061709Final.ppt(S).pdf>internal briefing</a> from early this summer which made its way to my inbox, it looks like the Defense Department is scanning a large heap of medical records so the Veterans Affairs Department can access them.
Digital Government
DISA Director As Cyber Deputy?
I'm picking up medium strength signals that the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency - currently Army Lt. Gen. Carroll Pollett - will serve as the deputy director of the <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090624_6400.php>new U.S. Cyber Command,</a> which goes into business on Oct. 1.
Digital Government
Student Vets Launch GI Bill Survey
The <a href="http://www.studentveterans.org/">Student Veterans of America</a> has launched an <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=oDtSpL46ocpUF_2bgEZy_2f37g_3d_3d">online survey</a> to help it determine whether veterans have received benefits under the <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090820_1761.php">new GI Bill</a> on time.
Digital Government
The Three Star Navy Cyber Command
I hear that the Chief of Naval Operations will sign off on creation of a new Fleet Cyber Command by the end of this month, and it will have a three star boss. The Air Force and Army cyberwar outfits only have two star commanders.
Digital Government
Ask The Chairman - On YouTube
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, <a href="http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2009/07/jcs_chair_on_facebook_with_lot.php">a well known Twitter and Facebook fan,</a> has now added YouTube to his social media arsenal. He's invited troops to join him for a YouTube-driven virtual town hall between now and the end of the month.
Digital Government
Brit Praises DoD Guidance Forum
Roy Wulff, Chief Information Officer for the British Defence staff at the British Embassy in Washington gave the Pentagon a "well done" for its use of a <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090810_5115.php>blog</a> to develop policy within the U.S. Defense Department.
Digital Government
Juicy Reports on VA IT Shop Coming
The Veterans Affairs Department's inspector general has completed two reports (<a href="http://www.va.gov/oig/publications/reports-list.asp">listed here</a>) whose titles are ripe for tabloid headlines: "Administrative Investigation Misuse of Position, Abuse of Authority, and Prohibited Personnel Practices Office of Information & Technology Washington, D.C." and "Administrative Investigation Nepotism, Abuse of Authority, Misuse of Position, Improper Hiring, and Improperly Administered Awards, OI&T, Washington, D.C."
Digital Government
Obama and the 9/11 GI Bill
Yesterday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Phoenix, Ariz., President Obama <a href=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-at-the-veterans-of-foreign-wars-convention/>called</a> for a new reform effort in the Veterans Affairs Department. He said VA should harness the best computer system to cut red tape, reduce the backlog of claims, slash wait times and deliver benefits sooner.
Digital Government
Consultant Eyes Arkansas House Seat
Bernie Skoch, an executive vice president with <a href=http://www.sussconsulting.com/>Suss Consulting Inc.</a>, wants you to know that he has launched his <a href=http://skoch2010.com/>campaign</a> for the 3rd District seat in the U.S. House. The Northwest Arkansas district, which includes Fayetteville and Bentonville, home of Wal-Mart, is currently held by Republican John Boozman, who serves on the Veterans Affairs and Foreign Affairs committees.
Digital Government
Ukuleles!
This one is pure fun. Thanks to Al Gore and the miracle of the Internet, I can listen to radio stations around the world from my home base in The Original Las Vegas, N.M., including BBC Radio 3, which is in the midst of its "Proms" season -- probably the best live classical music festival in the world.
Digital Government
Wait, Only 57,000 Vet Claims Pending
In response to <a href=http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090813_9181.php?oref=topstory>my story</a> on Thursday that the Veterans Affairs Department has a <a href=http://www.vba.va.gov/REPORTS/mmwr/2009/081009.xls>backlog of 191,338</a> unprocessed educational benefits claims, VA sent along some background information in an attempt to clarify the situation.
Digital Government
The Final Four for VHA Job
I have some pretty good intel that the Veterans Affairs Department has narrowed its search for new undersecretary of health and head of the Veterans Health Administration to these four candidates:
Digital Government
Defense Preps New Web Portal
The Defense Department plans to launch a new Web portal, <a href=http://www.defense.gov>Defense.gov</a> on Aug. 17, which will serve as "the table of contents for DoD," Tom Dorsz, deputy director for the public Web at the Pentagon, told me.
Digital Government
Butler Tapped for Cyber/Space Policy Slot
The Defense Department appointed Robert Butler, who previously ran Computer Science Corp's military intelligence biz in San Antonio, Texas, as the new deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber and space policy.
Almost There!
Help us tailor content specifically for you: