Author Archive
Modernization
All About Apps
A push to develop more online software applications at federal agencies is gathering supporters.
Ideas
Chopra Chided at CES
Federal Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra spoke at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday and his <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/01/aneesh-chopra-innovation-open-technology-standards.html">message</a> was one that should be familiar to Nextgov readers: He spoke abstractly of making government more open to innovation and specifically emphasized the importance of standards in health information technology.
Digital Government
GSA tags Steven Kempf to lead Federal Acquisition Service
The 18-year FAS veteran replaces Tyree Varnado, who retired after 35 years of federal service.
Ideas
Cybersecurity Appointee Makes History
Since his campaign President Obama has repeatedly emphasized how he wants to attract a more diverse group of Americans into public service. Yesterday he advanced that goal by appointing Amanda Simpson to be senior technical advisor to the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security.
Digital Government
Private equity firm buys majority of GovDelivery
Deal is a boost for owner of GovLoop, 'Facebook to the Feds,' management team says.
Ideas
Kundra: CIO of the Year?
Like any publication <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091229_9301.php?oref=topstory">scrambling</a> <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091229_7623.php?oref=topnews">to fill</a> those dark days at the end of the year, <a href="http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/leadership/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222002611">InformationWeek</a> handed out its annual awards in December.And there was one name included on the list that may come as a surprise to Nextgov readers: Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra, who was named "Chief of the Year" by the magazine:
Ideas
On Deck: The Cyber Deputy
After a long wait, the country finally has it's first cybersecurity czar in the person of Howard Schmidt. Like most of the experts, having interviewed Schmidt I'm well aware the depth of his experience and expertise in this area. But any federal manager is only as good as the people who support him, which is why I was very interested to see <a href="http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=35&sid=1848282">this report</a> from Jason Miller of FedNewsRadio about his potential deputy:
Modernization
Report finds agencies are better aligning IT and business systems
The federal government is slightly ahead of the private sector in matching its computer systems to its mission, analysts conclude.
Digital Government
Senators introduce bills to boost acquisition workforce roles, training
Legislation would create a three-year graduate program in federal procurement and increase the visibility of the Federal Acquisition Institute.
Digital Government
GSA awards geospatial services agreements to four firms
$20 million blanket purchase agreement was awarded at the request of the Geospatial Line of Business, chaired by the Interior Department.
Digital Government
Panel: Government should educate workforce on benefits of social media
Agencies can encourage employees to embrace social media through training and adopting tools that align directly with the organization's mission, panelists say.
Featured eBooks
Ideas
Facing 21st Century Problems
Today's news that technicians have located <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20091214_7919.php">22 million missing</a> Bush administration e-mails will be rightly viewed as a victory for the transparency community, particularly the two organizations that pursued the lawsuit. Failing to install an electronics record keeping system will go down as another failure for the Bush administration, albeit a relatively minor one.
Ideas
Senators Want Answers on Networx
Whenever you've got what looks like a clear-cut case of government waste, some sort of manufactured political outrage inevitably follows. Taking up the mantle of the indignant taxpayer this week: Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The reason for their indignation? Millions in missed savings due to <a href="http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090814_8767.php?oref=search">delays in the transition</a> to the Networx telecom contract.
Digital Government
Business starts slowly on GSA's huge IT contract
Sales volume on Alliant running behind pace of contracts it replaced, but agency officials say purchasing is where it should be for a new contract.
Digital Government
Top IT officials say transparency will improve project management
Chief information and technology officers tell senators open government directive will increase oversight of investments.
Ideas
Powers-King to Retire from GSA
Just confirmed that <b>Mary Powers-King</b>, director of governmentwide acquisition contracts and Schedule 70 for GSA's Integrated Technology Service will retire shortly after the New Year. Powers-King has 31 years of federal service, including more than 25 years managing IT programs. No successor has been named yet, although her deputy, <b>Jim Ghiloni</b>, is probably near the top of the list.
Modernization
Federal agencies' path to cloud computing remains unclear
Vendors disagree on how long it will take government to outsource apps and equipment, but agree concerns about security remains the primary obstacle.
Ideas
Public Vote on Ways to SAVE
FedBlog guest blogger Dan Munz had an <a href="http://blogs.govexec.com/fedblog/2009/12/save_some_money.php">interesting post</a> on Monday about the White House allowing the public to vote on the president's <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/save-award">Securing Americans Value and Efficiency (SAVE) award</a>:
Ideas
Federal Health Sites Lead Pack
As technology observers we're often quick to highlight when the government lags behind the private sector. That's why it's important to take note when the public sector does something better, which seems to be the case when it comes to providing electronic health information.
Ideas
Access and Technology
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on Wednesday on a topic that doesn't usually reach our radar: the manner in which local radio stations receive the ratings that determine their audience size and advertising rates. The debate that took place highlighted the difficulty of creating a balance between using technology for outreach while preserving access for all groups.
