Author Archive
Mark Rockwell is a senior staff writer at FCW, whose beat focuses on acquisition, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy.
Before joining FCW, Rockwell was Washington correspondent for Government Security News, where he covered all aspects of homeland security from IT to detection dogs and border security. Over the last 25 years in Washington as a reporter, editor and correspondent, he has covered an increasingly wide array of high-tech issues for publications like Communications Week, Internet Week, Fiber Optics News, tele.com magazine and Wireless Week.
Rockwell received a Jesse H. Neal Award for his work covering telecommunications issues, and is a graduate of James Madison University.
Click here for previous articles by Rockwell. Contact him at mrockwell@fcw.com or follow him on Twitter at @MRockwell4.
Acquisition
Dunne: Schedule consolidation is paying off
The departing chief of the Federal Acquisition Service, Julie Dunne, talks to FCW about recent initiatives.
Cybersecurity
FITARA grades mostly stable
Most agencies maintained their grades on the latest FITARA scorecard, but the new telecom category produced some failing marks.
Acquisition
GSA preps launch of OASIS replacement
GSA plans a program of customer and industry events and interactions in the early part of 2021 to help shape its OASIS replacement contract.
People
Longtime agency watchdog to head CIGIE
The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency elected the Inspector General of the National Science Foundation as its new chairperson.
Modernization
DHS tests tech to spot rogue wireless devices
The Department of Homeland Security's research and development arm is testing a portable wireless device detection system that would track down unauthorized gear.
Modernization
GSA sketches next steps for CEOS, Polaris and EIS
Small business, telecommunications and cloud productivity tool contracts are top of mind for GSA’s acquisition service in coming year.
People
Pandemic pivots at State, FCC
The necessary wave of IT adaptation to the pandemic showed federal CIOs and agencies they could move quickly and efficiently to modernize.
Modernization
House approves plan to create AI strategy
The House approved legislation that would set a foundation for a national strategy for emerging artificial intelligence technology.
Modernization
Contested FBI wireless contract goes to AT&T
FBI's $92 million emergency operations wireless service contract goes to AT&T after lengthy protest scuffle.
Acquisition
New law enshrines modernization Centers of Excellence effort
President Trump signed a bipartisan bill that codifies the Centers of Excellence program as way to seed and launch IT and business process modernization efforts at federal agencies.
Cybersecurity
COVID prompts USCIS' pivot to video
Social distancing requirements under the pandemic led to the acceleration of a modernization plan that included adding video feeds to the asylum interview process.
Featured eBooks
Acquisition
Leadership push needed in category management, GAO finds
Although the governmentwide category management initiative is saving agencies billions, it could be even more effective with some higher-level guidance, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
Cybersecurity
DHS veteran Mayorkas tapped to lead agency under Biden administration
The former USCIS director and DHS deputy secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Cybersecurity
CBP wants to expand facial recognition
Customs and Border Protection is on track to move out of its test phase and expand use of facial recognition systems at airports and land border crossings.
Modernization
NOAA looks to modernize with EIS
The weather and science agency sets up future 5G capabilities, critical sensor bandwidth with $311M Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions task order.
Acquisition
GSA explains lowered DEOS price tag
GSA worked with the Defense Department and vendors to push more efficiencies into the DEOS cloud contract, ultimately resulting in a lowered ceiling, said the contract's manager.
People
Biden's GSA transition team brings deep agency ties
The six volunteers tasked with General Services Administration transition planning have worked at GSA, the White House or both.
Modernization
Shared services gaining traction, PSC reports
A new report from the Professional Services Council shows shared services growing with collaborations among federal agencies.
Acquisition
COVID-19 made IT modernization a priority
Federal agency mission-oriented responses to COVID-19 have pushed aside lingering doubts about the need to step up IT, a Professional Services Council forecast found.
Cybersecurity
Modernized FEMA system still has legacy data issues
Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency's recent modernization of a 30-year-old flood insurance system works well, it still uses old legacy data, according to a new report.
