Professionalizing the cyber work force is an idea gaining steam in the cyber community. But defining the jobs is the first stumbling block. A panel discussion at George Washington University today called “Building a World-Class Cyber Work Force” accompanied the release of some research on professionalizing the cyber work force. Ron Layton, deputy chief information officer at the Secret Service, was on the panel at the discussion today. He says one of the first stumbling blocks for professionalization is definition.

The new cost of living adjustment is out from the Social Security Administration. It’s historic but not the good kind of historic for federal retirees.

The House Armed Services Committee will take another crack at defense acquisition reform. Committee chairman Buck McKeon chooses vice chairman Mac Thornberry to lead the new panel. Experts on defense acquisition gave the committee some guidance on how to proceed this week. One of the witnesses was Dov Zakheim, former Undersecretary of Defense (comptroller) and now a Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He says a new approach to defense acquisition reform has the potential for new results and the old approach won’t work this time around either.

Members of the House and Senate are finally talking about a budget deal. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says just the fact they’re talking is a big change.