Defense

• Jason Miller: Optimism reigns over federal IT budget

  The federal IT budget will to grow in both the civilian and Defense sectors over the next few years. That’s the conclusion from research with dozens of federal IT executives as part of the Professional Services Council’s annual Vision Federal Market Forecast. On Federal Drive with Tom Temin, Robert Haas, chairman of the PSC budget team, tells Executive Editor Jason Miller why agencies and industry are optimistic.

  Federal Drive

  November 20, 2015
• Cyber, modernization efforts driving expected growth in IT spending

  The Professional Services Council’s 51st annual Vision Forecast found Defense Department and civilian agency spending on technology spending to increase over the next few years.

  Budget

  November 20, 2015
• I can’t find the obituary for COBOL

  Vendors chide the government for keeping programs running that were coded in COBOL. But there's still life in the market of this much maligned language.

  Tom Temin Commentary

  November 19, 2015
• Using math and big data to save lives – maybe

  The Air Force’s Air Mobility Command stumbled onto some surprising findings when using big data to save on fuel costs.

  Defense

  November 19, 2015
• Jared Serbu: DoD moves to adapt to competitive recruiting landscape

  Defense Secretary Ash Carter rolled out the first tranche in a series of reforms to DoD’s personnel systems. He said the military needs to adapt to a competitive recruiting landscape. Otherwise it could have trouble attracting the level of talent it needs. Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu shares more on what these changes will bring to DoD's Force of the Future on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

  Federal Drive

  November 19, 2015
• Bryan Clark: Navy’s ‘shrink or swim’ dilemma

  The Navy has to make some sink-or-swim decisions if it wants to remain intact. It must either maintain its fleet size and global presence and risk breaking the force or shrink to what it can afford. That's one finding of a comprehensive study by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Former Navy Officer Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Center, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to talk about how these decisions could affect the force.

  Federal Drive

  November 19, 2015
• DHS bulking up civilian agency cybersecurity

  The Department of Homeland Security has created a timetable to bolster the cybersecurity of civilian government systems, says DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson.

  Technology

  November 19, 2015
• DoD’s buildings are vulnerable to cyber attacks

  The Defense Department has no inventory on cyber access points in its buildings and is under-funding building maintenance, leaving military installations open to cyber attacks.

  Defense

  November 18, 2015
• Update to Congress on OPM cyber breach goes on without three key agencies

  The Office of Management and Budget, the Homeland Security Department and the Office of Personnel Management decided not to testify during a classified briefing before the House Armed Services Committee when they found out the meeting would be on the record and transcribed.

  Workforce

  November 17, 2015
• Bill Lucyshyn: True cost of DoD’s efforts to sign small contractors

  The Pentagon has spent more than half a century refining the ways it buys from small business. In recent years, the Defense Department has met its statutory goal of awarding 23 percent of its contracting dollars to small and disadvantaged concerns. But that emphasis has come at a cost and not necessarily in dollars. Bill Lucyshyn is former Research Director at DARPA and now director at the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy. He joins Federal Drive with Tom Temin with more on a just-completed study of the Pentagon and small business.

  Federal Drive

  November 17, 2015
• Scott Maucione: DoD asks contractors to invest in R & D

  The Defense Department is asking contractors to invest more of their revenues on research and development. Right now the industry average hovers at around 4 percent. Now DoD officials are calling on industry to shift its focus towards R & D and make it a higher priority. Federal News Radio's Scott Maucione tells Federal Drive with Tom Temin more. Read Scott's related story.

  Federal Drive

  November 17, 2015
• Jared Serbu: Despite lower funding level, two-year budget deal is ‘huge’ for Pentagon

  The Pentagon didn’t get everything it wanted out of the two-year spending deal the White House and lawmakers reached a couple weeks back. But for now, Defense budget officials are pretty pleased that they at least know what they’ll be allowed to spend for the next two years. Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu has more.

  Federal Drive

  November 16, 2015
• Despite lower funding level, two-year budget deal is ‘huge’ for Pentagon

  Despite lower funding levels, Defense leaders count their blessings with two years of budget certainty.

  Defense

  November 16, 2015
• Marines further define new top cyber position

  The Marine Corps' information warfare chief will look into information operations and offensive weapons.

  Defense

  November 13, 2015