Defense

  • The House Armed Services Committee and leaders within industry and Pentagon are making it clear defense acquisition rules need some work. And new Congressional leaders might bring new attitudes on acquisition that could reverse current trends. Larry Allen is president of Allen Federal Business Partners. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he shared his Top 3 for 2015, and told Federal News Radio's Nicole Ogrysko 2015 is an important year for acquisition reform and the General Services Administration. He's optimistic about the future of procurement in 2015, but a look into his Magic 8 Ball said "The future is still unclear; ask again later."

    January 02, 2015
  • A new program through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences' F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine will give men and women in the enlisted ranks of the military two years of undergraduate-level science coursework meant to prepare them for the rigorous Medical College Admission Test (MCATs).

    January 02, 2015
  • Enlisted Navy and Marine Corps service members have a new, easier route to medical school. It's called the Enlisted-to-Medical Degree Preparatory Program. It puts them on equal footing with counterparts in the Army and Air Force. Dr. Art Kellermann is Dean of the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to explain how the new program works.

    January 02, 2015
  • The new year will bring new contracting initiatives throughout government. A big case in point: The Army's forthcoming Responsive Strategic Sourcing for Services, or RS3. It's one of several big, multiple-award contracts that will drive consolidation of professional services. Many more service contracts are likely to flow through vehicles like RS3 and the Navy's SeaPort E. Kevin Brancato, Senior Defense Analyst at Bloomberg Government, joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to provide a broader outlook on RS3 and defense contracting in 2015.

    January 02, 2015
  • A Government Accountability Office report says the Defense Department needs to close a gap in interagency communications to reduce the risk of foreign observation of its testing facilities.

    January 01, 2015
  • Even without all the fireworks caused by furloughs and the government shutdown that occurred in 2013, Federal News Radio readers found plenty to intrigue them in 2014. Read our 10 most-read stories for 2014.

    December 31, 2014
  • Jon Etherton, president of Etherton and Associates, will discuss a new report that looks at how to fix the defense acquisition system. December 30, 2014

    December 30, 2014
  • The Senate might confirm Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's replacement in less than a month. At the moment, chances look good for former deputy defense secretary Ash Carter to take the helm at the Pentagon. Steve Grundman is George Lund fellow for emerging defense challenges for the Atlantic Council's Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. He's also former deputy defense undersecretary for industrial affairs and installations. On In Depth with Francis Rose, Steve tells Federal News Radio's Sean McCalley Congress has an opportunity to appoint a leader who wants change.

    December 30, 2014
  • Security measures at federal government buildings in Canada and Australia are tighter now, after attacks against those buildings in the last few weeks. So far, the federal government here hasn't seen much difference in the threat landscape. General Norton Schwartz (U.S. Air Force ret.) and former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, is now President and CEO of Business Executives for National Security. In his Top 3 for 2015 and on In Depth with Francis Rose, he says we may be looking at our internal terror threat the wrong way.

    December 30, 2014
  • Geospatial intelligence tools have become critical to the military when it heads into unfamiliar landscapes around the globe. The Army's Situational Awareness Geospatially Enabled (SAGE) tools help intelligence analysts quickly identify terrain that could help or hinder a mission. Dhiren Khona is a principal investigator for the SAGE Team at the Army Geospatial Center. He joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin to explain what the system is, and what advantages it offers.

    December 30, 2014
  • Pentagon and Congressional defense leaders worry military bases, especially large test ranges, are potential targets for spying by foreign governments. That's why they want to know who their neighbors are and what they are doing so close to DOD camps and bases. Brian Lapore is the director of Defense Capabilities and Management at the Government Accountability Office. On the Federal Drive with Tom Temin, he explained why it's important to understand who owns and occupies the land surrounding training ranges.

    December 30, 2014
  • Ashton Carter has chosen his support team for the confirmation process to become Secretary of Defense. Defense One reports three people will work with Carter: former Defense Business Board Chairman Michael Bayer; former adviser to Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. Jim Mattis, Sally Donnelly; and 20-year Navy veteran Dave Copp. Todd Harrison is a fellow for defense budget studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. In his Top 3 for 2015, he tells In Depth with Francis Rose why the report from the Defense Department's Compensation Commission is probably one of the first things the new Defense secretary will deal with.

    December 29, 2014
  • Jeffrey Cathey and Lewis Runnion with Bank of America will discuss how the company is helping veterans find jobs in the private sector after they complete their military service. December 26, 2014

    December 26, 2014
  • Sharon Helman loses her job because she accepted and failed to report illegal gifts, not because she led the health care facility at the heart of the nationwide scandal over patient care.

    December 24, 2014