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Defense
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As the 13th anniversary of the September 11th attacks approaches, there are no specific threats against Washington or New York, but authorities are concerned about the rising power of militant groups around the world, which presents a complex terrorism picture. New York and Washington are still the top terrorist targets but U.S. intelligence officials recognize that the rest of the country is just a vulnerable.
September 10, 2014 -
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During an ongoing Veterans Affairs inspector general investigation, more than a dozen VA officials lied to investigators. Given what officials have learned so far, the practices that raised alarms in Phoenix are pervasive throughout the Veterans Health Administration.
September 10, 2014 -
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The Federal Acquisition Regulation gets in the way of innovative information technology acquisition in government, according to many industry leaders and even some agency IT leaders. Some experts believe the FAR can be, and should be, your friend for innovative procurement. A panel of experts addressed that idea at NextGov Prime 2014 with Dave McClure of the Veris Group, Joanne Woytek of NASA SEWP, Jaymie Durnan of the Defense Department and Karen Evans of the US Cyber Challenge. McClure tells Federal News Radio's Francis Rose how the process that exists now is perceived.
September 09, 2014 -
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Agencies struggling to find talented young employees can find help outside the federal government. The group Young Government Leaders has its own university to connect young people with federal training and mentoring opportunities. Miguel Joey Aviles is chief learning officer for Young Government Leaders, and a talent management strategist for the Defense Department. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he shared some data to help you understand if the federal new-talent pipeline needs some adjustments.
September 09, 2014 -
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The 3-D printing revolution now includes an effort to replicate the human skull. The Army Research Laboratory is working on skulls that can be used for research on brain injuries. Dr. Thomas Plaisted is a materials engineer at the Composites and Hybrid Materials Branch of the Weapons and Materials Directorate at the Army Research Lab. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he said the skulls won't solve the head injury problem, but they'll be an effective tool to help find a solution.
September 09, 2014 -
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Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald has pledged to put veterans first at the department. Maureen Ellenberger is one of his warriors in the battle. As director of veterans relationship management at the Veterans Benefits Administration, she is trying to standardize the customer service that veterans receive and make sure their experiences are positive.
September 09, 2014 -
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The Veterans Affairs Department has ramped up referrals to private doctors in order to get patients the care they need more quickly. But several unions that represent VA employees argue, the uptick in referrals could signal a shift toward privatizing the VA. This all comes as Secretary Robert McDonald aims to fix how the VA treats its veterans following major reform legislation passed by Congress this past summer. Irma Westmoreland is a registered nurse and chairwoman of National Nurses United for Veterans Affairs. She joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive with her take on changes at the VA.
September 09, 2014 -
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Robert McDonald, the new secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department, says the biggest thing he's learned over his first seven weeks on the job is that the organization he leads is too hierarchical and too insular. He's promising to build a "flatter" VA that encourages dissent.
September 09, 2014 -
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Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois has asked Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to review a program that provides high-powered rifles and other surplus military equipment to civilian police departments across the country. The Senate's second ranking Democrat on Friday said he has long been concerned about their use of military equipment and military-style tactics by local police departments. He said the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer gives "new urgency" to a review of the Pentagon program.
September 08, 2014 -
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An analysis from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments says the Defense Department will need between $200 billion to $300 billion more than budget caps allow to move forward with its current strategy.
September 08, 2014 -
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The Pentagon says it will consider upgrading discharges to Vietnam-era veterans who received other than honorable discharges, and can show proof of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Proving their cases could get tricky though. PTSD wasn't an official medical diagnosis until the 1980s and many records have been destroyed. But the Pentagon has promised liberal consideration. The guidance comes after a lawsuit earlier this year from a group of veterans who claim their applications for discharge upgrade were wrongfully denied. Tom Berger is executive director of the Veterans Health Council at the Vietnam Veterans of America. He joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to discuss the new the effort.
September 08, 2014 -
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The Navy has made an important step in advancing its aerial strike and surveillance technology. It's found a way to blend unmanned and manned jets on the same aircraft carrier. Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt off of the Virginia coast, the Navy successfully completed a test. A self-guided plane took off, landed and then maneuvered out of the way for a manned jet to land. Rear Adm. Mat Winter is the program executive for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons at Naval Air Systems Command. He joined Tom Temin on the Federal Drive to explain why the test runs are important to the Navy.
September 08, 2014 -
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The Pentagon issued a handful of directives in August designed to reverse the trend in its contract competition rate, which has slipped from 64 percent in 2008 to 56.5 percent in the third quarter of 2014. A preliminary analysis shows most of the opportunity for improvement is in service contracting.
September 08, 2014 -
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The Defense Health Agency is conducting market research in advance of a planned RFP for a 10-year, $20 billion IT services and support contract. It's possible that vendors will be added to the contract without a formal source selection process.
September 05, 2014
