SDFM The Business of Defense
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The Department of Veterans Affairs has just launched a new portal site that will let the open source software community build on and improve its existing electronic health record system. VA will soon release the source code to its Vista health record system through the Freedom of Information Act on the new site, OSEHRA.org. The Open Source Health Record Agent will act as the custodian for the code, and coordinate any improvements made either by VA developers or by the open source community.
September 06, 2011 -
Arlington National Cemetery\'s current system of burial records is a hodgepodge of paper index cards, digital data and scanned images. To create the cemetery\'s first unified database, the Army is deploying soldiers equipped with iPhones. They\'re photographing each and every headstone on the cemetery grounds. And analysts are combining those photos with existing records to create Arlington\'s first authoritative data source for burial sites. The first phase of the project is expected to be finished in October.
September 06, 2011 -
The Defense Information Systems Agency is working to transform the way military members, civilians and contractor users access national security computing systems. Instead of having to administer accounts on various, dispersed systems with millions of separate usernames and passwords, DISA is creating a system of attribute based authentication. It would automatically grant users access based on their secure identity credentials, and their need to get into a particular data system.
September 06, 2011 -
The General Services Administration says the section of its website that includes information on per diem reimbursement rates is among its most highly trafficked. So the agency decided to create a mobile application to display the same information. It includes government reimbursement rates for lodging, meals and incidentals. The agency is exploring the idea of letting the app automatically detect a user\'s location and provide local rates. It\'s available for iPhone and Blackberry right now. Android is next.
September 06, 2011 -
The Energy Department has just redesigned and relaunched its main website, using free, open source software. The new edition of Energy.gov was designed using the Drupal content management system. The Department says not only does it support hosting on a cloud-based back end infrastructure, it will also let Energy do a better job of engaging with visitors to the site. It includes new features that give users localized information and resources about saving energy and other topics.
September 06, 2011 -
California\'s budget woes could be helped by an increase in the use of telework by state employees, according to a new report from the Telework Research Network.
September 05, 2011 -
Jason Wilder President, AFGE U.S. Marshals Service Local 2272 David Sheagley Regional Vice President, AFGE Social Security Administration Council 220 President, AFGE SSA Local 3448 John O\'Grady Treasurer, AFGE Environmental Protection Agency Council 238 President, AFGE EPA Local 704 Joe Mansour National Workers\' Compensation Coordinator, AFGE Council of Prison Locals President, AFGE Bureau of Prisons Local 1102
September 01, 2011 -
General David Petraeus is separating from the military today. He graduated from West Point in 1974 and embarked on a career that made him famous in 2007 as the architect of the U.S. Iraq war strategy. He stressed the importance of increasing Iraqi governmental capacity, development of employment programs, and improving daily life for its citizens. This in turned many Iraqis against Al Qaida in Iraq. Petraeus\'s next move is to the CIA, where he\'ll be the director.
August 31, 2011 -
A soldier from Loudoun County, Va., has been killed in Afghanistan. Twenty-three-year-old Specialist Douglas J. Green of Sterling, Va., died Sunday in Kandahar province in Afghanistan, of injuries he suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device. Green was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.
August 31, 2011 -
Tuesday, July 12th at 12pm This panel will discuss the new wave of cyber attacks, application vulnerability, pro-active approaches to defend against cyber attacks, cost-savings and recommendations to stay ahead of the continued cyber threats.
August 29, 2011 -
August 29th, August 31st, and September 1st 2011 Under Dr. Childs\' leadership, the college has become the international leader in providing graduate-level educational services and learning experiences.
August 29, 2011 -
Recent events have elevated the importance of telework in the federal government ranks.
August 28, 2011 -
Merit Systems Protection Board Executive Director Steve Lenkart and John Crum, director of MSPB\'s Office of Policy and Evaluation, join host Debra Roth to talk about the challenges facing the agency. August 26, 2011
August 26, 2011 -
It\'s primarily viewed as a tool to promote their activities, but it appears now there are substantive discussions in the U.S. about how to use certain platforms as secure communications tools. During a recent two-day exchange between U.S. and Bahamian military officials, Stacey Knott, NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs Social Media specialist said the goal was to help Bahamian Defense force learn from U.S. mistakes and successes.
August 24, 2011 -
The European Union has imposed asset freezes and visa bans on 15 Syrians, including senior military intelligence and police officials. Five institutions, including military and air force intelligence agencies, were added to a list of entities that EU companies are banned from doing business with. An oil embargo is expected as well. Syria produces 400,000 barrels a day.
August 24, 2011