SDFM The Business of Defense
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Summer may be the time for hitting the trail or rafting the gorge, but before heading out, the National Park Service is encouraging visitors to spend at least a little time planning an itinerary, negotiating routes, and researching the environs of where they\'re going. And, they have a new website to help out. The National Park Service\'s 2010 Summer Adventure trip planning website connects visitors to travel resources, events and services at national parks across the country. The website links visitors to sites of interest, lodging, upcoming events and tips to get the most out of the nation\'s parks. An interactive calendar makes it easier to search for special events by state, or by park. Last year more than 285 million people visited national parks. The website is at www- dot-nps-dot-gov.
May 25, 2010 -
Scientists at the Nuclear Science and Technology Division of the U.S. Department of Energy\'s Oak Ridge National Lab are bringing together decades of nuclear energy and safety expertise with high-performance computing to effectively address a range of nuclear energy - and security-related - challenges. One of the goals of the Lab\'s Nuclear Science and Technology Division is to bring together what we know about nuclear energy, nuclear national security modeling, and simulation capabilities with high-performance computing. That will solve problems that were previously unthinkable, or impractical, in terms of the computing power required to address them. One example is using computational methods and software to simulate radiation, in order to support the design and safety of nuclear facilities.
May 25, 2010 -
Sources in Yemen say the U.S. couple that was kidnapped and then released were let go thanks to tribal mediation and pressure by Yemeni security forces. The Americans, who are in their thirties were kidnapped while they were on their way from Sana\'a to Manakhah and were staying at Burj al-Salam Hotel in Sana\'a. They live and work in Dubai, and were visiting Yemen for the weekend. According to the Yemen Observer, their trip was organized by Easy Travel Co. The kidnappers, had been demanding that the Yemeni government release a family member from prison in Sana\'a.
May 25, 2010 -
Gay rights activists and Obama Administration officials have begun discussing a plan to speed up the repeal of Don\'t ask, Don\'t Tell, while giving the Pentagon years to implement new policies. Implementation of policy for gays serving openly would still require the approval of President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen. How long implementation might take is unknown.
May 24, 2010 -
China is building an advanced combat jet that may rival within eight years Lockheed Martin Corp\'s F-22 Raptor, the premier U.S. fighter, a U.S. intelligence official said. Reuters reports, the expected deployment is years ahead of what the Pentagon thought the date would be. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said last year it would be 2025 before China would have that capability --Now the the estimate is 2018. The F-22 blends speed, super-agility, stealth and sensor fusion into a single package
May 24, 2010 -
One amendment, two committees equals a whole lot of nothing moving in the Telework Enhancement Act.
May 21, 2010 -
Bryan Lowry President, AFGE Council of Prison Locals Steve Ressler Founder and President, GovLoop
May 20, 2010 -
May 17th and 19th, 2010 Jon Weinstein and Tim Jaques Authors of Achieving Project Management Success in the Federal Government
May 19, 2010 -
Women who serve the federal government as law enforcement officers face unique challenges. WILFE is the professional organization that helps them. May 21, 2010
May 19, 2010 -
A multi-nation report is expected out this week that will point the finger at N Korea for the sinking of a S Korean warship. 46 sailors were killed on March 26th when a still unexplained explosion in the Yellow Sea split the 1200 ton corvette class ship in half. The Cheonan, which is about the size of a U.S. frigate was about two miles offshore at the time of the sinking. Investigators think the North Korea military launched a torpedo at the vessel.
May 17, 2010 -
NASA-sponsored studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may play a role in mitigating bone loss that occurs during spaceflight, and in osteoporosis. Researchers say, the solution could have significant implications for space travelers and those susceptible to bone loss on Earth. Ongoing research has looked for ways to stop bone density loss in astronauts for decades. It\'s one of the main effects of exposure to the weightlessness of space. Researchers found that astronauts who ate more fish lost less bone mineral after four-to-six-month-long spaceflights. In a series of cell-based studies, scientists documented that adding a specific omega-3 fatty acid to cells would inhibit the activation of factors that lead to bone breakdown. The studies were conducted by a team of scientists across multiple disciplines at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
May 17, 2010 -
Winds across the Illinois plains are now blowing clean, renewable energy into the Tennessee Valley Authority service region. The Authority - a corporation owned by the U.S. Government - has begun transmitting 300 megawatts of renewable wind power to its customers received from Iberdrola Renewables\' Streator Cayuga Ridge wind park in Livingston County, Illinois. It marks the first delivery under seven contracts TVA recently signed to purchase up to 1,380 megawatts of renewable wind energy from the Midwest. It\'s the largest of the TVA\'s wind-power contracts, which altogether may provide enough electricity for about 325,000 homes in their seven-state service region. Senior vice president for the Tennesee Valley Authority John Trawick says the new wind-power source is an important milestone in the Authority\'s plans to expand their clean and renewable energy options.
May 17, 2010 -
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has redesigned the Permanent Resident Card - commonly known as the \"Green Card\" - to incorporate several major new security features. They\'ve begun issuing all Green Cards in the new format. The redesign is the latest advance in the Immigration Department\'s ongoing efforts to deter immigration fraud, that officials say will better serve law enforcement, employers, and immigrants. Among the benefits of the new technology: Secure optical media will store biometrics for rapid, reliable identification of the card holder. Holographic images, laser engraved fingerprints, and high resolution micro-images will make the card nearly impossible to reproduce. Additionally, Radio Frequency Identification capabilities will allow Customs officers at ports of entry to read the card from a distance and compare it immediately to file data.
May 17, 2010 -
The Russian government has sentenced one of it\'s citizens to a maximum security prison on espionage charges. Gennady Sipachev is charged with spying for the Pentagon. Investigators claim Sipachev sent secret maps belonging to the Russian Army General Staff to a Pentagon intelligence unit acting under the cover of a mapping business. The Russians claim the U.S. was planning to use the maps to adjust the guidance systems on cruise missiles.
May 17, 2010 -
The Senate is considering a $60 billion that incorporates $30 billion for President Barack Obama\'s troop surge in Afghanistan with more than $5 billion to replenish disaster aid accounts, provide Haitian earthquake relief, and make a down payment on aid to flood-drenched Tennessee and Rhode Island. The Associate Press reports the must-pass legislation is the only appropriations bill likely to advance to Obama\'s desk until the fall and is a tempting target for Democrats seeking to add money for a summer jobs program or to help to local school district to retain teachers.
May 17, 2010