Tom Temin

  • For the second year in a row, NASA's safety panel points out a "growth over time in the maximum acceptable Loss of Crew probabilities."

    January 15, 2016
  • When U.S. military forces engage, they're usually working in concert with allies. The more entities that are involved and the more communications channels there are, the greater the chances they'll run into blackages. It's called interoperability — or a lack thereof. Joel Dolisy, the CIO of network analysis company Solarwinds, has come up with a three-point action plan for boosting military communications interoperability. Federal Drive with Tom Temin asked him, what are some of the challenges they're facing now?

    January 15, 2016
  • It has a grand and ambitious name. If it becomes law, it has the potential to change how agencies do their business and even eliminate a few of them. The Government Transformation Act has both Senate and House backers from both parties. Steve Goodrich, president and CEO of the Center for Organizational Excellence, joins Federal Drive with Tom Temin with an analysis of the legislation.

    January 15, 2016
  • If you're a defense contractor, one of your toughest dance partners is Tina. Take a wrong step with her and your whole company could end up under and audit investigation. Tina stands for the Truth in Negotiation Act. It's companion regulation in FAR part 15, though, it is undergoing revision thanks to the Pentagon's Better Buying Power program. Attorney Vincent Napoleon, a partner at Nixon Peabody, joins Federal Drive with Tom Temin with the details on the changes.

    January 15, 2016
  • In Friday's Federal Headlines, the Postal Service tested its plan for responding to mass data breaches three times over the last six years.

    January 15, 2016
  • The First Responder Network Authority issued its Request for Proposals for the nationwide public safety broadband network this week. The network will be the first of its kind dedicated to public safety.

    January 15, 2016
  • Talk about a procurement gone wrong from the beginning. In contracting for training services for its fliers, the Navy made several mistakes. Big ones. Not surprisingly, the Government Accountability Office sustained the protest brought by Cortek. Procurement attorney Joseph Petrillo of the Washington firm Petrillo and Powell shares some lessons on what not to do on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

    January 14, 2016
  • Even though Congress gave the Air Force every dollar it asked for in its 2016 budget for facility upkeep, the service estimates it will have 20 percent less funding than it needs. Leaders say it’s enough to patch and mend their existing facilities, but that approach will only work for so long. Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu provides all the details for Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

    January 14, 2016
  • Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is demanding answers from Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald after two senior officials accused of mismanagement and misconduct at the Phoenix VA Health Care System returned to work.

    January 14, 2016
  • The Defense Department has made a push in recent years to invest more in cybersecurity. DoD's third offset strategy aims to bring the U.S. military into the future. And soon the President’s Fiscal 2017 budget request, which is set to come out in February, will reveal some of DoD’s third offset cyber plans. On Federal Drive with Tom Temin, Federal News Radio reporter Scott Maucione talks about DoD's cyber priorities with Dynamic Technology Solutions executive vice president for cybersecurity and intelligence, and retired Navy Adm. Norman Hayes.

    January 14, 2016
  • Cybersecurity rules for contractors — that's something the Defense Department has been emphasizing. The brass want companies that hold sensitive federal information to better safeguard it, and notify officials when there's a breach. But those rules are delayed. Federal Drive with Tom Temin discussed what this all means with Larry Allen, principal of Allen Federal Business Partners.

    January 14, 2016
  • Federal managers might be feeling as they're in limbo in 2016. Political appointees are scarce. And in his final State of the Union address, President Barack Obama didn't have much to say to the federal workforce itself or his desire for any sort of federal reform. Tim McManus, vice president for education and outreach at the Partnership for Public Service, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin with his reflections on the speech and year ahead.

    January 14, 2016
  • Politicians and their appointees make public policy, but career people have to implement it. Often they have to figure that out for themselves. Paul Light, dean of federal service researchers at New York University, tells Federal Drive with Tom Temin most consultants and think tanks look down their noses at the nuts and bolts of government.

    January 14, 2016
  • Of the 1,000 or 1,200 political positions, very few appointees actually do apply to burrow in. In fact, most depart early for the misty shores of think tanks, consultancies, and corporate USA.

    January 14, 2016
  • House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry singled out new acquisition reform goals and a possible Defense Department reorganization for the 2017 Defense authorization bill.

    January 13, 2016