Defense Department
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Across the federal government, the officials who run hotline programs in agency inspector general offices say they're finding ways to cut their backlogs of incoming cases and get vital information into the hands of investigators more quickly. In part, it's because those officials are communicating with one another like never before.
May 20, 2014 -
Congress is in its first round of writing an annual Defense authorization bill. Lawmakers are determined to protect certain weapons systems even though the Pentagon says it can't afford them. While parochialism is hardly new on Capitol Hill, DoD thinks it spells big trouble while there's no new money coming its way. Federal News Radio's Jared Serbu joined Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on the Federal Drive to discuss this topic and others from his biweekly feature, Inside the DoD Reporter's Notebook .
May 19, 2014 -
Inside the DoD's Reporter's Notebook is biweekly feature focused on news about the Defense Department and defense community as gathered by Federal News Radio DoD Reporter Jared Serbu. Submit your ideas, suggestions and news tips to Jared via email.
May 19, 2014 -
In Part 4 of the special report, Questioning Clearances, Federal News Radio examines the government's plan to use new technology to keep better tabs on cleared personnel on a near, real-time basis. But some experts wonder whether such a plan could be implemented successfully in the swift timelines sought by the government.
May 18, 2014 -
A group of retired military officers is urging the Pentagon to beef up plans for dealing with the impact of climate change. The advice comes in the form of a 68-page report published yesterday by the CNA Corporation. It says the risk has accelerated and that climate change is a catalyst for conflict. Rear Adm. Dave Titley (Ret.) is a member of the CNA Corporation Military Advisory Board and a former Navy Oceanographer and Navigator. He told Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on the Federal Drive what CNA is recommending to current military leaders.
May 15, 2014 -
The Pentagon has issued a final rule for dealing with counterfeit parts. Officials believe too many of them make their way into crucial electronic systems, threatening their reliability or compromising their security. The rule has been a long time coming. It affects both government buyers and industry suppliers. Joe Petrillo, a procurement attorney with the law firm Petrillo & Powell, spoke about some of the main aspects of the rule with Tom Temin and Emily Kopp on the Federal Drive.
May 15, 2014 -
The Air Force says it's jumping with both feet into the Defense Department's future Joint Information Environment. The service says it is positioned to influence the program as it takes shape. The Air Force has just gone through a major network consolidation of its own. Federal News Radio's Jared Serbu reports. Read Jared's related article.
May 15, 2014 -
The Air Force thinks it's in a unique position with regard to the military's difficult migration into a shared IT infrastructure. It just went through the same exercise internally and believes those lessons can shape the Defense Department's Joint Information Environment.
May 15, 2014 -
Terry Halvorsen, who has served as the Navy Department's chief information officer since 2010, will become the acting DoD CIO next week.
May 14, 2014 -
The Air Force claims the most progress in helping the military improve financial management. But government auditors say the Defense Department's effort to get an unqualified financial audit is at risk. One reason is the shortcomings in IT systems. Federal News Radio Executive Editor Jason Miller told Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp where DoD stands as the first of two financial management deadlines approach. Read Federal News Radio's related article.
May 14, 2014 -
The intelligence community and the Defense Department are both trying to build IT networks that attempt to get rid of IT stovepipes. In the process, they've found a few ways to work together.
May 14, 2014 -
The Air Force does a 180 and now predicts it will meet the September and the 2017 financial management deadlines. Government auditors and Senate lawmakers agree the key to this effort is whether the Defense Department can upgrade and improve their track record in implementing ERP systems.
May 14, 2014 -
Ten years ago, the federal government was faced with a crisis in managing security clearances: costly delays and backlogs in performing background investigations. The Office of Personnel Management stepped in and tremendous progress clearing the backlog and meeting strict new timelines mandated by Congress. But some critics now worry too much focus has been put on speed in the process — and not enough attention has been given to quality. In our special report, Questioning Clearances, Federal News Radio examines why efforts to measure the quality of background investigations have stalled.
May 14, 2014 -
The Defense Department is the largest consumer of oil in the United States, according to the New America Foundation. Now the Foundation is hiring one of the senior leaders in charge of making that oil consumption more efficient. Sharon Burke, senior adviser for the International Security Program at the New America Foundation and former assistant secretary of Defense for Operational Energy Plans and Programs, talks to In Depth with Francis Rose.
May 13, 2014 -
The Department of Defense is asking contractors to innovate in helping the agency deal with its budget problems. The Pentagon says innovation is important for a lot of reasons. Alan Shaffer, acting assistant secretary of Defense for research and engineering, says DoD's innovation shortfall today is several decades in the making. He joins In Depth with Francis Rose in Executive Suite.
May 13, 2014