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On Air: Federal News Network
Top 3 for 2015
In our special radio report, Top 3 for 2015, federal experts tell In Depth host Francis Rose what top three concepts, trends or priorities they believe will be important in 2015.
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Good news is on the horizon for federal employees that plan to retire in 2015. The Office of Personnel Management's processing times for retirement claims are accelerating, and the agency will try for the fifth time to digitize the process. Tammy Flanagan is Senior Benefits Director for the National Institute for Transition Planning. On In Depth with Francis Rose, she shared her Top 3 for 2015. She told Federal News Radio's Sean McCalley the faster processing times will most help people retiring early in the year.
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When the 114th Congress gets back to work next week, a new corps of leaders will take over important committees. Mac Thornberry will lead the House Armed Services Committee; Jason Chaffetz will chair the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee; and Republicans will take over the chairs of all the committees in the Senate. Rob Burton is a partner at the Venable law firm, and former Deputy Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he shared his Top 3 for 2015. He said you can expect more oversight in the new Congress.
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Millennials make up about 7 percent of the federal workforce. About 61 percent of millennials who do work for the government say they're satisfied with their jobs. But the median time they stay at those jobs is just under four years. That's according to results in the 2014 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Tim McManus is vice president for education and outreach for the Partnership for Public Service. He shared his Top 3 for 2015 on In Depth with Francis Rose. He told Federal News Radio's Nicole Ogrysko he's optimistic government can do more to attract more millennials to the federal workforce, but it needs to overcome a few challenges first.
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As Congress comes back next week, the Defense Department expects to make a huge push to end sequestration -- or at least blunt its effects. Part of the case the Pentagon will make is that its "cost culture" strategy is making a difference in how it's spending the money it does have. Dave Wennergren is Senior Vice President for Technology at the Professional Services Council, and former Assistant Deputy Chief Management Officer at the Defense Department. He shared his Top 3 for 2015 on In Depth with Francis Rose. He said that cost culture will spread from the Pentagon to all across government.
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The House Armed Services Committee and leaders within industry and Pentagon are making it clear defense acquisition rules need some work. And new Congressional leaders might bring new attitudes on acquisition that could reverse current trends. Larry Allen is president of Allen Federal Business Partners. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he shared his Top 3 for 2015, and told Federal News Radio's Nicole Ogrysko 2015 is an important year for acquisition reform and the General Services Administration. He's optimistic about the future of procurement in 2015, but a look into his Magic 8 Ball said "The future is still unclear; ask again later."
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The calendar new year is just under way, but the year-end rush for fiscal 2015 is still eight months away. This year's fiscal-year-end rush may be a little different than other years though. Dr. Nick Nayak is former Chief Procurement Officer at the Department of Homeland Security. He shared his Top 3 for 2015 on In Depth with Francis Rose. He said you might see a blast to start the year off, then another rush in the fall.
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A budget resolution early in 2015 is a top priority for the incoming 114th Congress. Republican leaders have already said they're interested in passing some federal workforce reforms. Jessica Klement is legislative director for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees association. On In Depth with Francis Rose, she said she's worried about the possibility of a budget reconciliation, and what that could mean for federal employee benefits in the future. In her Top 3 for 15, she says she's keeping a closer eye on federal workforce policy reforms coming from the new Congress.
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A data breach at the Department of Veterans Affairs is the latest in the long line of cyber events in the Federal government. Jane Holl Lute is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Cybersecurity, and former Deputy Secretary of the Homeland Security Department. In her Top 3 for 2015, she writes low cost, basic cybersecurity prevents 80 percent to 90 percent of all known attacks. On In Depth with Francis Rose, she explained whether or not she's confident that equation will stay the same this year since incentives for the bad guys will continue to grow.
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Four new pieces of cybersecurity legislation give federal IT leaders some new tools to deal with network and information security. But that law may be responding to threats -- or problems -- that are being overcome by events. Responding to the security and privacy challenges of the Internet of Things may require a new level of thinking and legislation. Dave McClure is chief strategist of the Veris Group, and former Associate Administrator of the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies at the General Services Administration. In his Top 3 for 2015 and on In Depth with Francis Rose, he says the coming year will be the breakout for the Internet of Things.
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http://federalnewsradio.com/in-depth/2014/12/steve-grundman-fellow-atlantic-council/
The Senate might confirm Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's replacement in less than a month. At the moment, chances look good for former deputy defense secretary Ash Carter to take the helm at the Pentagon. Steve Grundman is George Lund fellow for emerging defense challenges for the Atlantic Council's Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. He's also former deputy defense undersecretary for industrial affairs and installations. On In Depth with Francis Rose, Steve tells Federal News Radio's Sean McCalley Congress has an opportunity to appoint a leader who wants change.
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Security measures at federal government buildings in Canada and Australia are tighter now, after attacks against those buildings in the last few weeks. So far, the federal government here hasn't seen much difference in the threat landscape. General Norton Schwartz (U.S. Air Force ret.) and former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, is now President and CEO of Business Executives for National Security. In his Top 3 for 2015 and on In Depth with Francis Rose, he says we may be looking at our internal terror threat the wrong way.
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New cybersecurity legislation President Obama signed recently may just be the start of Congress's efforts to improve the government's cyber defenses. The 114th Congress will look at other ways to give government IT leaders tools they need to improve security. Major General Dale Meyerrose (US Air Force ret.) was the first Chief Information Officer of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. In his Top 3 for 2015, he suggests Congressional response isn't enough. On In Depth with Francis Rose, he said he believes ongoing tensions that social media highlights don't get enough attention from leaders in the federal government.
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Ashton Carter has chosen his support team for the confirmation process to become Secretary of Defense. Defense One reports three people will work with Carter: former Defense Business Board Chairman Michael Bayer; former adviser to Adm. Mike Mullen and Gen. Jim Mattis, Sally Donnelly; and 20-year Navy veteran Dave Copp. Todd Harrison is a fellow for defense budget studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. In his Top 3 for 2015, he tells In Depth with Francis Rose why the report from the Defense Department's Compensation Commission is probably one of the first things the new Defense secretary will deal with.
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The 114th Congress convenes next week, and the budget moves they should make early on are clear to a number of defense experts. One of them is retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro, the chief executive officer of the Punaro Group. In his Top 3 for 2015, he tells In Depth with Francis Rose why dealing with the sequester, the debt and the deficit should be the top priority.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs investigated a security hole in a telehealth program. VA said personal information for more than 7,000 vets was been exposed, but the Federal Times reports both the VA and the vendor that provided the service said no data was stolen. Keith Trippie, chief executive officer of The Trippie Group, was former executive director of the Enterprise System Development Office at the Department of Homeland Security. In his Top 3 for 2015, he tells In Depth with Francis Rose even with the security risks telehealth initiatives will help government serve citizens better and save the government money in a couple different ways.
