Author Archive
Jonathan Ewing
Digital Government
CIO: Follow industry's lead
The Defense Logistics Agency is modeling itself after the private sector by relying on commercial products and by boosting efforts to recruit, train and retain information technology professionals, said Carla A. von Bernewitz, the agency's chief information officer. Government must be willing to change its culture to take advantage of information technology, von Bernewitz said at a recent seminar sponsored by Computer Marketing Associates in Tysons Corner, Va.
Digital Government
USPS system tracks customers' special deliveries
The Postal Service last month launched an electronic tracking option for priority mail customers who want to ensure the delivery of important letters or packages. The project cost the Postal Service $300 million to develop and implement. "It's a wonderful piece of machinery that really allows customers who deal in bulk mailings, like small and medium-size businesses, an added degree of control over their shipments," said Julie Rios, program manager
Digital Government
Reform hones business, federal alliances, Lee says
Government agencies' increased focus on core missions has propelled information technology procurement reform, said Deidre Lee, Office of Federal Procurement Policy administrator. Government must remember that it is ultimately responsible for making the lives of citizens easier, she said. "It's all about matching the systems with the core missions of the agencies and then with the average citizen," Lee said, speaking at a recent luncheon sponsored by the Association for
Digital Government
GAO assails Customs' handling of ACE project
The General Accounting Office last month slammed the Customs Service's billion-dollar Automated Commercial Environment project for its technical and management weaknesses. But Customs officials, while promising reform, said GAO exaggerated the problem. In a report released March 3, GAO said the Customs ACE program—an effort to modernize systems that process import data—has an unrealistic budget and lacks a systemwide architecture plan.
Digital Government
HUD aims to raise its public profile with computer kiosks nationwide
The Housing and Urban Development Department this year will finish installing 95 computer kiosks—including five traveling units—across the nation to provide housing information to the public. Through the HUD Next Door program, the kiosks let users pull up data about agency services and topics such as affordable rents, housing discrimination and home buying.
Digital Government
Treasury seeks savings with comm upgrade
Treasury's contract with TRW lists neither a maximum nor a minimum amount to be paid for TCS work. A new fee-for-service arrangement will let the Treasury Department build its backbone network in a fashion and at a price that will not break the bank, senior Treasury officials said.
Digital Government
GAO faults systems for IRS financial woes
The General Accounting Office has once again slammed the IRS for poor financial management. In an audit report issued last week, GAO said the tax agency exhibits pervasive weaknesses in the design and operation of systems management, particularly in record-keeping and computer security. The result of the deficiencies, the report said, is the IRS' inability to accurately report on tax revenue received, refunds disbursed and taxes receivable from the public.
Digital Government
Group plans satellite network to tap virtual data warehouses
Using a constellation of 288 low-Earth-orbiting-satellites, Teledesic LLC and its partners will create the world's first network to provide affordable, worldwide fiber-like access to telecommunications. Called the Teledesic Network, the $9 billion project will enable broadband telecommunications access for business, schools and individuals everywhere on the planet and will allow easy access to giant virtual data warehouses.
Digital Government
NATO calls for cooperative simulation effort
NATO member nations will begin to share information on virtual prototypes and simulation-based design. But representatives of the 15-member military alliance, attending a NATO conference on the subject recently in Silver Spring, Md., stressed the need for a cooperative effort of industry and governments to reduce the time and cost required to buy and test new equipment.
Digital Government
Feds find that reliability is in the cards
Government Computer News survey: network PC Cards Overall Reliability Ease of Use Speed Full-duplex capabilities Price Documentation and help 3Com Corp. 76 91 85 84 73 58 64 Compaq Computer Corp. 67 88 88 63 63 50 50 Xircom Inc. 61 76 76 59 53
Digital Government
Federal agency leaders fall behind hackers in security expertise
Federal systems and network security managers who often lack adequate training for their jobs are finding it nearly impossible to fight numerous and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. The Defense Department sounded a wake-up call last year during its Eligible Receiver 97 exercise. Before DOD network managers were out of their beds one Monday morning, they were hit with the news that several DOD systems had been maliciously hacked into the night before, and the security of data
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Digital Government
GCN SPOTLIGHT
The price was astronomical. The months-long downtime could have cost some their jobs. In the end there was no way to fix the computerized medical equipment at the remote location in an Army field hospital in the Horn of Africa. Instead, thousands of dollars were spent on airfare, accommodations and life insurance to bring a civilian technician to war-ravaged Somalia during the United Nations intervention in 1993.
Digital Government
Marines go to battle stations that are workstations
When the Defense Department sent seemingly contradictory directives to increase training and trim budgets simultaneously, top-level officers were dubious. Flying computer-navigated jet fighters with guided missiles is no cheap matter. But when Marine Corps officers met with some of the best and brightest from the information technology community, an innovative solution began taking shape.
