The Federal Communications Commission announced yesterday it has established an Office of Native Affairs and Policy to advance its mission of bringing a modern communications infrastructure to Native communities across the nation. The new office will carry out government-to-government objectives with tribal governments and increased coordination with native organizations and work to promote the implementation [...]
During a meeting earlier this week at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Israel Space Agency Director General Zvi Kaplan signed a joint statement of intent to expand the agencies’ cooperation in civil space activities. The signing followed a meeting between Bolden, Kaplan and Daniel Hershkowitz, Israel’s minister of science and [...]
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates stressed the importance of adequate funding for federal partners that assist military efforts Thursday night at the Marines’ Memorial Association George P. Shultz lecture series in California. Gates explained agencies such as the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development are “woefully underfunded” and understaffed and that the [...]
Despite improvements at various radar facilities, the Federal Aviation Administration computer systems remain vulnerable to cyber attacks, according to a new government review. The Department of Transportation’s Inspector General said while FAA has made progress in securing some air-traffic control facilities, the majority of sites have not been upgraded. According to The Associated Press, FAA [...]
The Veterans Affairs Department announced Wednesday it has implemented a standard identifier to enable a single, lifetime electronic health record to be used from enlistment to death. Based on the 2004 Homeland Security Presidential Directive that established common identification standards for all federal employees and contractors, the 10-digit identifier will be used in VA information systems [...]
The Obama administration has appointed Frank Islam to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business. Islam founded QSS Group, acquired by Perot Systems for $250 million in an all-cash transaction. The company had revenues of approximately $260 million. “I am just elated, honored and humbled to serve on this committee because it [...]
In a video message released today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the Defense INVEST Program, which is designed to solicit ideas from DoD employees and service members on ways to reduce costs. During a briefing held Aug. 9, Gates said he is looking for military and DoD civilian personnel to think outside the box on [...]
President Barack Obama signed into law yesterday the Manufacturing Enhancement Act, legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s manufacturing economy. The bill will create jobs and spur competition among companies by reducing or eliminating import tariffs, boosting output, supporting American jobs and lowering prices for American consumers. “For too long, we’ve been buying too much from [...]
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates yesterday presided over Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis’ assumption of command from Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Allen, who had been acting commander since Army Gen. David H. Petraeus left the command to lead NATO operations in Afghanistan. “General Mattis is one of the most formidable warrior-scholars of his [...]
During an ongoing two-day cybersecurity education workshop at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Defense Department unveiled its national awareness campaign that will be launched during National Cybersecurity Awareness month in October. The “Stop. Think. Connect.” campaign hopes to make more Americans aware of threats in cyberspace through various multimedia platforms. “We really [...]