Transportation Security Administration

Enterprise Services Streamline DHS IT Infrastructure

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Like the rest of the federal government, the Department of Homeland Security is facing a future of tighter budgets while trying to modernize its IT systems. As the third largest cabinet department, the DHS has struggled since its inception to seamlessly tie together the computer systems of all of its constituent agencies.

But recently, DHS has made some headway in streamlining its infrastructure through the use of enterprise-wide service bundles, trimming data centers and launching a host of pilot programs aimed at getting more bang for the buck. Keep reading →

 /  Published November 7, 2012 at 9:00 AM

How Three Leaders Use Analytics To Make Better Decisions

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Using analytics to make better decisions is taking root in agencies across the government, notes a new report, which explores how a dozen pioneers did it. The report, by the Partnership for Public Service and the IBM Center, also offers advice from leaders of some of those organizations that shows how others can make better decisions using analytics as well.

Investing in, and using, program evaluation has been a hard sell in many agencies for years. While evaluation is important for long-term program assessments, it can be expensive and take years to complete. But with new technology and greater availability of data, many agencies are beginning to take advantage of the value of existing real-time administrative data. This movement is called “data analytics.” And the immediacy of results is appealing to many executives. Keep reading →

 /  Published October 31, 2012 at 4:30 PM

How IRS Helps Agents Deter Tax Cheats Using Analytics

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The IRS, FEMA and a growing number of other federal agencies are turning the art of analytics into an increasingly powerful workplace discipline that is helping agencies and their employees improve their collective performance. Keep reading →

 /  Published October 19, 2012 at 8:00 AM

Federal Agencies Ponder BYOD Policy Details

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As the federal government moves to widespread implementation of mobile device policies, the most attractive and cost effective approach appears to be personnel using their own personal devices to do their jobs.

But while BYOD policies make economic sense, the devil is in the details. This is especially important for the Defense Department and other federal organizations responsible for handling sensitive and classified data. Keep reading →

 /  Published July 24, 2012 at 3:00 PM

Mobile Milestones: TSA Releases App To Help Travelers And Identify Threats

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This is one in a regular series on the latest innovation in mobile apps and mobile technology in the federal government.

The Transportation Security Administration has developed a mobile application which, on the surface, helps travellers, but which also makes the TSA’s job of weeding out potential threats to the system easier as well. It also allows customer feedback in real time. Keep reading →

 /  Published June 13, 2012 at 2:00 PM

TSA Mission: Impossible? Insight From Former TSA Administrator Kip Hawley

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As we head into a holiday weekend in which millions of travelers are expected to take to the skies across the U.S., it’s hard to fathom the task at hand for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA): keep travelers safe without causing long, annoying lines and bringing holiday travel to a grinding halt.

This week, former TSA Administrator Kip Hawley sat down for a podcast interview with Chris Dorobek to discuss what TSA has done right and wrong over the past 10 years and what it can do to improve security in the future. Keep reading →

 /  Published May 25, 2012 at 5:45 PM