This is one in a regular series exploring how federal agencies are finding and implementing innovative ways to drive efficiency and cut costs.
Once upon a time, farmers drove their horses and carts to the local USDA office to fill out loan paperwork, chat with experts and pick up information. Even 50 years ago, farmers hopped in their pickup trucks for the trip to the USDA’s local farm service agency office. Keep reading →
This is one in a regular series on the latest innovation in mobile apps and mobile technology in the federal government.
From Smokey Bear to “mobile hogs,” the Department of Agriculture is moving at breakneck speed to integrate mobile apps into every aspect of the far-flung and multi-dimensional department. Keep reading →
U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park told millions of Twitter followers today that skillful use of “big data” can help patients understand their health status and provide insights into how to improve their own health.
In conjuction with Big Data Week, he answered questions from around the world, focusing on practical applications for large aggregations of data, particularly in the health care field. Parks, who previously held the CTO post at HHS, said privacy concerns are surmountable and that the widespread dissemination of the information can help individuals to care for themselves, as well as helping medical professionals provide better care. Keep reading →
The General Services Administration’s Inspector General testified Tuesday that he has referred allegations of fraud and corruption to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution in the agency’s $823,000 Las Vegas conference scandal. And a clearly outraged subcommittee chairman threatened to disband the GSA altogether.
While declining to elaborate, GSA IG Brian Miller, told a House Transportation subcommittee that he did “send a referral” to the DOJ, which is administrative language for calling on the Justice Department to investigate whether any of the fraud and corruption charges uncovered in his report merit criminal charges. Keep reading →
Federal CIOs say agencies and government contractors must become completely familiar with FedRAMP security controls and how they relate to each agency prior to the cloud computing service program’s launch this summer.
Richard Spires, CIO of the Department of Homeland Security, was one of several CIOs who spoke about FedRAMP at a trade group breakfast Friday. He told the packed breakfast meeting that contractors and agencies alike have to remember that FedRAMP is “not just an optional thing we can elect to do,” it’s mandatory. Keep reading →
If the goal is to make the IRS’s interaction with its customers more like the interaction between customers and a credit card company, Terry Milholland seems like the guy to do it. He used to be executive vice president and chief technology officer for Visa International.
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman recruited Milholland from Visa in 2088 and installed him as IRS’s Chief Technology Officer. Prior to his service at Visa, Milholland was CIO and CTO for Electronic Data Systems Corp., and before that CIO for The Boeing Company. He brought more than 30 years experience to the IRS. Keep reading →
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s management style can be summed up in two words: Listen. Decide.
Listen, because he knows that there are many people in his department and outside of it who know a lot more about the technical transportation issues than he does. And decide, because, well, he’s got the title. Keep reading →
In the latest installment of his “On the Go” series, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood answers questions submitted by the public via Facebook, Twitter, and his blog.
His efforts to use social media are part of a management style that has also earned him a relatively high degree of clout in social media circles. Keep reading →