Thanks to lightning-fast software from the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), if a truck bomb was discovered in Lower Manhattan we will now be able to predict the likely damage patterns in the surrounding areas, and prioritize the first responders’ activities long before the bomb’s acoustic shockwave ricocheted out at the speed of sound. Keep reading →
The FBI has something new on its most wanted list: A way to monitor, map and analyze social media intelligence around the world in real time.
According to a request for information document issued Jan. 19 on a Federal Business Opportunities website, the FBI and its Strategic Information and Operations Center are looking for ideas from private industry on ways it might provide “a secure, lightweight web application portal, using mash-up technology” with the ability to “rapidly assemble critical open source information and intelligence.” Keep reading →
Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano unveiled the Obama administration’s latest “National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security” today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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This story was updated Jan. 26 to reflect additional expert comments. For more news and insights on innovations at work in government, please sign up for the AOL Gov newsletter. For the quickest updates, follow us on Twitter @AOLgov.
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“We must continue to strengthen global supply chains to ensure that they operate effectively in time of crisis; recover quickly from disruptions; and facilitate international trade and travel,” said Secretary Napolitano in a statement released today by DHS. Keep reading →
This is one in a series of articles highlighting Breaking Gov’s best stories of the past year. As we reflected on our 2011 coverage of innovation, technology and management amongst the federal agencies and workforce, this was among the stories that stood out as delivering key insight into the top issues facing today’s government community.
While many publications paid tribute to 9/11 this year, none explored the resulting creation of the Department of Homeland Security — and the largest U.S. government reorganization in half a century — better than Dan Verton. Dan succeeded in tracking down and interviewing three men who were instrumental in the birth and evolution of DHS: the nation’s first Secretary of Homeland Security; the deputy for counterterrorism on the National Security Council, and the CIA’s deputy director of intelligence. Keep reading →
The Obama Administration has now released its Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States. This represents a milestone in our nation’s effort to work together collaboratively to keep our communities safe and secure.
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This article originally appeared as a blog post on the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
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At DHS, our approach to countering violent extremism (CVE) emphasizes the strength of local communities. As part of our CVE efforts, DHS works closely with our international, federal, community, state, local, and tribal partners. You can learn more about our work here. (Also see related counterterrorism stories on Breaking Gov). Keep reading →
Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) is chairman of the Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access
On Oct 13, 2011, I announced the successful introduction of an amendment to eliminate wasteful software license spending in the House version of the Department of Homeland Security authorization bill. The language of that bill provides, among other things, that the chief information officer of the DHS: Keep reading →
Former National Security Agency and CIA director Michael Hayden, in an open question to the nation, wonders: “The government warns Americans about health, pollution, weather and other threats. Why not cyber threats?”
In an opinion column published by Federal Computer Week Dec. 9, Hayden, and co-authors Samuel Visner and David Zolet, executives at CSC, suggest: “Washington should begin sharing cyber warnings with those responsible for America’s critical infrastructure, from hospitals to water systems to banks.” Keep reading →
While planning at federal agencies is likely to remain in disarray as a result of Congress’ latest failure to resolve federal deficits, the actual financial statements at 23 out of 24 earned their best audit reviews yet, the Office of Management and Budget announced Friday.
The declaration meant that each agency, with the exception of the Pentagon, had satisfied independent auditors that their financial statements were accurate and reflected sound financial management practices. The results were the best record to date in the two decades since the passage of the 1990 Chief Financial Officers Act, when major agencies were required to produce audited financial statements comparable to what private corporations must produce. Keep reading →
The National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded its latest forum on federal cloud computing earlier this month with the release of the U.S. Government Cloud Computing Technology Roadmap designed to help federal agencies understand the essential characteristics of authentic cloud services.
From the point of view of those who provide cloud computing infrastructure services, though, the federal government still has a long way to go in learning how to utilize such services. Keep reading →
This article originally appeared on CIO.gov, the website of the U.S. chief information officer and the Federal CIO Council. Richard Spires is CIO of the Department of Homeland Security and vice chair of the Federal CIO Council.
I had the privilege to attend and speak at 2011 National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) National Training Event (at the end of last month) on behalf of the Executive Steering Council and other strategic partners who steward the program. The two-day NTE was both educational and inspiring-undoubtedly the NIEM community is really something special to be a part of. Keep reading →