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Bob Brewin

Editor at Large Bob Brewin joined Government Executive in April 2007, bringing with him more than 20 years of experience as a journalist focusing on defense issues and technology. Bob covers the world of defense and information technology for Nextgov, and is the author of the “What’s Brewin” blog.
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The Defense-VA-Vendor Conference Nobody Wants You to Know About

May 1, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow An outfit called the Defense Strategies Institute will hold a conference in Alexandria, Va., May 15-16 on the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments’ planned integrated electronic health record featuring high ranking speakers from both departments. Any vendor who wants to attend can do so. But the media will be prohibited. ...

DARPA Seeks 'Far Out' Ideas for Mobile Networks

May 1, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency wants “far out” ideas to improve mobile wireless networks, and those ideas should not rely on Internet protocols to relay data between nodes. DARPA, in a notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website Tuesday, said it and other government research organizations want to ...

VA Eliminates Bonuses for Benefits Officials

April 30, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow Senior executives of the Veterans Benefits Administration will not receive 2012 performance bonuses and the funds will be invested to accelerate elimination of the disability claims backlog, according to the Veterans Affairs Department. “Based on VBA’s organizational performance goals, senior executives will not receive performance awards for fiscal 2012,” VA ...

Who Wants To Steer a Nuclear Bomber with an iPad?

April 30, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow There’s an iPad app for almost everything, including software to help crews of B-52 and B-2 nuclear bombers find their way about the skies. The Air Force Global Strike Command wants to acquire between 700 and 1,000 electronic flight bags packed with FAA and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency flight navigation software ...

Military Health System and TRICARE Lose Control Over IT Budget

April 30, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow The Defense Department has quietly shifted management and oversight of health information technology, including procurements from the Military Health System and the TRICARE Management Activity, to Frank Kendall, under secretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, Nextgov has learned. Multiple industry sources confirmed the shift. One official said the ...

Sixty-Seven Senators Urge Obama to Resolve VA Claims Backlog

April 29, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow More than two-thirds of the U.S. Senate sent a letter to President Obama Monday urging his “direct and public involvement” to end the Veterans Affairs Department’s disability claims backlog. The letter, co-authored by Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Dean Heller, R-Nev., and signed by a bipartisan group of another 65 ...

DISA Eyes Wi-Fi at Fort Meade

April 29, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow The Defense Information System Agency plans to cover its Fort Meade, Md., campus with Wi-Fi service, a technology embraced by coffee shops worldwide about a decade ago. In a request to industry earlier this month, the agency said it wants the network to blanket its campus, which includes five buildings ...

So Long TRICARE Health Management Activity, Hello Defense Health Agency

April 25, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel tapped Air Force Maj. Gen. Douglas Robb for promotion today to the rank of lieutenant general and to serve as director of the new Defense Health Agency. Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter directed the establishment of the new agency – and the dissolution of ...

VA Installs Paperless Claims System at Most Regional Offices

April 25, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow The Veterans Affairs Department has installed its paperless disability claims processing system in 36 out of 57 regional offices as of this week; five more offices will have the Veterans Benefits Management System next week, Stephen Warren, the department’s acting Chief Information Officer said on a media call today. While ...

Program Chief: Software Problems Could Delay F-35’s Delivery Beyond 2017

April 25, 2013 FROM NEXTGOV arrow Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher Bogdan, program executive officer for the $397 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, told Senate lawmakers yesterday he has concerns that software development challenges could further delay delivery of combat ready aircraft slated to complete final testing by 2019. Contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. is developing ...