Older Feds Aren't Playing to Their Strengths
Is It Too Hard to Fire Misbehaving Feds?
Americans Still Like the Postal Service
A Forced 4-Day Weekend for Many Feds
No More Tax-Cheating Feds, Senators Say
Video: The Daily Show on Apple's Taxes
AUTHOR ARCHIVES
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.
VA Says it Deferred 2012 Bonuses for Some Health Execs
May 8, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Veterans Affairs Department spokesman Josh Taylor defended VA’s system of paying executive bonuses, telling Nextgov the payments are necessary to “attract and retain the best and brightest leaders.” In response to the department’s ongoing struggle to reduce the backlog of disability claims as well as recent deaths at VA medical ...
Key Lawmaker Wants to Ban VA Bonuses for Five Years
May 8, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
This story was last updated at 5:34 p.m. to include a comment from VA. The chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee proposed legislation that would ban all bonuses for senior executives in the Veterans Affairs Department for the next five years. The move by Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., is ...
Why You Shouldn't Buy Used Italian Airlifters
May 7, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
In 2008, the Air Force bought 18 twin-turboprop G. 222 aircraft, formerly used by the Italian Air Force, for the fledgling Afghan Air Force to use. The cost was pegged at $600 million. Air Force Chief of Staff Mark Welsh III told a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee ...
Pentagon: China Views Information Warfare as Key to Countering U.S. Pacific Forces
May 6, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
China views cyber warfare as the essential element to attack U.S. forces operating in the western Pacific, the Defense Department reported today in its annual analysis of that country’s military capabilities. The Pentagon, in its report “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China,” said the People’s Liberation ...
Defense Intelligence Agency Contemplates Austerity
May 6, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Since 2001, intelligence agencies have had just about all money they wanted, but not anymore, as the cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act are hitting even previously inviolable spook accounts. In a reflection of this new reality, the Defense Intelligence Agency plans a conference with industry at its Darth ...
Pentagon Approves Use of Samsung Android and New BlackBerry Devices
May 2, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
The Defense Department has approved the Android Knox smartphone made by Samsung and new BlackBerry smartphones and tablets running Enterprise Service 10 software for use on its networks. The Pentagon did not approve the use of Apple smartphones or tables yet, which numerous media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, ...
Chuck Yeager: F-35 Not The Right Stuff
May 2, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to break the sound barrier, had some trenchant comments on the $397 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter on his Twitter feed last week: “I was asked my opinion about the F-35. It's a waste of money. Far too expensive. Give me an F-15 E -- ...
Defense IG: TRICARE Acquisition Staff Lack Required Certification and Training
May 2, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
Procurement personnel at the TRICARE Management Activity, which had an acquisition budget of $18.8 billion in 2012, lacked formal certification for their jobs, proper training and accurate position descriptions, the Defense Department Inspector General said in a highly critical report released yesterday. These problems start at the top, the IG ...
The Defense-VA-Vendor Conference Nobody Wants You to Know About
May 1, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
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
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 ...
