From enhancing IT training for veterans to Harvard announcing its top 25 government innovators, there was plenty of positive news in the federal news cycle last week. Of course, this is tempered with the 9 percent proposed IT cuts in 2014, which is just another sign of us all living in the new ‘sequestration nation.’
Be sure to check out this news and much more in the latest Federal News Round Up post from Federal Technology Insider. Happy Monday.
Eight Agencies Make Harvard’s Top 25 List for Government Innovation
A group of policy experts, researchers and practitioners singled out nine federal programs from GSA, NASA, and DOT for using innovation in addressing a host of public challenges, including crime, health disparities, environmental degradation, and economic development.
First Lady Gets Behind Veterans’ IT Training
First Lady Michelle Obama announced a new initiative for IT training that combines the efforts of the public and private sectors to offer certifications for technology careers.
NIST’s Latest Cyber Guidelines Stress Resiliency, Privacy Controls
Officials from the National Institute of Standards and Technology are calling the latest update to its security controls catalog the most comprehensive since the guideline was first conceived in 2005.
Proposed Funding for IT Initiatives Cut 9 Percent in 2014
The Obama administration is proposing a significant budget cut next year for information technology modernization and new initiatives, which include cloud computing and mobile technology programs.
DoD Targets Aggressive Mobile Timelines
A strategy for dramatically slashing the Defense Department’s lengthy processes for approving mobile capabilities may represent a fresh approach at the Pentagon.
DARPA Seeks ‘Far Out’ Ideas for Mobile Networks
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.
Russian Space Junk Almost Destroys NASA Telescope
A high-tech NASA telescope in orbit escaped a potentially disastrous collision with a Soviet-era Russian spy satellite last year in a close call that highlights the growing threat of orbital debris around Earth.
How VA Put 13 Systems Into One View at Call Centers
The Department of Veterans Affairs recently executed a transformation that has made it easier for call center agents to quickly retrieve benefits and claims information and, at the same time, give veterans timely access to health care, claims status, and business information.