Posts Tagged: Secretary

10K OSD, 2K Southcom Emails Now in DISA’s Cloud

The Defense Information Systems Agency has migrated more than 10,000 staff email accounts in the Office of Secretary of Defense and 2,000 Southern Command users to the agency’s private, cloud-based email system. DISA intends for DOD Enterprise Email to eventually support more than 4.5 million users and the system currently has 1.4 million users, theRead… Read more »

What Does It Take to Lead a State Agency?

By Associate Consultant Tess Mullen, MPA ‘13 This week, Fels Research & Consulting is releasing its latest Promising Practices report: “What It Takes to Lead State Agencies: Promising Practices for State Cabinet Secretaries.” Based on in-depth interviews with more than 24 current and former cabinet secretaries nationwide, this new report explores seven core competencies thatRead… Read more »

VA Must Restructure To Effectively Process Veterans Claims

Gregg Zoroya in an article which ran in the USA Today Newspaper on April 6, 2011 wrote about the VA backlog of claims increasing tremendously from 200,000 to a whopping 450,000 from 2009. He said in the article, that VA had expected an increase in claims and hired an additional 3000 employees, which brought theRead… Read more »

GPRA Mod Act Explained: Part 7

The new law codifies an existing governance framework for performance across government by designating chief operating officers in each major agency and requiring the designation of program improvement officers in each agency. It also authorizes a governmentwide performance improvement council and requires a governmentwide performance website. Governance of Overall Performance System. After the original GPRARead… Read more »

Special Message from Secretary Gary Locke

TO: All DOC Employees FROM: Secretary Gary Locke SUBJECT: Reminder: Your Participation in the 2010 Combined Federal Campaign is Still Needed! This is the last week for active Combined Federal Campaign of the National Capital Area (CFCNCA) solicitation. This morning we topped 93 percent of our $3.9 million target. Our goal is in sight. HaveRead… Read more »

Special Message from Secretary Arne Duncan about the CFCNCA

Hi, this is Arne Duncan with a message for all Department of Education staff in the National Capital Area. The holiday season has always been the time for Americans to make a special effort to help those in need. As all of you know, these are tough, tough times for so many families in ourRead… Read more »

Paradigm shift: Use Consultants Surgically

We applaud Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ recent announcement of his proposed initiative to cut costs, as we also applaud the Office of Management and Budget’s move to halt IT modernization efforts that have consistently cost more and delivered less than promised. We see a paradigm shift in how government is working – instead of justRead… Read more »

Filling Gaps in US Commerce Department Leadership

President Obama has filled two vital leadership posts in the US Department of Commerce, announcing the appointment of a new Under Secretary for International Trade, and a new Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration and head of the Bureau of Industry and Security. Eric L. Hirschhorn, the nominee for Under Secretary of Commerce forRead… Read more »

World Trade Week: View from the Border

2009 World Trade Week events in the southern California/US-Mexico border region: Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce & U.S. Commercial Service co-hosted The Americas Business Forum in Los Angeles May 27-28. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke reminded guests to tap the US & Foreign Commercial Service’s myriad resources. LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa shared his vision ofRead… Read more »

The Difference

With today’s message, and the appointment of General Shinseki as VA Secretary, the differing views of government and governing are again made apparent. Shinseki said it all when he left in 2003: “You must love those you lead before you can be an effective leader,” he said. “You can certainly command without that sense ofRead… Read more »