The Debate on CEM Certificates in Emergency Management

Below is a current article discussing the merits of obtaining a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certificate for professionals in the Emergency and Crisis Management fields. In establishing the certification process the IAEM created a standard body of knowledge for emergency managers, then set requirements for them to meet to become certified. The certifications have evolved,Read… Read more »

Should Government Reorganize Itself? (Part IV)

Would “virtual agencies” be an effective alternative to traditional structural reorganization initiatives? If so, what needs done to make them happen? When Vice President Gore’s reinventing government team was being formed in the early 1990s, he encouraged it to not focus on reorganizing agencies and programs, but rather to fix what’s inside the agencies. HeRead… Read more »

Scottish Rite Mystery Revealed

This afternoon I attended a luncheon at the Scottish Rite Temple in DuPont Circle. This particular order of the Freemasons has a strong connection to The George Washington University, where I attend school and provides many fellowships for various graduate and undergraduate programs. I was fortunate enough to receive such a fellowship. This was partiallyRead… Read more »

Legislative Tolerance

There are rites of passage in spring — flowers peek from the soil, the snow clearing equipment goes to the back of the shed, major religions celebrate important holidays, and state legislatures begin debating issues that can change our lives. Congress is in session all months now, but meaningful legislation moves slowly in Washington. StateRead… Read more »

Budget cuts and myriad services: The changing role of libraries

Library use is blooming in the US – but not necessarily because of books. As a tough economy makes jobs scarce and amenities like Internet too pricey for some, the resources libraries offer becomes a blessing. DorobekINSIDER’s Chris Dorobek spoke with Larry Eichel, Project Director of the Philadelphia Research Initiative at The Pew Charitable TrustsRead… Read more »

What’s Missing from CFPB’s Awesome New Source Code Policy

Most often, when we talk about open source in government, it’s talked about in one of two ways: either it’s the pitfalls of the federal IT procurement model that can’t seem to comprehend a world in which open-source is an option, much less potentially a superior choice (“acquisition as a roadblock“), or it’s reiterating theRead… Read more »