TSA Nominee Erroll Southers withdraws nomination amid ‘political agenda’

President Barack Obama’s choice to lead the Transportation Security Administration is withdrawing his nomination. Erroll Southers says he is doing so because his nomination has become a lightning rod for those with a political agenda. The White House says Obama accepts Southers’ decision with great sadness. Obama had tapped Southers, a former FBI agent, toRead… Read more »

How Microsoft Added Cheeky To Its Geeky

Today I’m happy to announce that I’ve taken a full time position as Director of Innovative Social Engagement for Microsoft, in its U.S. Public Sector division that handles federal, state, and local government, education, and healthcare business. I’ll be staying in the DC area (where the division is headquartered) and will still be involved inRead… Read more »

Is the Coast Guard ready for Social Media in a Crisis Situation?

Though completely coincidental to the earthquake in Haiti, I’ve slowly been working on the thoughts and outline for this post- which now seems more relevant than ever. You’ll recall a post from a few weeks ago titled Social Media as a warning tool… which I now admit was kind of a letdown of a postRead… Read more »

Government Business 101: United States Constitution, the Executive Branch and Federal Contracting

From the Government Business Examiner by Donna L. Quesinberry In 2009 the “New Transparency” took on an enhanced definition per President Obama’s Administration – the new transparency became a virtual enactment of the transparency and accountability that public funding through federal contracting already envisions. What is the course of action that a business takes orRead… Read more »

January 22: Law.gov Panel at Princeton’s Workshop: Open Government: Defining, Designing & Sustaining Transparency

A panel (scroll down) about the Law.gov legal open government data project, will be held 22 January 2010, at the workshop entitled Open Government: Defining, Designing, and Sustaining Transparency, at Princeton University’s Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP), in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. Click here to submit questions for the panel discussion, via Google Moderator.Read… Read more »

… Might as well try and tax the wind

Apologies to Dylan, but while pondering recent taxation maneuvers around the globe in renewable energy, the lyrics to his song Catch the Wind were blowing through my head. Investment Tax Credits (ITC) appear to be holding up in most countries, to the benefit of wind and solar power industry players; even as governments map outRead… Read more »

King inspiration

As the EEO Officer for the NC Dept. of Environment & Natural Resources, I often work to promote diversity, foster mediation and coordinate discrmination cases, which can keep me busy since we have about 4,000 employees. Yet, this past weekend I was reminded in a powerful way to keep working with a skip in myRead… Read more »

Making Technology a Part of Your City’s Vision

by Sophicity Is technology a part of your city’s long term vision? If not, it should be. While most cities have long term plans for economic development or infrastructure improvement, the prevailing thinking is that IT planning only covers short-term immediate needs that don’t go beyond the next budget cycle. However, such planning is reactionaryRead… Read more »

Congress will debate TSP contributions this session

By Dorothy Ramienski Internet Editor Federal News Radio Good news came out of this month’s Federal Retirement Thrift Investments Board meeting, including news about how and when you might be able to contribute to your TSP account in the future. Tom Trabucco is director of external affairs for the Board and explains. Hear the entireRead… Read more »

Subcommittee to examine agency energy usage

By Dorothy Ramienski Internet Editor Federal News Radio Can the federal government be doing more to save money and energy? Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) is Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security. He said his committee will start off by holdingRead… Read more »