DorobekInsider: Godspeed Nick DeCarlo

I am sad to hear the news that Nick DeCarlo, the husband of Sara DeCarlo, the current chairwoman of the Industry Advisory Council and the executive vice president of strategic business development of the newly created Avaya Government Solutions, passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer.

Our deep condolences go out to Sara and the DeCarlo family during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with them and Nick.

This is the note she sent out…

It is with great sadness that I am writing to say that my dear husband passed away early this morning at home. I have been swamped today with getting the details for the services in order, so am just writing now. I want to thank you all for your constant support of me as Nick fought his cancer. There could not have been a more wonderful group of friends and colleagues to support me while going through this very difficult time. We are really urging people to not send flowers as some of our friends have started the Nick DeCarlo Scholars Fund for an eighth grader at Holy Trinity [Catholic Church] where he taught for 10 years. This legacy is very important to me and the family.

I am attaching the information on all the upcoming funeral arrangements. They should also be in the Post in the next day or so…

Thank you again for all the prayers. Nick’s battle is over and he is at rest.

Sara

And the text of the notice with funeral arrangements:

Nicholas Peter DeCarlo

On Wednesday, December 30, Nicholas Peter DeCarlo, former teacher for 10 years and retired captain, US Navy JAG Corps, passed away at his Arlington home after a long fight with cancer. The family will receive friends at Murphy’s Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA on Sunday, January 3, from 1-5 pm. Rosary at 4:30 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, January 4, at 11 am at Holy Trinity Church,1325 36th St. NW , Washington DC. A reception will follow. To continue Nick’s legacy and passion for scholarship, service and leadership, we urge friends to donate to the Nick DeCarlo Scholars Award, c/o Holy Trinity School, 1325 36th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 in lieu of flowers.

DorobekInsider: My “dinner” with the President

As most of you probably know, President Obama and family are enjoying some time off in his childhood home of Hawaii, much to the joy of the White House — and despite snippy criticism from the Mainland. And I too am here just outside of Honolulu spending time with my family, who visit here each Christmas for decades now.

One of our favorite Hawaiian restaurants is Alan Wong’s — a CJD fav, if you ever are in Honolulu. Apparently it is an Obama fav too.

We were at Alan Wong’s this week — and when we got there, we were told that our table was no longer available. We’d have to split our large group across two tables. There was a VIP — and that was where they were putting him. It ended up the “him” was, in fact, President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, a contingent of others — and security, of course.

My family and friends, being the good, security conscience American’s that they are, saw me tweeting that we were dining with the President — and they all said, ‘Don’t put the location!’ Of course, outside the restaurant, there were a dozen black SUVs and scores of cops, but… I hope I didn’t give anything away.

Somewhat surprisingly, this is the first time I have actually seen President Obama in person — and I have to come all the way to Hawaii to do it.

As far as what he ordered… I’m told the President had  the 5-course tasting menu:

• 5-COURSE MENU TASTING
• wine pairings also available (menu subject to change)
  • Appetizer Duo
  • Butter Poached Kona Lobster
  • Nagaimo Potato Cake, Green Onion Oil
  • Ginger Crusted Onaga
  • Organically Grown Hamakua Mushrooms and Corn, Miso Sesame Vinaigrette
  • Twice Cooked Shortrib, Soy Braised and Grilled “Kalbi” Style
  • Gingered Shrimp, Ko Choo Jang Sauce
  • Dessert Duet

More about the dinner from Politico here… and other stories here.

DorobekInsider: What you read in 2009…. on the DorobekInsider

I have been (slowly) pulling together the most read items from the different programs on Federal News Radio 1500 AM over the past 12 months.

Previous ‘most read in 2009:
* Mike Causey edition
* In Depth with Francis Rose edition
* FederalNewsRadio.com edition
* The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Jane Norris edition
* Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris edition

Today:
* Most read for 2009 on The DorobekInsider

1. DorobekInsider EXCLUSIVE: USDA undertakes extensive management reorg – downgrading the CIO, CFO
2. DorobekInsider: The buzz of federal government IT: Two scorching IG report on VA IT… sex, lies — but not video tape
3. Ed DeSeve to join the Obama administration
4. DHS director of the National Cybersecurity Center resigns
5. DorobekInsider: What’s behind the cyber-czar Hathaway resignation? And why is this post so dif
6. DorobekInsider: USDA officials offer more details on management reorganization
7. DorobekInsider: OPM’s Berry reorganizes giving the CIO a more prominent role
8. DorobekInsider: NASA names Linda Cureton as the new NASA CIO
9. DorobekInsider: What’s the deal with GSA administrator nominee Johnson? The Kansas City Star finds out
10. Another big merger: Deloitte buys struggling BearingPoint
11. DorobekInsider: BREAKING NEWS — Sens. Collins, McCaskill, Bennett introduce acquisition workforce bills
12. The DorobekInsider Reader: National Security Personnel System recommendations
13. DorobekInsider: USDA gets approval for employee buy outs from OPM as mega-management reorg continues
14. DorobekInsider: The era of e-mail is over — or ending, the WJS says — and we are terrifiied
15. DorobekInsider: What happened in the federal government when we were away on vacation
16. DorobekInsider: Obama expected to nominate GAO’s Gordon to OFPP post — soon
17. DorobekInsider: Robertson to be named to head GSA’s OGP and CAO
18. DorobekInsider: White House names Leeds as GSA’s new acting administrator
19. DorobekInsider: OMB hires performance guru Shelley Metzenbaum
20. DorobekInsider: USDA gets push back on massive management reorg, GovExec reports; USDA remains silen
21. DorobekInsider: What are the most annoying buzz words?
22. DorobekInsider: The era of social media is over – long live collaboration tools
23. DorobekInsider: UPDATE – Grams to join VA as principal deputy assistant secretary for manageme
24. DorobekInsider: GSA names Dave McClure to lead the Office of Citizen Services
25. DorobekInsider: ODNI response to its decision to shut down Intellipedia’s uGov Web based e-mai
26. DorobekInsider: Gov 2.0 moves beyond ’social media’ — and why it’s more than semantics
27. DorobekInsider: Changes within the VA IT shop
28. Congratulations on the wedding of Bob Suda and Joanne Connelly
29. FOSE week: Causey on benefits… Web 2.0 and intel… and my panel: Goverment 2.0: Evolution or revolution
30. DorobekInsider: Former USDA CIO Chistopherson lands at SAP, former Food and Drug acting CIO Chapman
31. DorobekInsider: GSA’s O’Hare to replace Johnson as ITS Assistant Commissioner
32. DorobekInsider: Intel on the government 2.0 front lines – and a new report assessing A-Space
33. DorobekInsider: The real story behind the Recovery.gov contract: The need for govt contracting transparency
34. DorobekInsider: The new TSA CIO — Emma Garrison-Alexander
35. DorobekInsider: The VA IG reports — what are the next steps? We ask government IT veterans
36. DorobekInsider.com: Breaking news: NAPA’s DiGiammarino to join the Obama administration
37. DorobekInsider: GSA’s Mike Sade, formerly with Commerce, quietly retires
38. DorobekInsider: GSA names Danielle Germain as chief of staff
39. DorobekInsider.com: The White House makes it official: Johnson nominated to be GSA administrator
40. DorobekInsider: And it’s official — Gordon nominated to OFPP post
41. DorobekInsider: GSA administrator nominee watch — developments on the Kansas City federal cent
42. DorobekInsider: One part of the intel collaboration suite gets nixed, sparking protests — and
43. DorobekInsider: 1105 Media cuts pay 20 percent — temporarily
44. DorobekInsider: Recovery.gov contractor Smartronix speaks — in a statement
45. DorobekInsider: Another GovDelivery/GovLoop hiring coup: Andrew Krzmarzick — and passes 20K me
46. DorobekInsider: I’m back from a bout with the flu… and government flu resources
47. DorobekInsider: CIO Council publishes gov 2.0 guidance
48. DorobekInsider: Leadership or management — that is the question?
49. DorobekInsider: Learning more about Transportation Department CIO Nitin Pradham
50. DorobekInsider: Avaya wins the auction for Nortel Government Solutions, Nortel says
51. DorobekInsider.com: Martha Johnson to be nominated as GSA administrator soon — maybe today
52. DorobekInsider: More GSA FAS shifts — King to retire, Ghiloni shifts, and FAS SES regional com
53. GSA’s John Johnson to announce that he is retiring
54. My favorite April Fools Day item — so far: Welcome GSA administrator nominee Shatner
55. DorobekInsider: GSA’s Dorris, Army’s Sorenson, HP’s Hempfield earn AFCEA Bethesda
56. DorobekInsider: More GSA changes — Leeds as senior counselor and Peck returning at PBS
57. DorobekInsider: GSA and the Recovery Board release the redacted Recovery.gov contract
58. DorobekInsider: The buzz of the Input holiday party 2009
59. DorobekInsider: Dee Lee to join the Professional Services Council
60. DorobekInsider: Celebrating a Happy (Fiscal) New Year with GovLoop
61. Former 1105 GovInfo group publisher Evilee Ebb joins TechTarget
62. DorobekInsider.com: The Obama CTO reader
63. The DorobekInsider reader: Obama cyber policy review
64. DorobekInsider: Rumoring around the halls of GSA — playing GSA musical chairs
65. DorobekInsider: Recovery Board responds to questions — and even posts the Recovery.gov stateme
66. DorobekInsider: HHS joins the management reorganization bandwagon — but this time, the CIO see
67. Obama talks government procurement — a broken system, he says
68. DorobekInsider: Women In Technology – Government Leaders at the Helm: A New Era — the liner notes
69. DorobekInsider: Management of Change panel: The changing role of the CIO – the liner notes
70. DorobekInsider: Recovery Board – and Recovery.gov vendor – get pressure on transparency
71. DorobekInsider: The Recovery Board speaks out on the Recovery.gov contract award
72. DorobekInsider: New DOT CFO nominee… and a possible DOT CIO nominee
73. DorobekInsider: CGI Federal scores a coup hiring former EPA CIO Molly O’Neill
74. GSA’s missed opportunity to be a collaboration leader
75. DorobekInsider: What you read in 2009: Mike Causey edition
76. GSA’s Johnson’s message to staff announcing his retirement
77. 2009 Federal 100 Awards Gala… in Barry-vision
78. DorobekInsider: NYT covers concern over Scientology’s buy of Governing
79. DorobekInsider.com: Senate approves Zients as the new chief performance officer
80. DorobekInsider: The USDA CIO to go to a career person – Chris Smith
81. DorobekInsider: GovLoop graduates finding a great new home with GovDelivery — what will it mea
82. DorobekInsider: New hires at Government Executive/NextGov… Sternstein… and Matt Dunie
83. 2009 Federal 100 Award: Big awards to Molly O’Neill, Brad Boston
84. DorobekInsider.com: Jerry Williams to take the HUD CIO helm
85. DorobekInsider.com: Steve Ressler — GovLoop’s 10K man… and counting
86. DorobekInsider: The hottest ticket in town — Roger Baker speaking at Input
87. DC snow
88. DorobekInsider on DC’s NewsChannel 8 tonight talking about the war on “social networking
89. DorobekInsider: A picture worth almost 1,000 words – Obama and the IT dashboard
90. DorobekInsider: The GSA Johnson hold update — Bond and Johnson have met
91. DorobekInsider: 45 VA programs under temporary stop order pending fixes
92. ACT/IAC Government 2.0 panel: The liner notes — about middle age and centralization
93. The Kundra announcement held hostage… day… Oh! Who knows… Plus DDM and GSA appo
94. DorobekInsider: Tracking the Gordon OFPP announcement — how soon is soon?
95. DorobekInsider: Lieberman, Collins want Networx delay answers
96. The DorobekInsider on DC’s NewsChannel 8 on dashboards — and the Kiviat graph
97. DorobekInsider: The Roll Call-CQ marriage announcement
98. DorobekInsider: Obama’s summer reading list – and autumn’s worthy reads
99. DorobekInsider: GSA’s Tyree Varnado to retire
100. DorobekInsider.com: Is the Economist’s CQ marriage official?
101. DorobekInsider.com: 1105 GovInfo lays off two more… and 1105 looks online
102. DorobekInsider: Ho-ho-ho… and recognize our troops
103. DorobekInsider: A positive step for federal workers: Improving the buildings
104. DorobekInsider: What question would you ask President Obama — Mine: Define “bureaucrat&r
105. DorobekInsider.com: Team Obama puts out the help wanted sign for Recovery.gov transparency ideas
106. A big name jumps into the government 2.0 conference space
107. DorobekInsider: Power IT Down Day – help Mother Earth (and Wounded Warriors) by turning off yo
108. Federal News Radio 1500 AM Book Club: “What Would Google Do?” coming up on Friday
109. DorobekInsider to judge Funniest Celebrity in Washington Contest
110. DorobekInsider: DOD’s developing Web 2.0 policy — and collaborating around security
111. DorobekInsider.com: The Federal News Radio Book Club — Grown Up Digital by Don Tapscott
112. DorobekInsider: It’s my birthday, but… you get the gifts
113. DorobekInsider: The benefits of the federal IT “dashboard” – and the liner notes f
114. DorobekInsider on DC’s NewsChannel 8 tonight talking the Intellipedia and A-Space — the
115. DorobekInsider: BREAKING – Government Technology parent buys Governing magazine
116. DorobekInsider: USDA gets early out approval from OPM as mega-management reorg continues
117. DorobekInsider: Coming and going – A new DOT CIO (mostly confirmed), Frank Puglese, former SSA
118. DorobekInsider.com: Friday’s Federal News Radio Book Club – Fired Up or Burned Out &ndas
119. DorobekInsider: Most read items for the first week of July
120. The DorobekInsider transparency, openness and data.gov reader
121. DorobekInsider: Winners of the 7th Annual Greater Washington Government Contractor Awards
122. DorobekInsider: What you read 11.28 through 12.05 on the DorobekInsider, Daily Debrief, and FederalN
123. DorobekInsider: The FCC joins the blogsphere — and Twitter
124. DorobekInsider: Wolf warns to protect your PDAs — a good reminder. Read the CIO Council’
125. DorobekInsider.com: The AFCEA Bethesda Kundra speech — did he tell people to go around the CIO
126. DorobekInsider: 24-hour deal – get Federal News Radio Book Club book Fired Up or Burned Out&he
127. The DorobekInsider returns… and the most read items for June 2009
128. DorobekInsider: Cyber-attack 2009 – what does it mean?
129. DorobekInsider.com: The Bisnow government 2.0 event Monday morning — the liner notes
130. DorobekInsider: Judging DC’s funniest celebrity… and the winner is…
131. DorobekInsider: June’s Federal News Radio Book Club book — Fired Up or Burned Out
132. DorobekInsider: GovExec exec Matt Dunie exits… and media notes
133. DorobekInsider.com: Is the age of GSA’s GWACs over? GSA says NO
134. DorobekInsider: GSA names a OGP-CAO leader — and then merges the organizations
135. Former 1105 GovInfo group publisher Evilee Ebb joins TechTarget
136. DorobekInsider: The ACT/IAC 30/20 year celebration
137. DorobekInsider.com: Kundra clears up the ‘go around the CIO’ controversy
138. DorobekInsider: Godspeed Paul Nolan, husband of AFCEA’s Becky Nolan
139. DorobekInsider: What you read for the week of Nov. 15-21 on DorobekInsider, Daily Debrief, and Feder
140. DorobekInsider: The UK government encourages tweeting — and issues Twitter guidance
141. DorobekInsider: Intel on the gov 2.0 front lines – and a new report assessing A-Space
142. DorobekInsider: ConnellyWorks scores a coup hiring ACT/IAC’s Kelly Olson
143. DorobekInsider.com: The Obama transparency initiative – phase III launches today
144. DorobekInsider: CGI’s official announcement about Molly O’Neill
145. DorobekInsider.com: GSA FAS changes: Mary Powers-King named acting deputy assistant commissioner
146. DorobekInsider: UPDATED – Grams to join VA as principal deputy assistant secretary for managem
147. DorobekInsider.com: Government 2.0 Camp: Meet the organizers
148. DorobekInsider: Fleshing out the funniest celebrity “charity” controversy

DorobekInsider: What you read in 2009…. on The Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris

I have been (slowly) pulling together the most read items from the different programs on Federal News Radio 1500 AM over the past 12 months.

Previous ‘most read in 2009:
* Mike Causey edition
* In Depth with Francis Rose edition
* FederalNewsRadio.com edition
* The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Jane Norris

Today… the most read items of 2009::
* Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris

Coming up:
* Most read for the year on The DorobekInsider

But for now, here are the items you read in 2009 on Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris, hear weekdays from 3-7p ET:

1. Lawmakers continue to discuss turning unused sick leave into TSP dollars
2. Will House healthcare bill affect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program?
3. TSP continues success; memo details participant behavior
4. How your Thrift Savings Plan has changed over the past decade
5. Your Turn preview: A pay raise in your future?
6. TSP and FERS tops legislative session
7. Two top feds say it might be time for a change in telework policy
8. Wednesday Afternoon Federal Newscast
9. TSP Talk: Tobacco Bill signed into law
10. Participants borrow less from their TSP accounts
11. A Win for Retired Federal Employees
12. Details about NSA cyberattack during Bush administration revealed
13. Demo for new TSP website unveiled at board meeting
14. Congressman calls for hearings about federal LTC insurance premium hikes
15. TSP’s Trabucco: Thrift Savings Plan posts strong results in November
16. Daily Debrief Reports: TSP required minimum distributions & you
17. TSP changes and automatic enrollment updates
18. The latest TSP news
19. The Daily Debrief Reports: TSP participation continues to increase
20. No COLA for federal retirees?
21. Postal Service’s National Reassessment Process
22. TSP funds see slow but steady gains in 2009
23. New best practices at U.S. Patent and Trademark Office save time, taxpayer dollars
24. TSP Talk: Loans available
25. How to avoid getting into trouble while shopping online at work
26. Preview: TSP Snapshot to start Monday
27. Adding to Your TSP?
28. Daily Debrief Reports: Your Thrift Savings Plan & the Market
29. Postal Service announces final list of closures
30. Your TSP: Changes coming tomorrow?
31. Stories of the Decade: TSP sees many positive changes
32. TSP Talk: Where is the market going?
33. TSP preps for new Web site debut
34. Bullish? What August might hold for your TSP account
35. Daily Debrief Reports: No required minimum distributions for your TSP in 2010?
36. The State of Your TSP
37. Letter Carriers Union Responds to USPS Cuts
38. Your Turn preview: Open Season, FEHBP and choosing a new health plan
39. TSP Snapshot Snippet: Economic recovery, improved TSP?
40. USDA’s Donald Sanders discusses employee reorganization
41. How did the TSP do in May?
42. Examining the role of China in U.S. cybersecurity policy
43. Coming up on Your Turn: A personal Open Season?
44. Causey on Pay-for-Performance
45. Open Season is ending, prepare to get the details on Your Turn
46. DoD will hire thousands of new workers
47. Your Turn sneak peak – why you should plan on tuning in
48. Proposed Budget Would Limit Raises in 2010
49. Smithsonian changing its image to appeal to younger Americans
50. No More FERS Flu?
51. Secret Service takes on new responsibilities
52. Nortel Government Solutions is now Avaya Government Solutions
53. DoD senior executive requirements changing
54. McAfee, Northrop Grumman partner to work on Host Based Security System
55. Smithsonian uses innovative collaboration tools to reach out to public
56. USAF set to reopen competition for KC-X tanker
57. Federal Contracting workforce is growing
58. ‘Citizen 2.0’ influence coming to your agency by 2012
59. Are PDA’s safe?
60. Gov. Kaine gives his reaction to BRAC extension
61. Nortel Government Solutions, Avaya sign agreement
62. Spending season: Why this FY is different
63. FederalNewsRadio goes to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
64. New survey shows usage of Web 2.0 collaboration tools skyrocketing
65. Causey: 2009 a good year for feds
66. OMG txtng srsly taking off
67. Talking about your TSP
68. FAQ: Taking money out of your TSP
69. GSA’s Tyree Varnado reflects on 39 years of government service
70. Groups express concern about Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
71. Daily Debrief Reports: Your TSP & the Market
72. TSP Roth 401(k) option now on the table
73. Agency insourcing initative causing a stir in the private sector
74. Sen. Brownback asks for Air Force to revise Tanker Request for Proposal
75. The Next Step for NSPS
76. Update: NSPS recommendations
77. OPM wants to change sick leave rules
78. Stories of the Decade: 10 years of missed opportunities for the CIO
79. Defense Business Board releases NSPS recommendations
80. Who will inherit your TSP account?
81. Does having a security clearance mean you have to give up those Web 2.0 tools?
82. Agencies sued for policy documents on 2.0 information collection
83. Plan to listen to Your Turn on Wednesday for Open Season advice
84. Should Alaskan native corps. get special considerations?
85. Stories of the Decade: How 9/11 changed the public’s perception of federal employees
86. Snow Days
87. Tom Davis: ‘Mindset has changed markedly’ on procurement
88. NRC negotiates new contract with NTEU
89. DoD begins gathering data per Open Government Initiative
90. Senate takes up TSP changes in bill
91. Pay parity still lacking for federal civilian employees
92. Analysis: GAO’s Dan Gordon nominated as OFPP Administrator
93. What will WHTI do?
94. Former ODNI CIO Meyerrose talks about cybersecurity’s future
95. Nominee to be TSA administrator testifies before Senate
96. E-messaging, other benefits to come with new TSP Web site
97. Holding onto good feds once you’ve got them
98. Labor Department launches Web challenge seeking best practices
99. What next, if not Networx? Word from GSA’s conference
100. Whose Belt is Tightening More?
101. The new Office of Government Information Services
102. Your TSP: Big changes coming
103. Navy CIO: Cyber czar needed soon
104. New report: alternative energy methods key to securing troops on battlefield
105. DDOT’s Twitter use keeps department ahead of blizzard cleanup
106. Your Turn preview: FEHB update
107. FireEye partners with In-Q-Tel to secure Intelligence Community
108. Reaction: FEMA to stay under DHS
109. Public ranks government healthcare Web sites high in new report
110. Inauguration Day Traffic
111. Update: TSP’s Roth option
112. How Web 2.0 is changing responses to emergencies
113. Learning more about USDA’s employee buyout
114. Daily Debrief EXTRA: “Special Agent” Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., honored by FBI
115. Breaking Down the BearingPoint Bankruptcy
116. Whitepaper outlines identity issues for federal website users
117. Phishing Scams and Your TSP
118. NATCA on Babbitt
119. Web 2.0 tools proving beneficial for government, industry
120. CMAP: A new leadership program designed for you
121. Sen. Reid’s amendment would shield FEHB from public option
122. A possible cure for the FERS flu?
123. Talkin’ about your TSP
124. Taking a long look at NSPS
125. USPTO gets new director
126. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey mulls over 2009
127. GAO: Security problems abound throughout FPS
128. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey talks about your TSP
129. NIMH entering first phase of largest ever study of suicide in the military
130. Microsoft Federal focuses on options in the cloud
131. Bob Peck is GSA’s new Commissioner of Public Buildings
132. Analysis: Cybersecurity Coordinator faces many challenges, opportunities
133. TSP changes coming soon
134. OPM rolls out new plan to deal with snow days
135. Pay Parity, Raises and the Budget
136. NSPS update: Unions speak before Board final recommendations
137. How the USO is helping the troops – and what you can do to lend a hand
138. TSP Roth option right around the corner?
139. DHS, Michigan launch unique cybersecurity partnership
140. Will Maryland be the new home of cybersecurity?
141. Special fed shakes his groove thing on WFED
142. Great American Hackathon a success for ‘positive hacking’
143. Senior executive requirements changing at DoD

DorobekInsider: What you read in 2009…. on FederalNewsRadio.com

I have been (slowly) pulling together the most read items from the different programs on Federal News Radio 1500 AM over the past 12 months.

Previous ‘most read in 2009:
* Mike Causey edition
* In Depth with Francis Rose edition

Today… the most read items of 2009::
* FederalNewsRadio.com

Coming up:
* Most read for the year on The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Jane Norris
* Most read for the year on The Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris
* Most read for the year on The DorobekInsider

But for now, here are the items you read on FederalNewsRadio.com for 2009:

1. White House cuts federal pay raise
2. NSPS another step closer to ending; FERS ‘flu’ cure a “done deal”
3. The end for NSPS?
4. Some insurance companies leave Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan as Open Season approaches
5. NSPS one step closer to ending; FERS ‘flu’ might be cured
6. Feds to pay more for health care under FEHBP
7. NSPS over and FERS Flu cured, Senate Passes Defense Authorization Bill
8. NALC: Postal workers latest victims of economic crisis
9. Federal government closed Monday due to snow
10. How to work around FEHBP’s fewer choices and higher costs
11. Another LTC “error” affects 70,000 federal workers
12. Congress tells agencies to check creditworthiness of employees
13. DoD makes it official: FCS is cancelled
14. USPS paying for environmental performance
15. Advice for FERS employees scared about retirement
16. Important TSP changes have arrived
17. Plug pulled on Federal Employees Health Benefits Program under Senate proposal
18. Agencies open under unscheduled leave policy on Tuesday
19. Transition out of NSPS begins
20. Causey: Federal Health Employee Benefit Plan amendment not likely to pass
21. OPM’s Berry deals out first set of civil service reform suggestions
22. Senate committee increases civilian pay raise to 2.9 percent for 2010
23. OPM no longer to project federal retirements
24. OPM proposes changes to sick leave rules
25. No COLA in 2010 not all bad news
26. Open Season resource: All you need to know before Monday
27. DoD makes NSPS pay raise equal to GS employees
28. House committee does not address civilian pay raise for 2010
29. House passes omnibus spending bill with pay raise, agency funding
30. DoD taking CAC in new directions
31. When to consider moving your TSP funds around
32. Almost three quarters of all feds have HSPD-12 cards
33. Bonasaro: Attracting young blood to the Senior Executive Service a must
34. Feds’ FEHBP no longer in danger; Congress, staffers still affected under Grassley plan
35. Moran wins reprieve for DoD agencies; no BRAC move until 2014 at earliest
36. House trying again to cure FERS flu
37. Short time deadline looms for federal Long Term Care
38. Changes coming to your TSP options
39. VA puts 45 IT projects on hold
40. OPM proposes reinvestigation rule for certain employees
41. NSPS remains on life support
42. H1N1 causes shutdown at the Small Business Administration
43. Program launched to help recruit 11,000 new federal IT workers
44. USPS: Five days a week?
45. Hackers Hit USAJOBS.com
46. The reconstruction of NSPS
47. Stimulus bill could give agencies significant funding boost
48. OPM offers little relief for long-term health care increases
49. NSPS Task Force prepares to release report
50. A new home for Homeland Security
51. OPM preparing for pandemic by adjust sick leave policy
52. House panel casts leery eye toward TSP mutual fund option
53. End of NSPS and cure for FERS Flu included in Defense Authorization bill
54. OPM sets new policy to make ‘burrowing’ harder
55. Your TSP: More participants and a new L fund coming
56. Embassy guard scandal brews in Afghanistan
57. Awaiting the future of NSPS
58. Federal labor unions say NSPS is toxic
59. TSP Snapshot: Up, up and away in November
60. CIOs cautiously optimistic about OMB’s IT dashboard
61. Possible TSP changes outlined; May numbers released
62. TSA picks CSC to run its technology infrastructure
63. The Double Whammy Hidden in Your Paycheck
64. Army to migrate all PCs to Vista by end of the year
65. Salary Council suggests locality pay increase for 2011
66. A turning point for NSPS
67. GSA releases FY 2010 per diem rates
68. House passes paid parental leave bill
69. USPS’ Potter urges ‘public dialogue’ on future of Postal Service
70. Agencies consider transforming the federal workplace
71. TSP: Most funds down for October but up for year
72. Fed managers leery of telework appeal process
73. Federal retirees to get a piece of the stimulus package
74. TSP Snapshot: October a mixed bag, and a primer
75. Interior, Forest Service face uphill climb to boost employee morale
76. TSP fund manager arrest is just a rumor
77. PPS issues 2009 Where the Jobs Are Report
78. OPM says safety is paramount in government closure decisions
79. Hathaway opens up about her decision to leave White House, cyber coordinator future role
80. BearingPoint past the banktruptcy
81. Agencies to justify not using cloud computing to OMB
82. How health care legislation on Capitol Hill could affect you
83. XBRL: One key to the future of government transparency
84. Recovery.gov and Ed DeSeve v. Stephen Colbert
85. OMB eyes Sept. 9 to launch cloud storefront
86. OPM to create pools of qualified applicants
87. Administration calls House NSPS provision ‘premature’
88. Spouse beneficiaries rules to change for TSP
89. TSP Roth 401(k) option: A history
90. Federal Managers Association sees benefits to FERS flu cure
91. Air Force finds easier way to hire acquisition workers
92. OPM clarifies statements on retirement projections
93. OPM Dir. Berry: End attacks on feds!
94. Some TSP funds rattled by economy
95. TSP Roth option might come soon
96. Telework, transportation top issues for BRAC
97. Budget would cap pay raises for feds
98. International Spy Museum offers grim, sobering warning on cybersecurity
99. OMB to measure IT projects through a dashboard
100. OPM Director John Berry chats with Mike Causey
101. OPM Director Berry offers peek at the future of the federal personnel agency
102. A cure for broken federal hiring process
103. Shifting gears in telework push
104. Maryland: the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Cybersecurity?
105. White House takes first step to lifting cookie ban
106. OPM gives employees opportunity to change long term care program
107. CBP prototypes ‘next generation’ vessel
108. Concerns with NSPS
109. Postal Service one step closer to shutting hundreds of branches
110. Bilingual workers needed as Foreign Service Officers
111. Pay for Performance under review
112. GSA issues first solicitation for cloud computing
113. GSA headquarters to become model green building
114. OPM’s Berry pushes ahead on telework
115. Benefits bills pass in House
116. Improvements to Grants.gov at least 90 days away
117. Military personnel would get TSP match
118. GSA equips employees with Web 2.0 rules
119. Investor confidence in TSP stock funds increases
120. Inauguration Day As a Holiday
121. Persistence needed to go “Where the Jobs Are”
122. DCAA and DCMA: who’s the boss?
123. OMB’s new performance framework to combine the best of the past
124. TSP accounts on track to hit four positive months in a row
125. DHS gets green light to hire 1,000 ‘cyberspecialists’
126. Changes could come for TSP beneficiaries
127. HHS says only one browser will work on Grants.gov
128. TSA nominee faces Senate scrutiny
129. Health care reform and the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program
130. Intelligence community redefines inherently governmental
131. Feds come up with 38,000 ways to make the government better
132. Agencies report progress, at last, on security clearance reform
133. NASA, OMB to make cloud announcement next week
134. DHS to recompete unrestricted portion of EAGLE contract
135. OPM shops for a culture change
136. Senate: Con artists are using stimulus scams to fleece citizens
137. Spouse beneficiary rules to change for TSP
138. Buy a new car, get a new tax break
139. OPM nominee has friends in high places
140. Tobacco may change your TSP
141. DHS mandates department-wide telework, COOP review this week
142. USAJobs hacking raises further security questions
143. Cash for Clunkers may be a clunker itself
144. Postal Service trying to do more with less
145. DoD plans to tame vendor business systems
146. Military spouses could benefit from new OPM rules
147. Strengthening the federal acquisition workforce
148. Federal Teleworking: A look at the numbers
149. Rank-and-file FPS officers speak out on federal facility security woes

DorobekInsider: What you read in 2009…. on The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Jane Norris

I have been (slowly) pulling together the most read items from the different programs on Federal News Radio 1500 AM over the past 12 months.

Previous ‘most read in 2009:
* Mike Causey edition
* In Depth with Francis Rose edition
* FederalNewsRadio.com edition

Today… the most read items of 2009::
* Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Jane Norris

Coming up:
* Most read for the year on The Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris
* Most read for the year on The DorobekInsider

But for now, here are the items you read in 2009 on Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Jane Norris, hear weekdays from 6-10a:

1. USPS cutting losses, targets Saturday delivery
2. Omnibus includes federal pay raise with locality pay
3. More holiday time off for some feds
4. USPS and the Economic Gloom
5. The federal pay raise explained
6. How not to outlive your retirement funds
7. From TSP to ROTH? New rules hit federal retirees
8. Free tool now available for Open Season decision-making
9. KSAs out, TalentLink in at Homeland Security
10. Even C students can get high-income jobs
11. OPM’s tips for Open Season
12. BRAC hits traffic right in the Beltway
13. Top agencies to work for in the federal government
14. Rep. Jim Moran tackles a possible FEHBP tax
15. Cell sniffing in the federal workplace
16. How to survive an investigation at work
17. OPM’s tips for Open Season, part 1
18. FBI Police says recruits are most wanted
19. Earn a free masters degree in the Federal Cyber Corps
20. Buy while the buying’s good!
21. Federal workforce issues 2009: what’s worked and what hasn’t
22. Omnibus includes federal pay raise with locality pay – 7:40
23. Defense Appropriations: who gets how much
24. Checklist for year end tax planning
25. Deloitte owns BearingPoint: now what?
26. OPM director closely watching case of Census worker found hanged
27. Stolen laptop contains data of 42,000 military family members
28. What airline passengers need to know about TSA’s Secure Flight program
29. McAfee finds the world’s riskiest domains
30. Sen. Mark Warner: Performance management to be streamlined
31. Where’s your agency’s funding?
32. Save big money in homebuyer tax credits by buying a home
33. Rep. Van Hollen offers help for feds with fewer Health Plan options
34. Agency funding: four down, eight to go!
35. DHS announces a virtual job fair
36. Tips for deducting charitable contributions
37. Navy damns the stovepipes, goes full speed ahead on IT reorganization
38. FEHBP Open Season workshop on Nov. 30
39. Tips on ethical gift giving
40. Rep. Towns reviews federal workforce benefits legislation
41. How to deal with underperforming employees
42. Free speech and ethics collide for federal employees
43. Lessons learned from Navy ship collision
44. Career advice from federal employees
45. What do feds REALLY earn?
46. MRAP wrap up
47. Change is in the air, and food and drugs, at FDA
48. Fast raise a bad thing?
49. The Secret Service and the climbers at the gate
50. MSPB: How to make the most of the retirement wave
51. Tax credit expands for homebuyers
52. Forbes lists the year’s most-hacked software
53. SES: “White guys with ties”?
54. Defense Authorization Bill’s cure for the FERS flu
55. The future of the Future Combat Systems
56. Ten tips for staff retention
57. Army Sec. McHugh: Ft. Hood has lost family
58. OPM on Open Season: dental and vision tips
59. Legal Loop: How to leave your job without breaking the law
60. Five questions managers must ask themselves
61. Unpaid taxes by federal contractor employees questioned
62. USPS first agency to release data on greenhouse gas emissions
63. Cash for Clunkers: Beware the bait & switch – 9:28
64. Federal Job Fair Roundup
65. The nature of cybercrime is changing
66. Future Combat Systems and SAIC’s future
67. Chairman Devaney: embarrassment will lead to Recovery.gov improvements
68. President Obama’s word choice leaves some feds feeling slighted
69. Federal employees owe $3B in unpaid taxes
70. Maryland wants Uncle Sam’s Cyber Command
71. Cash for Clunkers: Beware the bait & switch
72. Shay Assad: how to fix contracting problems in 30 days or less
73. Career Fair: DISA asks undergrads to STEP up
74. From TSP to ROTH? New rules hit federal retirees – 8:30
75. A tax on your BlackBerry?
76. Operation Falcon is a big success
77. New Cybersecurity Coordinator no babe in the woods
78. Cyber Security Alliance opens nerve center in Maryland
79. Sticking points emerge in healthcare reform
80. Thursday Morning Newscast
81. USPS cutting losses, targets Saturday delivery – 7:05
82. Fmr. Dir. Springer: OPM not up to task of running public option health program
83. Ground level view of the Marine Corps Marathon
84. DOJ: contractor’s bulletproof vests aren’t
85. Wartime Contracting Commission finds drinking problem with ArmorGroup
86. Rep. Frank Wolf offers Federal job fair information
87. Cybercrime grows more devious and malicious
88. Blog Bonus: Springer on Berry’s snow plans
89. What is the future of the U.S. Navy?
90. OMB wants to reduce money spent on contractors
91. Pay for performance: reforming the reforms?
92. How plain language could help the federal government
93. Commissioner Astrue: Social Security back up center ready early
94. DoD promises to fix Iraq contracting problems in 30 days
95. OMB introduces FederalReporting.gov
96. Linda Springer: OPM not up to task of running public option health program
97. FLEOA to TSA: ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’ in manual kerfuffle
98. Federal Managers Association’s view on changes in pay and benefits
99. High-performers feeling less engaged at work
100. 5 Fallacies: Clock watching with a pro who knows

DorobekInsider: What you read Dec. 20-26 on the DorobekInsider, Daily Debrief, and FederalNewsRadio.com

The most read stories from the week of Dec. 20-26, 2009…

…from the DorobekInsider.com…

1. DorobekInsider: White House names Leeds as GSA’s new acting administrator
2. DorobekInsider: What you read in 2009: Mike Causey edition
3. DorobekInsider: BREAKING NEWS — Sens. Collins, McCaskill, Bennett introduce acquisition workfo
4. DorobekInsider: Rumoring around the halls of GSA — playing GSA musical chairs
5. The DorobekInsider reader: Howard Schmidt as cybersecurity coordinator
6. DorobekInsider: Government 2.0 from down under — the final report of the Government 2.0 Task F
7. DorobekInsider: What you read Dec. 13-19 on the DorobekInsider, Daily Debrief, and FederalNewsRadio.
8. DorobekInsider: More GSA FAS shifts — King to retire, Ghiloni shifts, and FAS SES regional commissioners
9. DorobekInsider: What’s the deal with GSA administrator nominee Johnson? The Kansas City Star finds out
10. DorobekInsider: The Better Buy Project — the liner notes
11. DorobekInsider: USDA gets approval for employee buy outs from OPM as mega-management reorg continues
12. DorobekInsider: OMB hires performance guru Shelley Metzenbaum
13. DorobekInsider: GSA’s Tyree Varnado to retire You can find our “exit interview” with Varndao here … and find GSA FAS Commissioner Jim Williams comments about Varnado here.
14. DorobekInsider EXCLUSIVE: USDA undertakes extensive management reorg – downgrading the CIO, CF
15. DorobekInsider: And it’s official — Gordon nominated to OFPP post
16. The DorobekInsider reader: Obama cyber policy review
17. DorobekInsider: The buzz of the Input holiday party 2009
18. DorobekInsider: HHS joins the management reorganization bandwagon — but this time, the CIO see greater visibility

from the Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris…

1. Nortel Government Solutions is now Avaya Government Solutions
2. ‘Citizen 2.0’ influence coming to your agency by 2012
3. Wednesday Afternoon Federal Newscast
4. Postal Service’s National Reassessment Process
5. DDOT’s Twitter use keeps department ahead of blizzard cleanup
6. Tuesday Afternoon Federal Newscast
7. Analysis: Cybersecurity Coordinator faces many challenges, opportunities
8. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey mulls over 2009
9. Stories of the Decade: Karen Evans looks back — and forward
10. Sen. Reid’s amendment would shield FEHB from public option
11. Great American Hackathon a success for ‘positive hacking’
12. Monday Afternoon Federal Newscast
13. Navy CIO Carey blogs about measuring cybersecurity
14. Stories of the Decade: For Microsoft, FDCC made a big difference
15. Will House healthcare bill affect the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program?
16. Holiday dinner….In Space!
17. GSA’s Tyree Varnado reflects on 39 years of government service
18. The new Office of Government Information Services
19. Labor Department launches Web challenge seeking best practices
20. Stories of the Decade: Information sharing and cybersecurity
21. Making sure Gov 2.0 is Section 508 compliant
22. Stories of the Decade: GSA’s Jim Williams looks at the evolution of GSA and DHS
23. DHS, Michigan launch cybersecurity partnership EINSTEIN-ONE
24. Stories of the Decade: TSP sees many positive changes
25. Former ODNI CIO Meyerrose talks about cybersecurity’s future
26. Friday Afternoon Federal Newscast
27. How your Thrift Savings Plan has changed over the past decade
28. Stories of the Decade: How 9/11 changed the public’s perception of federal employees
29. Reaction from the contracting community on new Cyber Coordinator
30. SAVE award nominee talks about saving money at the VA
31. Unisys predicts increased focus on biometrics, data protection in 2010
32. TSP’s Trabucco: Thrift Savings Plan posts strong results in November
33. Does the White House need a cyber czar?
34. Stories of the Decade: More with Mark Forman, the first ‘federal CIO’
35. Stories of the Decade: Mobile technology changing the business of government
36. Commentary from Capitol Hill on new Cyber Coordinator
37. GSA, DHS search for next set of security tools
38. New NIST director outlines goals
39. Nortel Government Solutions, Avaya sign agreement
40. Delightful stocking stuffer: A book about a man & his dog
41. Update: TSP’s Roth option
42. What challenges will new Cyber Coordinator face?
43. Ins and outs of the 2010 spending bill
44. Update: Govt. on track to save $40B in contract costs
45. Stories of the Decade: How Web 2.0 and Gov 2.0 have changed the business of government
46. War on the U.S.-Mexico border continues
47. Lawmakers continue to discuss turning unused sick leave into TSP dollars
48. Public ranks government healthcare Web sites high in new report
49. Details about NSA cyberattack during Bush administration revealed

and from FederalNewsRadio.com…

1. USPS cutting losses, targets Saturday delivery
2. Cell sniffing in the federal workplace
3. Federal workforce issues 2009: what’s worked and what hasn’t
4. Checklist for year end tax planning
5. Sticking points emerge in healthcare reform
6. New Cybersecurity Coordinator no babe in the woods
7. Omnibus includes federal pay raise with locality pay
8. How healthcare reform will change government
9. Congressional focus in the New Year
10. H1N1 inspires palm-vein biometrics
11. Federal workforce issues 2009: what’s worked and what hasn’t – 8:40
12. A-76 privatizations on pause
13. Tips on ethical gift giving
14. Going political: who takes appointments and why
15. The federal pay raise explained
16. Stolen laptop contains data of 42,000 military family members
17. New Consumer Financial Protection Agency standing up slowly
18. What to ask a cloud provider about best practices and pitfalls
19. How not to outlive your retirement funds
20. Monday Morning Federal Newscast
21. More holiday time off for some feds
22. Defense Appropriations: who gets how much
23. A-76 privatizations on pause – 8:30
24. DHS announces a virtual job fair
25. Transparency may require a change in language
26. Blog Bonus: Springer on Berry’s snow plans
27. The retirement pendulum swings counter to OPM predictions
28. A look at the cyber-road ahead for Howard Schmidt
29. Schmidt to be named cybercoordinator
30. What do feds REALLY earn?
31. From TSP to ROTH? New rules hit federal retirees
32. Wartime Contracting sees improvement
33. How to deal with underperforming employees
34. How to survive an investigation at work
35. Access to Defense health records gets faster
36. A look at the cyber-road ahead for Howard Schmidt — the DorobekInsider has pulled together scores of interviews and resources around the Schmidt appointment in The DorobekInsider reader: Howard Schmidt as cybersecurity coordinator
37. Tips for partying and networking like a professional
38. Fmr. Dir. Springer: OPM not up to task of running public option health program
39. Healthcare reconciliation: how Congress will hug it out
40. Legal Loop: How to leave your job without breaking the law
41. Programs tested for the Good eHealth Record Seal of Approval
42. Santa, OnStar, Twitter and you
43. Maryland wants Uncle Sam’s Cyber Command
44. Northrop celebrates grand opening of a grand space
45. What’s ahead in Iraq

DorobekInsider: What you read in 2009: Federal News Radio’s In Depth edition

I have been (slowly) pulling together the most read items from the different programs on Federal News RAdio 1500 AM over the past 12 months. [Previous ‘most read in 2009: Mike Causey edition — I’ll finish up on Friday with the most read items on the DorobekInsider for the year.] Today… the most read pages from Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s In Depth with Francis Rose program, which can be heard weekdays from 1-3p ET.

1. Pay raise for Federal employees makes NTEU President Colleen Kelley smile
2. Landing that top paying federal job
3. WEB EXTRA: A Thought About Your TSP Account
4. TSA nominee Erroll Southers outlines his vision for transportation safety
5. Lunch with Mike Causey: TSP, pay raise, open season on the menu
6. What data should — and should not — move into the cloud
7. Dr. Rajiv Shah projected to move from Agriculture to USAID
8. WEB EXTRA: Buy-and-Hold STILL Works Better
9. National Security Personnel System Examined
10. Agencies may need to rethink privacy online
11. Intelligence nominees hesitate on oversight cooperation, then backtrack
12. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano starts on transportation security, ends up on cybersecu
13. Open Source at the Postal Service
14. Earth Day: Green IT Checkup
15. Jim McAleese: Health care bill pushing money for troops aside
16. Career Pentagon Employee Bryan Whitman Taking Flak – Again
17. Sen. Tom Carper on solving the issue of improper payments
18. Emergency Response and Social Networking
19. REAL ID Becomes PASS ID: What it Means
20. General Richard Myers on 9/11
21. Library of Congress: Testing the Cloud
22. General Services Administration walking the walk while building a building
23. Aneesh Chopra, Vivek Kundra describe data-driven performance metrics
24. Deputy Defense Secretary Bill Lynn claims cybersecurity “depends on” acquisition reform
25. Lawrence Korb Pans Sec. Gates’s KC-X Tanker Policy Change
26. Big Changes for defense contracting
27. NSC’s Melissa Hathaway talks cybersecurity
28. ODNI Chief Human Capital Officer Ron Sanders building a 21st century workforce
29. Federal News Radio Book Club
30. Social Security Administrator Michael Astrue offers answers for fixing backlogs
31. New NIST Director Patrick Gallagher putting no restrictions on reorganization ideas
32. Keeping track of stimulus money
33. DHS Intel Nominee Caryn Wagner pledges contractor, workforce reform at I&A
34. Robert Otto: New Ideas for New Technology
35. Federal Whistleblower Protection Legislation
36. Gov 2.0 Summit: Vivek Kundra
37. Former EPA CIO Molly O’Neill Likes New Social Media Guidelines
38. Deputy DNI Nominee David Gompert signals willingness to cut intell contractors
39. OPM Director John Berry proposes big civil service changes
40. Federal News Radio Book Club: Payback
41. Commission looks at fixing auditing tangle at Pentagon
42. Following the Veterans Affairs money further down the chain
43. John Berry Confirmation Hearing: OPM Director
44. Mike Tangora, Jeff Orner changing acquisition & logistics at the Coast Guard
45. Military Leadership: General Cartwright, Admiral Willard
46. House Veterans Affairs Committee Puts VA SES Bonuses Under Microscope
47. Calming Your Money Fears
48. Now it’s agencies stealing contractor employees, companies say
49. Future of Pentagon Health IT

The DorobekInsider reader: Howard Schmidt as cybersecurity coordinator

Somehow it feels that the White House it clearing off its desk before the end of the year. What else would explain Tuesday’s announcement that Howard Schmidt would be the Obama administration’s cybersecurity coordinator — just shy of seven months after the creation of the post was originally announced.

The announcement is curious because Schmidt was one of the first names that was tossed around — and in so many ways, he seems to have the skills necessary for this still-being-defined post.

But this strikes me as an important — and complex — job. So, as we often do around these kinds of big events, I like to pull together resources, analysis and opinions around key topics. (Previous DorobekInsider readers: Obama cyber-security policy review, the Defense Department’s National Security Personnel System pay-for-performance reports and Veterans Day.)

President Obama meets with cyber-coordinator Howard Schmidt

Right at the top, I should note that the DorobekInsider reader: Obama cyber-security policy review has links to the administration’s policy review and much more.

From the White House itself:

* WhiteHouse blog: Introducing the New Cybersecurity Coordinator, which includes a short video with Howard Schmidt.

* To see how Schmidt’s thinking has evolved, read the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, which he helped craft before he left the Bush administration. Find the report from DHS here.

Federal News Radio 1500 AM and FederalNewsRadio.com coverage

Federal News Radio 1500 AM has has team coverage of the announcement.

* On Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris… we spoke with Karen Evans, former administrator of e-government and information technology at the Office of Management and Budget, and Randy Sabett, a partner at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, where he is a member of the Internet, Communications & Data Protection Practice. Sabett served on the Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency, which had recommended the creation of the cyber-coordinator post.

Evans:

Now, think about it. He was doing cybersecurity in Microsoft when it wasn’t cool. So, for him to be able to do that — that experience there within a company as big as that company is and the focus that they had, which was at that point pretty consumer-oriented, [but] has now switched to a very comprehensive type of cybersecurity strategy going forward with solutions for consumers, as well as other folks — that’s due to Howard’s insight and education. That experience will really help when he’s talking with private industry people and what their part is in this.

Sabett:

The difference between the two relates to the areas where the frustration has been felt in the past. The so-called cyber czars — many of them, including Howard — have expressed the idea that they had all of the responsibility but they didn’t have the authority. I think the difference here is the emphasis on coordination, which is a recognition that that there are many pockets, both within the government and within the private sector, of excellence — of people doing really good things in the cybersecurity area. Those don’t need to be shaken up. At the same time, they do need to be coordinated and . . . having this position be the Executive Office of the President is, I think, a significant difference from where the so-called cyber czar positions have been in the past.

You can hear and read parts of those interviews here.

* Federal News Radio’s Jason Miller culled reaction from industry, while Federal News Radio’s Max Cacas got the reaction from Capitol Hill — Cacas notes that one of the more interesting comments came from Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

Ranking minority member of the Homeland Security Committee, Senator Susan Collins from Maine, was even more blunt, releasing a statement outlining her “disappointment at the Administration’s decision to add yet another czar at the White House.” Collins wants Schmidt’s new job elevated to one that would be subject to Senate confirmation.

Read and hear Cacas’s full story here.

* Federal News Radio’s Jason Miller is hearing Sameer Bhalotra, a staff member from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is a leading candidate to be the deputy cyber coordinator. Miller also spoke to Melissa Hathaway, the former senior director for cyberspace for the National Security Council under President Obama and now president of Hathaway Global Strategies:

“I would advise him to visit those centers and know what they are doing and have a good operational understanding of what’s out there,” she says. “He should know how the partnership is growing between the different departments and agencies.”

Read and hear Miller’s full report here.

Just as an aside, something worth reading: Hathaway’s Five Myths about Cybersecurity. Number 3: Government has the solutions and will protect me. Not necessarily, Hathaway says. Read more here.

* The Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Jane Norris, soon after the announcement, Alan Paller, director of research at the SANS Institute, praised Schmidt’s appointment.

Paller:

Of all the people they were looking at, only two had on the ground experience, and this is a field you can’t do without on the ground experience. This is a job you can’t do without on the ground experience because you get lied to by people, and if you don’t have the experience of having actually managed security, you just can’t do the job.

Read more and hear the full interivew here.

And this morning on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Jane Norris, Jim Lewis, director and senior fellow of the Technology and Public Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies spoke about the appointment. Hear that interview here.

Other coverage…

Needless to say, there was a whole lot of coverage of Schmidt’s appointment, so if you’re looking for everything, Google News can do that. I’m just pulling some of the more interesting stories that have some above-and-beyond insights to highlight here.

* As attacks increase, U.S. struggles to recruit computer security experts [WP, 12.22.2009]
My favorite quote was right at the end from Bob Gourley, the former CTO at the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Cybersecurity lawyers, researchers and policymakers are also in short supply. The Pentagon, for instance, lacks a career path to develop “expert decision-making in the cyber field,” said Robert D. Gourley, a former Defense Intelligence Agency chief technology officer. “The great cyber-generals are few and far between.”

* Workforce Hurdles for New Cyber Czar [NextGov’s WiredWorkplace blog, 12.22.2009]
Along the lines of Gourley’s comments:

Underlying all of these goals is the challenge of improving the recruitment and retention of a top-notch federal cyber workforce. In July, the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service released a report that found that the federal government faces major human resource challenges, such as difficulty in recruiting and retaining high-skilled workers, poor management and a lack of coordination that leaves some agencies competing against one another for talent. Such problems are particularly acute within the federal cybersecurity workforce, the Partnership found.

* Obama cyber czar pick looks to secure smartphones, social nets [ComputerWorld, 12.22.2009]
Calls on social media firms to alert users about various security threats

* Finally, A Cyber Czar [Forbes.com, 12.22.2009]
The new U.S. cybersecurity coordinator, Howard Schmidt, is an impressive leader in government and industry. He’s also Obama’s fourth choice at best

At least three other candidates had been privately offered the position and turned it down, as Forbes reported in July (see: “Obama’s Unwilling Cyber Czars“). Cybersecurity industry watchers told Forbes at the time that was because the position had been stripped of much of its power in an effort to ensure that new cyber regulations didn’t hamper economic recovery.

In a campaign speech at Indiana’s Purdue University in July of 2008, Obama promised to “declare our cyber-infrastructure a strategic asset, and appoint a national cyber advisor who will report directly to me.” In the year that followed, cybersecurity has only grown as a public issue following a steady drumbeat of foreign hacking incidents that have allowed cyberspies to steal military information and breach the power grid.

But Schmidt will hardly report directly to Obama. Instead, according to a report that resulted from a 60-day government cybersecurity review ending in May, the cyber coordinator position will be “dual-hatted,” reporting to both the National Security Council and the National Economic Council under Obama’s economic advisor Larry Summers.

How Dangerous is the Cyber Crime Threat? [PBS’s NewsHour, 12.22.2009]
Talking to Jim Lewis, director and senior fellow of the Technology and Public Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies

* National cybersecurity coordinator choice widely applauded [GCN.com, 12.22.2009]

* Obama’s New Cyber Security Chief, Howard A. Schmidt, Speaks in Gibberish, but Not the Highly Technical Kind [Seattle Weekly, 12.22.2009]

DorobekInsider: Government 2.0 from down under — the final report of the Government 2.0 Task Force

We told you about this when it was formed and we have been watching it’s evolution — well, yesterday, Australia’s Government 2.0 Task Force published its final report, Engage: Getting on with Government 2.0.

I final report is posted below and I’m literally going to read it as soon as I finish this post, but…

Some key points from the findings (emphasis is mine, not the task force):

• Government 2.0 or the use of the new collaborative tools and approaches of Web 2.0 offers an unprecedented opportunity to achieve more open, accountable, responsive and efficient government.
• Though it involves new technology, Government 2.0 is really about a new approach to organising and governing. It will draw people into a closer and more collaborative relationship with their government. Australia has an opportunity to resume its leadership in seizing these opportunities and capturing the resulting social and economic benefits.
• Leadership, and policy and governance changes are needed to shift public sector culture and practice to make government information more accessible and usable, make government more consultative, participatory and transparent, build a culture of online innovation within Government, and to promote collaboration across agencies.
• Government pervades some of the most important aspects of our lives. Government 2.0 can harness the wealth of local and expert knowledge, ideas and enthusiasm of Australians to improve schools, hospitals, workplaces, to enrich our democracy and to improve its own policies, regulation and service delivery.
• Government 2.0 is a key means for renewing the public sector; offering new tools for public servants to engage and respond to the community; empower the enthusiastic, share ideas and further develop their expertise through networks of knowledge with fellow professionals and others. Together, public servants and interested communities can work to address complex policy and service delivery challenges.
• Information collected by or for the public sector — is a national resource which should be managed for public purposes. That means that we should reverse the current presumption that it is secret unless there are good reasons for release and presume instead that it should be freely available for anyone to use and transform unless there are compelling privacy, confidentially or security considerations.
• Government 2.0 will not be easy for it directly challenges some aspects of established policy and practice within government. Yet the changes to culture, practice and policy we envisage will ultimately advance the traditions of modern democratic government. Hence, there is a requirement for co-ordinated leadership, policy and culture change.
• Government 2.0 is central to the delivery of government reforms like promoting innovation; and making our public service the world’s best.

You can download a copy of the report as a PDF or Word document from here… I have also posted it below.

As I say, I’m going to read the full report next. I’d also love to hear your thoughts about the findings.

View this document on Scribd