DorobekINSIDER: Most read items April 16-22, 2010: TSP, and shredding those time sheets

The most read stories April 16-22, 2010… on the DorobekInsider.com … for Mike Causey’s Federal Report… on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris… and for FederalNewsRadio.com…

…from the DorobekInsider.com…

1. Chances good for passage of TSP/annual leave bill
2. Toss out that time card, get more productive employees
3. Your wireless router could leave you vulnerable
4. TSP numbers: Look past the short term trend
5. What’s next for telework and the federal government?
6. DorobekINSIDER: GSA reorganizes, Interior shuffles – and the CIO (apparently) moves
7. Why the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs tweets
8. Update: Oil spill pictures reveal devastation
9. Public trust of federal government has increased
10. Dorobek Must Reads – May 20
11. Dorobek Must Reads – May 19
12. What DorobekInsiders are reading
13. One year in, Data.gov fosters massive innovation
14. Obama to replace Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair
15. GAO: VA in danger of cyber attack
16. White House crowdsources for cybersecurity ideas
17. The DorobekINSIDER reader: OPM’s streamlined hiring reforms
18. Will federal hiring reform affect veterans?
19. How to set up a successful home office
20. DorobekINSIDER: Crowdsourcing Gulf Coast oil spill info
21. Section: Blog Entries
22. What the Office of Governmentwide Policy means to you
23. Pac Man celebrates 30th birthday
24. DorobekINSIDER: Commerce quietly names Szykman as the new CIO
25. Former ODNI CIO: Cyber discussions must happen
26. McAfee: Hackers more creative, have increased attacks
27. How the Coast Guard has responded to that oil spill
28. Secretary Gates surrenders on military pay
29. Dorobek Must Reads – May 21
30. Contracting conundrum: Why do agencies create their own?
31. Are there too many contracts out there?
32. Senate passes hiring reform bill
33. Why the delay with the transition to Networx?
34. Analysis: Obama asks for DNI Blair’s resignation
35. U.S. Cybersecurity Challenge ends this week
36. Top 10: What we’re reading this afternoon
37. DorobekINSIDER: The Gov 2.0 status report — where are we now?
38. The slow and painful death of email is finally upon us
39. White House wants your input on new cyber themes
40. DorobekINSIDER: Former GSA CIO Piatt returns — but at OGP
41. Are generational sterotypes harmful to the workplace?
42. TSA picks CSC . . . again
43. Web 2.0 helps digital diplomacy at the State Department
44. DorobekINSIDER: Turco to lead GSA’s Office of Governmentwide Policy
45. Special Report: Contract Overload wraps up
46. Just how big is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
47. How to make innovation part of your daily routine
48. Social media changes government in more ways than one

… for Mike Causey’s Federal Report …

1. Retirees Return to Government
2. Feds/Retirees Have Political Muscle
3. Escape the Monday Dead Zone
4. Gold Bugs & The TSP
5. Hero Confirms Life Beyond the Beltway
6. Teleworking, FEHBP: Different Strokes!
7. Civil Service Reform & Manure
8. National Guard $5,000 Payouts!
9. About Those Buyout Rumors…
10. Big Career Changes Coming at You

… on the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris…

1. Three Roth IRA tax traps to avoid
2. The paperback scoop on landing a federal job
3. How to move cheaply out of COBOL
4. Is your BlackBerry spying on you?
5. TSA head remains lost in transition
6. Monday Morning Federal Newscast – May 17th
7. Laptop stolen from VA contractor
8. Facebook fixing forgery bug
9. Census to use Web in future counts
10. Navy name change comes with costs
11. Friday Morning Federal Newscast – May 14th
12. Privacy, porn, and your federal job: analysis
13. Opportunities grow for cyber contractors
14. Jeopardy’s Clue Crew crawls the Archives
15. DoD to host a performance symposium open to all
16. What federal web customers want most
17. GAO: VA systems open to cyberattack
18. Google and SBA offer big tips for small business
19. COPS works to correct stimulus payments
20. Speedbumps sighted in war funding

… and from FederalNewsRadio.com …

1. House lawmakers uneasy about hiring reforms
2. DIA awards $6 billion IT services contract to 11 firms
3. Executive Order seals OPM hiring reforms
4. Obama nominates Pistole to head TSA
5. National Archives attorney offers e-mail counsel
6. DHS tries sharing cyber threat data differently
7. GSA opens up possibility of FTS2001 extension
8. OPM tests letting feds work without a schedule
9. Feds expand virtual worlds use
10. OMB drafts, seeks comments on FISMA metrics
11. GSA reissues RFQ for cloud computing
12. Feds to help small businesses affected by oil spill
13. House rejects telework bill
14. Booz Allen Hamilton gets new cyber contracts from DoD
15. TSP Snapshot: April up, clouds over I fund
16. DHS to release draft RFP for Eagle 2
17. OPM hosts CHCO hiring reforms summit today
18. Federal News Radio Reports
19. New algorithm to identify sarcasm in tweets, posts
20. OFPP defines ‘inherently governmental’
21. DoD fixing its patchwork quilt of cybersecurity
22. HReinvented: Feds mixed on OPM’s HR reform plans, survey finds
23. OMB’s Sunstein links records and open government
24. DIA releases billion dollar RFP for IT services
25. Agency cybersecurity reporting to get makeover
26. OMB shifts to real time cybersecurity monitoring
27. Unique needs abound in agencywide contracts
28. NTEU files motion to end internship program
29. White House works to change online transactions
30. GSA continues to hint at E-Travel consolidation
31. Intellipedia provides lessons for FedSpace initiative
32. Protest of TSA IT contract sustained
33. GSA: Green, Sustainable and more Aggressive
34. OFPP to refine agency-contractor relationship
35. Salary Council suggests locality pay increase for 2011
36. VA issues draft RFP for new IT hardware, software contract
37. Senate confirms Alexander to head DoD Cyber Command
38. OPM takes smaller steps to modernize retirement processes
39. FCC to establish cyber certification program
40. New federal cookie policy coming soon?
41. OMB to set new real property policy
42. OPM to submit hiring reform advice to White House next week
43. White House promising more attention to 508
44. EXCLUSIVE: OMB guidance sets technology tone for 2010, beyond
45. Agency pilots help cultivate ‘inherently governmental’ changes
46. GSA releases FY 2010 per diem rates
47. Vint Cerf explains DARPA and the Internet
48. FBI CIO Unveils Next-Gen IT Strategy
49. SSA staying on top of claims increase
50. OMB outlines shift on FISMA

DorobekINSIDER: GSA reorganizes, Interior shuffles – and the CIO moves

These posts are often difficult to write because… well, the situation appears fluid and the facts aren’t all in place yet. And given the nature of the issues, people don’t really want to talk about it. That being said, it appears there are a number of changes afoot at GSA, where GSA Administrator Martha Johnson is continuing her broad reorganization of that agency, and at the Interior Department.

As I said, details are still sketchy and it doesn’t appear that everything is locked down yet, but… here is what we are hearing:

* GSA’s Office of Citizen Services and Communications will be transformed into the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technology. Dave McClure, the Associate Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration Office of Citizen Services and Communications, will have two deputies, we hear. Martha Dorris, the Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Citizens Services, will lead the citizen services part of the organization… and Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia, currently in the Interior Department CIO, will become something like the Deputy Associate Administrator for innovative technologies. In that role, he will be leading issues like cloud computing and DATA.gov.

We hear that Bhagowalia’s last will be tomorrow — and he will start at GSA on Monday, May 24. Bhagowalia was testifying just this morning before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding the transition — or lack thereof — to the Networx telecommunications contract. Federal News Radio’s Jason Miller tried to ask him about his shift, but Bhagowalia said he couldn’t answer questions. (So… we have tried to get this information from official sources.)

* Interior Department CIO organization… We haven’t been able to nail these down precisely either, but… we hear that Bhagowalia will be replaced by Bernie Mazer, who is currently the CIO at Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service.

* Interior Department’s National Business Center… There have also been changes at Interior’s National Business Center. Doug Bourgeois, Director of the Interior Department’s National Business Center, has left that post and is now at VMwar as the vice president and chief cloud executive. We hear there could be other changes. Donald Swain, who had been serving as NBC’s chief of staff, is the acting director.

DorobekINSIDER: Commerce quietly names Szykman as the new CIO

Very quietly, the Commerce Department has named Simon Szykman as the agency’s new CIO.

Szykman previously served as the CIO of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)… and before joining NIST, he was the director of the National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD).

Suzanne Hilding had been serving as the Commerce Department CIO since March 2008. Commerce Department officials were not immediately available with information about where Hilding had gone. Hilding never granted many interviews or spoke publicly often and therefore was not very well known within government IT circles.

Here is Szykman’s bio as posted on the Commerce Department OCIO Web site:

Simon Szykman
Chief Information Officer

Simon Szykman was named the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Department of Commerce in May, 2010. Prior to moving into this position, Dr. Szykman served over three years as the CIO of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Before joining NIST as CIO, Dr. Szykman served as the Director of the National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD), where he was responsible for the coordination of planning, budget, and assessment activities for the Federal NITRD Program. In this role Dr. Szykman reported directly to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science and Technology Council.

Dr. Szykman arrived at the National Coordination Office from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, where he served as the Department’s first Director of Cyber Security R&D. At DHS he led the development of cyber security R&D plans, programs, and budgets in support of the Department’s mission, and led the development of the Government’s first interagency Federal Plan for Cyber Security R&D.

Dr. Szykman joined DHS after an 18-month assignment at OSTP. In the role of Senior Policy Analyst, his portfolio included a variety of information technology-related issues, including cyber security, high-end computing, and functioning as liaison for the NITRD Program, among others. Prior to joining OSTP, Dr. Szykman spent several years as a member of the technical staff at NIST.

Dr. Szykman received Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, a Master of Engineering Management degree from George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rochester.

The DorobekINSIDER reader: OPM’s streamlined hiring reforms

One of the big stories of the past week was the OPM announcement what they termed as “a major overhaul of the Federal hiring process.”

These seems to be a very important step — changing the way feds look at the process of hiring. Specifically, doing away with KSAs seems like a important step. I had one friend who was applying for a federal job who said her first relationship with the federal government was with bureaucracy through the knowledge, skills and abilities essays. They represent an odd relic that seemed to serve no real purpose.

The real question, as GovExec editor in chief Tom Shoop rightly points out, is how these reforms actually get implemented — what changes, and how they change.

Here is the rundown of the changes, according to the OPM release:

In his Memorandum, President Obama directed Federal agencies to:

• Dramatically reduce the time between when a job is announced and is filled.
• Eliminate essay-s as an initial application requirement. Essays may still be used later in the process. Under the previous system, if an individual applied for five separate Federal jobs, he or she often needed to complete five separate sets of lengthy essays.
• Use shorter, plain-language job announcements.
• Accept resumes from applicants, instead of requiring them to submit complex applications through outdated systems.
• Allow hiring managers to choose from among a group of best qualified candidates, rather than limiting their choice to just three names, through expanded use of “category ratings.”
• Notify applicants in a timely manner (and at four points in the process) through USAJobs.gov – eliminating the “black hole” that applicants often feel they when they get no response to their application.
• Submit a hiring and recruitment plan for top talent to OPM by the end of this year.
• Have all Cabinet-level and Senior Administration Officials visiting universities or colleges on official business incorporate time to discuss career opportunities in the Federal service with students.

Additionally, the President directed OPM to:

• Design a government-wide plan for recruiting and hiring qualified, diverse talent.
• Review the Federal Career Intern Program and, within 90 days, offer a recommendation to the President on its future and on providing effective pathways into the Federal service for college students and graduates.
• Work with agencies to ensure that best practices are being developed and used throughout Government.

Some other resources around the hiring reforms:

* The OPM’s new hiring reform Web site: http://www.opm.gov/hiringreform/

* Remarks by OPM Director John Berry… hear the audio from here…. or here:

* The presidential memorandum: Improving the Federal Recruitment and Hiring Process

* The guidance to agencies: Comprehensive Recruitment and Hiring Reform, Implementation of the President’s Memorandum of May 11, 2010

News coverage:

• Federal News Radio: OPM hosts CHCO hiring reforms summit today [May 12, 2010]
• Federal News Radio: Executive Order seals OPM hiring reforms [May 10, 2010]
• Federal News Radio’s Daily Debrief: Mike Causey weighs in on federal hiring reform [May 12, 2010]
• Federal News Radio: NTEU wants merit system preserved with hiring reform [May 13, 2010]
• Federal News Radio 1500 AM: How federal hiring reforms will affect managers [May 14, 2010]
• Federal Times: DHS plans hiring overhaul
• GovExec.com: Essay-based job applications are on the way out [May 12, 2010]
• GovExec’s Tom Shoop: Making Hiring Reform Real [May 11, 2010]
• Federal Times: White House orders reforms to speed hiring
• Federal Times’s FedLine blog: Who knew hiring reform could be so exciting?

DorobekINSIDER: Most read items April 9-15, 2010: OPM hiring reforms and crowdsourcing the Gulf oil spill

There is little doubt about what the big story for feds was this past week — the executive order to speed up the federal hiring process. And those stories were throughout the most read list this week across FederalNewsRadio.com…

So… the most read stories April 9-15, 2010… on the DorobekInsider.com, on final week of the Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris, on Mike Causey’s Federal Report, and for FederalNewsRadio.com…

…from the DorobekInsider.com…

1. DorobekINSIDER: Crowdsourcing Gulf Coast oil spill info
2. DorobekINSIDER: The Gov 2.0 status report — where are we now?
3. DorobekINSIDER: Most read items for the month of April 2010: iPad, USPS, TSP millionaires
4. DorobekINSIDER: Former GSA CIO Piatt returns — but at OGP
5. DorobekINSIDER: The blog becomes a radio show… and programming changes at Federal News Radio
6. DorobekINSIDER: Most read items for the week of May 2-8, 2010: Oil spill, TSP, and telework
7. DorobekINSIDER on the circuit: Jane Norris; NASA’s Diaz; NASA’s Kemp; former GSAer Bill
8. DorobekInsider: OMB hires performance guru Shelley Metzenbaum
9. DorobekINSIDER: Turco to lead GSA’s Office of Governmentwide Policy
10. DorobekINSIDER: Federal News Radio’s programming changes become officially official
11. The DorobekINSIDER iPad review: Will you see them in government?
12. DorobekINSIDER: Is that a ‘for sale’ sign at market research firm Input?
13. DorobekINSIDER: GSA’s Johnson’s memo to staff re Turco as the new head of governmentwide
14. DorobekINSIDER: BREAKING: GSA names Michael Robertson as chief of staff
15. DorobekInsider: USDA gets approval for employee buy outs from OPM as mega-management reorg continues
16. DorobekINSIDER EXCLUSIVE: GSA’s Jim Williams to retire from government after 30-plus years
17. The DorobekInsider reader: Obama cyber policy review
18. DorobekINSIDER: Most read items for the week of April 3-10: The iPad, TSP, and your thoughts about g

… from Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris…

1. In the TSP, is G fund the place to be?
2. More feds might be needed for hiring reforms
3. How federal hiring reforms will affect managers
4. Analysis: Proposed DoD cuts could mean big changes
5. In the TSP, is G fund is the place to be?
6. GAO: Comparison of military, civilian pay & benefits complex
7. NTEU wants merit system preserved with hiring reform
8. Mike Causey weighs in on federal hiring reform
9. Analysis: Contractor dollars shrink in FY 2011 budget
10. Changes come to Federal News Radio
11. Archives uses Web 2.0 to write Open Government Plan
12. Most TSP funds see gains in April
13. Labor launches video contest to create job visability
14. Focus on work/life balance could free you from the office
15. Get ready for the 2010 Andrews Air Show this weekend
16. The importance of transparency for health IT
17. The role of government in private innovation
18. Section: Daily Debrief Blogs
19. How hacks on Dept. of Treasury sites were detected
20. Privacy, porn, and your federal job: analysis
21. How the Defense Department will cut spending
22. How feds helped children of Haiti after the earthquake
23. Army uses virtual world Second Life for collaboration
24. GAO compares DoD military, civilian pay & benefits
25. How your TSP performed in April
26. A fond farewell to Jane Norris
27. Use alternative communication in an emergency
28. Survey: Feds do not consider security when communicating
29. In the TSP, the G fund is the place to be
30. Analysis: Gen. Alexander to head Cyber Command
31. Tuesday Afternoon Federal Newscast – May 11
32. GAO: DoD could improve on ability to respond to catastrophes
33. Changes at DoD’s Medical Education and Training Campus
34. FBI investigates cyber ‘money mules’
35. Cooperation led to swift capture of suspected bomber
36. New worm spreads via Yahoo instant messenger
37. Senate examines ways to strengthen federal workforce
38. Restroom parity coming to an agency near you?
39. VA opens IT training centers to improve awareness
40. Social Security Administration battles claims backlog
41. National Archives are ‘backbone of transparency’
42. DoD’s Cyber Command prepares for battle
43. How to know if the cloud is right for you
44. TSP participants roll over record amount of investments
45. ACT/IAC: VA health IT system needs modernization
46. Vint Cerf discusses role of government online
47. OMB wants agency input on FISMA
48. Digital ants help fight cyber attacks
49. Your Turn preview: Who needs the SES?

… for Mike Causey’s Federal Report …

1. Civil Service Reform & Manure
2. FEHBP Dependent Change is a Long Shot
3. Teleworking & Dependent Care: The Downside
4. National Guard $5,000 Payouts!
5. Teleworking, FEHBP: Different Strokes!
6. Honors and $$ For Top Ranked Feds
7. Big Career Changes Coming at You
8. Leaping Tall Buildings, Fed Style
9. NSPS Time Travelers Return to Earth
10. About Those Buyout Rumors…

… and from FederalNewsRadio.com …

1. Executive Order seals OPM hiring reforms
2. OPM hosts CHCO hiring reforms summit today
3. OPM to unveil hiring reforms Tuesday
4. TSP Snapshot: April up, clouds over I fund
5. OPM tests letting feds work without a schedule
6. OPM enacts sweeping federal hiring reform
7. DoD fixing its patchwork quilt of cybersecurity
8. Senate confirms Alexander to head DoD Cyber Command
9. House rejects telework bill
10. Vint Cerf explains DARPA and the Internet
11. FCC to establish cyber certification program
12. DHS tries sharing cyber threat data differently
13. Feds expand virtual worlds use
14. OMB drafts, seeks comments on FISMA metrics
15. A day of thank yous to federal employees
16. Agencies finding added value in open government
17. OMB’s Sunstein links records and open government
18. Federal News Radio Reports
19. HReinvented: Feds mixed on OPM’s HR reform plans, survey finds
20. NTEU files motion to end internship program
21. OPM to create pools of qualified applicants
22. DHS to release draft RFP for Eagle 2
23. Bill would create White House cyber office
24. GSA: Green, Sustainable and more Aggressive
25. White House promising more attention to 508
26. When to consider moving your TSP funds around
27. House to vote on telework bill Thursday
28. OFPP defines ‘inherently governmental’
29. DoD Cyber Command will take a defensive posture
30. Intellipedia provides lessons for FedSpace initiative
31. Feds are organizing labor-management forums
32. OPM to submit hiring reform advice to White House next week
33. Agency cybersecurity reporting to get makeover
34. OPM takes smaller steps to modernize retirement processes
35. White House works to change online transactions
36. Survey: More incentives needed for Senior Executive Service
37. OMB shifts to real time cybersecurity monitoring
38. OPM promotes ‘Feds Get Fit’ with recipe cookoff
39. Federal labor unions push back against senator’s TSA ‘hold’
40. Berry is innovating in the OPM basement
41. Government needs to define cyber war
42. ATF wants more from mobile devices
43. GSA releases FY 2010 per diem rates
44. BRAC in Maryland: So far, so good
45. GSA continues to hint at E-Travel consolidation
46. Justice moves closer to secure sharing
47. SSA staying on top of claims increase
48. OMB outlines shift on FISMA
49. Agency pilots help cultivate ‘inherently governmental’ changes
50. DISA wants collaboration marbled through enterprise

DorobekINSIDER: Former GSA CIO Piatt returns — but at OGP

We told you that Bill Piatt had left his post as the chief information officer at the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation — and we suggested that he might be back in the federal world. In fact, he is coming home again — kind of.

Kathleen M. Turco, who just took the helm as Associate Administrator of GSA’s Office of Governmentwide Policy told staff Wednesday that Piatt will be joining OGP as the Director of the Office of Technology Strategy.

Piatt had previously served as GSA’s chief information officer.

Here is Turco’s note to staff:

To All OGP staff,

I am happy to announce that on May 24, 2010, Mr. Bill Piatt is joining the Office of Governmentwide Policy as the Director of the Office of Technology Strategy (ME). Mr. Piatt brings with him a wealth of extensive practical experience in delivering business results through information technology and strategic direction in both public and private sector institutions. He is noted for delivering breakthrough performance in large and small businesses as well as large and small federal agencies. Throughout his career, he has implemented robust programs and project management disciplines and revamped functions to streamline decision making and enhance accountability.

His extensive work background includes: Chief Information Officer for the International Finance Corporation in Washington, DC; Vice President of the Global Public Sector Marketing for CGI in Montreal, Canada; Chief Information Officer at General Services Administration (GSA); and Country Director for the Peace Corps as a Country Director in Prague, Czechoslovakia and Bratislava, Slovakia, and Lome, Togo.

I ask each of you to join me in welcoming Bill Piatt and know that each of you will provide him with outstanding support.

Kathleen M. Turco
Associate Administrator
Office of Governmentwide Policy
U.S. General Services Administration

DorobekINSIDER: Federal News Radio’s programming changes become officially official

We told you about it earlier, but… the changes are officially official today.

Here is the press release:

Federal News Radio Introduces New Lineup

WASHINGTON, D.C. May 12, 2010 – Federal News Radio 1500 AM today announced that it will debut a new line-up that will include changes to both morning and afternoon drive.

Afternoon anchor Amy Morris will join Tom Temin for “The Federal Drive” program airing weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Morris has over ten years of Washington radio experience and has been with Federal News Radio since 2006.

Chris Dorobek, will now be the host of “The Dorobek Insider,” – a talk show airing weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. “The Dorobek Insider” will complement his already popular federal blog, also titled “DorobekInsider.” Chris’ new show will cover all the bases including federal procurement, management, IT and human resources. Prior to joining Federal News Radio in 2008, Dorobek served as the editor-in-chief of Federal Computer Week.

Program Director Lisa Wolfe says, “These exciting changes highlight the specific skills and strengths of our staff and create something brand new in federal media space.”

The new drive time lineup will begin Monday May 17. “In-Depth with Francis Rose” will continue to air weekdays from 10 am to 3 pm.

Federal News Radio 1500 AM is a primary outlet for federal managers and contractors seeking news and information about the business of the federal government. Its website FederalNewsRadio.com features audio archives of all its programming as well as local and national federal news, original content, blogs, and more.

The station is also home to play-by-play sports, including being the flagship station for Washington Nationals baseball and Washington Capitals hockey. Federal News Radio and its sister station, all-news WTOP Radio, is owned by Bonneville International Corporation.

The Washington Post’s Federal Eye blogger Ed O’Keefe has written about it:

[Jane Norris’s] departure means afternoon anchor Amy Morris will join Tom Temin for “The Federal Drive” morning show. Morris’s current co-host, Chris Dorobek — of DorobekInsider fame — will go solo from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with “The Dorobek Insider.” Francis Rose and other programs will fill the hours in between.

WFED 1500 AM is the sister station of Washington’s all-news powerhouse WTOP and though it usually places dead last in the local radio ratings, it’s a cash cow for owner Bonneville International thanks to advertisements and infomercials purchased by defense contracting firms, federal labor unions and other interest groups. It’s also the radio home of the Washington Nationals and Washington Capitals thanks to a powerful AM signal that can be heard as far away as Cape Cod in the evenings.

Just as an explainer: Technically, we are tied at the bottom of the radio ratings. That being said, one of the wonderful things about Federal News Radio — In the end, radio ratings aren’t really relevant to what we do. Radio ratings using polling sampling techniques — and for Federal News Radio to register in ratings, you would have to be a registered people metered person. It is a very different business model… and it is one of the aspects of this station that I love. It is media people being innovative about how to meet the needs of a specific audience.

DorobekINSIDER: The Gov 2.0 status report — where are we now?

What is gov 2.0, what does it mean, and is it still a relevant term?

Those were the questions that were being bandied about at a dinner last week of gov 2.0 luminaries in preparation for the Gov 2.0 Expo.

The second Gov 2.0 Expo is coming to Washington, DC in just a few weeks — May 25-27 at the Washington Convention Center, to be exact. Produced by tech publishing giant Tim O’Reilly, the guy who all but invented the term “web 2.0.”

One of the remarkable evolutions over the years has been the changing government IT market. And it is very easy to overlook how much progress has been made. When I started covering this stuff for Government Computer News nearly two decades ago (my colleague at Federal News Radio, Tom Temin, hired me for the job at GCN — small world), people would often ask, ‘The government uses computers?’

My oh my, how the world has changed. The remarkable thing these days is that people don’t ask that question any more. To the contrary, they often say, ‘Why isn’t the government using technology more — or more effectively.’

And while the Obama administration is widely seen as being tech innovators — and the Obama team has really taken the use of technology to new levels — but this has been a long evolution dating all the way back to the Clinton administration. Back in 1998, the thought was creating a WebGov. WebGov then evolved to FirstGov before becoming USA.gov.

Before we go too much further, it’s important to define terms. Broadly, I describe Web 2.0 (and, by extension, gov 2.0) and the suite of collaborative tools. They can be everything from Facebook and GovLoop to wikis to blogs. Gov 2.0 would be the government’s use of these tools.

WebGov/FirstGov/USA.gov and all the other government Web sites were an early foray into the Web 1.0 world.

I’m fascinated by these tools because I think they can be — for lack of a better term — real paradigm changes. We often talk about paradigm shifts, but… these tools do seem to have the ability to bring about remarkable change. Some call them “disruptive” technologies — because they do significantly alter the way people have always done business.

And there has been a whole lot going on in the gov 2.0 world in recent years:

* Intellipedia: The suite of Web 2.0 tools for the intelligence community that has been on the cutting edge for some five years now — and it is one of the case studies in MIT Prof. Andrew McAfee’s great book, Enterprise 2.0: New Collaborative Tools for Your Organization’s Toughest Challenges.
* Blogs across government… some CJD favs include Navy CIO Rob Carey and NASA CIO Linda Cureton
* Idea sharing tools such as TSA’s Idea Factory, where front line feds can offer up ideas, and they are voted on by TSA employees

The National Academy of Public Administration’s Collaboration Project has scores of case studies.

And in recent years, there are scores of luminaries who have become fascinated with government technology — perhaps led by O’Reilly, but there are others… Craig Newmark, the “Craig” of Craig’s List… Anil Dash, who all but created blogging and has now created Expert Labs… and I even was introduced just last night to Palantir Technologies, which was created 2004 by a handful of PayPal alumni and Stanford computer scientists — and with venture funding from the CIA’s InQ-Tel — and seeks to “radically change how groups analyze information.” There have even been some criticisms of the Obama-Google connections.

Many of the Silicon Valley innovators are use to… well, being innovative. And it has been remarkable to watch as they have come change government.

O’Reilly is — and has been — one of the real thought leaders. Back in 2009, he wrote a post, What Does Government 2.0 Mean To You?

The buzz at last week’s dinner was where does gov 2.0 stand today.

In a way, it is a much more complex world these days. Some of the changes require real changes — and greater risks. Some of the changes require discussions and debate — how do you deal with Internet Web cookies, for example. In the Web world, it is simple: Agencies should be able to use them. But in reality, the headline will say, ‘Government to track Web users.”

And there are complex policy discussions, like the one going on about the Government Paperwork Reduction Act. GPRA is almost universally loathed by gov 2.0 proponents, but… it is also the law.

There was a significant contingent at last week’s dinner who said that the term “gov 2.0” actually holds the evolution of these tools back.

My sense is that the power of these tools — and people’s desire to work together to accomplish a mission — wins out in the end. They will succeed or fail based on whether they actually help agencies accomplish their missions.

For me, that remains the question: Does this help agencies do their job better?

All of that being said, this is a more complex time for gov 2.0, but we’ve already seen remarkable changes. One of the biggest change: People feel empowered. A handful of people can launch something like the Better Buy Project, which seeks to change the government procurement process. It is much more complex then merely launching a blog or using Twitter. In many ways, it is a more fundamental evolution of how government conducts its business.

There have been enormous accomplishments. It was just a few years ago that it was totally evolutionary when Andrew P. Wilson was working on redesigning the PandemicFlu.gov Web site — and merely asked for help with the question: How can we make this site better? The concept of asking for help — the notion that one could ask for help was an enormous change. it is easy to underestimate these changes, but they aren’t small, nor are they insignificant. Today, it has become a regular tool for agencies.

These changes are going to take time — and they probably should. Everybody is learning — and there is a lot to learn.

I’d be interested in your thoughts.

DorobekINSIDER: Most read items for the week of May 2-8, 2010: Oil spill, TSP, and telework

The most read stories the entire month of April 2010… on the DorobekInsider.com, on the Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris, on Mike Causey’s Federal Report, and for FederalNewsRadio.com…

…from the DorobekInsider.com…

1. DorobekINSIDER: Most read items for the month of April 2010: iPad, USPS, TSP millionaires
2. DorobekINSIDER: Crowdsourcing Gulf Coast oil spill info
3. DorobekINSIDER on the circuit: Jane Norris; NASA’s Diaz; NASA’s Kemp; former GSAer Bill
4. DorobekINSIDER: The blog becomes a radio show… and programming changes at Federal News Radio
5. DorobekINSIDER: Is that a ‘for sale’ sign at market research firm Input?
6. The DorobekINSIDER iPad review: Will you see them in government?
7. DorobekInsider: OMB hires performance guru Shelley Metzenbaum
8. DorobekINSIDER: Turco to lead GSA’s Office of Governmentwide Policy
9. DorobekINSIDER: AFCEA Bethesda’s 12 annual benefit for The Children’s Inn at NIH
10. DorobekINSIDER: Most read items for the week of April 18-24: GSA’s chief of staff, USPS, and t
11. DorobekInsider EXCLUSIVE: USDA undertakes extensive management reorg – downgrading the CIO, CF
12. DorobekINSIDER: Most read items for the week of April 3-10: The iPad, TSP, and your thoughts about g
13. DorobekINSIDER: GSA’s Johnson’s memo to staff re Turco as the new head of governmentwide
14. DorobekINSIDER: BREAKING: GSA names Michael Robertson as chief of staff
15. DorobekINSIDER: Most read items for the week of April 11-17: Better Buy Project, TSP, and SESers
16. DorobekINSIDER EXCLUSIVE: GSA’s Jim Williams to retire from government after 30-plus years
17. DorobekINSIDER: GSA clarifies the role of regional administrators
18. DorobekINSIDER: The role of the CIO – and NASA gives the CIO authority

… from Federal News Radio 1500 AM’s Daily Debrief with Chris Dorobek and Amy Morris…

1. Most TSP funds see gains in April
2. Focus on work/life balance could free you from the office
3. How hacks on Dept. of Treasury sites were detected
4. Professional Services Council has concerns about DoD insourcing
5. How federal agencies can attract younger workers to IT
6. Bureau of Engraving and Printing websites hacked?
7. Satisfaction with federal government websites at all-time high
8. How feds helped children of Haiti after the earthquake
9. Bureau of Engraving and Printing websites hacked
10. Audit: Agency Open Government Plans vary widely
11. Digital ants help fight cyber attacks
12. ARPA-E seeks to change future energy technologies
13. The importance of transparency for health IT
14. The role of government in private innovation
15. Pew study: More look online for government data
16. TSP participants roll over record amount of investments
17. TSP fund balance crosses $250 billion
18. Senate committee wants better, brighter federal employees
19. GSA works to build social network for civilian feds
20. ACT/IAC: VA health IT system needs modernization
21. How your TSP performed in April
22. Why the Federal Retirement Thrift Investments Board is regularly audited
23. Hacked Treasury websites raise security questions about cloud
24. Timeline for TSP’s Roth option discussed
25. DoD proposal could tighten Organization Conflict of Interest rules
26. Europe proposes international cyber crime fighting group
27. GAO: Army must modernize with acquisition reforms
28. Social Security Administration battles claims backlog
29. Federal Jobs Workshop debuts during Public Service Recognition Week
30. OPM Director Berry furious over federal pay editorial
31. New worm spreads via Yahoo instant messenger
32. TSP measures up to private sector funds
33. Senate committe examines ways to strengthen federal workforce
34. A fond farewell to Jane Norris
35. Senate looks at DHS budget, contractors
36. New cybersecurity concerns & Treasury website hacking update
37. USPS plan would make dramatic changes
38. Analysis: Change the role of the Postal Service to keep it viable
39. GSA to update infrastructure for better mobility
40. Your Turn preview: Who needs the SES?
41. GAO: Federal acquisition workforce needs help
42. More clues emerge about attempted Time Square bombing
43. GSA names winner in USA.gov PSA contest
44. TSP funds continue to gain in March
45. USDA holds ‘Apps for Healthy Kids’ contest
46. Preview: Where the NSPS transition stands
47. CIO Council report has ideas on attracting younger feds
48. Friday Afternoon Federal Newscast – May 7
49. OPM continues to modernize federal retirement system

…for Mike Causey’s Federal Report…

1. The $500K Club for Feds
2. Leaping Tall Buildings, Fed Style
3. Does Your Boss Hover or Rule By Remote
4. NSPS Time Travelers Return to Earth
5. Honors and $$ For Top Ranked Feds
6. Teleworking, AWS & The Reluctant Boss
7. Pay, Benefits Time Check
8. SES: Life at the Top Isn’t So Hot
9. Politics and Your 2011 Pay Raise
10. Big Career Changes Coming at You

… and from FederalNewsRadio.com …

1. House rejects telework bill
2. House to vote on telework bill today
3. NTEU files motion to end internship program
4. OPM tests letting feds work without a schedule
5. A day of thank yous to federal employees
6. House to vote on telework bill Thursday
7. GSA continues to hint at E-Travel consolidation
8. DHS to release draft RFP for Eagle 2
9. OPM details ROWE pilot workplace program
10. Feds are organizing labor-management forums
11. Senate explores improved supervisor training
12. Intellipedia provides lessons for FedSpace initiative
13. Senate unlikely to consider DoD acquisition bill
14. GSA: Green, Sustainable and more Aggressive
15. Bill would create White House cyber office
16. OMB wants more pressure on Recovery Act recipients
17. White House promising more attention to 508
18. Web managers get a glimpse of the future
19. Acquisition workforce training going virtual
20. OFPP defines ‘inherently governmental’
21. Federal News Radio Reports
22. Web mgrs. told to expect more digital content, collaboration
23. Obama nominates two for key administration posts
24. When to consider moving your TSP funds around
25. OPM’s Berry gets Hill thumbs up on fed closing call
26. Fed web managers preview cool new tools
27. OMB shifts to real time cybersecurity monitoring
28. White House works to change online transactions
29. Survey: More incentives needed for Senior Executive Service
30. SSA staying on top of claims increase
31. Rockefeller stumps for cybersecurity
32. OPM to submit hiring reform advice to White House next week
33. Agency cybersecurity reporting to get makeover
34. Obama calls for more small business contracting
35. OPM promotes ‘Feds Get Fit’ with recipe cookoff
36. Justice moves closer to secure sharing
37. Berry is innovating in the OPM basement
38. OPM takes smaller steps to modernize retirement processes
39. Federal government closed on Wednesday
40. House passes Defense acquisition reform bill
41. NSPS transitions completed ahead of schedule
42. Agency pilots help cultivate ‘inherently governmental’ changes
43. OPM’s Berry considers turning telework on its ear
44. OMB outlines shift on FISMA
45. GSA to issue new solicitations for cloud
46. Performance management on agencies’ front burners
47. GSA releases FY 2010 per diem rates
48. GAO: Postal Service business model not working
49. NMCI to NGEN = 43 months Navy says
50. Salary Council suggests locality pay increase for 2011

DorobekINSIDER: The blog becomes a radio show… and programming changes at Federal News Radio 1500 AM

There will be some changes coming to Federal News Radio 1500 AM.

We told you last week that Jane Norris, who has been one of the anchors on Federal News Radio 1500 AM for the four years, is moving into private industry joining Deloitte. We got to talk to her about her tenure here.

Federal News Radio Program Director Lisa Wolfe will join us next week to talk about some of the changes she is making to the station. Needless to say, Norris’s departure is leading a number of other changes. (And this is a bit of a preview — the official announcement comes early next week… and we will walk to Wolfe next week, but… )

Here is what will be happening starting Monday, May 17:

My co-anchor, friend and my “work wife,” Amy Morris, will join the Federal Drive working with Tom Temin… And the afternoon drive program will change — the Daily Debrief will go and, on May 17, it becomes the DorobekINSIDER… on the radio.

We are still working on what exactly the DorobekINSIDER radio show will be — and thoughts are more than welcome.

The way that I have been describing the show is Charlie Rose, but on caffeine… and/or ‘the federal water cooler — but on the radio.’ The thing I love about PBS’s Charlie Rose Show is that it is almost always thought provoking. It is smart people having a discussion about important issues — and about issues that matter.

So we have gone through an exercise of coming up with the words that would describe the DorobekINSIDER on the radio. Among the words I’ve come up with: buzz… news… connected… innovative… thoughtful… helpful… celebrate success… embrace failure… curious… collaborative… information sharing… helpful… fun… 2.0 (or whatever)… assessing conventional wisdom… challenging conventional wisdom… community… and did I mention fun? Well, it is worth mentioning again.

Turning those words into a radio program is going to be an evolution. The DorobekINSIDER that airs on May 17 will probably be a different program a month later… six months later…

One of the remarkable aspects of Federal News Radio 1500 AM is that we are an ongoing evolution — in some ways, I think the station is really an experiment in radio. It is the first radio station in the world (as far as we know) to move from the dot-com world, to a relatively small frequency, to now blasting on one of the biggest AM frequencies in the Mid-Atlantic. And we are using that booming broadcast voice to reach a community — to you.

We want to continue to push those boundaries — while always keeping our eye on OUR mission: To help the government operate better.

There are a number of questions remaining… for example, I’d love for you to be involved. How do you WANT to be involved?

Yet I have always tried to operate in an open and transparent way. We will address those questions here as they arise… and I hope you will help create the show that accomplishes that mission: To help government operate better.

As we say in radio… stay tuned.