Friday’s Headlines

FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM

1.  OPM—welcome to the 21st century. Contributor Chandler Harris explains, “The U.S. Office of Personnel Management developed a new Strategic Information Technology Plan, which will improve and consolidate IT systems related to human resources. . . . to ensure data availability and accuracy across the lifecycle for faster retirement processing, increased accuracy of annuity calculations, and reduced backlog of cases.”

2.  Hiring right. Contributor Jillian Hamilton explains, “It is not bad to administer personality tests, but pay attention to the type of test and how it is administered. . . . For example, it may seem simple to check on the candidate’s listening skills; however, a candidate that is hearing impaired may have answers that make it seem like s/he has poor listening skills.”

THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT

1.  Syrian rebels defeating themselves. Aljazeera.Com reports, “Fierce infighting between rival Islamic rebel groups in eastern Syria has killed more than 50 fighters, an opposition group said, while government shelling left at least four teenagers dead in a town in the country’s west. . . . The two sides have fought each other for months other over territory they previously captured together from President Bashar Assad’s forces.”

2.  U.S. and Putin—Tit for Tat. Reuters reports, “President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday that Russian gas supplies to Europe could be disrupted if Moscow cuts the flow to Ukraine over unpaid bills, drawing a U.S. accusation that it is using energy ‘as a tool of coercion.’ . . . The United States accused Moscow of using its vast energy reserves to pressure the former Soviet republic. ‘We condemn Russia’s efforts to use energy as a tool of coercion against Ukraine,’ State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.” See also, “Russia Says NATO Is Breaking Its Word on Missile Defense.”

3.  Keeping the Warthogs flying. DefenseNews.Com’s John T. Bennett reports, “The Air Force is proposing to remove A-10s from its combat fleet in 2019 to fit under spending caps included in a 2011 deficit-reduction law and extended through this decade by a recent bipartisan budget resolution. Lawmakers from both parties oppose such a move, but they will have to find an offset—a cut elsewhere in the budget—to keep the A-10s flying.”

4.  Shrinking our war weary military. DefenseOne.Com contributor Clara Ritger reports, “Twelve consecutive years of war have turned soldiers into the subjects of an unintended experiment in the impact of prolonged conflict on the human psyche. . . . One in five American soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq report symptoms of PTSD or major depression . . . Only half of those individuals seek treatment. But even those who do seek help don’t always find solutions.”

5.  Afghanistan Army welcomes women. Khaama.Com reports, “In just over two months, the new Afghan National Army Officer Academy will be opening its doors to the first class of female officer cadets. In preparation, eight female instructors are currently being put through their paces. Sergeant Humeira, Trainee instructor said, ‘I always wanted to join the army, so that’s why I’m here.’”

CONTRACT WATCH

1.  Simplifying Fed Contracting. NextGov.Com contributor Joseph Marks explains, “The General Services Administration’s contracting division is developing a new Web platform and business structure to bring more expertise to complicated acquisitions . . . . The new initiative, called Category Management, will involve assigning a Federal Acquisition Service manager in charge of each of several acquisition categories, such as information technology, professional services and travel.”

2.  SRA wins GAO’s $18 million. GovConWire.Com reports, “SRA International has been awarded a potential $148 million contract to help the Government Accountability Office operate its information technology infrastructure. SRA will work with GAO’s office of information systems and technology services to maintain the agency’s IT applications and systems . . . . The company will also aid GAO in identifying and executing business process developments under the five-year contract.”

TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY

1. Solar powered aircraft—they’re here. AviationWeek.Com’s Graham Warwick reports, “Switzerland’s Solar Impulse has unveiled the aircraft with which it will attempt a solar-powered round-the-world flight in 2015. The 236-ft. wingspan Solar Impulse is scheduled to make its first flight in mid-May. The aircraft, registered HB-SIB, is larger and heavier than the prototype, HB-SIA, with increased wingspan, solar-cell area and battery capacity. Solar Impulse 2 will have increased endurance and speed, giving it a greater ability to manage weather during the round-the-world attempt.”

2.  Phantom Badger—Navy’s new mini hummer-looking-thing. Wired.Com’s Allen McDuffee reports, “The U.S. Navy has certified the Phantom Badger, a 240-horsepower combat support vehicle that’s about the size of a Mini and tough enough to traverse damn near anything. It’s designed to fit inside several different aircraft, including the V-22 Osprey, and airdropped to provide ground troops with superior mobility. . . . The vehicle, which looks a lot like a squished HumVee, was developed by Boeing Phantom Works with an assist from Motorsport Innovations.”

2.  Battling Hackers—Coalition of the Willing. NextGov.Com’s Brendan Sasso reports, “The Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission issued a formal policy statement Thursday, assuring businesses that they will not face federal lawsuits for sharing information with each other about attacks on their computer systems. Companies have been nervous that discussing information about hackers could run afoul of antitrust laws, which restrict the ability of businesses to coordinate with each other. The laws are intended to prevent companies from stifling competition and inflating prices.”

POTOMAC TWO-STEP

1.  Out with the old . . . . “Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will resign from President Obama’s Cabinet on Friday, ceding her role as the top official in charge of ObamaCare. Obama intends to replace Sebelius, who has come under fire for the botched rollout of the federal ObamaCare exchange, with Sylvia Burwell, the director of the Office of Management and Budget. The announcement will be made at the White House on Friday morning.”

2.  Kissing Congressman: “’ The Republican Party of Louisiana calls on Vance McAllister to resign his seat in Congress. Mr. McAllister’s extreme hypocrisy is an example of why ordinary people are fed up with politics. A breach of trust of this magnitude can only be rectified by an immediate resignation. He has embarrassed our party, our state and the institution of Congress. A video showing him engaged in conduct unbecoming a member of Congress, on public time, in a public office, with one of his employees, was the focus of the national press for days. I call on Mr. McAllister to put the interests of his nation, state and party above his own and step aside. We are praying for Mr. McAllister and the families that are involved.’”

OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS

1.  “How To Start a Meeting.” Time contributor Kristin Cobble advises, “Some say it’s not how you start, but how you finish. As someone who has built a career helping leaders to run meetings that are enjoyable and a valuable use of time (sounds improbable, doesn’t it!), I believe how you start a meeting is critical — whether with colleagues, clients, volunteers, your local government or even your family.”

2.  “Battling perceptions: Minorities in the Arab world.” Aljazeera.Com contributor Rachel Shabi argues, “We must move away from the overriding narrative that ‘sectarianism’ is the natural state of the Arab world.”

3.  “In a year of many elections, Muslim ones stand out.” The Christian Science Monitor’s Editorial Board argues, “Elections in Indonesia, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Tunisia could further redefine Islam’s role in Muslim countries still learning the ways of democracy.”

THE FUNNIES

1.  Blue period.

2.  Eye of the beholder.

3.  Colbert retort.

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Ed Ledford enjoys the most challenging, complex, and high stakes communications requirements. His portfolio includes everything from policy and strategy to poetry. A native of Asheville, N.C., and retired Army Aviator, Ed’s currently writing speeches in D.C. and working other writing projects from his office in Rockville, MD. He loves baseball and enjoys hiking, camping, and exploring anything. Follow Ed on Twitter @ECLedford.