FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Cleared finances. Contributor Sean Bigley writes, “The key issue in the eyes of security clearance adjudicators is whether you have acted responsibly and reasonably in your financial life – such that you should be trusted to follow the rules surrounding protection of classified information. A long trail of 1099 forms is probably not going to help your case. But if the reason for your security clearance denial is a single debt (e.g. a foreclosure) or even a few debts, a 1099-C or 1099-A form may be your golden ticket . . . .”
Recruiting right. Editor Lindy Kyzer writes, “Communication is continually evolving, but in a candidate pool that includes multiple generations, you’ll have to be flexible to have the most success. Many recruiters love a candidate who’s willing to pick up the phone and chat. But your best fit IT-candidate may be that same person who hasn’t checked his voicemail messages in six months. Some candidates may prefer text, but others will consider it a huge turn off – particularly if you persistently reach out.”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
Iranian missiles. Reuters’ Louis Charbonneau reports, “By launching nuclear-capable missiles Iran has defied a United Nations Security Council resolution that endorsed last year’s historic nuclear deal, the United States and its European allies said in a joint letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday. Iran’s recent ballistic tests involved missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons and were ‘inconsistent with’ and ‘in defiance of’ council resolution 2231, adopted last July . . . .” See also, “Iran’s Missile Launches” and “Iran Expands Covert Missile Program.”
Defending Europe. AP’s Lolita C. Baldor reports, “U.S. officials say the Pentagon will be deploying an armored brigade combat team to Eastern Europe next February as part of the ongoing effort to rotate troops in and out of the region to reassure allies worried about threats from an increasingly aggressive Russia.”
Intelligence sharing. The Christian Science Monitor’s Howard LaFranchi reports, “The Brussels terrorist attacks could result in new efforts for the United States and Europe to better cooperate to combat terrorism, but such efforts also would confront a fundamental problem of differing priorities and approaches – and even distrust.”
Planning for security. Defense News contributor Leo Shane III reports, “Michele Flournoy, the Pentagon’s former undersecretary for policy and currently CEO of the Center for a New American Security, notes in the think tank’s latest ‘Papers for the Next President’ series that conflicts in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia will require the incoming president — whoever that is — to start work as soon as the election is decided.”
CONTRACT WATCH
Carter’s contractor conference. DoD Buzz’s Brendan McGarry reports, “Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Tuesday met behind closed doors with dozens of executives from the Pentagon’s biggest contractors. Carter accepted an invitation from the Aerospace Industries Association, the National Defense Industrial Association and the Professional Services Council to participate in a discussion with 30 to 35 executives at AIA’s headquarters in Arlington . . . .”
Procuring handhelds. Federal Times’ Aaron Boyd reports, “With the rise of category management and the Office of Management and Budget’s push to bring down IT spending governmentwide, the administration’s top acquisition officer and IT manager announced a new mandate to consolidate and streamline spending on mobile devices.”
Shipboard networking. Military & Aerospace Electronics Editor John Keller reports, “Military communications experts at the Boeing Co. will continue support for high-speed fiber-optic shipboard networking for U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers under terms of an $13.4 million order announced this week. Officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Dahlgren, Va., are asking the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in Huntington Beach, Calif., to continue support of the shipboard AN/USQ-82(V) Gigabit Ethernet Data Multiplex Systems (GEDMS) program.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Nuclear terror. Defense One’s Patrick Tucker reports, “[M]ounting evidence points to ISIS’s intention to cause nuclear havoc, whether by damaging a nuclear facility, spiking a conventional bomb with radioactive materials, or even building a fission bomb with highly enriched uranium.” See also, “UN atomic chief warns on ‘nuclear terrorism’.”
Defense tech hiring. Nextgov’s Jack Moore reports, “The chief information officer of the Defense Department is putting together a wish list of legislative fixes designed to help the Pentagon attract IT and cybersecurity talent.”
Cyber-Defense. Vice News’ Justin Ling reports, “The Canadian-funded software [Deflect DDoS mitigation] successfully defended a Ukrainian news site from outside attackers, serving as a proof of concept that the small-scale, open-source, community-based can ward off clouds of malicious machines. Cyber-defense in Ukraine has become especially relevant, as hackers target critical infrastructure and independent news media.”
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
Cold feet. “Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., refused on Tuesday to follow his governor’s lead and endorse Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for the GOP presidential nomination on Tuesday. . . . Johnson acknowledged that he has concerns about backing front-runner Donald Trump given that associating with the controversial real estate mogul could hurt him in left-leaning Wisconsin.”
Diversions. “Hillary Clinton on Monday called on Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa to ‘step up and do his job,’ just hours after he warned the former secretary of state that law enforcement was coming for her.”
OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS
“America is pulling back from the world.” Reuters contributor Peter Apps argues, “If the country is going isolationist again during a period of global instability, that may not be a good thing for the rest of us.”
“A Proud Day For Parliament: The Wisdom Of Not Bombing Assad.” War on the Rocks contributor Patrick Porter argues, “Sometimes, it makes sense to stay back and conserve resources for another day.”
“Brussels interrogators misinterpreted mission.” Stars & Stripes contributor Marc A. Thiessen argues, “Belgium that has some explaining to do for its failure to effectively interrogate a high-value terrorist — an interrogation that may have foiled last week’s terrorist attacks. The carnage is a direct result of Europe’s refusal to accept that terrorists must be treated differently than common criminals.”
“Scholars fueling Islamic State’s hate.” Reuters contributor Mohamad Bazzi argues, “Like its predecessors, Islamic State reads Islam’s history and its foundational texts selectively, choosing the parts and thinkers who fit into its vision of Sunni dominance, brutality and constant war with pretty much everyone else.”
“Appropriate Response Time To Email?” Fast Company’s Laura Vanderkam writes, “The bad news from analyses of millions of emails is that people do expect swifter responses. The good news, however, is that you can manage this expectation, and buy yourself time if you need to.”
THE FUNNIES
