FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM
Debt and clearance. From security clearance attorney Sean Bigley: “No matter what the underlying reason for the debt, all security clearance applicants must resolve it in order to earn or retain the government’s trust.”
Killer cover letters. From Julie Mendez: “[Y]our cover letter can be your secret weapon that will quickly distinguish yourself from the crowd. Recruiters spend 6-10 seconds per resume, and you do not want them wasting those precious seconds on your cover letter. So, it is vital to maximizing the effectiveness of both!”
THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT
Al Qaeda resurgence in Afghanistan. The Long War Journal’s Bill Roggio and Thomas Joscelyn report, “A senior US general in Afghanistan recently admitted the US military and intelligence services’ long-held belief that al Qaeda has only 50 to 100 operatives based in the country is incorrect, stating that number must be revised upward. Since 2010, US officials have claimed that al Qaeda has been ‘decimated’ in Afghanistan and has maintained a consistent minimal presence of 50 to 100 operatives.”
Cold war warming. Defense One’s Kevin Baron reports, “Russia’s razor-close fighter jet flybys of a U.S. destroyer in the Baltic Sea this week shows that Moscow is weak, NATO is vital, and Europe’s eastern flank needs the new air defense systems Baltic leaders have been requesting for a year.”
China censures N. Korea. Reuters’ Ju-Min Park reports, “North Korea attempted and failed to launch what experts believe was an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Friday in defiance of U.N. sanctions and in an embarrassing setback for leader Kim Jong Un, drawing criticism from major ally China.”
Courting India. Defense Media Activity’s Jim Garamone reports, “The American-Indian relationship is one that will define the 21st century, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said yesterday in New Delhi. Carter and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar also announced an agreement in principle to share logistics assets for humanitarian operations. The two defense leaders spoke during a news conference following a meeting at the Indian Defense Ministry.”
CONTRACT WATCH
Cyber-contract vehicle. Federal Times’ Aaron Boyd reports, “There are a number of contract vehicles available to federal agencies looking for cybersecurity tools but few that offer services like penetration testing and phishing assessments. The General Services Administration wants to build just such a contract and is asking agencies and industry how such a vehicle should be structured.”
Jamming by virus. Military & Aerospace Electronics Editor John Keller reports, “U.S. Navy airborne warfare experts are moving forward with a plan to upgrade the EA-18G Growler electronic warfare (EW) aircraft with new state-of-the-art electronic jammers to suppress and inject computer viruses into enemy digital radar and communications systems. Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., announced a $1 billion contract Wednesday to the Raytheon Co. to build and test 15 Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) aircraft-mounted pods in support of NGJ full-scale development.”
TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY
Encrypting the World Wide Web. Wired’s Andy Greenberg reports, “Apple’s move to encrypt your iPhone and WhatsApp’s rollout of end-to-end encrypted messaging have generated plenty of privacy applause and law enforcement controversy. But more quietly, a small non-profit project has enacted a plan to encrypt the entire global web. And it’s working.”
Innovative cybersecurity. FedScoop’s Greg Otto reports, “One of the biggest problems federal cybersecurity officials face is moving fast enough to keep up with hackers — adversaries famed for their agility and flexibility. At the National Security Agency, they’re trying an Innovation Corps approach . . . .”
POTOMAC TWO-STEP
Sit down and shut up. “Senate Republicans piled on conservative Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) during a private meeting Thursday, rebuking him after he pressed several GOP leaders earlier in the week to step down from leadership because of term limits. Colleagues scolded Lee for lacking collegiality by trying to enforce a GOP conference rule that allows lawmakers to serve only three terms in the elected leadership, according to lawmakers who attended the heated discussion.”
Political Influence. “The number two Republican in the Senate charged Thursday that President Obama is ‘trying to influence the outcome’ of the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server during her tenure at the State Department.”
