FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM

High-end cyber-hiring. From Editor Lindy Kyzer: “Cybersecurity requires a hiring strategy that recognizes the competitiveness of the industry today. Qualified IT talent has excellent prospects in the commercial sector and virtually zero unemployment. They’re not likely searching for your opportunities, which means you need a strategy for attracting passive talent or entry level professionals. Here are five more tips for a successful cybersecurity hiring program. . . .”

Beyond USAJobs. From Chandler Harris: “While the Office of Personnel Management recently announced steps to improve the maligned USAjobs.gov website, participants of a recent panel said more must be done to improve it.  Using the site today is like ‘typing your information into the black hole’ . . . .”

THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT

Honoring Nate Chapman. The Washington Post’s Thomas Gibbons-Neff reports, “When Nathan Ross Chapman became the first military casualty to die by enemy fire during the war in Afghanistan, the only American flag available for his casket was a patch torn off the uniform of an airman loading his coffin for the long trip home.”

More troops to Iraq. Reuters’ Yeganeh Torbati reports, “The United States will send more troops to Iraq and will put them closer to the front lines of battle there to advise Iraqi forces in the war against Islamic State militants. U.S. defense officials said on Monday that Washington will deploy about 200 additional troops, mostly as advisers for Iraqi troops as they advance towards Mosul, the largest Iraqi city still under Islamic State control.”

Taliban attack in Kabul. Washington Post’s Tim Craig and Sayed Salahuddin report, “Taliban militants attacked a government agency with a suicide bomb and gunfire Tuesday, killing perhaps more than two dozen people and wounding more than 320 others in one of the most devastating attacks in Kabul in years . . . . The target was an elite Afghan intelligence unit tasked with protecting senior government politicians.”

CONTRACT WATCH

Judiciary’s IT investments. Nextgov’s Frank Konkel reports, “While the executive branch makes up the lion’s share of federal IT spending – set to rise to almost $90 billion – the judicial branch will drop $16.8 million on a single-award contract to Fairfax, Virginia-based Salient CRGT to beef up its IT services.”

Digital acquisitions. Federal Times’ Carten Cordell reports, “The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office launched its digital acquisitions tool on April 15 with the goal of streamlining procurement operations online. . . . Distributed Solutions, Inc., a Reston-based acquisition software company, was awarded an $8 million BPA contract in September 2015 to design the eAcquisitions system. DSI said in a release that the eAcquisitions tool enables USPTO to leverage real-time procurement and streamline the acquisition process by utilizing data to help make managerial decisions.”

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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.