Thirsty Thursday

FROM THE DESK OF CLEARANCEJOBS.COM

Cleared social networking. “By now, you’ve probably heard that your social media presence has the potential to affect your security clearance and consequently, your job. . . . the days of carefree posting are gone and it’s time to make your social media sites look professional. If you’re unsure if you should take down those bachelor party photos (you should) or how to restrict your posts to friends only, read on.”

Travel Tip #5: Stay Professional. “This is an opportunity to make a great impression on both your clients and your coworkers. It starts from the moment you arrive at the airport so while you may want to wear sweatpants on the plane, opt for business casual instead. . . . And if you find yourself being put out during your trip – a canceled flight, your room isn’t ready, the rental you reserved is missing – remember to keep your cool. Treating people with respect when you’re in a stressful situation is sure to impress those around you.”

THE FORCE AND THE FIGHT

The evolution of Iran. “Ever since the Islamic Republic of Iran was found in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution, there has always been a fierce power struggle between hard-liners and conservatives, on the one hand, and various pragmatist, reformist and Islamic leftist factions that oppose them, on the other hand. . . . There is a fierce power struggle in Iran between those who want to open up Iran and reconcile with the rest of the world, and Khamenei and his supporters who have been frozen in the revolutionary era of 1979.” (The National Interest)

ISIS piercing the heart of Iraq. “In a burst of attacks recalling Iraq’s sectarian civil war, three bombings in three different neighborhoods of Baghdad killed more than 90 people on Wednesday and wounded scores more . . . . The other two bombings were reported at a police checkpoint in the Kadhmiya neighborhood in northwest Baghdad, where 17 were killed, and at another police checkpoint in the Jamiya neighborhood in central Baghdad, where nine died.” (The New York Times) See also, “ISIS car bomb in Baghdad threatens to reignite Sunni-Shiite violence” and “Islamic State bombs kill two near Baghdad one day after major attacks.”

Warming up the Cold War in Romania. “U.S missile defense site in Romania aimed at protecting Europe from ballistic missile threats becomes operational Thursday, angering Russia which opposes having the advanced military system in its former area of influence. . . . President Klaus Iohannis said Romania wanted NATO to have a ‘permanent naval presence’ in the Black Sea that respected international conventions, and called for increased security for NATO members in the south and east, which border Russia and the Middle East.” (AP) See also, “Georgia and NATO: Perpetual Threshold” and “Germany To Increase Military End Strength in Wake of Russian Threat.”

CONTRACT WATCH

Order-up on Navy’s Super Hornets. “The U.S. Navy has made no secret of its desire to buy more F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strike fighter jets. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson in March told lawmakers on Capitol Hill that the service requires two to three more squadrons of the Boeing Co.-made fourth-generation fighter/attack aircraft. . . . That translates into roughly 24 to 36 planes to meet projected operational needs until the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a stealthy fifth-generation fighter made by Lockheed Martin Corp., is fielded in enough quantities to take over such missions.” (DoD Buzz)

GSA seeks Supply Chain Risk Management Provenance Pilot Program. “A system is only as strong as its weakest part — a dictum that applies to IT systems as well as any other. The government’s buyers at the General Services Administration want to make sure weaknesses aren’t creeping in through the hardware and software purchased by agencies and is looking for ways to monitor the supply chain from end to end.” (Federal Times)

TECH, PRIVACY, & SECRECY

Confessions of an NSA interrogator. “After working as an interrogator for a U.S. military contractor in Iraq, Eric Fair took a job as an analyst for the National Security Agency. When he went to the NSA, Fair was reckoning with the torture of Iraqi prisoners, torture he had witnessed and in which he had participated. . . . Fair soon became overwhelmed by the number of prisoners being brought in, and ‘as the numbers grew, so too did the ominous feeling that things were going downhill.’” (The Intercept) See also, “‘Consequence,’ by Eric Fair” and “Consequence: A Memoir.”

SecDef’s Silicon Valley strategic outreach. “Defense Secretary Ash Carter is elevating and expanding the Pentagon’s controversial technology sector outreach efforts—and replacing its leaders—just one year after launching a Silicon Valley initiative he calls crucial to keeping the U.S. military the best in the world. The Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, or DIUx, will also open a second office in Boston, where Carter has deep ties.” (Defense One) See also, “Carter Announces Version 2.0 of Defense Innovation Unit Experimental.”

DARPA’s robotic prosthesis. “Johnny Matheny’s handshake is friendly, confident and firm—though not in the bone-crushing manner favored by some of the alpha types here in the Pentagon. What is remarkable is that Matheny’s proffered hand is not actually his. It is part of a robotic prosthesis researchers hope one day could help transform the lives of countless amputees.” (Defence Talk)

POTOMAC TWO-STEP

Mr. Cruz goes (back) to Washington. “After spending more than a year on the campaign trail demonizing Congress and American politicians, Senator Ted Cruz returned to work this week in the US Capitol, the headquarters of what he has dubbed the ‘Washington cartel.’ Cruz, one of the most hated men in Congress, returned to Washington Tuesday . . . . ‘It’s great to be back in the warming embrace of Washington,’ Cruz sardonically told reporters in front of his Senate office on Tuesday.” (Vice News)

Showdown on The Hill. “Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan are the two most powerful people in the Republican Party after Donald Trump. And they couldn’t be handling him more differently. . . . [T]he two leaders will come face-to-face with Trump on Capitol Hill as the party lurches toward the general election. But in the days leading up to the meeting, they’ve taken divergent approaches toward the billionaire mogul and presumptive nominee: McConnell has moved cautiously, offering a lukewarm endorsement while staying out of the limelight. Ryan, on the other hand, has publicly challenged Trump to change his ways, while withholding his endorsement.” (Politico)

OPINIONS EVERYONE HAS

Drones and the Future of Aerial Combined Arms.” Fighter pilots of the future will not be the individualistic warriors of today, but rather commanders of small combined arms forces largely consisting of UCAVs. As in modern ground forces, these integrated groups of manned fighters and UCAVs will possess a mix of specialized capabilities ranging from direct combat to electronic warfare.” (War on the Rocks)

It’s Iraq, not Isis, that’s on the way out.” “As Iraq further descends into sectarian violence and political turmoil, with the continued prominence of Isis and the rise of sub-state actors such as Shia militias, the restoration of the Iraqi state and society will be difficult, if not impossible.” (The Guardian)

Interview Mistakes You’re Still Making.” “It can be hard to know which pieces of received wisdom to hold onto and which to discard in the interest of authenticity. While every company is different, here’s a look at five of the most common interview mistakes job seekers are still making—either by discarding conventions they shouldn’t or just making the wrong moves altogether.” (Fast Company)

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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.