Security Clearance Central

Your Resume Impress or Distress?

2010-06-18T15:49:00.000-05:00

You carefully drafted and crafted your resume. You targeted, translated and revised it more than a few times. Before you send it out into the cold, cruel world, understand one important thing about your resume.

You spent way more time on it than a potential employer will…at least initially. It’s no secret that the competition for existing jobs today is beyond stiff with employers sometimes receiving hundreds of resumes for one job opening.

This rather dismal fact of life means your resume has to stand out. It has to outshine the others big time. It has to truly grab the attention of the person reading it. And, as if that isn’t enough already, it has to manage to do this in 30 seconds or less. That, sadly, is about all the time it will get before an employer decides to keep it for follow-up later on or toss it into the ever-growing thanks, but no thanks stack.

Even when the unemployment rate is not hovering near the 10% mark, potential employers just don’t take or make the time to read your sterling document of qualifications word for word on the first round of resume eliminations.

Granted, it doesn’t seem fair. Alas, dear job seeker, it is what it is.

Once you’ve accepted the painful reality of it all, go the extra step to increase your chances of making it to round two and a potential interview...read more.

YouTube - Alcohol Consumption and Security Clearances

2010-05-17T12:59:00.001-05:00

Possible Shortage of Cyber Security Professionals

2010-02-01T17:04:00.001-06:00

With the Department of Homeland Security poised to hire up to 1,000 cyber security engineers, developers and analysts over the next three years, many believe the demand for computer/cyber security professionals might outweigh the supply. Indeed, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano authorized her department to streamline its hiring process, which usually takes months.

That's the good news. The challenge: Cyber security is a relatively new and evolving field that, for many technology professionals, requires knowledge of multiple disciplines and relatively new credentials.

"We already had the plan to grow our cyber workforce, but what the secretary did is give the authority to DHS to make direct hires like most private sector companies," says Amy Kudwa, DHS spokesperson. "The direct hire authority from the Office of Personal Management will significantly streamline the process, reducing the timeline to a matter of days or weeks."

Resume Tips for Analysis Occupations

2009-05-13T09:21:00.001-05:00

Tips from the Intelligence Community when apply for these jobs.

Technical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Analysts across the Community work in many different specialty areas. As a result, relevant skills, knowledge, and education vary according to the specialty area in which the analyst works. Analysts may possess expertise of a particular country or geographic region or may understand a particular issue in-depth. Carefully read the job vacancy announcement and ensure your resume includes job-related technical expertise. Examples include mathematics/statistical analysis, regional studies, and science and technology (e.g., aeronautical science).

Education: Include diplomas or degrees awarded from educational institutions. Many of the agencies require a bachelor's degree or a more advanced degree. Some common fields of study include political science, regional studies, international affairs, geography, economics, engineering, or physical or life sciences. Do not submit transcripts unless the agency requests them. Some agencies request grade point averages for each educational institution you have attended.

General Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): While technical KSAs may vary depending on the specific agency and job vacancy announcement, many general KSAs are relevant to any Analysis occupation. Whenever possible, highlight your capabilities in these areas. In particular, emphasize:

* Written communication skills such as the ability to write concise prose
* Critical thinking/analytical skills
* Reading comprehension skills
* Problem-solving skills
* Interpersonal skills
* Research skills (e.g., to collect and evaluate data, synthesize large amounts of information)
* Oral expression (briefing) skills
* The ability to think creatively
* The ability to work in a team environment (i.e., to be a "team player")
* The ability to work independently
* The ability to work under tight deadlines and perform effectively under pressure
* Knowledge of the Internet/Internet searching capabilities (and other computer related expertise)

Foreign Language: Foreign language proficiency is essential (or desirable) for some job vacancies. It is to your advantage to disclose any expertise you have in this area. Be specific. List each language. If known, outline your level of proficiency with respect to key tasks such as reading, writing, listening, translation, and transcription. Specific training courses, other instruction, or experience in foreign languages should also be outlined.

Internships or Related Experience: Include job-related experience such as summer internships with government or industry. Laboratory or other research experience may be important for some positions.

Military Experience: Specify any military experience you possess including your rank and job-related experience.

Specialized Background: If relevant, include any specialized background you may have such as previous employment as a military or civilian pilot, navigator, or air traffic controller.

Overseas/In Country Experience: Previous travel, study, work abroad, or residency in overseas locations may be important for some positions. Outline your familiarity with each country/region.

Publications: List or reference publications (or presentations at professional conferences) that demonstrate your technical expertise. In some cases, resume page limits may not allow you to list publications or presentations. However, some on-line resume capabilities include an open text "comments" field for you to provide additional information. If relevant, you may want to mention that you have published in the technical area.

Professional Licenses and Certifications: List job-related licenses and certifications.

Training Courses: Outline any professional training you may have obtained that is directly relevant to the job vacancy.

Honors, Awards, and Other Accomplishments: List any honors, awards, or other accomplishments that are job-related and demonstrate your technical expertise. For example, list professional memberships or performance awards you have received.

Clearances: It is to your advantage to indicate if you currently or previously possess(ed) a clearance (such as a Top Secret clearance).

source: intelligence.gov

Poll finds Uncle Sam's popularity up among job seekers

2009-05-07T09:26:00.000-05:00

With the condition of the economy, more Americans are interested in federal jobs, according to a Gallup poll released on Thursday. Between 2006 and 2009, the number of respondents who told Gallup they were considering federal employment rose from 24 percent to 40 percent...However, 45 percent Gallup poll respondents said applying for a federal job was difficult, and 47 percent said it took a great deal more time than applying for jobs outside government...read more.

Drug Involvement and Security Clearances

2009-04-29T09:24:00.000-05:00

A 2003 national survey of drug use showed that about 60% of Americans between 19 and 30 years of age had used an illegal drug and about 20% had used a prescription drug for nonmedical reasons some time in their lives.

Like many other issues, the security concern related to past drug abuse focuses more on applicants’ demonstrated willingness and ability to abstain from future drug involvement than on their past conduct. Experimentation with drugs, particularly marijuana, is fairly common behavior during a person’s formative years. Such experimentation is usually benign and does not result in chronic or long-term use for most people...read more.

Defense industry faces major shifts

2009-04-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

In unveiling a proposed fiscal 2010 budget of $534 billion — up 4 percent from this year — Gates wants to cut some key programs and boost others, directly affecting companies such as Bethesda defense and aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and Rockville defense contractor BAE Systems. He also wants to cut the number of private contract workers from 39 percent of the Pentagon work force to the pre-2001 level of 26 percent, replacing them with full-time government employees...read more.

Federal contractors are likely to benefit from stimulus plan

2009-02-13T09:33:00.000-06:00

Despite an expected slowdown in Defense spending during the next several years, the stimulus package will include billions in spending for both federal agencies and state and local governments -- some of which will trickle down to contractors. The government likely will award contracts to increase energy efficiency in federal buildings, expand health care information technology, and continue military construction projects...Defense spending currently represents roughly 4 percent of the gross domestic product...read more.

Analysts See Steady U.S. Spending

2009-01-17T09:35:00.000-06:00

The core U.S. defense budget is expected to keep growing at 4 percent to 5 percent annually for "the foreseeable future." However, supplemental spending is likely to come down with decreasing troop levels in Iraq...The Obama administration is unlikely to make radical defense spending changes in the near term, but some programs, such as Future Combat Systems and missile defense, could see cuts, and pension expenses might become a bigger problem than previously thought...read more.

Alcohol and Security Clearances

2008-11-02T14:59:00.000-06:00

When does drinking become a security concern? Alcohol is legal and its consumption, regardless of quantity, does not by itself trigger a security concern. Alcohol consumption becomes a concern when there has been:

•Alcohol-related incident or other evidence of impaired judgment or misconduct while under the influence of alcohol.
•Negative impact on work/school performance, finances, personal or professional relationships.
•Failure to comply with court-ordered alcohol education, evaluation, treatment, or abstinence.
•Diagnosis of alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence by a qualified medical professional.
•Relapse after completion of an alcohol treatment program...read more.

Take Your Pick: Defense Jobs On The Rise

2008-06-21T13:56:00.000-05:00

Government contractors are looking for employees who understand the military system and how to be successful in it.

Police work wasn't Robert Cooper's dream job, and it certainly didn't fall into his comfort zone, either. But Cooper also wasn't ready for a headlong plunge into sedentary cubicle work, having served 21 years in the Marine Corps.

Cooper retired from the Marines in 2001 as a first sergeant. He found a highly-desirable paramilitary culture, with plenty of opportunities for career advancement, at G4S Wackenhut in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The security services firm is a subsidiary of Group 4 Securicor (G4S) and protects a variety of governmental sites, in addition to commercial and industrial organizations.

His leadership skills acquired in the military eventually propelled him to operations manager in Miami, even without a degree in business management. Companies like G4S Wackenhut, which provide management training in addition to security experience, are ideal for former combat Soldiers, Cooper said.

Better yet, he's back in his comfort zone and happy about his future.

"You want to jump into something you can easily transition into from military life - something that can be used as a stepping stone," Cooper said. "While you're doing that, you can be pursuing other career opportunities, like going to school for a degree. If you go from 24/7 in military service to working someplace in an administrative office, you'll get culture shock."...read more.

For security cleared jobs >>> ClearanceJobs.com

Personal Finances and Security Clearances

2008-05-02T16:52:00.000-05:00

Delinquent debt is by far the most common financial concern. In adjudicating these cases the following factors are taken into consideration:

• Cause of debt
• Response to debt
• Amount of debt

Cause of debt is generally more important than the amount of debt, because it reveals more about a person’s reliability, trustworthiness, and judgment. Of people who seek credit counseling, roughly 50 percent are due to irresponsibility. If the debt was caused by irresponsibility (including reckless behavior) that is likely to continue, the problem is magnified. If the debt occurred due to situations beyond the applicant’s control and the applicant is handling the debt in a reasonable manner (including bankruptcy or debt consolidation), the significance of the problem is substantially reduced.

Response to debt is evaluated by the things people do (or don’t do) about delinquent debt. How people deal with debt is often a decisive consideration. Those who ignore their financial responsibilities may also ignore their responsibility to safeguard classified information. Classic indicators of irresponsibility and unethical behavior are:

• Changing addresses without notifying creditors
• Failure to take reasonable measures to pay or reduce debts
• Knowingly issuing bad checks
• Increased credit card use immediately before filing for bankruptcy

For Full Article

In Resumes, Key Words Rule

2008-04-25T14:49:00.001-05:00

Key words are nouns or phrases that communicate your job-related skills, responsibilities or functions. They're important because recruiters search resumes for key word matches when sourcing candidates from databases loaded with job-seeker profiles. The more frequently your resume matches the key words contained in a recruiter's search, the more calls you'll get.

"Key words are really buzz words," explains Wendy Enelow, a trainer and career consultant based in Coleman Falls, Va., and author of Best Key Words for Resumes, Cover Letters and Interviews. "Key words give you power when you are writing your resume. Not only is it important to include key words throughout your resume, but carry the concept throughout all of your job search activities by using the same language in your cover letter and during interviews...read more.

Security Classified and Controlled Information

2008-02-22T08:55:00.001-06:00

"Security Classified and Controlled Information: History, Status, and Emerging Management Issues,"
Report for Congress updated January 2, 2008:
Congressional Research Service (CRS):

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/secrecy/RL33494.pdf

3Com Sale Stymied Over Security Concerns

2008-02-22T08:45:00.000-06:00

Concerns about national security could scuttle the $ 2.2 billion sale of networker 3Com Corp., shares of which dropped as much as 20% on Wednesday.

Marlborough, Mass.-based 3Com and its two partners -- Bain Capital Partners LLC and Huawei Technologies Co. -- said they would withdraw their application with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States...read more.

FAS: JUSTICE SEES NO MISCONDUCT IN CONFLICT BETWEEN VP AND ISOO

2008-02-21T08:48:00.000-06:00

The Department of Justice Office of Professional Responsibility has declined to open an investigation into allegations that Justice Department attorneys improperly refused to respond to the Information Security Oversight Office when it challenged the Office of the Vice President's failure to cooperate with ISOO's oversight of the classification system.

In a January 2, 2008 complaint, the Federation of American Scientists had argued that, under the terms of the President's executive order, the Justice Department was obliged to render an opinion on the executive order's applicability to the Office of the Vice President when ISOO asked for it. Yet Justice attorneys at the Office of Legal Counsel refused to do so. (Secrecy News, Jan. 3).

The Office of Professional Responsibility was not persuaded.

"We have concluded that the facts do not raise an issue of attorney misconduct that requires an investigation by this office," wrote H.
Marshall Jarrett, OPR Counsel.

"This matter does not involve an allegation of affirmative malfeasance, but rather, the alleged improper failure to perform an act," he wrote.

Furthermore, the Justice Department's handling of the matter appeared to be consistent with the support of the Vice President's position against oversight that was expressed by the White House counsel, Mr.
Jarrett said.

Finally, he suggested, if there are still questions of interpretation of the executive order that remain unresolved, "the ISOO may request an opinion from the Department clarifying the matter."

The Department's prior refusal to render such an opinion was the basis of the original complaint.

Debt can saddle students for many years

2008-02-13T12:09:00.000-06:00

...Alan Collinge, founder of a Web site called StudentLoanJustice.org, a grassroots organization, has heard from about 3,000 people struggling with student loan debt. "These folks are trapped in debt that typically has exploded far and away above anything they originally borrowed."

Mr. Collinge, an engineering grad from the University of Southern California and a resident of University Place, Wash., figures his student loans have ballooned above $100,000, ruined his credit ratings and prevented him from getting a security clearance needed for a job.

"I literally live in an RV on the wrong side of the tracks, on the bad side of town. I'm one step away from being completely off the grid."...read more.

Bush Administration Wants Background Checks Put on Fast Track

2008-02-07T14:14:00.000-06:00

Bush administration officials hope to resolve one of the government's most vexing problems before leaving office -- how to speed up security clearances for federal employees and contract workers.

With the system seemingly broken, companies that do business with the Pentagon and the intelligence agencies have offered luxury cars and signing bonuses of up to $20,000 for people who have the necessary clearances...read more.

OPEN SOURCE INTELLIGENCE ADVANCES

2008-02-06T08:50:00.001-06:00

The DNI Open Source Center, which gathers, translates, analyzes, and distributes unclassified open source intelligence from around the world, is steadily growing in capability and impact, according to Doug Naquin, the Center's Director.

The Open Source Center, which replaced the CIA's Foreign Broadcast Information Service, is doing more analysis and outreach than its predecessor and is also exploring new media, said Mr. Naquin in a recent speech.

"We're looking now at YouTube, which carries some unique and honest-to-goodness intelligence," he said....

http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/

Wanted: Good engineers w/ clearance

2008-02-06T08:49:00.000-06:00

Want a $62,000-a-year job in a growing industry an hour's drive from a world-class city? Apply today!

Most people would imagine that ad would have no trouble attracting job applicants.

But add in the details -- a required master's degree in computer engineering, strong background in higher mathematics, U.S. citizenship and government security clearance -- and that number can suddenly become very small.

That's the situation that Leslie Hielema, managing director of the Indiana office of ProLogic Inc., a computer engineering firm specializing in government contracts, finds herself in.

Because of the sensitive work her office does for the Department of Defense, Hielema is restricted to hiring U.S. citizens, which eliminates a large portion of the applications she receives from her job postings...read more.

PRESIDENT ASKS FOR AGENCY VIEWS ON DECLASSIFICATION

2008-01-31T08:54:00.000-06:00

President Bush this week ordered executive branch agency heads to respond to dozens of recommendations that were issued earlier this month by the Public Interest Declassification Board, an official advisory group, regarding the declassification of historical records.

The Board's report, "Improving Declassification," presented 49 recommendations to increase the utility and productivity of declassification, such as establishment of a National Declassification Center, creation of a public database of declassified documents, expedited declassification of presidential records including the President's Daily Brief, and new procedures for declassification of closed congressional hearing records and other documents.

But the President's response increases the likelihood that the Board's recommendations will now receive serious consideration, inside and outside of the executive branch...

Great Blog...
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/

No Slowdown For Defense Contractors

2008-01-28T15:35:00.000-06:00

Global markets may be writhing and the U.S. economy teetering at the brink of recession, but for many of the nation's largest defense firms, the good times keep going.

Most have posted big earnings gains in recent years, largely because of record Pentagon spending on weapons programs and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And with the government, not consumers, as their biggest customers, defense contractors appear poised to weather any economic downturn that may lie ahead...read more.

US spy satellite falling out of orbit may strike the earth by late February

2008-01-28T11:33:00.001-06:00

A large US spy satellite has lost power and could hit the earth in late February or early March, government officials said yesterday.

The satellite, which no longer can be controlled, could contain hazardous materials, and it is unknown where on the planet it might come down, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret...read more.

Observers take critical look at Defense

2008-01-25T16:15:00.000-06:00

The landmark 1986 Goldwater-Nichols Act was widely credited with repairing the institutional damage done to the military by the Vietnam War and putting America on the path to military dominance in the 1990s.

Often likened to a "constitution" for the Pentagon, the act was aimed at getting the military services to fight together jointly, rather than as separate air, land and sea forces. The reforms led to the military's impressive performance in 1991's Operation Desert Storm and during the initial invasions of both Iraq and Afghanistan...read more.

U.S. employing Russian weapons scientists

2008-01-17T09:07:00.000-06:00

A U.S. program intended to keep Russian weapons scientists employed and prevent them from selling information or assistance to other nations has directed significant amounts of money to scientists not claiming to have weapons-related experience, the Government Accountability Office reported Friday.

About 15% of the scientists involved in the cases GAO auditors looked at were born in 1970 or later, making them too young to have had a hand in Soviet-era WMD efforts.

"This is contrary to the original intent of the program, which was to reduce the proliferation risk posed by Soviet-era weapons scientists," government auditors wrote in the report...read more.

Source: Government Executive

Federal appeals court blocks NASA background checks

2008-01-14T13:58:00.000-06:00

A federal judge blocked the government Friday from conducting background checks of low-risk employees at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory after an appeals court said the investigations threaten the constitutional rights of workers.

U.S. District Judge Otis Wright issued the injunction after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed his earlier ruling and issued a sharp rebuke to the judge.

The higher court said the 28 scientists and engineers who refused to submit to the background checks faced "a stark choice _ either violation of their constitutional rights or loss of their jobs."...read more.

Small Business Administration Whistleblower's Email Tracked

2008-01-12T14:01:00.000-06:00

Senate lawmakers are calling for stronger employee protections at the Small Business Administration after a government report found agency managers had tracked emails from a staff whistleblower...read more.

United States looks to military to take on cyber threats

2008-01-11T15:15:00.000-06:00

The US Air Force (USAF) is setting up a command centre to be responsible for conducting offensive and defensive military operations in cyberspace.

The unit known as Afcyber will be fully up and running by the end of this year, with 30,000 staff headed by former Pentagon chief information officer Major General William Lord.

The centre is emblematic of a significant change to the role of the air force, according to former Major Bruce Jenkins of the USAF...read more.

Defense contractors rigged the bid

2008-01-10T16:00:00.000-06:00

During an 18-month span in 2005 and 2006, a pair of European aircraft ground support contractors had a run of good luck, winning three successive Defense Department contracts to supply fuel for military and civilian planes stationed across the globe. But according to the Justice Department, the firms may have gained an inside track on the contracts by conspiring to steal trade secrets from their biggest competitor.

On Sunday, the heads of two Defense contractors were arrested in New York City and charged with rigging the competitions by illegally obtaining secret information about a competing firm's bid...read more.

Private military industry continues to grow

2008-01-10T15:57:00.000-06:00

In October, leaders in the private military security industry -- ArmorGroup, DynCorp, MPRI, and several others -- gathered at the Phoenix Park Hotel near the Capitol for the annual three-day summit of their trade group, the International Peace Operations Association. Panel speakers and members of the audience debated the future of nation-building efforts in failed states.

Almost snapping to attention, the former military officers who dominate this industry introduced themselves in sincere baritones of "Lieutenant Colonel So-and-So, retired," or "Major So-and-So, retired." "The U.S. military was in fact experiencing a "watershed" moment in its 200-plus-year history -- nation building was now a core military mission to be led by the Army...read more.

Port Workers Begin Enrollment for Federal Port Security Credential

2008-01-07T15:14:00.000-06:00

New Orleans Port and longshore workers, truckers and others at the Port of New Orleans are now able to enroll in the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. The program's goal is to ensure that any individual who has unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels has received a thorough background check and is not a security threat.

Nationwide, more than 1 million workers with unescorted access to secure areas will apply for TWIC during 2008...read more.

West’s deadly nuclear secrets for sale

2008-01-06T16:27:00.000-06:00

A WHISTLEBLOWER has made a series of extraordinary claims about how corrupt government officials allowed Pakistan and other states to steal nuclear weapons secrets.

Sibel Edmonds, a 37-year-old former Turkish language translator for the FBI, listened into hundreds of sensitive intercepted conversations while based at the agency’s Washington field office.

She approached The Sunday Times last month after reading about an Al-Qaeda terrorist who had revealed his role in training some of the 9/11 hijackers while he was in Turkey.

Edmonds described how foreign intelligence agents had enlisted the support of US officials to acquire a network of moles in sensitive military and nuclear institutions. ..read more.

Staff shortages at border/ports jeopardizes economy & security

2008-01-05T16:24:00.000-06:00

Both national security and economic growth are jeopardized by an overtaxed and dysfunctional system for inspecting people and goods at U.S. land ports of entry. That was the picture painted by government officials, federal employee representatives and business leaders testifying Thursday at a House Homeland Security Committee field hearing in El Paso, Texas...read more.

The Germans, some Rockets, and Huntsville

2008-01-02T16:20:00.000-06:00

In 1950, this cotton market town in northern Alabama lost a bid for a military aviation project that would have revived its mothballed arsenal. The consolation prize was dubious: 118 German rocket scientists who had surrendered to the Americans during World War II, led by a man — a crackpot, evidently — who claimed humans could visit the moon.

Those German helped launch the first American satellite, Explorer I, into orbit in January 1958 and putting astronauts on the moon in 1969.

Far less attention, though, has been given to the space program’s permanent transformation of Huntsville, now a city of 170,000 with one of the country’s highest concentrations of scientists and engineers. The area is full of high-tech giants like Siemens, LG and Boeing, and a new biotech center.

Rocket scientists, propulsion experts and military contractors have given the area per capita income levels above the national average and well above the rest of the state.

Huntsville residents regard their city as an oasis, as un-Alabaman as Alabama can be. But they acknowledge that the state’s backwater reputation is a hindrance to recruiting...read more.

Maryland is geared up for BRAC growth

2007-12-28T09:12:00.000-06:00

Through BRAC, Maryland could gain up to 60,000 defense and military contract jobs, mostly at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County and Fort George G. Meade in Anne Arundel County. It is billed as the single largest job growth in the state since World War II and is expected to produce about 28,000 new households...read more.

CRS Reports: Intel

2007-12-20T10:28:00.000-06:00

A couple of interesting reports from the Congressional Research Service (CRS).

Open Source Intelligence Issues for Congress

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: A Brief Overview of Selected Issues

Source: Federation of American Scientists (FAS)

FAS: Classification Reform Bill Introduced in the House

2007-12-20T09:13:00.000-06:00

Speaking of classification reform, Rep. Jane Harman and 13 Democratic colleagues this week introduced "The Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2007."

The legislation focuses on the Department of Homeland Security and aims to make the Department a model of judicious information policy by curtailing classification and other restrictions on disclosure.

"The goal is simple: make the Department of Homeland Security the 'gold standard' when it comes to preventing over-classification and to limiting the use of sensitive but unclassified markings," Rep. Harman said in a news release.

The legislation's incremental approach has much to recommend it, though some of the details of the proposed strategy are questionable, obscure or remain to be determined.

Other proposed steps, such as establishment of "an independent Department declassification review board to expedite the declassification of documents," could help create new impetus for disclosure.

FAS: US Intelligence Becoming More Secret Than Ever

2007-12-18T09:26:00.000-06:00

The U.S. intelligence community is reverting to old patterns of cold war secrecy, warned the former Chairman of the National Intelligence Council (NIC), to the detriment of U.S. intelligence.

"The reality that I see is an Intelligence Community that is retreating into greater secrecy and old cultural habits, even in the short time since I left the NIC in early 2005," said Amb. Robert L. Hutchings in recent testimony.

"Try to get a CIA analyst to go on the record at an academic conference, or participate in an interactive website or blog with experts from outside government or other countries, and you will see how deeply ingrained are the old Cold War cultural habits and mind-sets," he said.

"What this means, additionally, is that the Intelligence Community is not attracting the 'best and brightest' into their ranks. They go elsewhere."

One of the aspects of the trend towards increasing secrecy is what appears to be a newly restrictive approach to pre-publication review of writings by current or former intelligence employees.

FAS: Intelligence Agencies to withhold Contract information from public database

2007-12-17T09:23:00.000-06:00

Several defense intelligence agencies will withhold unclassified information about their contracts from a new public database of government spending.

The new database at USAspending.gov is intended to provide increased transparency regarding most government contracts.

But when it comes to intelligence spending, there will actually be a net loss of public information because categories of intelligence contracting data that were previously disclosed will now be withheld.

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and the Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) argued that online disclosure of their unclassified contracts could present an operational security vulnerability.

Report on 2008 Defense Spending Bill

2007-12-15T11:59:00.000-06:00

Defense: FY2008 Authorization and Appropriations
by Congressional Research Service Report

DHS contracts slammed in new report

2007-12-14T10:17:00.000-06:00

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is beset by "mismanagement, grossly excessive spending, criminal conduct and shady no-bid contracts," says a report.

The report, "Homeland Security for Sale," was published last week by the non-profit watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

It recaps government and news media investigations into departmental contracts and programs worth billions of dollars -- including the Coast Guard's troubled Deepwater modernization program and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's virtual border fence called SBINet, or Secure Border Initiative Network...read more.

U.S. intelligence: Quo vadis?

2007-12-14T09:36:00.000-06:00

Intelligence — knowledge acquired or imparted, whether overtly or covertly, for the purpose of both internal and external statecraft — is a permanent fixture of international life and is as old as history itself.

And yet, this reality has not been very well understood in the American environment and body politic since the Founding days of the Republic....read more.

Intel oversight critical, officials say

2007-12-14T09:29:00.000-06:00

Top U.S. military and intelligence officials met recently in Texas to discuss privacy rights among other topics during an intelligence oversight conference.

Intelligence, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command officials among others met to discuss Department of Defense agencies that conduct intelligence and how to give proper oversight during an evolving technological environment, U.S. Northern Command reported...read more.

Intelligence Oversight In Free Fall

2007-12-13T11:40:00.000-06:00

Whatever else one might say about America's accident-prone intelligence agencies, it seems clear that the system of congressional oversight that was established in the mid-1970s to supervise them isn't working.

Right now, we are getting the worst possible mix -- a dearth of adequate congressional scrutiny on the front end that could improve performance and check abuses, and a flood of second-guessing at the back end, after each flap, that further demoralizes and enfeebles the spies. Congress silently blesses the CIA's harsh interrogation tactics, for example, and then denounces the practices when they become public. It's supposed to be the other way around:...read more.

New Defense "Technology Corridor" in Southwest Virginia

2007-12-13T11:06:00.000-06:00

Northrop Grumman and the Virginia Information Technologies Agency opened its Southwest Enterprise Solutions Center (SWESC) as part of a landmark public-private infrastructure partnership between the Commonwealth and Northrop Grumman to modernize the IT infrastructure for state government.

The 101,000-square-foot facility will house employees working on the IT Infrastructure Partnership project and Northrop Grumman internal IT operations. Approximately 400 employees housed in the new building will provide core IT services such as enterprise security, network operations management, data backup and recovery and help desk services. SWESC has additional capacity for growth.

Help Me Spy on Al Qaeda

2007-12-13T10:15:00.000-06:00

[Mike McConnell is the director of national intelligence.]

"THE Protect America Act, enacted in August, has lived up to its name and objective: making the country safer while protecting the civil liberties of Americans. Under this new law, we now have the speed and agility necessary to detect terrorist and other evolving national security threats. Information obtained under this law has helped us develop a greater understanding of international Qaeda networks, and the law has allowed us to obtain significant insight into terrorist planning.

Congress needs to act again. The Protect America Act expires in less than two months, on Feb. 1. We must be able to continue effectively obtaining the information gained through this law if we are to stay ahead of terrorists who are determined to attack the United States..."..read more.

U.S. Intelligence Community Assessment on Iran

2007-12-12T11:50:00.000-06:00

The Bush-Cheney obsession with restoring presidential authority has provoked new challenges to powers the White House can legitimately claim. It is as if this administration has developed its own political version of Jimmy Carter's aborted project for a neutron bomb, which was intended to destroy people while sparing buildings. Bush consistently manages to destroy or damage goals he proclaims and friends who support him, while foes escapes harm.

The publication of an unclassified version of the NIE, which concludes that Iran is "probably" not working on a nuclear weapon at this time...read more.

State of Maryland Targets Tech Industry for $200 Million in New Taxes

2007-12-12T09:19:00.000-06:00

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed into law on November 19th the "Tax Reform Act of 2007", enacted by the Maryland General Assembly during its 2007 Special Session.

The Act would extend Maryland's six percent sales tax to include a variety of computer services—computer facilities management and operation, custom computer programming, and computer system planning and design—that integrate computer hardware, software and communication technologies, computer disaster recovery and data processing, storage and recovery, as well as hardware or software installation, maintenance and repair.

BRAC Process Withhold Information, May Cause Review of Certain Closings

2007-12-11T15:37:00.000-06:00

Defense Department officials improperly withheld crucial data from the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission that might have justified the continued operation of certain Department laboratories and facilities, according to a new insider account.

A House Armed Services Subcommittee will hold a hearing on December 12 "on implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 decisions."

FAS Project on Government Secrecy: "Pentagon Officials Withheld BRAC Data to Protect Proposals That Failed Legal Requirement"

More details on ex-agent's security breach

2007-12-09T11:57:00.000-06:00

An illegal immigrant from Lebanon who became an agent for the FBI and CIA allegedly used her access to sensitive U.S. government secrets to help her brother-in-law, a suspected major fundraiser for the terrorist group Hezbollah, according to new details concerning a national security breach that emerged Wednesday.

In court documents and interviews, federal authorities said that as part of a criminal conspiracy, Nada Nadim Prouty, 37, illegally accessed top-secret FBI investigative files on five occasions and most likely shared the information with the suspected Hezbollah operative. When she pleaded guilty to unauthorized computer access and naturalization fraud charges three weeks ago, authorities revealed only that Prouty had accessed the FBI's Hezbollah files once, and said nothing about her sharing information about ongoing investigations with anyone else....read more.

Milwaukee port workers seek Homeland Security Clearance

2007-12-08T15:33:00.000-06:00

Working within the Port of Milwaukee now requires enrolling in the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security's Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.

The program's goal is to ensure that any individual who has unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels has received a thorough background check and is not a security threat. Nationwide, more than 1 million workers with unescorted access to secure areas will apply for TWIC during the rest of 2007 and 2008...more.

Lessons of Iraq Aided Intelligence On Iran

2007-12-08T11:52:00.000-06:00

The starkly different view of Iran's nuclear program that emerged from U.S. spy agencies this week was the product of a surge in clandestine intelligence-gathering in Iran as well as radical changes in the way the intelligence community analyzes information.

Drawing lessons from the intelligence debacle over supposed Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell required agencies to consult more sources and to say to a larger intelligence community audience precisely what they know and how they know it -- and to acknowledge, to a degree previously unheard of, what they do not know...read more.

Hackers Target Federal Lab

2007-12-07T15:36:00.000-06:00

A coordinated attack on Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee in the past month may have compromised a database full of over a thousand names, social security numbers and birth dates. The lab announced news of the hacking on Thursday, calling it a “sophisticated cyber attack...more.

Spies Relying on Public Websites

2007-12-07T11:55:00.000-06:00

Governments have long prized intelligence gleaned by spies, satellites and wiretaps. But senior intelligence officials said key findings in a new intelligence report on Iran's nuclear weapons hinged on intelligence that was hidden in plain sight _ on the Web, in newspapers and in non-governmental reports.

The National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear weapons program released Monday relied in important ways on pictures of Iranian nuclear sites snapped by reporters during government tours of the facilities. The first was in March 2005. At the time, a U.S. State Department spokesman derided the visit as a "staged media tour." Two years later, Iran opened a different facility to the press...read more.

Dept. of Defense Has New Acquisition Technology Chief

2007-12-04T17:05:00.000-06:00

John J. Young Jr. started work as the under secretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, last week, following confirmation by the Senate Nov. 16.

Young previously served as the director of Defense research and engineering and the department's chief technology officer.

DoD Personnel Report High Job Satisfaction & Lack of Opportunities

2007-12-04T17:02:00.000-06:00

According to a large survey of DoD personnel 76% are satisfied with their jobs overall, and 62% are satisfied with pay, while just 32 percent are satisfied with their opportunities for advancement.

The department's 2007 annual employee survey drew 63,202 responses and showed 73% agreed that supervisors support the need to balance work and family issues, 62
percent have trust and confidence in their supervisors, and 61% felt managers and supervisors work well with employees from different backgrounds.

DEFENSE CONTRACTING IN IRAQ

2007-12-04T11:04:00.000-06:00

The complexities of U.S. defense contracting in Iraq and some of the resulting irregularities are reviewed in a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service.

"Given the size and scope of the contracts in Iraq, and the challenge of managing billions of DOD-appropriated dollars, many have suggested it appropriate to inquire whether these types of contracts can be managed better," the CRS report delicately stated.

"Defense Contracting in Iraq: Issues and Options for Congress" updated 11/15/07:

US Plans New Spy Satellite Program

2007-12-01T10:59:00.000-06:00

The U.S. is pursuing a multibillion-dollar program to develop the next generation of spy satellites, the first major effort of its kind since the Pentagon canceled the ambitious and costly Future Imagery Architecture system two years ago.

The new system, known as BASIC, would be launched by 2011 and is expected to cost $2 billion to $4 billion...MORE.

CIA FORESEES REDUCED DECLASSIFICATION

2007-11-30T11:06:00.000-06:00

The CIA anticipates declining productivity in its declassification program, according to a newly disclosed declassification plan.

Between 1995 and 2006, CIA reviewed nearly 97 million pages of 25 year old documents and released 30 million pages, the Agency reported. But that level of activity is unlikely to be sustained.

Nor is CIA willing to permit other government agencies to review its records for possible release, which would be one way to optimize the declassification process.

The CIA has devised a new loophole in the automatic declassification requirements of the executive order on classification policy. In CIA's reading, a 25 year old document is not considered "historically valuable," and therefore subject to automatic declassification, unless and until it is no longer in use.

The CIA Declassification Plan was submitted to the Information Security Oversight Office in April 2006.

Top Secret Flight Attendents Wanted

2007-11-30T08:44:00.000-06:00

via CQ HOMELAND SECURITY

More than a million aviation workers — including pilots, mechanics and flight attendants — will begin undergoing more thorough background checks in January as the U.S. focuses on preventing insider terrorist attacks.

The Air Force is searching hard for a few good flight attendants — who must qualify for nearly the same security clearance as a Secret Service agent — to staff Air Force One and 16 other luxury government air limos, The Wall Street Journal’s Susan Carey spotlights.

America in a Cyber War

2007-11-28T14:13:00.000-06:00

A technology expert said Tuesday that the US is in the midst of an active cyber war and is now implementing still-secret security plans for protection.

Andrew Palowitch, a former CIA official who is now an industry consultant to the commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, peeled back a gauzy layer over the secret national cyber-security initiative that will be a blueprint for protection...more.

FAS: Intelligence vs. Appropriations

2007-11-28T09:45:00.000-06:00

The efficacy of intelligence oversight in the Senate has been repeatedly undermined by procedural hurdles that enable the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to overrule actions taken by the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senators complained earlier this month. To remedy this concern, a new bill has been introduced that would transfer budget appropriations authority to the Intelligence Committee.

This year, the Senate Intelligence Committee presented "four major oversight initiatives in its [authorization] bill," said Sen.
Christopher S. Bond (R-MO) at a Committee hearing on November 13. But in each case the appropriations committee went the opposite direction.

For example, because of resistance from appropriators, "It took until recent time to end a program that, at the least, should have been terminated a few years ago. Unfortunately, all told, the loss to the taxpayers is astronomical, in the billions of dollars." This appears to be a reference to the Future Imagery Architecture program...

Proposed Senate Resolution 375 that would grant appropriation authority to the Intelligence Committee.

Ft Knox Breaks Ground

2007-11-27T10:58:00.000-06:00

The $185 million human resources complex is a key component of the Department of Defense’s Base Realignment and Closure plan at Fort Knox, with more than 3,500 soldiers, civilians and contractors expected to work there, many in human resources and information technology.

Fort Knox spokesman Ryan Brus said the building will be roughly double the size of Ireland Army Community Hospital, which at 462,000 square feet is the largest building on post...MORE.

Taking Aim at Contractor Bribery

2007-11-26T13:52:00.000-06:00

Much of the storm centers on controversial financial ties linking the British military contracting giant, BAE Systems, to Downing Street and the desert kingdom. The leader of one major British political party boycotted King Abdullah’s visit while protesters turned out for his ceremonial carriage ride to Buckingham Palace...More.

Military and Spies using Sim-Worlds

2007-11-22T16:12:00.000-06:00

U.S. military and intelligence agencies are making increasing use of computer-generated virtual worlds for training and tele-working, and more controversially, to try to predict human behavior...more.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Key Satellite Hardware For New Military System

2007-11-21T12:30:00.000-06:00

Lockheed Martin has achieved another major milestone in the development of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications system with the successful delivery of the core propulsion module for the second satellite in the program constellation. The AEHF system will provide global, highly secure, protected, survivable communications for all warfighters serving under the U.S. Department of Defense...Full Article.

Iraq arrests foreign contractors

2007-11-19T12:28:00.000-06:00

Iraqi soldiers have arrested more than 40 people - mostly foreigners - after a civilian was shot in central Baghdad.

Private security guards in Iraq have immunity under a 2004 ruling by former US administrators but Baghdad is trying to change that.

Brigadier-General Qassim Moussawi, an Iraq military spokesman, confirmed that "Iraqi security forces arrested a number of security guards from a security company who fired at civilians today in Karrada district"...Full Article.

Orange County Sheriff Stripped of Security Clearance

2007-11-18T12:40:00.000-06:00

Indicted Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona has been stripped of his national security clearance and forced to give up a seat on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council.

The sheriff was charged last month with misusing his office to enrich himself and others -- including his wife and a longtime mistress...Full Article.

Governator Schwarzenegger say Orange County Sheriff shouldn’t resign state justice panel, even though the feds ousted him from a Homeland Security task force and stripped him of his security clearance...Full Article.

Congress moves toward passing domestic spy bill

2007-11-18T12:32:00.000-06:00

The US House of Representatives and two different Senate committees have approved competing versions of a bill that would modify a law governing spying on domestic and international communications.

All versions of the bill would expand government spying powers by modifying the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which requires a warrant for electronic surveillance of US citizens. The bills differ on whether or not to grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in the Bush administration’s National Security Agency (NSA) warrantless wiretapping program.

Congressional Democrats are split on whether or not to include the immunity provision, while the administration has pledged to veto any bill that does not include it...Full Article.

Lack of foresight catches up with CIA

2007-11-17T14:52:00.000-06:00

A former FBI special agent and CIA analyst pleaded guilty to using her database access to search for information on relatives suspected of having ties to a reputed terrorist group and who fraudulently obtained citizenship...Full Article.

Pentagon opens high-level jobs to civilians

2007-11-17T12:31:00.000-06:00

Under a new initiative, the Defense Department is opening leadership positions that traditionally have been filled by generals and admirals to career civilian executives. As a result, about 200 members of the department's Senior Executive Service could move into positions formerly reserved for uniformed service members managing logistics, acquisition, intelligence and...Full Article.

House OKs Surveillance Oversight Bill

2007-11-16T16:16:00.000-06:00

The House voted Thursday night to strengthen court oversight of the government's surveillance of terrorist suspects but stopped short of providing legal immunity to telecommunication companies that helped eavesdrop on Americans.

About 40 civil suits have been filed alleging the companies broke wiretapping and privacy lawsuits for monitoring phone calls and e-mails without permission of a secret court created 30 years ago for that purpose...Full Article.

U.S. Marines Hiring Civilian Military Police (MPs)

2007-11-16T13:13:00.000-06:00

The Marine Corps is hiring more than 1,500 civilian law enforcement
officers to serve at Marine bases in the United States. This will
alleviate Fleet Assistance Programs whereby operational units must
provide Marines to base provost marshals’ offices for MP duty.

The civilian force will have the same responsibilities as Marine military
police, will bear the same arms, and will have arrest authority.
Applicants must have clean criminal records and must successfully
complete an eight-week Marine Corps law enforcement course similar to
the basic military police course.

Their paygrades upon acceptance will range from GS-7, beginning at $31,740, to GS-13, starting at $66,951. Pays can be higher, based upon locality and prior experience. Hiring, which may begin immediately, will be carried out by each base, and is
expected to be complete by 2011. Civilian MPs will wear uniforms similar to other professional civilian police officers.

Phone firms want shield if spy suits come calling

2007-11-16T12:38:00.000-06:00

They won't say whether they have ever helped the government monitor the conversations of millions of Americans, but the nation's largest telecom companies still want blanket protection from lawsuits stemming from the government's anti-terror eavesdropping efforts.

Whether corporate giants like AT&T and Verizon Communications should be given that immunity is part of a debate raging on Capitol Hill over the scope of the Bush administration's wiretapping powers. More than three dozen lawsuits have already been brought and consolidated in federal court in San Francisco claiming that the telecom giants have illegally listened to and collected data on domestic phone calls...Full Article.

China spying 'biggest US threat'

2007-11-15T16:35:00.000-06:00

Chinese espionage poses "the single greatest risk" to the security of US technology, a panel has told Congress.

China is pursuing new technology "aggressively", it says, legitimately through research and business deals and illegally through industrial espionage.

China has also "embraced destructive warfare techniques", the report says, enabling it to carry out cyber attacks on other countries' infrastructure...Full Article.

Senators told Intel suffers from weak congressional oversight

2007-11-15T14:59:00.000-06:00

Key senators and former members of the 9/11 Commission on Tuesday said congressional oversight of the nation's intelligence community remains dysfunctional, despite repeated attempts to make reforms.

In an effort to address the ongoing problems, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and other senators introduced a bipartisan resolution that would create a single committee in the Senate with the power to authorize and appropriate funding for the intelligence community...Full Article.

Czech Radar base attracts foreign spies

2007-11-15T14:58:00.000-06:00

The U.S. radar base on Czech soil may still only exist as a blueprint, but already the nation is crawling with foreign spies.

In an annual report released Oct. 24 by the national military intelligence unit (VZ), local experts note a surge in foreign intelligence activity around the radar base, and a heightened interest in its role in U.S. defense strategy...Full Article.

The Political Significance of the U.S.-China Military Hotline

2007-11-15T14:56:00.000-06:00

On an official visit to Beijing on November 5, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates netted a small victory for Washington after meeting with his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan and other key military leaders; the two countries agreed to develop a live "hotline" between their militaries. The hotline, a first of its kind...Full Article.

Honeywell to Help Military Rapidly Analyze Intel

2007-11-15T14:53:00.000-06:00

oneywell announced today that it is developing a revolutionary system for the Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) that could dramatically improve the military's intelligence analyzing capabilities by allowing analysts to evaluate images from satellites, ground cameras and surveillance aircraft more precisely and quickly than ever before...Full Article.

NATIONAL SPECIAL SECURITY EVENTS

2007-11-15T08:19:00.000-06:00

A new report from the Congressional Research Service regarding National Special Security Events (NSSEs). NSSEs are public events that are deemed to require national-level security planning. They include Presidential inaugurations and nominating conventions, major sporting events like the Super Bowl, and international summits. Between September 1998 and February 2007, there have been 27 designated NSSEs. For the complete report, see http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS22754.pdf

Former FBI, CIA Agent Pleads Guilty

2007-11-14T16:12:00.000-06:00

A former agent for the FBI and CIA pleaded guilty Tuesday to faking a marriage to win U.S. citizenship, clearing the way to being hired and given security clearances by the two intelligence agencies...Full Article.

Domestic Spying Inquiry Restarted at Justice Department

2007-11-14T16:10:00.000-06:00

The Justice Department has reopened a long-dormant inquiry into the government's warrantless wiretapping program, a major policy shift only days into the tenure of Attorney General Michael Mukasey.

The investigation by the department's Office of Professional Responsibility was shut down last year, after the investigators were denied security clearances. Gonzales told Congress that President Bush, not he, denied the clearances...Full Article.

Competition is heating up for defense workers

2007-11-14T16:09:00.000-06:00

Recruiting professionals are predicting 2008 will be another year when massive defense spending will mean fewer procurement dollars for the civilian agencies, and federal contractors will continue to face a highly competitive job market for information technology specialists...Full Article.

Chicago Interim Police Super

2007-11-14T16:03:00.000-06:00

...via the Chicago Sun-Times: Interim Police Supt. Dana Starks, who has been awaiting word on whether he qualifies for top FBI security clearance, reportedly “decided” not to apply for the top job.

He failed earlier to submit his paper work in time, and then went on to accuse the FBI of losing his file. Hmmm...seems not a big loss to the City of Chicago.

Lebanese woman pleads guilty in U.S. security case

2007-11-14T15:55:00.000-06:00

A Lebanese woman who worked for the CIA and FBI pleaded guilty on Tuesday to using government computers to gain information about the Hezbollah militant group and fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship, the Justice Department said...Full Article.

Ex-FBI Employee's Case Raises New Security Concerns

2007-11-14T15:43:00.000-06:00

A Lebanese national who fraudulently gained U.S. citizenship through a sham marriage managed to obtain sensitive jobs at both the FBI and CIA, and at one point used her security clearance to access restricted files about the terrorist group Hezbollah, according to court documents filed yesterday...Full Article.

DHS Offers Baseline for U.S. IT Security Skills

2007-11-14T15:38:00.000-06:00

The Homeland Security Department recently published a draft of a framework of knowledge and skills it believes the United States needs to prevent cyberattacks...Full Article.

Federal Security Breaches Double in 4 months

2007-11-14T15:31:00.000-06:00

Federal agencies report an average of 30 incidents a day in which Americans' personally identifiable information is exposed, double the number of incidents reported early this summer, according to the top information technology executive in the Bush administration...Full Article.

Defense IT programs see large funding increases

2007-11-14T14:54:00.000-06:00

The final version of the 2008 Defense Department Appropriations bill signed by President Bush on Nov. 13, heaped large funding increases onto Defense information technology programs.

One of the biggest winners was the Army's next-generation Single Army Logistics Enterprise system, which Congress funded at $247.2 million for fiscal 2008, almost quadruple Bush's request of $53.6 million...Full Article.

Homeland Security making progress in recruiting veterans

2007-11-14T12:37:00.000-06:00

The Homeland Security Department has made significant progress in the hiring of veterans, but a wave of looming retirements across the federal sector could make future recruitment and retention difficult, a top House Democrat said Tuesday...Full Article.

The spy who came in from the cornfields

2007-11-13T16:29:00.000-06:00

He had all-American cover – born in Iowa, college in Manhattan, army buddies with whom he played baseball. George Koval also had a secret. He was a top Soviet spy, code-named Delmar, trained by Stalin's ruthless bureau of military intelligence.

Atomic spies are old stuff. But historians say Koval, who died last year in Moscow and whose name is just coming to light publicly, seems to have been one of the most important spies of the 20th century...Full Article.

GovExec: Contractor tax provision forces changes to financial systems

2007-11-13T13:06:00.000-06:00

A provision in a tax law passed last year would require agencies to revamp financial management systems unless federal contractors are successful in convincing Congress to repeal the provision.

Section 511 of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA) requires federal and state governments, and local governments with expenditures of $100 million or more, to begin in 2011 withholding a tax of 3 percent of all payments to government contractors. The 3 percent withholding would raise an estimated $7 billion between 2011 and 2015.

Congress added the provision to the law to make it more difficult...Full Article.

BAE to Develop Surveillance System

2007-11-12T16:36:00.000-06:00

BAE Systems will develop an aircraft mounted surveillance system capable of monitoring at least 10 times more area than existing technology.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded the company a 30-month, $18.5 million contract to develop...Full Article.

U.S. Director of National Intelligence Appoints...

2007-11-12T16:25:00.000-06:00

The U.S. director of national intelligence has appointed a chief financial officer for the sprawling collection of agencies he manages...Full Article.

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller selected Michael J. Heimbach to serve as an Associate Director of National Intelligence in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence...Full Article.

Foreign Intelligence Services Spy on German Companies

2007-11-12T16:18:00.000-06:00

Germany is the land of ideas and innovations. Yet it is not only business competitors who may try to gain secret access to German expertise, it is also foreign intelligence services that are spying on German companies.

Whether it's research results, strategies for development, product information, client data or budget plans -- business secrets of successful companies are increasingly becoming coveted by industrious spies...Full Article.

Empower Weapons Program Managers

2007-11-12T16:14:00.000-06:00

Until the Pentagon develops a weapons-buying strategy that matches the military's needs to available dollars, efforts to increase the effectiveness and accountability of executives charged with ensuring a weapons program's successful outcome will fail, according to a recent Government Accountability Office assessment of acquisition reform...Full Article.

Now on Google Earth: Map where Congress spends your tax dollars

2007-11-10T16:52:00.000-06:00

Politicians are famous (infamous, some would say) for setting aside billions of federal taxpayer dollars each year to bankroll pet projects in their home districts. Now it's possible to map precisely where at least some of those funds may be headed.

The Sunlight Foundation on Tuesday released a downloadable Google Earth layer that plots what it says are some 1,500 earmarks attached to a proposed U.S. House of Representatives defense spending bill.

Ft Huachuca Intelligence Center Attracts Private Contractors

2007-11-08T16:43:00.000-06:00

An increasing amount of U.S. intelligence work -- including training related to aggressive interrogation methods -- is being parceled out to defense firms making Arizona's Fort Huachuca a major contracting hub.

The base, which sits near the Mexican border about 190 miles southeast of Phoenix, is home to the U.S. Army's Military Intelligence Center...Full Article.

Intelligence community developing virtual world analysis tools

2007-11-08T15:02:00.000-06:00

The research arm of the U.S intelligence community has kicked off a project to tap into virtual world technologies, such as Second Life, to develop innovative decision support systems for intelligence analysis. Tproject is designed to harness technologies to help the 15 agencies that report to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to change from a "need to know" culture to a "need to share" culture...Full Article.

Foreign agents spying on U.S. radar in Czech Republic

2007-11-07T16:40:00.000-06:00

The planned U.S. radar base 90 km southwest of Prague, has not yet been put up, and it already attracts foreign spies. The radar base together with a base for ten interceptor missiles in Poland are to be elements of the U.S. missile shield. The Czech government is to make the final decision on the radar base by early next year.

Sandor said that besides "official" spies, such as those working under the legal diplomatic cover, there are also "illegals," who pose as businessmen, students and journalists...Full Article.