Big Data in Government: Doing More With More

In an era where we're often asked to "do more with less," government is finding the need to do more with more when it comes to data. There is no lack of data within government systems. The challenge has always been getting the right access to it and then making it usable. Data can go a long way in helping meet key government-wide goals of better customer experience and increased equity in government service. There are a number of interesting applications of Big Data solutions across government to illustrate the power of data to make a difference.

Mapping Climate Impact

The Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation portal provides real-time information about extreme weather threats. It integrates data from across the Federal government to show viewers their current exposure to climate-related hazards such as flooding, wildfires, and extreme heat. It also shares projections for future weather threats, allowing users to zoom into specific counties, towns, or census tracts to see what hazards may impact life there in the coming years.

This information not only informs the public, but allows local governments and community organizations to plan response, mitigation, and resiliency programs. It also includes information on Federal grant funds available for financing programs so that those organizations can more efficiently begin their planning. Continue reading

Agile Becomes a Core Competency of Government

Agile is not a technology but rather an approach. As such, the barriers to adoption are not technical, they are cultural. Moving to Agile requires a complete shift in thinking from waterfall development. No longer is it feasible to set requirements at the beginning of the project and then design to those specifications, not launching until the whole system is complete. Rather, Agile works more in line with the pace of today, emphasizing constant communication to introduce change into the development process and encouraging small elements of the end solution to be released throughout the project lifecycle. Use of Agile in government has come a long way, but there is still room for improvement in how agencies meet digital goals and expectations. Continue reading

AI Reporting for Duty

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a key tool in the arsenal of the U.S. military. In 2022, the Department of Defense (DoD) launched the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) to become the "go-to place for talent and technical expertise." It was formed by merging several DoD offices to create a single, coordinated effort to advance AI technology and policy. Specifically, the CDAO is charged to:

  • Lead the Department's strategy and policy on data, analytics, and AI adoption, as well as govern and oversee efforts across the Department.
  • Empower the development of digital and AI-enabled solutions across the Department, while also selectively scaling proven solutions for enterprise and joint use cases.
  • Provide a sophisticated cadre of technical experts that serve as a de facto data and digital response force able to address urgent crises and emerging challenges with state-of-the-art digital solutions.

A key focus of the CDAO will be how to use AI to better coordinate forces in support of the DoD's Joint All-Domain Command Control (JADC2) efforts. Initial tactical goals include:

  • Review the Department's policy, strategy, data governance, analytics, and AI to create an integrated Data, Analytics, and AI strategy.
  • Provide the enterprise-level infrastructure and services that enable efforts to advance adoption of data, analytics, and AI.
  • Solve and scale enterprise and joint use cases in support of the National Defense Strategy and the Advancing Data and AI (ADA) initiative.

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How GovCon Got Its Groove Back: Networking Best Practices

In-person events are back in force, but we're all a little rusty at networking. Anyone who has attended an in-person event recently has likely had the conversation with fellow attendees, "Wow, I'm not sure how to do this anymore." To help us all get back in our groove, we wanted to pull together a list of tried and true as well as some new tips to make your attendance at the next government networking event feel a bit more natural. Continue reading

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022: See Yourself in Cyber

Since 2004, The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) have led a collaborative effort (at the direction of the President and Congress) to raise cybersecurity awareness nationally and internationally. Marking October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, individuals and organizations are given the tools to ramp up their cybersecurity education efforts. The theme for 2022 is "See Yourself in Cyber," putting the people aspect of cybersecurity front and center.

This focus on people is two-fold. First, there is the individual and personal responsibility each of us has to understand good cyber hygiene and conduct ourselves online in a way that protects the networks we depend on. Second, there remains a huge gap in the number of cybersecurity professionals and the number of roles that need filled. The "See Yourself in Cyber" theme invites more people to see their roles and skills in a cyber light, creating a bridge across the cybersecurity skills gap. Continue reading