Category Archives: Gov/Mil News

Gov/Mil News on GovEvents Blog includes editorials and media pertaining directly to current events happening in Government & Military.

Innovation at Work in Government

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Reading through the Federal IT media and even mainstream media we are seeing two words in close proximity fairly frequently - government and innovation. These two words once thought to be polar opposites are now enjoying a new relationship. On the whole, government agencies are being encouraged to step away from the, "this is how we've always done it" mentality and looking for ways to deliver government to the people in a more modern and efficient way. Much of this encouragement is in the form of mandates as well as out of necessity with aging legacy infrastructures.

So how is this innovation happening? First, there are organizations designed to help agencies make the shift from traditional government thinking to a more forward-leaning, private sector model of technology development and change management.[Tweet "How is innovation happening in #Government? #GovEventsBlog #Innovation"] Continue reading →

Behind the Curtain: AWS Public Sector Summit 2017

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As federal, state, and local agencies look to implement cloud solutions, either in response to mandates or in an effort to reap cost savings and IT efficiency, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been in the forefront of helping government make the move to cloud. Now in its eighth year, the AWS Public Sector Summit brings together innovators who are changing the world with cloud computing to share their successes and lessons learned to guide wider cloud adoption in government. The conference aims to send attendees back to their office with new strategies and techniques for kicking off new projects, maximizing budgets, and achieving mission goals.

We highlighted the history of the event last year and, once again, Tricia Davis-Muffett, Global Public Sector Marketing Leader for AWS, took some time out from planning the Summit to share what is new for 2017 and what first-time attendees can expect.[Tweet "Behind the Curtain: AWS Public Sector Summit. @AWS_Gov #GovEventsBlog #AWSPSSummit"] Continue reading →

Earning Your Letters: Certifications and a Government Career

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Diploma or certificate isometric icon 3d on a transparent background vector illustration

As all of our GovEvents readers know, education does not end with the last degree you receive. From on-the-job training to industry events, professionals are constantly learning new things. Learning and career progression are, of course, rewards in themselves, but a certification program is quantifiable and industry-recognized.

Like an educational degree, certifications are an official marker of knowledge study and mastery. While they may add to the alphabet soup that is a government career, having the right letters after your name can make a big difference in what jobs you can apply for and how much you'll get paid.[Tweet "Earning Your Letters: Certifications and a Government Career #GovEventsBlog"] Continue reading →

Names Have Power. Be Sure to Pick the Right One

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The government market is not known for having catchy or memorable slogans. Job titles of executives routinely spread over two lines. Legislative actions are named as blandly as possible and then later nicknames are coined for easier pronunciation, quick recall or political branding. Look at how the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act became the Cheeseburger Bill and how the Affordable Care Act became Obamacare.

It's not surprising then that events for the government audience tend to follow these same naming patterns. While music lovers have Lollapalooza and entertainment fans have Comic Con, Federal workers attend Government Software Forums and Data Analysis for the New Threat Landscape. While these are important and serious topics, we'd like to challenge government meeting planners to come up with more creative naming conventions to drive interest and excitement around these critical topics.[Tweet "Ideas for getting creative with government event names. #GovEventsBlog #GovernmentMeetings"] Continue reading →

Machines Among Us: Today’s Reality of Artificial Intelligence

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Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) used to be the foils for heroes in science fiction movies. The Day the Earth Stood Still; 2001: A Space Odyssey; I, Robot; The Matrix; RoboCop; and Terminator all show a day when machines take over the world with disastrous consequences for humans. The reality is AI is already here today and it is nowhere near as villainous as the movies portray. AI helps diabetics better manage their sugar; enables driverless, electric vehicles that are better for the environment; supports the efforts of cyber warriors; and makes medicine more personal and precise.[Tweet "Machines Among Us: Today's Reality of Artificial Intelligence. #GovEventsBlog"]

Artificial Intelligence is used to describe the activities of a machine when it mimics the cognitive abilities of humans. This cognition allows the machine to take action toward a stated goal. But how do machines become intelligent? Like humans, they must be taught. Machine Learning is a type of AI focused on giving computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. Using algorithms (designed by humans), machines can make predictions using the massive amounts of data they are able to process.[Tweet "AI = the activities of a machine when it mimics the abilities of humans. #GovEventsBlog"] Continue reading →