Author Archive

Bianca Spinosa

Bianca Spinosa is an Editorial Fellow at FCW.

Spinosa covers a variety of federal technology news for FCW including workforce development, women in tech, and the intersection of start-ups and agencies. Prior to joining FCW, she was a TV journalist for more than six years, reporting local news in Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Spinosa is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Writing at George Mason University, where she also teaches composition. She earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia.

Click here for previous articles by Spinosa, or connect with her on Twitter: @BSpinosa.

IT Modernization

Convincing your team to buy into the cloud

A can-do spirit has enabled the FCC to make a dramatic leap forward in IT modernization. What could this mean for your IT shop?

Workforce

White House raises caps on performance bonuses for senior feds

Senior Executive Service members and other senior feds could see larger performance bonuses, thanks to a shift in personnel policy.

IT Modernization

How the Pentagon can help federal buying power

The Defense Department’s plan to stand up IT for a background check bureau could be a model for civilian-DOD cooperation.

Digital Government

Two years of USDS: Obama's tech push going strong

The U.S. Digital Service turns two this week, and although the program is not without its critics, it gets good grades for the innovative technology services it brings to government.

Workforce

Sprinting to solutions

A trio from Google Ventures shows what's possible when the agile mentality is applied to more than just code.

Workforce

A 'money-making' CIO job

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which prints U.S. paper currency, is hiring for its top IT executive slot.

Workforce

GAO: More data needed on costs and benefits of telework

The government watchdog wants OPM to track the savings associated with telework and provide guidance for agencies to quantify the costs and benefits.

Workforce

GSA releases playbook for enterprise risk management

The CFO Council and the Performance Improvement Council have released guidance to help agencies meet new risk management requirements in OMB’s revised Circular A-123.

Workforce

Which agencies have the happiest IT workers?

A deep dive into federal job satisfaction data found some bright spots for IT, but there is room for improvement in training and making employees feel like they're part of the mission.

How Snapchat puts a friendly :) on government

A handful of agencies are experimenting with the ephemeral photo-sharing service to reach younger audiences, and they’re doling out information with a healthy dose of entertainment and emojis.

Digital Government

Can chatbots improve government customer service?

Federal digital and customer experience experts are telling feds how AI and machine learning, including bots, can expand and improve customer service.

People

Google legend joins Defense Digital Service

Matt Cutts, Google's longtime search quality guru, is taking a leave of absence to join the Defense Department's digital SWAT team.

Workforce

The IC details its struggles with diversity

In its first public report on workforce demographics, the intelligence community reveals it lags behind the federal government on diversity.

Digital Government

What can the government do about big data fairness?

Big data analytics are used in making determinations for credit, employment, and even criminal sentencing. Should the government make sure they are used fairly?

Digital Government

Britain takes digital ID out of beta as U.S. lags

The United Kingdom will go live with its governmentwide digital identity platform, GOV.UK Verify, in the coming days. The U.S. government will need a little more time.

Tech vendors tout veteran hiring programs for House committee

A panel of technology industry leaders and veterans shared ideas with legislators on how to connect veterans with jobs in the private sector.

Cybersecurity

NGA follows DOD to Silicon Valley

This summer the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency will open an outpost in Silicon Valley to create a presence for the intelligence agency similar to the Defense Department's DIUx.

Air Force HR is hiring a CIO

The IT executive would oversee enterprise architecture and portfolio management for a wide range of Air Force systems and serve as deputy director for plans and integration.

People

Raj Shah to take the helm at DIUX 2.0

Raj Shah, an entrepreneur and formerly senior director of strategy at Palo Alto Networks, is replacing George Duchak as the leader of the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental.

White House to probe role of AI in government

The White House has announced a series of public workshops on artificial intelligence and machine learning and will explore how AI can improve the delivery of government services.