Intercepts

From CyberWar to CyberCorps

The Defense Department last week tapped Rudy DeLeon to take over as

the new deputy secretary of Defense. DeLeon replaces John Hamre, who left

to head up the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

However, my E-ring listening post has picked up strong signals that

the new deputy secretary, who comes to the post fresh from a stint as the

undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, will opt to elevate

high-tech work force issues above the one issue that dominated almost every

waking hour of his predecessor: the threat posed by an "electronic Pearl

Harbor."

According to a well-placed mole in the five-sided puzzle palace, DeLeon's

agenda will include three priorities: enhancing recruiting and retention

efforts; keeping the acquisition program and its budget on track; and continuing

the IT push by ensuring that DOD has access to integrators to defend and

protect itself in cyberspace.

I'm sure DeLeon will make a fine deputy, but I'm going to miss Hamre's

tendency to stray from prepared remarks and put the nation on full cyber-war

alert. It'll be tough for the Washington press corps to squeeze Hamre classics

out of speeches on work force issues.

Semper . . . ?

My Chambersburg, Pa., and St. Louis receiving stations report that the

original job offers made by Computer Sciences Corp. to the 500 government

workers displaced by the Wholesale Logistics Modernization Program contract

have been withdrawn and new offers have been made.

Although I reported last week that the offers were "riddled with errors,"

sources say the new offers require employees who choose to work for CSC

to contribute 5 percent of their pay to a CSC 401(k) plan and to agree to

work for the company until the age of 55. But the contract guarantees these

workers only three years of work, according to a source caught in the turmoil.

However, CSC is not to blame, says another source. "I think that many

in the work force respect CSC as a reputable company, a growing company

and a company that will, for the most part, take care of its employees,"

the source said. "It's the Army that we do not trust."

Orders Have Been Cut...

...For the next director of the Defense Information Systems Agency.

My e-mail code talkers have deciphered a message from the Air Force's general

officer assignment manager that indicates Maj. Gen. Harry Raduege, the director

of command and control systems for the U.S. Space Command, will soon receive

orders to report to Courthouse Road in Arlington, Va.

Sources say the orders have already been prepared. The only thing we

don't know is where Raduege stands on the $16 billion Navy/Marine Corps

Intranet. Messages flowing in from inside the Beltway indicate that your

political views on N/MCI may make or break your career at DISA.

Trans-Atlantic Fight 101: Arriving

My Brussels, Belgium, checkpoint operatives report that a major political

row is brewing between the European Union and Washington regarding anti-terrorist

legislation and airport security.

Sources say Congress is reviewing a proposal that would allow the Federal

Aviation Administration to impose extra security on any airline flying in

or out of the United States. The end result, according to my Reagan Washington

National Airport post, could be that EU-registered airlines will be forced

to adopt FAA security programs, including hiring U.S. security specialists

to review and coordinate IT systems, hiring U.S. security personnel to work

in EU airports and developing automated screening programs based on U.S.

technology.