In Depth Show Blog – September 19, 2013

Today is back to work day for most employees at the Washington Navy Yard. Most of the base reopened this morning, with the exception of the headquarters of Naval Sea Systems Command, the site of Monday’s mass shooting. Vice Adm. Bill French is the commander of Navy Installations Command. That command oversees Navy bases around the world. He talked with Federal News Radio’s Jared Serbu about the yard’s current status, and what the service is doing to help its employees cope.

Three separate looks at base security are under way at the Defense Department. But answers will take a while to come. Federal News Radio’s Tom Temin says the answers look easy, but they’re bound to be more complicated than they look.

A big breakthrough in disaster response is coming from an unlikely partnership in government. The Homeland Security Department and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are close to release of technology called Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response, or FINDER. John Price is Deputy Director Office for Interoperability and Compatibility in the First Responders Group at the Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. He says FINDER is an example of a Federal government partnership.

Agency inspectors general aren’t immune from budget, personnel and technology challenges. But new research finds IGs are innovating during tight budget times. David Zavada is a partner with Kearney & Company. He directed the survey on behalf of the Association of Government Accountants.

About $2 million in federal grants is going to universities and economic development centers to generate more small business opportunities. It’s all part of the Small Business Administration’s FAST or Federal and State Technology partnership program.

Cyber experts are pushing to professionalize the cybersecurity field. But they may be pushing too soon. Diana Burley is co-chair of the Committee on “Professionalizing the Nation’s Cybersecurity Workforce: Criteria for Future Decision-Making.” She’s also an associate professor in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University.