Federal Drive with Tom Temin

For decades, the Marine Corps prioritized buying weapon systems overquality of lifeissues,which allowed the service to haveenough data to justify its funding requests to purchase new weapon platforms when needed. It was only recently thatthe service recognized it didn’t track any information on the state of its barracks. “We didn’t have the data tosayhow we are tracking the facility’s condition in detail to defend more than $200 million a yearfor that.But we did have the data to say we need this force design weapon systemor thismodernized vehicle or this modernized weapon platform,” Lt. Gen. James Adams, the deputy Marine commandant for programs and resources, told reporters at the Modern Day Marine conferenceWednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An Army financial counselorwill spend years in prison after his conviction on defrauding Gold Star Families. If nothing else, the story should alert members of the military and their families to use care in picking a financial adviser in the first place. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with someone who has witnessed this sort of bad advice, and he has some tips for avoiding it: Thiago Glieger of RMG Advisors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), wouldrequirevendors of online collaboration tools, like Zoom or Slack, to boost their security. It would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to come up with the standards, as well as have Homeland Security make sure the companies comply. For analysis, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Miller and Chevalier attorney, and former CIA attorney, Ashley Powers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Directed energy weapons, like hypersonics, always seem to be just around the corner. Now a unit ofthe Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has finished building what it calls diagnostic system to evaluate the performance of high energy lasers developed by industry. The project is called GRAILE-II, or Government Radiometrically Accurate Instrument for Laser Evaluation Version Two. For more, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke with Joe Cox of AFRL's Directed Energy Directorate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: A new way emerges to test and validate military grade lasers. This Senate bill would tighten up Zoom andTeams security for government use. How to avoid bad advice or outright fraud when finding financial advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government might employ some two million people, but no two federal employees are alike. That's why career and retirement planning can be complicated. For instance, what if you're old enough to retire but have less than 30 years in. For insight into what's known as MRA plus 10, Federal Drive Host Tom TEmin spoke to long-time federal retirement expert Tammy Flanagan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Citing low recruitment rates and readiness challenges, a coalition of health groups is urging the the Defense Department to do more about obesity. They tell Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin that leadership needssystem-wide recognition of what it calls anobesity epidemic. For the latest, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke to the American Security Project's Courtney Manning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a big data challengeunderway. It is the latest federal opportunity for university students to take a shot at some real-world technology problem solving. The challenge this time:evolution of the National Airspace System into a more information-centric entity.For more,Federal News Network's Eric White spoke to the FAA's acting chief data officer, Marseta Dill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of the Federal Drive with Tom Temin: The FAA's Data Challenge asks contestants to find and solve problems. A coalition of groups urges DoD to take on the obesity epidemic. A new wrinkle on the notion of postponing your federal retirement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Agencies are well on their way to reaching the Biden administration’s in-office goals for federal employees, but the Office of Management and Budget still plans to hold leaders accountable until they reach full compliance. Based on conversations with federal leaders, agencies are roughly 80% of the way toward hitting the administration’s target for at least half of feds’ work hours being spent in the office, OMB Deputy Director for Management Jason Miller told House lawmakers Tuesday. “We’ve been clear that our expectation is agencies are achieving at least 50%, while giving them flexibility for how to deliver,” Miller said during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing. “We’ll hold them accountable for that.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices