bdpatoday | Enterprise

Microsoft Inks $927M Pentagon Deal

FORT MEADE, MD [Nasdaq]—Under a new contract with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), Microsoft will provide new consulting services that include software developers and product teams “to leverage a variety of proprietary resources and source code,” as well as the firm’s premier support services like tools and knowledge centers and problem resolution assistance from developers.

Nasdaq reports Microsoft’s contract with DISA is a noncompetitive, single-award, firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ). The new contract comes in addition to another large award with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) earlier this year, which moves all of DoD’s 4 million employees to Windows 10 within a year, as well as purchasing large quantities of new laptops and related hardware. Although Microsoft’s support for DISA mostly takes place in the U.S. (CONUS), DOD states some services may also be required at other locations outside the continental U.S. (OCONUS).

DISA is a combat support agency of the Department of Defense with 6,000 civilian employees, 1,500 active duty military personnel from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, and approximately 7,500 defense contractors. DISA provides and operates command, control, and enterprise information systems.

Defense.gov: Select here to read more.

—Sources: Nasdaq and defense.gov
Photos: U.S. Navy and DoD

Cisco to Layoff up to 20% of its Global Workforce

SAN JOSE, CA [CRN] — Cisco Systems is expected to announce the cuts within the next few weeks, as many early retirement package plans have already been offered to employees, said sources. Cisco is set to announce its fourth fiscal quarter results after the market closes later today.

Cisco must retool digital tool sets for all vertical markets (such as education, healthcare, transportation, energy) with new people and new skills to become a smaller, leaner, and more agile company. Mark Haranas of CRN reports Cisco is laying off upward of 14,000 employees representing nearly 20 percent of the networking giant’s global workforce, according to multiple sources close to the company. These heavy cuts, which sources say range between 9,000 and 14,000 employees worldwide, stem from Cisco’s transition from its hardware roots into a new “software-centric” organization.

— Source: CRN.com
Cover and photo credits: Cisco Systems

Verizon to Buy XO’s Fiber-Optic Network

WASHINGTON—CNBC reports Verizon Communications, the No.1 U.S. wireless service provider, would buy Carl Icahn-owned XO Communications’ fiber-optic network business for about $1.8 billion.

Verizon said the deal will include XO’s fiber-based Internet protocol and Ethernet networks that will help serve its enterprise and wholesale customers.

How Nations Can Ensure IoT Success

bdpatoday | Industry Careers

by Derek Major, GCN.com

What: “Why Countries Need National Strategies for the Internet of Things,” a report by the Center for Data Innovation that discusses the importance of broad, holistic strategies to direct development of the #IoT.

Why: For the global public sector, the Internet of Things has the potential to generate $4.6 trillion by 2022 by increasing employee productivity, making military defense systems more effective, reducing costs, improving citizens’ experience with public services and increasing government revenue. A poorly designed strategy, however, could lead to market failures, a restrictive regulatory environment and unequal distribution of the benefits the IoT can provide.

…

H.O.P.E. Project DMV Students Capture 2015 President’s Award

ALISHIA PRIDGEN | President’s Award

Here is Alishia’s story

I was born and raised in Riggs Park in Northeast Washington, D.C. I graduated from McKinley Tech High School in 2007. I am the mother of a beautiful son who is autistic and inspires me every day to work even harder. Before the hope project I was working retail and at Giant Foods. I also had different summer jobs but nothing that was taking me anywhere.

After completing training with the H.O.P.E. Project, I don’t just have a job but a new career in IT. While in the H.O.P.E. Project I received my A+ Certification and got my first IT help desk job working for the FDA. This year I studied and received both my Network+ and Security+ certifications.

I also started a new job working at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Mid- Level Service Desk Analyst. I am currently studying for my System Security Certified Professional certification and plan on going back to school in January in hopes of soon transitioning into the cybersecurity side of IT.

Video ► H.O.P.E. Project’s Super Saturday vignette featuring ‘ Harvard of the Hood‘ and original H.O.P.E. themed rap song from Archie Bunka.

Former HUD and Education Department CIO receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Industry Icons and Community Volunteers honored by local BDPA Chapters

WASHINGTON — During an annual community and technology awards ceremony, Jerry Williams (left) receives an industry Lifetime Achievement Award from National BDPA’s Washington, D.C. Chapter (BDPA-DC). The chapter is celebrating its 37th year advancing technical careers in underserved communities ‘from the classroom to the boardroom.’

Mr. Williams, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ryan Consulting Group, is the former Chief Information Officer at the Department of Education Federal Student Aid. His Federal career is distinguished by over 31 years of federal service enabling mission capability and readiness throughout the Federal space in an innovative and secure manner. Mr. Williams is a recipient of the Federal 100 award, which honors individuals from government, industry, and academia whose ideas and accomplishments had the greatest impact in shaping the missions, solutions, and results achieved by the government information technology community. Mr. Williams has served as a member of Industry Advisory Council’s (IAC).

Mr. Williams was a member of the Senior Executive Service and has served as the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Deputy Chief Information Officer/Acting Chief Information Officer, Department of the Interior; Director of Financial Management, Director of National Intelligence; Deputy Chief Information Officer and Acting Chief Information Officer of the Department of Agriculture, Chief Information Officer, Small Business Administration; Chief Federal Financial System, Executive Office of the President Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Williams has over 31 years of experience in public sector Financial Management and Information Technology.

Serving over 10 years at the Senior Executive Service (SES) level and the Senior National Intelligence Service levels (SNIS). Mr. Williams has a strong background in performance/change management, implementation of GPRA objectives, independent assessment, planning, analysis, design and implementation of enterprise-level administrative and financial management systems, for Federal agencies. Mr. Williams has authored and implemented the current Federal Financial Line of Business for Federal Financial Systems, Federal Payroll Consolidation and has served on the Obama Administration Federal Financial Systems Advisory Board (FSAB). Mr. Williams’ possess extensive experience managing and participating in all phases of the system development lifecycle and structured information engineering, to include, strategic planning, architectural analysis, information technology oversight and assessment, requirements definition and analysis, system design, implementation, data modeling, testing, data conversion, business process reengineering, system documentation and training, and configuration management.

Mr. Williams also possess in depth knowledge of Federal Financial management requirements, including the relevant Office of Management and Budget Circulars, Federal Systems Integration Office (FSIO) financial systems requirements, Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board statements, and Department of Treasury guidelines and regulations. I also possess an in-depth knowledge of Federal Information Technology statutory and regulatory requirements including Clinger Cohen, FISCAM and FISMA.

The president of Ryan Consulting Group is R. Keith Harding. Mr. Harding, former President of BDPA’s Indianapolis, IN Chapter, is an established and well respected IT industry veteran and one of the founders of RYAN Consulting Group, Inc.

Dell to acquire EMC in a record $67 billion high-tech deal

Reuters – Computer maker Dell, Inc. said on Monday it had agreed to buy data storage company EMC Corp in a $67 billion record technology deal uniting two mature companies to create an enterprise technology powerhouse. Dell plans to pay $24.05 a share in cash plus tracking stock in EMC’s prize holding, VMware Inc., valued at about $9 for each EMC share, both companies said in statements Monday. Learn more…