The COVID-19 pandemic has made all levels of government radically change how they operate. From shifting their workforce to telework to delivering government services digitally, Federal, state, and local governments have had to pivot the way they work, while still delivering on their mission. […]

Establishing a data-driven government, Federal officials suggested today, requires recognizing data management as a team sport, putting change “champions” into positions of responsibility, and educating the workforce to realize the value of the day they are collecting.

The U.S. Air Force issued a request for information (RFI) to gain feedback from entities that could provide capabilities for creating a wrist-worn physiological tactical wearable device.

At Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, it has been the job of two people to check visitors into the base, and manually enter their information into a system for a background check. Those days are numbered because of a robotics process automation program, according to the base’s director of communication and information.

Lauren Knausenberger, the chief transformation officer of the United States Air Force, said the pre-pandemic culture in the service was, “you’re not really working if you’re remote,” but explained that the service’s culture has shifted quickly out of necessity. 

The U.S. Air Force’s AFNet Sustainment and Operations branch (HNIB) has expanded the service branch’s network capacity to 200,000 teleworkers, and Air Force official said.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering at the Department of Defense (DoD) and the United State Air Force Warfare Center are partnering on a 5G prototype to be deployed for both defense and civilian use at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada early next year.

The U.S. Air Force admitted in a May 20 request for information (RFI) that the agency lacks an Enterprise Data Loss Prevention Program (E-DLP) to protect sensitive information, but is now seeking a new approach to data protection with a proof of concept for an E-DLP at one of its bases.

Air Force officials began planning for the Advanced Battle Management System about three years ago with the intent of replacing and modernizing aircrafts on the existing system by 2035. The Government Accountability Office said Thursday that the service needs to create a plan if that goal is to be reached.

Bill Marion, deputy CIO at the U.S. Air Force, will be leaving his position at the end of April, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed to MeriTalk.

Here’s an overview of some of the latest COVID-19 coronavirus developments on the government and tech fronts:

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is asking for white papers by May 1 on information sharing technologies to be used within parts of the Intelligence Community.

The U.S. Air Force is almost ready to release its digital skills learning program – dubbed the Digital U Strategy – according to the service branch’s Deputy CIO Bill Marion.

Co-Chair for Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the Air Force Captain Michael Kanaan explained the five principles guiding the agency’s AI strategy, and how each principle can be embraced by other Federal actors, at AI in Action on Dec. 3.

Air Force Chief Data Officer (CDO) Eileen Vidrine shared success stories from the implementation of the agency’s Visible, Accessible, Understandable, Linked and Trusted (VAULT) Data Platform in a panel discussion at ACT-IAC’s Data Driven Decision-Making Forum on Nov. 22.

The Government Accountability Office recommended in a recent report that the Defense Department (DoD) take steps to ensure that the U.S. Air Force develops a “comprehensive acquisition strategy” for its Space Command and Control (C2) program that aims to deliver better capability to protect U.S. space assets from attacks and collisions with space debris.

The United States Air Force (USAF) announced Air Force Explore, a call to action for “capability ideas that advance the transformational component of the Air Force Science and Technology 2030 strategy,” on Sept. 26. USAF anticipates awarding four to seven awards, each within the $1-2 million range.

Formalizing the roles of Federal agency chief data officers (CDO) – a relatively new position for many Federal agencies – is well underway but still far from finished, two agency CDOs indicated on Sept. 16 at the Professional Services Council’s Tech Trends Conference.

The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) is seeking an online resource for its McDermott Library that will combine military, global security, and armed conflicts data, according to a solicitation released today.

Maj. Gen. Timothy D. Haugh is the new commander of the Twenty-Fifth Air Force, taking over for  Maj. Gen. Mary F. O’Brien.