In Depth interviews – September 7

On the In Depth show blog, you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

This is the In Depth show blog. Here you can listen to the interviews, find more information about the guests on the show each day and links to additional resources.

Today’s guests:

Brenda Brockman SmithExecutive Director, Trade Policy and Programs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

The motor city is now the one-stop processing center for both the automotive and aerospace industry. On Tuesday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened the Automotive and Aerospace Center of Excellence and Expertise in Detroit. The CBP will use the center to lower business costs and create trading stability, the agency said.

Brenda Brockman Smith, the executive director of Trade Policy and Programs at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, joins In Depth to discuss the new center and how it will partner with industry.


Tammy FlanaganSenior Benefits Director, National Institute of Transition Planning

It’s always a good time to start planning for retirement. It’s a career-long endeavor that can start as soon as you walk into your agency’s door to start your first day. To help you along your first steps, Tammy Flanagan, the senior benefits director for the National Institute for Transition Planning, provides some retirement tips for feds under 30.


Mark FormanFormer administrator for E-Government and Information Technology

The Office of Management and Budget is in the middle of a guidance tug-of-war. On one side are agencies that are embracing cybersecurity reform, and in some cases leading the charge. And on the other side are agencies reluctant to change.

But eventually the guidance can become a constraint to the forward thinkers and a game to the stragglers, says Mark Forman, the former administrator for E-Government and Information Technology in the Office of Management and Budget and now the director of EZ Grant Filing.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.


Gordon AdamsProfessor of International Relations, American University

If the Army doesn’t order more Stryker combat vehicles, then General Dynamics is going to start laying off its employees, National Defense magazine recently reported. Company executives say the demand doesn’t meet production levels right now and layoffs will start in January if nothing happens.

Dr. Gordon Adams is a professor of international relations at the School of International Service for American University and a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center. He joins In Depth to discuss the future of the Stryker program.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily DoD Report. For more defense news, click here.


Steve KoprincePartner at Petefish, Immel, Heeb & Hird, LLP

Certain types of contracts are supposed to be reserved for specific businesses. There are some for veteran-owned small-business, women-owned, you name it. But what happens if an agency takes a contract that’s supposed to be reserved for one type, but gives it to another?

Steven Koprince, a partner at Petefish, Immel, Heeb & Hird, writes on his SmallGovCon blog, about the recent set-aside award by the Defense Logistics Agency to the Federal Prison Industries. Koprince discusses the case.


Dale MeyerrosePresident, Meyerrose Group

There’s been a lot of buzz about offensive cyber warfare circulating. The Defense Department is even admitting to using cyber weapons on the battlefield for the first time — and the Air Force wants to build even stronger ones.

Dale Meyerrose, the president of MeyerRose Group, discusses his take on the Pentagon’s new willingness to own up to offensive cyber capabilities.

General admits leading cyber attacks in Afghanistan (related story)

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.


Also on the show:

Causey:Last hired, first fired: Where are you in line?

Federal News Countdown: Big data, Democratic platform and the continuing resolution

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