Federal Drive with Tom Temin

While it pursues a digital, data-driven approach, the Air Force is still very much concerned with the physical world, including the materials that will be needed for aircraft of the future. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate have formed a center of excellence with Carnegie Mellon University. Jaimie Tiley, the program officer for Multi-Scale Structural Mechanics and Prognosis at Air Force Office of Scientific Research, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to share what it's all about.

It's that time of year — the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results are out. The survey is designed to take the pulse of employee satisfaction with their jobs, supervisors and work environments. This year, federal employees are feeling about the same as they did last year. The Office of Personnel Management said that's actually a good thing. Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin to break down the latest results.

The nation's minority-serving and tribal colleges and universities house a lot of science and technology talent. For more than a decade, NASA has been funding specialized course work at these institutions. The agency wants students to consider joining NASA's advanced aerospace manufacturing programs. Now there's a new round of funding. With more on the program, the manager of NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project, Torry Johnson, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

The National Guard is taking on missions it never imagined 20 or 30 years ago. Those include protecting individual states and counties from cyber attacks. This summer the Guard freed tens of county government and school districts from the clutches of hackers. Federal News Network’s Scott Maucione reported on what the Guard is doing and how its preparing for the next attack. Hear more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

The Agriculture Department did something few agencies do and more should: Show off what they accomplished after more than two years of focused work. As a lighthouse agency for the IT modernization services provided by the Centers of Excellence, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said these technology modernization efforts have helped break down bureaucracy and streamline services. Federal News Network’s executive editor Jason Miller brought Federal Drive with Tom Temin more details about what USDA accomplished.

The military is starting to realize fast-rising budgets may not go on forever. After three years of increases and likely a fourth for 2020, the Air Force is betting 2021 will be the last jump. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said more money will go to building a digital Air Force. Federal News Network’s Scott Maucione is had the latest details on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Few people know the intricacies of tax law and policy better than Eric Solomon. In a long Washington career, he's headed the corporate legal division at the IRS, advised two administrations on tax policy from the Treasury Department, and co-directed Ernst and Young's national tax department. Now Solomon has headed to the law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLC as a partner, and he joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for more details.

At its annual fall meeting, the National Academy of Public Administration today published a list of what its members think are the grand challenges in public administration. The academy's President and CEO Terry Gerton joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for the highlights.

The idea of extending paid family leave for federal employees comes up year after year in Congress. Bob Tobias thinks it's long overdue, and in fact the policy is making its way into some union contracts already. Tobias is a professor in the Key Executive Leadership program at American University, and he joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin in studio to talk more about the policy push.

Straightforward as it might have been, the Chief Financial Officers Act still has yet to be fully implemented by the 24 departments and agencies to which it applies. This is nearly 30 years after enactment. For the last 10 years, the White House has failed to prepare five-year plans the law requires. For the latest check on the CFO Act, Federal Drive with Tom Temin turned to the Government Accountability Office's Director of Financial Management and Assurance Issues, Dawn Simpson.

The Trump administration gave agencies a push in the right direction earlier this year when it signed an executive order to refocus efforts on artificial intelligence research. Now, the White House is looking to roll out the next wave of federal AI policy. That guidance will look at ways to get more than a dozen different research agencies working together more closely on AI developments. Federal News Network’s Jory Heckman had more details on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

More than a third of employees at the Interior Department said they had experienced some form of harassment or assault. That was three years ago, and the was a wake-up call for the department. Now Interior says it's made some serious progress. New data from the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey showed fewer Interior employees say they've experienced harassment over the past year. And more Interior employees say they know where to go to relay concerns. As Federal News Network's Nicole Ogrysko reported, members of Congress across the aisle are also encouraged. Hear more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

For several years the National Nuclear Security Administration has operated a program it describes as a pipeline of science and technology talent from minority-serving colleges and universities to the Energy Department's labs and other sites. Now the NNSA has expanded the program with some new subjects. NNSA's Program Manager David Canty joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin with details.

To honor the late Under Secretary for Health Dr. Robert Jesse, the Department of Veterans Affairs named an annual award for Excellence in Innovation in his name. This year, the award went to Dr. Thomas Osborne, director of the VA National Center for Collaborative Healthcare Innovation. Federal News Network's Eric White spoke with Osborne about his work and its impact on veterans' healthcare. Hear more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.

Whether its animal genomics or the pathogens on grape vines, chances are the Agricultural Research Service is looking into it. With a vast portfolio of projects, the ARS is among the premier research establishments in the federal government. Now its administrator has been inducted into the National Academy of Public Administration. Chavonda Jacobs-Young joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for more.