Federal Drive with Tom Temin Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio

For decades, the Marine Corps prioritized buying weapon systems over quality of life issues, which allowed the service to have enough data to justify its funding requests to purchase new weapon platforms when needed.
It was only recently that the service recognized it didn’t track any information on the state of its barracks. 
“We didn’t have the data to say how we are tracking the facility’s condition in detail to defend more than $200 million a year for that. But we did have the data to say we need this force design weapon system or this modernized 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 conference Wednesday. 
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An Army financial counselor will 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.
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A bill sponsored by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), would require vendors 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.
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Directed energy weapons, like hypersonics, always seem to be just around the corner. Now a unit of the 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.
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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 and Teams security for government use.

How to avoid bad advice or outright fraud when finding financial advice.


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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.
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