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Podcast Roundup – Recent Podcasts You May Have Missed

Posted on May 12, 2017

It’s been a busy spring for podcasting! If you’re not subscribed on iTunes or our RSS feed, you may be missing out. Today’s WatchBlog catches you up on some of our recent podcasts.

Nuclear Facility Security Reporting: Certain Department of Energy facilities house nuclear materials that could be used to make weapons. Securing these sites is paramount, and Energy is required to report to Congress annually on their security infrastructure. Our review of Energy’s 2014 and 2015 reports found that the agency wasn’t fully prepared to address potential security challenges it identified. Shelby Oakley, a director in our Natural Resources and Environment team, sat down to discuss her team’s recent review of these security reports:

Nuclear Facility Security Reporting

Countering Violent Extremism: Although sometimes used interchangeably, countering violent extremism is different from counterterrorism. Where counterterrorism involves steps to stop active terrorist from committing violent acts, countering violent extremism involves steps to stop people from becoming terrorists—for political, religious, or other ideological reasons. The federal government has undertaken a number of activities to counter violent extremism, but it lacks a comprehensive strategy to guide these efforts, as well as a mechanism to measure success. Diana Maurer, a director in our Homeland Security and Justice team, recently sat down to discuss her team’s report:

Countering Violent Extremism

2017 DOD Weapons Programs Quick Look: Every year, we look at the Department of Defense’s portfolio of major weapons programs—including aircraft, ships, and ground vehicles. This year’s quick look across 78 weapons programs found that while certain programs had addressed past inefficiencies, DOD is missing opportunities to reduce costs and not always following best practices. Listen to Mike Sullivan, a director in our Acquisition and Sourcing Management team, discuss his team’s latest quick look review:

2017 DOD Weapons Programs Quick Look

DEFENSE ACQUISITIONS: Assessments of Selected Weapon Programs


GAO Contacts

Michael J. Sullivan
Michael J. Sullivan
Director
Contracting and National Security Acquisitions

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