Local CEO Identified as Possible New CIA Director

The Washington Post and other sources have identified John Brennan as a possible replacement for current CIA Director Michael Hayden.  Mr. Brennan is currently CEO of The Analysis Corporation.  Mr. Brennan has had an illustrious career with the intelligence community, and serves as the Chairman of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, as well as an intelligence and foreign policy advisor to President-elect Barack Obama.  Read the full story here.

The Secret Service is known for it’s creativity for choosing code names for those they protect (However, Al Gore’s code name was “Al Gore”) Click here to get the Obama codes.

As we move past the furor of the election year, it is sobering to note that a blitz of cyber attacks continue on governmental infrastructures despite our best efforts.  According to the Financial Times, the computer network of the White House was infiltrated on more than one occasion, with Chinese hackers gaining access to official email correspondence.  Wired Magazine reported that both presidential campaigns were hacked. Seems like this is something democrats and republicans can all agree on.  Read more here.

The U.S. government is fighting back, unveiling a plan this past February for a National Cyberspace Strategy.  The new administration has definitely chosen to harness the latest in cyberspace, as evidenced by their unprecedented campaign.

On October 28th, 2008, the Potomac Officers Club was proud to host newly-named Obama Transition Team Chief Technology Advisor Julius Genachowski, and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.  Genachowski spoke to a crowd of DC area executives on the technological expectations of the new administration.  Click here to read more!

In veritably blunt fashion, Oxford University has collected the Top 10 most irritating phrases.  Unfortunately, the corporate world is not immune to overuse of expressions such as the time-honored, “synergy.”   Is one of your favorite phrases highlighted?  Click here to find out!

ExecutiveBiz recently had the opportunity to sit down with Tom Grissen, CEO of Daon.  Grissen stays focused on identity assurance, as he believes that the future will demand it.  In fact, as we move further in technology and truly break down the map-drawn boundaries, who people think you are will determine your access level in even the most mundane areas.  In an age which has seen cyber attacks on all fronts, including the one at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, cyber security remains at the forefront for both the government and corporations.  Tom Grissen addresses how Daon is tackling this pressing issue.    Click here to read more!

Knight Kiplinger Headlines POC Event

In a truly timely and powerful event, the Potomac Officers Club is proud to host famed business forecaster, Knight Kiplinger.  Kiplinger is Editor-in-Chief of the oldest economic newsletter in the U.S., The Kiplinger Letter.  Kiplinger is slated to speak on the troubled economic climate and how DC area executives can safeguard their assets.  According to Kiplinger, “The dynamism and heft of the US economy will be tested but not defeated.”  Register Here!

You don’t need networking, you need connecting! Are you looking for the area's best executive networking? ExecutiveBiz is the place you’ve been looking for! Our networking organization has grown to over 700 quality members and we project 1,000 members by the end of the year. Membership is based upon the individual person and not how many people work in your company. You must be a VP or higher in your firm to apply and your application is reviewed and approved by a committee. Thus, you are able to interact with like minded professionals in a friendly environment. You also get access to be part of the LinkedIn member only section for ExecutiveBiz members. Questions? Contact JD Kathuria at 703-226-7010. Learn more or apply for membership today and start connecting.

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Dave McQueeney has been the Chief Technology Officer for IBM’s Federal Government business since June of 2004. In that time, he’s developed his own list of dos and don’ts for being a top CTO. Recently, McQueeney sat down with ExecutiveBiz to offer up several of his tips. Among them: Surround yourself with the best technical people. Stay connected to a broader research community. Don’t just view yourself as a techie; be a bridge between the technical and business worlds. In the following Q&A, McQueeney unpacks these and other tips, and lets us in on a few book picks that can also enrich your role as CTO.

Click here to read the full interview ...

Tom Grissen has always designed his life around things he’s passionate about — and identity assurance is one of them. “To be successful, I fundamentally believe you must be energized,” says Grissen. “I have led thousands of staff in large divisions of multi-billion dollar companies, turned around struggling businesses, and most recently with Daon, have taken an early stage company to one that has customers on five continents.” In the following Q&A, Grissen discusses what attracted him to the Reston-based company — “I saw an extremely talented staff, people willing to make bold decisions with the strength and stamina to be leaders rather than followers,” he says — plus he fills us in on the latest trends in identity assurance.

Click here to read the full interview ...

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Best of the ExecutiveBiz Blog

• Rep. Tom Davis Turns to University Teaching

  After serving Virginia’s 11th congressional district for 13 years, Rep. Tom Davis decided to step down from his congressional seat this year and has found the time to finally set his sights on academia. This fall, for the first time, he has begun teaching a senior seminar in the Department of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University. The “Southern Politics” class of a strong twenty-five students is exploring the cultural and electoral changes in the south over the past century and the recent reactions to the election of an African-American president.

• Fight Night 2008

  Fight For Children held their 19th annual “Fight Night” at the Washington Hilton on Thursday, November 6th. Countless celebrity and political figures, from Smokin’ Joe Frazier and Clinton Portis to DC Mayor Fenty, highlighted the 2,000 person guest list as a record of over $2,000,000 was raised for the DC children’s charity. The $1,000-a-ticket black tie event, famous for its cigar smoking, also featured a steak dinner, top tier open bar, and entertainment from the redskin cheerleaders.

• “Let’s Get Ethical, Ethical…”

  Now that you have that song stuck in your head for the rest of the day (you’re welcome), I might as well put a little meat on the bones and explain the title’s relevance. Greater Washington is flush with corporate award competitions bestowed upon organizations large and small for being the most profitable, the greenest, the most innovative and, well you get the picture.

• White House Network Attack Leaves “Hacked by China” Imprint

  President-Elect Barack Obama utilized technology at an unprecedented level to reach out to prospective voters during the extended campaign, but if recent events are any guide he may find that technologies to prevent malicious hackers from getting into sensitive networks and data will be front and center.

• The Technology Implications of the Obama Win

  A very hot topic among all technologists, from DC to Silicon Valley, is how the Obama election will change the technology landscape. There are five key megatrends in IT today, and we should analyze change in the context of each.

• D.C. Area Executive Julius Genachowski Tapped for Obama Transition Team

  President-elect Barack Obama has selected D.C. tech executive and entrepreneur Julius Genachowski to his presidential transition team and will serve as the key technology adviser to the next president. The appointment is yet another signal of the important role that technology will serve in the next administration.
  
  Genachowski spoke last week at a Potomac Officer’s Club (POC) lunch event featuring Gov. Tim Kaine and Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra and which focused on the tech outlook of a new administration. Genachowski’s former Harvard Law School classmate, Sen. Obama, has an eye towards using innovative technology to deliver 21st century government services. Under the leadership of Genachowski, a Technology & Innovation Plan has been drawn up by the campaign, identifying the three tech policy principles for the new administration as “Open government, open networks, and open markets.”

• Top 10 Business Development Executives in Government Contracting

  They come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Some came to the private sector from the military. Others made the transition from the government. Still others started out directly in the commercial space and worked their way on up. But whatever their individual backgrounds they all share a common theme: Each has developed winning strategies that have driven the success of their companies.

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ExecutiveBiz works in partnership with The Potomac Officers Club. The Potomac Officers Club is a non-profit board of trade dedicated to improving business conditions in the Greater Washington area. For more infomation, please visit www.potomacofficersclub.com.

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J.D. Kathuria

Message from the Editor

This digital magazine is designed to serve the needs of the local business community. Please contact us with your content ideas or advertising requests. We currently reach nearly 50,000 area executives.

I would also welcome the opportunity to speak with you about our membership organization. We're growing fast and already have over 700 members, with more joining every day.

J.D. Kathuria
ExecutiveBiz Editor
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703-226-7010