got geoint?

Welcome to the “Tuesday Morning News Kick Off” post hosted by got geoint? We hope everyone had a chance to enjoy some precious downtime with family and friends over this past Independence Day weekend. While most people essentially work for the weekend (wait, isn’t a song from the 1980s?), we have the luxury of working in the GEOINT sector, which means that we make a living at something we are passionate about. This dedication to the mission actually makes the end of a holiday weekend not sting soo much, and well, so does our top-of-the-week posts that provide all the news you need to kick start the work week. So, as we always say, fire up that second cup of coffee and read on. Happy Tuesday and enjoy the short work week.

Panetta Takes Office as Defense Secretary
Last Friday, Leon Panetta was sworn in as the nation’s 23rd secretary of defense. He also pledged that there would be “no hollow force on my watch,” as the Pentagon seeks to rein in costs without undermining military readiness.

David Petraeus CIA Nomination Clears Senate
Gen. David Petraeus sailed through the Senate last Thursday in a 94-0 vote to serve as the next Central Intelligence Agency director.

As Shuttle Era Ends, Dreams of Space Linger
After 30 years of shuttle flights, the last mission ever is being prepped for its launching on Friday.

Newest Networks Now for the Military
As commercial carriers around the globe begin to offer 4G networks to customers, the U.S. government is looking for similar capabilities in its organizations.

Space Station Gets Close Wakeup Call
Orbital debris within 250 meters of the International Space station is a warning to clean up the neighborhood before a tragic impact.

Worlds First Live Video Feed of Earth from Space
The worlds first high definition streaming video camera to be installed on the International Space Station (ISS) has been announced by David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science at the UK Space Conference.

GIS: City IT Leaders Discuss Geospatial Data’s Growing Role
For decades, GIS has been an indispensable tool in many state and local government agencies, and now that it’s being more widely adopted, governments are finding new, unexpected uses.

Fire Evacuees Can Use Aerial Technology System for Up-to-Date View of Their Homes
­Last week, Los Alamos National Laboratory and a New Mexico aerial technology firm deployed a cutting-edge surveillance system­-normally used to help U.S. conventional military forces in combat ­for a peaceful purpose: helping Las Conchas fire evacuees see an up-to-date view of their homes.

Tags: International Space Station, Panetta, Panetta as Secretary of Defense, Petraeus CIA Nomination, space debris, Space Shuttle