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 (TAC).  TAC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Strategies Group (North America) Inc, run by Dr. John Hillen.  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.

Secret Service chooses “Code Names” for the Obama family. 

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.

White House Comes Under Cyber Attack

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!

Top 10 most irritating phrases. Are you unknowingly irritating people?

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!

Do you know Tom Grissen of Daon?

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!

On Tuesday, the Tysons Corner Ritz Carlton served as ground zero for the intersection of politics and technology, drawing hundreds of the area’s leading political and technology leaders. Through the hotel’s wood and glass doors and up to the 5th floor ballrooms streamed, among others, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, Jim Moran (D-VA), and congressional hopeful Gerry Connolly. They were joined by area technology executives and innovators such as Mark Ein and CES head Gary Shapiro.

With the Presidential Election just days away, the undercurrent of politics was certainly palpable, but the Potomac Officer’s Club (POC) lunch event panel discussion featuring Gov. Kaine, Rock Creek Partners Managing Director (and member of Obama’s high tech brain trust) Julius Genachowski and Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra, really focused on recognizing and honoring Northern Virginia’s emergence as one of the nation’s true business and technology success stories.

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When NYSE Euronext (NYX) Chief Executive Duncan Niederauer accepted the invitation to speak at today’s Potomac Officer’s Club event at the Ritz Carlton, he could hardly have imagined it would have been on the heels of this morning’s emergency 75 basis points rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

Knowing the increasing drumbeat of recessionary concerns was top of mind for the attendees, Niederauer addressed the rate cut - and the “R” word - head with some compelling insight that was immediately picked up by several major news outlets covering the POC event.

Niederauer expressed surprise not at the rate cut itself, but at its magnitude, indicating that many were anticipating a 50 basis point cut. He added that he is not seeing the signs of a recession that would typically precipitate this type of emergency move by the Fed.

Niederauer’s comments accurately reflect some conflicting signals from economists and policymakers on a) whether a recession has started or b) whether we are about to enter one. Much of the uncertainty stems from determining the extent to which the housing market woes will spill over into other segments. Niederauer acknowledges that the rate cut will help “a little” but wondered about the long term effects. At least in the immediate term, the cut prevented what was shaping up to be a historic bruising on Wall Street today with futures pointing to a potential 500-600 point drop.

Niederauer’s comments also potentially reflect what many observers have stated to be an evolving state of a “recession,” with many arguing that recent recessions have been milder than their predecessors - perhaps making the warning signs more subtle. As a result, consumers are left to balance the nightly mention of the “R” word on the news with analysis from experts such as Niederauer who has his finger on the pulse of current data and can effectively analyze what he is seeing.

While we will have to wait and see where the economy heads from here, I’m going to give a fellow Emory Eagle alum the benefit of the doubt.