High-Tech Defense Office Takes Lead On Telecommuting

The Defense Information Systems Agency describes itself as providing "global net-centric solutions" for the White House, the Pentagon and the armed forces.

In other words, it's the AOL, Google and OnStar for the Defense Department -- a crucial part of the government's national security operations.

Most of the engineers, computer scientists, telecommunication experts and technology wizards who work for DISA live in Northern Virginia and work in offices scattered through Arlington and Falls Church. Many are less than thrilled with the idea that by 2011 their jobs will be moved to Fort Meade, Md., as part of Defense Department base closures and realignments.

"A lot of those people want to stay with DISA but not uproot family because of schools and because of where their spouses work," said Jack Penkoske, DISA's director of manpower, personnel and security.

To keep from losing experienced employees, DISA has embraced telecommuting -- a way of working that the government has been slower to accept than the private sector.

Of the about 2,000 DISA jobs that have been identified as suitable for telecommuting, more than 500 employees have been cleared to work from home.

"I think our numbers for telework will continue to grow, as we get more people comfortable with it," Penkoske said in an interview last week. "We've had a seven-fold increase in the last 10 months, probably a little more than that."

About 4,400 people -- military, civil service and contractors -- work for DISA in Northern Virginia, and more than half are civil service employees. DISA hopes that telecommuting will entice the civil service employees -- all have at least a secret clearance -- to stick with the agency.

Prior to the 2005 base-closing announcement, DISA employees could work from home one day per pay period, or every two weeks. Once it became clear that the agency would be relocated to Maryland, DISA's director, Air Force Lt. Gen. Charles E. Croom Jr., put together a new policy that permits employees to work from home two days a week.

Now, DISA employees who qualify to telework and are on a compressed work schedule (80 hours biweekly in less than 10 days) can be out of the office five of 10 work days.

"There are probably going to be more [telework] days being offered as we move down the line," Penkoske said.

DISA picks up half the cost of installing and subscribing to broadband Internet service. Employees are allowed to work on only nonclassified material while at home. The agency has ramped up purchases of laptop computers so that equipment shortages will not slow the telecommuting program.