GovExec.com: Defense Sees Role for ‘Open Source’ Software

“The Defense Department sees a role for ‘open source’ software
as well as proprietary software in its information technology
systems, according to a briefing conducted on Capitol Hill by a
senior Pentagon official earlier this month.

“In a presentation to staff for Washington state lawmakers, Dawn
Meyerriecks, chief technology officer at the Defense Information
Systems Agency, noted that the agency is exploring the use of
certain software licenses, covered by the general public license
(GPL) whose source code is open to inspection and alteration
because it has been ‘widely’ embraced by Defense high-tech clients
such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems. It also has been
embraced by commercial information technology solutions. Further,
open source technology improves cost effectiveness, the
presentation said…”

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