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Holcombe changed the way USPTO viewed IT

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6 months ago

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When Jamie Holcombe arrived at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2019, he had a simple goal: Focus the technology on the mission and get out of day-to-day.

Holcombe, who recently left after spending almost seven years as the USPTO’s chief information officer, drove technology changes to modernize the patent and trademark systems.

Holcombe said the technology of the Patent and Trademark Office is more mission driven than ever before.

Jamie Holcombe was the CIO for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for almost seven years.

“Why were we involved in networking or data centers or really anything? We should not be because that does not have any core differentiation to our business model. So if we can outsource that and then use the most advanced tools every three to five years, replacing those tools with new tools, our examiners will have a much better chance at keeping up with the backlog,” Holcombe said on Ask the CIO. “Our biggest issue was we receive 600,000 patent applications every year. We were developing a backlog such that the examiners are inundated with all of this information and data. They have an obligation to sort through it and filter through it. So we needed to give them the tools and the ability, the capabilities, the potential, to overcome that backlog and keep up with the current application process. That’s what we set out to do.”

USPTO changed its approach to technology modernization over the last six years to focus on mission first and only while also securing its data.

Holcombe, who joined USAI as a vice president in August, said he spent the first several years at the agency just getting out of managing the infrastructure, which was mostly on-premise data centers, relying on mainframes and legacy relational databases.

“Every time we made a change in the relational database, we had to make sure that the system of record on the mainframe was updated. That really weighs you down. It’s like an anchor around your neck, having to duplicate all actions in two different places. That is insanity when you’re trying to move fast,” he said. “So eliminating that mainframe was a fantastic thing. We were so proud to get it done. We also have gotten rid of all of our old IBM WebSphere, as well as a lot of the other batch processing that was done at night. That was 25 years of old systems that were overtaken by modernized architectures and infrastructure.”

In Holcombe’s first year, USPTO spent about $43 million to stabilize its current infrastructure and then another $150 million over the next four years to modernize systems and applications.

In addition to the basic modernization efforts, Holcombe said he also changed the way the USPTO viewed technology as an asset. He said the idea was to constantly modernize, but also stop programs that weren’t making progress or weren’t meeting mission goals.

“The other business units in your agency or bureau need to have skin in the game, and in order to do that, you have to have people that are representatives of the business unit that are actually making decisions on budget and priorities, not necessarily the IP or technical specifications. Of course, they come up with the requirements. What we’re talking about is having two people in charge of a product. Those two people are your business unit head and your technical architect or your technical lead, and those two are responsible for running the product team,” he said. “Then what you do every 90 days as review before the Quarterly Review Board. We actually had all the deputy business unit heads decide on what was going to be funded in the next quarter and what was going to be adapted or killed in the next quarter. So every 90 days, you had your pulse on what is going on, and that sense of urgency began to creep up.”

Holcombe said this approach make sure the “dog was wagging the tail” and not “the tail wagging the dog” when it came to mission-focused IT modernization.

The modernization efforts over the last several years let USPTO invest heavily in artificial intelligence capabilities. Its employees have access to several tools to review documents and reduce the burden on examiners for administrative and clerical tasks. And before Holcombe left, the agency issued a request for information seeking technology that could improve the efficiency in the patent and trademark examining processes. Some examples the agency highlighted in the RFI are those around IT improvements, robotic process automation (RPA) bot development/usage, and new code or ideas to improve current processes.

Additionally, USPTO is using generative AI and artificial intelligence for code assistance, refactoring its code and translating old code to work in the cloud.

Holcombe said the agency started this effort in 2024 and initial pilots demonstrated it could accurately translate about 80% of the old code and the other 20% needed experts to figure it out and optimize it.

Holcombe said two big remaining priorities for acting CIO Deborah Stephens include the continued implementation of a zero trust architecture and relying on GenAI tools to modernize legacy code faster, from three weeks to three days.

“That is the biggest promise right now of code assist AI, that it can go through all of the testing, because you can actually produce test scripts from your AI, and you get this done to the point where requirements are done, and you can have this accelerated cycle,” he said. “You need to go with a sense of urgency. And that’s what I left the organization with, a sense of urgency to get her done.”

The post Holcombe changed the way USPTO viewed IT first appeared on Federal News Network.

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JUST IN: President Trump Signs Executive Order Authorizing Pay for TSA Amid Schumer Shutdown

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March 28, 2026

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Serious expression of a man in a suit during a formal event, highlighting intense focus and engagement.

Serious expression of a man in a suit during a formal event, highlighting intense focus and engagement.

President Trump on Friday signed an executive order authorizing pay for TSA agents amid the Schumer shutdown.

Major airports across the US are experiencing delays due to TSA staffing issues.

President Trump deployed ICE agents to airports across the country to help travelers swiftly get through security lines after Democrats blocked funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

On Thursday evening, Trump announced he has instructed the Department of Homeland Security to pay the TSA Agents.

Trump said he will sign an order instructing DHS Chief Markwayne Mullin to pay TSA agents.

“The Radical Left Democrats, and their “Leader,” Cryin’ Chuck Schumer, have made it very clear where they stand, and that is, ON THE SIDE OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

“They are refusing to fund Immigration Enforcement unless the Republicans agree to their Open Border Policies, which will never, ever happen again. They almost destroyed our Country, allowing 25 Million People to enter from Prisons, Mental Institutions, and Insane Asylums, those that are Drug Dealers, and thousands of Murderers, many of whom killed more than one person. Because the Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis, I am using my authorities under the Law to protect our Great Country, as I always will do!” Trump said.

“Therefore, I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports. It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it! I want to thank our hardworking TSA Agents and also, ICE, for the incredible help they have given us at the Airports. I will not allow the Radical Left Democrats to hold our Country hostage any longer. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said on Thursday afternoon,” Trump added.

President Trump on Friday signed the order authorizing pay for TSA agents.

Later Friday, President Trump called on the Republicans to nuke the filibuster.

“The Republicans should TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, and VOTE! Haven’t they had enough of this nonsense from the Radical Left Lunatics that are looking to destroy our Country? MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Trump said.

The post JUST IN: President Trump Signs Executive Order Authorizing Pay for TSA Amid Schumer Shutdown appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Pentagon Will Redirect Weapons Meant for Ukraine to the Middle East

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1 minute ago

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March 28, 2026

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Department of War may have to prioritize the conflict in the Middle East over the never-ending war in Ukraine

Too many wars, not enough weapons and munitions.

The military operation in Iran has started affecting supplies ‌of the US military’s critical munitions, leading the Department of War to evaluate whether to redirect weapons that were originally meant for Ukraine to ​the Middle East.

Reuters reported:

“The weapons ​that could be redirected include air defense interceptor missiles ​purchased through a NATO initiative launched last year, under ⁠which partner countries buy U.S. arms for Kyiv, the ​report said.

The consideration comes as U.S. operations in the region intensify. ​Admiral Brad Cooper, the Central Command chief leading U.S. forces in the Middle East, said on Wednesday the U.S. had hit over 10,000 ​targets inside Iran and was on track to limit Iran’s ​ability to project power outside its borders.”

The ⁠Defense Department wants to ensure that US forces in the Middle East, as well as its allies, ‘have what they need to fight and win’.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte did not answer questions regarding the Pentagon’s plans.

Euronews reported:

“Rutte said it was not his place to comment on critical support, but assured that essential military equipment ‘continues to flow’ to Ukraine, alongside military intelligence from the US.

Ukrainian officials have openly voiced concerns that Washington’s attention and resources have been more focused on the Middle East.

These fears have been echoed by the European leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron said at the end of last week’s EU summit in Brussels that the Iran war ‘must not divert our attention from the support we give Ukraine’.”

The Pentagon has notified the US Congress that it will divert about $750 million in funding to ‘restock the US military’s own inventories, rather than to send additional assistance to Ukraine’.

Read more:

TRUMP TO OIL TANKERS: “SHOW SOME GUTS!” – President Says Iran’s Navy Is Finished, Urges Ships to Sail Through Strait of Hormuz

The post Pentagon Will Redirect Weapons Meant for Ukraine to the Middle East appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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HOUSE GOP STRIKES BACK: Furious Republicans Move to ADD ICE Funding and Voter ID to Senate’s DHS Garbage Deal With Democrats — Will Force ‘Cowardly Senators’ Back to D.C.

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March 28, 2026

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Person speaking in a formal setting expressing opinions on political behavior, with text overlay highlighting views on courage and accountability.Person speaking in a formal setting expressing opinions on political behavior, with text overlay highlighting views on courage and accountability.Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN)

House Republicans are done playing games with the Senate’s latest RINO surrender.

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate, reportedly with only five senators present, passed a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package by voice vote.

But there was a catch.

The bill conveniently excluded full funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and key components of Customs and Border Protection, the very agencies responsible for immigration enforcement, deportation operations, and cracking down on criminal illegal alien activity, including drug and sex trafficking.

Thune left D.C. immediately following the betrayal, reportedly escorted by a private detail for a two-week Easter recess.

The House Freedom Caucus and MAGA patriots aren’t letting this surrender stand. Republicans in the House are already moving to amend the Senate’s pathetic offering, intending to force the Senate to actually do its job.

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) announced that the House Republicans will amend the garbage deal, restoring funding for ICE and adding a voter ID requirement.

Rep. Ogles: “So what the Senate did last night was they passed a bill that did not fully fund the government, meaning child sex trafficking investigation unit isn’t funded. They didn’t fully fund Homeland Security. So we’re focused on amending the bill and putting that back in, and we’re going to add in voter ID in the process. They’re cowardly. They didn’t do their job, and now they left town. They should come back and they should have to do their job.”

WATCH:

According to NOTUS, House Speaker Mike Johnson is preparing to put a 60-day continuing resolution (CR) on the floor this weekend.

This CR would fund all of DHS, including the critical ICE operations the Senate tried to kill.

Majority Whip Tom Emmer reportedly informed members that President Trump has given the “go-ahead” to pursue this strategy to protect the homeland.

The post HOUSE GOP STRIKES BACK: Furious Republicans Move to ADD ICE Funding and Voter ID to Senate’s DHS Garbage Deal With Democrats — Will Force ‘Cowardly Senators’ Back to D.C. appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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