On this episode of Fed Gov Today, we explore critical changes in federal acquisition and cutting-edge advancements in space technology that are reshaping government operations and defense strategies. Eric Crusius, a partner at Holland & Knight, joins the program to discuss how federal procurement policies might evolve under a new administration. He highlights shifts in executive orders and regulations, including clean energy initiatives and labor policies, and explores the potential return of the DoD’s "Night Court" program to reallocate funds from underperforming initiatives. We also delve into the future of space technology with Dr. Ken Obenberger, Senior Research Physicist at the Air Force Research Laboratory. Dr. Obenberger discusses his groundbreaking work on space plasma disturbances and their impact on military communication, navigation, and surveillance systems worth $4 billion. He explains how his research is enhancing space environment sensing and detection capabilities, including innovative applications like identifying volcanic eruptions in remote areas that could affect air traffic.For more information, visit the show page at FedGovToday.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Don’t miss the next episode of Fed Gov Today next Wednesday. Have a great week, and Happy Thanksgiving!

On this episode of Fed Gov Today, we dive into two transformative topics reshaping the federal government and the global environment. First, we explore the crossroads of federal IT modernization with insights from Kevin Cunnington and Siobhan Benita, executive advisors to the Global Government Forum. They discuss how the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) is fueling innovation across U.S. federal agencies and highlight the challenges CIOs face in workforce development, including recruiting, retaining, and upskilling talent for a digital-first government. Kevin and Siobhan also provide a global perspective, sharing lessons learned from other nations and offering actionable recommendations to position the U.S. as a leader in government technology. You can find the link to the report here:  https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/US-federal-CIO-study. This conversation includes a preview of the upcoming Government Service Delivery conference in May 2025, where these vital topics will be further explored.The second segment takes us deep into the Amazon rainforest with NASA scientist Dr. Douglas Morton, a Flemming Award recipient for his groundbreaking work in applied science. Dr. Morton explains how NASA’s Amazon Dashboard leverages advanced satellite technology to monitor and analyze fire activity in the Amazon region. He reveals the far-reaching environmental and economic consequences of these fires, the challenges of managing such a vast and vulnerable ecosystem, and how satellite technology has revolutionized our ability to track and mitigate these threats. Morton’s work offers a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of global ecosystems and the role of cutting-edge science in preserving them.Don’t miss out on the latest from Fed Gov Today! Follow us on LinkedIn for updates, exclusive content, and notifications about new episodes.

On this episode of Fed Gov Today, two groundbreaking developments in federal government initiatives take center stage. First, Buddy Dees, Director of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program Management Office at the Department of Defense, explains the significant updates to the CMMC program. Buddy breaks down the changes, including the shift to a three-tier model, the introduction of self-assessment options for lower-risk projects, and the continued alignment with NIST standards for streamlined cybersecurity compliance. In the second half of the show, Francis dives into a cutting-edge agricultural innovation with Dr. Aspen Workman of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. Dr. Workman discusses her award-winning work using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to combat bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a disease that costs the cattle industry billions annually. This pioneering effort has created heritable resistance to the virus, ensuring lifetime protection for cattle, starting in utero. Dr. Workman shares the challenges and successes of collaborating with government, academia, and industry to translate lab discoveries into real-world solutions for farmers. For more details, visit the show page at FedGovToday.com and follow us on LinkedIn for updates and news.

On this edition of Fed Gov Today, presented by the Arthur S. Flemming Awards, we explore transformative efforts in public service that are making a global impact. First, Blair Pasalic, Director of Planning and Administration in the Office of Resource Sustainability at the Department of Energy, shares the remarkable logistics behind delivering over 900 pieces of electrical equipment to Ukraine, supporting the country’s critical infrastructure in its defense against Russia. Dr. Katherine Newcomer, a Commissioner for the Flemming Awards and leader at George Washington University, highlights the awards’ 75th anniversary. She reflects on the legacy of Arthur S. Flemming, whose dedication to public service and social equity continues to inspire today’s federal leaders. Shannon Griffin, a biologist at the EPA and recipient of a Flemming Award in the Basic Science category, discusses her innovative, non-invasive saliva-based method for tracking waterborne pathogens, a technique that played a pivotal role in understanding COVID-19 spread. Catch more about each of these leaders and the stories behind their achievements on today's show page at fedgovtoday.com.

On this edition of Fed Gov Today, we dive into major developments across federal initiatives that impact both federal employees and national defense. Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, joins to discuss a 44% increase in TSP roll-ins, a sign of growing participant confidence. She also highlights record-high matching rates and the impact of auto-enrollment on maximizing participant savings, especially among active-duty personnel. Russell Rumbaugh, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller, details the Marine Corps’ recent clean audit opinion—a significant milestone in defense audit progress. Rumbaugh shares insights into the Navy's broader audit journey, emphasizing the critical role of leadership and collaboration to break down "stovepipes" that hinder audit success. Dr. Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, explores the state of the defense industrial base (DIB) through four case studies: WWII, the MRAP program, COVID-19, and support for Ukraine. Catch more insights and expert interviews on Fed Gov Today, with new episodes every Wednesday. Visit FedGovToday.com for additional resources and links

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, sponsored by Appian, we dive into three critical topics reshaping the landscape of federal IT modernization, business process transformation, and AI integration in financial management. Jenna Whitley, Acting Assistant Inspector General for Audit for Security and Information Technology Services at TIGTA, discusses the IRS’s progress on its modernization journey. As the IRS embraces AI, automation, and cloud technologies, Whitley highlights the improvements made possible through the $4.7 billion in supplemental funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. Matt Beran, Industry Lead for Global Defense and Intelligence Programs at Appian, shares insights into how federal agencies are rethinking their business processes with automation. He outlines the "Big Three" pillars—process orchestration, automation, and intelligence—that are helping agencies streamline workflows and improve mission-critical operations. Chi Okonkwo, Director of the Agency Financial Systems Office at NASA, talks about how AI is changing the game in federal financial management. From enhancing fraud detection to improving financial modeling, Okonkwo explains how AI can bring greater accuracy and efficiency to finance operations. She also shares best practices for piloting AI initiatives and scaling them across the agency, with a focus on data precision and workforce collaboration. For more information and resources related to today’s discussions, visit the show page at fedgovtoday.com. 

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, sponsored by Cohesity. We explore key advancements in the Department of Defense’s Zero Trust strategy and AI compliance efforts. Les Call, Director of the Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office at the DoD, explains the new assessment tools and processes designed to make Zero Trust implementation more efficient. He outlines the shift from traditional Red Team assessments to automated, repeatable processes aimed at meeting the Pentagon’s 2027 Zero Trust goal. Craig Martell, CTO at Cohesity and former Chief Digital and AI Officer at the DoD, explores how agencies can balance AI compliance with practical execution. He addresses the challenges of managing AI errors and ensuring responsible AI innovation. Kevin Walsh, Director of IT and Cybersecurity at GAO, shares insights on how federal agencies are progressing in AI compliance, focusing on talent recruitment and governance.For more information and links to resources mentioned in the episode, visit the show page at fedgovtoday.com.

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, sponsored by the Women’s Center, we dive into key themes in healthcare data innovation and workforce resilience. Jesus Caban, Chief Data Scientist at the Program Executive Office for Defense Healthcare Management Systems (PEO DHMS), discusses the evolution of healthcare data sharing in the Department of Defense. He breaks down the challenges of normalizing data and explains how the DoD is working to standardize data across military health systems and with other healthcare organizations globally.In addition to healthcare data, the episode addresses the broader theme of workforce resilience. Rachna Krishnan, CEO of the Women’s Center, explores how resilience is increasingly tied to holistic wellness and community support. She explains how resilience in the workforce can lead to more productive, engaged employees, and how the lines between work and personal life continue to blur post-pandemic. Finally, the show celebrates government excellence by highlighting this year’s Service to America Medals (Sammies) and the stories behind the public servants recognized for their extraordinary contributions. Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, shares insights into how nominees are selected and the importance of recognizing outstanding federal employees.Read more and find links to additional resources on today’s show page at fedgovtoday.com.

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, we tackle three pressing issues shaping the future of government technology, policy, and data security. James Burd, Chief Privacy Officer at CISA, explains how privacy and cybersecurity are now inextricably linked. Discover why it’s no longer possible to protect one without the other, and what agencies are doing to manage these intertwined risks. As the State Department approaches the three-year mark of its modernization plan, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma details the progress. Learn how new bureaus, workforce initiatives, and cutting-edge technology are transforming U.S. diplomacy in the digital age. Nathan Manzotti, Director of the Data Analytics and AI Centers of Excellence at GSA, warns of a new challenge: synthetic content risk. He explains how AI-generated misinformation could compromise regulatory decisions and what steps are being taken to counteract this threat. For more information and resources related to today’s discussion, visit the show page at fedgovtoday.com.

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, sponsored by Maximus, we explore the evolving cyber threat landscape from the FBI's perspective, strategies for small businesses to team up with larger government contractors, and a radically different approach to IT modernization. The FBI’s Internet Crime Report reveals over 880,000 cybercrime complaints in 2023, with losses exceeding $12.5 billion. Deputy Director of the FBI, Paul Abate, shares insights from the Billington Cybersecurity Summit, discussing the rising cyber threat from nation-states like China, Russia, and Iran, as well as the FBI’s no-fail mission to prevent and respond to threats.Additionally, Larry Reagan from Maximus explains the benefits and challenges of small business teaming in government contracting, and Pavan Padugu, CTO of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, outlines his agency’s “radically different” approach to IT modernization aimed at transforming and streamlining processes for the future. Catch all the details in today’s episode, available on fedgovtoday.com.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Technology Strategy includes five key initiatives. One of them is to “build artificial intelligence, cloud and high performance computing into [the] GEOINT mainstream.” On today’s show, you’ll meet three leaders who are executing that part of the NGA strategy. Mark Munsell is Director of Data and Digital Innovation at NGA, and a recent guest on the Fed Gov Today TV show, “AI In Depth.” Rachael Martin is Maven program lead at NGA, and Anna Rubinstein is the agency’s ethical AI lead. You’ll learn what NGA is doing with AI now, and what’s ahead for their AI program.

This Fed Gov Today program is sponsored by Leidos.The Labor Department has a new acting Chief Information Officer. Gundeep Ahluwalia, the outgoing Labor CIO, was on Fed Gov Today TV this week, talking about his time at the agency. Lou Charlier is the Acting CIO at Labor. He tells you how the agency is approaching AI, and its zero trust cybersecurity efforts.The White House’s AI.gov features use cases for artificial intelligence all across government. The stories on the site detail how agencies determine which AI tools work for the mission challenges they’re trying to solve. Seth Abrams is chief technology officer for homeland and force protection at Leidos; Carolyn Chipman is their Vice President for Homeland and Force Protection Growth. They tell you how to analyze potential use cases, how to introduce AI products into your agency’s workflow, and what’s over the horizon for agencies across government.

The Thrift Savings Plan has seven recommendations from the Government Accountability Office about its two-year old record keeping system. Jennifer Franks of GAO told you about them on a recent edition of the Fed Gov Today podcast. Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, tells you how the TSP is responding now, and has already responded, to the recommendations GAO made, and to the needs of its participants.The newest Fed Gov Today T-V special is available on demand now. “Securing the Depths:  Addressing Workforce Challenges in the Submarine Industrial Base” discusses the Navy’s challenges in finding more than 100,000 people to build subs to defend the nation. The show includes speakers from the Navy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. EY sponsors the show, and you can watch it any time at FedGovToday.com and the Fed Gov Today YouTube channel.The Department of Health and Human Services has a new structure for its technology, cybersecurity, data, and AI work. The leader of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT will lead the new organization. Micky Tripathi, the new organization’s head, takes on the title of Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. He explains what the agency’s goals are with the new structure.

Twelve recommendations to strengthen the inspector general community are part of a new book from the former IG at the Departments of Justice and Defense. Glenn Fine was Inspector General at Justice from 2000 to 2011, and the acting IG at DoD from 2016 to 2020. His book is titled “Watchdogs: Inspectors General and the Battle for Honest and Accountable Government.” In this conversation, he'll tell you what's behind those recommendations, and what new IGs in government should know about the job that's ahead of them.

The Federal Acquisition Service at the General Services Administration has a unique opportunity to reshape itself, and that reshaping could happen through five ideas. That’s according to Larry Allen, President of Allen Federal Business Partners. He’s writing about those five ideas in his “Week Ahead” newsletter, and he explains his five ideas on today’s show.More than 35,000 professionals inside the Defense Department make up the pricing and contracting workforce. The composition of that workforce, and the skills they need to do the job, are changing as technology and other factors change. At the National Contract Management Association’s World Congress recently, John Tenaglia, Principal Director for Defense Pricing and Contracting at the Defense Department, tells me he looks at talent building in two different ways.The Thrift Savings Plan’s Converge record-keeping system is more than two years old now. The TSP encountered a number of problems with the deployment of the system starting in July of 2022. Jennifer Franks, Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity at the Government Accountability Office, reviewed the implementation of the system, and tells you what she found.

This podcast is sponsored by Presidio Federal and IBM.New guidance to overhaul FedRAMP is out from the Office of Management and Budget. OMB Director Shalanda Young writes the guidance “is responsive to developments in Federal cybersecurity and substantial changes to the commercial cloud marketplace that have occurred since the program was established.” One of the changes Director Young refers to there is the emergence of the multi-cloud model. Beau Houser, Chief Information Security Officer at the Census Bureau, describes his agency’s multi-cloud journey, and what it had to do to get where it’s gone.The cloud security that Beau Houser talked about building at Census, and in collaboration with other statistical agencies, contributes to another important executive branch priority. Agency leaders tell me just about all of the customer experience enhancement applications they use live in the cloud. Philip Carruthers, Cyber Domain Strategy Leader for IBM Public Sector, explains how to leverage the intersection of the cloud and CX.Customs and Border Protection is almost two years into its most recent IT strategic plan. The CIO at CBP, Sonny Bhagowalia, includes Core Enterprise Cloud Computing as one of the objectives of that strategic plan. Mark James, Executive Director of the Enterprise Cloud Services Division at CBP, tells you how CBP is building cloud into its IT strategy, and how it knows that the agency is executing that strategy successfully.

Presented by Booz AllenEvan Carey, Acting Director at the National Artificial Intelligence Institute, Department of Veterans Affairs discusses the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and its efforts to integrate AI into its operations to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of medical documentation and community care records. The VA is focusing on using AI to streamline the creation of documentation, particularly for encounters with veterans, and to manage the complex and often voluminous documentation received from community care providers. This involves developing a robust infrastructure to support AI technologies, including testing and integration phases. The discussion also explores how AI could lead to significant workflow redesigns, particularly in improving the handling of large data sets and ensuring data security and privacy. Emphasis is placed on the ongoing need for infrastructure that bridges the gap between technological advancements and practical clinical applications.Bryan Castle, Director of AI Engineering at Booz Allen provides insights into how organizations are approaching the adoption and scaling of AI technologies. He explains that while some organizations are beginning with small-scale, research-focused AI projects, others are establishing large, centralized AI functions. The discussion highlights the necessity of a multidisciplinary workforce to effectively implement and scale AI solutions, akin to the diverse expertise needed to develop and distribute a vaccine. Cassels also discusses the role of open-source frameworks in AI, noting that Booz Allen's open-source framework, Assemble, is designed to provide flexible, future-proof solutions that can adapt to new innovations and avoid vendor lock-in. This approach helps organizations overcome common challenges, such as operationalizing AI and transitioning from experimental to enterprise-level implementations.Alexis Bonnell, CIO and Director of Digital Capabilities Directorate at the Air Force Research Lab discusses the development and objectives of the NIPR GPT project, a generative AI initiative aimed at improving knowledge accessibility and reducing bureaucratic workload for military and intelligence personnel. The project began with the recognition that AI could transform the way knowledge is accessed and utilized, moving beyond traditional data organization methods. The initiative was driven by a volunteer team motivated by the potential to enhance information retrieval and make it easier for users to engage with critical knowledge. The discussion covers the practical aspects of implementing AI, including understanding user needs, developing infrastructure, and shaping policies to support the project’s goals.

The Defense Department’s new Fulcrum IT Advancement Strategy includes four lines of effort. One of them is focused on customer experience. Savan Kong is Senior Advisor in the User Experience Portfolio Management Office in the Office of the CIO at DoD. At TechNet Cyber recently, he tells me his office is driving what customer experience looks like across the department.One of the jobs of the Defense Department’s Joint Forces Headquarters DoD Information Network is what it calls “organizing the cyber battlespace”. Dell Foster is one of the DODIN leaders responsible for that. He’s Executive Director of JFHQ DODIN. At TechNet Cyber 2024, he tells me what that term means to him.The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health will look for solutions from small businesses through a new funding opportunity. It’s one way ARPA-H is trying to leverage special contracting authority the agency has. Ben Bryant is Deputy Director for the Business Innovation Division at ARPA-H. At the ACT-IAC Health I-T Summit recently, I asked him how that special contracting authority works.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT inside the Department of Health and Human Services has prepared the draft “2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan”. At the ACT-IAC Health Innovation Summit recently, Peter Karras, Deputy Director for the Strategic Planning and Coordination Division at ONC, tells me the strategy is both a progression and an evolution.ACT-IAC Vision 2030: the Federal Tech Revolution

No matter who wins the presidential election this November, a new round of political appointees is likely to make its way to Capitol Hill to seek the approval of the Senate. Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro (USMC ret.) will probably be involved in helping at least some of them prepare for confirmation. Arnold’s new book, "If Confirmed: An Insider’s View of the National Security Confirmation Process," is exactly what the title says it is. Arnold’s guided thousands of appointees through the confirmation process in his decades on the Hill, including a dozen Secretaries of Defense, and a dozen Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Arnold takes you through the confirmation process as only an insider could, with stories and advice on what you can expect if the next administration, or a future one, calls on you to serve.

The new Chief Artificial Intelligence Officers Council just passed the six-month mark of its existence. The White House Executive Order on AI specifies that every agency should designate a Chief AI Officer. Two leaders who’ve led AI efforts at agencies are writing about what agencies should look for in those CAIOs. Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan (USAF ret.) was the first Director of the Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (Project Maven) and the first Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center at DOD. Joel Meyer is President of Public Sector at Domino Data Lab. He’s former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Strategic Initiatives, where he helped stand up DHS’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force. Jack and Joel are writing about “The CAIO’s role in driving AI success across the federal government.” Joel askes in a separate piece, “Can the US government compete for the world’s best AI talent?” They join me for a deep dive into how the Federal government can find success in AI.

The Thrift Savings Plan is on a new glidepath. That path should help its members… that are investing for the long term. Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the TSP, tells what the path is, and how it will work.The Central Intelligence Agency is building a chatbot to help its people verify open-source information quickly. The agency’s working with other members of the intelligence community to create the bot. On the newest Fed Gov Today TV, I asked Randy Nixon, Director of the Open Source Enterprise at the Central Intelligence Agency, who he wants to use the bot, and what he wants them to do with it.

This Fed Gov Today podcast is sponsored by Microsoft.Today’s show is “Innovating on the Frontlines: Securing the Future with AI and Cybersecurity.” The evolving intersection of security and AI is the focus today. Leaders from the Department of Homeland Security, Microsoft, and the Department of Defense will tell you where their organizations are, and where they’re going on security and AI; and how they’ll get there. DHS has several pilot programs in place now to leverage generative AI. It will judge the success of those programs on several metrics. Chris Kraft, Deputy Chief Technology Officer for AI and Emerging Technology at DHS, tells you what those programs are, and how the agency will judge them.The acceleration of AI use is causing military and civilian agencies to rethink their cybersecurity strategies. The path to doing that is taking two tracks. Vishal Amin, General Manager of Defense Security at Microsoft, tells you how to merge security and AI for success now, and in the future.Cyber and AI professionals in government usually talk to me about their work from two perspectives: securing applications, and using AI for security. At the ACT-IAC Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference recently, Danielle Metz, Director of Information Management and Technology, and Deputy Chief Information Officer in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, tells me using and securing AI in the Pentagon is a work in progress.

This Fed Gov Today podcast is sponsored by Verizon.Today’s show is titled “Bridging Horizons: Innovating Customer Experience in Federal Civilian Services. The President’s Management Agenda and a series of executive orders have pushed agencies to transform the way they deal with agency customers. Leaders from FDA, VA, and Verizon dig into the challenges, opportunities, and technological innovations shaping the future of citizen service.The Food and Drug Administration is ready to take a leap… in its customer experience journey. Josh Lehman, Chief Customer Experience Officer and Director of the Office of Customer Experience at FDA, tells you how the agency approaches customer experience, and how it’s about to change that approach.The FDA’s forthcoming CX strategy is just the latest example of agencies taking a deliberate approach to the issue. But not every step in that journey goes smoothly. Brian Pancia, Senior Client Partner for Solutions for Public Sector and Digital Experience at Verizon, tells you about the struggles he sees with CX at agencies, and how to deal with them.Several pieces of policy and legislation put data at the center of the decision making process for agencies. Leaders say data is becoming one of their most important tools in improving customer experience. At the ACT-IAC Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference recently, Evan Albert, Director of Measurement and Data Analytics at the Department of Veterans Affairs, tells me how his agency uses data to measure and improve its performance for veterans.

NASA has a new technology leader to work in its digital transformation. Patrick Newbold is about five months into his tenure there, after joining the agency from the Social Security Administration. At the ACT-IAC Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference recently, he tells me digital transformation is about more than technology.The Defense Department is in year two of its latest Small Business Strategy. That strategy includes three objectives. The first one is unifying small-business related activities. Farooq Mitha is Director of DoD’s Office of Small Business Programs. At SOF Week 2024, he tells me he needs to coordinate efforts from everywhere in the department to achieve that objective.Federal government leaders now have several guiding documents on using and buying artificial intelligence. New guidance from the Office of Personnel Management covers the growing AI workforce, and the General Services Administration has released acquisition guidance on AI too. Rob King is the Chief Data Officer at the Energy Department. At the ACT-IAC Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference recently, he says no one can ignore the disruption AI is causing,especially generative AI.ACT-IAC Health Innovation SummitInnovation in Government from SOF Week

All the military services, and pretty much the whole federal government, says they’re looking for innovative solutions. The hang-up can be what “innovation” actually means to each organization. Lt. Col. David Brewer (USAF) is Total Force Integration Liaison in the Disruptive Technology Division at Air Force Futures Center 3 Integration and Innovation. At the Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference, he tells me why innovation isn’t a noun, and why he thinks people are using the term incorrectly.The Office of Federal Procurement Policy is fresh off the celebration of its 50th anniversary. One of the tools it’s provided to agencies is the Periodic Table of Acquisition Innovations. The table came out of a working group ACT-IAC’s Institute for Innovation put together. Jim Cook is Chair of the Institute. At the Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference, he tells me the institute is expanding its focus from just creating connections.The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is on what it calls a transformation journey, like a lot of other federal agencies. BFS is engaging its employees, and the federal organizations it serves, to guide that journey. Joe Gioeli is Deputy Commissioner of Transformation and Modernization at BFS. At the Emerging Tech and Innovation Conference, he tells me that journey began with what the agency calls a Future Readiness Assessment.ACT-IAC Health Innovation SummitInnovation in Government from Sea Air Space

A new artificial intelligence tech sprint is under way at the Department of Veterans Affairs. 152 teams are competing in the sprint, on two tracks. Donna Hill, Deputy Director of Operations at the National Artificial Intelligence Institute at the VA and manager of the AI Tech Sprint, tells you how the sprint works, and what the agency is looking for.The Defense Department is working with five international partners to co-fund research and development projects. That work is happening in the Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate. On the newest Fed Gov Today TV from SOF Week in Tampa, Roger Newberry, Director of the Directorate, tells me how those relationships work.Two of the F-35 program’s key metrics are how much the planes cost, and much the services can use them. According to new data from the Government Accountability Office, both those metrics are trending in the wrong direction. At agency headquarters recently, Diana Maurer, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO, tells me what she and her team found when they looked at both markers.ACT-IAC Emerging Technology & Innovation ConferenceInnovation in Government from Sea Air Space

Some records are falling in your Thrift Savings Plan. More federal employees are bringing money into the TSP than ever, and the Plan is breaking other records too. Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, tells you about some of the other records the TSP is breaking, and why the Board thinks those records are falling.Federal agencies have new guidance from the Office of Personnel Management on using generative artificial intelligence responsibly. The guidance includes nine general recommendations for employees and use-case examples with specific recommendations. On the latest edition of Fed Gov Today TV, Rob Shriver, Acting Director of OPM, explains how the agency hopes agencies will use the guidance.The Comptroller General of the United States is celebrating his 51st year in the Federal government. Gene Dodaro started at the Government Accountability Office in 1973 and became the Comptroller General in December of 2010. At GAO headquarters in Washington recently, I asked him what’s changed, and what’s stayed the same, since he started at the agency and since he took over as Comptroller General.Innovation in Government from Sea Air Space

This show is sponsored by EY.The federal government is beginning month eight of work on the White House’s plan for “Delivering a Digital First Public Experience.” That work, and work tech leaders from other countries are doing around the world, was the focus of an event in Washington recently called Government DX. Dozens of US federal government leaders joined their peers from around the world, on stage and off, to learn how to solve digital transformation challenges from each other. Clare Martorana, the Federal Chief Information Officer, and Harry Coker, the National Cyber Director, were on stage together at Government DX. They joined me exclusively after their session, and I asked Clare to tell a story about digital government that she had just told on stage.Government DX featured leaders from around the world talking about how they’re taking on some of the same problems US federal leaders are attacking. One of those is artificial intelligence. Amy Jones is US Public Sector AI Market lead for EY. At Government DX,  I asked her if government is getting better, worse, or neither at connecting its data to AI.

The Department of Energy says it’s planning for technology that might not exist for ten years or more. Given the leaps in tech in the past ten years, leaders say that planning requires great flexibility. Brian Epley is Deputy Chief Information Officer at the Energy Department. At the ACT-IAC Climate Change Summit recently, he tells me about the partnerships he wants to help maximize that flexibility.Agency Priority Goals in the President’s Management Agenda include several goals that cut across multiple agencies. Former government leaders say agencies still struggle with cross-agency collaboration. Mark Osler is senior advisor for Coastal Inundation and Resilience at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He tells me what he’s seen that works, and doesn’t work, between agencies.

The federal government is missing a “prime opportunity” to cut the size and cost of its real estate footprint, according to the Public Buildings Reform Board. The board finds the government is missing modernization opportunities too. Dan Mathews, a member of the Public Buildings Reform Board and former commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration, details what the board thinks that opportunity is, and how to capture it.The Military Health System is reimagining how it provides care to its customers. Its digital transformation is just one part of that makeover. Naomi Escoffrey is Chief Accelerator Officer and Innovation Program Manager at the Defense Health Agency. On the newest episode of Innovation in Government from HIMSS, she tells me other military health leaders around the world face some of the same challenges DHA does.Federal government leaders have a unique opportunity to learn from IT leaders from around the world, in person, this week. GovernmentDX is coming to the Reagan Building downtown on Thursday and Friday. Kevin Sorkin is Chief Executive Officer of Pendragon International Media, and Siobhan Bonita is moderator of the Global Government Forum. Kevin and Siobhan are hosting GovernmentDX. They tell me why federal government leaders, especially leaders outside the IT specialties, should come.

Today, a special program. Monday I hosted the Chiefs Panel, the opening event of the Sea Air Space conference. My thanks to the Navy League of the United States, the hosts of Sea Air Space, for inviting me to moderate the Chiefs Panel. You’ll hear that event on the program today, with the Chief of Naval Operations… Admiral Lisa Franchetti; the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Christopher Mahoney; the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Linda Fagan; and the Administrator of the Maritime Administration, Rear Admiral Ann Phillips (USN ret.)The first question I asked went to CNO Franchetti, about the new fiscal year 2025 budget request, and how it supports her recent strategy document, “America’s Warfighting Navy."Navy League YouTube channel

The President’s Management Agenda doesn’t include an explicit mention of shared services. But one leader says there are plenty of references that imply agencies should use shared services. Chad Clifford is Executive Director of the Grants Quality Service Management Office at the Department of Health and Human Services. At ACT-IAC’s Shared Services Summit at the Carahsoft Conference Center in Reston recently, he tells me why he thinks that is.Eight hubs around the country will be the building blocks of a “Microelectronics Commons.” Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks calls the Commons an effort to bridge what some observers call the “valley of death” between research-and-development and production. Dr. Dev Shenoy is Principal Director for Microelectronics and Director of the Defense Microelectronics Cross-Functional Team in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. On the new Fed Gov Today TV, he tells me what the Commons is, and what DoD wants to accomplish with it.Your biometric markers could be the path to access your retirement information. The Thrift Savings Plan is introducing biometric elements to its identity verification. Kim Weaver is Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. She tells me how it will work for participants, and what the TSP will have to do to make it work.Zero Trust In Depth special showACT-IAC Climate Change Summit infoThe Navy League’s Sea Air Space

Accenture Federal Services sponsors this edition of the Fed Gov Today podcast.The Defense Department says its Cyber Workforce Framework will be a key tool in developing the team that will implement the department’s cyber strategy. That framework comes out of a directive called 8140.01. Matthew Isnor is Program Lead for Cyberspace Workforce Development in the office of the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Defense. At West 2024 recently, he says the goal is to make the Defense Department an employer of choice, and he tells me how the department will do it.Human centered design is one of the key principles of the customer experience pillar of the President’s Management Agenda. A new principle, though, might take that concept one step further. Michael Gavin is Managing Director, and Lauren Oliver is Principal Director, for the experience practice at Accenture Federal Services. Together they explain how the concept of “human by design” works.The Defense Innovation Unit calls its next iteration “DIU 3.0.” That new iteration has eight lines of effort, according to DIU leadership. Capt. Alex Campbell (US Navy) is director of the maritime portfolio at DIU. At West 2024 recently, I ask him where DIU has come from, and what’s behind DIU 3.0.

The Navy League sponsors this edition of the Fed Gov Today podcast.The Office of Naval Intelligence is delivering three new cloud-based capabilities that it says will “revolutionize the delivery of critical ONI intelligence, data and development tools to the fleet.” Zeke Maldonado is Chief Information Officer and Director of Technology and Innovation at the Office of Naval Intelligence. At West 2024 recently, I ask him what the duties are that come with his extra title, and his role in delivering new capabilities.The Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Lisa Franchetti, lists warfighting, warfighters, and foundation as her three priorities in a document she calls “America’s Warfighting Navy.” She talked about each of those recently on Fed Gov Today TV. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Mike Stevens (USN ret.) is the Chief Executive Officer of the Navy League of the United States. He’s the 13th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. I ask him what message the fleet should take from having warfighters listed as one of CNO’s highest priorities.Sea Air Space detailsThe Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 12 is in its home port of Naval Station Norfolk now, after it returned from a deployment in January. During that deployment, the strike group welcomed a new Information Warfare Commander. Capt. Christi Montgomery (USN) moved to that job last summer from her post as Commander of the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. At West 2024 in San Diego recently… she tells me about her new areas of responsibility.Fed Gov Today Zero Trust In Depth webinar detailsACT-IAC Shared Services Summit details

The Transportation Security Administration is testing touchless ID at several airports across the country. The goal is to make clearing security easier and faster for travelers. Kristin Ruiz is Deputy Chief Information Officer at TSA. At the ACT-IAC Digital Transformation Summit recently, she tells me why the project is a good example of TSA’s approach to digital transformation.The Office of Personnel Management says its Workforce of the Future initiative “lays the foundation for the Federal government to be recognized as a model employer.” The newest element of that initiative is the Workforce of the Future Playbook. Kim Holden is Principal Deputy Associate Director for Workforce Policy and Innovation at OPM. On the newest edition of Fed Gov Today TV, I ask her why OPM chose the playbook format.The Agriculture Department is launching its first Digital Service Fellows program. The department says the program will “operate on a tour-of-service model where fellows are appointed for a two-year minimum term on a full-time basis, with the potential option to serve a total of four years.” Fatima Terry is Acting Executive Director and Deputy Director of Digital Services at the Department of Agriculture. At the ACT-IAC Digital Transformation Summit recently, she told me how the program will work.BAH DE24 detailsFed Gov Today Zero Trust In Depth webinar detailsACT-IAC Shared Services Summit details

Agency leaders tell me the digital transformation efforts they’re undertaking are focused on mission and not just better technology. One mission outcome that’s becoming - or already is - important to agencies is customer experience. Beth Martin is a digital services expert at the Office of Personnel Management. At the ACT-IAC Digital Transformation Summit recently, she tells me how OPM is merging customer experience and digital transformation, both tactically and strategically.The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, has a three-pronged priority strategy for his service. The Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Information, Lt. Gen. Matthew Glavy, says each of the three priorities intersects with his areas of responsibility. At West 2024 in San Diego recently, he tells me how.The Thrift Savings Plan lists twelve risks on the latest edition of its Enterprise Risk Management framework. The Thrift Board has plotted those dozen risks on an Enterprise Risk Profile Dashboard. Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains how the TSP analyzes and chooses risks to track, and what the data on the dashboard mean.BAH DE24 detailsFed Gov Today Zero Trust In Depth webinar detailsACT-IAC Shared Services Summit details

The Air Force Research Lab digital transformation strategy has four key components: faster research, streamlined transitions, better decisions, and low-friction business and operations. The leader of that transformation at AFRL says she sees five deadly sins for digital transformation. Alexis Bonnell is CIO and Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate at AFRL. At the ACT IAC Digital Transformation Summit recently, she tells me what those five deadly sins are.The Department of Homeland Security will bring more than 50 artificial intelligence experts into its new AI Corps this year. DHS says it will model the corps after the US Digital Service. On the newest Fed Gov Today TV, DHS CIO Eric Hysen tells me how the Corps will work, and his goals for it.The Labor Department is working with the General Services Administration and the US Postal Service on a new digital system that will give citizens options to verify their identification when they apply for unemployment benefits. It’s one example of the digital efforts the department is making. Akanksha Sharma is Director of Digital Transformation at the Department of Labor. At the ACT-IAC Digital Transformation Summit recently, she tells me there are some important ingredients for digital transformation.AFCEA TechNet Emergence detailsFed Gov Today Zero Trust In Depth webinar detailsACT-IAC Shared Services Summit details

“Government Can Deliver” is a rallying cry of technologists and program leaders all across government. It’s also the title of the new book from the former Chief Information Officer at the IRS and DHS, Richard Spires. My thanks to Richard for the invitation to MC a book signing event at the headquarters of the Partnership For Public Service yesterday. At that event, I ask Richard what prompted him to put the book together and what he wants people to learn from it.The new Chief of Naval Operations lists three items on her agenda of priorities. Admiral Lisa Franchetti calls that agenda “America’s Warfighting Navy”. On Fed Gov Today TV from West 2024 in San Diego last week, she tells me her goal for the document.The Chief Information Officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Doug Cossa, has five priorities for 2024. He told you about them on Fed Gov Today TV; you can watch that conversation on demand at FedGovToday.com. Tops on his list is modernizing the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. EP Mathew, Deputy CIO at DIA, tells me his role in modernizing JWICS, and the other four priorities of the DIA OCIO.AFCEA TechNet Emergence details

The General Services Administration is rolling out several artificial intelligence projects to make the jobs of its contracting officers easier. Several of those projects revolve around automating tasks. Jeff Koses is Senior Procurement Executive at GSA. At ACT IAC’s AI Procurement Forum at Carahsoft headquarters in Reston, he says his agency has a lot going on in the acquisition AI space.The kinds of AI acquisition projects Jeff talked about are  happening all over government. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy keeps tabs on all of those programs. Joanie Newhart is Associate Administrator of Acquisition Workforce Programs OFPP, at the Office of Management and Budget. At ACT IAC’s AI Procurement Forum at Carahsoft headquarters in Reston, she says OFPP is the connective tissue for agencies across government.AFCEA TechNet Emergence detailsRichard Spires book event registration

The artificial intelligence executive order the White House released in October calls for agencies to “improve A-I procurement.” Agencies may soon actually start to use AI to do that. Polly Hall is Senior Advisor to the Chief Procurement Officer at the Department of Homeland Security. At ACT IAC’s AI Procurement Forum recently at Carahsoft headquarters in Reston, she says the use cases for AI in acquisition are exploding.The questions at hand for AI in acquisition include both sides of the procurement coin. One side is how agencies will buy AI technology; the other is how agencies will add AI to their acquisition processes to buy everything. Karla Smith Jackson is Senior Procurement Executive, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, and Assistant Administrator for Procurement at NASA. At ACT IAC’s AI Procurement Forum recently at Carahsoft headquarters in Reston, she tells me what’s ahead for AI in acquisition at her agency.AFCEA TechNet Emergence detailsRichard Spires book event registration

The Department of Veterans Affairs lists three items among its highlights for 2023. The Chief Technology Officer, Charles Worthington, and CIO Kurt DelBene named VA’s Health and Benefits mobile app; improvements to VA.gov; and expanding the online Veterans Legacy Memorial program as those three items on the latest episode of the Office of Information and Technology’s monthly LinkedIn Live series, #TalkingTech. After the episode finished, I asked them both about several of the projects they talked about on the show.

The newest “Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy” from the Chief Digital and AI office at the Pentagon focuses on the convergence of those three elements. Experts believe the impact on warfighting will be profound. Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan (USAF ret.) is former director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. He’s writing about AI and geopolitics, and we discuss what he sees now, and in the future.CIOs across government are tracking a lot of different initiatives and priorities: zero trust, AI governance, cloud migration, digital modernization, and more. Energy CIO Ann Dunkin recently called those items the “ever expanding agenda.” On the latest Fed Gov Today TV, I ask her what she means by that.The fifth edition of the President’s Cup Cyber Competition is under way at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Michael Harpin is Competitions Section Chief at the Cyber Defense Education and Training Branch at CISA. He tells me who’s eligible, how they can practice, how they can participate, and what’s in it for CISA - and the contestants.ACT-IAC event: Making AI Work For Us

The Air Force will apply data to determine readiness of pilots. That’s one of a number of areas the Air Force will apply data… to measure its success. Colt Whittall is Founder and CEO of BRAVO17, and former Chief Experience Officer of the Air Force. He linked to an article on LinkedIn titled “Readiness Redefined But Not Measured” where the author, Matthew Ross, writes about the pilot readiness data. I ask Colt what resonated with him in that article, and how organizations in government can measure for success in various situations.The State Department is moving its top-secret network to the cloud. That move is happening in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at State. Jimmy Hall, Jr. is the Chief Information Officer for the Bureau. At DODIIS 2023, he tells me about the mission of the Bureau, and how the cloud move will work.“Innovation In Government: DODIIS” TV show details

A new National Defense Industrial Strategy is coming from the Pentagon any day now. The model to operationalize that strategy already exists in the MRAP story, according to Jerry McGinn. He’s Executive Director of the Baroni Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, and former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base. He’s writing about it in Breaking Defense, and tells you why the MRAP story is worth watching.The Chief Information Officer of the Defense Department, John Sherman, is launching a new user experience initiative across the department. It’s part of the response to the “Fix Our Computers” complaints from DOD employees. At DODIIS 2023, I asked John Sherman how the initiative will work, and what he wants to accomplish.A new Cyber Workforce Development Institute is coming from the Office of the National Cyber Director. The White House says ONCD is working with agencies to prepare them for what’s coming. Jordan Burris is Vice President for Public Sector Strategy at Socure, and former Chief of Staff in the Office of the Federal Chief Information Officer. I ask him what he sees ahead for building the federal cyber workforce.“Innovation In Government: DODIIS” TV show details

Some of the numbers for your TSP will change in 2024, and some will stay the same. And, the TSP is digging into a social science. Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, tells you what’s changing, and how the TSP is trying to get its message across better with social science.Civilian agencies in the federal government have thousands of use cases for artificial intelligence. Those use cases are starting to yield results for those agencies. Kevin Walsh, Director of the Information Technology and Cybersecurity Team at the Government Accountability Office, details what his team found when they inventoried those use cases.“Innovation In Government: DODIIS” TV show details

Federal agencies have a roadmap now for delivering digital-first experiences to the customers they serve. The guidance the Office of Management and Budget calls “Delivering a Digital-First Public Experience” can be a roadmap for the vendor community too, according to Clare Martorana, the Chief Information Officer of the United States. On Fed Gov Today TV recently, I asked her what she meant by that.You heard Clare reference the roll-out of the digital-first guidance, and her presentation about it at ACT-IAC’s Executive Leadership Conference 2023 in our TV conversation. Today’s podcast includes some highlights of that presentation, starting with her view of the relationship between government and industry. Right after her presentation at ELC, I joined her on stage for a fireside chat about the digital first guidance.

This podcast is sponsored by SAP Concur.The Chief Information Officer of the Navy, Jane Rathbun, says her service’s enterprise work platform, Flank Speed, will be the foundation of the Navy’s zero trust effort. The Navy stood up Flank Speed when the pandemic forced almost the entire service into remote work. Darren Turner, chief technologist for the Department of Navy Chief Technology Office, tells you how the Navy stood up Flank Speed, and where the program will go in the future.Enterprise platforms like Flank Speed are just one type of transformation agencies are undertaking now. Almost every agency has a legacy system of some kind that’s ripe for modernization. Marques Tibbs-Brewer, Vice President of Federal Government Operations for SAP Concur, reveals three important aspects of transformation that aren’t technological.The Department of Veterans Affairs is ready for the next phase of its transition to a new financial management system. That system features nine functions across the entire agency. Terry Riffel, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial Management Business Transformation, at the Financial Management Business Transformation Service at the Department of Veterans Affairs, explains why customization is out of the question in the FMBT modernization process.

A change may be coming to your Thrift Savings Plan account. The TSP will use a new benchmark for the International Fund.  Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains what the change means for participants, and what differences, if any, you’ll see in your account.A theoretical shift is under way at the Patent and Trademark Office. That shift is turning into real-life examples now. On the newest edition of Fed Gov Today TV, Jamie Holcombe, the Chief Information Officer at the Patent and Trademark Office, explains the concept behind the shift from projects to products.Emergency managers across the federal government have a new opportunity to learn from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and from each other. FEMA’s taking entries for its Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship. Deanne Criswell, the Administrator of FEMA, details the program, and what she wants federal leaders from all agencies to get out of it.AFCEA DC Winter Gala info