Government Matters: Recent Episodes
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Government Matters is the only television newscast focused on the business of government. Host Mimi Geerges recaps the top federal headlines and conducts thought-provoking interviews on tech, security, defense, workforce and industry issues. Since its launch in August of 2013, Government Matters has hosted some of the top minds in the federal community -- from the White House, Congress, Fortune 500 companies, journalism and the non-profit sector.
Protecting the US from terror attacks
- Christine Abizaid, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, discusses combatting terrorist threats to the U.S.
Bringing new technology to the DHS
- Melissa Oh, managing director of the Silicon Valley Innovation Program at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses partnering with start-ups to bring new technology to the DHS
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Who’s vulnerable to human trafficking?
Kari Johnstone, acting director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. Department of State, discusses how the government is working on combatting human trafficking in the U.S. and globally.
Protecting the environment keeps Americans safe
Chris Frey, assistant administrator for research and development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discusses how the agency is working to protect humans and the environment.
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‘Meeting people where they are’ is the key to increasing innovation, director of the USPTO says
Kathi Vidal, the undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), discusses increasing women entrepreneurship and the importance of protecting intellectual property.
Vets must ‘create their own career path’ in the federal government
Lloyd Calderon, chair of the Interagency Veterans Advisory Council, discusses the status of veterans in the federal workforce
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NASA’s Artemis program is inspiring the next generation
NASA deputy administrator Pam Melroy discusses the goals of the Artemis 1 mission, future NASA projects and inspiring the next generation of scientists
Addressing security risks with smart devices
Brandon Pugh, resident senior fellow at the R Street Institute, discusses security and privacy risks with consumer smart devices and how to better inform consumers of these risks.
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Modernization, innovation and retention – US Marine Corps is making changes
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Troy Black discusses upcoming changes in the Marine Corps such as modernizing personnel systems, new training techniques, retention goals and the Marine Innovation Unit
Developing direct air capture technology
Pamela Chu, researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, describes NIST’s efforts to improve direct air capture technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
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Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Rochelle Walensky discusses the future of the CDC, RSV and flu season and racism as a health threat
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Secretary of the VA on PACT Act, improving VA services
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough discusses the implementation of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act and other improvements to VA health services.
What’s new with federal benefits in 2023
Kevin Moss, director of marketing at Checkbook Health, discusses the upcoming changes to federal employees’ benefits
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Adding regulations to cryptocurrency
Josephine Wolff, associate professor of cybersecurity policy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, discusses what regulating cryptocurrency in the U.S. could look like
Opposition efforts from the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan against the Taliban
Ali Nazary, head of foreign relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan, explains how the organization is fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan
Congress reauthorizes the SBIR program for three more years
Michael Crosby, CEO of Leadership Connect, discusses funding for the Small Business Innovation Research program
US Fish and Wildlife Service conservation projects
Martha Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, discusses the agency’s current projects for conservation efforts
National Guard to stay at US-Mexico border
Theresa Cardinal Brown, managing director of immigration and cross-border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, explains the roles of National Guard troops at the U.S.-Mexico border
Ukraine to be topic at Halifax International Security Forum
Peter Van Praagh, president of the Halifax Security Forum, speaks about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and other topics of discussion at this year’s Halifax International Security Forum.
Barriers to receiving federal aid after natural disasters
Maddie Sloan, director of the Disaster Recovery and Fair Housing project at Texas Appleseed, explores the barriers survivors of natural disasters face when trying to receive federal aid
Global progress on climate change
Harry Stevens, graphics reporter at the Washington Post, discusses global climate change initiatives
Federal government facing leadership challenges
Max Stier, president and CEO of Partnership for Public Service, discusses recruiting and retaining federal employees
Dr. Anthony Fauci reflects on his 54 years of public service
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reflects on his 54 years of service, including his work on the HIV/AIDS crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic
China named as biggest threat to US in latest National Defense Strategy
Jim Mitre, director of the International Security and Defense Policy Program at the RAND Corporation, discusses the threats of China and Russia in the 2022 National Defense Strategy
State Department’s plan to decrease illegal weapons diversion in Ukraine
Elias Yousif, research analyst for the Conventional Defense Program at the Stimson Center, discusses the State Department’s new plan to prevent illegal weapons diversion
What Xi Jinping’s third term means for the US
Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses President Xi’s third term, possible strategic shifts, the threat of Chinese space activity and potential conflict with Taiwan
New President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Crosby Kemper, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, explains the importance of the arts and humanities to democracy in the U.S. and discusses a recent executive order reestablishing a committee on this topic
Identifying and recovering missing service member remains
Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, discusses his agency’s work of finding and recovering American service members who were taken as prisoners of war or were missing in action in past conflicts
The Pentagon’s counter-drone strategy
Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at CSIS, discusses Russian nuclear exercises, Iranian drones in Ukraine, air defense and the Pentagon’s strategy
NASA changes trajectory of asteroid
Lindley Johnson, lead program executive for NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, discusses NASA’s successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) and initial findings
TSA releases new Innovation Doctrine
Meg King, executive director for strategy, policy coordination and innovation at TSA, describes the agency’s new Innovation Doctrine to empower its workforce and stay ahead of emerging security threats
Transforming government technology
Raylene Yung, Technology Modernization Fund executive director at GSA, discusses major new investments to support tech modernization at agencies
The following program is sponsored by the Association of the United States Army
Christine Wormuth, secretary of the U.S. Army, discusses recruitment and retention, inflation, military housing improvements, mental health, diversity and inclusion, the war in Ukraine, weapons development, international collaboration, modernization and the future of the Army
The following program is sponsored by the Association of the United States Army
Military logistics in the Indo-Pacific region
Brig. Gen. Jered P. Helwig, commanding general of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command in the U.S. Army, discusses the Army’s role in the Indo-Pacific, supply and logistics strategy and international collaboration
Optimizing Army acquisition and investing in technology
Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, discusses the supply of weapons to Ukraine, acquisition and supply chain efficiency, JADC2 and digital transformation
The following program is sponsored by the Association of the United States Army
Interview with the chief of the Norwegian Army
Maj. Gen. Lars Lervik, chief of the Norwegian Army, discusses integration with the U.S. military, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, defense spending increases, NATO and the Arctic
Interview with the commanders of the Swedish and Finnish Armies
Maj. Gen. Karl Engelbrektson, commander of the Swedish Army, and Lt. Gen. Pasi Välimäki, commander of the Finnish Army, discuss the impact their countries’ accession to NATO would have, collaboration with the U.S., Baltic Sea security and the Russia-Ukraine war
Closing the digital divide
Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, discusses the digital divide and funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for high-speed broadband
US munitions stockpiles
Maj. Gen. John Ferrari (U.S. Army, ret.), senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the war in Ukraine and the impact of U.S. assistance on American munition stockpiles
Iran supplies Russia with drones
Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute, discusses Iran’s supply of drones to Russia and potential sanctions from the U.S. and EU
Ensuring election systems security
Thomas Hicks, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, discusses what his organization is doing to ensure the security of election systems and the safety of election officials as midterms approach
Preventing international child abductions and supporting adoptions
Michelle Bernier-Toth, special advisor for children’s issues at the Office of Children’s Issues, explains how her office prevents international child abductions, supports international adoptions and works with other countries on these efforts
US sending $625 million in weapons to Ukraine
Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses the details of new weapons shipments to Ukraine, other requests from Ukraine and attacks on the Nord Stream undersea pipeline
USPS sorting and delivery consolidation plan
Ivan Butts, president of the National Association of Postal Supervisors, discusses how the U.S. Postal Service’s plans to consolidate mail processing operations across the country could impact postal workers and supervisors
Accelerating US biotechnology
Theresa Good, division director for NSF’s Directorate for Biological Sciences, discusses a new executive order for advancing biotechnology and biomanufacturing and the National Science Foundation’s efforts in this area
Writing the Space Force’s service song
Jamie Teachenor, songwriter of Space Force’s ‘Semper Supra,’ discusses his process of composing the Space Force’s new, official service song that was unveiled Sept. 20
Initiatives of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Todd Robinson, assistant secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the State Department, discusses the mission of his bureau and its efforts to combat the international drug trade, support Ukraine and train law enforcement officials
Copyright Claims Board launched in July
Suzy Wilson, general counsel and associate register of copyrights at the U.S. Copyright Office, discusses the new claims board to improve accessibility of the copyright system to everyone in the U.S.
Initiatives of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Todd Robinson, assistant secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the State Department, discusses the mission of his bureau and its efforts to combat the international drug trade, support Ukraine and train law enforcement officials
Copyright Claims Board launched in July
Suzy Wilson, general counsel and associate register of copyrights at the U.S. Copyright Office, discusses the new claims board to improve accessibility of the copyright system to everyone in the U.S.
Negative impacts of continuing resolutions
Elaine McCusker, former deputy under secretary of defense (comptroller) and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, explains how operating the government under a continuing resolution negatively impacts the country
Transforming foodborne illness prevention
Steven Musser, deputy center director for scientific operations at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the FDA, discusses the use of whole genome sequencing to greatly improve the way foodborne illnesses are investigated and prevented
Development of brain-controlled technology
Karen Howard, director of science, technology assessment and analytics at the Government Accountability Office, discusses the applications for brain-computer interfaces along with ethical and security concerns
US lifts sanctions to increase internet access in Iran
Jennifer Brody, U.S. Policy and Advocacy Manager at Access Now, discusses protests in Iran and internet blackouts amid historic unrest as well as U.S. government assistance
Revitalizing US Foreign Service
Michael Polt, Ambassador-in-Residence at Arizona State University, details a new set of blueprints that he helped develop for revitalizing and modernizing the U.S. diplomatic service
US-Pacific Island Country Summit
Michael Walsh, affiliate at the Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University, discusses the summit in Washington with leaders from Pacific Island nations and the strategic importance of the region
Advancing artificial intelligence at NIH
Grace Peng, director at NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, discusses the new Bridge to Artificial Intelligence (Bridge2AI) program to transform the use of data and improve patient outcomes
Risks of ending SBIR program
Charles Wessner, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains the benefits of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the risks of ending it and China’s involvement
US assistance to Pakistan after historic floods
Sarah Charles, assistant to the administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, describes the impact of historic flooding in Pakistan, the food shortage it has led to and U.S. assistance
Impacts of potential Schedule F
Richard Loeb, senior policy counsel at the American Federation of Government Employees, discusses Schedule F and the Preventing a Patronage System Act
VA Office of Women’s Health
Dr. Patricia Hayes, chief officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Women’s Health, discusses the mission of her office and the increasing number of women veterans
US and UK ‘special relationship’
Sam Edwards, associate professor at Manchester Metropolitan University, discusses changes in the diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and U.K. in light of a new prime minister and new monarch
Putin-Xi meeting in Uzbekistan
Elizabeth Wishnick, senior research scientist at CNA, discusses the recent meeting between Putin and Xi and China’s level of support for Russia’s war in Ukraine
China announces discovery of lunar mineral
Arthur Herman, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses whether the United States should be concerned about a recent claim from China and what the U.S. should do to strengthen its space program
Maintaining US global leadership
Jennifer Buss, CEO of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, discusses recommendations for maintaining global leadership through investments in critical technologies
New funding for Environmental Protection Agency
Janet McCabe, deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, discusses major investments in the country’s water infrastructure, pollution cleanup, modernized school buses and clean energy programs
Upcoming AUSA annual meeting and exposition
Brig. Gen. Jack Haley (Ret.), vice president for membership and meetings for the Association of the U.S. Army, describes what will be new at this year’s AUSA event and explains the organization’s mission
Ukraine takes back territory
Mark Montgomery, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, analyzes recent developments in Russia’s war on Ukraine, likely next moves from Putin and recommendations for the United States
Incentivizing military service
Katherine Kuzminski, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, discusses historic incentives the Navy and Air Force are now offering to new recruits
Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program
Lisa Rein, reporter for the Washington Post, explains what she found when investigating problems with a program to help veterans get jobs
DIA’s Challenges to Security in Space 2022 report findings
John Huth, defense intelligence officer for space and counterspace at the Defense Intelligence Agency, details some of the main findings of a report about threats to U.S. space capabilities from Russia, China and other adversaries
Operationalizing US-Pacific partnerships
Keoki Jackson, senior vice president and general manager for MITRE National Security, discusses the need for the U.S. to reinvigorate alliances with Pacific nations and use whole-of-nation thinking to counter China
Developing direct air capture technology
Pamela Chu, researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, describes NIST’s efforts to improve direct air capture technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Possibility of reviving the Iran nuclear deal
Jonathan Lord, director of the Middle East Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses Iran’s work towards developing a nuclear weapon and the possibility of reviving the nuclear deal
Deadly rise of fentanyl in the United States
David Asher, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses the dangers of Mexican drug cartels distributing fentanyl across the U.S. as well as the government’s attention on this issue
Calculating the social cost of carbon
Kevin Rennert, fellow at Resources for the Future, discusses a new study analyzing the societal costs of carbon dioxide and recommendations for federal government response
Interview with Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan
Admiral Linda Fagan, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, discusses workforce transformation, recruitment, mental health, modernization, climate change, the upcoming four-year strategy and diversity
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense
Ambika Bumb, deputy executive director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, discusses the current landscape of biological threats, government pandemic preparedness efforts and her organization’s recommendations
Mission of Veterans Experience Office
Barbara Morton, deputy chief veterans experience officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses how her office has transformed customer experience for veterans since it was established in 2015
Improving federal customer experience and service
Martha Dorris, former deputy associate administrator for GSA’s Office of Citizen Services, discusses government agencies’ progress on implementing the president’s customer experience executive order and the most important factors for success
Mission and history of ARPA-E
Jennifer Gerbi, acting director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for the Department of Energy (ARPA-E), discusses the process of evaluating and funding high-risk, high-reward energy projects and getting the technologies to market
DoD’s civilian harm reduction plan
Todd Huntley, director of the National Security Law Program at Georgetown University Law Center and former Judge Advocate General, discusses the Defense Department’s new Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan and implementation challenges
Peace Corps volunteers return to service
Carol Spahn, chief executive officer of the Peace Corps, provides an update as her organization invites volunteers back to serve communities after a pause due to the pandemic
Permitting Council’s $350 million budget increase
Christine Harada, executive director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, discusses how the council will use new funding from the Inflation Reduction Act for infrastructure projects
War in Ukraine surpasses the six-month mark
Keith Darden, associate professor in the School of International Service at American University, provides updates about the Russia-Ukraine war, assistance from the United States and nuclear concerns
Cost of climate change for national parks
Ray Sauvajot, associate director for natural resource stewardship and science at the National Park Service, discusses efforts to understand and respond to the effects of climate change on national parks
Challenges of the Arctic Commitment Act
Ryan Burke, professor of military and strategic studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy, explains how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration can help the military establish a stronger presence in the Arctic
New strategy towards sub-Saharan Africa
Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, senior fellow and director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses Secretary of State Blinken’s recent trip to Africa and the new U.S. strategy for engaging with sub-Saharan Africa
Defense Department focus on emerging technology
Barbara McQuiston, deputy chief technology officer for science and technology at the Defense Department, describes her team’s role in developing defense technology and advancing emerging opportunities in biotechnology, quantum science, advanced materials and future G
Young federal employees leaving at higher rates
Oma Seddiq, politics reporter for Insider, analyzes new research on attrition rates in the federal government and explains why younger employees are leaving at higher rates than older workers
Reducing sexual assault and suicide in the Army
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston discusses data on sexual harassment and assault and suicide among soldiers and initiatives the Army has put in place to get those numbers to zero
Addressing the threat posed by quantum computers
Edward Parker, physical scientist at the RAND Corporation, explains the major security threat posed by future quantum computers and steps the government is taking to prepare
Simulating US-China conflict over Taiwan
Mark Cancian (Colonel, USMCR, ret.), senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses wargames hosted by CSIS to simulate what would happen if the U.S. responded to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan
Naval investment in robotic ships
Bryan Clark, senior fellow and director at the Hudson Institute, discusses how unmanned ships and aircraft can benefit the Navy and where the service is falling short in this area
CHIPS and Science Act funding
Mitch Ambrose, science policy writer for the American Institute of Physics, details the kinds of programs the CHIPS and Science Act money will go towards and concerns within the research community about congressional appropriation
NICHD led multiple Covid-19 studies
Dr. Diana Bianchi, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health, discusses research her organization conducted about the effects of Covid-19 and the vaccine on various populations
Impact of hydrofluorocarbons on the environment
Cindy Newberg, Stratospheric Protection Division director at the Environmental Protection Agency, describes efforts underway to reduce HFC production as well as progress the U.S. has made with phasing out other harmful chemicals since the 1990s
Mission of Voice of America
Yolanda López, acting director of Voice of America, discusses practicing public-service journalism, getting news to an international audience and addressing employee concerns within the organization
China’s reaction to Pelosi’s Taiwan trip
Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center, discusses the implications of China’s live-fire missile drills around Taiwan and recommendations for U.S. response
Future of Russia’s space program
Kaitlyn Johnson, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, analyzes Russia’s threats to exit the International Space Station and the potential impacts on the United States and other partners
Improving semiconductor supply chain
Candice Wright, director at the Government Accountability Office, discusses potential consequences of a semiconductor shortage and a recent report about the CHIPS Act, aimed at increasing production
Ayman al-Zawahiri’s role in al-Qaeda
Bill Roggio, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explains the significance of the U.S. drone strike on the terrorist leader Ayman al-Zawahiri
Global food security crisis
Chris Barrett, professor of agriculture and economics at Cornell University, discusses the impacts of global food price increases and potential solutions
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act projects
Eugene Mulero, senior congressional reporter at Transport Topics, discusses progress made on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the process of funding and implementing projects
Preparing for future climate disasters
Alice Hill, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses President Biden’s climate agenda and recommendations with respect to climate change
Revitalizing the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund
Rupa Bhattacharyya, former special master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund at the Department of Justice, discusses managing and successfully addressing issues with the fund
Air Force Gaming: Connecting Airmen and Guardians
Capt. Zach “ZB” Baumann, co-founder of Air Force Gaming, describes what sparked the creation of Air Force Gaming and how the initiative is helping connect people across the Air Force
TSA rolling out new technology
Darby LaJoye, executive assistant administrator for security operations at the Transporation Security Administration, discusses new technology that will improve security and reduce wait times at airports, as well as an uptick in firearms, TSA agent pay and cybersecurity threats
Inside the Pentagon on January 6
David Levinthal, deputy editor at Insider, discusses newly obtained information revealing what the Defense Department knew before the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and how it responded as the event unfolded
Mission of US Digital Corps
David Zvenyach, director of GSA’s Technology Transformation Services, discusses the work of the first U.S. Digital Corps fellows and the goal of recruiting early-career talent into government
Use of drones in Russia-Ukraine war
Samuel Bendett, adviser with CNA’s Strategy, Policy, Plans and Programs Center and Russia Studies Program, analyzes Russia’s use of unmanned aerial vehicles in Ukraine and Putin’s trip to Iran
Regulating the tobacco industry
Mitchell Zeller, former director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the FDA and finalist for a Service to America Medal, discusses progress on reducing smoking rates in the U.S. and work that still needs to be done
National Science Foundation mission and initiatives
Sethuraman Panchanathan, National Science Foundation director, discusses investments in high-risk ideas, advancement of science and technology, progress in STEM education and a new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
Addressing Covid-19 healthcare inequity
Suma Nair, director of the Office of Quality Improvement at the Health Resources and Services Administration, describes leading an effort to get tests, vaccines and treatments to communities with limited access to them early in the Covid-19 pandemic
NSA’s work to prevent and eradicate cyber threats
Rob Joyce, director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, discusses NSA’s collaboration with other agencies and countries to combat cybersecurity threats from individual and state actors
Monkeypox testing and vaccines
Thomas Bollyky, director of the global health program at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the differences between monkeypox and Covid-19, the threat the virus poses and the status of testing and vaccines in the United States and other countries
Principles of ethical artificial intelligence
Jane Pinelis, chief of AI assurance at the Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, discusses the principles of responsible AI in a newly released strategy from DoD
USAID opening doors for kids with disabilities
Josh Josa, inclusive education specialist at USAID, discusses his work in helping improve education access for kids with disabilities in countries around the world
Immigration and Customs Enforcement oversight
Rebecca Gambler, director at the Government Accountability Office, discusses new recommendations regarding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Alternatives to Detention program
Mission of U.S. Army North
Lt. Gen. John Evans, commanding general of U.S. Army North, describes the role of his command in responding to hurricanes, wildfires and pandemics and highlights major accomplishments
Federally funded brain research
John Ngai, director of the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative, discusses how his team is working to revolutionize the scientific community’s understanding of the brain in health and disease to move further towards cures
President’s trip to Saudi Arabia
Steven Cook, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, previews President Biden’s upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia centering around oil and security
Nationwide paper shortage complicating midterm elections
Matt Weil, director of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Elections Project, discusses a nationwide paper shortage and concerns about obtaining election materials in time for midterms
Government agents seize millions in cryptocurrency
Kyle Armstrong, former FBI special agent, discusses how his team shut down an Islamic State scheme to raise money through a fraudulent face mask website early in the pandemic
Recruitment and retention in federal agencies
Kiran Ahuja, director of the Office of Personnel Management, reviews what OPM has accomplished in the past year and what it is focusing on now with hiring, employee pay and support of agencies
Assessing damage to Capitol grounds after attack
Jim Kaufmann, director of the Capitol Grounds and Arboretum and finalist for a Service to America Medal, describes what it was like to restore the grounds after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack
How would China enact naval blockade of Taiwan?
Bradley Martin, director and senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, discusses the possibility for China to put in place a naval blockade of Taiwan, potential response and recommendations for the U.S.
Iran may be preparing rocket launch
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses the potential for an Iranian rocket launch and the military significance of this move
Leading vaccine rollout effort
Anita Patel, former senior advisor for pandemic preparedness and response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, discusses managing the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, addressing challenges and working with the private sector
Collaboration between Space Force and UK Space Command
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, commander of UK Space Command, discusses the founding of the command, accomplishments so far and partnership with the U.S. Space Force
US-Russia relations on board space station
Zhanna Malekos Smith, senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and assistant professor at West Point, discusses how Russia’s war on Ukraine has impacted relations with Americans on board the International Space Station
Deterring Chinese attack on Taiwan
Michael O’Hanlon, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, discusses the “dual deterrence” policy and the likelihood that the United States would be able to defend Taiwan from China
China set to launch third aircraft carrier
Warren Strobel, national security reporter for The Wall Street Journal, provides updates about satellite imagery of China’s new aircraft carrier and explains the significance
Shoring up strategic mineral stockpile
Bryant Harris, Congress reporter for Defense News, discusses the drastically dwindling National Defense Stockpile and steps the government is taking to bolster it
Department of the Navy’s plan for climate action
Meredith Berger, assistant secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment, discusses the Department of the Navy’s new “Climate Action 2030” strategy and initiatives for extreme weather preparation and reduction of emissions
Protecting networks and critical infrastructure
Brandon Wales, executive director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, describes what it was like to step in as acting director of CISA after the 2020 presidential election and deal with major cyber and ransomware attacks
Top priorities of the Army chief of staff
Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the U.S. Army, discusses his biggest priorities, challenges and other topics including modernization, the Russia-Ukraine war, hypersonic weapons, budget, recruitment and clean energy
Taking down pandemic relief criminals
Roy Dotson, assistant special agent in charge at the U.S. Secret Service, discusses his team’s work in successfully investigating and combating fraud related to Covid-19 relief funds
Recent North Korean missile tests
Soo Kim, policy analyst at RAND Corporation and former analyst at the CIA, discusses the significance of North Korea’s recent missile test fires and the dynamic between North Korea, South Korea and the United States
Diversity of Capitol Hill staffers
LaShonda Brenson, senior researcher at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, breaks down research into the diversity of senior staff in Congress and recommendations for institutional change
Chinese reaction to Biden’s Asia trip
Phelim Kine, D.C.-based China correspondent for Politico, discusses whether the president’s recent trip to Asia was successful in rallying Asian allies against China’s increasing influence
Understanding collapse of Afghan security forces
Jonathan Schroden, director of the Countering Threats and Challenges Program at CNA, analyzes the factors leading to the collapse of the Afghan security forces and a recent report from the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction
Protecting sensitive defense data
Jennifer Franks, director of information technology and cybersecurity at the Government Accountability Office, discusses her office’s review of the cybersecurity of DoD computer systems with sensitive and unclassified data
Inside EUCOM center delivering weapons to Ukraine
Jack Detsch, Pentagon and national security reporter for Foreign Policy, describes the International Donor Coordination Center in Germany where American and British officials are working to get weapons to Ukrainians
Improving American military readiness
LTG David Deptula (Ret.), dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses his concern that the United States is heading down a similar path as Russia with respect to military capabilities
Technology needed for drone deliveries
Lt. Col. Mark Jacobsen, professor of strategy and security studies at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, explains how ready the U.S. Defense Department is to deliver humanitarian aid by drone in war zones
Managing the $9 billion space telescope project
Gregory Robinson, program director for the James Webb Space Telescope at NASA, discusses what the James Webb Space Telescope will enable and how he improved the management of the program
Army acquisition process improvement and modernization
Young Bang, principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology for the U.S. Army, discusses accelerating the acquisition timeline, replenishing stock for weapons sent to Ukraine, upskilling the workforce and improving recruitment
Mission of US Army space and missile defense
LTG Daniel Karbler, commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, discusses Army space operations and the evolving importance of space to warfighting
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mohammed Badal, chief of the Contingency Construction and Operational Energy Branch in the U.S. Army, shares his story of starting out in the Army as an immigrant and progressing in his career to his current position
Evacuating 120,000 people from Afghanistan
Hila Hanif, director of Afghanistan strategy and policy at the Defense Department, and Holly Herrera, chief of domestic resettlement at the State Department, recount their experiences helping coordinate the evacuation and resettlement of thousands of Afghan refugees last summer
Leading Covid-19 treatment research at NIH
Dr. H. Clifford Lane, clinical director at NIAID at NIH, discusses Covid treatment guideline development and his work combating AIDS and Ebola
Learning from Russia’s logistics failures
Mike Watson, associate director of the Center for the Future of Liberal Society at the Hudson Institute, discusses how prepared the United States is for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific and what the Defense Department can do now
Wargaming Chinese attack on Taiwan
Becca Wasser, fellow for the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security and co-lead of its Gaming Lab, describes lessons and recommendations for the Pentagon from an operational wargame simulating a Chinese attack on Taiwan in 2027
Possible impasse on Covid funding
Adam Cancryn, healthcare reporter for Politico Pro, explains the opposing positions of Congress and the White House on Covid-19 response funding going forward and contingency planning that is currently underway
Christopher Scolese, director of the NRO, discusses the office’s unique mission and history, major space threats, use of commercial satellite imagery, international collaboration, climate monitoring, hiring, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine
Biden authorizes troop deployment to Somalia
Bill Roggio, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and editor of FDD’s Long War Journal, discusses the threat posed by the Somali terror group al-Shabab and President Biden’s decision to deploy hundreds of troops to the country
Reorganizing NATO for better deterrence
Bruce Ackerman, professor of law and political science at Yale University, discusses the idea of raising a European army and revising the NATO treaty in order to better deter Putin’s aggression
Improving asylum processing procedures
Theresa Cardinal Brown, managing director at the Bipartisan Policy Center, discusses her recommendation for a new strategy at the southern border to reflect changing demographics
Advocating for global human rights
Scott Busby, deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the State Department, discusses his office’s work in addressing human rights abuses in countries around the world
Reducing reliance on Russian energy
Jeffrey Frankel, professor at Harvard’s Belfer Center and former member of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, discusses the effectiveness of various strategies for reducing dependence on Russian oil and gas while also focusing on environmentalism
North Korea’s nuclear capabilities
Dana Kim, Korea policy scholar in the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses North Korea’s recent missile tests and expansion of its nuclear weapons program
Biden signs bill to speed arms to Ukraine
Angela Stent, nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, discusses the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, which allows arms lending to Ukraine
Status of Ukraine’s military capabilities
Margarita Konaev, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the transformation of Ukraine’s military since 2014, strategy going forward and support from the U.S.
Is the Islamic State on the decline?
Katherine Zimmerman, fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the persistent terror threat, vulnerable areas around the world and American counterterrorism strategy
New Army pilot program aims to modernize cavalry design
MG John Richardson, commanding general in the First Cavalry Division in the U.S. Army, discusses a new pilot program to restructure Army divisions and fill cavalry design gaps to prepare for current threats
Monitoring and preventing foreign investments in American technology
David Rader, deputy director of the Office of Foreign Investment Review at DoD, discusses efforts to improve monitoring of foreign investments in American technology to protect national security
NTSB using drones to respond to accident sites
Catherine Gagne, unmanned aircraft system operator at the Office of Aviation Safety at the National Transportation Safety Board, discusses how drones have helped increase efficiency in the NTSB’s work of responding to plane accident sites
Russians seeking entry to America
Nahal Toosi, senior foreign affairs correspondent for Politico, discusses how many Russians have fled the country since the Ukraine invasion and the administration’s response to those seeking asylum in the U.S.
Understanding AI errors in combat
Kelsey Atherton, military technology journalist at Wars of Future Past, explains some of the major risks and dangers of new artificial intelligence military technology
Would Putin go nuclear?
Seth Cropsey, founder and president of the Yorktown Institute and former deputy under secretary of the Navy, assesses the threat of Russian use of nuclear weapons and the various possible ways the West can respond
State Department launches cyberspace bureau
Jennifer Bachus, senior bureau official for the Cyberspace and Digital Policy Bureau at the State Department, discusses the purpose of the new bureau, its work on national security, economic policy and human rights related to cyberspace and its collaboration with other countries
High-level government visits to Ukraine
Anne-Marie Slaughter, president and CEO of New America and former director of policy planning for the State Department, discusses what the recent visits of U.S. government officials to Ukraine are accomplishing, whether the U.S. is doing enough to help and how security policy will shift as a result of the war
Strategic importance of Mariupol
Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.), senior fellow at UCLA’s Burkle Center for International Relations and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, discusses the importance of Mariupol to the Russians and military support Ukraine still needs
Stepping up pressure on Putin
Clay Lowery, executive vice president of research and policy at the Institute of International Finance and former assistant secretary for international affairs at the Treasury Department, discusses the effect sanctions are having on the Russian economy and financial markets
Service to America awards celebrate public service
Jordan LaPier, senior communications manager at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, or Sammies, which recognize extraordinary federal employees, and highlights some of this year’s finalists
China and Solomon Islands sign security agreement
Lyle Goldstein, director of Asia engagement at Defense Priorities, discusses a recent security cooperation agreement between the Solomon Islands and China and the scale of the threat this poses to the United States and other countries
Russia tests ICBM dubbed ‘Satan 2’
Bradley Bowman, senior director at the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses Russia’s flight test of the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile and the need for the U.S. to modernize its nuclear triad
Importance of information warfare to naval operations
Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, commander of Naval Information Forces, describes the mission-critical capabilities her command provides and training efforts underway to meet the demand for highly trained information warfare personnel
Mentorship in national security community
Colonel Candice Frost, commander of the Joint Intelligence Operations Center at U.S. Cyber Command, discusses how her command is helping bring more women leaders into government and what to consider when looking for a mentor
Role of cyber warfare in conflict
IDF Brig. Gen. Doron Tamir (Ret.), chairman of the Cyber Security Group, explains how cyber attacks fit into major conflicts and discusses the influence of psychological warfare on the war in Ukraine
Improving food safety at FDA
Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, describes the governance issues within the Food and Drug Administration that have led to dangerous food safety problems affecting American consumers
Preview of National Defense Strategy
Barry Pavel, senior vice president and director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security at the Atlantic Council, discusses the fact sheet for the National Defense Strategy and his recommendations for what to prioritize
Historical lessons on war in Ukraine
Ron Marks, visiting professor at George Mason University, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former DCI Senate Liaison at the CIA, analyzes how Russian history can inform the U.S. government’s understanding of Putin’s actions against Ukraine
Navy’s plan for uncrewed, autonomous ships
Tom Shugart, senior fellow in the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security and former submarine warfare officer for the U.S. Navy, discusses benefits of autonomous ships, technological risks associated with them and threats from China’s military
Air Force secretary on top priorities
Frank Kendall, secretary of the U.S. Air Force, discusses priorities and challenges, covering space, hypersonics, acquisition best practices, adversarial challenges, modernization, the fiscal year 2023 budget request and more
Accelerating innovation in the Navy
Capt. Benjamin Van Buskirk, director of NavalX at DoD, describes how his organization is helping match the Navy’s challenges with solution providers more quickly and lead a culture change towards agility
US sending more sophisticated arms to Ukraine
Ryan Evans, founder of War on the Rocks and CEO of Metamorphic Media, discusses Russia’s shift in strategy and new weapons shipments the United States is providing to Ukraine
Sanctions for buying Russian weapons
Grant Rumley, senior fellow at the Washington Institute, discusses why it’s important to try to prevent other countries from buying weapons from Russia and how the U.S. can discourage them from doing so
USAID appoints new chief diversity officer
Neneh Diallo, chief diversity officer at USAID, discusses the creation of her new role and the agency’s goals for improving diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility internally and externally
Turkey’s balancing act between NATO and Russia
Ryan Brobst, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explains how Turkey is involved in the Russia-Ukraine war and what the U.S. can do to encourage alignment with NATO
Implementing a national strategy for Web3
Charles Clancy, senior vice president and general manager of MITRE Labs and chief futurist for the MITRE Corporation, defines the third generation of the internet and discusses how the United States can address the economic and national security challenges it presents
Defense Department CIO on zero trust, modernization and data
John Sherman, chief information officer of the Department of Defense and acting chief digital and AI officer, discusses progress on priorities like cybersecurity and IT modernization as well as challenges such as data interoperability
Bringing war crime perpetrators to justice
Marti Flacks, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Human Rights Initiative, discusses the process for identifying and bringing war criminals to justice in the Russia-Ukraine war and the role of the U.S. government
Stopping further Russian atrocities in Ukraine
Peter Dickinson, UkraineAlert editor at the Atlantic Council and chief editor of Business Ukraine Magazine, discusses what Ukraine needs to defeat Russia militarily and whether the Pentagon is sending the right weapons
Assessing Russian intelligence and Putin’s next moves
Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, senior fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center and former senior CIA operations officer, discusses Russian intelligence failure and the possibility that Putin could use chemical, biological or even nuclear weapons
European dependence on Russian energy imports
Emily Holland, professor at the U.S. Naval War College, analyzes the impacts of Russian oil and natural gas export restrictions on European, U.S. and global energy markets as well as the geopolitical ripple effects
Mounting Russian casualties in Ukraine
Mark Cancian, senior adviser in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses high Russian troop loss, a breakdown in military discipline and the amount of time it could take to reach a diplomatic solution
China-Russia relations in the Arctic Circle
CDR Jeremy Greenwood, federal executive fellow at the Brookings Institution and commander for the U.S. Coast Guard, discusses the suspension of Arctic Council operations because of the Russia-Ukraine war and the opportunity for the U.S. to distance China from Russia
Addressing drone safety and security risks
Brian Bothwell, director on the Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics Team at the Government Accountability Office, discusses risks from drones and questions raised by a recent report about government use and oversight of counter-drone technologies
Impact of Russia sanctions on global energy
Richard Nephew, senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, discusses how sanctions are affecting Russia and the rest of the world and how the United States can mitigate the impact on allies and partners
New game teaches students about National Security Council
Caroline Netchvolodoff, vice president of education at the Council on Foreign Relations, describes how her organization’s new video game teaches students about foreign policy as part of a broader mission to build a more informed public
Naval support to Ukraine in war with Russia
Arthur Herman, senior fellow and director of the Quantum Alliance Initiative at Hudson Institute, discusses the strategic importance of Black Sea access and capabilities Ukraine has against the Russian Navy
Federal employee pay and new paid time off for voting
Kiran Ahuja, director of the Office of Personnel Management, shares the latest news and announcements impacting federal civilian employees and describes how the government is working to be the country’s model employer
Creating opportunities with digital economy
Rep. Ro Khanna, Democratic congressman from California’s Silicon Valley, discusses expansion of access to digital jobs, the Internet Bill of Rights, diversity in hiring, investment in science and technology and Congress’ support for Ukraine
Risk of chemical weapons use by Kremlin
Andrew Weber, senior fellow at the Council on Strategic Risks, discusses how likely it is for Putin to use chemical weapons against Ukraine and what the U.S. response would be if that were to happen
Russia’s military strategy shift in Ukraine war
Benjamin Jensen, senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains why Russia has shifted its strategy and what the United States should do in response
FY23 national security budget $813.3 billion
Roxana Tiron, senior reporter for Bloomberg Government, discusses how the war in Ukraine has affected the U.S. defense and national security budget and how the pacing threat is reflected in the budget
Caring for veterans with long Covid
Dr. Carolyn Clancy, assistant under secretary for health for discovery, education and affiliate networks at the Veterans Health Administration, describes what the VA is doing to study and treat long Covid in veterans and how this work is contributing to healthcare for the broader population
More research needed to diagnose and treat long Covid
Tim Persons, chief scientist for the Science, Technology Assessment and Analytics Team at the Government Accountability Office, explains how GAO is working to understand the budgetary impacts of long Covid and inform Congress of relevant insights from data
USAID delivering Covid vaccines globally
Jeremy Konyndyk, executive director of the COVID-19 Task Force at USAID, discusses the United States’ international vaccine donation effort, benefits for American taxpayers and lessons learned from the pandemic
Improving veteran care with 3D printing
Dr. Beth Ripley, VHA 3D Printing Network Initiative enterprise lead, VA Ventures director and radiologist at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, provides an update on the VA’s development of 3D-printed medical devices, model organs and living tissue to help veterans
Combating press censorship in Russia
Jamie Fly, president and chief executive officer of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, discusses his organization’s goal of providing critical news to audiences in countries where freedom of the press does not exist or is under attack
Ruling out no-fly zone over Ukraine a mistake?
Raphael Cohen, director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program of Project AIR FORCE at the RAND Corporation, explains his argument about the no-fly zone option and the United States’ messaging to other countries
Reliability of the electrical grid
Katherine Blunt, reporter for the Wall Street Journal, describes some of the weak points in the electrical power grid and efforts underway to increase its resilience
Russia claims to launch hypersonic missiles in Ukraine
Jeffrey Edmonds, research scientist at CNA, analyzes Russian military strategy, possible future scenarios and inferences the Pentagon can draw from Russia’s actions against Ukraine
Russian-Chinese relationship
Lingling Wei, chief China correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, discusses what Biden said to Chinese President Xi over video conference and whether China intends to send military support to Russia
Importance of the Artemis program for space exploration
Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, discusses the process and timeline for the Artemis moon missions, collaboration with international partners and the commercialization of space
Annual survey to analyze the health of America’s children
Dr. Reem Ghandour, director of the Division of Epidemiology in the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration in HHS, discusses improvements made to the National Survey of Children’s Health, which informs funding and policy decisions
Improving the nation’s port infrastructure
Lucinda Lessley, acting administrator of the Maritime Administration at the Department of Transportation, discusses new grant funding that will help expand port capacity and improve the supply chain
Directed energy weapons a game changer for DoD
Col. Mark Gunzinger (USAF Ret.), director at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, describes the benefits of directed energy systems and progress the U.S. has made on developing them
Cyber attacks in Russia-Ukraine War
Herb Lin, fellow at the Hoover Institution and senior research scholar at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, goes over possible reasons Russia has not launched a major cyber attack on the United States or Ukraine
What’s next in Russian war against Ukraine?
Klon Kitchen, senior fellow for foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, analyzes Russia’s actions and makes recommendations for U.S. response
Mission of the Federal Maritime Commission
Max Vekich, commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission, discusses supply chain bottlenecks, port congestion, FMC responsibilities and his top priorities
High-tech intelligence gathering versus human spies
Douglas London, associate professor at Georgetown University and former senior operations officer at the Central Intelligence Agency, discusses the value of human sources for intelligence gathering and recommendations for U.S. intelligence agencies
Defense budget $782 billion for FY2022
Leo Shane III, deputy editor for Military Times, breaks down what is in the fiscal year’s defense budget, including aid money for Ukraine, funding for research and development and more
Recommendations for the White House to advance equity initiatives
Michael McAfee, president and chief executive officer of PolicyLink, discusses the government’s ability to influence racial equity and recommendations for making meaningful progress
Current health of the defense industrial base
Col. Wesley Hallman (USAF, ret.), senior vice president for strategy and policy at NDIA, discusses findings about the health of the defense industrial base and the effect of the pandemic
Recommendations for fiscal 2023 defense spending
Maj. Gen. John Ferrari (U.S. Army, ret.), senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, explains his recommendation for a topline defense budget of $816 billion for fiscal year 2023
Higher mortality rates for vets who experienced traumatic brain injury
Jeffrey Howard, associate professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, shares the results of a new investigation examining mortality rates among post-9/11 veterans compared to the general population
Meeting the Biden administration’s infrastructure goals
Christine Harada, executive director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, discusses how her organization coordinates with agencies and state and local governments to streamline the permitting process for large, federal infrastructure projects
Increasing Air Force aircraft readiness rates
Deborah Lee James, former secretary of the Air Force, discusses the major problems contributing to low mission capability rates and strategies the Air Force is using to increase them
Maintaining US competitiveness in global remote sensing market
Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the importance of commercial space sensing capabilities to the government and recommendations for improving access to these systems
Rethinking 5G wireless spectrum management
Brig. Gen. Robert Spalding (USAF, Ret.), senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses inefficiency in electromagnetic spectrum management in the U.S. and recommendations for improvement
Cybersecurity risks to the technology supply chain
Tony Scott, former federal chief information officer, discusses major risks to the technology supply chain, the NIST cyber framework and ways to increase security
Dealing with the threat from North Korea
Andrew Yeo, senior fellow and SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution’s Center for East Asia Policy Studies, discusses the Biden administration’s actions on North Korea, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and recommendations for engaging with the country
Understanding the threat of biological weapons
Christine Parthemore, CEO of the Council on Strategic Risks, discusses concerns and trends related to biological weapons and the U.S. government’s work to combat the threat they pose
China’s reaction to Ukraine war
Yun Sun, senior fellow and co-director of the East Asia Program at the Stimson Center, discusses Chinese intelligence surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine and China’s reaction and stance going forward
Impact of a potential Russian victory on America’s political and military strategy
Michael Kimmage, professor at the Catholic University of America, discusses Putin’s motivations and the likelihood of Russian victory in the long term
Risk of Russian cyber attack against United States
James Lewis, senior vice president and director of the Strategic Technologies Program at CSIS, discusses different possible scenarios of Russian cyber attacks against the United States and their likelihood
Leveraging technologies to improve operations and security across borders
Dan Chenok, executive director for the IBM Center for the Business of Government, discusses using innovative and emerging technology to improve information sharing between countries for border security
Reviewing the landscape of current FEMA responses
Deanne Criswell, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, discusses responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, prioritizing climate resilience and mitigating the impact of severe weather disasters
Updates on the James Webb Space Telescope
Dr. Christyl Johnson, deputy director for technology and research investments at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, details what the James Webb Space Telescope will enable people to see that the Hubble Telescope can’t
Coordinating oversight of large government expenditure programs
Glenn Fine, nonresident fellow for the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution, discusses fraud, waste and abuse in Covid-19 spending and recommendations to mitigate similar problems in future programs
Challenges of creating a carbon-free electric grid
Jonathan Moch, postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center, discusses what it will take to achieve the president’s goal of completely carbon-free electricity by 2035
Report details challenges of Afghanistan withdrawal
Dan Lamothe, reporter for The Washington Post, provides an in-depth look at a report detailing the Afghanistan evacuation and effort to secure the Kabul airport as thousands tried to escape the Taliban
Responding to China’s economic coercion
Emily Kilcrease, senior fellow and director of the Energy, Economics and Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses her report on the lack of a clear strategy for deploying economic measures in response to crises with respect to the United States’ relationship with China
Delivering space-based solar power to the warfighter
Andrew Williams, deputy technology executive officer for Space Science & Technology at the Air Force Research Lab, explains his organization’s work developing space-based solar power into a usable energy source for national defense and the general public
Missile Defense Agency pivots focus to hypersonic systems
Vice Admiral Jon Hill, director of the Missile Defense Agency, discusses how to defend against the growing threat of hypersonic missile systems
Diversity, equity and inclusion goals a growing priority for Army, Navy
Charles Barber, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs for the Navy, and Anselm Beach, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diversity and Inclusion in the Army, discuss new DEI initiatives for military services
NASA looking at commercial solutions for space communications systems
Eli Naffah, Communications Services Program (CSP) Formulation Manager at NASA Glenn Research Center, discusses how NASA’s CSP will enhance satellite communications to work toward the agency’s overall mission
Competition with China in civil and military space
Mike Rogers, co-chair of the National Security Space Program at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, discusses China’s space investments and exploration plans and the need for Congress to act quickly to prevent the United States from falling behind
Increasing resiliency of U.S. military posture in Indo-Pacific
Stacie Pettyjohn, senior fellow and director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, explains how the United States military can reduce the vulnerability of its Indo-Pacific posture through passive defenses
How Defense Department can reduce civilian casualties
Michael McNerney, acting director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation, assesses problems with DoD’s tactics and procedures regarding civilian harm and provides recommendations for solving these issues
Benefits of DevSecOps for veteran experience
Todd Simpson, deputy assistant secretary for development, security and operations at the VA Office of Information and Technology, discusses how his organization is using an agile, product-focused software development approach to improve user experience for veterans
Securing critical defense information with CMMC-AB
Matthew Travis, chief executive officer of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body at the Defense Department, explains what is different about CMMC 2.0, what defense contractors should be doing to prepare and how to become a CMMC assessor
Collaborating between 5G technology and airplane regulations
Tom Wheeler, visiting fellow for governance studies at the Brookings Institution, discusses what the government has done to address interference between 5G and airplane technology and what still needs to be done
NIAID develops new Pandemic Preparedness Plan
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical advisor to the president, discusses his organization’s development of a new Pandemic Preparedness Plan, the history of pandemic preparedness, prototype pathogens versus priority pathogens and current work on preparing for future outbreaks
Accelerating technology adoption for the Defense Department
Mike Madsen, director of strategic engagement at the Defense Innovation Unit, details how DIU works with DoD and the commercial ecosystem to get leading-edge technology to men and women in uniform and what the organization is focusing on this fiscal year
Promoting climate resiliency in the federal government
Alfredo Gomez, director of natural resources and environment issues at the Government Accountability Office, goes over recommendations GAO has issued to government organizations to strengthen resilience against severe weather events
EEOC’s guide to file employment discrimination appeals
Edmund Chiang, senior attorney advisor at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, discusses what led to the development of a new guide for federal employees and applicants appealing discrimination cases and what is in the guide
Humanitarian situation in Ukraine with possible Russian invasion
Erol Yayboke, director and senior fellow for the Project on Fragility and Mobility at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the current situation in Ukraine in light of the previous Russian invasion in 2014, including internally displaced people, and U.S. and international involvement
OMB efforts in cyber, IT modernization, data and customer experience Clare Martorana, federal chief information officer at the Office of Management and Budget, discusses how OMB is helping agencies improve cybersecurity, transform technology, prioritize customers and enhance data sharing across government
Supporting U.S. manufacturing through government procurement Celeste Drake, director of Made in America at the Office of Management and Budget, explains how her office is working with agencies to promote domestic sourcing and ensure implementation of new regulations in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Army supports soldiers transitioning to civilian life Lt. Gen. Raymond Mason (U.S. Army, ret.), director for Army Emergency Relief and former deputy chief of staff for Army logistics, discusses major challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life and ways AER is helping veterans assimilate
Responding to vaccine hesitancy among military service members Col. Douglas Jackson (USAF), military fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, details the main factors driving vaccine hesitancy in a small minority of service members and strategies to address it
Reducing food insecurity among veterans Caitlin Welsh, director of the Global Food Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses data about veteran food insecurity, reasons for the relatively high rates and recommendations for reducing those numbers
Ensuring safety, reliability of nuclear weapons Laura McGill, deputy laboratories director for nuclear deterrence and chief technology officer at Sandia National Laboratories, discusses her lab’s critical work in nuclear deterrence and a broad range of national security challenges
Recommendations for the Pentagon, Congress on defense budget Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), chair of the National Defense Industrial Association board, discusses the necessity of passing the fiscal 2022 appropriations bill and his suggestion for DoD leaders to go in a different direction with spending
Assessing National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism Mollie Saltskog, senior intelligence analyst at The Soufan Group, discusses progress the U.S. has made on implementing the strategy for countering domestic terrorism that the White House released last year
Integrating climate change considerations into national security practices Brigitte Hugh, program assistant at the Center for Climate and Security, discusses the need to reexamine thinking about climate disasters and mainstream climate security into agency regional strategies
Implementing Financial Systems Modernization for TSP Kim Weaver, director of external affairs for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, describes the recent financial systems modernization and a communications campaign for the upcoming Converge launch
Improving government technology to serve the American people Robin Carnahan, administrator of the General Services Administration, discusses tech and customer experience improvements, clean energy, acquisition, the government real estate footprint and the future of work
New USDA flexible work policy balances needs of employees and American people Malcom Shorter, deputy assistant secretary for administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, discusses how his department developed its new telework and remote work policy to meet the needs of both employees and the American people
Labor Department, EEOC launch initiative to advance equity in hiring Jenny R. Yang, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs at the Labor Department, discusses a new effort with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to expand access to jobs to underrepresented communities
Identity theft involving government documents and benefits Kelle Slaughter, identity theft program manager at the Federal Trade Commission, discusses the major spike in government benefits fraud in 2020 and ways people can protect themselves from identity theft
Countering domestic extremism in the U.S. military Marek Posard, military sociologist at RAND Corporation, discusses extremism among service members, the importance of supporting commanders in spotting early signs and the current opportunity to assess effectiveness of interventions
Importance of cyber operations during military crises Michael Fischerkeller, research staff member at the Institute for Defense Analyses, explains why cyber operations may be more dangerous than other tools when used as part of an escalation management strategy in a militarized crisis
Reviewing possible changes to defense budget process Ron Marks, president of ZPN Cyber and National Security Strategies, discusses the current defense budgeting process and a congressional commission that will examine it this year
Combating cyber threats to U.S. water supply Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery (USN, ret.), senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses the uptick in cyber attacks on municipal water systems and measures the government must take to address this threat
OMB requesting feedback on PMA Learning Agenda draft Robert Shea, national managing principal for public policy at Grant Thornton, discusses the goal of the Office of Management and Budget’s President’s Management Agenda Draft Learning Agenda and the process to submit feedback
Addressing homelessness in America Adrianne Todman, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, discusses HUD’s role in addressing homelessness, housing discrimination and environmental justice, its coordination with government and nonprofit organizations and the impact of the pandemic and natural disasters on the homeless population
Enhancing cyber resiliency across federal agencies Ron Ross, fellow at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, discusses progress the government and NIST have made over the years in cybersecurity and recommendations for agencies to better defend against cyber attacks
Deterring Russia from invading Ukraine Gen. Philip Breedlove (USAF, ret.), distinguished chair for the Frontier Europe Initiative at the Middle East Institute and professor at Georgia Tech, discusses Russia’s recent actions at the Ukrainian border and the many tools the U.S. government has available for successful deterrence
Latest initiatives from the U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the Coast Guard, details his service’s missions, pandemic-related challenges and efforts to modernize ships and strengthen recruitment and retention
Conversations from Surface Navy Association’s 34th National Symposium Lt. Skye Pawlik from the Naval Integrated Fires Element in the U.S. Navy, Thomas Van Leunen, director of congressional and public affairs for the Navy’s Military Sealift Command, and Stefanie Lamay, public affairs specialist for the Naval History and Heritage Command, share what their organizations do for the Navy
Hypersonics developments in the U.S. military Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, director of hypersonics, directed energy, space and rapid acquisition for the U.S. Army, and Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director for Strategic Systems Programs for the U.S. Navy, detail their services’ progress and partnership on hypersonic weapon systems development along with goals and challenges
Cascading effects of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities Bob Kolasky, director of the National Risk Management Center at CISA, discusses how his organization works with industry and government partners to determine and address the most significant risks facing the country
Combating Chinese influence on college campuses Craig Singleton, adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explains how China uses partnerships between Chinese and American universities to obtain cutting-edge technology as it works towards military dominance
Pentagon’s cyber deterrence and resilience strategy Jacquelyn Schneider, Hoover Fellow at the Hoover Institution, discusses whether resilience or deterrence is the best approach for cyberspace and how the U.S. can incorporate cybersecurity into the National Defense Strategy
Reassessing US military role in the Middle East Becca Wasser, fellow in the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses matching the country’s military strategy to its interests and determining the ideal force structure
Threat of small, armed drones to US military Lt. Gen. David Deptula (USAF, ret.), dean of The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses how big of a threat small drones actually pose to U.S. military operations
Investing in 6G technology development Martijn Rasser, senior fellow and director of the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses how the U.S. can get ahead in preparing for the advent of 6G technology in coming years and prevent the security risks it poses
Challenges at DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis Ellen Gilmer, senior reporter at Bloomberg Government, discusses what went wrong before the Jan. 6 attack last year and how the Office of I&A is working to rebuild its reputation and pave a path forward
Customer experience trends for federal services Rick Parrish, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research, goes over his organization’s new report looking at customer experience quality in major federal agencies and programs
NIST’s robots used for emergency response Adam Jacoff, robotics research engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, discusses his work as the leader of the Emergency Response Robotics team, which develops standard test methods for robots used by bomb squads, military organizations and urban search and rescue teams
NIST advancements in 3D printing revolutionizing manufacturing Callie Higgins, materials research engineer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, describes a technique she pioneered to correct flaws in 3D-printed materials and her team’s work with industry on developments in printing human tissue, automotive parts and medical supplies
Government Accountability Office’s role as federal watchdog Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, head of the Government Accountability Office, discusses oversight of the federal government’s Covid-19 vaccine distribution, testing strategy and spending and his institution’s history as it passes the 100-year mark
Role of Defense Production Act during Covid-19 pandemic William Russell, director of contracting and national security acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office, discusses federal agencies’ unprecedented use of the Defense Production Act to help obtain medical supplies during Covid-19 and challenges involved
Combating gender-based violence in the U.S. military Kyleanne Hunter, adjunct senior fellow for the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the Defense Department’s progress on implementing the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 and explains how the legislation helps address sexual harassment and assault in the military
Latest on military situation with Russia at Ukraine border Steven Pifer, nonresident senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, discusses conversations between Biden and Putin and potential sanctions the U.S. would impose on Russia in the event of further military action towards Ukraine
Developments in nuclear stockpiles for U.S., allies, adversaries Daryl Kimball, executive director at the Arms Control Association, discusses the possibility of a U.S. shift to a No First Use nuclear policy and considerations Biden will make in the Nuclear Posture Review
DoD OIG details management challenges for FY 2022 Courtney Fones, audit program director for readiness and global operations at the Defense Department Office of Inspector General, describes some of the topics on her office’s list of top 10 management challenges for the Defense Department and explains the process of putting together the list
GSA implementing customer experience executive order Martha Dorris, former deputy associate administrator for the Office of Citizen Services at GSA, talks about the White House’s new executive order aimed at improving customer experience and rebuilding Americans’ trust in the federal government
Addressing Sino-American competition Joseph Nye, former assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, discusses soft power, the “three-dimensional chess game” between the United States and China and the importance of collaboration on global issues
NASA launches mission targeting near-Earth asteroid Lindley Johnson, planetary defense officer and program executive for the Planetary Defense Coordination Office at NASA, discusses the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) that will test a capability to deflect potentially dangerous asteroids from Earth in the future
Delivering space-based capabilities to joint warfighter Derek Tournear, director of the Space Development Agency at DoD, discusses using the spiral development model for acquisition and joining the U.S. Space Force in 2022
Bill aims to boost recruitment, retention of younger workers Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), chairman of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, discusses the goals of the Building the Next Generation of Federal Employees Act (NextGenFeds Act)
Driving stability in U.S. relationships with Russia, China Michael Mazarr, senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, defines strategic rivalry and discusses the current level of stability in the United States’ relationships with Russia and China
Confronting growing space threats from Russia and China Gen. Kevin Chilton (USAF, ret.), explorer chair for space warfighting studies at the Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Research Center, discusses Russia’s recent anti-satellite weapon test and the current state of U.S. deterrence capabilities
Updating U.S. policy with Space Priorities Framework Kaitlyn Johnson, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses the White House’s new Space Priorities Framework, space investments and acquisition
Top military space stories of 2021 Sandra Erwin, senior staff writer at SpaceNews, discusses threats to the space domain, the government’s use of synthetic aperture radar and the Defense Department’s Trusted Capital Program
Priorities for the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough discusses addressing toxic exposures from burn pits, improving mental health care for veterans and responding to Covid-19
FEMA, DHS responding to tornado aftermath in Kentucky Marcus Coleman, director for the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at DHS, discusses working with partners to respond to the recent tornadoes impacting the central and southern United States
Cybersecurity recommendations following Log4j vulnerability Gordon Bitko, senior vice president of policy for public sector at ITI, discusses the Log4j security vulnerability and CISA’s directive for agencies to employ a patch to mitigate it
Implementing $65 billion broadband investment John Bailey, nonresident senior fellow at AEI, discusses managing infrastructure bill funding programs to increase broadband access to U.S. communities
Establishing role of U.S. military in space Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno, director of staff at the U.S. Space Force, discusses the mission of the Space Force, staffing challenges, acquisition process improvement and the possibility of conflicts in this domain
Combating authoritarian use of digital surveillance tech Jennifer Hillman, senior fellow for trade and international political economy at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the rise of digital authoritarianism and the recent Summit for Democracy with the United States and allies
Top federal government stories from 2021 Jory Heckman, reporter at Federal News Network, and Jack Fitzpatrick, reporter at Bloomberg Government, discuss Federal Data Strategy, the earmarking process reintroduction and other top stories from this year
Leo Shane III, deputy editor at Military Times, Natalie Alms, reporter at Federal Computer Week, and Kevin Bogardus, reporter at E&E News, share what they think were the top federal news stories of the year
Top defense stories from 2021 Howard Altman, senior managing editor at Military Times, and Valerie Insinna, reporter at Breaking Defense, review major stories including the Afghanistan withdrawal and transition to the Biden administration
Labor Department modernizing technology platforms Michele Evermore, deputy director of policy in the Office of Unemployment Insurance Modernization at the Department of Labor, discusses progress her office has made on an effort to identify and address problems with unemployment insurance systems across states
FEMA’s role in responding to rising flood risks Alicia Puente Cackley, director of financial markets and community investment at the Government Accountability Office, explains why the National Flood Insurance Program is on the High Risk List and how GAO recommends FEMA address it
Trends increasing for public mistrust in government Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, explains why there has been a drop in trust in government and how agencies can help improve trust by prioritizing equity
Creating new CDAO position at the Pentagon Robert Work, former deputy secretary of defense, discusses the creation of a new chief digital and artificial intelligence officer at the Defense Department and next steps in the coming months
Combating cyber and ransomware attacks in government Bob Bigman, founder of 2BSecure, discusses the importance of cybersecurity incident reporting legislation and ways to ensure privacy of company data
Recent trends in defense acquisition spending Gregory Sanders, deputy director and fellow for the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group at CSIS, discusses the increase in defense contract obligations, the role of other transactions and long-term acquisition priorities
Pentagon responding to adversarial missile tests Chris Stone, senior fellow for space studies in the Spacepower Advantage Research Center at the Mitchell Institute, discusses how the Defense Department can respond to Russia’s and China’s improving anti-satellite weapons system capabilities
Impacts of AI on federal agencies Darrell West, vice president of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, explains the threats artificial intelligence poses right now and the way it will change warfare in the future
Tech challenges at VA Office of Information & Technology Paul Brubaker, acting principal deputy assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information and Technology, discusses how his office responded to the pandemic early on and is addressing infrastructure limitations to improve system effectiveness
Responding to latest weapons tests from North Korea David Choi, news reporter for Stars and Stripes, discusses talks between the United States and South Korea to update operational plans after new weapons tests from North Korea
Enhancing communication between agencies, IG offices Courtney Bublé, staff correspondent at Government Executive, discusses new guidance from the Biden administration for agencies to improve communication and coordination with inspectors general
Charlotte Burrows, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), talks artificial intelligence bias in hiring and workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Other topics she covers: -Employer education and support initiatives -Process for filing a complaint with the EEOC -Online harassment during the Covid-19 pandemic -Disability accommodations -White House executive orders and the Biden administration's focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility -The #MeToo movement and issues of inequality in America
Cyber risks for submarine cables Justin Sherman, nonresident fellow for the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Council, discusses the need to ensure the security of a wide network of undersea communication cables powering most global internet traffic
The latest on Enterprise Risk Management at TSP Kim Weaver, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, talks about the board’s process for evaluating and addressing risk and the latest risk scores for different categories
Vaccine mandate non-compliance disciplinary action to start next year Lisa Rein, federal government reporter for the Washington Post, provides an update on the employee vaccine mandate and timeline for disciplinary action from agencies
DEVCOM and the future of work John Willison, deputy to the commanding general of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, discusses the three-phased future of work initiative his command is implementing and its reception by employees
Negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran Richard Goldberg, senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses indirect talks in Vienna between the United States and Iran on its nuclear program
Responding to Russia’s Arctic militarization Jim Townsend, adjunct senior fellow in the Transatlantic Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the significance of Russian militarization in the Arctic region and recommendations to prevent conflict
Implications of potential Russian attack on Ukraine Howard Altman, senior managing editor at Military Times, provides details about the possibility of a Russian attack on Ukraine, the Pentagon’s response and the geopolitical implications
Collecting information on U.S. adversaries using data Emily Harding, deputy director and senior fellow for the International Security Program at CSIS, discusses the types of data the United States needs to start collecting in order to combat gray zone tactics from Russia and other adversaries
Challenges for DoD’s Acquisition and Sustainment Office Jeffrey Bialos, partner at Eversheds Sutherland and former deputy under secretary of defense for industrial affairs at the Defense Department, discusses the challenges of not having a confirmed under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment and provides recommendations for the next under secretary
Reviewing the DoD’s Climate Adaptation Plan Richard Kidd, deputy assistant secretary of defense for environment and energy resilience at the Defense Department, discusses how the Defense Department is preparing for the increasing impacts of climate change and prioritizing environmental responsibility in its testing and training exercises
Facing advancing hypersonic missile threats from China Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), president of the National Defense Industrial Association, explains why China’s recent test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile is so concerning
Pentagon responding to growing China-Taiwan tensions Timothy Heath, senior international defense researcher at the RAND Corporation, discusses tensions between China and Taiwan and options the Defense Department has to deter Chinese aggression
Effects of climate change on military bases Kiran Jivnani, consultant with the GeoTech Center at the Atlantic Council, discusses the Defense Department’s preparation for the negative impacts of climate change on military installations and its exacerbation of global instability
Preventing suicide among military service members, veterans Alyssa Hundrup, director for health care at the Government Accountability Office, discusses what her office found when looking at efforts for suicide prevention at the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs
Deadline looming for continuing resolution funding Jessica Klement, staff vice president for policy and programs at NARFE, discusses the continuing resolution that expires Dec. 3, the NDAA and the debt limit
Effects of CMMC update on defense contractors Eric Crusius, partner at Holland & Knight, discusses how changes to the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program will impact defense contractors
Emerging technologies in intelligence operations Dr. Stacey Dixon, principal deputy director of national intelligence, covers how the intelligence community is using innovative technology, recruiting the next generation of intelligence officers, combating climate change and working with industry and academia
Federal agency implementation challenges for infrastructure deal Robert Shea, national managing principal for public policy at Grant Thornton, discusses difficulties agencies will likely face in implementing the new infrastructure plan and recommendations for agency heads
Improving data transparency for federal spending Michelle Sager, managing director of strategic issues at the Government Accountability Office, goes over what her office found about the accuracy of publicly available government spending data
Streamlining hiring process for cyber jobs Ari Schwartz, managing director of cybersecurity services at Venable, discusses efforts to fill vacancies in cybersecurity jobs in the federal government and compete with private sector positions
Cooperation among U.S. and allies for military exercises Bradley Bowman, senior director for the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses the significance of the recent joint exercises between the United States, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain
Building up technology talent within DoD Loren DeJonge Schulman, vice president for research and evaluation at the Partnership for Public Service, provides recommendations to address missing elements for strengthening the tech workforce at the Defense Department
Implementing “strategic recoupling” with China Zack Cooper, senior fellow for foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses reducing the United States’ economic dependence on China
Managing government response to large-scale crises Richard Greene, visiting fellow at the IBM Center for the Business of Government, discusses what went wrong in the government’s response to Covid-19 early on and how leaders can prepare for future crises
CISA using cyber hackers to identify vulnerabilities Chris Cummiskey, former deputy under secretary for management at DHS, talks about a new advisory committee of ethical hackers to help CISA understand emerging cyber threats
Hiring, retaining veterans in federal government Terry Gerton, president and chief executive officer of NAPA, explains how the government can incentivize veterans to stay in government and how it bolsters agency missions
OPM telework guidance, recruitment and cybersecurity Kiran Ahuja, director of the Office of Personnel Management, discusses new telework guidance, efforts to recruit early-career talent, cybersecurity initiatives and the employee vaccine mandate
Programs to support disabled veterans Joy Ilem (U.S. Army, ret.), national legislative director for Disabled American Veterans, describes the services her organization provides, collaboration with the VA and the biggest issues disabled veterans are facing
Service dogs helping veterans with PTSD Rory Diamond, chief executive officer of K9s For Warriors, discusses how service dogs help veterans and how his organization trains them and pairs them with vets who need them
Choosing a federal healthcare plan during Open Season Walt Francis, consultant and health policy analyst, talks about the value in comparing health plan options every year and some ways federal employees can research them
Reviewing updates to the Pentagon’s CMMC program Ron Marks, president of ZPN Cyber and National Security Strategies, discusses changes to the Defense Department’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program for strengthening the network security of defense contractors
Military force structure in FY 2022 Mark Cancian, senior adviser in the International Security Program at CSIS, discusses long-term military force structure and the gap between resources and defense strategy
Impact of latest economic sanctions in Afghanistan Jason Bartlett, research assistant for the Energy, Economics, and Security Program at CNAS, discusses increased food insecurity in Afghanistan and challenges in U.S. sanction strategy and humanitarian aid
Impact of climate change on US defense interests Erin Sikorsky, director of the Center for Climate and Security, discusses how China is taking advantage of climate change and how the U.S. can work with allies and partners to respond
Confronting security risks from climate change Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, senior fellow at the Belfer Center and former director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the Department of Energy, describes actions the intelligence community should take to confront and mitigate national security threats from climate change
Responding to the growing cyber threat landscape Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, director at the CERT Division at the Software Engineering Institute, discusses changes in the cyber threat landscape and a new directive from CISA for federal agencies to address security vulnerabilities
Coordinating cyber defenses across the government Chris Inglis, national cyber director, details the state of cybersecurity across the country and the federal government’s overarching strategy to combat cyber threats in coordination with the private sector
GSA prioritizes White House equity initiatives Jim Williams, partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, discusses GSA’s focus on increasing opportunities for small business government contracting and prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility
Filling long-vacant permanent OMB leadership role Danny Werfel, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, discusses President Biden’s nomination of an OMB controller and the biggest priorities she will tackle if confirmed
Importance of American Rescue Plan Act for federal workers Don Kettl, professor emeritus and former dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, discusses federal employees’ use of emergency paid leave funding as well as the Covid-19 vaccine mandate
Mitigating supply chain risks for the Air Force Stephen Gray, director of the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing at the Air Force Sustainment Center, discusses how the pandemic has impacted Air Force supply chains and what steps his wing takes to ensure resiliency and preparedness
Challenges of military personnel refusing vaccine Katherine Kuzminski, senior fellow and director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at CNAS, discusses the refusal of thousands of service members to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, potential impact and actions the military could take in response
Nearing deadline for defense contractor vaccine mandate Valerie Insinna, reporter for Breaking Defense, discusses what we know so far about the impact of the federal contractor Covid-19 vaccine mandate on the workforce and how defense executives are preparing
Solving issues in military training, culture Gen. Mike Holmes (USAF, Ret.), former commander for Air Combat Command, now board chair at Red 6, and Daniel Robinson, CEO and founder of Red 6 and former F-22 Raptor pilot in the U.S. Air Force, discuss the Air Force’s pilot shortage and recommendations for addressing it and improving pilot training
Partnership for Public Service announces “Sammies” award winners Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, highlights some of the winners of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals and talks about the history of the award program
Easing military tensions in the Indo-Pacific Chris Li, director of research for the Indo-Pacific Security Project at Harvard University, discusses concerns regarding the lack of communication between U.S. and Chinese military operational commanders
The latest on TSP’s Converge Program Kim Weaver, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, discusses progress on the Converge Program and improvements it will provide for Thrift Savings Plan participants
Top innovations in Defense Department research and engineering Heidi Shyu, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, discusses some of the major defense innovation initiatives and the new innovation steering group she leads
Modernizing Army with next-generation combat vehicles Maj. Gen. Ross Coffman (U.S. Army), director of the Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team, discusses innovating with robotics, driverless Army combat vehicles and other technologies
Effects of a continuing resolution on DoD initiatives Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis and the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses disruptions to initiatives caused by the continuing resolution and the potential for workarounds
Hypersonic weapons critical to future warfare Gillian Bussey, director of the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office, details recent progress the Defense Department has made on hypersonics technology and its applications for warfighters
Ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion of federal services Kimberlyn Leary, senior equity fellow at the Office of Management and Budget and senior vice president at the Urban Institute, explains how two executive orders are embedding equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility into federal agency processes
Ensuring interoperability for DoD’s JADC2 program Nick Sinai, former deputy chief technology officer at the White House, explains the importance of interoperability in defense systems, recent investments in this area and priorities for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2)
Future of AI development for the Pentagon Nicolas Chaillan, former chief software officer for the U.S. Air Force, discusses concerns about the pace of U.S. artificial intelligence deployment compared to China and recommendations for the Defense Department
Facing China’s growing technology advancements Dustin Carmack, research fellow in the Center for Technology Policy at the Heritage Foundation, discusses China’s rapid technology development, surveillance tools and ethical concerns
Boosting innovation, collaboration for VA health care Allison Amrhein, Director of Operations at the Veterans Health Administration Innovators Network, discusses the upcoming Innovation Experience (iEX) Virtual Series event to showcase innovations to support veterans
Sending right message to China on nuclear submarine deal Maj. Gen. John Ferrari (U.S. Army, Ret.), Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses strategically communicating to China about the timeline of the AUKUS partnership
CISA seeks industry input to solve cyber issues Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, discusses his take on the recent request for information issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Modernizing the Army to win future battles Gen. Mike Murray, Commanding General of Army Futures Command, discusses progress the command has made since it started in 2018, major initiatives and collaboration with industry
Recapping this year’s AUSA annual meeting Gen. Robert Brown (U.S. Army, Ret.), president and chief executive officer of AUSA, talks about the organization’s recent in-person conference and its overall mission
DHS addressing domestic violent extremism threats Elizabeth Neumann, former assistant secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy at DHS, discusses the growing problem of domestic violent extremism and DHS’s work to stop it, both inside and outside of the government
Overhauling legislation to set cyber requirements Richard Spires, former CIO at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses a draft bill to overhaul the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) in response to an increase in large-scale cyber attacks
Role of Long Range Precision Fires for Army modernization Brig. Gen. John Rafferty (U.S. Army), director of the Long Range Precision Fires Cross Functional Team in Army Futures Command, describes how Long Range Precision Fires are enabling the Army to combat adversarial efforts to offset the U.S. military’s advantage
Developing vaccines in U.S. Army for emerging viruses Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, discusses his team’s collaboration with other agencies, academia and industry to develop a universal coronavirus vaccine
Addressing security threats at TSA and FBI John Pistole, former TSA administrator and former FBI deputy director, discusses improvements in threat detection at both agencies and recommendations for current leaders
Using technology to track employee vaccination status Jonathan Alboum, federal chief technology officer at ServiceNow, provides recommendations for agencies implementing the employee vaccine mandate as the Nov. 22 deadline approaches
Stopping forced labor products from entering US Ana Hinojosa, executive director of the Trade Remedy Law Enforcement Directorate at Customs and Border Protection, and Eric Choy, deputy executive director, discuss their work stopping goods made in forced labor conditions from entering the United States
Modernizing capabilities of the nuclear triad Col. Mark Gunzinger (USAF, ret.), director at The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, explains why the Defense Department needs to modernize the country’s nuclear triad for adequate deterrence
Improving the modern intelligence community Douglas London, former senior operations officer at the CIA, discusses the shift in focus of the CIA since 9/11 and the biggest challenge facing the agency right now
The importance of technology sharing in AUKUS deal Erik Sand, assistant professor at the U.S. Naval War College, discusses the significance of the technology sharing piece of the trilateral agreement between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia
Reviewing defense purchasing power within DoD budget Bill Greenwalt, visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the declining purchasing power within the Defense Department’s budget and strategies to increase it
Assessing growing threats from U.S. adversaries Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, analyzes the biggest threats facing the United States that the upcoming 2022 National Defense Strategy should address
Managing costs of recruiting, retaining military personnel Seamus Daniels, associate director and associate fellow for Defense Budget Analysis at CSIS, explains why military personnel costs have sharply increased and what the Defense Department can do to address this
Responding to biosecurity threats for American public Asha George, executive director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, discusses the need for the United States to prepare for biosecurity risks, such as future pandemics
Recommendations for federal contractors under new CR Larry Allen, president of Allen Federal Business Partners, discusses how contractors can work through the continuing resolution passed by the White House
Reducing poverty using data driven decisions Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, now president of the American Idea Foundation, details how the Evidence Act is helping policymakers measure the effectiveness of programs and tie funding to outcomes
Logistics of USAID distribution for Covid-19 vaccine Ellyn Ogden, Emergency Operations Center Leader for the Covid-19 Vaccine Access and Delivery Unit at USAID, describes the United States’ initiative to donate millions of vaccine doses to over 125 countries
Reviewing the Prevent Government Shutdowns bill in Congress Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, explains how government shutdowns hurt everyone and how proposed legislation would address the problem
The impact of government shutdowns on federal workers Jessica Klement, staff vice president of policy and programs at NARFE, discusses the impact a government shutdown would have had on federal workers and pandemic response
Reviewing the latest on North Korea missile testing Robert King, Korea Chair and senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses the threat of North Korean weapons testing and development and the role of the United States’ relationship with China
Developing hypersonic missiles and nuclear-powered space capabilities Mark Lewis, executive director of the Emerging Technologies Institute at the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses investing in hypersonic missiles at the Pentagon and developing military space strategy with nuclear power
The latest on the AUKUS Indo-Pacific partnership Bradley Bowman, senior director for the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses a new trilateral agreement to help Australia deploy nuclear-powered submarines to deter Chinese aggression
Training military troops in cultural literacy Baktash Ahadi, former combat interpreter for U.S. and Afghan Special Operations forces, discusses his perspective that the United States military lacked important cultural understanding of the Afghan people
Identifying and mitigating bias in artificial intelligence Michael Akinwumi, chief tech equity officer at the National Fair Housing Alliance, explains how artificial intelligence can perpetuate discrimination and how it can also be used to address it
Reviewing OMB guidance for zero-trust architecture Mark Forman, executive VP of Dynamic Integrated Services, discusses what is involved in the new zero-trust mandate from the Office of Management and Budget
The latest on homeland security priorities Michael Chertoff, co-founder and executive chairman of The Chertoff Group, former DHS secretary, touches on each of the major threats facing the Department of Homeland Security and provides recommendations for the current secretary
Addressing health disparities at new HHS climate office Rachel Levine, assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, explains disparities in the negative health effects of climate change and her office’s plans to address them
The impact of the pandemic on the future of the U.S. Thomas Wright, senior fellow and director of the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, discusses his view that Covid-19 came at one of the worst possible moments and describes a proposal to prepare for future crises
Addressing issues of trust at the CDC during the pandemic Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looks back at the CDC’s role in the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenge of building public trust
Modernizing Army aviation with Future Vertical Lift program Major General Walter T. Rugen, director of the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team for the U.S. Army, and Brigadier General Robert Barrie, program executive officer of aviation in the U.S. Army, discuss the transformation of Army aviation through the Future Vertical Lift program
The impacts of a continuing resolution on DoD spending Elizabeth Field, director of defense capabilities and management issues at GAO, discusses her team’s findings about the true effects of operating under a CR for the Defense Department
The latest on ransomware attacks for federal agencies Ron Marks, president of ZPN Cyber and National Security Strategies, discusses new Treasury Department sanctions for preventing cyber criminals from profiting from ransomware attacks
The intersection of climate change and security risks Erin Sikorsky, director of The Center for Climate and Security, explains the national security implications of climate change and the role of the intelligence community in mitigation
Sammies finalist combats misinformation with Trust & Safety Team Zack Schwartz, division chief of the IT Service Management Office at the Census Bureau, discusses how his team successfully prevented the spread of misinformation about the 2020 Census
The latest on NASA’s moon landing mission for 2026 Col. Pam Melroy (USAF, ret.), deputy administrator of NASA, and Karla Smith Jackson, senior procurement executive, deputy chief acquisition officer and assistant administrator for procurement at NASA, discuss planning for NASA’s sustainable moon landing mission and eventual Mars landing
Recruiting early-career technologists for federal workforce Caitlin Gandhi and Masha Danilova, co-founders of U.S. Digital Corps, discuss the goals of a new fellowship for technology innovation work in the government
Implications of vaccine mandate for federal contractors Robert Shea, National Managing Principal for Public Policy at Grant Thornton, and Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discuss information that has and hasn’t yet been provided about the Covid-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees and contractors
Providing humanitarian aid to Afghanistan after evacuation Lisa Curtis, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, discusses how the United States can provide humanitarian assistance to Afghans without supporting the Taliban regime
The role of China in Afghanistan after U.S. evacuation Yun Sun, senior fellow and co-director of the East Asia Program at the Stimson Center, discusses the implications of growing Chinese influence with the Taliban for U.S. security
Evaluating the effectiveness of the F-35 program Valerie Insinna, Air Warfare Reporter at Defense News, discusses balancing the F-35 aircraft with competing weapons priorities in the Air Force
Building allied armies with U.S. military Rachel Tecott, Assistant Professor at the U.S. Naval War College, discusses her views on why multiple United States security force assistance efforts have been unsuccessful
Reviewing the role of DHS for counterterrorism Ellen Gilmer, Senior Reporter at Bloomberg Government, shares insights from Department of Homeland Security leaders about how the department has handled multiple challenges since its establishment
Preparing for potential continuing resolution for contractors Greg Giddens, partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, discusses implications of a continuing resolution, the likelihood of a government shutdown and ways contractors can effectively prepare
The relationship between Covid-19 and climate change Alice Hill, David M. Rubenstein Senior Fellow for Energy and the Environment at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the federal government’s role in addressing climate change and the importance of preparation
Strengthening government collaboration with new CIP Terry Gerton, president and chief executive officer of NAPA, discusses what her organization’s new Center for Intergovernmental Partnerships will do and what prompted its establishment
Firsthand account from the Pentagon building on 9/11 Roberta Crissy, chief of the Military Personnel Divison in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, recounts her experience of being in the Pentagon during the 9/11 attacks
Remembering the events of 9/11 on 20th anniversary Gregg Dvorak, chief commercialization officer at Airio, and Terry Biggio, senior director of business development and strategic growth at SAIC, recall their experiences as leaders in the Federal Aviation Administration during the 9/11 attacks
The impact of presidential nominee vacancies on defense Col. Wesley Hallman (USAF ret.), senior vice president of strategy and policy at the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses the status of Senate-confirmed positions and the flow of leadership between government and industry
The relationship between classification and deterrence for DoD Chris Stone, senior fellow for space studies at the Mitchell Institute’s Spacepower Advantage Research Center, explains why overclassification, particularly in the Space Force, can be disadvantageous for national security
Raising federal funding with competitive spectrum auctions Evan Kwerel, senior economic advisor in the Office of Economics and Analytics at the FCC, discusses the FCC’s auctions for allocating space on the electromagnetic spectrum and his role in establishing them
The implications of a senior role deficit at agencies Daniel Lippman, reporter for Politico, discusses President Biden’s hiring of 319 senior leaders in his first three months and the implications for implementing his agenda
Reviewing the Air Force’s new Office of the Future Col. Kevin Mantovani (USAF), vice commander of the Air Force Installation & Mission Support Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas, discusses the Air Force’s Office of the Future initiative that will incorporate telework and a redesigned office environment
Responding to Haitian earthquake at USAID Tim Callaghan, disaster assistance response team leader for USAID for the 2021 Haiti earthquake, details the current situation in Haiti and shelter, food and health assistance efforts
The role of governance in OIT at the VA Martha Orr, deputy CIO for quality, performance and risk in the Office of Information and Technology (OIT) at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and Merissa Larson, executive director for quality and risk in the VA OIT, discuss challenges and successes in IT governance in their organization
Goals of the new Oversight and Compliance Office for DIA Brent Evitt, director of the Office of Oversight and Compliance at the Defense Intelligence Agency, discusses the creation of a new office for oversight, transparency and compliance in the Defense Intelligence Agency
The importance of agency funding increases for workforce Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, discusses the federal employee pay raise and the importance of competitive compensation in the government
Reviewing delays for the CIO-SP4 contract Alan Thomas, chief operating officer at IntelliBridge, discusses last minute amendments in a major acquisition vehicle for the National Institutes of Health
Reviewing the acquisition merger at the Air Force Deborah Lee James, former secretary of the United States Air Force, discusses the merging of two offices in the Air Force to help accelerate acquisition in the Space Force
The security implications of collecting biometric data Margaret Hu, professor of law and international affairs at Penn State, explains the implications of reports that the Taliban may have seized biometric data from the Pentagon during the Afghanistan withdrawal
Recent challenges for the National Guard Bureau Nathalie Grogan, research assistant for the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the strain placed on the National Guard in recent years and actions the government can take to address the problem
Reviewing vulnerabilities and risks of using GPS Diana Furchtgott-Roth, adjunct professor at the George Washington University, discusses action the United States government must take to address major vulnerabilities in the GPS network
Streamlining the benefit approvals process at the VA Mary Frances Matthews, assistant decision review operations center manager at the Department of Veterans Affairs, explains how she reduced the backlog in appeals in the VA’s disability benefits program
The latest on creating the ARPA-I for transportation Lisa Rein, federal government reporter at the Washington Post, discusses the creation of a new research agency in the Department of Transportation
The latest on FRTIB’s budget for FY22 Kim Weaver, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, provides an update on fiscal 2022 budget, operations and priorities for the Thrift Savings Plan board
The future of workforce at USPS Danny Werfel, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, discusses turnover rate and the ambitious hiring initiative at the United States Postal Service
Managing security amid risks in Afghanistan Anthony Cordesman, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses lessons learned from Afghanistan and the Pentagon’s counterterrorism strategy going forward
Bolstering cybersecurity with a whole-of-nation approach Ari Schwartz, managing director of cybersecurity services at Venable, discusses what is different about the Biden administration’s new plan for addressing cybersecurity threats
The latest on the withdrawal from Afghanistan Lt. Col. Douglas Ollivant (U.S. Army ret.), ASU Future of War senior fellow at New America, discusses the complexities and contingency plans for evacuating all Americans from Afghanistan
The importance of data science literacy at CDC Linda Degutis, lecturer at the Yale School of Public Health, explains how the CDC is using data to identify risk factors and prevention strategies for injury in the broader context of disease control
The benefits of telework opportunities in the Army Cpt. Matt Fitzgerald (U.S. Army), author for “War on the Rocks,” explains his argument for having a small number of limited and targeted remote work billets to improve Army workflows
The future of laser weapons in the Army Maj. Gen. John Ferrari (U.S. Army ret.), senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the use of laser weapons in the Army and other branches of the military
Balancing DoD’s budget to conduct multiple initiatives Roger Zakheim, director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation & Institute, discusses the significance of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s rejecting of the president’s Pentagon budget request
Reviewing effectiveness of DoD’s cyber structure Jason Blessing, Jeane Kirkpatrick Visiting Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the idea of a new military service dedicated to cyberspace
Managing regular Covid-19 testing at federal agencies Jim Eisenmann, partner at Alden Law Group, PLLC, discusses recommendations for agencies as they implement new White House guidance for testing unvaccinated employees and contractors
Challenges to implementing equity goals for federal contracts Joe Jordan, CEO of Actuparo, discusses the federal government’s progress on increasing the percentage of contracting dollars spent on Small Disadvantaged Businesses
Reviewing DoD’s adoption and fostering benefits Kathy Larin, director of education, workforce and income security at GAO, discusses a report looking at challenges for military families for fostering or adopting children and benefits available to them
Lessons learned from new vaccine mandate at the VA Lee Becker, solutions principal at Medallia, discusses how the Department of Veterans Affairs is managing its Covid-19 vaccine requirement for employees
Reviewing technology, budget issues for climate capabilities John Conger, director of the Center for Climate and Security, discusses how the Defense Department is preparing for risks from climate change in the short and long term
Reviewing equity data gaps at federal agencies Ahkesha Murray, DEI&A and Change Management Principal at LMI, discusses how agencies are addressing the executive order on advancing equity and assessing progress in this area
Streamlining CIO responsibilities for federal agencies Karen Evans, partner at KE&T Partners, and Alan Balutis, former senior director and distinguished fellow at Cisco Systems, provide their perspectives on the idea of consolidating chief information officer roles at agencies
Reviewing military training and preparedness in Afghanistan Jason Dempsey, adjunct senior fellow for the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security, analyzes issues with resource management that contributed to the current situation in Afghanistan
Coordinating federal response efforts for natural disasters Dave Grant and Rear Adm. Joe Nimmich (USCG, ret.), partners at Potomac Ridge Consulting, discuss how FEMA, USAID, and state and local governments are responding to natural disasters
Shifting the Pentagon’s approach for Afghanistan operations Thomas Joscelyn, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses implications for withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Pentagon’s counterterrorism focus going forward
Responding to climate change risks at federal agencies Corinne Dougherty, partner for federal audit at KPMG, explains how agencies can implement an executive order for identifying and mitigating financial risks of climate change
Recruiting entry-level workers at federal agencies Don Kettl, Sid Richardson Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, discusses the new hiring authority from the Office of Personnel Management for recruiting qualified talent at agencies
Reviewing logistics of removing troops from Afghanistan Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses management challenges involved in evacuating United States troops from Afghanistan over the next few days
The importance of intellectual property and security for DoD Jerry McGinn, executive director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discusses the importance of protecting intellectual property and security for defense innovation
Reforming the PPBE process at the Pentagon Eric Lofgren, senior fellow at the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, explains the problems with the Defense Department’s planning, programming, budget and execution process
Identifying critical software at federal agencies Tony Scott, CEO of The TonyScottGroup, LLC, discusses the new requirement for agencies to identify all critical software at their offices within 60 days
The latest on budget and diplomacy with China Zack Cooper, senior fellow for foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses how successful the United States has been in implementing the “Pivot to Asia” plan over the last decade
Incorporating best cyber practices for agencies Nick Sinai, senior advisor at Insight Partners, discusses risks in the Defense Department’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification and the potential for a similar program at the Department of Homeland Security
Boosting military technology under the JAIC Robert Work, former deputy secretary of defense, discusses funding for the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center to accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence in the military
Reviewing the Navy’s “divest to invest” strategy Seth Cropsey, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses potential risks and benefits of the Navy’s plan to divest of some ships and invest in others within a few years
Reviewing the latest projects at the Coast Guard Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, discusses strategy, climate change and balance between readiness and increased demand
Increasing hiring at Office of the Chief Procurement Officer Shanna Webbers, chief procurement officer at the Internal Revenue Service, discusses an effort to hire 80 new employees at the IRS and procurement’s role in modernization at the bureau
Clarifying and coordinating national security responses Triana McNeil, director of homeland security and justice issues at the Government Accountability Office, explains findings and recommendations for DHS related to the January 6 Capitol attack
Implementing cyber defense action at federal agencies Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, director of the CERT Division at the Software Engineering Institute, discusses how the new Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative will allow the government and private sector to proactively address cyber threats
The importance of the Space Portfolio to DIU operations Steve Butow, director of the Space Portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit, discusses space as a service and deployment of commercial technology into military services to improve readiness
Streamlining and reforming political appointment system Max Stier, president and chief executive officer of the Partnership for Public Service, discusses shortcomings in the system for nominating and confirming major positions in government
The role of the FTC in vertical mergers Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), president and chief executive officer of the National Defense Industrial Association, explains why vertical mergers are important for encouraging innovation and competing with China
The importance of data for Naval Information Forces Rear Adm. Gene Price, vice commander of Naval Information Forces, explains the role of NAVIFOR and the importance of information warfare to the military
Reviewing the key elements to define DoD battle networks Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis and the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, discusses his idea for a framework for communicating about the military’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control concept
Implementing new CISA platform at federal agencies Bob Bigman, founder of 2BSecure, discusses the new vulnerability disclosure policy platform that enables agencies to collaborate with the public to improve cybersecurity
Preparing for biological incidents at federal agencies Chris Currie, director of homeland security issues at the Government Accountability Office, explains what went wrong in preparing for biological attacks prior to the Covid-19 pandemic
Recommendations for DoD leaders to align resources and strategy Stacie Pettyjohn, senior fellow and director in the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses why the high-end deterrence strategy is the best path forward and how Pentagon leaders can implement it
Adjusting RTO plans at federal agencies Mika Cross, federal workplace expert, discusses what agencies should consider as they develop or revise return-to-office plans in light of uncertainty surrounding the Delta variant
Focusing on acquisition pipeline for government contractors Larry Allen, president of Allen Federal Business Partners, discusses efforts to expand opportunities for small businesses in government contracting and priorities for the end of the fiscal year
Reviewing the future of the defense budget request Mackenzie Eaglen, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses defense spending for fiscal year 2022, competition with China and support for the defense civilian workforce
Recommendations for creating a Bureau of Cyber Statistics Sen. Angus King (I-ME), chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, discusses reasons to establish a new cyber statistics bureau and priorities for the national cyber director
The importance of securing contractor PIV cards Michael Missal, inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs, goes over findings about adequately tracking contractor personal identify verification cards
Challenges and opportunities for OFPP leadership Angela Styles, partner at Akin Gump, and Jim Williams, partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, discuss priorities for the next leader of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy
Reviewing federal contracts from the Covid-19 pandemic Marie Mak, director of contracting and national security acquisitions at GAO, reviews a new report from her office outlining challenges agencies faced in contracting with new vendors during the pandemic
Considering benefits of OTA contracts for agencies Jason Knudson, vice president of product development at Second Front Systems, discusses Other Transaction Authorities and explains how agencies can best take advantage of them in procurement
Responding to vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure Rita Foster, infrastructure advisor at Idaho National Laboratory, discusses implications of 14 major cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting the federal government and steps for defending against them
Recommendations for contractors following Covid-19 protocols David Berteau, president and chief executive officer of the Professional Services Council, discusses what needs clarification in the White House’s announcement about vaccination and testing for federal contractors
Responding to climate change at the Pentagon Sharon Burke, president of Ecospherics, discusses national security, climate change and Defense Department investments in reducing operational energy demand
Considering data localization for national security Erol Yayboke, director and senior fellow for the Project on Fragility and Mobility at CSIS, explains risks and challenges posed by data localization mandates from other countries
Gathering data for storm predictions at NASA Dr. Karen St. Germain, director of the Earth Science Division at NASA, discusses her organization’s use of data from satellites in its partnerships with other agencies
Recommendations for the federal cyber workforce Michelle Amante, vice president of Federal Workforce Programs at the Partnership for Public Service, goes over recommendations for recruitment and retention of cyber talent at federal agencies
Prioritizing Army challenges under new budget Billy Fabian, adjunct senior fellow for the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security and senior analyst at Govini, explains the “iron triangle” of missions the Army believes it needs to prepare for
Reconsidering workforce policies with hybrid work options Jeff Neal, author of www.ChiefHRO.com, discusses what federal agency leaders are considering as they develop flexible telework policies and manage the return to offices
Reviewing increased participation in L Funds Kim Weaver, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains what is driving increased participation in the Thrift Savings Plan Lifecycle Funds
Implementing IT modernization for hybrid federal workplaces Jonathan Alboum, federal chief technology officer at ServiceNow, discusses why now is a good time to evaluate the sustainability of processes implemented during COVID and adjust as needed
Priority recommendations from DoD’s 2021 OIG Compendium Troy Meyer, acting deputy inspector general for audit at the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, goes over the significant progress the Defense Department has made in implementing his office’s 2021 Compendium recommendations
Implementing new full-time telework policy at GPO Dan Mielke, chief human capital officer at the U.S. Government Publishing Office, discusses his agency’s new expanded telework options and advice for other federal agencies
Preparing for new COVID-19 requirements for federal workers Janice Lachance, executive vice president at the American Geophysical Union, and Jeff Pon, national co-chair of the Training and Development Optimization Council, provide advice for agencies in implementing the new vaccination, testing and mask policies for federal employees
Recommendations for confronting trust in agencies Dave Wennergren, chief executive officer of ACT-IAC, discusses agility, character and the most important thing leaders can do to build trust with their employees
Prioritizing biosecurity in government Rose Butchart, associate fellow in the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses government efforts to assess and manage risks posed by biological agents and the importance of working with the bioeconomy community
The future of Army research for pandemic preparedness Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, discusses anticipating emerging viruses and developing vaccines and treatments for broad groups of viruses in advance
Improving platforms and capabilities for the Pentagon Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses the necessity for the Defense Department to focus on China as a relatively near-term threat
The importance of civic education to national security Suzanne Spaulding, senior advisor for homeland security in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains how knowledge of civics from a historical perspective strengthens the national security community
Updates on service member pay raises in the NDAA Jessica Klement, staff vice president of policy and programs at NARFE, discusses actions in the House and Senate and steps involved in confirming the federal employee pay raise
Updates on federal contractor minimum wage Eric Crusius, partner at Holland & Knight, discusses positives and potential complications associated with implementation of the federal contractor minimum wage increase
Countering homegrown violent extremism Triana McNeil, director of homeland security and justice issues at the Government Accountability Office, goes over her office’s findings about the Department of Homeland Security’s strategy to fight violent extremism
Reviewing readiness versus procurement in the Navy Adm. Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations at the Defense Department, details the arguments he made to Congress about the Navy budget and strategic plans
Reviewing the Navy’s budget and shipbuilding plan Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), ranking member of the committee, explain why they are hesitant about the Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan
Anticipating cyber threats at federal agencies Ari Schwartz, managing director of cybersecurity services at Venable, discusses implications of a federal government plan to offer rewards for identifying ransomware perpetrators
The future of the CHCO Council under OPM control Terry Gerton, president and chief executive officer of the National Academy of Public Administration, provides her take on OPM’s new control of the Chief Human Capital Officers Council
The latest on AI reliability and robustness Paul Scharre, vice president and director of studies at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the false conception that there is an artifical intelligence arms race
Recommendations for maintaining space superiority Matthew Donovan, director of the Spacepower Advantage Research Center at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses the lack of military space capability consolidation in the Space Force
Responding to China’s interest in Indo-Pacific bases Craig Singleton, adjunct fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses strategies for undermining China’s intentions in building military installations in multiple countries
Maintaining strategic competition in space Kaitlyn Johnson, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, provides updates on Russia’s developments in space and its relationship with China in the new space race
Executing the new IT spending plan for the VA Jim Gfrerer, principal at Fidelis Technology, discusses how the Department of Veterans Affairs will use money from its transformation fund to improve IT
Building the defense industrial base with allies and partners Jerry McGinn, executive director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discusses how working with trusted allies and partners helps increase the resilience of the defense supply chain
The future of the Navy’s ships and fleet structure Harlan Ullman, chair at the Killowen Group and senior advisor at the Atlantic Council, goes over major concerns he has with the readiness of both the Surface Navy and the military services at large
The future of funding for the Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula (USAF, ret.), dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses the importance of accurately representing the funding available for the Air Force
Maintaining and growing the DHS cyber workforce Richard Spires, principal at Richard A. Spires Consulting, discusses how the federal government can successfully retain cybersecurity employees once hired
The role of AI in national security Andrei Iancu, senior adviser (non-resident) for the Renewing American Innovation Project at CSIS, discusses the need to update intellectual property laws in order for the U.S. to get ahead in artifical intelligence
Authorizing C3PAOs at the CMMC Accreditation Body Matt Travis, chief executive officer of the CMMC Accreditation Body at the Defense Department, discusses progress on certifying Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification assessment organizations
Preparing for upcoming DHS workforce initiatives Angela Bailey, chief human capital officer at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses her department’s major cyber workforce hiring initiative and the idea of a distributed workforce
Managing IT investment risks in federal agencies Gordon Bitko, senior vice president of policy at the Information Technology Industry Council, and David Powner, executive director of the Center for Data-Driven Policy and director of strategic engagement and partnerships at MITRE, discuss the importance of elevating the role of chief information officers in government agencies
Recommendations for the new head of CISA Chris Cummiskey, chief executive officer at Cummiskey Strategic Solutions, discusses the mosaic of cyber leadership in government and the coordination between the different positions
Implementing the contractor minimum wage increase Stan Soloway, president and chief executive officer of Celero Strategies, LLC, points out potential challenges in the implementation of an executive order for minimum wage
Shaping the budget process with evidence-based requests Robert Shea, national managing principal for public policy at Grant Thornton, discusses the four-year strategic plans agencies must develop for using data in annual budget requests
Streamlining innovation processes in the Navy Maj. Gen. John Ferrari (U.S. Army ret.), visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the concept of innovating now to enhance the capabilities of the Navy
The future of the Navy’s fleet capabilities Chris Dougherty, senior fellow in the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the need for additional resources in the Navy and its “strategic bankruptcy”
Reviewing the efficacy of defense spending MG Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), chief executive officer of The Punaro Group and retired Major General in the Marine Corps, explains the importance of maximizing value in defense spending as Chinese capabilities continue to advance
Reviewing security changes under CISA’s role Ron Marks, president of ZPN Cyber and National Security Strategies, discusses the national cyber director and changes in cybersecurity authority for government agencies
Shaping security assistance programs at the Pentagon Brent Sadler, senior fellow for naval warfare and advanced technology at The Heritage Foundation and retired Navy Foreign Area Officer, discusses a proposed idea to address challenges of United States security assistance
Following DoD cloud capabilities after JEDI cancellation Jack Wilmer, chief executive officer at Core4ce and former deputy chief information officer for cybersecurity at the Defense Department, provides his take on the cancellation of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud computing contract
The future of effective IT implementation at the VA Carol Harris, director of information technology and cybersecurity issues at the Government Accountability Office, discusses serious deficiencies in cybersecurity at the Department of Veterans Affairs
Reviewing technology evolution at the Pentagon Timothy Walton, fellow at the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, discusses a piece he co-authored explaining the need for a new approach to joint force design and integration
Investing in new initiatives for the Navy Thomas Harker, acting secretary of the U.S. Navy, discusses major efforts the Navy has undertaken, including mental health treatment improvement and technology modernization
The future of the National AI Research Resource Task Force Dr. Erwin Gianchandani, deputy assistant director of Computer and Information Science and Engineering at the National Science Foundation, details the goals of the task force he co-chairs for driving innovation in artificial intelligence and machine learning
Recommendations for DoD in light of JEDI cancellation Emily Murphy, former administrator of the General Services Administration, and Mark Forman, former E-Gov administrator and federal CIO at the Office of Management and Budget, discuss what to expect from the next defense enterprise cloud computing contract
Recommendations for implementing new Evidence Act Nick Hart, president of the Data Foundation, discusses how agencies should go about developing the learning agenda and evaluation plan as part of the Evidence Act
Effects of sole-sourced components on readiness Stephen Rodriguez, founder and managing partner at One Defense, discusses F-35 aircraft sustainment costs and challenges with the military’s spare parts supply chain
The future of fighter programs for global defense Brian Burton, international business development specialist in the Defense, Space and Security division at Boeing, discusses the importance of collaborating effectively with allies as they make decisions about investments in future fighter aircraft fleets
Following DoD cloud capabilities after JEDI cancellation Jack Wilmer, chief executive officer at Core4ce and former deputy chief information officer for cybersecurity at the Defense Department, provides his take on the cancellation of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud computing contract
Reviewing the efficacy of defense spending MG Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), chief executive officer of The Punaro Group and retired Major General in the Marine Corps, explains the importance of maximizing value in defense spending as Chinese capabilities continue to advance
Shaping security assistance programs at the Pentagon Brent Sadler, senior fellow for naval warfare and advanced technology at The Heritage Foundation and retired Navy Foreign Area Officer, discusses a proposed idea to address challenges of United States security assistance
Analyzing the new Pentagon spending bill Roman Schweizer, managing director for Aerospace and Defense at the Washington Research Group at Cowen and Company, provides insight into the $706 billion defense spending bill Congress will mark up
Reviewing TSP returns in latest Senate bill Kim Weaver, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, discusses how Sen. Marco Rubio’s two bills would affect the Thrift Savings Plan and investments for participants
Recommendations for agencies following diversity EO Ahkesha Murray, principal for change management, culture, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility at LMI, advises federal agencies on implementation of the executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion
Reviewing funding for Advanced Battle Management System Gen. Hawk Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), president and chief executive officer of the National Defense Industrial Association and former commander of Air Combat Command, and Deborah Lee James, 23rd secretary of the Air Force and author of “Aim High: Chart Your Course and Find Success,” discuss the Air Force’s challenge of demonstrating ABMS program value to Congress
The latest on IG government shutdown legislation Jon Rymer, principal at Lynch Consultants and former Inspector General at the Department of Defense, and Daniel Levinson, former Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration, present their thoughts on legislation for IGs to work during shutdowns and a proposal to investigate telework success
The latest on cybersecurity initiatives in federal agencies Essye Miller, chief executive officer of Executive Business Management and former principal deputy chief information officer at the Defense Department, and Suzanne Spaulding, senior advisor of homeland security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former under secretary at the National Protection and Programs Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security, discuss investment in cyber resilience and progress on top cyber position confirmations
Reviewing the results of the Best Places to Work survey Loren DeJonge Schulman, former chief of staff to the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, discusses the latest Best Places to Work in the Federal Government data and tips for agencies based on the results
Reviewing the EDOS contract at the IRS Jim Williams, former head of the IRS procurement organization, provides recommendations regarding the Enterprise Development, Operations Services contract at the IRS
Reviewing trends in multiple-award contract spending Paul Murphy, senior data analyst for government contracts at Bloomberg Government, presents insight and analysis into government multiple-award contract spending increases
Reviewing the importance of AI in national security
Angela Sheffield, senior program manager for AI for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D at the National Nuclear Security Administration, discusses what needs to be done to use artificial intelligence to its full potential for national security
Tracking internal success in federal agencies Danny Werfel, former acting IRS commissioner and former OMB controller, discusses the latest numbers for the best places to work in the federal government and advice for agencies based on the results
Reviewing the future of the defense budget request Mackenzie Eaglen, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses negotiations between Congress and the Defense Department about research, development and technology
The debate over the future of the federal workforce Donald Kettl, Sid Richardson professor at the LBJ School, details four recommendations for revamping the federal workforce to focus primarily on the mission of government
Implementing risk management steps for DoD systems Vijay D’Souza, director of information technology and cybersecurity at the Government Accountability Office, discusses what his office found when investigating cyber risk management in inventory systems at the Defense Logistics Agency
Focusing on emerging technology in GSA contract Alan Thomas, former commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA, discusses the STARS III contract from the General Services Administration and new options for vendors
Recommendations for building new centers at the VA Greg Giddens, former chief acquisition officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses the new approach the Biden administration is taking to make changes to VA facilities to best serve veterans
The future of shipbuilding strategy in the Navy Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) discusses the need for a strong global maritime strategy in order to respond to major adversarial threats
Evaluating the health IT policy at HHS Lisa Lewis, deputy national coordinator of operations in the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at HHS, and Elise Sweeney Anthony, J.D., executive director of the Office of Policy at HHS, detail their efforts towards a new program to strengthen and train the public health informatics and technology workforce
Recommendations for the future of OPM Janice Lachance, executive vice president of the American Geophysical Union and former Office of Personnel Management director, and Rafael Borras, president and chief executive officer of the Homeland Security and Defense Business Council and former under secretary for management at the Department of Homeland Security, discuss the administration’s new workforce strategy and challenges the new OPM director will have to tackle
IT success stories at SBA during the pandemic Sanjay Gupta, chief technology officer at the Small Business Administration, looks back at how his organization implemented the Paycheck Protection Program during the pandemic
Analyzing data from NOAA climate reports Deke Arndt, director of the Center for Weather & Climate at the National Centers for Environmental Information at NOAA, discusses the exponential growth in climate data volume and his organization’s process for analysis
Reviewing the White House supply chain plan Christopher Yukins, professor at George Washington University Law School, discusses the recently developed plan for supply chain resiliency and the mechanisms in place to implement it
The future of shipbuilding plans in the Navy Bryan Clark, former special assistant to the chief of naval operations and former director of the CNO’s Commander’s Action Group, discusses the Navy’s new shipbuilding plan and its implications for future strategies
Reviewing how climate change undermines global security John Conger, director of the Center for Climate and Security, explains how climate is a part of every piece of the puzzle and how government leaders should incorporate it into their strategies
Evaluating officer career paths in the Navy Cary Russell, director of defense capabilities and management issues at the Government Accountability Office, details the recent GAO report on retention disparities between Navy surface warfare officers and others
The future of CMMC standards in defense Bob Bigman, founder of 2BSecure, talks about the naming of the first third-party assessor for the Defense Department’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification standards
The latest on the cyber hack reporting Senate bill Tony Scott, former federal chief information officer, discusses a new Senate bill that would require organizations to report cyber hacks to the government within 24 hours
Recommendations for returning to the federal workplace Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, goes over major questions and topics agencies should address in their return-to-office plans
Using the Periodic Table of Acquisition Innovations Tim Cooke, chief executive officer and owner of ASI Government, explains how using a periodic table framework helps educate government about solutions to acquisition problems
Takeaways from the defense budget hearings Gen. Carter Ham (USA Ret.), president and chief executive officer of the Association of the United States Army and former commander of U.S. Africa Command, and Gen. Norton Schwartz (USAF Ret.), president of the Institute for Defense Analyses and former chief of staff of the United States Air Force, provide insight into military service hearings to congressional committees this week
The future of DHS recruiting, retaining and training Clothilda Taylor, chief learning and engagement officer at DHS, reflects on employee retention efforts during the pandemic and looks forward to the future of learning and engagement at the department
The latest on funding deadlines for federal agencies Kathleen Turco, director at CGI and former chief financial officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the General Services Administration, and Ariane Whittemore, managing director at Grant Thornton Public Sector and former assistant deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for programs and resources, discuss how financial managers can navigate the potential for a continuing resolution
Following the OPM rehiring pay grade regulation Jeff Pon, former director of the Office of Personnel Management, discusses the new rule from OPM detailing processes agencies can follow for rehiring employees at higher grades
Closing the racial wealth gap through small business contracting Liza V. Craig, Esq., counsel at Reed Smith LLP, talks about what agencies and companies can do to reach the Biden administration’s goal of doubling contracts for small and disadvantaged businesses
The latest on GPS and alternative technologies at DHS Richard Mason, senior engineer at the RAND Corporation, provides an overview of a study assessing costs associated with threats to Global Positioning System technology
Responding to Defense Department cybersecurity vulnerabilities Danelle Barrett, former deputy chief information officer of the U.S. Navy, discusses the growing importance of vulnerability disclosure programs to the cyber posture of the government
Reviewing the Pentagon’s OCONUS cloud strategy Robert Slaughter, former director of the Platform One program in the U.S. Air Force, goes over the recently released Outside the Continental United States Cloud Strategy from the Defense Department
The latest on the White House Navy secretary nominee Jerry Hendrix, former director of the Secretary of the Navy Advisory Panel, discusses challenges Carlos Del Toro will face if confirmed as Navy secretary
Recommendations for government digital customer experience Nick Sinai, former deputy chief technology officer of the United States, talks about the importance of user experience on government websites and various ways organizations can improve their web presence
Reviewing the Federal Information Security Modernization Act Karen Evans, former federal chief information officer, discusses some weaknesses of FISMA and strategies for shifting to a new model to mitigate and respond to security threats
Recommendations for changes to the budget process Doug Criscitello, former chief financial officer at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Small Business Administration, explains the root cause of problems with the modern budget process and solutions that could help
Assessing the White House defense budget request Mark Cancian, former chief of the Force Structure and Investment Division at the Office of Management and Budget, details five major surprises in the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2022 budget request
Best practices for protecting agencies from ransomware attacks Daniel O’Donohue, former director of Joint Force development and design in the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, explains how the federal government has managed to escape ransomware attacks that have hit other areas of government and industry
Reviewing the landscape of current FEMA responses
Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator, discusses efforts FEMA is working on to prepare and respond to increases in disaster seasons
Reviewing feedback from the latest Veterans Affairs survey John Boerstler, chief veterans experience officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses how his department is using data from the VSignals Survey to improve care for veterans, families, caregivers and survivors
Accommodating pandemic-related changes to federal office spaces Norman Dong and Daniel Mathews, former commissioners of the Public Buildings Service at GSA, talk about how federal agencies can navigate changes to needs for office space in the next few years
Understanding IT security policies at the VA Gary Stevens, executive director for information security policy and strategy at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses the cybersecurity executive order and tools and methods his department uses to get in front of cyber threats
The impacts of the climate crisis on national security Jim Mitre, former principal director at the Office of the Secretary of Defense and now chief strategy officer at Govini, discusses his team’s analysis of the effects of climate change on national security and recent defense investments in this space
Investigating ransomware attacks across federal agencies Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, former federal chief information security officer and now director of the CERT Division at the Software Engineering Institute, discusses the federal government’s strong protections against ransomware and the concept of banning ransomware payments
Artificial intelligence and synthetic biology in the Defense Department Robert Work, former deputy secretary of defense, discusses critical emerging technologies and the prioritization of biosecurity issues at the Pentagon
Recommendations for personnel and readiness in DoD Katherine Kuzminski, senior fellow and program director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the importance of strategic investment in personnel management and efforts to improve it in the Defense Department
The latest on the defense budget request Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, analyzes interesting and unexpected points from the defense budget request from the White House
Recommendations for agency leaders to plan RTO policies Mika Cross, Federal Workplace Expert, talks about how agencies can successfully create return-to-office plans and which factors are important to consider
Refining business pipelines for government contractors Larry Allen, President of Allen Federal Business Partners, discusses his top three recommendations for government contractors ahead of the next fiscal year
21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act Jonathan Alboum, Federal Chief Technology Officer at ServiceNow, discusses guidance needed from the Office of Management and Budget on newly digitized processes
Department of Homeland Security nominees and cybersecurity Chris Cummiskey, Chief Executive Officer of Cummiskey Strategic Solutions, discusses the importance of cybersecurity in the jobs of three top Department of Homeland Security nominees
Creating detailed return-to-office plans Jeff Neal, former Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses things agencies should consider when developing their final return-to-office plans
Using the Technology Modernization Fund for cybersecurity Dave Wennergren, Chief Executive Officer of ACT-IAC, discusses the need for resilience and the prioritization of Technology Modernization Fund projects that focus on cybersecurity
Responding to the changing cyber threat landscape Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) discusses a bill that would help strengthen cybersecurity in the federal government by improving IT modernization with FedRAMP
Updates on cyber events and ransomware attacks Brandon Wales, Acting Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, discusses the need for dramatic transformation of government cybersecurity posture in light of increasingly aggressive cyberattacks
Reviewing the hiring process across agencies Jeri Buchholz, former Chief Human Capital Officer at NASA, and Michael Rigas, former Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, discuss the Biden administration’s goal of increasing hiring across government
Updates on JEDI cloud contract and litigation Joe Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of Actuparo, discusses the latest on the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud computing contract
Implementing cybersecurity executive order across agencies Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services at Venable, provides updates on actions agencies are taking as deadlines from the cyber executive order approach
Reviewing fund cancellations across government agencies Jeff Arkin, Acting Director of Strategic Issues at the Government Accountability Office, goes over the work his team did on examining cancelled appropriations on a government-wide basis
Reviewing the budget request in the Defense Department Elaine McCusker, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, goes over the Biden administration’s budget request for the Defense Department for fiscal 2022
The latest on the Arctic and Antarctic fleets Vice Adm. Sandra Stosz (USCG, Ret.), former Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, discusses the state of the Coast Guard fleet in the Arctic and Antarctic regions
Best practices after CMO elimination Beth McGrath, Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting, LLP, discusses components of successfully breaking up and redistributing the duties of the Chief Management Office at the Defense Department
The latest on the government-wide IT modernization strategy Dan Chenok, Executive Director for the IBM Center for the Business of Government, and Margie Graves, Executive Vice Chair at ACT-IAC, discuss how agencies can develop successful technology modernization strategies
Updates on investments proposals for the Thrift Savings Plan Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains the problems with a Senate plan that could negatively impact Thrift Savings Plan participants Updates on diversity, equity and inclusion in government Stan Soloway, President and CEO of Celero Strategies, LLC, discusses economic disparities and the Biden administration’s goals for small and disadvantaged business contracting
Updates on the CDO Council Ted Kaouk, Chief Data Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides updates on the federal Chief Data Officers Council and projects it is focusing on this year
Top priorities for the latest Defense nominees Sharon Burke, Senior Advisor at New America, and Bill Greenwalt, Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discuss the latest Biden administration confirmations and hearings for nominees
Working with federal leaders to execute the budget request Tina Jonas, Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Dave Mader, Civilian Sector Chief Strategy Officer at Deloitte, discuss the release of the fiscal year 2022 budget request and next steps for agency officials on Capitol Hill
The latest on Large Scale Exercise 2021 Adm. Jamie Foggo (USN-ret.), Distinguished Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, provides details for a major upcoming Navy and Marine Corps training exercise that will implement a live-virtual concept
The latest on Biden’s executive order on climate change Terry Gerton, President & CEO of NAPA, discusses action items for agencies within the new executive order on climate change and the risk it poses
The latest on TMF project proposals Richard Spires, Principal at Richard A. Spires Consulting, discusses what he will pay attention to as agencies submit proposals to the Technology Modernization Fund and start to execute projects
Updates on Air Force funding and initiatives Lt. Gen. David Deptula (USAF, Ret.), Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, discusses his top five action items for the next Air Force secretary
Overviewing strategic budget objectives in the Defense Department Stacie Pettyjohn, Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses priorities likely to be in the upcoming defense budget request
Updates on inactivating U.S. Navy littoral combat ships Seth Cropsey, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, explains why the first two littoral combat ships will be leaving the Navy earlier than planned
The latest on the Senate postal reform bill Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs for NARFE, explains the new postal reform bill for health benefits and explains why Congress should wait to move forward with it
The future of information in warfighting Chris Dougherty, Senior Fellow at CNAS, discusses the importance of information management in preparation against the increasing threat of “informationized warfare”
Updates on Department of Labor’s role in unemployment system Stephen Wandner, Senior Fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance, discusses the need for resources for the Department of Labor to improve unemployment insurance programs
Lessons learned from coronavirus oversight Brian Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, discusses challenges he has faced in his role as a Special IG and success his office is having in pandemic relief oversight
Goals for the NSF Convergence Accelerator Doug Maughan, Office Head for the NSF Convergence Accelerator, talks about the National Science Foundation’s Convergence Accelerator program that uses ideation from the community to find solutions for national challenges
Updates on returning to the workplace Ron Sanders, Staff Director at the Florida Center for Cybersecurity, and Dan Blair, former Deputy Director at the Office of Personnel Management, talk about the “new normal” and agency plans for bringing employees back to workplaces
Overseeing the pandemic task force Robert Shea, National Managing Principal for Public Policy at Grant Thornton, discusses the addition of an interagency Fraud Enforcement Task Force to minimize fraud in COVID-19 relief
Updates on vaccines and federal contractors Stephanie Kostro, Executive Vice President for Policy at the Professional Services Council, discusses the lack of clarity in guidelines for contractors regarding vaccines
Cyberattacks against small businesses on the rise Kiersten Todt, Managing Director at the Cyber Readiness Institute, goes over ideas for what the government can do to help small businesses strengthen their cybersecurity
Updates on defense auditing Mark Easton, former Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, discusses President Biden’s nominee for defense comptroller and the value of improved data for the audit
Updates on Force Design 2030 Col. James McGinley, Co-Chair of the USMC Affairs Committee at the Navy League, provides his takeaways from the update to the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 and discusses what to expect from future updates
Updates on 2022 budget request Seamus Daniels, Associate Director and Associate Fellow for Defense Budget Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, debunks the notion of the “rule of thirds” in defense budgeting
The state of US naval seapower Jerry Hendrix, Vice President of the Telemus Group, discusses his view that the United States should go back to prioritizing seapower to be able to match the current competitive environment
Recommendations for preventing domestic abuse in DoD Brenda Farrell, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, details the Defense Department’s struggle to accurately report incidents of domestic abuse and violence
Using data to identify and analyze racial inequities Temilola Afolabi, Research Associate at the Center for Open Data Enterprise, discusses opportunities for the Biden administration to use data to improve racial equity
Biden signs executive order to strengthen cybersecurity Ron Marks, President of ZPN Cyber and National Security Strategies, discusses the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack and the need for requirements to prevent similar attacks
National security budget proposal at the DoD Miranda Priebe, Director of the Center for Analysis of U.S. Grand Strategy at RAND, describes how economic growth from infrastructure investments have beneficial effects for national security
Cybersecurity EO impact on government contractors Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discusses interpreting the cybersecurity executive order and preparing to implement requirements
The future of Chief Financial Officers in government Mike Wetklow, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the National Science Foundation, and Stephen Kunze, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Commerce, talk about the first draft of their plan for chief financial officers of the future
Updates on this week’s confirmation hearings Tony Bertuca, Chief Editor at Inside the Pentagon, and Aaron Mehta, Deputy Editor and Senior Pentagon Correspondent at Defense News, discuss the recent confirmation hearing of Christine Wormuth as well as upcoming hearings for other Biden nominees
New cyber executive orders Karen Evans, former Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, and Tony Scott, CEO of The TonyScottGroup, LLC, discuss President Biden’s new executive order on cybersecurity
Making a business case for technology modernization Mark Forman, former E-Gov Administrator at the Office of Management and Budget, discusses what needs to change for agencies to develop better business cases and improve the success rate of government IT projects
Making the case for a U.S. Cyber Force Nora Bensahel and Lt. Gen. David Barno, USA (Ret.), Contributing Editors for War on the Rocks, explain why it makes sense to create a new branch of the military entirely focused on cyberspace
Creating a National Technology Strategy Ainikki Riikonen, Research Assistant for the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, explains why a national strategy coordinating technology and innovation is overdue
Confirmation hearings for top defense posts Bob Hale, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, talks about the recent hearing for Ronald Moultrie and Mike McCord for major Defense Department positions
Modernizing legacy systems in the Air Force Gen. Larry Spencer (Ret.), USAF, 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, discusses the challenge of explaining the Air Force’s broad portfolio of different programs to Congress
Staffing Navy shipyards to build a bigger fleet Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow and Director at the Hudson Institute, discusses the SHIPYARD Act and its intent to address low shipyard capacity
Updates on the Internal Revenue Service workforce John Koskinen, former Commissioner of the IRS, discusses the importance of adequately funding the Internal Revenue Service and areas where money should go within the agency
Improving reform efforts at the Pentagon Elizabeth Field, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, details some of the major points from her testimony on improving the Defense Department’s management reform efforts
Recruiting and retaining finance talent in government Mallory Barg Bulman, Research Director of Finance Process Excellence at Gartner, discusses the cohort of private sector employees who want to move to jobs in government
Prioritizing digital transformation at agencies Danelle Barrett, former Deputy Chief Information Officer of the U.S. Navy, discusses technology acquisition and post-pandemic digital modernization at government agencies
Understanding the acquisitions backlog in government Jim Williams, Partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, discusses the importance of prioritizing quality and value in federal procurement
The push for functional collaboration in acquisition Greg Giddens, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, defines functional collaboration in acquisition and discusses how well agencies have adopted this method so far
Working to make the tax system more fair Charles Rossotti, Senior Advisor at The Carlyle Group, and Fred Goldberg, Of Counsel for Tax at Skadden, discuss the need for funding at the Internal Revenue Service and the proposal for more resources for the agency
Defense takeaways from this week’s budget and appropriations hearings Dov Zakheim, former Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) at the Department of Defense, discusses impacts of the delay in the National Defense Authorization Act markup
Updates on the Technology Modernization Fund Renee Wynn, former Chief Information Officer at NASA, and Matthew Cornelius, Executive Director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation, discuss the new guidance on loan repayment for the Technology Modernization Fund
New rules for repaying loans from the TMF Alan Thomas, Chief Operating Officer at IntelliBridge, discusses the new repayment rules for the Technology Modernization Fund with three options agencies have
NDAA markups to be pushed back to July Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation and Institute, discusses reasons and implications for the delayed timeline for the Senate Armed Services Committee to mark up the National Defense Authorization Act
Using a human-centered design approach at the VA Lauren Alexanderson, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of Health Delivery at the VA OIT, talks about the Department of Veteran Affairs’ approach to improving services by continuously incorporating user feedback
Frank Kendall nominated as Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, Former Secretary of the Air Force, discusses Frank Kendall’s nomination for Air Force Secretary, his background and priorities he will need to focus on if confirmed
New GAO report on F-35 affordability Diana Maurer, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at the Government Accountability Office, goes over concerns about F-35 sustainment costs and recommendations for the Defense Department and Congress
Understanding the ODNI Threat Assessment for 2021 Barry Pavel, Senior Vice President and Founding Director of the Scowcroft Center at the Atlantic Council, discusses expanding upon the threat assessment from the Director of National Intelligence to take into account unpredictable events
Improving on the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results Emily Murphy, former Administrator of the General Services Administration, reacts to the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results and discusses federal workspaces of the future
The affordability of the F-35 program Richard Aboulafia, Vice President of Analysis at The Teal Group, discusses F-35 program costs and provides updates on the government contracting landscape
Updates on the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, analyzes what the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results show about telework
New executive order raises federal contractor minimum wage Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discusses President Biden’s new executive order and its implications for contractors and government employees
Updates from the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, discusses increased participation in Thrift Savings Plan Roth contributions and other updates
New funding for the IRS to crack down on tax evasions Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, discusses the president’s proposal to provide billions of dollars to the Internal Revenue Service to better enforce tax laws
Steps Navy is taking to improve financial progress and processes Alaleh Jenkins, PTDO Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) at the Department of the Navy, discusses the status of the audits of the three reporting entities within the Navy and lessons learned
Interagency partnership works to end homelessness for veterans Richard Cho, Senior Advisor for Housing and Services at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Keith Harris, National Director of Clinical Operations for VA Homeless Programs, discuss working towards their agencies’ goal of ending veteran homelessness
Understanding the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Terry Gerton, President and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration, and Jeffrey Neal, Author of ChiefHRO.com, go over their takeaways from the latest FEVS results on telework, employee engagement, customer service and other areas
Funding technology modernization in government Casey Coleman, Senior Vice President of Global Government Solutions at Salesforce, discusses outdated IT legislation, the need for modernization and the Technology Modernization Fund
Russia’s Poseidon unmanned stealth torpedo Christopher Ford, Senior Advisor for Geopolitical Policy and Strategy at MITRE, discusses a Russian weapon threatening American coastal cities and its relation to Russia’s strategy
OPM to issue new guidance for locality pay Jeff Pon, former Director of the Office of Personnel Management, discusses telework, the new work environment and reevaluation of pay classification structures
New GAO report predicts the F-35 program will cost billions for sustainment Roman Schweizer, Senior Aerospace and Defense Policy Analyst at Cowen and Company, talks about F-35 program costs and challenges the services are grappling with
China and the biggest threats in space Kaitlyn Johnson, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses trends in space from the United States and adversarial nations over the past few years
Digital operations and acquisition under the Biden administration Stan Soloway, President and CEO of Celero Strategies, LLC, discusses what the nomination of Mike Brown as under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment means for digital transformation in acquisition
Updates on the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Michael Rigas, former Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, goes over major trends from the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey numbers
IT modernization mistakes to avoid Jennifer Pahlka, former U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer, explains how agencies can get the most out of money from the Technology Modernization Fund
Updates on the mergers and acquisitions landscape Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discusses consolidation in the defense industrial base and President Biden’s pick for acquisition and sustainment head
Updating financial and performance reporting in government David Walker, Distinguished Visiting Professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, discusses suggestions for changes to government financial reporting that would make a significant impact
Lessons learned from acquisitions during the pandemic Joe Jordan, CEO of Actuparo, examines what government and industry can do to retain the speed of acquisition from the pandemic
Policy recommendations to stop racially motivated violent extremists Katrina Mulligan, Managing Director for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, discusses recommendations for countering violent extremism at the executive branch level
Reviewing Electronic Health Records modernization progress Carolyn Clancy, M.D., Acting Deputy Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses challenges in the electronic health records project rollout at the VA
Updates on NARA’s plan to go paperless by 2022 Sheena Burrell, Deputy Chief Information Officer at the National Archives and Records Administration, discusses the impact of the pandemic on NARA’s plan to stop accepting paper records from agencies by the end of next year
Federal employees and mandated coronavirus testing Jeri Buchholz, former Chief Human Capital Officer at NASA, and Daniel Meyer, Managing Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, discuss what federal employees can expect in terms of COVID-19 testing and vaccines as they start to go back to the office
The future of the Technology Modernization Fund Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, discusses the trajectory of the Technology Modernization Fund and relaxation of the repayment requirement
The return to the office and financial managers Simone Reba, Principal Director at Accenture Federal Services, discusses the changing roles of chief financial officers and the effect of returning to offices on the financial management community
Reducing barriers to entry for the next generation of national security leaders Katherine Kuzminski, Senior Fellow and Director of the Military, Veterans and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses some of the positive impacts virtual platforms are making on the national security community
Top defense priorities for the Biden administration MG Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), CEO of The Punaro Group, discusses indicators of changes in approach to defense priorities from President Biden’s first 100 days
Updates on the DEOS contract and software acquisitions Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, analyzes the perception that a high number of contracts are being protested
Preventing China from using American technology for advanced weapons systems Mark Lewis, Executive Director of the Emerging Technologies Institute at NDIA, discusses the balance between sharing and protecting technological information in the government
IT modernization funding in fiscal year 2022 Laura Criste, Federal Market Analyst for Bloomberg Government, discusses what to expect for IT modernization funding based on the “skinny budget” request
The president’s budget request and defense spending Frederico Bartels, Senior Policy Analyst for Defense Budgeting at The Heritage Foundation, discusses the possibility of running out of resources in the defense budget
Locality pay and the future of remote work John O’Duinn, Senior Strategist at CivicActions, discusses questions the pandemic has brought up surrounding geographic location of employees in relation to their offices
Promoting equity in oversight work Sandra Bruce, Acting Inspector General at the Department of Education, and Jay Lerner, Inspector General at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, discuss their work on the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Work Group for equity in oversight
Technical debt and IT at agencies Tony Scott, CEO of The TonyScottGroup, LLC, discusses technical debt in depth and its relevance to mission delivery at federal agencies
Tracking the national security threat of climate change in the Arctic Sharon Burke, Senior Advisor at New America, explains the importance of taking into account both short-term and long-term factors when looking at climate change and national security
Implementing new technology into the future Army workforce Kate Kelley, Chief Human Capital Officer at Army Futures Command, discusses the future fight, the human capital component of it and the integration of machine intelligence
Updates on the Enterprise Development Operations Services contract Shanna Webbers, Chief Procurement Officer at the Internal Revenue Service, discusses how her team worked with their mission delivery partners across IRS to develop a new IT services contract
Updating IT at the Department of Veterans Affairs Margie Graves, Vice Chair at ACT-IAC, and Jim Gfrerer, Principal at Fidelis Technology, discuss the $5 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs President Biden proposed in the budget
Embracing diversity and inclusion in government Shirley Jones, President of Blacks in Government, describes how agencies can successfully improve diversity and how her organization and others are helping
Getting ahead of cybersecurity risks in government Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, discusses the first national cyber director nominee and the need for more specific government cybersecurity standards
Updates on President Biden’s topline budget request Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the defense budget and the timeline for appropriators and authorizers on the Hill
Artificial intelligence at the Department of Defense Robert Work, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense, explains how mature artificial intelligence capabilities are in the United States and how that compares to China’s progress
Funding Overseas Contingency Operations Todd Harrison, Director of Defense Budget Analysis and the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, provides updates on President Biden’s topline budget request, including changes to Overseas Contingency Operations funding
Ensuring readiness across different domains Diana Maurer, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at the Government Accountability Office, goes over GAO’s report on Defense Department readiness in the air, ground, sea, space and cyber domains
OPM launches fed employee survey on skills and abilities Mika Cross, Federal Workplace Expert, provides details on the new Federal Workforce Competency Initiative that will aid in job design, recruitment, performance management and training
Acquisition challenges for the next GSA administrator Larry Allen, President of Allen Federal Business Partners, discusses what the next General Services Administration administrator should prioritize and focus on
“A national investment fund could save America via infrastructure, tech” Harlan Ullman, Chair at the Killowen Group, explains how a national investment fund would address America’s need for modernized infrastructure
Collaboration on Office of Personnel Management reforms Janice Lachance, Executive Vice President for Strategic Leadership and Global Outreach at the American Geophysical Union, discusses partnerships necessary for the Office of Personnel Management to successfully move forward
Developing reform initiatives for a new administration Dan Chenok, Executive Director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, discusses the successful continuation of reform efforts across decades as it relates to the Biden administration
Reforming the Federal Information Security Management Act Richard Spires, Principal at Richard A. Spires Consulting, evaluates the state of cybersecurity across government and areas of necessary reform
Talent management in the Army Gen. James McConville, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, discusses the upgrade to a new, “digital age” talent management system for the Army
Lessons learned from the FirstSource II contract at DHS Soraya Correa, Chief Procurement Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses what will be different about the FirstSource III solicitation, currently in the final stages of review
New Industry Advisory Council for CMMC Karlton Johnson, Chairman of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body, discusses the hire of the CMMC Accreditation Body CEO, the Industry Advisory Council, the review from the deputy secretary’s office and other updates
Updating legacy systems in government Horace Blackman, Senior Vice President of Consulting Services at CGI, discusses the point at which agencies decide to replace or augment legacy systems
New threat advisory from FBI and CISA Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, President of AppGate Federal Group, discusses threats of VPN vulnerability exploitation and the necessity of patching devices
Tips for transforming HR in agencies Loren Dejonge Schulman, Vice President of Research at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses questions organizations can ask to most effectively strengthen human resources
The fragility of the U.S. supply chain Adm. Jamie Foggo (USN-ret.), Distinguished Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, discusses alliances and partnerships on the African continent and military implications of supply chain fragility
Tracking U.S. defense spending Dov Zakheim, Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains why he believes a statement from House members to the president on our defense spending is misleading
Paving a path forward for climate action at the Pentagon Lachlan Carey, Associate Fellow for the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, details what the Department of Defense must do to convert climate change conversation to action
Upgrading technology for unemployment insurance systems Jonathan Alboum, Federal Chief Technology Officer at ServiceNow, discusses steps the Labor Department should take to successfully implement modernized state unemployment insurance systems
Tracking the Biden administration’s budget request David Hawkings, Editor-in-Chief of The Fulcrum, discusses the new discretionary guide for the fiscal 2022 budget, continuing resolutions and the atmosphere in Congress
Reshoring the Defense Department’s supply chain Tara Murphy Dougherty, Chief Executive Officer at Govini, discusses nearshoring and the staggering increase in foreign suppliers in the defense supply chain
Information Technology trends during the pandemic Robert McMullen, Deputy Chief Information Officer of Operations and Infrastructure at USCIS, discusses how Citizenship and Immigration Services pivoted to remote interviews using new technology
Addressing diversity and inclusion issues at the State Department Harry Thomas, Senior Program Coordinator at Itility, goes over the message he wanted to convey at a House Appropriations Committee hearing on diversity and inclusion at the State Department
Tracking the return to work as federal employees get vaccinated Jeffrey Neal, Author of www.ChiefHRO.com and Chairman of the Board of Directors at the National Academy of Public Administration, talks about what agencies and federal employees should consider as people start to return to the workplace
Addressing diversity and inclusion issues at the State Department Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, Diplomat in Residence at Oberlin College, discusses steps that must be taken to improve diplomacy through diversity and inclusion efforts
Updates on President Biden’s defense budget topline Mark Cancian, Senior Advisor in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses what he expects to see from the fiscal year 2022 defense budget and its potential impact on each branch of the military
DevSecOps at the Department of Veterans Affairs Daniel McCune, Executive Director for the Enterprise Portfolio Management Division in the Office of Information and Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs, describes the DevSecOps transformation at the VA and the success it has had in streamlining development and operations
Taking an agile approach to Pentagon acquisitions Chris Dougherty, Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, discusses the need for more agile acquisition processes in order to keep pace with competitors
Creating new GPS technology that can’t be jammed or spoofed Makena Young, Research Associate for the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, talks about the Space Force’s sharing of upgraded navigation technology with allies
Implementing vulnerability disclosure programs at agencies Katie Moussouris, Founder and CEO of Luta Security, discusses resources necessary for effective government vulnerability disclosure processes
Challenges facing Asian-Americans in the national security community Evanna Hu, Partner and Chief Executive Officer at Omelas, discusses the policy issues she and her colleagues are trying to tackle in the next few years to address AAPI discrimination
Funding technology modernization at agencies Dave Wennergren, CEO of the American Council for Technology – Industry Advisory Council, discusses what we can expect to see from the large infusion of cash into the Technology Modernization Fund
Focusing on sustainable government spending Susan Irving, Senior Advisor to the Comptroller General on Debt and Fiscal Issues at GAO, explains the United States’ unsustainable fiscal path and the necessity of addressing it once the pandemic is under control
Recommendations from the National Security Commission on AI Katharina McFarland, Director on the Board of Directors at SAIC, discusses her commission’s report on leading in artificial intelligence as well as an upcoming event facilitating opportunities in this field
Updates from the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, discusses TSP auto-enrollment, employee satisfaction, an FY22-26 strategic plan and other updates
Implementing the Coronavirus Relief Fund and similar programs Terry Gerton, President and CEO of NAPA, explains some of the recommendations in a new NAPA report for agencies to effectively implement programs that have quick turnaround times
Sharing and using data well at the Air Force Eileen Vidrine, Chief Data Officer at the U.S. Air Force, discusses using data and collaborating with trusted partners to support the mission of the Air Force
Army releases new Arctic strategy Elizabeth Felling, Strategic Planner in the Army G-3/5/7, discusses the Army’s new strategy for regaining Arctic dominance and improving training for forces operating in the Arctic region
VA to conduct review of Electronic Health Records Modernization program Jennifer MacDonald, MD, Senior Advisor to the Acting Deputy Secretary at the VA, discusses the VA’s strategic review of its Electronic Health Records Modernization program to ensure the best possible care for veterans
Recommendations for the Office of Personnel Management Michael Rigas, Former Acting Director of OPM, discusses what he took from the NAPA review of OPM and how it relates to efforts during his tenure as acting director
Best practices for empowering women at work Joanne Collins Smee, Chief Commercial Officer at Xerox, shares advice for both women and men for empowering and helping women to succeed in their careers
CISA funding in the pandemic relief bill Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services at Venable, discusses what he expects CISA to do with money from the COVID-19 relief bill and what to expect from the upcoming cybersecurity executive order
Updates on the Navy’s unmanned campaign plan Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses the Navy’s new framework for creating unmanned systems for its fleet
Challenges facing the Army Futures Command Bradley Bowman, Senior Director for the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, talks about the major challenges Army Futures Command is up against, including improvement of acquisition processes
Developing the data strategy at the Defense Logistics Agency Riya Patel, Senior Program Manager for Government at Dcode, discusses what organizations inside the Defense Department should consider as they plan data strategies
Implementing recommendations for the Office of Personnel Management Linda Springer, Former Director of the Office of Personnel Management, provides her analysis of the NAPA report on OPM and suggestions for improving human capital management
Strengthening the science and technology workforce Candice Wright, Acting Director for Science, Technology Assessment and Analytics at GAO, discusses her testimony highlighting human capital management issues, particularly for agencies with science and technology missions
Broadening the search for finance talent in government Mallory Barg Bulman, Research Director of Finance Process Excellence at Gartner, discusses expanding the pool of candidates for jobs in the federal government to include more locations
New report urges against OPM-GSA merger Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs at NARFE, evaluates how much of an impact the NAPA report on OPM will make and what needs to be done to fix the human capital management issues
Tracking data server use at agencies David Hinchman, Acting Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Issues at GAO, goes over conclusions from the report looking at data center consolidation and optimization at agencies
Changes to the CMMC accreditation body Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, provides updates on the CMMC board, FedRAMP reciprocity and contractor concerns regarding compliance
Reducing the footprint of federal office spaces Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) discusses post-pandemic work environments, remote work and reduction of the federal footprint
The future of the Defense Innovation Unit Michael Brown, Director of the Defense Innovation Unit at DoD, looks back at some of DIU’s accomplishments in its first five years and discusses overall direction for the next five
Recommendations for the Office of Personnel Management Peter Levine, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, and Janet Hale, former Under Secretary of Management at DHS, talk about NAPA’s review of the proposed OPM-GSA merger and recommend other solutions for OPM
Tracking hate incidents against Asian-Americans Erroll Southers, Director of Homegrown Violent Extremism Studies at USC, discusses hate incidents and the necessity of more awareness and education from the federal government
Updates on the proposed OPM-GSA merger Robert Shea, National Managing Principal for Public Policy at Grant Thornton, provides his takeaways from the NAPA report on OPM and his recommendations for improving human capital management
Security assistance programs at the State Department Alexandra Schmitt, Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress, explains how transferring some resources from DoD to State would improve foreign policymaking
Bonuses for Air Force pilots Gen. Larry Spencer (Ret.), USAF, 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, discusses bonuses for Air Force pilots, competition with commercial airlines and demand for pilots during the pandemic
Tracking contractors in the defense industrial base Travis Tritten, Senior Reporter at Bloomberg Government, discusses the declining number of prime vendors in the defense supply chain and the health of the defense industrial base
Tracking the problems with the F-35 program Valerie Insinna, Air Warfare Reporter for Defense News, discusses F-35 aircraft and other high-profile Air Force programs that will undergo scrutiny going forward
Addressing human capital issues in the High-Risk List Chris Mihm, Managing Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, discusses the reasons human capital management took a hit on the High-Risk List and some ways agencies can improve in this area
Taking a people-centric approach to national security Sharon Burke, Senior Advisor at New America, discusses what is different about the Biden administration’s national security strategy
Challenges facing the F-35 program and Defense Department Sean McFate, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, delves into the problem of “buying weapons to win last century’s wars”
Separating the NSA and Cyber Command Ron Marks, President of ZPN Cyber & National Security Strategies, explains why he thinks splitting up the NSA and Cyber Command is not a good idea at this time
Creating a strategic assessment of climate change risks Erin Sikorsky, Deputy Director of The Center for Climate and Security, explains the importance of looking at climate change as a factor as important as China in its impact on national security
Reforming the budget process to make military acquisitions more flexible Bill Greenwalt, Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, talks about the need for budget process reform to speed up and improve the overall defense acquisition process
Getting vaccines to all veterans faster Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) discusses the legislation he and his colleagues introduced to allow all veterans to receive vaccines through the Department of Veterans Affairs
The PRAC and the latest stimulus bill Michael Horowitz, Department of Justice Inspector General, discusses how the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee is continuing to provide information to the public about how coronavirus relief money is being spent
Federal employees and the pandemic relief bill Terry Gerton, President and CEO of NAPA, and Angela Styles, Member of the Public Buildings Reform Board, discuss the impact of the latest pandemic relief bill on federal employees
Diversity and inclusion in the Senior Executive Service Tyra Dent Smith, Executive Director of the African American Federal Executive Association, discusses recommendations for increasing diversity in Senior Executive Service positions
Identifying and addressing disparities in military uniform cost Tina Won Sherman, Acting Director for Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO, goes over findings and recommendations for addressing cost disparities in military uniforms
Prioritizing IT modernization projects in government Matthew Cornelius, Executive Director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation, discusses the COVID-19 stimulus bill and the Technology Modernization Fund
New recommendations for artificial intelligence uses in national security Elaine McCusker, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, goes over her takeaways from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence’s recommendations for applying AI to defense
The biggest threats facing space Kaitlyn Johnson, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses the threat of counterspace weapons and the importance of space domain awareness capabilities
Prepositioning programs at the Defense Department Cary Russell, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, details recommendations for oversight of prepositioning programs at the Department of Defense
Extending Section 3610 to the end of the fiscal year David Berteau, President and CEO of the Professional Services Council, discusses the latest on the Section 3610 extension in the COVID-19 relief bill
The role of the Chief Information Officer David Powner, Executive Director of the Center for Data-Driven Policy at MITRE, discusses the biggest challenges facing CIOs and the need for adequate budgets
Defining “deterrence” and “coercion” Erica Borghard, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, explains the difference between deterrence and coercion and the importance of strategy communication
Trends in the Government Accountability Office High-Risk List Greg Giddens, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, provides his takeaways from GAO’s High-Risk List and the areas that are most critical to address
Federal employees and the coronavirus relief package Caitlin Emma, Budget and Appropriations Reporter at Politico, provides updates on the stimulus bill as it pertains to federal workers as well as the Technology Modernization Fund
New executive order about securing the defense industrial supply chain Loren Thompson, Defense Industry Analyst at the Lexington Institute, discusses industrial base challenges and the latest supply chain executive order from President Biden
GAO releases new High-Risk List Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, discusses changes to the high-risk list from the Government Accountability Office and areas to focus on
Getting vaccines to federal employees Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) discusses reasons to implement a federal employee vaccine allocation and President Biden’s guidance on administrative leave for getting a shot
Technology Modernization Fund could get $1 billion boost Suzette Kent, Board Member at the LSU Foundation and Hancock Whitney, and Tony Scott, CEO of The TonyScottGroup, discuss funding for the TMF and possible changes
Technology Modernization Fund could get $1 billion in stimulus bill Alan Thomas, Chief Operating Officer at IntelliBridge, discusses cash infusion into the TMF, demand for these funds and the TMF board’s capacity to take on more projects
New Defense Department ethics code of conduct Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation & Institute, discusses the new DoD ethics code of conduct and interim national security strategy from the White House
Cloud migration at the Department of Veterans Affairs David Catanoso, Director of the Enterprise Cloud Solutions Office at the VA, discusses the VA’s process of securely migrating applications to the cloud
Tracking progress at the Defense Innovation Unit Deborah Lee James, 23rd Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, discusses progress made at the Defense Innovation Unit in its five-year history
Thinking strategically about hypersonic weapons Seth Cropsey, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses the benefits of hypersonic capabilities
Defining “legacy systems” Thomas Mahnken, President & CEO of the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, discusses the replacement of legacy systems
GAO director: Nation on “unsustainable fiscal path” requiring better defense spending management Elizabeth Field, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, discusses recommendations to improve DoD’s management of defense spending
Anticipation of tax changes is one factor driving mergers and acquisitions Jean Stack, Managing Director at Baird, talks trends in mergers and acquisitions in the federal contracting space
CPARS self-assessments help fix “broken” system, says former acting GSA administrator Jim Williams, Partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, explains the purpose of GSA’s Acquisition Alert for contracting officers
Army DEVCOM future of work concept encourages flexibility John Willison, Deputy to the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, describes a new future of work concept providing more flexibility to soldiers
TSP board “really pleased” with improvements in security posture Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, goes over new information from this month’s Thrift Savings Plan board meeting
Stimulus payment distribution could place burden on IRS during tax season Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, discusses the challenge the IRS could face of distributing COVID-19 stimulus payments while processing tax returns
Allocating vaccines for the federal workforce Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) discusses how COVID-19 vaccine allocation for federal employees administered by the federal government would work
Understanding the latest Pentagon audit Carmen Malone, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audit, Financial Management and Reporting at the DoD OIG, goes over takeaways from the fiscal year 2020 Pentagon audit
The Senate confirmation process for Biden’s leadership picks Anne Joseph O’Connell, Professor of Law at Stanford Law School, and Aaron Mehta, Deputy Editor and Senior Pentagon Correspondent for Defense News, discuss delays in the nomination and confirmation processes for top leaders
Rebuilding the federal workforce Tony Reardon, President of the National Treasury Employees Union, discusses policies NTEU is advocating for, including federal employee pay raises and COVID-19 protections
Coordinating cybersecurity efforts across government Suzanne Spaulding, Senior Adviser of Homeland Security in the International Security Program at CSIS, discusses the importance of the national cyber director and the coordination of this role with others in the government
Avoiding a “Space Pearl Harbor” Bradley Bowman, Senior Director for the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses the necessity of resilient space infrastructure to counter the threat of anti-satellite capabilities from our adversaries
The Air Force’s tactical aircraft needs Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), President of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses the upcoming review of the Air Force’s mix of aircraft and the need to evaluate the size and structure of the force
Top priorities for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard RADM Sinclair Harris (USN ret.), National Vice President of Military Affairs at the Navy League, discusses maritime policy recommendations and prioritization of maintaining American sea power
Wargaming at the Department of Defense Yuna Huh Wong, Research Analyst in the Joint Advanced Warfighting Division at the Institute for Defense Analyses, goes over four major questions the Defense Department should ask before implementing a new wargaming initiative
Expanding login.gov to state and local governments Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, discusses the significance of expanded access to the secure authentication platform login.gov from the General Services Administration
GAO finds DHS should improve grants management for countering violent extremism Triana McNeil, Director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues at GAO, goes over the Government Accountability Office report on the Department of Homeland Security grants process to counter violent extremism
Pricing reform at the General Services Administration Roger Waldron, President of the Coalition for Government Procurement, explains how schedules program reform and policy changes can increase access to commercial innovation
The Pentagon’s options for the JEDI contract Joe Jordan, CEO of Actuparo, discusses the JEDI cloud contract, possible scenarios for moving forward and the expected timeline
Understanding China’s Military-Civil Fusion strategy Elsa Kania, Adjunct Senior Fellow in the Technology and National Security Program at CNAS, discusses myths she has seen about China’s Military-Civil Fusion strategy and the actual scope of MCF in China
Bright spots in the government’s response to the pandemic Max Stier, President & CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, discusses innovation, collaboration across agencies and other aspects of the government’s pandemic response that can be replicated going forward
Eliminating inequality and bias in the military RADM Alvin Holsey (USN), Commander of Navy Personnel Command, describes how the Task Force One Navy developed recommendations to improve Navy readiness by eliminating inequality and bias
Updates on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Karlton Johnson, Chairman of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Accreditation Body, discusses how the CMMC board is listening to the Defense Industrial Base to improve the program for them and the Defense Department
Updates on paid leave, vaccines and mask mandates for federal employees Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President for Policy and Programs at NARFE, and Joanna Friedman, Partner at The Federal Practice Group, talk about some of the most important news for federal employees to pay attention to from the past week
Fixed-price-incentive contracts at the Pentagon Bill Russell, Director of Contracting and National Security Acquisition Issues at GAO, discusses what GAO analyzed when looking at how DoD is tracking outcomes of using fixed-price-incentive contracts
Cyber survivability issues in DEOS and other contracts Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, discusses cyber survivability and DoD’s ability to implement and secure cloud offerings
Updates on the Veterans Health Administration’s Innovation Ecosystem Danielle Krakora, Product Manager at the VA Office of Information and Technology, and Hunter Futo, Product Designer and Research Engineer at Electric Church, Inc., describe this year’s competition to develop solutions supporting frontline workers during COVID-19
Deploying hypersonic capabilities in the Army Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, discusses the Army’s first hypersonic missile flight test expected to happen toward the end of the fiscal year
Acquisition challenges and the Great Power Competition Caroline Baxter, Research Fellow at the Eurasia Group Foundation, discusses procurement problems underlying the Army’s slow response in deploying face masks for troops
Rethinking the process of attaining ATOs Mary Lazzeri, Director of Federal Strategy at CivicActions, goes over steps she proposes in her piece on rethinking the system for obtaining an Authority to Operate
Department of Defense could start from scratch on JEDI cloud contract Tony Scott, CEO of The TonyScottGroup, LLC, discusses the possibility of the DoD starting over on the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud computing contract
Improving DoD data on sexual harassment and assault cases Brenda Farrell, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, discusses GAO recommendations for tracking and addressing sexual harassment and assault at the Department of Defense
Focusing on readiness in the short term and long term Seamus Daniels, Associate Director and Associate Fellow for Defense Budget Analysis at CSIS, discusses implementation of a balanced approach to readiness and preparation for Great Power Competition
The vaccine rollout at the Department of Veterans Affairs Dr. Jane Kim, Chief Consultant for Preventative Medicine at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses the logistics and timeline of administering COVID-19 vaccines at the VA
Securing the digital workforce across government Alex Cohen, Director of Emerging Technologies at the Office of Government Wide Policy at GSA, defines digital workers and goes over new guidance from GSA on using these tools safely
Prioritizing IT modernization in government Karen Evans and Mark Forman, former E-gov administrators at the Office of Management and Budget, discuss optimizing investment in IT modernization and digital transformation at agencies
Coordinating the response to the SolarWinds breach Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, President of AppGate Federal Group, provides updates on the federal government’s response to the SolarWinds hack
Anticipating the next National Defense Strategy Clementine Starling, Deputy Director of Forward Defense and Resident Fellow at the Atlantic Council, discusses her piece on regaining an advantage over competitors in the next NDS
Defining and identifying cyber attacks James Van de Velde, Adjunct Faculty Member at Georgetown University, discusses the SolarWinds breach and the differentiation between cyber attacks and cyber espionage
Tracking the Third Offset strategy Robert Work, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense, discusses progress on the Third Offset strategy, the role of JADC2 and competition with China
GAO recommends DoD monitor clinical guidelines across military treatment facilities Debra Draper, Director of Health Care Issues at GAO, goes over what GAO found when looking into clinical practice guidelines developed by the Department of Defense and the VA
Defense spending bill reconciliation Todd Harrison, Director of Defense Budget Analysis at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, discusses the option of using reconciliation for the FY2022 defense spending bill and potential implications
Changing employee morale at the Department of Homeland Security Chris Currie, Director of Emergency Management, Disaster Recovery & DHS Management Issues at GAO, explains what it will take to generate significant improvement in employee morale and engagement at DHS
Updates on the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey Mika Cross, Federal Workplace Expert, provides her analysis of data from the latest FEVS related to management at agencies during the coronavirus response
President Biden’s executive order on evidence-based decisions and use of data in government Nick Hart, President of the Data Foundation, discusses the potential impacts of President Biden’s executive order aiming to elevate the importance of science and data in government
Budget reform efforts at the Pentagon Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses what it will take to make major budget reforms at the Department of Defense
Understanding the Best In Class ratings Larry Allen, President of Allen Federal Business Partners, explains Best In Class contracts, issues surrounding them and possible solutions
Return to work at government agencies Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, Partner at Federal Practice Group, discusses what to expect as agencies develop returning to the office plans and how federal employees can start a dialogue on work arrangements
SIGPR works to ensure pandemic relief money gets to its intended recipients Brian Miller, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, talks about how his office is using data to ensure money from the CARES Act is going to its intended recipients
Top management challenges across government agencies Allison Lerner, Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, and Michael Horowitz, Inspector General for the Department of Justice, discuss how the pandemic has complicated existing management challenges across government
Ensuring the success of the sixth branch of the military Kaitlyn Johnson, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, and Eric Gomez, Director of Defense Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, comment on the announcement of the Biden administration’s support for the Space Force and discuss ensuring the branch’s success
Prioritizing Enterprise Risk Management at government agencies Cynthia Vitters, Managing Director of Leader Enterprise Risk Management Practice for Government Public Services at Deloitte, discusses ERM and evolution of the risk landscape during the presidential transition
Updates on the Technology Modernization Fund Mike Hettinger, President of Hettinger Strategy Group, and Rich Beutel, Principal at Cyrrus Analytics, discuss the prospects of a possible $9 billion boost to the Technology Modernization Fund
Cyber challenges at the Department of Veterans Affairs Joe Stenaka, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses agile adversaries, SolarWinds, remote work and veteran data privacy
Pentagon could cancel JEDI contract Larry Korb, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, discusses complications surrounding the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract and possibility of cancellation
Addressing the national security implications of climate change Sharon Burke, Senior Advisor at New America, discusses climate change as a national security issue and its impact on the military
Challenges ahead for the new Secretary of Defense Harlan Ullman, Chair at the Killowen Group, discusses unprecedented obstacles Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will have to overcome and strategies for success
New GAO recommendations for vaccine distribution and supply chain management Nicole Clowers, Managing Director of Health Care Issues at GAO, goes over Government Accountability Office findings on vaccine distribution plans and data exchange across government
“Burrowing in” at government agencies Jeffrey Neal, Author of www.ChiefHRO.com, discusses potential issues surrounding former political appointees in the federal workforce
Implementing IT modernization across government Richard Spires, Principal at Richard A. Spires Consulting, discusses recommendations for effective implementation of agency IT modernization under the Biden administration
Digital strategy at the General Services Administration David Shive, Chief Information Officer at the General Services Administration, discusses accelerating digital transformation at GSA in the next year and optimizing technology to support the agency’s mission
Understanding the defense budget Tara Murphy Dougherty, Chief Executive Officer at Govini, goes over key data and trends from defense spending research
Taking a “whole of government” approach to vaccine distribution Jonathan Alboum, Federal Chief Technology Officer at ServiceNow, discusses the Biden administration’s approach to vaccine distribution and opportunities for digital transformation in the COVID-19 response
Scaling up the Technology Modernization Fund David Shive, Chief Information Officer at the General Services Administration, discusses TMF evaluation process and operations and provides updates on the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
Defense Innovation Unit hits five-year mark Mike Madsen, Deputy Director and Director of Strategic Engagement at the Defense Innovation Unit, discusses success and lessons learned in the first five years of the DIU
Updates on political appointments in the Biden administration Janice Lachance, Former Director of OPM, and Jeri Buchholz, Former NASA Chief Human Capital Officer, discuss the process of filling political roles in the Biden administration and what they will watch moving forward
President Biden revokes Schedule F Tony Reardon, President of the National Treasury Employees Union, discusses federal employee executive orders and morale at the Department of Homeland Security
Updates from the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, talks about Recordkeeping Services Acquisition, Thrift Savings Plan data and other statistics
Cyber leadership in the Biden administration Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services at Venable, discusses takeaways from the names selected so far for the Biden administration’s cyber team
National security priorities for the Biden administration Becca Wasser, Fellow at the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security, discusses what we can expect from the next National Defense Strategy and how it will be different from the last one
Speeding up vaccine distribution under the Biden administration Jeffrey P. Bialos, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland, discusses challenges related to vaccine distribution, the supply chain and the Defense Production Act
Tracking the Space Force under the Biden administration Makena Young, Research Associate for the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses the future of the Space Force, the significance of the Space Command headquarters location and the National Space Council
Artificial intelligence in the Biden administration Sharon Hays, Chief Technology Officer at LMI, discusses AI priorities, chief artificial intelligence officers at agencies, AI regulation and tools that can help the administration in this area
Raising the minimum wage for federal contractors Stan Soloway, President and CEO of Celero Strategies, LLC, discusses the executive order raising the minimum wage for federal contractors, the Buy American EO and other EOs
Making strategic choices about the defense budget Thomas Mahnken, President and CEO of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation and Institute, discuss defense spending after the pandemic and their findings regarding a possible 10% cut in the defense budget
Repealing Schedule F in the Biden administration Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs at NARFE, discusses federal employee executive orders and prioritization of human capital
Using the Defense Production Act for vaccine distribution Bill Greenwalt, Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, analyzes the implications of invoking the DPA on agencies and companies
Changing the culture of risk aversion at the State Department Gregory Starr, Former Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, explains how reducing risk aversion would improve implementation of foreign affairs policies
Waiver for Lloyd Austin nomination passes the Senate Deborah Lee James, Former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and Sean O’Keefe, Former Secretary of the U.S. Navy, discuss Lloyd Austin as defense secretary and Defense Department leadership under the Biden Administration
Updates on the presidential transition process Loren Dejonge Schulman, Vice President of Research at the Partnership for Public Service, and Terry Gerton, President and CEO of NAPA, discuss the timeline of the transition currently underway
Using the Defense Production Act for vaccine distribution Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discusses the invocation of the DPA for vaccine distribution and impacts on contractors
How career federal employees can assist in the transition Robert Shea, National Managing Principal for Public Policy at Grant Thornton, discusses what career civil servants can do now to set political appointees up for success
Security issues in the Arctic Rebecca Hersman, Director of the Project on Nuclear Issues at CSIS, discusses geopolitical changes and U.S. strategy in the Arctic
Biden Administration has opportunity to set new precedents in contracting Eric Lofgren, Research Fellow at George Mason University, discusses issues with the outdated, industrial era pricing model and the potential for improvement
Proposed stimulus plan would expand Technology Modernization Fund Suzette Kent, Board Member at the LSU Foundation, discusses the possibility of improving and expanding the Technology Modernization Fund
Issues to address in the next administration Chris Mihm, Managing Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, discusses some of the major issues the new administration should immediately focus on
Updates on the Defense Industrial Base Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discusses the Defense Industrial Base and takeaways from the industrial capabilities report
Rebalancing the Navy surface fleet Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses the new shipbuilding plan, its cost and competition with China
The government’s role in preventing domestic terrorism Erroll Southers, Director of the Homegrown Violent Extremism Studies program at the University of Southern California, looks at what’s working and what needs to be changed in domestic terrorism prevention
Investigating the SolarWinds cyber attack Ron Marks, President of ZPN National Security & Cyber Strategies, discusses government response to the SolarWinds breach and steps that will likely be taken by the Biden administration
Financial Systems Modernization at DHS Troy Edgar, Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses the transition to a new financial management system at TSA and other components
Modernizing financial systems at DHS Karen Evans, Chief Information Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, talks keys to success, lessons learned and next steps for Financial Systems Modernization at her agency
Government employees encouraged to telework for Inauguration Day Traci DiMartini, Chief Human Capital Officer at the General Services Administration, discusses remote work at GSA in the context of the pandemic as well as the inauguration next week
Data transformation at NASA Ron Thompson, Chief Data Officer at NASA, details how NASA is transforming its technology in three key areas: work, workforce and workplace
Creating a Grand Strategy based on resilience Erica Borghard, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, explains how resilience can help with deterrence and how the government can learn from the private sector in this area
How career federal employees can prepare for the transition Ron Sanders, Staff Director at The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, provides insight and advice for federal employees during the transition
Recommendations for the defense budget Elaine McCusker, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses budget predictability, continuing resolutions and modernization of budget structures
The Biden administration and the Defense Industrial Base Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), President and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses potential changes to the defense industry with the incoming administration
Cost and schedule estimates in major IT programs Kevin Walsh, Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Issues at GAO, discusses findings related to costs and schedules of major IT programs
Reaching out to veterans who have completed their service Margarita Devlin, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits for the Veterans Benefits Administration at the VA, describes how the Solid Start program is helping veterans understand their benefits
The role of career federal employees during a transition Dave Wennergren, CEO of the American Council for Technology – Industry Advisory Council, describes what federal leaders will have to contend with in 2021
Promoting investment in space transportation infrastructure Heather Krause, Director of Physical Infrastructure Issues at GAO, goes over recommendations for how the Federal Aviation Administration can incentivize trips to space
Recent resignations and the transition process Max Stier, President & CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, talks about the transition and how it could be impacted by recent resignations of high-ranking officials
Implementing deterrence in response to cyber attacks Elisabeth Braw, Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, argues that retaliation in response to the SolarWinds hack would be the wrong move
IT modernization at the Social Security Administration Greg Giddens, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, discusses the IT strategy proposal he worked on that takes into account all four major areas of operation of an agency
Government Accountability Office turns 100 Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, discusses the evolution of GAO over the years and goals for the agency moving forward
Foreign intelligence officials “almost certainly” entered Capitol building, according to national security expert Tom Warrick, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Katrina Mulligan, Managing Director for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, discuss the security implications of the riots at the Capitol
What to evaluate when considering a presidential political appointment Mark Abramson, President of Leadership Inc., goes over what to consider if offered a political job
Bringing new technologies to the battlefield Sal D’Itri, Chairman of the National Spectrum Consortium, describes opportunities in Spectrum Forward in 5G, spectrum sharing, electronic warfare and other areas of innovation
DevSecOps at the Department of Veterans Affairs Reginald Cummings, Executive Director of Infrastructure Operations at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses the DevSecOps model, cloud transition and data centers at the VA
GSA’s role in federal procurement Angela Styles, Partner at Akin Gump, discusses collaboration between GSA and the Defense Department as well as new basic cyber assessments at the Pentagon
New program to allow defense companies access to classified information Deborah Lee James, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, explains how increased access to information could help defense contractors increase productivity and efficiency
F-35 program faces delays Anthony Capaccio, Defense Reporter at Bloomberg News, discusses technical challenges in the Joint Simulation Environment and other factors contributing to delays in the F-35 program
Improving IT modernization in government David Powner, Executive Director of the Center for Data-Driven Policy at MITRE, discusses important areas for the continued evolution of the FITARA scorecard, including the PMA, legacy modernization and a focus on cyber
Reassigning the duties of the Chief Management Officer Beth McGrath, Managing Director at Deloitte Consulting and former Deputy Chief Management Officer at the Pentagon, discusses the process of distributing the CMO’s responsibilities to other offices
Top priorities for the next GSA administrator Jim Williams, Partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, discusses how category management can help the Biden administration implement acquisition policy
Understanding the impact of cyber breaches on the Pentagon Danelle Barrett, former Deputy Chief Information Officer of the U.S. Navy, discusses what is known and still unknown about the SolarWinds breach and its implications
Filling Senior Executive Service roles Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, talks about building a strong SES workforce and prioritizing people in government going forward
Suggestions for acquisition reform Alan Thomas, Chief Operating Officer at IntelliBridge, goes over three ideas the Biden administration can use for reforming acquisition
Making strategic cuts at the Pentagon Lisa Hershman, Chief Management Officer at the Pentagon, covers the impact and the future of her role at the Defense Department.
The future of the Council of Inspectors General Allison Lerner, incoming Chair of the Council of Inspectors General, and outgoing Chair Michael Horowitz, discuss CIGIE’s role in advocating for inspectors general across government.
Farewell to a year like no other David Hawkings, Editor-in-Chief at The Fulcrum, talks about the end of 2020 and looks ahead to the next year.
Updates on the Trump administration passback budget Mark Cancian, Senior Adviser for the International Security Program for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, spoke with Government Matters about the Trump administration’s passback budget and eliminating the Overseas Contingency Operations account.
Unfinished defense priorities in 2020 Kea Matory, Director of Legislative Policy for the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses how the Pentagon can prepare for the future of defense.
Planning a fleet structure for the future Jerry Hendrix, Vice President of the Telemus Group, joins Francis Rose to discuss the Navy’s future fleet structure plan and his new book.
Tracking government protests in 2021 Joe Jordan, CEO at Actuparo, discusses why companies protest contract awards and what he will be watching in 2021 in this space
Updates on the CFO Vision Act Mallory Barg Bulman, Research Director of Finance Process Excellence at Gartner, discusses the CFO Vision Act’s focus on further standardization of governmentwide financial management
Recommendations for IT modernization in the Biden administration Matthew Cornelius, Executive Director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation, goes over IT modernization recommendations and their connection to the SolarWinds hack
Updates on the 30-year Navy shipbuilding plan RADM Sinclair Harris (USN ret.), National Vice President of Military Affairs at the Navy League, discusses Navy shipbuilding under the incoming administration
How agencies share data well Jane Wiseman, CEO of the Institute for Excellence in Government, explains how agencies and organizations can be successful in sharing data
Biden administration plans for a digital corps Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, explains his proposal for a federal service fellowship that would create opportunities for recent college grads to work in IT in government
Top security stories of 2020 Aaron Boyd, Senior Editor at NextGov, and Jason Miller, Executive Editor for Federal News Network, discuss major news from the year, including the SolarWinds hack and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification
Oriana Pawlyk, Reporter for Military.com, and Sara Sirota, Associate Editor at Inside the Air Force, look back at this year’s biggest stories in defense, including diversity in the Air Force and the Advanced Battle Management System
Top workforce stories of 2020 Jessie Bur, Associate Editor at Federal Times, and Courtney Buble, Staff Correspondent at Government Executive, discuss assessment changes to federal hiring policy, telework and agency reopening plans
Television exclusive interview with GSA Administrator Emily Murphy Emily Murphy, Administrator of the General Services Administration, discusses the ascertainment of the 2020 presidential election and explains why she believes the process should be reformed
Responding to a major government cyber breach Suzanne Spaulding, Senior Adviser for Homeland Security for the International Security Program at CSIS, and Jack Wilmer, CEO at Core4ce LLC, discuss the government cyber breach and actions that are being taken in response
The SolarWinds breach and the OPM breach Tony Scott, CEO of The TonyScottGroup, LLC, explains what led to the major hack of federal agencies and contrasts it with the OPM breach of 2015
Understanding the SolarWinds breach Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, explains what went wrong in the government cyber breach and how difficult it will be to prevent future attacks
Top management priorities for the Biden administration Stan Soloway, President and CEO of Celero Strategies, LLC, discusses what to expect from the next President’s Management Agenda
Updates on the Defense Business Board Michael Bayer, President and CEO of Dumbarton Strategies, LLC, and David Walker, Distinguished Visiting Professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, comment on changes President Trump made to boards advising the Defense Department
Space Force reaches one-year mark Kaitlyn Johnson, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses what the Space Force achieved and was not able to finish in its first year
Updates on the Defense Department transition Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, provides insight into the status of the transition to the new administration at the Department of Defense
Updates on the government cyber breach Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, President of AppGate Federal Group, discusses actions that must be taken in response to the cyber espionage against government agencies
Taking an incremental approach to acquisition reform Larry Allen, President of Allen Federal Business Partners, explains why there should be a more focused discussion about the acquisition workforce
Civilian-military relations Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation & Institute, discusses concerns surrounding President-elect Biden’s choice for the next secretary of defense
Funding the federal government this year David Hawkings, Editor-in-Chief of The Fulcrum, provides updates on the continuing resolution
The biggest issues in delivering what citizens need Kate Siggerud, Chief Operating Officer at GAO, goes over top management challenges the Biden administration will face
Protecting teleworking feds from cyber threats Jim Richberg, Public Sector Field Chief Information Security Officer at Fortinet, discusses cyber threats on the horizon for 2021 and ways to defend against them
Cyberspace Solarium Commission amendments in the NDAA Sen. Angus King (I-ME) discusses the new national cyber director role, continuity of economy planning and other recommendations from his commission
Updates on the Defense Enclave Services contract Lauren Williams, Staff Writer at FCW, and Andrew Eversden, Federal IT and Cybersecurity Reporter at Federal Times, talk potential bidders and possible pitfalls of DISA’s Defense Enclave Services contract
Open letter from bipartisan former officials calls for end to Schedule F Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, and Allan Burman, President at Jefferson Solutions, explain what motivated them to sign a letter against the implementation of the Schedule F executive order
Thinking on the margins of the defense budget Todd Harrison, Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses how thinking in incremental choices can help the Pentagon save money
Improving customer experience across government Loren Dejonge Schulman, Vice President of Research at the Partnership for Public Service, describes ways the government can build on customer experience improvements it has made in response to the pandemic
Important things to know about Open Season Walt Francis, Consultant & Health Insurance Expert, tells you what you need to know for choosing a healthcare plan at the last minute
The role of the Joint AI Center of Excellence Robert Work, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense, explains how GSA’s Centers of Excellence program helped the JAIC accelerate IT modernization in the Defense Department
Updates to the topline defense budget Seamus Daniels, Associate Director and Associate Fellow for Defense Budget Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, analyzes what it means that the Trump Administration could publicly release an FY2022 defense budget
Research and Development in the NDAA Bradley Bowman, Senior Director for the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses working with allies on research and development to secure a competitive advantage over China
Appointments in the Biden administration Jeffrey Neal, Author of www.ChiefHRO.com, discusses the process and timeline of filling jobs for the next administration
Long-term telework in government Mika Cross, Federal Workplace Expert, paints a picture of the future of the federal workplace and covers successful management in a remote environment
Updates on the White House Cybersecurity Director role Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services at Venable, provides updates on what the role and authority of the national cybersecurity director would be
Reopening at the Environmental Protection Agency Katherine Trimble, Assistant IG for Audits at the Environmental Protection Agency OIG, discusses what she and her team found regarding plans to bring EPA employees back to the office
Envisioning the government after the pandemic Mark Forman, Vice President of Digital Government Strategy for SAIC, goes over best practices for a “Digital First” government
Potential for a continuing resolution Mike Hettinger, President of Hettinger Strategy Group, and Rich Beutel, Principal at Cyrrus Analytics, LLC, discuss the three different spending bills Congress is working through along with other priorities
Recommendations for IT modernization in the next administration Ann Dunkin, Chief Technology Officer for State and Local Government at Dell, and Greg Godbout, Director of Digital Services at Fearless, share IT modernization recommendations, including centralized digital operations at GSA and a Transformation Advisory Board
House committees ask for full accounting of Schedule F positions Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) discusses the letter he signed in the House requesting language in the upcoming appropriations bill to reverse the implementation of the Schedule F executive order
The confirmation timeline for Biden cabinet picks Janice Lachance and Jeff Pon, Former Directors of the Office of Personnel Management, discuss what Biden appointees will be up against in the confirmation process over the next several weeks
Implementing IT across government agencies Richard Spires, Principal at Richard A. Spires Consulting, discusses investment in IT modernization across government in the next administration
Working with European allies on a China policy Jordan Link, China Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress, details how the U.S. can reposition its relationship with China through collaboration with partners and allies
Managing the VA supply chain during the coronavirus Luwanda Jones, Deputy Chief Information Officer for Strategic Sourcing at the Department of Veterans Affairs, reviews lessons learned about supply chain logistics during the pandemic
The future of defense appropriations Bill Greenwalt, Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses defense appropriations as well as defense management reform
The U.S. approach to the South China Sea Krista Wiegand, Director of the Global Security Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, discusses U.S. strategy and relations in the South China Sea
Improving military training and experimentation Thomas Mahnken, President & CEO of the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, discusses the importance of taking account of the features of modern warfare and collaborating
The future of IT adoption in government Jonathan Alboum, Principal Data Strategist at ServiceNow, discusses the idea of the next GSA administrator serving as a chief operating officer of the federal government
Improving resiliency in government Toni Townes-Whitley, President of U.S. Regulated Industries at Microsoft, discusses resiliency as a “new normal” for organizations in the public sector
The General Services Administration and the transition process David Hawkings, Editor-in-Chief of The Fulcrum, discusses legislative changes that could be made to the transition process
The future of the Department of Homeland Security Chris Cummiskey, CEO of Cummiskey Strategic Solutions, discusses top priorities for DHS in the next administration
Fostering innovation in government Meagan Metzger, Founder and CEO of Dcode, explains what the most effective accelerators focus on to foster innovation in the government
Choosing a healthcare plan during Open Season Walt Francis, Consultant & Health Insurance Expert, provides guidance for government employees on healthcare plan options
Cyber policy in the Biden administration Suzanne Spaulding, Senior Adviser of Homeland Security at CSIS, and Christopher Painter, President of The Global Forum on Cyber Expertise Foundation, discuss the future of cybersecurity, constructive cyber partnerships and international cyber norms
Top management challenges for the Defense Department Leo FitzHarris, Assistant Inspector General for Strategic Planning and Performance at the DoD OIG, discusses top management challenges for the DoD to address in the coming year
Implementing Schedule F across the government Tony Reardon, President of the National Treasury Employees Union, and Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, discuss the Schedule F executive order and its impacts on the workforce at agencies
Tracking improvements in the Pentagon audit Tina Jonas, Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains what it will take to reach a clean opinion for the DoD audit
The 2021 Index of U.S. Military Strength LTC Dakota Wood (USMC ret.), Senior Research Fellow for Defense Programs at The Heritage Foundation, assesses the strength of each branch of the military at this time
Updates on this year’s NDAA Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation and Institute, discusses the impact of the 2020 election on the NDAA and the House and Senate Armed Services Committees
Results of the Pentagon audit Asif Khan, Director of the Financial Management and Assurance Team at GAO, discusses progress made on the Pentagon audit
88 percent of OMB workforce to be reclassified under Schedule F Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, discusses the Schedule F executive order’s effect on OMB and implications for other agencies
Cyber policy under the Biden administration Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discusses the national cyber director role, CMMC and potential changes that could impact contractors
New guide for customer experience success Lynda Davis, Chief Veterans Experience Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, describes the VA’s new “cookbook” with recipes for customer experience success
The Biden administration and the Defense Industrial Base Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, discusses what to expect for the Defense Industrial Base and acquisition under the next administration
Next steps in the presidential transition process Robert Shea, National Managing Principal for Public Policy at Grant Thornton, and Dan Chenok, Executive Director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, discuss the delayed start to the transition to the next administration
The supply chain under a Biden administration Gordon Bitko, Senior Vice President of Policy at ITI, discusses the rebuilding of U.S. supply chains and the future of IT modernization in government
Managing the expansion of combatant commands Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses developing a more strategic approach to the movement of forces
Implementing agile principles across government Ed DeSeve, Head of the Agile Government Center from NAPA and the IBM Center for the Business of Government, explains how agile principles used by software developers can apply to management in government
The Senate Appropriations Committee and FY2021 spending MG Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), CEO of The Punaro Group, discusses defense spending, the National Defense Strategy and national security in a Biden administration
The next generation of NATO Lauren Speranza, Director of Transatlantic Defense and Security at the Center for European Policy Analysis, discusses bringing in next-generation leaders to help establish priorities for NATO
Mobilizing the Defense Industrial Base Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, talks about mobilization and resiliency in the Defense Industrial Base
Improving government performance in the next administration Chris Mihm, Managing Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, discusses cross-agency collaboration and other top management issues facing the next administration
The new Recordkeeping Services Acquisition contract Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, discusses how the Recordkeeping Services Acquisition contract will improve services for TSP participants
Choosing a healthcare plan during Open Season Walt Francis, Consultant and Health Insurance Expert, advises federal employees on how to choose a healthcare plan for next year
NAPA Fellows' draft executive order to modernize the public service Jeff Neal, Author of www.ChiefHRO.com, discusses recommendations for federal workforce executive orders in the Biden administration
Updates on shared services in government Simon Szykman, CTO for Federal Services at Attain, LLC, goes over the implementation of shared services going forward
Leadership changes at CISA Ron Marks, President of ZPN Cyber & National Security Strategies, goes over leadership changes at CISA and the security of the 2020 election
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification updates Katie Arrington, Chief Information Security Officer for Acquisition at the Department of Defense, goes over what companies need to be thinking about for CMMC compliance
Recommendations for NASA’s acquisition shop Brian Mullins, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits at NASA, discusses developing an agile and mission-driven acquisition workforce at NASA
Challenges facing the State Department Kori Schake, Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, details recommendations for reforming the State Department in the next administration
Collaboration on the U.S. approach to the Arctic Thomas Ayres, General Counsel of the U.S. Air Force, discusses working with partners in the Arctic and defending against potential threats from China
Reducing ship maintenance delays Diana Maurer, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO, explains what is causing systemic maintenance delay issues at Navy shipyards
The Coast Guard’s role in space Michael Sinclair, Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains how increased access to space will help the Coast Guard execute its mission
New GAO report finds Pentagon can better document cost savings Elizabeth Field, Director for Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, discusses the accuracy of cost savings from reform efforts reported by the Defense Department
Creating a more strategic reserve force Jacquelyn Schneider, Hoover Fellow at Stanford University, goes over her suggestions for changes to the Army reserve that could help implement the National Defense Strategy
Best practices for the presidential transition process Terry Gerton, President & CEO of NAPA, goes over recommendations for how the next administration can address the country’s major challenges
AFWERX creates new Reimagining Energy for the DOD Challenge Michael Wu, Principal at Converge Strategies, discusses how innovation in the energy sector will strengthen our military capabilities going forward
Acquisition and the presidential transition Gregory Giddens, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, discusses how agencies can keep major acquisitions on track during a presidential transition
Updates on the Polaris GWAC Roger Waldron, President of the Coalition for Government Procurement, discusses the new GSA Polaris contract, CMMC requirements and Section 876
Coordinating with transatlantic allies to compete with China Carisa Nietsche, Associate Fellow for the Transatlantic Security Program at CNAS, details recommendations for coordinating with transatlantic allies to compete with China
Preparing the U.S. industrial base for mobilization Eric Lofgren, Research Fellow at George Mason University, describes how the Defense Department can strengthen supply chain resiliency to prepare for black swan events
Implementing CMMC requirements in GSA contracts Keith Nakasone, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Acquisitions at the Office of IT Category at GSA, discusses layering in the CMMC requirements into Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts
Top management challenges at the Office of Personnel Management Michael Esser, Assistant Inspector General for Audits at OPM, discusses shortfalls in funding and other management challenges at OPM
Defense Security Cooperation University hits one-year mark Cara Abercrombie, President of the Defense Security Cooperation University at DSCA, looks back at the first year of DSCU and goes over objectives for 2021
Reusing FedRAMP-authorized cloud products Ashley Mahan, Director of FedRAMP at the General Services Administration, provides updates on the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
Switching to an adaptive acquisition framework Stacy Cummings, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions at the DoD, explains how the adaptive acquisition framework at the Defense Department improves the acquisition process
Digitalization efforts at the Internal Revenue Service Harrison Smith and Justin Abold-Labreche, Co-Directors of the Enterprise Digitalization and Case Management Office at the IRS, describe the new strategy at the IRS to move toward going paperless
Defense Enterprise Office Solutions contract re-award Alan Thomas, Chief Operating Officer at IntelliBridge, discusses the DEOS contract re-award and other cloud contracts
New space leadership positions at the Pentagon Kaitlyn Johnson, Deputy Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy job and other new space leadership positions
IT hiring at the Department of Veterans Affairs Valman Cummins, Director of Human Capital Management for the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information and Technology, discusses recruiting and retaining IT talent with a focus on prioritizing customer experience
Air Force and Navy could collaborate on JADC2 Deborah Lee James, Former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, discusses collaboration between the Air Force and Navy on the Joint All-Domain Command and Control network
The 2020 election and the future of defense Aaron Mehta, Deputy Editor and Sr. Pentagon Correspondent for Defense News, discusses how the results of the election will impact the future of defense
The path to an expanded fleet by 2045 Timothy Walton, Fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses getting to the right mix of manned and unmanned ships for the Navy force structure
GSA’s Polaris contract to include CMMC requirements Jim Williams, Partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, discusses the possibility of the CMMC applying to all civilian agencies
Customer Experience Officers at agencies Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at the Boston Consulting Group, discusses the pros and cons of adding a Customer Experience Officer position at federal agencies
Gray-zone attacks and the threat landscape Elisabeth Braw, Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, explains the threat of gray-zone warfare tactics and strategies to counter them
The future of the government workplace Daniel Mathews, Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration, discusses how the pandemic is influencing what agency workplaces will look like going forward
Component Acquisition Executives oversight Marie Mak, Director of Contracting & National Security Acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office, goes over what GAO found regarding oversight of acquisition officials at DHS
Preparing the U.S. maritime industry to compete with China Jon Kaskin, National Vice President of Legislative Affairs at the Navy League, discusses ways to maintain a big enough shipbuilding industry to be able to compete with China
Tracking delays in the F-35 program Valerie Insinna, Air Warfare Reporter for Defense News, talks about the delay in the F-35 program moving to full-rate production and the replacement of the Autonomic Logistics Information System
Top challenges facing the military in FY21 and beyond Mark Cancian, Senior Adviser in the International Security Program at CSIS, discusses five challenges the Department of Defense could be up against in coming years
Top national security concerns for the next administration Katrina Mulligan, Managing Director at the Center for American Progress, goes over recommendations for international policy for the next administration
The new diversity and inclusion training executive order and contractors Joe Jordan, CEO at Actuparo, discusses what contractors can expect regarding implementation of the diversity and inclusion training executive order
Top trends in defense contracting Andrew Hunter, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, goes over trends and takeaways from his analysis of defense contract spending
Prioritizing employee mental health during the pandemic Mallory Barg Bulman, Research Director of Finance Process Excellence at Gartner, discusses how change affects employees and what managers can do to promote mental health in the workplace
The new executive order about Schedule F Ron Sanders, Staff Director of The Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, and Jeffrey Neal, Chairman of the Board of Directors at NAPA, talk about the executive order about Schedule F and what it means for federal employees
The future of work in government Mark Forman, Vice President of Digital Government Strategy for SAIC, advises federal executives about planning for the post-pandemic work environment
Planning for long-term changes to work in the government John Kamensky, Senior Fellow at the IBM Center for the Business of Government, goes over some of the challenges managers of remote teams must master
Lessons learned from the coronavirus at the State Department Stuart McGuigan, Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Department of State, describes the task force examining what worked from the State Department’s approach to remote work during the pandemic
Taking a “whole-of-government” approach to national security Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) discusses the need for new ways to respond to threats from adversaries
Recruiting and retaining top data talent in the Army Kate Kelley, Chief Human Capital Officer at Army Futures Command, talks about bringing talent in at Army Futures Command and modernizing the Army
The Space Agenda for 2021 Jamie Morin, VP and Executive Director at the Aerospace Corporation, discusses the main areas of focus he and his colleagues are working on for Space Agenda 2021
Recruiting and retaining pilots in the Air Force Tobias Switzer, Military Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, details recommendations for improving pilot retention in the Air Force
Prioritizing data at the Pentagon Tara Murphy Dougherty, Chief Executive Officer of Govini, analyzes how the Defense Department’s new data strategy compares to her recommendations from earlier this month
Improving on the National Strategy for 5G Brian Mazanec, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO, goes over what he and his colleagues found when looking at the 5G National Strategy
Addressing the declining number of small business DoD contractors Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, discusses the declining number of small business contractors in government and ways it can be addressed
Prioritizing adaptability in the military Nora Bensahel and Lt. Gen. David Barno, USA (Ret.), Contributing Editors at War on the Rocks, discuss their observations and recommendations pertaining to the adaptability of the U.S. military
The Public Buildings Reform Board and the future of work Angela Styles, Partner at Akin Gump, discusses how the federal government should be rethinking real estate footprint amidst the pandemic
Updates from the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, talks about increased Thrift Savings Plan participation and Enterprise Risk Management
Streamlining Federal Risk Authorization Management Program certifications Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, discusses using machine learning to streamline the FEDRAMP certification process
Innovation at the Veterans Health Administration Dr. Ryan Vega, Executive Director of the Veterans Health Administration Innovation Ecosystem, discusses the VHA Innovation Ecosystem and upcoming Innovation Experience
Addressing the risk of insider threats at TSA Steve Karoly, Executive Vice President of K2 Security Solutions Group, discusses collaboration between the public and private sectors to address threats across the Transportation Systems Sector
New White House strategy for emerging technology Tony Scott, CEO of The TonyScottGroup, LLC, discusses a new strategy for strengthening national security with emerging technology and government’s role in driving it
The Army’s role in Joint All-Domain Command and Control GEN James McConville, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, discusses JADC2 and mental health of soldiers during COVID-19
Transforming the modernization process in the Army Dr. Bruce Jette, Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics & Technology of the U.S. Army, explains why transformation, as opposed to just modernization, is necessary for the Army’s supply chain
The Federal Worker Leave Fairness Act in the House Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) discusses a bill that would allow federal employees to keep the annual “use it or lose it” leave they have accrued during the coronavirus
Agencies collaborate on election security Suzanne Spaulding, Senior Adviser of Homeland Security for the International Security Program at CSIS, discusses how government agencies are working to ensure election security
CISA reports a federal agency was compromised by hackers Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, discusses a report from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stating a federal agency was hacked
Civilian agency contract spending in FY2020 Robert Levinson, Senior Defense Analyst at Bloomberg Government, breaks down contract spending in fiscal 2020 and the impact of COVID-19
Viewing AI as an intelligence rather than a technology Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, explains why thinking of AI as a technique rather than a technology will help it transition faster into military systems
Prioritizing the Indo-Pacific theater in the NDS Lindsey Ford, Fellow at the Brookings Institution, explains her argument that we are not in a cold war with China and provides recommendations for deterrence
The Future of Defense Task Force report Dov Zakheim, Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains what needs to happen to apply a whole-of-government approach to national security
Creating a secure cyber risk framework Chris Cummiskey, CEO of Cummiskey Strategic Solutions, explains how a new cyber risk management framework could help reduce cyber attacks at government agencies
Implementing maximum telework at government agencies Jonathan Alboum, Principal Data Strategist at ServiceNow, discusses a new bill in the Senate that would keep as many employees as possible working remotely until HHS declares the pandemic is over
Addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on the federal workforce Mika Cross, Federal Workplace Expert, discusses how data from the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey will help improve the work environment
Army and Air Force collaborate on CJADC2 Robert Work, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense, discusses the new Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control and its role in deterrence
Implementing the Pentagon’s new data strategy Meagan Metzger, Founder/CEO of Dcode, goes over what it will take for the Department of Defense to implement its new data strategy in the next ten years
GSA’s new Polaris contract for small businesses Larry Allen, President of Allen Federal Business Partners, explains how the new Polaris contract could be different from Alliant 2 and what the timeline could look like
Implementing category management across government Emily Murphy, Administrator of the General Services Administration, and Lisa Hershman, Chief Management Officer at the Department of Defense, discuss category management and the concept of a hybrid work environment
Upgrading outdated shipyard facilities Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01) discusses what needs to happen to address issues with Navy ship repair capacity
Todd Harrison, Director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, discusses developments in Space Force acquisition and the effect a change in administration could have on restructuring efforts
Preparing for both the coronavirus and the flu Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, President of AppGate Federal Group, talks about preparing for the potential impact of the flu virus on the workforce on top of COVID-19
New applications for 3D printing Dr. Beth Ripley, Chair of the 3D Printing Advisory Committee at the Veterans Health Administration, talks about advances in 3D printing technology and ways it is being used to help veterans
Enacting reform in the Navy John Kroger, former Chief Learning Officer of the Navy, discusses failures impacting the Navy and reforms that could address them
Expanding the Navy fleet Seth Cropsey, former Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy, discusses what he and his team recommend for a Navy fleet larger than 500 ships
The CARES Act and the Defense Industrial Base Kea Matory, Director of Legislative Policy at NDIA, goes over issues with access to funding that are facing companies in the Defense Industrial Base
Tracking financial management system spending Asif Khan, Director of the Financial Management & Assurance Team at GAO, goes over recommendations for financial management systems at the Department of Defense
Digital modernization in government Toni Townes-Whitley, President of U.S. Regulated Industries at Microsoft, provides guidance for agencies about what to consider strategically this fiscal year in light of the pandemic
Implementing a cyber risk management framework Richard Spires, former Chief Information Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses how agencies can approach building a cybersecurity risk management framework
Navy could consider a fleet of up to 530 ships Jerry Hendrix, Vice President of Telemus Group, discusses the necessity of a larger Navy and the cost of developing it
Prioritizing security clearance reform Bryan Smith, Senior Fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University, goes over recommendations for the federal government to transform the security clearance process
Updates on the Air Force and Space Force budgets Cameron Leuthy, Senior Defense and Budget Analyst for Bloomberg Government, examines the fiscal 2021 budget requests for the Air Force and Space Force
Opting out of the payroll tax deferral Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) discusses the possibility of federal employees being able to opt out of the payroll tax deferral and his latest exchange with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin
The multi-cloud acquisition strategy at National Archives Sheena Burrell, Deputy Chief Information Officer at the National Archives and Records Administration, details NARA’s multi-cloud strategy for record transfer as part of a larger digitization effort
Developing emerging technologies to keep up with competitors Lauren Williams, Staff Writer at FCW, and Tony Bertuca, Chief Editor at Inside the Pentagon, discuss recommendations from the Future of Defense Task Force for faster development of artificial intelligence and unmanned weapons systems
Reforming federal hiring practices Jeffrey Neal, Author of www.ChiefHRO.com, provides his take on the Office of Personnel Management’s new list of government jobs with education requirements
Federal spending in Fiscal Year 2020 Mike Hettinger, President of Hettinger Strategy Group, analyzes federal spending in FY2020 and discusses the impact of the coronavirus on spending
Cybersecurity initiatives at the Department of Veterans Affairs Paul Cunningham, Chief Information Security Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses cybersecurity initiatives at the VA and the continuing impact of the coronavirus
Expanding the Navy fleet to 500 ships Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the possibility of a bigger target fleet size and its implications for the National Defense Strategy
Creating a U.S. Digital Service Academy Harrison Schramm, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, and Todd Lyons, Vice President of the Naval Postgraduate School Alumni Association & Foundation, describe the idea of a Digital Service Academy and the value it would provide
Trusted capital and funding technologies Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), President and CEO of the National Defense Industrial Association, explains how the trusted capital marketplace is providing an alternative to adversarial capital
New GAO report calls for cybersecurity coordinator Nick Marinos, Director of Information Technology and Cybersecurity at GAO, goes over the Government Accountability Office report calling for the establishment of a national cyber coordinator position in the White House
Competing with Russia and China in the Arctic Bradley Bowman, Senior Director for the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses concerning activity by competitors in the Arctic and steps the U.S. should take to prepare
Race and diversity training at federal agencies Terry Gerton, President and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration, discusses diversity training in the federal government and concerns about the related executive order
House passes CR to keep government open until December 11 Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs for NARFE, talks about the continuing resolution passed by the House and the likelihood that federal employees will not have to pay back the payroll tax deferral
Collecting and using data in the Intelligence Community Alexandra Schmitt, Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress, explains why it is important for the Intelligence Community to use business data analytics
New interim final rule for CMMC Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, provides updates on the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification regarding self-certification
Air Force Deputy CIO Lauren Knausenberger details priorities Lauren Knausenberger, Deputy Chief Information Officer at the U.S. Air Force, discusses innovation, collaboration and development of a solid digital foundation in the Air Force
Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification updates Katie Arrington, Chief Information Security Officer for Acquisition at the Department of Defense, answers questions about CMMC, the first graduating class of auditors and reciprocity guidelines
Preparing for payroll tax deferrals Randy Erwin, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees, discusses what can be done to address concerns from federal employees about the payroll tax deferrals
Modernizing technology to prepare for conflict in space Kaitlyn Johnson, Associate Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s remarks about new technologies and space warfare
Coordinating cybersecurity efforts in government Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services at Venable, discusses the Government Accountability Office’s recommendations for a cybersecurity coordinator role
Army acquisition and the “Big 6” Gen. Carter Ham (USA Ret.), President & CEO of the Association of the United States Army, talks about the Army’s decision not to submit its own bid on the replacement for the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Modernizing technology to prepare for conflict in space Kaitlyn Johnson, Associate Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, discusses Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s remarks about new technologies and space warfare
The pandemic response and the future of defense acquisitions Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discusses the impact of the pandemic on defense acquisitions
Payroll tax deferrals and federal employees Tony Reardon, President of the National Treasury Employees Union, provides updates on the payroll tax deferral and explains potential issues regarding paid parental leave
Cyberspace Solarium Commission suggestions for the cyber workforce Ron Sanders, Staff Director at the Florida Center for Cybersecurity at the University of South Florida, discusses reforms that could make the federal government more competitive for cyber talent
Updates on the Navy’s frigate program Thibaut Delloue, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy Reserve, highlights lessons from the Littoral Combat Ship program that can be applied to the Navy’s frigate program
Risks of mission-critical IT acquisitions Carol Harris, Director of Information Technology Acquisition Management Issues at GAO, goes over GAO’s work identifying risks in major IT acquisitions and its connection to the FITARA scorecard
Extended telework and the acquisition workforce Greg Giddens, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, talks about the effect of the remote work environment on the acquisition workforce, outcome measurement and onboarding
Cybersecurity policy in an election year Ron Marks, President of ZPN National Security & Cyber Strategies, discusses cybersecurity efforts in Congress and espionage in the 21st century
OPM proposes rule to appoint some STEM employees to 10-year terms Michael Rigas, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, talks about a rule for appointing STEM employees to 10-year terms, paid parental leave, anti-racism training and the new mandatory payroll tax deferral
Federal employees and payroll tax deferment Rep. Don Beyer from Virginia’s 8th District discusses concerns from his federal employee constituents about the payroll tax deferral and the return to the office
Updates for federal employees considering retirement Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director at the National Institute of Transition Planning, discusses how the coronavirus is influencing how people are thinking about retirement and what to consider when offered alternatives to the standard federal benefits package
Implementing Enterprise Risk Management Rafael Borras, President and CEO of the Homeland Security and Defense Business Council, talks about agencies’ progress on implementing Enterprise Risk Management and best practices for managing risks
Shared services in the President’s Management Agenda Robert Shea, National Managing Principal for Public Policy at Grant Thornton, discusses improvements in shared services and customer experience and comments on the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee and COVID-19 oversight
The mission of the Space and Missile Defense Command LTG Daniel Karbler (USA), Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, discusses the mission of his command and the impact of the formal stand-up of U.S. Space Command on operations
Property record data and the DoD audit Kristen Kociolek, Director at the Government Accountability Office, goes over how a department-wide strategy would help the Pentagon address real property internal control issues and get to a clean audit
COVID-19 and extreme weather making it difficult to get accurate Census count Chris Mihm, Managing Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, discusses how the pandemic, weather-related events and design changes are raising the Census Bureau’s risk
FRTIB expects proposed FY21 budget increase to have slight impact on participant fees Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, goes over her agency’s top priorities for fiscal year 2021
Updates on the Section 889 waiver Gordon Bitko, Senior Vice President of Policy at ITI, discusses the possibility of an extension for defense contractors to comply with the Chinese telecommunications products ban
Updates on the presidential transition process David Marchick, Director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses what the Biden and Trump transition organizations and government agencies are doing to prepare for the next administration
AFWERX and innovation in the Air Force Eric Lofgren, Research Fellow at the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discusses innovation in the Air Force and the increase in contract awards going to new entrants in the defense business
Planning for the long-term fiscal health of the government Doug Criscitello, Fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration, goes over his team’s research about the nation’s fiscal health and provides budget recommendations for the next administration
The NDAA and cyber reform in government Maine Sen. Angus King (I) discusses top recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission for the compromised version of the National Defense Authorization Act
Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation dashboard deployment Kevin Cox, CDM Program Manager at the Department of Homeland Security, and James Saunders, Chief Information Security Officer at the Small Business Administration, discuss the status of the CDM dashboard pilot from the Department of Homeland Security
Updates on milDrive and cloud storage Carissa Landymore, Cloud Storage Program Manager at DISA, discusses the one-stop shop for storage that the Defense Information Systems Agency is creating to expand its storage offerings
Making the software acquisition process more agile Jennifer Pahlka, Founder of Code for America, explains the significance of pilot programs that will test out a new color of money the Pentagon can use to buy software
New IG memo finds GSA lacks a standard cleaning inspection process Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, discusses a new IG report that finds the Public Buildings Service needs to tell the workforce sooner when it learns about a positive coronavirus case in a building
Microsoft wins re-evaluation of the JEDI contract Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, delves into the Defense Department’s decision to award the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract to Microsoft
Recruiting new cyber warriors in the Army LTG Benjamin Freakley (USA ret.), former Commanding General of the Army’s Accessions Command, talks about the Army’s recruiting strategy of using esports teams to identify cyber talent
The importance of a tanker security fleet Jon Kaskin, National Vice President of Legislative Affairs at the Navy League, discusses the threat of China’s expanding military and the importance of a tanker security fleet
NAPA report says Office of Space Commerce should regulate traffic in space Sean O’Keefe, Former Administrator of NASA, explains why the Office of Space Commerce should have the authority to regulate space traffic to respond to the accelerating number of satellites in space
New assessment of the Chinese military Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation & Institute, discusses the Defense Department’s new annual assessment of the Chinese military and the importance of keeping pace with China
Benefits of long-term remote work Grace McKinney, Head of Talent and Hiring at CivicActions, and John O’Duinn, Senior Strategist at CivicActions, discuss considerations for the future of remote work in the government
Modernization efforts at Army Futures Command GEN John “Mike” Murray (USA), Commanding General of Army Futures Command, discusses how the Army Futures Command is improving acquisitions using soldier-centered design and software-based processes
The COVID-19 Insights Partnership at the Energy Department Cheryl Ingstad, Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Technology Office at the Department of Energy, explains how the Department of Energy is collaborating with other agencies to help respond to the coronavirus and natural disasters
New IG report finds NASA doesn’t know how many devices connect to its networks Kim Benoit, Assistant Inspector General for Audits at NASA, discusses a new IG report that finds NASA is having difficulty getting an accurate count of devices on its networks and provides recommendations for cybersecurity measures
NIST releases guidance on Zero-Trust Architecture Scott Rose, Computer Scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, describes the new Zero-Trust Architecture guidelines and gives advice for agencies on implementation
New ASTRO solicitation the first to use Section 876 authority Alan Thomas, Former Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA, explains how the General Services Administration’s ASTRO master contract supports competition at the task order level
Lessons learned from the pandemic response at VA OIT Susan Perez, Chief of Staff for the Office of Information and Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses how the OIT’s digital transformation strategy helped the VA respond to the pandemic
Assessing the need for the Pentagon building James Hasik, Senior Fellow at the George Mason University Center for Government Contracting, details the advantages and disadvantages of remote work at the Department of Defense and the potential risks of continuing to use the Pentagon
Expanding telework options in the Air Force Deborah Lee James, Former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, discusses the shift to telework at the Air Force during the pandemic and the possibility of it continuing into the future
Updates on the Chief Management Officer role Frederico Bartels, Senior Policy Analyst for Defense Budgeting at The Heritage Foundation, discusses the National Defense Authorization Act and the argument for keeping the Chief Management Officer role
Utilizing e-marketplaces in government Robert Burton, Partner & Expert Witness at Crowell & Moring, discusses e-marketplaces and Congress’ request for GSA to put together a centralized marketplace for federal agencies
Veterans leaving government positions at higher rate than non-veterans Yvonne Jones, Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, discusses a new report from the Government Accountability Office on job satisfaction among veterans versus non-veterans in federal roles
New ASTRO solicitation the first to use Section 876 authority Jim Williams, Partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, explains how the General Services Administration’s new ASTRO solicitation will use Section 876 authority to avoid using price as an evaluation factor
Top challenges the Department of Homeland Security is up against Tom Warrick, Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, discusses top areas where DHS should focus its mission right now and ways to address challenges facing the department
Next steps in schedules consolidation Roger Waldron, President of the Coalition for Government Procurement, talks about the plan for schedules consolidation and its relevance to frictionless acquisition
Challenges in recruiting and retaining government employees Margot Conrad, Director for Government Affairs at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses federal hiring challenges and ways agencies can improve how they recruit talent
GSA enters phase 3 of MAS modification Emily Murphy, Administrator of the General Services Administration, gives an overview of GSA’s progress on its Multiple Awards Schedules consolidation
The Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract at HHS Eric Hargan, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Emily Murphy, Administrator of the General Services Administration, discuss how HHS and other agencies have been able to sucessfully transition to the EIS contract
Progress on Letter, Spirit of FITARA Despite Funding Gaps, Law's Co-author Says Rep. Gerry Connolly (D), Chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Government Operations Subcommittee, explains the importance of providing funding for the TMF in the latest House coronavirus relief stimulus bill
Outdated legacy IT systems at DHS Kristen Bernard, Deputy Assistant Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security OIG, discusses IT reform efforts at DHS and progress the department still needs to make on upgrading outdated systems
Mental health care challenges at DoD Carolyn Hantz, Assistant Inspector General for Evaluations Programs, Combatant Commands, and Overseas Contingency Operations at the DoD OIG, talks about challenges military members face with access to mental health care and recommendations to improve this situation
Pushing for information dominance Michael Buscher, Chief Growth Officer at NuWave Solutions, explains the growing trend towards information dominance in the Intelligence Community, Pentagon and civilian agencies
Pentagon to review Navy force structure Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, provides updates on the Navy force structure assessment from the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Analyzing the fiscal year 2021 defense budget Seamus Daniels, Program Manager and Research Associate for Defense Budget Analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses takeaways from the defense budget request for fiscal year 2021
GAO report finds maintenance delays at Navy shipyards Diana Maurer, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at the Government Accountability Office, discusses the GAO report on persistent and substantial maintenance delays at Navy shipyards
Takeaways from the TSP participant survey Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, talks about the Thrift Savings Plan participant satisfaction survey and website update
GSA aims for a quick turnaround on the STARS III contract Joe Jordan, former Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, provides updates on the STARS III multiple awards contract
The potential for classified remote work Larry Allen, President of Allen Federal Business Partners, discusses the Defense Department’s plans to enable remote work options for classified projects
New GAO report finds some top DHS appointments were illegal Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, Partner at Federal Practice Group, and Tom Spulak, Partner at King & Spalding, discuss the report from the Government Accountability Office stating that some top Department of Homeland Security appointments were illegal
Inspector General says outdated IT systems hinder DHS’s mission John Zangardi, President of Redhorse Corporation, discusses the issue of legacy IT systems that are hindering the mission of the Department of Homeland Security
Pandemic relief for defense contractors Amy Benson, Vice President of Government Affairs at SAIC, explains why benefits under Section 3610 of the CARES Act should be extended through the end of the calendar year
Takeaways from the Cyber Storm exercise Lisa Beury-Russo, Acting Deputy Associate Director for Exercises at CISA, goes over the results of the Cyber Storm exercise conducted by CISA to simulate a cyber attack
USAID gets an “A” on the FITARA scorecard Jay Mahanand, Chief Information Officer at the United States Agency for International Development, discusses how his team was able to achieve an “A” rating on the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act scorecard
Cloud migration at Customs and Border Protection Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia, Acting Asst. Commissioner and Chief Information Officer at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, discusses cloud transition in the government and CBP specifically
Top challenges in cybersecurity Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, discusses the primary cyber challenges extended telework could cause and things that need to be done to secure the remote work environment
Best practices from the private sector for emerging technology Mallory Barg Bulman, Research Director of Finance Process Excellence at Gartner, discusses how to implement emerging technology strategically
Changes to life expectancy-based withdrawals Greg Klingler, Director of GEBA Wealth Management, explains the changes in restrictions on life-expectancy based withdrawals in the Thrift Savings Plan
Utilizing CARES Act funds for small businesses Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), President of the National Defense Industrial Association, explains the effort to prevent $17 billion for defense contractors in the CARES Act from expiring
Implementing the Chinese telecommunications ban Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, comments on how the law banning Chinese telecommunications products and services needs to be more clear and specific
New research on the use of armed forces without resorting to war Barry Blechman, Co-Founder and Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center, discusses new research about the effects of the location of troops and changes in deployments
Combining Multiple Award Schedules and Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts Jacob Bertram, Principal Consultant at the Lohfeld Consulting Group, Inc., explains the potential benefits of consolidating Multiple Award Schedules and Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts into one contract vehicle
New pilot program for software acquisitions Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, discusses a pilot program to test a new way to do software acquisitions in the military
Preparing for future presidential transitions Tina Sung, Vice President of Federal Executive Networks at the Partnership for Public Service, explains what people who are interested in applying for jobs in the next administration should do to get ready
Potential vulnerabilities of Virtual Private Networks Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, President of AppGate Federal Group, explains why VPN technology may not be the most secure option for remote connectivity
Updates on the ban on Chinese telecommunications products Gordon Bitko, Senior Vice President of Policy at ITI, provides guidance for contractors to comply with the ban on Chinese telecommunications components in the supply chain
Codifying FedRAMP in the National Defense Authorization Act Tony Scott, CEO of The TonyScottGroup, LLC, discusses the significance of the fact that the House’s version of the NDAA would codify the FedRAMP Authorization Act into law
Top IT priorities at the Department of Homeland Security Karen Evans, Chief Information Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses her work as the new CIO at DHS, initiatives that have come to the forefront during the pandemic, and plans for building the cybersecurity workforce
Restructuring efforts at the Department of Agriculture Gary Washington, Chief Information Officer at USDA, discusses what “strategic restructuring” will accomplish at USDA and how it will modernize employee skillsets
Space Force releases new capstone document COL Casey Beard (USSF), Commander of Space Delta 9 in the U.S. Space Force, explains the new Space Force capstone document and the process he and his colleagues undertook to develop it
Progress on the Chief Financial Officers Act Christie Johnson, Principal at Deloitte, and Dave Mader, Civilian Sector Chief Strategy Officer at Deloitte, detail the Government Accountability Office’s recommendations for modernizing the Chief Financial Officers Act
Utilizing predictive human-centered design in government Frontis Wiggins, Partner at I3Core, discusses what COVID-19 has revealed about human-centered design and how federal systems can be modernized effectively
New capstone for the Space Force Todd Harrison, Director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, discusses the new Space Force document outlining its approach to military conflict in space
Recruiting quality candidates for DoD leadership Robert Work, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense, discusses the process of finding people for high-profile positions in the Defense Department and the necessity of maintaining a deep bench of qualified candidates
Updates on the Defense Production Act and COVID-19 Bill Greenwalt, Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, explains why the government could face problems working to procure items through the DPA as quickly as it is
Nuclear testing in the National Defense Authorization Act Eric Gomez, Director of Defense Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, discusses the disagreement between the House and Senate on authorizing nuclear testing in the NDAA for 2021
New Insider’s Guide to the Office of Management and Budget Dan Chenok, Executive Director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, describes the importance of OMB in administering the work of the government and facilitating the transitions of presidential administrations
New paid leave benefits for federal employees Mika Cross, Federal Workplace Expert, details the new paid leave benefits available to government employees and explains who is eligible and when it goes into effect
Assessing the threat of emerging technologies Chris Cummiskey, CEO of Cummiskey Strategic Solutions, discusses threats from emerging technologies identified by the Homeland Security Advisory Council as areas that need further investigation, including artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems and biogenetics
Reforming the FITARA scorecard David Powner, Director of Strategic Engagement & Partnerships at MITRE, discusses the results of the latest Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act scorecard and recommendations for improving future iterations
Updates on the National Cyber Director role Suzanne Spaulding, Senior Adviser for Homeland Security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explains the authorities that a National Cyber Director role would have and the steps necessary to create this position
Recommendations for the Technology Modernization Fund Matthew Cornelius, Executive Director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation, discusses technology problems that agencies are facing, including technical debt and antiquated operating models, and ways to address these problems
Takeaways from the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act scorecard Carol Harris, Director of Information Technology Acquisition Management Issues at GAO, provides takeaways from the latest FITARA scorecard and discusses the possibility of expanding the scorecard to include additional IT metrics
Updates on the State Department coronavirus response Mike Mestrovich, Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer at the State Department, discusses the challenges of the State Department’s shift from teleworking to returning to the office and explains the Cloud-Smart strategy
Updates on the Navy’s shipbuilding plan Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, Michael O’Hanlon, Senior Fellow and Director of Research for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, and RADM Sinclair Harris (USN ret.), National Vice President of Military Affairs at the Navy League, discuss progress on the Navy’s shipbuilding plan, delays to the plan, and the argument about what to include when counting ships
Updates on coronavirus relief bills Mike Hettinger, President of Hettinger Strategy Group, and Rich Beutel, Principal at Cyrrus Analytics, LLC, discuss areas they are following in the coronavirus relief bills from the House and Senate and their chances of getting through
Fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace Jeffrey Neal, Author of www.ChiefHRO.com, makes suggestions for promoting diversity in the workforce by changing federal hiring practices that could be discriminatory
Updates from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information and Technology Lynette Sherrill, Executive Director of Enterprise Command Operations at the VA OIT, discusses the impact of COVID-19 on work at the VA, including the major increase in call volume to the IT service desk
Acquisition reform and the Defense Department Katharina McFarland, Director at SAIC, discusses the lack of major acquisition reforms in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act as well as the most important reforms in recent years
Guidance for contractors during the coronavirus Daniel Snyder, Director of Government Contracts Analysis at Bloomberg Government, details what guidance the Defense Department has issued to contractors and what to watch with defense spending in the fourth quarter
U.S. to provide alternative payment options to arms customers during COVID-19 Aaron Mehta, Deputy Editor and Sr. Pentagon Correspondent for Defense News, discusses new payment options for foreign arms customers and concerns that some defense contractors have
New Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act scorecard Richard Spires, Principal at Richard A. Spires Consulting, discusses his take on the new FITARA scorecard, recommendations to evolve it, and the impact of IT on agency missions
HHS’s search for an innovation partner for medicine Mary Denigan-Macauley, Director of Health Care and Public Health & Private Markets at the Government Accountability Office, discusses the progress of the Department of Health and Human Services on working with a private nonprofit to invest in companies making drugs or vaccines
Looking ahead to the next FITARA scorecard Jonathan Alboum, Principal Data Strategist at ServiceNow, shares his takeaways from the hearing on the FITARA scorecard and possible changes for the future
Fostering innovation during the coronavirus COL Todd Rasmussen, MD (USAF), Associate Dean for Research at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, describes the Army’s new COVID-19 Airway Management Isolation Chamber and the military’s approach to medical innovation
Rethinking work arrangements after the coronavirus Sean Morris, Chief Operating Officer of Government and Public Services at Deloitte, discusses how challenging traditional, pre-pandemic ways of working has the potential to bring about positive change for government agencies
New rule bans telecommunications equipment and services from China Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discusses how the Defense Department’s ban on telecommunications equipment from China impacts contractors and how they can implement it
Conducting oversight on the CARES Act Robert Westbrooks, Executive Director of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, discusses how the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee is promoting accountability in COVID-19 relief efforts
Frictionless acquisition and the President’s Management Agenda Michael Wooten, Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy at the Office of Management and Budget, details the Cross-Agency Priority Goal of frictionless acquisition and some of the changes that have been made
New principles for AI ethics for the intelligence community Ben Huebner, Chief of Civil Liberties, Privacy, and Transparency at ODNI, explains how agencies across the intelligence community collaborated to put together principles for the ethical use of artificial intelligence
Best practices for boosting morale Angela Cotellessa, Program Manager of the Center for Leadership Development in the Office of Personnel Management, shares different ways that managers in the federal government can keep employee morale high during the pandemic
Antiviral infusion treatment of Ebola virus developed by NIH team Nancy Sullivan, Chief of the Biodefense Research Section at the National Institutes of Health, talks about leading a two-decade effort to develop a treatment for Ebola that has drastically reduced the death rate for this disease
Limitations on year-end spending at the Defense Department Steve Cortese, Former Staff Director of the Senate Appropriations Committee, explains why he thinks that it is a bad idea to let the Department of Defense roll over half of its operations and maintenance budget to the next year
The Defense Department and audit performance Mike McCord, Member of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States, discusses the Defense Department’s audit troubles and related challenges in recruiting financial management employees
The Navy and relations in the Pacific Harlan Ullman, Chair at the Killowen Group, describes what he believes Fleet Admiral Ernest King would say about the Navy’s current strategy, based on his World War II experiences
The Public Buildings Reform Board and selling properties Adam Bodner, Executive Director of the Public Buildings Reform Board, discusses the General Services Administration’s strategy for selling property that it no longer needs
Updates on the L-Fund Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, provides information about the new L-Funds added to the Thrift Savings Plan and explains how the money is invested
Reconciling two versions of the NDAA Seamus Daniels, Program Manager & Research Associate for Defense Budget Analysis at CSIS, talks about the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act and speculates about what a potential Biden administration would think about the National Defense Strategy
Cybersecurity amendments in the NDAA Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services at Venable, discusses some of the cybersecurity amendments from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission that are in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act
Regulating satellites in space Kaitlyn Johnson, Associate Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, breaks down the debate over what organization or agency should have the authority to regulate satellites and space debris
Audit finds Internal Revenue Service has reduced fraud and identity theft Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, discusses the new audit finding that the IRS has been successful in reducing fraud and identity theft
Preparing for wildfires and hurricanes during a pandemic LTG Laura Richardson (USA), Commander of United States Army North (Fifth Army), discusses how the US Army North is working with FEMA on the coronavirus response while also preparing for the hurricane season that is beginning
The National Defense Authorization Act and contractors Wesley Hallman, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Policy at the National Defense Industrial Association, and Alan Chvotkin, Executive VP & Counsel at the Professional Services Council, provide takeaways from the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act
Reconciling the House and Senate versions of the NDAA Lauren Williams, Staff Writer at FCW, and Scott Maucione, Defense Reporter at Federal News Network, examine the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act and differences between the two
FEMA’s challenges in managing the coronavirus response Chris Currie, Director of Emergency Management, Disaster Recovery and DHS Management Issues at GAO, explains some of the challenges that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has faced in responding to the pandemic
Emphasizing collaboration in government Terry Gerton, President and CEO of NAPA, discusses NAPA’s recommendations for the next administration to improve collaboration in government by using the process of the Cross-Agency Priority Goals
Sammies finalist develops interconnected, hospital-based 3D printing network Dr. Beth Ripley, Chair of the 3D Printing Advisory Committee at the Veterans Health Administration, explains the effort she is leading for the VA that provides care to patients using 3D printed versions of their organs
The National Defense Authorization Act and the CMO job MG Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), CEO of The Punaro Group, discusses why the Chief Management Officer position should be reformed and what changes should be made
Updates on the Force Structure Assessment and shipbuilding plan Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, provides updates on the Navy’s Force Structure Assessment, 30-year shipbuilding plan, and operations and maintenance funding
Getting spare parts to F-35’s Theresa Hull, Assistant Inspector General for Audit, Acquisition, Contracting and Sustainment at the DoD OIG, details what the DoD OIG found when tracking problems Lockheed Martin has had with providing parts for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
New Broad Agency Announcement at NGA Cindy Daniell, Director of Research at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, explains how the new Broad Agency Announcement issued this month at NGA will help make it easier to work with researchers
The future of the Chief Management Officer role Peter Levine, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, discusses the proposed changes in the House and Senate drafts of the National Defense Authorization Act to get rid of the Chief Management Officer role
Envisioning a new National Cyber Director role Ron Marks, President of ZPN Cyber & National Security Strategies, discusses which recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, including a National Cyber Director role, are likely to end up operationalizing in the NDAA
Top policies to watch in the National Defense Authorization Act Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses what to watch in terms of strategy and readiness in the National Defense Authorization Act
Approaching the PMA with best practices from the private sector Mallory Barg Bulman, Research Director of Finance Process Excellence at Gartner, discusses updates to the President’s Management Agenda and best practices government can use from the private sector to implement changes
Strategies to move towards frictionless acquisition Gregory Giddens, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, explains frictionless acquisition, an acquisition Cross-Agency Priority Goal in the President’s Management Agenda
Reopening concerns at federal agencies Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen discusses concerns about bringing federal employees back to offices too soon and placing them at unnecessary risk
CMMC accreditation body to start training independent assessors Katie Arrington, Chief Information Security Officer for Acquisition at the Department of Defense, provides updates on cybersecurity standards and explains the CMMC accreditation body’s new training course for independent assessors to evaluate compliance with CMMC standards
Treasury named Quality Service Management Office David Lebryk, Fiscal Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Treasury, describes the objectives of the new Financial Management Quality Service Management Office
Latest developments in the presidential transition process Robert Shea, Principal at Grant Thornton Public Sector, describes what agencies are doing to plan for the reelection or election of a new president and prepare for the next administration
Thrift Savings Plans updates in light of the COVID-19 pandemic Greg Klingler, Director of GEBA Wealth Management, discusses the Thrift Savings Plan and investment patterns during the coronavirus pandemic
Expanding telehealth options for veterans during the coronavirus Dr. Neil Evans, Chief Officer of the Office of Connected Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses the explosion of telehealth since the pandemic began and efforts by the VA Office of Connected Care to make it easier for veterans to use this capability
Updates on defense appropriations for 2021 Susanna Blume, Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense Program at CNAS, provides updates on the House Appropriation Committee’s Defense spending bill for fiscal 2021 and its alignment to the National Defense Strategy
Governing and protecting AI data and technology Anissa Nash, Program Director for Audit and Cyberspace Operations Directorate at the DoD OIG, discusses the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center’s work on building a framework and standards for artificial intelligence
Updates on the Chief Management Officer role Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, explains his viewpoint that the CMO office should be eliminated
Planning for the return to the office Chris Mihm, Managing Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, discusses key considerations and provides recommendations for agencies coming up with reopening plans
What federal employees can do if they’re called back to an unsafe workplace Joanna Friedman, Partner at The Federal Practice Group, discusses options federal employees have if they do not think they can safely return to their workplace
The Pentagon operations and maintenance budget LTG Tom Spoehr (USA ret.), Director of the Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation, explains why Congress should give the Department of Defense the ability to roll over some of the money in its operations and maintenance budget
Cloud-to-cloud record preservation at the National Archives Leslie Johnston, Director of Digital Preservation at the U.S. National Archives, explains how NARA’s new Digital Preservation Framework is helping agencies transfer their records to the National Archives cloud as part of a digitization effort driven by law
Updates on the tenth FITARA scorecard David Powner, Director of Strategic Engagement & Partnerships at MITRE, talks about the tenth FITARA scorecard and areas where the scorecard could evolve going forward
The future of Alliant 2 and governmentwide acquisition contracts Nick Wakeman, Editor of Washington Technology, discusses what went wrong with the Alliant 2 contract and what the future of governmentwide acquisition contracts will look like
General Services Administration cancels Alliant 2 small business contract Emily Murphy, Administrator of the General Services Administration, provides updates from the General Services Administration about the Alliant 2 small business contract, leadership changes, and reopening strategy
The future of governmentwide acquisition contracts Jason Miller, Executive Editor of Federal News Network, and Aaron Boyd, Senior Editor at Nextgov, react to the cancelation of the Alliant 2 small business contract and discuss what they expect to see happen in the future
GSA’s Alliant 2 contract for small businesses canceled Roger Waldron, President of the Coalition for Government Procurement, presents his takeaways from the General Services Administration’s cancelation of its Alliant 2 small business contract
House markup of FY21 budget keeps one percent raise for federal employees Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs at NARFE, discusses the House Appropriations Committee’s markup of the FY21 budget with respect to pay raises for federal employees and potential paths forward
Updates on Future Vertical Lift in the military Andrew Hunter, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, discusses the Army’s modernization priority of Future Vertical Lift as part of a new approach to defense acquisition, and opportunities and challenges it presents
Working towards a more diverse Air Force Gen. Larry Spencer (Ret.), USAF, 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, discusses what has been done and still needs to be done for the Air Force to achieve the goal of building a force that looks like America
How defense contractors are preparing for the roll out of DoD’s CMMC Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discusses the roll out of the DoD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification and explains how contractors across government should prepare to comply with CMMC requirements
Thomas Harker performing duties of DoD Comptroller Bob Hale, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, discusses how Thomas Harker will continue as Navy Comptroller while performing duties of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)
Report: Review of agency contingency plans during FY19 partial shutdown James (Jay) McTigue, Director of Strategic Issues at the Government Accountability Office, presents what GAO found in its review of agencies’ contingency plans for government shutdowns
USCIS furloughs 13,400 employees in light of budget shortfall Jim Williams, Partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, discusses the impact of the fee-based U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ furlough of employees due to the coronavirus
Priority action items to implement federal hiring exec. order Kristine Simmons, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses how President Trump’s executive order will affect hiring at agencies and what they have to do to meet the 120-day deadline
New executive order emphasizes skill over education Jeffrey Neal, Author of www.ChiefHRO.com, explains how the new executive order focusing on prioritizing skill over education could help agencies develop a hiring process that is more effective than their current system
Staffing the IRS to process tax returns during the coronavirus Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, explains that the IRS is moving back up to full staffing and discusses how agencies can navigate bringing people back in a safe way
Utilizing anticipatory intelligence in government Reggie Brothers, Chief Executive Officer of NuWave Solutions, describes how anticipatory intelligence can be used to help government agencies prepare for future emergency situations, such as pandemics and natural disasters
New executive order urges emphasis on skills over education Michael Rigas, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, explains the new executive order from President Trump encouraging agencies to base hiring decisions more on skills and less on educational credentials
Budgeting for nuclear projects at NNSA Frank Lowery, Associate Administrator for Management and Budget at the National Nuclear Security Administration, discusses how a budget increase for the NNSA would support three main mission pillars and contribute to executing the National Defense Strategy
Updates from the House Select Committee on Modernization Democratic Rep. Derek Kilmer, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, and Republican Rep. Tom Graves, Vice Chair, discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the work of the House of Representatives and how technology advancements can be used to better serve constituents
Consumption-based cloud computing services at GSA Alan Thomas, Former Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA, discusses the introduction of consumption-based pricing for cloud computing services at GSA and situations where it could benefit agencies
The Department of Veterans Affairs during the coronavirus Dominic Cussatt, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs, goes over the shift to telework at the VA during the coronavirus and IT strategy moving forward
Sammies finalist researches polar ice and climate change Claire Parkinson, Climate Change Senior Scientist at NASA, discusses her work in sea ice research and the Aqua Satellite Mission at NASA
Updates on provisions for the Air Force in the NDAA Deborah Lee James, Former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, talks about areas of agreement and disagreement between Congress and the Air Force and the rejection of certain Air Force proposals in the NDAA
Updates on Navy and Air Force depots Diana Maurer, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO, presents findings from the GAO about aircraft maintenance at Navy and Air Force depots and recommendations for Navy depots to stay on schedule
Takeaways from the Senate’s draft of the NDAA Brandon Valeriano, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, discusses how the Senate should have addressed coronavirus in its NDAA draft and how priorities should be updated to reflect the events of 2020
New bill could provide visa pathway for national security workforce Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation & Institute, discusses a new bill that aims to build out the national security innovation base workforce
Avoiding fraud in the CARES Act Gary Shiffman, Founder and CEO of Giant Oak, Inc., discusses the problem of increased fraud with emergency funding and what can be done to prevent fraud related to the CARES Act
Price ceiling raised on STARS II contract Joe Jordan, CEO of Actuparo, explains the implications of the fact that the General Services Administration raised the ceiling of the STARS II contract
Preparing for both a pandemic and hurricane season Dave Grant, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, discusses how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting how agencies are preparing for this year’s hurricane season
Updates from the Veterans Health Agency Innovation Ecosystem Danielle Krakora, Product Manager at the VA Office of Information and Technology, describes how the Veterans Health Agency Innovation Ecosystem pivoted from creating solutions for veterans to providing protective gear for first responders during the coronavirus
Heightened security risks during the coronavirus Hugo Teufel, Chief Privacy Officer at CenturyLink, discusses the increase in cybersecurity risks with mass telework and what agencies should consider regarding privacy when collecting personal information from employees
Exit interview with Federal Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent Suzette Kent, U.S. Chief Information Officer, reflects on accomplishments as well as priorities to focus on in federal IT moving forward, after announcing she is leaving OMB next month
Updates from the Technology Transformation Services Anil Cheriyan, Director of Technology Transformation Services at GSA, discusses top priorities of the GSA’s Centers of Excellence, including IT modernization
Updates on the Coast Guard coronavirus response RADM Paul Thomas (USCG), Deputy Commandant for Mission Support’s Deputy for Personnel Readiness for the U.S. Coast Guard, describes how the Coast Guard continues to respond to the coronavirus as it prepares for a potentially worse than average hurricane season
The psychological impact of the coronavirus Dr. Nicholas Polizzi, inTransition Program and Real Warriors Campaign Lead at the Defense Health Agency, discusses the increase in mental health problems from the coronavirus pandemic and what the DHA is doing to normalize mental health care
Benefits of digital training in government Kathy Pham, Co-Founder and Mentor at Mozilla Builders Fix the Internet Incubator, describes how agencies can develop effective digital training by using human-centered design
Sammies finalist develops system to track opioid prescriptions Dr. Vikram Krishnasamy, Medical Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, discusses how he is working to combat the opioid epidemic by helping coordinate healthcare professionals and law enforcement
Identifying racial disparities in the military Brenda Farrell, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, discusses the GAO’s recommendation for more comprehensive studies to determine what is causing racial disparities in the military
Defense Industrial Base provisions in the NDAA drafts Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), President of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses new provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act that would impact the Defense Industrial Base
Priorities of the Defense Space Strategy Todd Harrison, Director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, explains the new Defense Space Strategy from the Pentagon that emphasizes having a military advantage in space
Upcoming changes to the L Fund Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains the new L Funds that the FRTIB will roll out at the end of the month
Top trends in the space industry Tom Zelibor, Chief Executive Officer of the Space Foundation, presents some of the major areas of growth in the space industry as well as potential roadblocks to innovation
Revamping digital training in government Kelly O’Connor, Principal at Boston Consulting Group, discusses how government agencies can more effectively provide digital learning to employees to improve training in a telework environment
Modernizing IT at the Department of Veterans Affairs Mike Bowman, Director of Information Technology and Security Audits at the Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, details recommendations to address the issue of the VA CIO not approving some acquisitions
Updating the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program Michael McLaughlin, Research Analyst at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, goes over recommendations for improving the FedRAMP to address areas of concern regarding authorization
Revamping digital training in government Andrea Ippolito, Lecturer in the Engineering Management Program at Cornell University, discusses the role of digital training at federal agencies as some employees could continue to telework
Updates on GSA’s Multiple Award Schedules consolidation Stephanie Shutt, Director of the Multiple Award Schedule Program at GSA, provides updates on the three phases of Multiple Award Schedules consolidation at GSA
Balancing hurricane and pandemic preparations Jeh Johnson, Partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, discusses the challenges agencies face of preparing for the upcoming hurricane season in the midst of the pandemic
Recruiting and retaining the IT workforce Tom Soderstrom, IT Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at the Jet Propulsion Lab at NASA, discusses ways of bringing in and retaining a skilled workforce to stay ahead of current technology
New GAO report tracks Pentagon acquisition spending Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, discusses a report from the GAO on defense acquisition spending and whether or not changes to acquisitions have taken effect
Top cybersecurity issues to pay more attention to Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, talks about major cybersecurity risks and how the remote work environment is creating opportunities for vulnerabilities
Sammies finalist develops new drug for rare form of leukemia Dr. Ira Pastan, Distinguished Investigator at the National Cancer Institute at NIH, discusses a drug he developed for a rare type of leukemia and its potential to treat other cancers
Lessons learned from previous emergency relief efforts Theresa Hull, Assistant Inspector General for Audit, Acquisition, Contracting and Sustainment at the DoD OIG, highlights what the DoD OIG found in its new report looking at past emergency responses to help the defense contracting community respond to the current pandemic
The National Defense Strategy and defense budgets Bill Greenwalt, Senior Fellow at the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council, discusses a new report about the impact of the National Defense Strategy on the defense budget, and the likelihood of budget increases
New NDAA draft doesn’t include Space Force procurement changes Kaitlyn Johnson, Associate Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, explains the status of including space acquisition reforms in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act
Updates on the Technology Modernization Fund Tony Scott, Managing Partner at Ridge-Lane, provides updates on the Technology Modernization Fund and suggestions for what could be changed
Planning for both a hurricane and a pandemic Mark McNulty, VP and General Manager of U.S. Federal Government Markets at Motorola Solutions, discusses how the coronavirus complicates hurricane preparation and how agencies should coordinate hurricane and pandemic plans
CIO Council’s recommendations for the IT workforce Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, goes over new recommendations from the CIO Council for making federal IT career paths more attractive to the workforce of the future
Federal retirement and the coronavirus Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director at the National Institute of Transition Planning, discusses the possibility of a higher number of federal employees retiring this year because of the coronavirus
Working together across agencies on data Victoria Velkoff, Associate Director for Demographic Programs at the U.S. Census Bureau, details how the Census Bureau has collaborated with five other agencies to quickly provide data to the government and private sector
Workforce needs during the pandemic Kristine Simmons, Vice President of Government Affairs at the Partnership for Public Service, describes challenges and unexpected positive changes that agencies have seen because of the pandemic
Priorities of the Chief Data Officers Council Ted Kaouk, Chief Data Officer at the USDA, discusses his role as the chair of the Chief Data Officers Council and the agenda of the institution
Updates from the Small Business Administration during the pandemic Allen Gutierrez, Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development at the SBA, explains how the Small Business Administration is helping small businesses across the country during the pandemic
Implementing cybersecurity standards in a changing threat landscape Donna Dodson, Chief Cybersecurity Advisor at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, talks about how agencies have used the cybersecurity risk management framework from NIST to be prepared during the pandemic
New GAO report on inspector general reform Susan Sawtelle, Managing Associate General Counsel at the Government Accountability Office, goes over options that GAO presented to Congress for addressing concerns about IG independence
IT and cyber spending at the end of the fiscal year Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, President of AppGate Federal Group, examines the factors impacting cybersecurity spending in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year
Sammies finalist works to intervene and prevent mass shootings Lina Alathari, Chief of the National Threat Assessment Center at the Secret Service, explains how the National Threat Assessment Center is helping schools and other organizations prevent mass shootings
Prioritizing mental health in the military and among veterans Chris Molaro, Chief Executive Officer of NeuroFlow, describes how the adoption of new technologies as a result of the coronavirus is improving mental health care in the military and among veterans
Potential for an arms control treaty with Russia Sarah Bidgood, Director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, discusses the possibility of an arms control treaty between the US and Russia and potential areas of cooperation
The War on Terror and wars about ideology Col. Frank Sobchak (USA Ret.), Contributor at the MirYam Institute, explains the idea that warfare has fundamentally changed and how the US should prepare
Opportunities and challenges in reopening Jonathan Alboum, Principal Data Strategist at ServiceNow, discusses opportunities and challenges for agencies to consider as they start to reopen offices
Problem-solving similarities in the public and private sector Joseph Klimavicz, Managing Director of Consulting at KPMG, provides insights about some of the similarities and differences of working in the public and private sectors
Federal IT needs in government Mike Hettinger, President of the Hettinger Strategy Group, discusses resources going to federal agencies for IT modernization and remote work during the pandemic
New Grant Recipient Digital Dossier at HHS Michael Peckham, ReImagine HHS Grants Initiative Lead at the Department of Health & Human Services, describes how HHS is reinventing grants management by prioritizing user engagement
Multiple Award Contracts and whistleblowers Larry Allen, President of Allen Federal Business Partners, explains how the increase in spending on Multiple Award Contracts will probably lead to increased whistleblower activity
Implementing agile methods in government Ed DeSeve, Head of the Agile Government Center from NAPA, talks about the shift to agile software development in government agencies, challenges and important things for companies to focus on when implementing agile principles
Telework at the Pentagon during the pandemic Essye Miller, Principal Deputy CIO at the Department of Defense, describes the telework effort that the Department of Defense undertook and how it will change the work environment moving forward
Addressing racial issues in the Air Force Gen. Larry Spencer (Ret.), USAF, 37th Vice Chief of Staff of the USAF, and Michael Donley, 22nd Secretary of the Air Force, discuss the issue of racial disparities in the Air Force and the Department of Defense as a whole and what leaders should do to address it
A whole-of-enterprise approach to GEOINT VADM Robert Sharp (USN), Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, discusses the whole-of-enterprise approach of the NGA and the effect that the pandemic has had on the agency
Deterrence by detection as an operational concept Thomas Mahnken, President & CEO of the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, explains how deterrence by detection would be a cost-effective way to address opportunistic aggression
VA OIT’s coronavirus response Jim Gfrerer, Chief Information Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information Technology, details how the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Information Technology has adapted to changes in the IT environment since the beginning of the pandemic
The coronavirus and federal retirees Jeffrey Neal, Author of www.ChiefHRO.com, discusses the potential problem of federal employees choosing to retire out of safety concerns as agencies reopen
Prioritizing mental health during the coronavirus COL David Benedek, M.D. (USA), Chief of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, discusses the impact of the coronavirus on mental health and how the military can plan for potential future issues despite uncertainty
New recommendations for review of Medical Treatment Facilities Brenda Farrell, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, goes over recommendations of the GAO for the Defense Department to effectively assess healthcare needs when restructuring hospitals and clinics
Potential reform to the Overseas Contingency Operations account Andrew Lautz, Policy and Government Affairs Manager for the National Taxpayers Union, explains why the Overseas Contingency Operations account is problematic and how it can be reformed
Firing of State Department IG Steve Linick Amb. Ronald Neumann, President of the American Academy of Diplomacy, comments on the removal of State Department IG Steve Linick and reasons for concern
Reviewing agency procedures post-coronavirus Lee Becker, Solutions Principal at Medallia, discusses how government agencies can focus on customer experience to prepare for a second wave of the coronavirus
New GAO report on fragmentation, overlap & duplication Richard Spires, Principal at Richard A. Spires Consulting, presents some of the main takeaways from the new GAO report on fragmentation, overlap and duplication
Enterprise Risk Management in government Cynthia Vitters, Managing Director of Risk and Financial Advisory at Deloitte, and Dave Mader, Civilian Sector Chief Strategy Officer at Deloitte, assess the progress agencies have made in using risk management principles and go over five steps for moving forward
Sammies finalist negotiates trade arrangement with Mexico and Canada John Melle, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, discusses the process and significance of negotiating the new United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA)
Risks in implementing artificial intelligence Dan Chenok, Executive Director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, talks about the benefits and risks of adopting artificial intelligence in government agencies
The latest Federal Information Security Management Act report Suzette Kent, U.S. Chief Information Officer, and Grant Schneider, U.S. Chief Information Security Officer, discuss the latest FISMA report showing improvement in agency risk management
Updates from the Federal Acquisition Service Julie Dunne, Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service at GSA, outlines how the Federal Acquisition Service is helping its customer agencies reopen
USAID’s new digital strategy Bonnie Glick, Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, describes USAID’s new strategy for making digital technology central to its humanitarian assistance
New Thrift Savings Plan measures from the CARES Act Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, goes over the new withdrawal options for the Thrift Savings Plan that the CARES Act allows for
Implementing emerging technology in government Katie Malague, Vice President of Government Effectiveness at the Partnership for Public Service, highlights best practices for introducing new and emerging technology in government agencies
Sammies finalist creates public-private partnerships Thomas DeBass, Managing Director at the Office of Global Partnerships at the Department of State, explains how the State Department works with public and private partners to advance foreign policy
Pilot could allow government-issued mobile devices in secure areas Steve Wallace, Systems Innovation Scientist at DISA, describes a new pilot program that would enable Defense Department employees to use government-issued mobile devices in secured places
New enterprise review of missile warnings Todd Harrison, Director of the Aerospace Security Project at Center for Strategic & International Studies, provides updates on Space Force missile defense architecture and the organization of space-related mission areas
Planning for cuts in the defense budget over time Eric Lofgren, Research Fellow at George Mason University, explains the “stickiness” of the defense budget and how the coronavirus is impacting it
New report on fragmentation, overlap, and duplication in government Jessica Lucas-Judy, Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, discusses the latest GAO report on fragmentation, overlap, and duplication in the federal government and identifies areas where savings have occurred
Tracking the cyber supply chain Katherine Gronberg, Vice President of Government Affairs at Forescout Technologies, discusses the security of the cyber supply chain and recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission that could get advanced
Building a multi-cloud security gateway Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services at Venable, addresses the Defense Department moving towards zero-trust security and implementing a multi-cloud security gateway
Reforming the IG system Jim Taylor, Former Deputy Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security, and Jon Rymer, Principal at Lynch Consultants and Former Inspector General at the Department of Defense, provide their perspectives on the firings and reassignments of inspectors general in the last two months
The National Cemetery Administration and Memorial Day Randy Reeves, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs, talks about how the National Cemetery Administration has prepared to honor veterans on Memorial Day and how the coronavirus has impacted plans
The State Department’s new Center for Analytics Janice deGarmo, Deputy Director in the Office of Management Strategy and Solutions at the Department of State, describes the new Center for Analytics at the State Department and how it is helping personnel at all levels use data to make decisions
Updates from the Board of Veterans’ Appeals during the coronavirus Cheryl Mason, Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, describes how the Board has held virtual hearings since having to suspend in-person hearings due to the coronavirus
The current climate for IGs in the federal government Robert Shea, Principal at Grant Thornton Public Sector, comments on the recent pattern of firing inspectors general and how it could impact oversight
Sammies finalist identifies high-risk federal programs Chris Mihm, Managing Director of Strategic Issues at GAO, discusses the high-risk list from the Government Accountability Office and progress organizations have made on getting off the list
New Defense Department IG plan for overseeing COVID-19 response Leo FitzHarris, Strategy and Planning Innovations Director at the Department of Defense OIG, details the plan of the Defense Department Inspector General’s Office to examine the agency’s response to the coronavirus
Reducing reliance on China for rare earth minerals Sharon Burke, Senior Advisor at New America, discusses the United States’ dependency on China for rare earth minerals and the need to increase production of these materials elsewhere
Using new commercial tech in government Meagan Metzger, Founder/CEO of Dcode, talks about barriers to using commercial technology in the Defense Department and things that could help the government make better use of it
Schedules consolidation and pricing reform Roger Waldron, President of the Coalition for Government Procurement, explains the importance of pricing reform for GSA Schedules
Preparing for long-term telework at agencies Rich McBee, President and CEO of Riverbed Technology, discusses what government agencies need to consider to maximize remote work after the pandemic is over
CISA lists top cybersecurity vulnerabilities Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, President of AppGate Federal Group, talks about the list of top cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the importance of addressing them with patching and proper configurations
The Defense Business Board and the DoD CMO MG Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), CEO of The Punaro Group, covers what the Defense Business Board found and recommended regarding the Defense Department’s Chief Management Officer role
Remote work at the Defense Department after the virus Susanna Blume, Senior Fellow and Director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), discusses the future of telework at the Defense Department and barriers to implementing increased telework
Approaching ties to China after the coronavirus Ron Marks, President of ZPN Cyber and National Security Strategies, discusses the United States’ economic relationship with China and foreign policy considerations
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act California Democratic Rep. Mark Takano, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Cmte., explains what the HEROES Act would provide and how it would help workers at the VA
The creation of a new National Cyber Director role Maine Independent Sen. Angus King and Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher discuss the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, their recommendation to create a National Cyber Director role, and the impact of the coronavirus on the cyber landscape
U.S. Navy adds patrols in the Arctic Circle Jerry Hendrix, Vice President of Telemus Group, discusses what the U.S. has done and needs to do to counter the territorial claims Russia is making in the Arctic Ocean
Prioritizing customer experience during the coronavirus Kathy Conrad, Director of Digital Government for Accenture Federal Services, explains how the government is using digital platforms to continue to meet customer needs during the pandemic
Sammies finalist leads planning for USS John C. Stennis overhaul Mark Braza, Asst. Program Manager at the Program Management Office for In-Service Aircraft Carriers in the Navy, discusses challenges and successes of mid-life overhauls of aircraft carriers in the Navy
Updates on the Navy’s new frigate program Bryan Clark, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, provides updates on the Navy’s new frigate program, which includes buying at least 20 frigates
Legislative proposals in the NDAA Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle (USAF, Ret.), President of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses concerns with some of what the Defense Department has asked for in the National Defense Authorization Act
The Air Force Battle Management System and costs Marie Mak, Director of Contracting & National Security Acquisitions at GAO, presents the findings of a new GAO report on the Air Force Advanced Battle Management System, including elements missing from the business case
Andrew Hunter, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, identifies the impact the pandemic has had on the defense supply chain, particularly the lower levels
Carey Smith, President and Chief Operating Officer of Parsons Corporation, details how her company and others are using innovative technology to help agencies respond to the pandemic
Terry Gerton, President & CEO of NAPA, explains how the pandemic has affected demographic groups differently and why it is important to reopen equitably
Asif Khan, Director of the Financial Management & Assurance Team at the GAO, discusses the audit process at the Defense Department and some of the controls that should be established
John Kamensky, Senior Fellow at the IBM Center for the Business of Government, details six building blocks for improving management in government agencies
Gregory Giddens, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, describes a new way for government agencies to look at supply chains post-COVID-19
Emily Murphy, Administrator of the General Services Administration, details the General Services Administration’s response to the coronavirus and how it has impacted the organization
Bruce Jette, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics & Technology, discusses how the coronavirus has impacted the Defense Industrial Base and what the Army is doing to increase resiliency in the supply chain
Robert McDonald, Former Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, goes over principles for developing sustainable leadership in the federal government
Carol Gorman, Assistant Inspector General for Audit of Cyberspace Operations in the DoD OIG, talks about her office’s list of best practices for protecting patient health information during the pandemic
Stan Soloway, President and CEO of Celero Strategies, LLC, explains the potential issue of inconsistencies and different interpretations of the CARES Act
Alex Beehler, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, U.S. Army, defines energy resilience and discusses what the Army is doing to sustain it
Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, describes how defense contractors can prepare for new CMMC standards and ensure their subcontractors are prepared
Diana Maurer, Director of Defense Capabilities & Mgmt. at GAO, discusses a new GAO report recommending the Army create performance measures for design standards for Army buildings
Tony Reardon, President of the National Treasury Employees Union, expresses concerns with employees returning to the office too soon and measures that should be taken beforehand
Andrew Dugan, Chief Technology Officer of CenturyLink, explains how working from home is affecting internet network performance during the pandemic
Jim Williams, Partner at Schambach & Williams Consulting, discusses how the pandemic has affected the transition to Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions
Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs at NARFE, provides updates on federal retirees going back to work to help with the coronavirus response and what they should consider
Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner of Boston Consulting Group, discusses lessons learned from past stimulus bills and advancements in oversight capabilities
John Shoraka, Managing Director of GovContractPros, goes over potential roadblocks for small business government contractors in the CARES Act
Michael Rigas, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, reaffirms his commitment to the merit system and discusses the government’s coronavirus response and guidance for reopening
Nicole Ogrysko, Workforce & Personnel Reporter at Federal News Network, Tom Shoop, Editor-in-Chief of Government Executive Media Group, and Lia Russell, Staff Writer and Associate Editor at FCW, provide insight into reopening the government and potential challenges
Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses where the Defense Department needs funding for its uniformed personnel, civilians, and contractors
Joe Jordan, CEO of Actuparo, talks about how the current situation has affected acquisition and how the acquisition workforce has adapted
Joseph Kirschbaum, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at GAO, discusses the progress the Defense Department has made on cybersecurity initiatives and recommendations made by the GAO
Thomas Mahnken, President & CEO of the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, goes over suggestions for making defense dollars go further
Jerry McGinn, Executive Director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discusses problems with depending on countries like China in the public health supply chain
Cara Abercrombie, President of the Defense Security Cooperation University, details how the pandemic has impacted the Defense Department’s newest university and its goal to certify the defense cooperation workforce
Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains what is driving increased participation in the Thrift Savings Plan and how the CARES Act is affecting the TSP
Doug Merritt, Chief Executive Officer of Splunk, discusses how agencies can use data to make crucial decisions about coronavirus response
Steve Grewal, Chief Technology Officer of Cohesity, discusses cloud services at government agencies and some of the challenges of buying cloud services now
CMDR Bryan McGrath (USN ret.), Managing Director at The FerryBridge Group, provides his perspective on the idea of the Navy cutting two aircraft carriers from the fleet
Richard Spires, Principal at Richard A. Spires Consulting, discusses how the coronavirus could affect the FITARA scorecard and what CIOs can take away from it
Kirk Kern, Chief Technology Officer at NetApp, describes how contact tracing can be implemented while data and privacy are protected
Ryan McCarthy, Secretary of the U.S. Army, details how the Army is responding to the coronavirus through prevention, detection, and treatment and how the virus has affected Army initiatives
Tina Jonas, Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, and Mike McCord, Member of the Commission on National Defense Strategy for the United States, discuss the impact the coronavirus is having on defense spending this year and in future years
Mark Forman, Vice President of Digital Government for Unisys Federal, discusses why this is such a challenging time for Chief Information Officers in government and what changes the government needs to make to prepare for the future
Dr. Beth Ripley, Chair of the 3D Printing Advisory Committee at the Veterans Health Administration, describes how the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 3D printing network is helping the agency deliver personal protective equipment to facilities that need it
Tony Scott, Managing Partner at Ridge-Lane, explains how the coronavirus is creating opportunities for IT improvement in government agencies that people can benefit from after the pandemic
The case for getting rid of the JEDI contract Jason Miller, Executive Editor of Federal News Network, explains why he does not think the Defense Department should continue with the JEDI contract
Reevaluating spending priorities at the Department of Defense Dov Zakheim, Former Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), discusses how the coronavirus has impacted defense spending, programs that may be cut, and how these cuts should be undertaken
New Air Force Academy graduates assigned to the Space Force Kaitlyn Johnson, Associate Director of the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS, provides updates on the Space Force, including hiring, acquisitions, and counterspace developments
Ellen Sundra, Vice President of Americas Systems Engineering at Forescout Technologies Inc., explains how Zero Trust Architecture allows agencies to secure their most important data with so many people teleworking
Chris Moran, Vice President of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, and Peter Newell, CEO of BMNT, talk about the current landscape in the venture market for companies trying to penetrate the defense space
Nick Sinai, Senior Advisor at Insight Partners, discusses the DIU and the new contract that will provide reporting on threat intelligence for Cyber Command
David Marchick, Director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service, talks about how the coronavirus has intensified the importance of the presidential transition process and how we should prepare for the transition
Gordon Bitko, Senior Vice President of Policy in the Public Sector at ITI, lays out recommendations for government about what it needs to do to rethink the way it works in this environment
Bill Eggers, Executive Director of the Center for Government Insights at Deloitte, goes over the three phases of the government’s response to the coronavirus and actions it should take now and after the pandemic has ended
Suzette Kent, U.S. Chief Information Officer, discusses what her colleagues across government have learned from the pandemic, challenges they have been faced with, and successes they have had
Justin Doubleday, Managing Editor at Inside the Pentagon, and Frank Konkel, Executive Editor of Nextgov, provide insight into the JEDI contract award and the controversy surrounding it
Mika Cross, Federal Workplace Expert, explains how the current telework situation is unique and what agencies and organizations can learn from it to improve workplace management going forward
David Berteau, President & CEO of the Professional Services Council, discusses how the coronavirus has contributed to the decline in Q2 contract awards and what we can learn from this situation
Bob Bigman, Founder of 2BSecure, talks about the GAO report on cybersecurity at the Defense Department, the progress the department has made on cybersecurity implementation, and what has to change in order to fix vulnerabilities
Harrison Schramm, Sr. Fellow at the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, discusses his new report about coronavirus, the impact of the pandemic on policy and operations, and what we are learning from it
Frederico Bartels, Policy Analyst of Defense Budgeting at the Heritage Foundation, explains the problem of the Defense Department wanting to classify its Future Years Defense Plan while Congress needs access to it
Frank Kendall, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, discusses how the Defense Department is responding to the coronavirus and what it needs to do to continue fighting the pandemic
Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation & Institute, discusses updating the Defense Production Act and recognizing that a 21st century dependency on autocratic regimes makes us vulnerable
Ed Tuorinsky, Managing Principal at DTS, talks about the five steps he has laid out to help agencies move forward in digital transformation during this time
Larry Allen, Managing Director of BDO USA, LLP, provides his perspective on new guidance for paying defense contractors and managing defense contracts during the pandemic
Matthew Kroenig, Director of the Global Strategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council, explains why he believes pessimism about great power competition with Russia and China is unwarranted
Todd Harrison, Director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, discusses how the coronavirus is reshaping the way the Pentagon is spending its money during this fiscal year
Sophia Edwards, Founder and CEO of SharpEDG, describes the biggest challenges that IT leaders are up against as they make the shift to telework and recommendations for agencies during this time
GEN James McConville, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, describes how the Army has responded to the coronavirus in order to continue protecting the nation
LTG Laura Richardson (USA), Commander of the United States Army North (Fifth Army), explains how the Joint Force Land Component Command is working with FEMA to help respond to the coronavirus
Joyce Warner, Executive Director of the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, discusses some of the tools and resources available to help federal employees through the pandemic
Meagan Metzger, Founder/CEO of Dcode, highlights some of the changes and adaptations agencies are making using funds from the stimulus package for IT in order to telework effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic
Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill, President of AppGate Federal Group, describes some of the challenges of scaling telework, including equipment demands, remote access difficulties, and security threats
Jonathan Alboum, Principal Data Strategist at ServiceNow, discusses the Defense Department’s task force that will implement telework and how CIOs can learn from the coronavirus response to improve how missions are completed
Katharina McFarland, Director on the Board of Directors at SAIC, discusses the impact COVID-19 is having on acquisitions in the Defense Department and what they are doing to respond
Shelby Oakley, Director of Contracting & National Security Acquisitions at GAO, explains how focusing on sustainment much earlier in the shipbuilding process could save the Navy billions of dollars
Robert Work, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense, addresses what is driving the doubling in spending for R&D for artificial intelligence in the fiscal year 2021 budget request
Greg Klingler, Director of GEBA Wealth Management, gives advice for participants of the Thrift Savings Plan as withdrawals have sharply increased as a result of the coronavirus
Daniel Kliman, Sr. Fellow & Dir. of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), discusses plans to forge an Alliance Innovation Base to increase technology innovation and protection
Deborah Lee James, Former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, describes how the Air Force has responded to the coronavirus pandemic both externally, to help American citizens, and internally
Daniel Mathews, Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service at the General Services Administration, comments on how the coronavirus is affecting the way he is doing work and how the GSA’s investment in technology is paying off
Jack Donnelly, Chief Information Security Officer at the Department of the Interior, discusses the Department’s first enterprise infrastructure solutions contract award, the transition to EIS, and the importance of preparing for changes within cybersecurity
Elizabeth Field, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at GAO, explains what the GAO has looked into regarding military oversight of privatized housing and the need for metrics that are more closely tied to the condition of housing
Jeremy Grant, Managing Director of Technology Business Strategy at Venable, describes some of the security risks and limits of digital infrastructure revealed by COVID-19
Tom Warrick, Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, discusses how the Atlantic Council is helping the Department of Homeland Security improve to better respond to the coronavirus and other national security concerns
Rich Beutel, Principal at Cyrrus Analytics, LLC, discusses the impact the new stimulus package will have on acquisitions, innovation, sophistication of technology platforms, and telework across government going forward
Mark Cancian, Senior Adviser for the International Security Program at CSIS, discusses the significance of the president using the Defense Production Act to tell General Motors to start making more ventilators
Bill Greenwalt, Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council at Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, explains why the House Armed Services Committee is delaying its markups of the National Defense Authorization Act because of the coronavirus
Joseph Kirschbaum, Director of Defense Capabilities and Management at the GAO, discusses how the GAO is helping the Defense Department stay focused on tracking and implementing its own recommendations for improving its nuclear enterprise
Rep. Don Beyer (D), congressman from Virginia’s eighth district, discusses his letter to OPM regarding telework for federal employees, successes and challenges he has heard from constituents, and lessons from this experience
M. John Saad, Partner and National Security Segment Leader at Guidehouse, explains how his organization is helping the Department of Defense execute on audits and providing insight to help them improve
Joe Jordan, CEO of Actuparo, discusses the acquisition pieces in the stimulus package that are making the most impact right now and what the stimulus package is doing to help contractors
Debra Wada, Vice Chair of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, describes recent efforts by her commission to figure out how to improve public service in government and the ability of citizens to get involved. Government Matters
Jack Fitzpatrick, Congressional Reporter at Bloomberg Government, discusses the new stimulus deal for federal agencies and what the money is specifically going towards. Government Matters
Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, explains what the Defense Production Act is and under what circumstances the president would invoke it.
Katie Arrington, Chief Information Security Officer for Acquisition at the Department of Defense, discusses the creation of standards that will be used to assess contractors as part of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program
Jason Gray, Chief Information Officer of the Department of Education, explains what enabled the department to earn an A+ grade on the latest FITARA scorecard
Renee Wynn, Chief Information Officer of NASA, reflects on her biggest accomplishments and some of the changes that have taken place in recent years in IT at NASA
Amanda Bennett, Director of Voice of America, details how her organization started preparing for the coronavirus months ago and has implemented widespread telework Government Matters
Terry Gerton, President and CEO of the National Academy of Public Administration, and Bill Valdez, President of the Senior Executives Association, discuss what they think about new public service recommendations from the National Commission on National, Military, and Public Service Workforce Matters
Ari Schwartz, Managing Director of Cybersecurity Services at Venable, explains what can be done to improve teleworking while maintaining strong cybersecurity Security Matters
Jerry McGinn, Executive Director at the George Mason University Center for Government Contracting, explains how the Defense Production Act, if implemented, could aid in the coronavirus response Government Matters
Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, President of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses the defense industry’s biggest concerns about the coronavirus and how NDIA plans to team up with the Pentagon to address them Defense Matters
Lauren Knausenberger, Chief Transformation Officer at the U.S. Air Force, details how the Force is updating its IT infrastructure in response to the coronavirus Government Matters
Kim Weaver, Director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains how upgraded infrastructure and security have prepared them for the pandemic
Bill Lynn, CEO of Leonardo DRS, discusses how they are addressing DoD priorities through investments
Robert Shea, Principal at Grant Thornton Public Sector, discusses current challenges and the necessity of technology in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic
Angela Bailey, DHS Chief Human Capital Officer, discusses steps the DHS has taken to protect its workforce
Jessica Klement, Staff Vice President of Policy and Programs at NARFE, describes the association’s shift in focus towards working on the stimulus bill
Nick Sinai, Senior Adviser at Insight Partners, explains how the private and public sectors are collaborating to help with the COVID-19 situation
Exclusive with Margaret Weichert about coronavirus and federal employee impact
Margaret Weichert, Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget, details the agency’s response to the coronavirus and what’s coming next for federal employees
The federal government’s response to the coronavirus
Nicole Ogrysko, Workforce & Personnel Reporter at Federal News Network, and Adam Mazmanian, Executive Editor at FCW, discuss how the federal government is working to keep employees safe
Dale Cabaniss out as OPM director
Max Stier, President & CEO of the Partnership for Public Service details the significance of the departure of recently confirmed OPM director, Dale Cabaniss as agencies respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Census's response to the coronavirus
Michael Cook, Chief of the Census Bureau’s Public Information Office discusses Census modifications to ensure employees are safe.
The Defense Department response to the coronavirus pandemic
Lernes Hebert, Principal Director of Military Personnel Policy at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense details efforts underway to inform military employees of teleworking options.
Tips for federal employees during the coronavirus
Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, partner at the Federal Practice Group, highlights recommendations to federal employees seeking time off during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Defense Department’s response to the coronavirus
Veronica Hinton, Principal Director for Civilian Personnel Policy at the Department of Defense, discusses the stop movement order for travel in place at the Defense Department in response to the coronavirus
Modernizing software at the Department of Defense
Peter Ranks, Deputy Chief Information Officer for Information Enterprise at the Department of Defense, details the Pentagon’s plan to decouple hardware and software across the department
Restructuring at DHA hospitals and changing Medical Treatment Facilities
Dr. Barclay Butler, J4, Component Acquisition Executive and Head of Contracting Actions at the Defense Health Agency, explains the changes coming to Medical Treatment Facilities and how they will impact Defense Department employees
How contractors and agencies can work together in coronavirus response
Stan Soloway, President and CEO at Celero Strategies, discusses the most important things contractors and agencies should keep in mind when responding to the coronavirus pandemic
Accenture's approach to doing business with the government
Michael Fox, Managing Director and Head of Federal Sales at Accenture, identifies top trends in government contracting
Shifting the Pentagon's approach to research and development
Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO of Govini, explains how the Pentagon should change the way it thinks about research and development spending to keep its edge over competitors
The latest on the JEDI contract recompete
Frank Konkel, Executive Editor at Nextgov, discusses the recompete of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract and the Pentagon’s decision to reevaluate the contract
Improving the health intelligence infrastructure
Ron Marks, President at ZPN National Security and Cyber Strategies, identifies weaknesses in health intelligence and explains how to build up the infrastructure in response to the coronavirus
How contractors can prepare for the coronavirus
David Berteau, President and CEO of the Professional Services Council, gives key takeaways for contractors from the coronavirus pandemic and details how contractors should approach the situation
Jeff Neal, Author at ChiefHRO.com, discusses how Chief Human Capital Officers should prepare for the coronavirus pandemic
Senator Angus King (I-ME) explains the new Cyberspace Solarium report and its recommendations for deterring cyber attacks
Preparing for large-scale telework at agencies
Mika Cross, federal workplace expert, discusses how agencies can prepare emergency telework policies and make arrangements to respond to the coronavirus
Unfunded priorities in the proposed FY21 military budget
Mackenzie Eaglen, Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, details the military’s biggest unfunded priorities for FY21 and what will happen to those programs
Management reform at the Pentagon
Peter Levine, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, explains why the Pentagon struggles to reduce waste and how to mitigate the problem
VADM Linda Fagan, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area and Coast Guard Defense Force West, discusses personnel and hardware integration in the military and the Coast Guard’s approach to the changing threat landscape in a special two-part interview from the WEST 2020 conference.
LTG Robert Shea, President and CEO of AFCEA International and VADM Peter Daly, Chief Executive Officer at the U.S. Naval Institute, detail the focus and challenges of each of the military branches
Defense Digital Service opens new West Coast office
Katie Olson, Deputy Director of the Defense Digital Service, discusses the agency’s new office in Mountain View, California, and how it plans to work with the Defense Innovation Unit on unmanned aircraft systems.
The aerospace industry and government contracting
John Luddy, Vice President of National Security and Policy, details the top trends in government contracting as they relate to the aerospace industry.
How contractors can prepare for the coronavirus
Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discusses how the coronavirus could impact government contractors and what they can do to prepare.
Greg Giddens, Partner at Potomac Ridge Consulting, discusses how he’s worked to establish capacity building principles for program management in government.
CAPT Marc Mancher, Principal at Deloitte Consulting, details the growing use of Robotic Process Automation in government and its potential to lighten the workload of federal employees.
Danny Werfel, Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, explains the government’s trend of scaling back telework privileges and how diseases like the flu and the coronavirus have prompted the private sector to do the opposite.
Shifting the Navy's focus towards information warfare
RADM Christian “Boris” Becker, Commander of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, discusses NAVWAR and how different Navy offices plan to collaborate on information warfare in a special two-part interview from WEST 2020 in San Diego.
Information warfare in the Great Powers Competition
VADM Brian B. Brown, Commander of Naval Information Forces , details the information warfare enterprise and the new approach he brings to Naval Information Forces.
Acquisition initiatives in the Coast Guard
RADM Michael Johnston, Assistant Commandant for Acquisitions and Chief Acquisition Officer in the Coast Guard, and RDML Douglas Schofield, Director of Acquisition Programs and Program Executive Officer at the Coast Guard, discuss the Coast Guard’s recapitalization efforts and top acquisition priorities in a special two-part interview.
Court rules settlement agreements apply for a "reasonable time"
Dan Blair, Senior Counselor at the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service, details the new court ruling on settlement agreements and how it impacts federal employees.
Kirke Everson, Managing Director of the Federal Advisory Practice at KPMG, discusses the Pentagon’s plans for implementing ethical standards on Artificial Intelligence in government. Bryan Smith, Senior Fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University, explains recent defense acquisition legislation and suggests an alternative approach to procurement reform. Billy Mitchell, Editor-in-Chief of FedScoop, details the latest from Amazon Web Service’s protest of the JEDI cloud contract.
How contractors can prepare for the coronavirus
Eric Crusius, Partner at Holland & Knight, discusses how the coronavirus could impact government contractors and what they can do to prepare.
Top trends in government contracting
Dan Snyder, Director of Government Contracts Analysis at Bloomberg Government, details the biggest trends in government contracting this fiscal year.
GAO recommends GSA collect more feedback from building owners
Lori Rectanus, Director of Physical Infrastructure Issues at the Government Accountability Office, discusses a recent report on leasing government office buildings.
Seth Cropsey, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, discusses the Navy’s Optimized Fleet Response Plan and how it could impact shipbuilding.
Nancy Ognanovich, Senior Congressional Correspondent for Bloomberg Government, examines appropriations and authorizations for fiscal year 2021 and their timelines.
Tony Cole, Chief Technology Officer at Attivo Networks, discusses whether the U.S. needs to prepare to take drastic measures in the event of a cyberattack.
Tim Gribben, commissioner of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, discusses their new report on federal spending, and what it says about the future of finances in government.
Stuart McGuigan, Chief Information Officer at the Department of State discusses IT priorities at the agency, and the ‘sweet spot’ between cloud and agile technology.
Francisco Salguero, chief information officer at the Federal Communications Commission, discusses the agency’s IT strategy and how their new headquarters will help improve their IT infrastructure.
Roger Waldron, president of the Coalition for Government Procurement, discusses issues contractors are having with the government’s new open contract site, and how the frustration is affecting companies.
Steve Babitch, head of the AI portfolio at the General Services Administration’s Technology Transformation Services, discusses what AI means for government, and GSA’s focus on the cutting-edge tech.
Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, details the union’s goals in their legislative agenda, and why they’re pushing for a higher raise for federal workers.
Wes Hallman, senior vice president of policy at the National Defense Industrial Association, details a recent review of the Defense Industrial Base, and how their cybersecurity can be improved.
Susanna Blume, senior fellow and director of the Defense Program at CNAS, discusses the Army leadership’s approach to the FY21 budget.
Reporters Roxana Tiron and Travis Tritten from Bloomberg Government break down what Congress thinks about the FY21 military budget request, and what that means for future Pentagon plans.
Venice Goodwine, Chief Information Security Officer at the Department of Agriculture, discusses breaking down barriers between security centers at USDA, and the importance of zero-trust strategies to data.
Sam Gordy, Chief Strategy Officer for U.S. Public and Federal Markets at IBM, discusses the state of technology contracting in government.
Kim Weaver, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board details the latest news about withdrawals, contribution matching and security at the Thrift Savings Plan.
Joseph Klimavicz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Chief Information Officer at DOJ, reflects on his work modernizing technology and boosting cybersecurity at the agency as he prepares to retire.
David Bray from the Atlantic Council and Tim Persons, Chief Scientist at GAO, discuss the role of disruptive technologies in government, and how agencies can adopt them.
Katie Malague, vice president for government effectiveness at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses how to promote teamwork between the government and all its stakeholders.
Margaret Weichert, Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget, discusses her tenure in the role, and reflects on her work as she departs the agency.
Mason McDaniel, chief technology officer at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, details the agency’s move to the cloud, and why it helps them pay down their “technical debt.”
Bob Bigman, former CISO at the CIA, discusses what contractors need to do to get ready for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, and why it will be easier for some companies.
Eric Lofgren, Research Fellow at George Mason University, discusses federal efforts to fund innovation, and why industry wants government to take big bets.
Jennifer Pahlka, Founder of Code for America and Misu Tasnim, executive director, U.S. Digital Service at HHS discuss modernization priorities, and their helping to build a government that works for citizens.
Sinclair Harris, national vice president of military affairs at the Navy League, discusses what the FY21 budget request says about priorities at the Navy, and how it impacts their shipbuilding plans.
Lt. Gen. Tom Spoehr (Ret.- USA), director of the Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation, discusses the 200 million in “night court” cuts that the Army wants to reinstate, and what it means for the organization.
Brenda Farrell, director for DoD Strategic Human Capital Management at the Government Accountability Office, discusses how the Pentagon can achieve pay equity with the private sector for their medical staff.
Dan Chenok, executive director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government, outlines how the President’s Management Agenda has changed over 20 years, and what major developments happened since its introduction.
Gerry Fasano, president of the defense group at Leidos, discusses how trends of contracting are changing, and the impact of the Pentagon’s focus on speed.
Vice Adm. Raquel Bono (USN ret.), former director of the Defense Health Agency discusses developments with the transfer of military health facilities to DHA, and why the Army Secretary wants a pause.
In this two-part interview, U.S. Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent outlines IT modernization in the FY21 budget request and the government’s plans for data in 2020.
Charles Phalen, acting director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, details how they reduced their investigation backlog, and the importance of achieving a ‘steady state.’
Billy Mitchell, editor in chief of FedScoop, gives a quick update on the embattled JEDI cloud contract, and what the new court decision means.
Gregory Touhill, president of AppGate Federal Group, discusses what the FY21 budget request has in store for Homeland Security’s cybersecurity component.
Frank Kendall, former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, discusses the rollout of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification and what it means for companies.
Todd Harrison, director of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project, details what Air Force programs are like in next year’s budget request, and what could go away to help build the Space Force.
Robert Work, former Deputy Secretary of Defense, breaks down what the Pentagon’s latest budget request means for technology spending and executing the National Defense Strategy.
Bill Greenwalt, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, discusses proposed cuts to the Department of Defense’s fourth estate agencies.
Corbin Evans, director of Regulatory Policy at NDIA, discusses what companies think about the Pentagon’s new cybersecurity certification, and how they will implement it.
Seamus Daniels, program manager & research associate for defense budget analysis at CSIS, discusses what the latest defense budget has in store for technology, and how it plays into the National Security Strategy.
Mike Canning, government and public services leader at Deloitte, discusses what the federal government is focusing on, and how industry can provide what they’re looking for.
Mika Cross, federal workplace expert, discusses changes to telework at the Social Security Administration, and the ramifications it could have across the federal workforce.
Larry Allen, managing director at BDO USA, discusses what contractors should look into as Q3 approaches, and the importance of a rapport with federal counterparts.
Greg Klingler, director at GEBA Wealth Management, explains what legislation like the TSP Modernization Act means for federal employees and their benefits.
Mark Rockwell, staff writer at FCW, discusses new developments with the EIS contract, and what it means for telecommunications at federal agencies.
Department of Veterans Affairs leadership changes Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) discusses turnover at the VA, and how Congress is addressing concerns about veteran suicide. Navy's new priorities for recruitment and retainment Gregory Slavonic, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs breaks down the Navy’s new civilian capital strategy, and what it means for the branch’s workforce. Using AI at the HHS Office of Inspector General Chris Chilbert, chief information officer at the Department of Health and Human Services OIG, discusses how they’re using artificial intelligence and data to conduct oversight of one of the largest federal agencies.
David Marchick, director of the Center for Presidential Transition at the Partnership for Public Service, discusses what a presidential transition would mean for high-level vacancies, and why not every political appointee needs to go through Congress.
Michael Hettinger and Rich Beutel discuss federal IT modernization programs, and their status going into the 2021 budget season.
Jeff Neal, author of ChiefHRO.com, breaks down why he believes the Hatch Act doesn’t need to be as strict as it is, and the first amendment rights of federal employees.
Carmen Malone, Deputy Assistant IG for Audit, Financial Mgmt. & Reporting at DoD OIG, details the latest Pentagon audit results, and the outlook for future audits.
Cara Abercrombie, president of the Defense Security Cooperation University at DSCA, details the importance of certification to the Pentagon’s security cooperation efforts, and how their workforce promotes international collaboration.
Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the CSIS International Security Program, breaks down what could be in the Navy’s new plan for their future needs, and what it means for the 355-ship fleet.
Jonathan Alboum, principal data strategist at ServiceNow, discusses the Federal Data Strategy, and how chief data officers are working to implement it.
Tom Romeo, general manager for the U.S. Federal Services Segment of MAXIMUS, discusses government contracting trends, and how the acquisition process is changing.
Richard Spires, CEO of Learning Tree International, discusses the timeline for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, and what it means for the dozens of companies that contract with the Pentagon.
Gordon Bitko, senior vice president of policy for public sector at ITI, discusses the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification standards, and how defense companies can leverage best practices to comply.
Stephanie Keith, director of Cyber Workforce Management at the Department of Veterans Affairs, outlines how the VA’s cybersecurity training efforts are improving their workforce, and how the agency will measure success.
Eric Crusius, partner at Holland & Knight, discusses next steps for the General Services Administration’s schedules consolidation, and what contractors need to do to prepare.
Karen Brazell, chief acquisition officer at VA, and COL Andrew Centineo (USA ret.), executive director of the Office of Procurement and Logistics at VHA discuss how the Department of Veterans Affairs is teaming up with the Pentagon to acquire medical tools and improve veteran care.
Stephanie Keith, director of Cyber Workforce Management at the Department of Veterans Affairs, outlines how the VA’s cybersecurity training efforts are improving their workforce, and how the agency will measure success.
Oriana Pawlyk, reporter at Military.com, and Valerie Insinna, Air Warfare Reporter for Defense News, discuss the F-35’s ‘must-fix’ changes.
Kristen Kociolek, director at the Government Accountability Office, discusses why the Department of Defense needs to change their accounting adjustment practices and what recommendations GAO has for the Pentagon.
Ari Schwartz, managing director of cybersecurity services at Venable, details how the Pentagon will audit contractor cybersecurity and breaks down the timeline for putting the new certification in place.
David Powner, director of Strategic Engagement & Partnerships at MITRE, discusses the history of FITARA, and the effects the scorecard had on federal IT.
Bryan McGrath, managing director of the FerryBridge Group, discusses the Navy’s funding priorities, and why boosting their budget is important to U.S. military power.
Melanie Sisson, senior fellow and director of the Stimson Center Defense Strategy & Planning Program, discusses AI efforts in the Pentagon, and how it’s not just about warfighting.
Anthony Capaccio, defense reporter at Bloomberg News, discusses the testing of hypersonic weapons for the U.S. military, and major accounting adjustments at the Defense Department.
Kim Weaver, director of external affairs for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, discusses how plan participants can soon make easier catch-up contributions, and what smarter choices they can make when it comes to retirement.
Dave Young, senior vice president of public sector at CenturyLink, discusses how the government can improve the IT modernization pipeline, and how industry can help.
Chris Cornillie, Federal Technology Market Analyst at Bloomberg Government, details why the government will spend more on IT in 2020, and overall trends in the market.
Jessica Klement, staff vice president for Policy and Programs at NARFE, discusses the backlog of the retirements at the Office of Personnel Management, and why it’s ultimately a success story.
Brian Boxman, vice president of federal at Talend and Ryan Swann, head of federal practice at Collibra, discuss the impacts California’s new data privacy law could have on the federal government, and how it might change the nature of data use across state lines.
Jacob Parcell, innovation portfolio director at GSA, details how the U.S. Web Design System is helping more than 40 federal agencies modernize their web presence.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) discusses why he hopes the government’s new parental leave policy will set an example for the private sector and what he’s doing to support federal employees in his district.
Beth Cappello, Acting Chief Information Officer at the Department of Homeland Security, discusses tech priorities at the agency, and the ways they can utilize AI to assist with their mission.
Michael Esser, assistant inspector general for audits at the Office of Personnel Management, discusses results from the latest report on OPM’s cybersecurity, and recommendations for improvements.
Preparing the structure of the Space Force
Kaitlyn Johnson, Associate Director of the CSIS Aerospace Security Project, discusses the Space Force organizational chart, and the new branch’s plan for their first few years.
Structuring leadership at the Defense Department
Jerry McGinn, executive director of the Center for Government Contracting at George Mason University, discusses possible changes to management leadership at the Pentagon, and the future of the CMO position.
Ensuring data security and individual privacy
Terry Gerton, President & CEO of NAPA, and Jason Briefel, executive director of the Senior Executives Association, discuss efforts to ensure government data security, and how agencies can work to maintain privacy of the citizens they serve.
Andrew Hunter, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, details what the “flat” 2021 defense budget means for programs at the branches.
David Barno and Nora Bensahel, contributing editors at War On The Rocks, discuss the possibility of foreign drone strikes on U.S. military leadership, and how the threat could be mitigated.
Matthew Cornelius, executive director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation, discusses the Pentagon’s search for innovative ideas and tech, and how industry can assist.
Tim Olson, associate director for field operations at the Census Bureau, discusses the start of the census in remote areas, and how Alaska is a tricky environment for the agency to tackle.
Nick Wakeman, editor of Washington Technology, discusses the impact that self-scoring contracts are having on companies, and why protesting them is difficult.
Robert Shea, principal at Grant Thornton Public Sector, details how inspectors general are calling attention to the vacancies within their community, and what they’re doing to fix it.
Dov Zakheim, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, breaks down how funds are divided amongst the military branches, and why the Navy is requesting more to build up the fleet.
Jeff Eggers, senior adviser at McChrystal Group, discusses how the VA is seeking to reduce the veteran suicide rate, and the status of prevention initiatives.
Ron Marks, president of ZPN National Security and Cyber Strategies, discusses delays in the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification rollout, and how the rulemaking process will shake out.
Government Matters’ Charis Hanner looks at the Census Bureau’s new public awareness campaign, and the technology they’ll be using for this year’s tally.
In this special two-part interview, Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary James Byrne discusses priorities at the Department, including the rollout of electronic health records and preventing veteran suicide.
Sherry Van Sloun, Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Human Capital, discusses how the intelligence community is looking at their workers, and what they’re doing to tap into all available talent.
Joe Jordan, CEO of Actuparo, discusses the new replacement for FedBizOpps, and some initial problems with the transition.
Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, outlines how turnover at federal agencies impacts workforce morale.
Nick Sinai, senior advisor at Insight Partners, discusses the aging federal tech workforce, and how the government can get younger talent inside agencies.
LTC Dakota Wood (USMC ret.) , Senior Research Fellow for Defense Programs at The Heritage Foundation, breaks down the military’s current strength, and how it compares with the past.
MG Marty Whelan (USAF ret.), senior VP of the Defense Systems Group at Aerospace Corporation, discusses what the Space Force organizational chart will look like, and what capabilities the branch should seek.
Megan Eckstein, Deputy Editor at USNI News, and Scott Maucione, defense reporter at Federal News Network, discuss changes to human capital management at the Navy, and the branch’s priorities for recruitment and retainment.
Angela Styles and Adam Bodner from the Public Buildings Reform Board detail their new list of federal properties to downsize, and how eliminating some buildings can give back to local communities.
Toni Townes-Whitley, President of U.S. Regulated Industries at Microsoft, discusses how her company does business with the government, and how the procurement process can be made better.
Eric Lofgren, research fellow at George Mason University, discusses procurement policy changes at the Pentagon, and what it could mean for rapid acquisition efforts.
Patrick Murphy, Former Congressman (D-PA), discusses the need to keep GI Bill benefits going for future generations of soldiers, and why it’s important that veterans run for office.
Suzanne Spaulding, senior adviser for Homeland Security at the CSIS International Security Program, discusses how “cybersecurity” has become too broad, and the need to break up the term for educating the public.
Susanna Blume, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director at the CNAS Defense Program, details how military branches are taking different approaches to procurement, and how each one is working.
Sanjay Gupta, Chief Technology Officer at the Small Business Administration, discusses the agency’s IT plans for the new year, and how they will achieve their technological goals.
Former Defense Department Comptrollers Tina Jonas and Mike McCord break down how international tensions could create a need for more military spending, and how that money would be authorized.
Tony Bertuca, chief editor of Inside the Pentagon, and Eric Katz, senior correspondent at GovExec, discuss what could be in the FY21 draft budget, and the Office of Personnel Management halting work on a records tool.
Ricardo Pitts-Wiley, partner at the Federal Practice Group, details how discrepancies between OPM and the EPA’s time-off award policies may lead to inequalities.
Tim Cooke, CEO & Owner of ASI Government, discusses efforts to simplify acquisition and promote innovation in government, and the “Periodic Table of Acquisition Elements”
JW Butler, consultant at Centre Law & Consulting, breaks down changes to the GSA schedules, and how they will
Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, discusses the future of surface ships in the Navy, and how the Carrier Strike Group may soon be obsolete.
Katherine Hammack, former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy & Environment, gives her perspective on the role being made mandatory, and what positions are needed to support the office.
Sal D’Itri, chairman of the National Spectrum Consortium, details how 5G technology could be utilized in the military, and how the Pentagon can acquire the necessary systems.
Tony Cole, Chief Technology Officer at Attivo Networks, discusses ways to bolster cybersecurity practices in government, and how international tensions may lead to more incidents.
Greg Baroni, chairman and CEO at Attain, discusses trends in federal contracting, and how industry and government can work together better.
Danny Werfel, Managing Director and partner at the Boston Consulting Group, details efforts at the IRS to improve customer experience, and promote the Free File program.
Cary Russell, director for Defense Capabilities and Management Issues at the Government Accountability Office, details how the Air Force can improve the way it manages special operations reservists.
Jim Williams, former acting administrator of the General Services Administration, discusses issues with federal labor-pricing tools, and how they can be fixed.
Mark Forman, former federal CIO and vice president of Digital Government at Unisys Federal, discusses the state of federal IT, and how modernization efforts are faring in government.
Daniel Goure, Senior Vice President of the Lexington Institute and Michael O’Hanlon, Senior Fellow & Director of Research for Foreign Policy at Brookings, discuss the makeup of the Navy’s fleet, and how development of autonomous systems may impact the 355-ship goal.
David Berteau, President & CEO of the Professional Services Council and Peter Levine, senior research fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, detail how the Pentagon’s chief management officer role may go away, and what led to this development.
Jeff Pon, former director of the Office of Personnel Management, discusses reform efforts in federal HR, and how the human capital community can focus on their mission.
Bill Valdez, president of the Senior Executives Association, details a new plan to make rehiring former federal employees easier, and the need for standardized flexible hiring authorities.
Eric Crusius, partner at Holland & Knight, discusses important contracting takeaways from the NDAA and the government’s continuing efforts to build an e-commerce infrastructure.
Billy Mitchell, Editor in Chief at FedScoop, and Carten Cordell, Staff Reporter at the Washington Business Journal, discuss IT contracts at the Pentagon, and give an update on DEOS and JEDI.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, formerly secretary of the U.S. Army, details the branch’s modernization priorities and discusses topics such as base housing, recruitment, and recent confirmation hearings.
Margaret Weichert, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, discusses awards recognizing innovative ideas in federal management, and new developments at OMB.
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) detail why Congress needs to take a closer look at cybersecurity, and how a bipartisan commission will examine bringing top tech and talent into the government.