Mark Gorak, the Defense Department’s Cyber Academic Engagement Office’s (CAEO) director and principal director for Resources and Analysis, shares how his office is shaping the future of cyber talent during the 2025 HammerCON conference in Laurel, Maryland. Launched in 2024, CAEO has partnered with over 480 academic institutions nationwide to identify and develop the next generation of cyber professionals. The office is working to streamline academic partnerships, create equitable opportunities f...
Jul 08, 2025•20 min
Competitiveness in advanced telecommunications technologies is critical to American innovation and national security. The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced the new Verticals-enabling Intelligent NEtwork Systems (VINES) program to foster U.S. leadership in advanced telecommunications and foster innovative real-world applications. NSF Acting Assistant Director of Computer and Information Science and Engineering Ellen Zegura says that VINES is focused on advanced technologies lik...
Jul 01, 2025•21 min
Edmon Begoli, Director of the Center for AI Security Research (CAISER) at the Energy Department’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, highlights how his team is ensuring safe and responsible AI deployment across government during the AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. The research team is developing cutting-edge tools and methodologies to assess AI vulnerabilities, test models under extreme conditions and create energy efficient solutions for complex technological challenges. Begoli's ...
Jun 20, 2025•22 min
The new administration has released several new directives to guide agencies' approach to AI since the beginning of the year. The tech is reshaping the U.S. Coast Guard’s core services and pushing its workforce to rethink the service’s approach to operations. The Coast Guard has been on a journey to upskill its workforce to better utilize the technology in daily operations. Brian Campo, the service’s deputy CIO, discusses the latest AI developments and how the Coast Guard is driving innovation, ...
Jun 16, 2025•14 min
Department of Labor’s Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling outlines a comprehensive strategy to address the growing demand for AI skills in the American economy, during a live discussion at the AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. Sonderling explains the federal government's multi-pronged approach to AI literacy, focusing on early education initiatives that would integrate tech training from elementary through high school levels. He emphasizes the critical need to reimagine traditional ...
Jun 16, 2025•10 min
Shannon Ayers from Lawrence Livermore National Lab unveiled a groundbreaking generative AI tool to boost operational efficiency at the National Ignition Facility. The tool leverages 22 years of institutional data, analyzing over 98,000 problem logs, to provide instant troubleshooting guidance for operators. By creating a decision-tree system, the lab addresses critical challenges of aging infrastructure and knowledge transfer between retiring and emerging scientific workforces. The AI-powered pl...
Jun 12, 2025•8 min
The Idaho National Laboratory is working on a suite of artificial intelligence capabilities to enhance nuclear energy research. During an interview at AWS Summit in Washington, D.C., the lab’s Scientific Computing Division Director Chris Ritter discussed how the organization is using generative AI to address complex scientific challenges across domains like reactor design and operations. The lab successfully created a digital twin of an aging reactor, streaming real-time data to the cloud and us...
Jun 11, 2025•22 min
Technology and software development can take years to field capabilities that may no longer meet mission needs once they reach the finish line. Some department compliance practices can add 12-18 months for authorization. At the AWS Summit in Washington, D.C., Marine Corps Community Services Digital Program Manager David Raley said that his office is accelerating the development and approval processes for mission capability. Raley highlighted solutions like AWS GovCloud and a certified DevSecOps ...
Jun 11, 2025•12 min
High-performance computing (HPC) systems provide fundamental computing infrastructure for government and industry. Security is critical for these systems that play a pivotal role in economic competitiveness and scientific discovery. At the AWS Summit in Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Computer Scientist Yang Guo said that efficient encryption and zone-based reference architectures can enhance HPC security without impacting performance. Guo, who leads the N...
Jun 10, 2025•9 min
The VA is set to resume its electronic health record modernization program in 2026, nearly three years since it was paused in 2023. During the pause, the agency focused on developing a new strategy for deployment to improve success and boost patient safety. VA now plans to jumpstart the program with a focus on functionality and interoperability of the system, Dr. Neil Evans, VA’s acting program executive director of VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office explains. Evans d...
Jun 09, 2025•21 min
Artificial intelligence powers many cybersecurity applications, and government agencies are increasingly using AI to augment systems in national security and intelligence capacities. The complexities of AI implementation require careful architectural considerations and robust governance frameworks to ensure safe execution. William MacMillan, former CISO at CISA and current chief product officer at Andesite AI, noted how AI holds tremendous potential to enhance efficiency and accuracy, particular...
Jun 02, 2025•23 min
Government agencies collect vast amounts of data, but accessing and using that data effectively has long been a challenge. Ahu Yildirmaz and the team at the Coleridge Initiative are working to change that. By providing secure data-sharing platforms, advanced analytics training and tools for cross-agency collaboration, the organization is helping policymakers make more informed decisions. The Coleridge Initiative is addressing common obstacles like data silos, privacy concerns and limited technic...
May 27, 2025•11 min
Defense Information Systems Agency networks are leveraging AI and sensors to boost real-time monitoring and synthetic traffic, as well as improve user experience and incident resolution. At AFCEA TechNet 2025 in Baltimore, DISA J6 Global Services Directorate Vice Director Brig. Gen. Michael Cornell discussed the impact of emerging technology on data tagging, diagnostics and interoperability of DOD systems. Ahead of his June retirement, Cornell also reflected on his proudest moments in of his dec...
May 20, 2025•11 min
Sean O’Lone, former senior assistant to the Department of Navy CIO and current CTO of SAIC’s Navy Business Group, joined us at Nutanix .NEXT to discuss federal modernization efforts and the future of defense IT. O’Lone served in various positions across the Navy and Joint Staff before joining industry. He shared insights into key pilot programs that modernized endpoint IT capabilities for Navy personnel, including supporting the Navy’s Flank Speed. He explored the persistent challenges of federa...
May 16, 2025•9 min
Col. Ret. Michael Medgyessy, former CIO at Air Force Intelligence, joined us at Nutanix .NEXT to reflect on his career and share forward-thinking strategies for modernizing defense infrastructure. Medgyessy offered a behind-the-scenes look at how Air Force Intelligence deployed Nutanix solutions to support distributed services, increase resilience and streamline operations. He highlighted the power of hyperconverged infrastructure and software-defined storage to enable seamless failover and cont...
May 15, 2025•5 min
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Navy have partnered to secure the seas NOAA's establishment in 1807. During Sea-Air-Space 2025, Rear Adm. Chad Cary, director of NOAA’s Commissioned Officer Corps and the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, spoke to GovCIO Media & Research about NOAA’s work integrating AI integration and autonomous systems into its operations, which he says have increased efficiency by 20 to 40% in data collection for research. Car...
May 13, 2025•10 min
According to officials, the Defense Department’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is a national secutity imperative to protect intellectual property and maintain an American competitive advantage in defense technology. At AFCEA TechNet 2025 in Baltimore, Katie Arrington, performing the duties of the DOD CIO, says CMMC needs to adapt dynamically to evolving cyber threats. With evolving tech like AI and quantum, acquisition rules need to adjust to evolving technologies whi...
May 12, 2025•13 min
AI is reshaping the federal landscape, offering agencies a way to boost operational and cost efficiency and augment the workforce. However, speedy adoption remains a challenge. Lee Caswell, senior vice president of Product and Solutions Marketing at Nutanix, joined us at Nutanix .NEXT to explore how the latest policy directives are influencing innovation across government, the biggest barriers to tech adoption and what it takes to overcome them. He also discussed strategies for migrating to mode...
May 08, 2025•8 min
When COVID-19 hit, Mike Taylor, hospital ship joint task director at the Military Sealift Command and the U.S. Navy, didn't just respond; he and his team innovated. At Nutanix .NEXT, Taylor joined us to discuss how he is leveraging telepresence technology and extending wireless networks to transform the way medical care is delivered, proving that technology isn't just a tool, it's a lifeline. From hyper-converged infrastructure to zero trust, Taylor is leading the charge in modernizing maritime ...
May 08, 2025•8 min
Young Bang, former principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, joined us at Nutanix .NEXT in Washington, D.C., to discuss the challenges and opportunities for Army innovation as new directives from the new administration shape the future of defense IT. From navigating outdated acquisition processes to transforming logistics with machine learning and integrating commercial AI into defense systems, Bang offered insights into how the Defense Departmen...
May 08, 2025•11 min
The Naval Research Laboratory's PROTEUS program is a cutting-edge maritime domain awareness system designed to provide near-real-time global maritime situational awareness for agencies and partners. The program integrates multi-source data ingestion and fusion services to identify, query and filter maritime vessels based on user-defined criteria. During Sea-Air-Space 2025, Alan Hope, head of the NRL’s mission development branch, spoke to GovCIO Media & Research about how Homeland Security In...
May 05, 2025•22 min
A recently published study by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) discovers a link between physical activity and cancer risk after gathering data from wrist sensors, which could help lead to major advances in cancer research. Alaina Shreves, predoctoral fellow at NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics Metabolic Epidemiology Branch, said the findings come from accelerometer-measured physical activity, which associated low-intensity exercise with up to a 26 percent decreased risk of ce...
May 05, 2025•8 min
Emerging tech policies focus on balancing technological advancement with governance, creating frameworks that encourage rapid innovation while maintaining critical safeguards for national security and public interest. President Donald Trump’s recent AI guidance prioritizes American leadership in technological development, particularly in response to global competition from countries like China. Lisa Costa, former Space Force chief information and transformation officer, highlights the critical n...
Apr 29, 2025•9 min
The Coast Guard is pursuing artificial intelligence via data analytics to enhance its diverse missions, Deputy CIO and Chief Data and AI Officer Brian Campo told GovCIO Media & Research during Sea-Air-Space in National Harbor, Maryland. Campo said that the Coast Guard is learning lessons from other military branches and DHS components to adopt a "fast follower" approach to AI. Campo emphasized the synergy between his dual roles, allowing for a streamlined approach to implementing data-driven...
Apr 22, 2025•17 min
The National Cancer Institute is exploring a new new tech-based treatment to help patients overcome a severe breathing disorder caused by the Human Papilloma Virus. Leaders from the agency’s Center for Cancer Research — Dr. Clint Allen, a senior investigator, and Dr. Scott Norberg, an associate research physician — join us to discuss the findings from their recent study on the Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis, which can cause damage to the vocal cords and block airways, making it hard to bre...
Apr 15, 2025•24 min
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual milestone updates in its public health data strategy include expanding TEFCA, enabling easier data access and analytics capabilities, and a new shared workspace with its partners. Dr. Jennifer Layden, director at CDC’s Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance and Technology, detailed the latest in the agency's comprehensive data strategy and how advanced technologies are revolutionizing disease detection and community health protection. F...
Apr 07, 2025•9 min
Editor’s Note: Jacob Glassman’s comments do not reflect the position of the Department of the Navy and are his own personal views. The Navy’s Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) philosophy is designed to enable the service to quickly integrate and prototype emerging technology. As the services adopt MOSA and its service-specific variants, Glassman says the strategy will foster the interchange of systems, support emerging technologies adoption and spur modernization. MOSA 1.0 is the first it...
Apr 01, 2025•28 min
The latest iteration of the National Institutes of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) helps organizations strengthen their security posture and align their cybersecurity efforts with enterprise-wide risk management. NIST's Steven Quinn, the project lead for the Cybersecurity Framework, provides a comprehensive overview of the key updates and transformative features in the 2.0 version. At the center of the new framework is the introduction of the "govern" function, wh...
Mar 25, 2025•9 min
Former Energy Department CIO Ann Dunkin managed a $5 billion IT budget and a $1 billion high-performance computing budget during her tenure. With a new administration taking shape, she offered insights into some of President Donald Trump’s new priorities and how they might impact the agency. She discussed the new AI executive order, the growing influence of global AI competition and the federal government’s evolving strategies for cybersecurity and quantum advancements. She also highlighted ongo...
Mar 12, 2025•14 min
The newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is working to modernize government and combat waste, fraud and abuse. The Congressional DOGE Caucus co-chaired by Rep. Pete Sessions aims to bridge efforts between Congress and DOGE and examine the need for a comprehensive technology strategy to tackle inefficiencies within government. Rep. Sessions discussed how his caucus is working with DOGE staffers to tackle the waste in government operations at agencies like IRS and the Feder...
Mar 07, 2025•16 min
