The Government Technology Insider Podcast

With accelerating technology refresh cycles, evolving policy expectations, and the pressure to reduce waste and fraud while delivering mission outcomes faster, are transforming government acquisition from a transactional procurement function to a strategic capability.

AI-driven acquisition offers agencies a way to address these pressures. Agencies are beginning to integrate AI directly into acquisition systems to streamline the requirements development process, automate research, and reduce administrative burden. These tools can help accelerate timelines and improve efficiency. However, agencies must also support common-sense workforce adoption to keep humans in the loop and avoid the risks of “cognitive surrender,” where user...

​The continual rapid evolution of the cyber threat landscape is making building a cyber workforce more important—and more difficult—than ever. As new cyber threats emerge more quickly and frequently, the “readiness revolution” is pushing cybersecurity readiness toward more active education and the ability to demonstrate skills before a crisis. In today’s episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, Dan Magnotta, Senior Federal Business Development Manager at Hack The Box, explains how the readiness revolution is changing public sector cyber preparedness and what organizations can do to build a cyber-ready workforce.

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​Artificial intelligence (AI), bring your...

​​In a year defined by acceleration and transformation, 2025 will be remembered across the federal government as the start of artificial intelligence moving from pilot projects to production reality. Agencies are no longer debating whether to use AI; the conversation has shifted decisively to how to deploy it safely, effectively, responsibly, and at scale. On the most recent episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host, Lucas Hunsicker, spoke with Steve Boone, Director of Product Marketing at Checkmarx, about what this reframing has meant for government IT teams and what it signals as we move through 2026 and beyond.

​As federal agencies continue to invest in, and deploy, AI solutions, the physical infrastructure needed to support mission-enabling use cases is top of mind for agency leaders. But the way these solutions will be acquired, implemented, and used significantly impacts the design of AI systems. Trust, security, and procurement all play a role in the value agencies get from AI and therefore must be considered from the onset.

​In part one of our podcast series, Michael Montgomery, President of Chenega Architecture and Design Solutions, explained how federal agencies can power and cool the systems enabling AI use case...

​The increasing presence of AI in federal buildings is reshaping how the federal government works. From predictive AI that solves previously intractable challenges, enables digital twinning, and supports decision-advantage and operational superiority on the battlefield to generative AI that enables vital service delivery improvements, AI is the focus of federal agency investments.

​While there is little doubt about the value that AI can deliver to federal agencies, there are some very practical obstacles standing in the way. Before they can reap the benefits, agencies must confront the challenges of powering the vast AI infrastructures they are building and...

​At the end of last year, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) released new Android 16 and iOS 26 Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) designed to provide military organizations with the guidance they need to better secure their mobile endpoints against modern adversaries.

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​One of the most significant new requirements in the latest Android and Apple STIGS is for all managed mobile devices to have a mobile threat defense (MTD) solution deployed to remain compliant – a major undertaking for an organization with hundreds of thousands of mobile endpoints.

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​In this episode of the Government T...

​In today’s highly volatile geopolitical environment, being able to communicate and operate securely is a vital strategic advantage for the warfighter and command. With multivariant threats targeted at United States assets at the core and the edge, on land, in space, and at sea, investment in robust and resilient secure facilities has never been more important. The challenges of balancing effective communication with secure operations will surely be top of mind at the Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium 2026, taking place this week in Colorado.

​In this episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, we invited Michael Montgomery, who le...

​Modernizing the technology that supports government services is a primary way state agencies are working to deliver services more efficiently and meet constituent demand. But while implementing new technology is a significant milestone, the challenge of ensuring that systems are capable of delivering on the mission extends far beyond launch day. A perpetually adaptive system—and a mindset to match—are critical to keep systems functional and relevant.

​In our previous podcast, Amber Shultz, Kansas’s Secretary of Labor, shared the four keys to successfully delivering a complex digital transformation project. In today’s episode, we welcome Secretary Sh...

​​Today, technology is a critical part of delivering state services like unemployment insurance, but many states still rely on decades-old systems that struggle to meet demand. Like many agencies, the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) reached a turning point when unemployment claims surged at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legacy system, created in the 1970s, was unable to support the volume of claims and calls, causing delays in service and overburdening state staff. KDOL needed to not only stabilize its current unemployment insurance system but modernize it so it could become more agile and perpetually adaptive.

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The potential for data to power government systems and transform service delivery has made maximizing the value of their data a top priority for many state agencies. But states still struggle to transform raw data into actionable insights that can drive economic growth and social benefits. Solving this conundrum may depend on data sharing: pooling information and insights among state agencies to optimize resources and support staff and citizens.

In today’s episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, guest host Dale Smith, Director of Labor and Workforce at TCS – Tata Consultancy Services, speaks with Rick Maher, CEO...

The pressures that are reshaping the broader business environment also affect government contracting. These shifts reflect major trends impacting government contracts, and according to Cohn Reznick and Unanet’s 2025 GAUGE Report, 57 percent of GovCon firms cite finding new revenue streams as their biggest challenge, and 79 percent of them are having trouble winning new contracts. While demand and funding cycles become more unpredictable, resource management continues to be one of the most persistent operational challenges, with firms reporting persistent understaffing, increasing compliance hours, and growing pressure to improve efficiency.

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, ho...

​​​​​​​In the second half of this ​​two-part Government Technology Insider podcast, Bryan Schromsky, Managing Partner for 5G Public Sector at Verizon, and Todd Maxwell, Director of Regulated Business Development at Samsung Electronics America, explore how artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, and next-generation wearables are reshaping the military’s mobile ecosystem. In this new era, mobile devices are not just communication tools but intelligent hubs that enhance awareness, simplify workflows, and protect the warfighter in every environment. ​

From field radios to ruggedized tables, mobile devices have been an integral part of military communications for decades. But today, the Department of ​War​ (Do​W​) is moving beyond simply using mobile devices and investing in placing mobility at the forefront of training, planning, and tactical operations. This emerging mobile-first model is reshaping readiness and accelerating the pace of operations at a moment when speed, flexibility, and secure data are the most critical.

​​​​What emerges is a new vision for mobile capabilities in the field. Instead of carrying multiple devices or specialized gear, service members can rely on a single, sec...

Quantum computing is no longer a distant frontier, a reality recently reinforced by the 2025 Physics Nobel Prize winners. While Professor John Clarke, one of the three new laureates, described the recognition as the “surprise of his life” few in the technology community were caught off guard. Their work forms the backbone of the breakthroughs driving quantum research forward today. Clarke explained, “This is something that leads to the development of the quantum computer. Many people are working on quantum computing, our discovery is in many ways the basis of this.” With this recognition, the conversation has shifted from if quantum...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already touched nearly every corner of the public sector. Agencies are using it to power chatbots that answer citizen questions and predictive analytics that help leaders anticipate failures and issues. These early applications are reshaping how government operates, improving efficiencies, and opening the door to new innovations. Yet according to experts, the story is only just beginning. A new wave of AI is emerging in government that is taking operations beyond automation. This is agentic AI.

The questions facing leaders now are critical. What does agentic AI mean for agencies? And how can...

Government is not an exception to the growing adoption of AI across industries. The Government Accountability Office reported that federal agencies’ use cases for AI more than doubled in one year, from approximately 571 in 2023 to 1,110 in 2024, with generative AI use cases increasing by nearly nine times, from 32 to 282. This massive growth is opening the door for agentic AI, which goes beyond automation to scale efficiency across government IT and proactively address problems.

In this episode of Government Technology Insider podcast, host Lucas Hunsicker dives deeply into how government IT teams are utilizing automation and AI to improve serv...

​​On June 6, 2025 a new cybersecurity executive order (EO) was signed, reshaping federal priorities and adjusting past mandates. With so much at stake when it comes to preventing critical systems and information from cyber attacks, agencies are seeking further clarity and direction. For federal CISOs, the question is not only what the order requires, but how it will influence their strategies and day-to-day responsibilities. In the latest Government Technology Insider podcast, cybersecurity leaders Paul Blahusch, former federal agency CISO, and Larry Potts, senior client partner at Verizon, joined host Lucas Hunsicker to unpack what the new directive means for federal cybe...

By enabling real-time anomaly detection, adaptive access control, and more secure digital environments, AI is reshaping how state, local, and education (SLED) organizations approach cybersecurity. However, as adoption grows, leaders are learning that implementing AI-powered cyber defenses isn't just about technology; it also involves user education, evaluating vendors wisely, and fostering a culture of trust and transparency.

In part one, Government Technology Insider podcast, host Luas Hunsicker spoke with Aaron McAllister, Principal Solutions Architect for SASE at Cloudflare, and MT Robertson, Director of Cybersecurity at Presidio about the foundation of AI-powered Zero Trust solutions. They covered topics li...

By 2030, AI is expected to boost the global economy by more than $15.7 trillion, but as its adoption in the public sector grows, so do the cyber threats. This transformation demands both innovation and caution from state, local, and education (SLED) organizations. SLED leaders are increasingly turning to Zero Trust systems, that prioritize continuous verification and strong access controls to establish secure, ethical, and scalable environments for AI integration due to sensitive data, regulatory mandates such as Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and limited resources.

In this episode of Government Technology Insider podcast, host, Lucas Hunsicker, spok...

“Driving under the influence” often suggests alcohol is the source of impairment, but many substances can affect a person’s ability to drive safely and increase the risk of accidents. With use of drugs such as cannabis, opioids, prescription and over-the-counter depressants, and stimulants growing more prevalent among drivers, driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) has become a major concern not only for law enforcement, but for public health experts as well. While drug-impaired driving is less understood than alcohol-impaired driving, standardized toxicological testing of drivers has shown promise as a strategy to help inform stakeholders of dangerous drivin...

In part one, Government Technology Insider podcast host Lucas Hunsicker explored how agencies are putting this technology into action with insights from Knightscope CEO, William Li, Knightscope Senior Vice President of Client Development Jason Gonzalez, and Verizon Associate Director of Federal Healthcare Tom Long. In part two they continue the conversation by discussing real world results.

What’s become evident in just a short time is that autonomous robots are improving public safety including incident prevention, theft reduction, and improving response times. The guests emphasized how these tools are cost-effective and easy to deploy, while also extending si...

In this episode of Government Technology Insider podcast, host Luas Hunsicker spoke with William Li, Chairman and CEO of Knightscope; Jason Gonzalez, Senior Vice President of Client Development at Knightscope; and Tom Long, Associate Director of Federal Healthcare at Verizon. In the conversation they explore the growing impact of autonomous security robots and the role of connectivity in modern public safety. Despite limited funding and high cybersecurity demands, federal agencies are leveraging AI-driven machines to enhance situation awareness, address staffing shortages, and modernize legacy systems. As Li shared, “these are smart eyes, ears and voice on the ground for the of...

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Matt Langan sat down with Chris Russell, Distinguished Architect at Verizon, and Narendra Tilwani, Sales Development and Customer Solutions at Nokia Federal Solutions, to discuss how private 5G is changing military communications. While debunking common misconceptions about its adoptions, their conversation also highlighted the real-world impact of this developing technology, from replacing aging infrastructure to supporting mission-critical applications like smart warehousing, simulation training, and edge intelligence. As Tilwani pointed out: “one misconception we’ve seen is that deploying 5G is expensive and only meant for large organizations…That’s not true...

In a recent podcast with Olivia Spain and Monika Mathur from the Global Innovation Consulting practice at TCS – Tata Consultancy Services, parent company of Tata America International Corporation, we asked them to explain why a culture of innovation is so important for government today. What we learned in that conversation is that a culture of innovation is essential for ​​driving efficiency in government. To build a culture of innovation government agencies need to address three pillars: technology, people, and process. If any one of the three remains unchanged, the culture of innovation ​will ​falter, and the agency can’t move forward...

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, we talk with Monika Mathur, Business Consultant, and Olivia Spain, Engagement Manager, from the Global Innovation Consulting practice at TCS – Tata Consultancy Services, parent company of Tata America International Corporation, about how government agencies can build a culture of innovation and leverage it to deliver on the mission more efficiently.

Federal government agencies are taking steps to prepare for the impact of quantum computing, especially in the area of cybersecurity. In August 2024, the National Institute of Standards and Technology released the first three finalized post-quantum encryption standards, a major step toward protecting digital infrastructure from quantum threats. This initiative aligns with the National Security Memorandum 10 and is supported by agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which have developed roadmaps to direct the shift to quantum-resilient systems.

Lamont Copeland, Senior Director of Federal Solutions Architecture at Verizon, and Jim Westdorp...

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Matt Langan spoke with Jeanne Gentry, DISA Business Development Manager from Verizon, and Adam Clement Jones, Solutions Architect for Verizon’s Defense Business in EMEA about DISA’s integration of AI into their 2025-2027 strategic vision. Their discussion also covers how technologies like AI-powered predictive maintenance, cyber threat detection, and edge computing are being deployed to enhance operational continuity and decision-making at the tactical edge.

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Matt Langan spoke with Dominic Bonaduce, Senior Manager for Product Strategy at Verizon and Greg Puschnigg, Chief Executive Officer at BOSS Controls about how IoT and 5G technologies are transforming the DoD’s energy management and resilience.

Their discussion also focused on the unique energy challenges faced by military bases as well as how 5G makes it possible for real-time grid edge visibility, control, and optimization. From integrating renewable energy sources to facilitating demand response programs and performing predictive maintenance on individual devices, the conversation focuses on ho...

In the latest episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host, Lucas Hunsicker is joined by Josh Finke, Senior Vice President for Public Sector at Lumen and Mark Pittman, Founder of Blyncsy and Senior Director of Transportation AI at Bentley Systems, to discuss how AI can make our highways and byways safer, but also why the right backbone and infrastructure need to be in place first to deliver success.

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host Matt Langan spoke with Verizon’s Dale Butterworth, Senior Solutions Partner and Dave Stepp Associate Director of Federal Connected Solutions-Federal to unpack how Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology is becoming a cornerstone of the military's modernization efforts. During their conversation they shared how deployment strategy is being shaped by site surveys, how environmental factors affect network design, and why rapid, secure connectivity is fundamental to operational readiness. Butterworth explained why FWA is such a game-changer:

"Military installations have broad, spread-out buildings, and as technology evolves, it's expensive to...

In this episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast Lucas Hunsicker hosts a dynamic conversation with Granicus’s Charlotte Lee, Director of Growth Strategy, and Luke Norris, Vice President of Platform Strategy and Digital Transformation, to explore the impact of a digital-first approach to government.

For decades, governments have relied heavily on paper-based systems for tasks ranging from record-keeping to correspondence. This dependence adds unnecessary costs—estimated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported at nearly $40 billion annually for the federal government—while hindering efficiency and transparency. In the push for digital transformation across the government, digita...

From hardware-focused supply chains to cloud-based service models, the distribution landscape has undergone significant changes. Over the past decade, the role of IT in government operations has evolved significantly and public sector IT distribution has adapted to meet these new demands and complexities.

In the latest episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, host Lucas Hunsicker sat down with former public sector CEO, Art Richer. With decades of experience leading organizations through shifting market dynamics, Richer offered unique insights into the trends shaping government technology procurement and some of the key ingredients to creating successful partnerships in...

Established in 2011 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) was designed to “safely accelerate the adoption of cloud computing products and services by federal agencies.” By providing a consistent and reusable authorization process, FedRAMP enables agencies throughout the U.S. government (USG) to avoid duplicating efforts while prioritizing security and efficiency. As federal agencies face increasing pressure from Executive Orders and rising cyber threats, today FedRAMP certification has become a critical enabler of modernization. It allows agencies to adopt innovative solutions that meet stringent security standards without sacrificing agility. In the...

In this podcast Dale Smith of TCS will be talking with Andrew Stettner, who is the Director of the Office of Unemployment Insurance Modernization at the United States Department of Labor. Recently, Stettner attended the 2024 NASWA Summit and has joined us to discuss the current state of unemployment insurance and where state workforce agencies are going.

In our newest podcast, Scott DeViney, a business development executive at SolarWinds, explained that observability offers agencies a modern approach to updating their IT infrastructures by going beyond traditional monitoring.

Unlike monitoring, which only tells you what is happening, observability provides insights into why an issue occurs, whether it is related to network activity, cloud infrastructure, or application code. For federal government agencies overseeing some of the world’s most intricate networks, this shift is especially valuable. Observability allows agencies to proactively identify issues before they become outages or security breaches by correlating data from across the IT...

What if you could cut information search times by 35 percent or boost customer satisfaction by 20 percent, all thanks to the power of AI? In this episode, Ruben Dedman, DevNet technical consultant and AI developer at TD SYNNEX, reveals how AI is business operations and fueling innovation. With 90 percent of top businesses investing in AI, Dedman outlines a clear roadmap for implementing AI, including no-code tools that prove even non-technical teams can harness AI. Tune in to discover how AI can revolutionize your business and supercharge your operations.

In this episode, we sit down with Jason Langone, Global AI Lead at Nutanix to discuss how agencies can jumpstart their cloud-free AI journey to deliver new capabilities and efficiencies while preserving their data sovereignty.

Imagine you’re working with a key customer, and they urgently need a specific file to move forward with their project. You spend hours digging through countless folders, but you never find what you’re looking for. Frustratingly, it turns out that the file was there the entire time, but someone had named it in a completely different way, making it impossible to find. This is a common challenge, especially in large organizations like TD SYNNEX and Cisco, where managing many documents can be “difficult.”

Decision making can be affected by this challenge, which can include duplicating document...

In the latest episode of the Government Technology insider podcast, Joseph E LoCurto, Federal Senior Solutions Specialist at Verizon Business, joined Lucas Hunsicker to explore the transformative benefits of Fixed Wireless Access.

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Dixon, Senior Principal of Military Health Technology Consulting Services at Maximus, to discuss how the Defense Health Agency (DHA) can take a digital first approach to improve military health service delivery.