Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Fed Gov Today
GovernmentNewsTech NewsBusinessManagement

Fed Gov Today

FedGovToday.com

#5 in Government this week

Veteran host Francis Rose gives Federal government decision-makers news and information about management, workforce, IT, and acquisition, to help those leaders do their jobs better.

Play
Open in
  • 50 episodes
  • a few times a week
  • Avg 17 min
  • English

Episodes 50

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • Friday · 8 min

    How the Pentagon Is Turning Warfighter Feedback Into Better Energy Technology

    The Pentagon is exploring new operational energy technologies designed to improve military readiness, and Maj. Justin Shine says innovation only matters when it makes warfighters more effective. Shine, Military Deputy in the Pentagon's Office of Operational Energy Innovation, joins Fed Gov Today to explain how his organization identifies, tests, and develops technologies for military operations. Shine says the office evaluates innovations based on whether they improve survivability, operational endurance, or mission effectiveness. The development process varies depending on the technology's maturity. Early-stage projects can require approximately three years of scientific and engineering work, while more developed prototypes may move through one to two years of additional testing. Warfighter feedback plays a central role throughout that process. Shine explains how service members from different military branches evaluate technologies based on their operational needs, providing feedback on everything from weight and size to usability and performance.

  • Wednesday · 5 min

    The Commercial CX Strategy That Could Change How Americans Access Government Services

    Federal agencies are investing in new technologies to improve customer experience, but Evan Davis says the greatest opportunity may come from changing when government provides assistance. Instead of waiting for people to encounter problems or ask questions, agencies could use data to anticipate their needs. Davis, Executive Managing Director at Maximus, joins Fed Gov Today to explain how data can help federal organizations modernize services and move toward a more proactive customer experience. He says both government and the private sector are navigating major changes in how they serve customers. For federal agencies, those changes create an opportunity to consolidate services and make interactions with government more efficient. Davis describes that evolution through three stages: reactive, interactive, and proactive care.

  • Monday · 8 min

    America.gov Is Live. Here's What Comes Next for Federal Services

    The federal government is taking another step toward making services easier for Americans to access through America.gov, and Mary Bati says collaboration is essential to making that vision a reality. Bati, Chief Information Officer at the National Design Studio, joins Fed Gov Today to discuss the platform's September 29 launch and the work underway to expand its capabilities. Bati says the General Services Administration plays a critical role in supporting America.gov's infrastructure, while federal agencies are increasingly engaging with the National Design Studio to explore how their services can become part of the platform.

  • October 23 · 9 min

    Why the Pentagon Is Betting on Nuclear Microreactors

    The Pentagon is seeing growing demand for advanced nuclear technologies, and Mike Smith, Nuclear Portfolio Lead for Operational Energy Innovation at the Pentagon, says the conversation around nuclear power looks dramatically different than it did just two years ago. During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Smith discusses how military interest in nuclear microreactors is creating new opportunities for research, development and investment.

  • October 21 · 5 min

    How Commercial Innovation Can Help the Military Move Faster

    As military leaders look for ways to accelerate modernization, Autumn Sand, Managing Director and Defense Portfolio Lead at Accenture Federal Services, says commercial innovation can help the armed forces deliver capabilities at the speed their missions demand. During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Sand explains how the commercial sector's experience with competition, emerging technologies and rapid decision-making can support military readiness.

  • October 19 · 7 min

    The Navy's AI Strategy Comes Down to One Thing: Speed

    The Navy is accelerating its efforts to use artificial intelligence and data across the fleet, but Barry Tanner, Chief Information Officer at the Navy, says the real measure of success is how quickly the service can turn information into action. During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Tanner discusses the Navy's strategy to weaponize data and artificial intelligence, a plan focused on helping sailors and Marines learn, adapt and respond faster than their adversaries.

  • October 16 · 8 min

    The Future of Crime Fighting: How NCIS Is Using AI and Technology to Transform Investigations

    The nature of criminal investigations is changing dramatically. Where investigators once rely primarily on witness interviews, photographs and traditional evidence collection, today's cases involve enormous volumes of digital information that demand new tools, specialized expertise and faster analysis. For Joshua Flowers, Executive Assistant Director of Operational Technology and Cyber Innovation at NCIS, this transformation represents both a challenge and an opportunity.

  • October 14 · 9 min

    The Navy’s Shipbuilding Problem: Why Faster Contracts Won’t Fix a Broken Process

    The U.S. Navy wants to build more ships, deliver them faster and strengthen its industrial base. But achieving those goals requires more than new contracts and construction strategies. It demands a fundamental change in how the service plans, designs and executes its shipbuilding programs. Shelby Oakley, director of contracting and national security acquisitions at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), says the Navy is taking a closer look at its longstanding acquisition practices after years of delays and billions of dollars in cost overruns. During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Oakley examines the Navy’s evolving shipbuilding strategy, the risks associated with accelerating production and the importance of building ships that deliver meaningful capabilities to sailors.

  • October 12 · 5 min

    AI Won't Fix Bad Cybersecurity: Why Federal Agencies Must Get Back to Basics

    Richard Breakiron, Senior Strategist for Programs and Cybersecurity for the Federal Sector at Commvault, says strong cyber hygiene, data management and workforce readiness remain essential as organizations introduce increasingly powerful AI capabilities. During an interview on Fed Gov Today, Breakiron reflects on conversations at the Billington CyberSecurity Summit, where military and industry leaders discuss how emerging technologies are changing cybersecurity.

  • September 30 · 9 min

    How the TSP Is Using Technology to Make Retirement Planning Easier

    The Thrift Savings Plan is updating its digital experience to make it easier for participants and beneficiaries to find information and manage their accounts. Jim Kaplan, director of external affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains how participant feedback and usage data are shaping a redesigned TSP.gov, virtual assistant Ava and the new Life Events Hub. Kaplan also discusses how the hub brings greater transparency to beneficiary processes and what participants should consider as the calendar year winds down. Plus, he explains why FRTIB has spent less than 90% of its budget for five consecutive years. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  • September 30 · 10 min

    The Army’s Next-Gen Command and Control Push Comes With a Multibillion-Dollar Challenge

    GAO’s Alex Winograd joins Fed Gov Today to examine the Army’s push to modernize battlefield communications through C2 Fix and Next Generation Command and Control. Winograd explains how the Army is using an iterative acquisition approach that incorporates soldier feedback and adapts to changing technology and battlefield conditions. But GAO sees challenges ahead, particularly around long-term costs and scheduling. NGC2 cost approximately $3 billion in the most recent fiscal year, and the Army plans to field the technology across 11 divisions and four corps by the end of fiscal 2032. Winograd explains why better planning will be critical. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  • September 28 · 11 min

    Why Federal Agencies Can’t Wait for Perfect Infrastructure to Deploy AI

    Federal agencies are rapidly expanding their use of artificial intelligence, but legacy infrastructure, acquisition processes and workforce challenges can complicate adoption. Former FBI CIO Gordon Bitko, now executive vice president for public sector at the Information Technology Industry Council, explains why agencies should focus on practical AI use cases instead of waiting for complete modernization. He discusses using AI to better understand government data, rethinking business processes, moving successful pilots to scale and preparing for unexpected resource demands. Bitko also explains why data integration and workforce readiness are critical measures of progress as agencies layer new AI capabilities onto legacy systems. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  • September 25 · 13 min

    How Federal Agencies Are Rethinking the Fight Against Fraud

    Former federal executive Robert Shea joins Fed Gov Today to examine how agencies are changing their approach to fraud prevention. Shea says government has made progress recognizing the scale of the problem, but gaps in identity verification and payment controls remain. He discusses how tools like Do Not Pay, Login.gov and private-sector data verification can help agencies determine eligibility faster without making benefits harder to access. Shea also explores the role of artificial intelligence in analyzing data, the risks of relying too heavily on AI and how agencies should measure whether their fraud-prevention efforts are actually working. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  • September 22 · 16 min

    U.S. & China AI Competition Raises Questions About Risk and Oversight

    Former Joint Artificial Intelligence Center Director Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan (Ret.) joins Fed Gov Today ahead of a House Select Committee on China hearing focused on the U.S.-China AI competition. Shanahan explains why rapidly advancing frontier AI models are creating new risks and why sustained dialogue between Washington and Beijing could help manage them. He discusses the need for stronger testing, red teaming and independent verification as AI moves into military environments. Shanahan also pushes back on the idea that regulation automatically stifles innovation, pointing to aviation as a model for balancing safety, oversight and technological progress. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  • September 18 · 13 min

    The Pentagon’s Unfinished Business: Why Acquisition Reform Needs More Than New Policy

    Arnold Punaro argues the Pentagon can learn from the landmark Goldwater-Nichols reforms as it tackles acquisition and management challenges. The retired Marine Corps major general and CEO of The Punaro Group explains why the 1986 reforms successfully reshaped military operations, while parts of the Pentagon’s management structure remain unfinished. Punaro discusses Congress’s role in making reforms permanent, changing incentives across the acquisition workforce and driving cultural change inside the department. He also examines what recent military operations reveal about emerging technology, unmanned systems and why people will remain essential to the future of warfare. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  • September 16 · 11 min

    GAO Breaks Down DHS’s $10.7 Billion Contract Savings Estimate

    GAO is taking a closer look at billions of dollars in savings claimed by the Department of Homeland Security following hundreds of contract terminations. Chris Currie, Director of Emergency Management and National Preparedness Issues at the Government Accountability Office, explains why canceling a contract does not automatically translate into savings. DHS reported $10.7 billion in savings after terminating or partially terminating 438 contracts, but GAO found the department had actually deobligated about $92 million. Currie breaks down how contract savings should be calculated, why IT services often shift to other contract vehicles, and what GAO will examine next. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  • September 14 · 17 min

    Former IRS Commissioner’s Three-Word Warning for Government AI: “Slow Your Roll”

    Former IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel says agencies should resist the urge to race toward artificial intelligence productivity gains without first understanding the risks. Werfel, now Executive in Residence at the Johns Hopkins School of Government and Policy, explains why tax may be especially well suited for AI and why that potential makes responsible adoption even more important. He discusses risk registers, hallucinations, autonomous AI behavior and the need for domain-specific frameworks. His three-word advice for organizations deploying AI: “slow your roll.” Werfel argues agencies can capture meaningful efficiency gains while gradually learning how to manage risk, train employees and protect the public. Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

Showing 1–20 of 50 episodes