Government Matters

Kirke Everson, managing director of the federal advisory practice at KPMG, discusses the way government is using artificial intelligence, and the potential of the technology that is still untapped.

Steve Bongardt, president of the Gyges Group, discusses the timeline of the investigation into the 2015 hack of the Office of Personnel Management and how the FBI works with other agencies during these types of investigations.

Kevin Nalu, special agent for criminal investigation at the IRS, discusses the work that earned him and three other colleagues recognition as finalists for the Service to America Medals in the Homeland Security & Law Enforcement category.

David DeVries, chief information officer at the Office of Personnel Management, discusses the current state of cybersecurity at OPM, the National Background Investigations Bureau, and his future plans in this exclusive exit interview.

Nextgov executive editor Frank Konkel, FCW executive editor Adam Mazmanian, and FedScoop senior tech reporter Carten Cordell join Francis for this special OPM cybersecurity edition of the Federal Beat.

Chuck Alsup, president of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), discusses a recent op-ed he co-wrote for Federal Times. It calls the process government uses to vet prospective employees "broken."

Dan Tangherlini, former administrator at the General Services Administration and president of SeamlessDocs Federal, discusses new research & development guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, as well as what that guidance reveals about the administration's priorities amid a government reorganization.

Chris Mihm, managing director for strategic issues at the Government Accountability Office, discusses the effort to eliminate or modify reporting requirements for: 1) Companies that get federal contracts and 2) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that get government grants.

Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work and former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Sandy Winnefeld (USN, ret.) discuss the future of the Third Offset Strategy, innovation at the Pentagon, and why they chose to join the board of advisors at Govini.

Gregory Copley, president of the International Strategic Studies Association, discusses North Korea, Pakistan, and other places of concern to the national security and diplomatic communities.

Politico defense reporter Jacqueline Klimas and Military.com air warfare reporter Oriana Pawlyk join Francis for this edition of the Pentagon Beat. They discuss the Navy's "operational pause," President Trump's Afghanistan speech, and Defense Secretary Mattis' trip to Ukraine.

Dave Mader, civilian sector chief strategy officer at Deloitte and former controller at the Office of Management and Budget, discusses OMB's decision to revisit how contractors and grant recipients report their transactions with the government.

Dr. Tedd Ellerbrock, chief of the HIV Care and Treatment Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, discusses the work the won him a Service to America Medal nomination in the Career Achievement category.

Paul Murphy, senior data analyst at Bloomberg Government, discusses the coming expiration date for nearly 10,000 contracts -- 8(a) set asides -- that could amount to more than $14 billion.

Kathryn McNabb Cochran and Coast Guard Cmdr. Gregory Tozzi, from the Center for a New American Security, discuss their recent report about the role of prediction in agile government systems.

Anne Altman, vice chair of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, discusses technology challenges facing the 2020 Census.

Larry Allen, president of Allen Federal Business Partners, discusses how government contractors can prepare for a fourth-quarter rush.

Leslie Pollack, deputy associate director of HR strategy and evaluation solutions at the Office of Personnel Management, and Jason Parman, HR strategy branch manager at OPM, discuss the impact the agency reorganization effort is having on the federal workforce.

Jitender Dubey, a microbiologist at Agricultural Research Service, discusses the work that earned him a nomination as a finalist for the Service to America Medals in the Career Achievement category.

Borrowing customer experience best practices from the private sector

Martha Dorris, founder of Dorris Consulting International, discusses the best practices the government can take away from the private sector when it comes to customer experience.

Davis Johnson, vice president & head of U.S. Public Sector at Riverbed Technology, and Tim Solms, senior VP & GM of Global Governments at Forcepoint, discuss the role of industry in helping agencies comply with the White House’s cybersecurity executive order.

Phaedra Chrousos, chief innovation officer at Libra Group and founding commissioner of GSA’s Technology Transformation Service, discusses how private sector organizations can help accelerate innovation in government.

David Berteau, president & CEO of the Professional Services Council, discusses the National Background Investigation Bureau’s effort to reduce the security clearance backlog.

In a special two-part interview, Francis sat down with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David Shulkin. They discussed the culture, workforce and technology challenges facing the Department, and the way the White House is impacting and influencing Secretary Shulkin’s agenda.

Bryan Bender, defense editor and national security correspondent at Politico, and Nikki Wentling, veterans reporter at Stars & Stripes, discuss their reactions to Secretary Shulkin’s interview and the veterans issues they’re following.

Robert Bigman, founder of 2BSecure Cybersecurity Consultancy, discusses the Defense Department’s effort to phase out Common Access Cards and find a replacement.

Joseph Marks, cybersecurity correspondent for NextGov, discusses the budget rules and processes that could be impacting the governments cybersecurity.

Alice Hunt Friend, senior fellow in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, discusses how personnel changes in the White House could impact the concept of “civilian control” of the military.