HSDF THE PODCAST

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

In this episode, we explore why homeland security R&D cannot keep pace without deeper cooperation across allies and tighter collaboration with industry. We push past “build better tech” and get specific about data trust, biosurveillance ecosystems, and what interoperability really demands from lab to field.

Featuring:

•Julie Brewer, Deputy Under Secretary, DHS S&T
•Samuel Howerton, Chief Scientist, DHS S&T
•David Alexander, Senior Science Advisor, DHS S&T
•Tom Ragland, HSDF Advisory Committee/Dell Technologies (moderator)

This discussion took place on September 22, 2026, at HSDF’s Defending the Frontline Event

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

In this episode, We dig into how DHS is building a bio surveillance strategic initiative that operators can actually run, with FEMA and the Office of Health Security positioned to carry capabilities into the field. We also hear tough, real-world constraints from border operations, where communications gaps and edge computing can decide whether help arrives in time.

Featuring:

•Julie Brewer, Deputy Under Secretary, DHS S&T
•Samuel Howerton, Chief Scientist, DHS S&T
•David Alexander, Senior Science Advisor, DHS S&T
•Tom Ragland, HSDF Advisory Committee/Dell Technologies (moderator)


This discussion took place on September 22, 2026, at HSDF’s Defending the Frontline Event

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

In this episode, We share how DHS Science and Technology reshapes its work around real missions and future threats, not just one-off tools. We lay out what keeps leadership up at night and what “affirmative” technology looks like when the goal is protecting our way of life.

Featuring:

•Julie Brewer, Deputy Under Secretary, DHS S&T
•Samuel Howerton, Chief Scientist, DHS S&T
•David Alexander, Senior Science Advisor, DHS S&T
•Tom Ragland, HSDF Advisory Committee/Dell Technologies (moderator)

This discussion took place on September 22, 2026, at HSDF’s Defending the Frontline Event

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

In this episode, We dig into how DHS S&T can raise industry engagement while facing a fast-changing threat, adversary, and technology landscape that is making current tactics obsolete. We lay out what ambitious goals look like in practice, from persistent agent-agnostic bio surveillance to cross-domain autonomous systems and human-machine teaming at the border.

Featuring:

•Julie Brewer, Deputy Under Secretary, DHS S&T
•Samuel Howerton, Chief Scientist, DHS S&T
•David Alexander, Senior Science Advisor, DHS S&T
•Tom Ragland, HSDF Advisory Committee/Dell Technologies (moderator)

This discussion took place on September 22, 2026, at HSDF’s Defending the Frontline Event

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

 AI is already changing federal cybersecurity, but the most urgent question is not which model is smartest. It’s whether defenders can adopt AI fast enough to protect missions while adversaries use the same tech to evade detection, exploit vulnerabilities, and manipulate people at scale. In this two part episode, we unpack what’s holding government back, what “good” looks like in a modern SOC, and where industry partnerships can actually deliver measurable impact.

 Featuring:

•  Christopher Cleary, Vice President, Global Cyber Practice, MANTECH
• Thomas Dempsey, Deputy Executive Director, Cybersecurity Directorate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Dustin Goetz, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Rob Thorne, Deputy Chief Information Officer (Acting), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Luke McCormack, Former Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (moderator)

 This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

 Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

 AI is already changing federal cybersecurity, but the most urgent question is not which model is smartest. It’s whether defenders can adopt AI fast enough to protect missions while adversaries use the same tech to evade detection, exploit vulnerabilities, and manipulate people at scale. In this two part episode, we unpack what’s holding government back, what “good” looks like in a modern SOC, and where industry partnerships can actually deliver measurable impact.

 Featuring:

•  Christopher Cleary, Vice President, Global Cyber Practice, MANTECH
• Thomas Dempsey, Deputy Executive Director, Cybersecurity Directorate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Dustin Goetz, Chief Information Officer, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Rob Thorne, Deputy Chief Information Officer (Acting), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• Luke McCormack, Former Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (moderator)

 This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

 In this episode, we sit down to talk Homeland Security in 2025 terms, from CISA’s staffing and funding realities to what industry can do to rebuild support for the agency. We also wrestle with the hard truth that AI-driven offense may soon outpace human-speed defense, especially across aging critical infrastructure.

 Featuring: 

• Congressman Andrew Garbarino, Chairman, House Homeland Security Committee
• Former Congressman John Katko (moderator)

  This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

 In this two part episode, examine why vulnerability management is buckling under the scale of modern discovery and what it takes to modernize the CVE and NIST NVD pipeline without slowing down response. We also connect the dots between AI governance, public-private partnership, and quantum readiness so we can build trust and security before the next leap in capability.

Featuring: 

• Moira Bergin, Subcommittee Director/Counsel, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security 
• Casey Dolen, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security
• Alan McQuinn, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Research and Technology, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
• Emily Park, Professional Staff Member, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 
• Frank Cilluffo, Director, McCrary Institute (moderator)

 This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

 In this two part episode, examine why vulnerability management is buckling under the scale of modern discovery and what it takes to modernize the CVE and NIST NVD pipeline without slowing down response. We also connect the dots between AI governance, public-private partnership, and quantum readiness so we can build trust and security before the next leap in capability.

Featuring:

• Moira Bergin, Subcommittee Director/Counsel, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security
• Casey Dolen, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Committee on Homeland Security
• Alan McQuinn, Professional Staff Member, Subcommittee on Research and Technology, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
• Emily Park, Professional Staff Member, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 
• Frank Cilluffo, Director, McCrary Institute (moderator)

 This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.

HSDF would love to hear from you!

Welcome to our “TUESDAY EDITION of HSDF THE PODCAST,” a collection of policy discussions on government technology and homeland security brought to you by the Homeland Security and Defense Forum

 AI is turning cyberattacks into a speed game, and the federal government can’t afford to keep playing defense with yesterday’s pace. We sit down with Michael Duffy, Acting Federal Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Management and Budget, to unpack why this is a true inflection point and what has to change before the next crisis forces everyone’s hand. 

 Featuring: 

• Michael Duffy, Acting Federal Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Management and Budget
• Kate Yamashita, Managing Director, Global Security Strategy Lead, Accenture (moderator)

 This discussion took place June 10th, 2026, at HSDF’s Cyber Symposium

Follow  HSDF THE PODCAST and never miss latest insider talk on government technology, innovation, and security.  Visit the HSDF YouTube channel to view hours of insightful policy discussion.  For more information about the Homeland Security & Defense Forum (HSDF), visit hsdf.org.