Fed Gov Today

Francis Rose speaks with Marlin McFate, Public Sector CTO and CISO at Cohesity, about the evolving definition of cyber resilience. McFate explains why it’s critical to distinguish between data resiliency—long focused on recovering from natural disasters—and cyber resiliency, which accounts for persistent adversaries, loss of trust in systems, and the risk of reinfection after an attack. He shares Cohesity’s cyber resiliency model, including the foundational step of ensuring backups survive and remain trustworthy, so they can anchor investigation, forensics, and recovery efforts.McFate also discusses how agencies can prepare recovery environments, rebuild authentication services like Active Directory, and reduce downtime with minimal data loss. Finally, he connects resilience to data value: Cohesity’s unique approach to indexing structured and unstructured data enables agencies to safely use AI and retrieval-augmented generation for discovery, compliance, and mission-driven insights.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, NGA’s Director, joins Francis for part two of their in-depth conversation from the AFCEA and INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit at National Harbor. Admiral Whitworth explains how NGA is embracing commercial imagery, unclassified data, and open-source intelligence to stay ahead of adversaries — while also meeting the needs of a rapidly changing world.You’ll hear how NGA’s “Year of NGAI” initiative is aligning programs, standards, and workforce development around artificial intelligence and machine learning, with new directorates focused on mission integration, responsible stewardship, and standards enforcement. Admiral Whitworth also details the agency’s approach to combating adversary denial and deception tactics, accrediting GEOINT AI models, and ensuring innovation doesn’t turn into “hobby shops” that undermine security.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, Vice Admiral Frank Whitworth, Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), joins Francis for an in-depth conversation about what he calls the “golden age of GEOINT.” Speaking from the AFCEA and INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit at National Harbor, Admiral Whitworth explains why NGA is better positioned than ever to provide actionable intelligence — thanks to the convergence of advanced sensors, AI and machine learning, and a thriving commercial imagery sector. He details the agency’s mission priorities, including targeting, warning, and ensuring the safety of navigation, and emphasizes the need to not just collect data but convert it into understanding. This is part one of a three-part conversation that dives deep into the opportunities, challenges, and partnerships shaping the future of geospatial intelligence. Don’t miss part two next Tuesday, when Admiral Whitworth discusses how NGA is upskilling its workforce to meet these challenges head-on.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, you'll get an inside look at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ sweeping technology transformation. Francis is joined by Eddie Poole, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acting Assistant Secretary, and CIO at VA, for a wide-ranging conversation about modernizing one of the federal government’s most complex IT operations. Eddie shares how his team retired 29 legacy systems, shifted from an administratively heavy structure to an operationally focused one, and freed up resources to deliver better IT services that align with the VA’s mission.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

On this episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, we go inside the sweeping IT transformation at the Department of the Interior. Former Interior CISO Lou Eichenbaum joins Francis to discuss how the department consolidated all of its IT resources and 2210s into a single organization — without a CIO — as part of a bold modernization initiative. Lou shares how phase one of the effort incorporated zero trust principles, expanded vulnerability assessment tools, and drove MFA compliance from 30% to 97% in just over three years. He also opens up about the biggest challenge of all: culture. Lou explains how Interior worked to keep mission focus front and center while unifying technology teams across bureaus like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, USGS, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. From collaborating with park rangers and HR staff to improve user experience, to building a “zero trust certified” IT workforce, Lou’s insights offer a playbook for driving transformation in any federal agency.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.

Samantha Chapin, a space roboticist at the Naval Research Laboratory, discusses groundbreaking work in teaching robots to think autonomously using reinforcement learning, akin to dog training. She shares insights on how these robots adapt to unpredictable environments, particularly aboard the International Space Station. The conversation highlights the importance of simulation and open-source tools from NASA, paving the way for future advancements in autonomous space assembly, satellite servicing, and reducing the need for constant human oversight in space missions.

The Fed Gov Today TV Show airs on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. E.T. on ABC 7. You can also watch on Demand on Youtube. Listen to Fed Gov Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anytime at FedGovToday.com.

In this episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, the clock is ticking for vendors that do business with the Department of Defense. The long-anticipated final rule for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is officially out, and it takes effect November 10. That means solicitations will soon include CMMC requirements — and with more than 100,000 companies needing assessments, competition for assessors will heat up fast.Government contracts expert, Eric Crusius of Hunton Andrews Kurth, joins Francis to break down the rule’s three-tier model, the phased rollout over the next three years, and what companies must do now to stay competitive. He explains why self-assessments will be required in year one, why there may be a “run on the bank” for assessors, and what questions businesses should ask before hiring assessment partners.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com.