The Government Technology Insider Podcast

Dr. Sharon Goldberg, a cryptographer focused on post-quantum cryptography (PQC), and Anish Patel, Head of Federal Sales at Cloudflare, delve into the urgent need for government systems to prepare for the quantum computing era. They discuss how current cryptographic methods could soon be vulnerable, emphasizing the long-term risk of aging data being decrypted. The conversation covers the challenges of implementing PQC across complex legacy systems and the role of government in setting standards for a secure future. Adaptation is key, and now is the time to act!

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 move from small-scale experiments to mission-driven outcomes that deliver lasting value? In the latest episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, host Lucas Hunsicker speaks with Katie Tierney, Area Vice President of the Americas at BMC Helix. Drawing on more than three decades in technology, Tierney unpacks both the opportunities and the roadblocks that lie ahead for government AI. Despite having a presence in most agencies, the extent of AI adoption is uneven. While some agencies are experimenting with automation or deploying chatbots, others are only beginning to explore AI’s potential. Success often comes down to skills, governance, and data readiness, and without those, many projects fall short. Tierney cited a recent MIT study that found 95 percent of AI initiatives fail to deliver measurable value. Too often, AI is treated as a shiny tool rather than part of a broader shift in technology and society. For agencies determined to be in the successful five percent, Tierney highlights several essentials. Start with purpose. Ensure data is prepared and governed. Keep humans in the loop. And build momentum with incremental projects rather than chasing sweeping initiatives that rarely succeed. The payoff is significant. Agentic AI can free employees from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value, mission-critical work. It can also help agencies become more resilient and adaptive, while making government more attractive to the next generation of talent. Citizens stand to gain as well, through faster services, smarter policies, and stronger connections to the agencies that serve them. Agentic AI is more than technology. It represents a new way of approaching governance, service delivery, and the relationship between agencies and the people they serve. This is an opportunity for better outcomes for citizens, stronger connections between government and communities, and a modern workforce empowered by smarter tools.

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 service delivery and streamline operations with Nate Riley, Field Sales Manager for Public Sector at BMC Helix. They discuss how agencies are using AI-powered self-service tools, knowledge management systems, and agentic digital assistants to reduce ticket volume, expedite resolutions, and free up IT staff to focus on higher-value work. The conversation also delves into hot-button strategies like the ‘bring your own large language model (LLM)’ model and how leaders can transform small-scale pilots into secure, mission-critical initiatives.

​​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 cyber leadership. ​This EO reflects a broader move away from one-size-fits-all mandates to instead prioritize the protection of digital infrastructure, encourage private sector AI innovation, and combat waste, fraud, and abuse in cybersecurity programs. For CISOs, that shift presents an opportunity to align investments more closely with agency mission needs while still adhering to long-standing priorities. ​Core elements of federal cybersecurity strategy remain firmly in place. With Zero Trust principals guiding agency choices, identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, and endpoint detection continue to be the bedrock of defense. At the same time, the administration has reinforced its emphasis on efficiency, urging agencies to make decisions that support efficiency and cost management when they choose how to safeguard systems and data. ​But technology continues to outpace policy. From concerns about “steal now, decrypt later” quantum attacks to the role of generative AI in both defense and adversarial operations, CISOs are contending with an increasingly complex threat environment. To keep pace, collaboration, including interagency partnerships, work with industry, and guidance from NIST and CISA, is critical.

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 like the role of explainable AI, the significance of data ethics, and how automation can strengthen defenses in understaffed environments. In part two, their discussion shifts from theory to application. The guests look at the human aspect; how to explain the practical applications of AI to administrators, educators, and IT teams without overwhelming them with technical terms. Robertson emphasized the need for engaging and scalable user training, saying: “There’s an element of gamification that goes into it... leaderboards, that type of thing can be powerful in helping train on what to be looking out for, what not to do, and what to do.” They also explore key questions that SLED organizations should consider when evaluating AI and Zero Trust vendors, such as how well AI can integrate into existing systems and how transparent and accurate they are. For vendor partnerships to deliver true value, McAllister emphasized that they must go beyond industry buzzwords.

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, spoke with Aaron McAllister, Principal Solutions Architect for SASE at Cloudflare, and MT Robertson, Director of Cybersecurity at Presidio. Together they looked at how AI is transforming Zero Trust architectures, from automated anomaly detection that improves real-time security to explainable AI models that boost accountability. Their conversation emphasized how crucial privacy-first design, governance, and data transparency are establishing users’ long-term trust. As Robertson said: “Exposure and transparency goes a long way with trust. And I think these practices that we see out in the market… lead to success and trust.”

“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 driving behaviors. Incorporating forensic testing into DUID investigations can help to form a more accurate account of an impaired driving case. Testing results can be used as evidence in civil and criminal litigation, and the results may also impact potential substance use intervention and treatment. Over time, routine, standardized DUID testing can help raise awareness of the frequency and danger of drug-impaired driving for law enforcement, policy makers, and drivers. In this episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, we spoke to Donna Papsun, Forensic Toxicologist and NMS Labs, to learn more about how forensic testing may help reduce drug-impaired driving and increase public safety.

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 situational awareness in under-resourced areas like VA campuses. As Li noted, “We need to move beyond the fear that ‘robots are coming to take over jobs or harm people.’ Instead, we should focus on how technology can empower security personnel, giving them the tools they need to perform their duties more effectively and efficiently.” Finally, part two wraps up with advice for agencies exploring how to pilot or scale this technology.

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 officers and guards to be in multiple locations at the same time.’

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 anymore.”