Tech Forecast

Welcome to GovExec Tech Forecast. 

American adversaries are embracing digital transformation in order to undermine our national security. That is why the United States must do the same to maintain its competitive advantage. To achieve this mission, the newest Directorate of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Directorate of Digital Innovation (DDI), was created to equip officers with the necessary tools and techniques. In our next conversation, GovExec will talk to the CIA's Deputy Director of Digital Innovation, Jennifer Ewbank, to discuss her experience in managing cyber threats, transforming the CIA's digital capabilities, and developing a wealth of digital talent.

Agencies have vastly different experiences when updating their infrastructure to hybrid and multi-cloud or infrastructure as a service. Currently, smaller agencies are making progress, but large agencies are struggling to move their systems to Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS). The US army is at the forefront of this type of innovation, establishing the Software Factory, spearheading Project Convergence, and publishing a unified network plan in 2021. This session will engage army network leaders to discuss common obstacles in forging ahead, lessons they’ve learned that can be shared, and the resources that may be available to help others through development and transition.

After major policy changes by the Biden administration in 2021, customer experience became a major focus for government. With updated guidelines and a clear directive to improve government services based on citizens' needs, how do agencies use technology to deliver streamlined, personalized, and digital interactions with those they serve? During this session, government and industry leaders will examine how the most promising technologies, such as cloud and artificial intelligence, combined with iterative, human-centered design, will affect the customer experience in the future.

All Governments need to modernize and adapt to the growing presence of new technologies, risks, and demands of their citizens. As a result, a vibrant procurement community is needed to innovate and strategically adapt to create greater efficiency in the ever-changing landscape of government and technology. However, recent vulnerabilities and malware incidents have cast doubt over the safety of many products and services. To address this, a flood of directives and policy guidelines has provided agencies with choices and timelines, but no additional funding to support the new efforts. During this session, federal IT leaders will discuss the transition from legacy procurement practices and structures to more strategic ones. They will break down the current procurement solutions available today to help your organization move into the digital age of tomorrow.

Public sector organizations must secure and retain top technical talent to meet the demands of modern society, increase efficiency and improve defense. However, the government has long struggled to acquire these talented individuals, and the recent influx of emerging technologies and increased cyber attacks have further illustrated the urgency and demand for technical talent. Congress, the White House, and individual agencies have taken steps to address these critical workforce issues – from tech focused rotational programs and fellowships to intensive training and upskilling initiatives. But will this be enough in the face of thousands of job openings and a fiercely competitive labor market? During this session, government and industry experts will explore how agencies can continue to accelerate their tech talent pipelines and build the workforce needed for a secure, modern government.

For many organizations, digital transformation can dramatically improve their processes and operations. As such, the Department of Defense recently implemented a modernization strategy aimed at improving and acquiring new agile software, uniting networks, and increasing cyber capabilities. This will enable them to increase the effectiveness of the military by defining and preparing soldiers for the future of warfare. But what is at stake if these improvements are not considered? During this conversation, DoD's Chief IT Strategist, Danielle Metz, will discuss why the defense department's modernization strategy is important, how it is implemented, and how a large organization like DoD can incentivize and achieve effective and secure modernization.

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