AI GovCast: Space Force’s Former CITO Talks AI Dominance Amid Rising Global Competition
GovCIO Media & Research Podcasts
Release Date: 04/29/2025
GovCIO Media & Research Podcasts
Competitiveness in advanced telecommunications technologies is critical to American innovation and national security. The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced the new Verticals-enabling Intelligent NEtwork Systems (VINES) program to foster U.S. leadership in advanced telecommunications and foster innovative real-world applications. NSF Acting Assistant Director of Computer and Information Science and Engineering Ellen Zegura says that VINES is focused on advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, which will bring significant advantages in cost reduction and improved...
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Edmon Begoli, Director of the Center for AI Security Research (CAISER) at the Energy Department’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, highlights how his team is ensuring safe and responsible AI deployment across government during the AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C., earlier this month. The research team is developing cutting-edge tools and methodologies to assess AI vulnerabilities, test models under extreme conditions and create energy efficient solutions for complex technological challenges. Begoli's team is focusing on two key innovations: comprehensive AI security assessments and TinyML, a...
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The new administration has released several new directives to guide agencies' approach to AI since the beginning of the year. The tech is reshaping the U.S. Coast Guard’s core services and pushing its workforce to rethink the service’s approach to operations. The Coast Guard has been on a journey to upskill its workforce to better utilize the technology in daily operations. Brian Campo, the service’s deputy CIO, discusses the latest AI developments and how the Coast Guard is driving innovation, pointing to the example of the service’s Ask Hamilton chatbot, which helps Coast Guard’s...
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Department of Labor’s Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling outlines a comprehensive strategy to address the growing demand for AI skills in the American economy, during a live discussion at the AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. Sonderling explains the federal government's multi-pronged approach to AI literacy, focusing on early education initiatives that would integrate tech training from elementary through high school levels. He emphasizes the critical need to reimagine traditional career pathways, outlining how apprenticeship programs allow students to enter tech industries...
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Shannon Ayers from Lawrence Livermore National Lab unveiled a groundbreaking generative AI tool to boost operational efficiency at the National Ignition Facility. The tool leverages 22 years of institutional data, analyzing over 98,000 problem logs, to provide instant troubleshooting guidance for operators. By creating a decision-tree system, the lab addresses critical challenges of aging infrastructure and knowledge transfer between retiring and emerging scientific workforces. The AI-powered platform represents a strategic approach to accelerating scientific research, enabling operators to...
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The Idaho National Laboratory is working on a suite of artificial intelligence capabilities to enhance nuclear energy research. During an interview at AWS Summit in Washington, D.C., the lab’s Scientific Computing Division Director Chris Ritter discussed how the organization is using generative AI to address complex scientific challenges across domains like reactor design and operations. The lab successfully created a digital twin of an aging reactor, streaming real-time data to the cloud and using multiple machine-learning models to predict operational parameters. Ritter emphasized the...
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Technology and software development can take years to field capabilities that may no longer meet mission needs once they reach the finish line. Some department compliance practices can add 12-18 months for authorization. At the AWS Summit in Washington, D.C., Marine Corps Community Services Digital Program Manager David Raley said that his office is accelerating the development and approval processes for mission capability. Raley highlighted solutions like AWS GovCloud and a certified DevSecOps platform that help reduce authorization times from a year to 15 minutes. Raley also talked about the...
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High-performance computing (HPC) systems provide fundamental computing infrastructure for government and industry. Security is critical for these systems that play a pivotal role in economic competitiveness and scientific discovery. At the AWS Summit in Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Computer Scientist Yang Guo said that efficient encryption and zone-based reference architectures can enhance HPC security without impacting performance. Guo, who leads the NIST HPC Security Working Group, said that collaboration and knowledge sharing can help buttress HPC...
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The VA is set to resume its electronic health record modernization program in 2026, nearly three years since it was paused in 2023. During the pause, the agency focused on developing a new strategy for deployment to improve success and boost patient safety. VA now plans to jumpstart the program with a focus on functionality and interoperability of the system, Dr. Neil Evans, VA’s acting program executive director of VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office explains. Evans discusses how this shift in thinking is building the foundation of a stronger, more functional...
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Artificial intelligence powers many cybersecurity applications, and government agencies are increasingly using AI to augment systems in national security and intelligence capacities. The complexities of AI implementation require careful architectural considerations and robust governance frameworks to ensure safe execution. William MacMillan, former CISO at CISA and current chief product officer at Andesite AI, noted how AI holds tremendous potential to enhance efficiency and accuracy, particularly through "human in the loop" systems that manage vast amounts of data. MacMillan also talks about...
info_outlineEmerging tech policies focus on balancing technological advancement with governance, creating frameworks that encourage rapid innovation while maintaining critical safeguards for national security and public interest. President Donald Trump’s recent AI guidance prioritizes American leadership in technological development, particularly in response to global competition from countries like China.
Lisa Costa, former Space Force chief information and transformation officer, highlights the critical need for public-private partnerships in tech development. She discusses the pivotal role industry plays in helping government agencies adopt and implement AI technologies more effectively.
AI is increasingly being integrated across sectors — from health care to cybersecurity — with an emphasis on creating trusted, secure and adaptable technological solutions. Agencies and industry are working together to reduce regulation and establish broad guidelines that foster innovation, protect sensitive information and position the United States as a global leader in AI.