Nava and Aquia on Moving Federal AI from Experimentation to Operations

“Everybody in government is talking about AI. Very few are actually talking about what happens when these systems start making decisions, taking actions, and operating inside real mission environments.” In this episode, David Blackburn sits down with Alex Santantonio of Nava and Allison DiPietro of Aquia for a timely discussion on where federal AI adoption is actually heading as agencies move beyond experimentation and into operational deployment. The conversation brings together two organizations that have built strong reputations helping government modernize responsibly. Nava, a public benefit corporation known for its role in rebuilding HealthCare.gov and advancing human-centered civic technology, and Aquia, a cybersecurity and modernization leader supporting agencies including VA and CMS, are also aligned through Aquia Nava II LLC, a joint venture focused on delivering secure, human-centered digital solutions for the public sector. Together, they unpack the realities agencies are now facing around agentic AI, governance, security, accountability, modernization, and implementation at scale. From AI systems operating inside sensitive mission environments to the growing pressure agencies face to adopt AI responsibly, this discussion moves well beyond theory and hype into the operational challenges leaders are wrestling with right now. If you want insight into how some of today’s most forward-leaning federal technology organizations are thinking about the next phase of AI adoption, and what agencies should be preparing for next, this is a conversation worth listening to. To connect with Alex, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Nava by visiting their webpage here. To connect with Allison, follow her on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Aquia by visiting their webpage here.