The Intersection of Mission, Security, and Technology with Dominic Cussatt

On this episode of The Peel Podcast, Shelley McGuire sits down with Dom Cussatt, CEO of Vault Cloud and a former federal IT leader with experience spanning the VA, State Department, DOD, NATO, and private sector healthcare. With more than 30 years at the intersection of technology, cybersecurity, and mission delivery, Dom shares his perspective on how IT can truly empower organizations rather than simply support them. The conversation explores the evolving relationship between security, compliance, and mission execution as agencies and companies navigate AI, cloud computing, and rapidly changing threat landscapes. Shelley and Dom discuss the differences between public and private sector IT, why government often operates at a scale industry underestimates, and how agile development and risk-based security approaches are reshaping the future of technology operations. They also dive into vendor partnerships, AI ethics, open source infrastructure, and the importance of building secure, mission-focused environments that balance innovation with trust. From protecting warfighters and veterans to enabling healthcare systems and modern cloud operations, this episode offers a thoughtful look at where federal IT is headed next. To connect with Dom, visit him on LinkedIn here. To learn more about Vault Cloud, visit their website here.