The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester
by Brian Chidester
The Government Huddle Podcast, hosted by Brian Chidester, is a thought leadership platform dedicated to exploring the intersection of technology, innovation, and government. Through engaging conversations with industry experts, public sector leaders, and policymakers, the podcast delves into topics like digital transformation, IT modernization, citizen experience, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies shaping the future of government. It offers listeners valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities governments face in an increasingly digital world, making it a go-to resource for professionals looking to stay informed about trends impacting the public sector.
Episodes
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219: The One with the US Digital Response Director
Keith Wilson, Director of Talent Support at United States Digital Response joins the show to explore how governments can build the workforce and digital capabilities they need to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology. Together we unpack what government can learn from private-sector…
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218: The One with the IonQ Chief Quantum Evangelist
Katie Arrington, former CIO for the United States Department of War and current Chief Quantum Evangelist at IonQ joins the show to discuss what makes quantum fundamentally different from AI and why the US-China race for "Q-Day" has no second-place finisher. She explains IonQ's ion-trapping...
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217: The One with the Future Government Institute Co-Founder & CEO
The Honorable Victor Dominello, former New South Wales Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government and current CEO and co-founder of the Future Government Institute (FGI) joins the show to unpack FGI's framework for how government evolves, from Government 0.0 through Government 4.0....
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216: The One with the 2026 Adobe Digital Government Index (DGI)
Amita Prabhu, Senior Engagement Manager with Adobe’s Public Sector Digital Strategy Group joins the show to unpack the findings from the 2026 Digital Government Index (DGI)—Adobe’s annual benchmark of digital maturity across U.S. state governments. This year’s report saw AI readiness added to the...
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215: The One with the Veeam Deputy CISO
Bill Gemza, Deputy CISO and VP of Cybersecurity and Threat Management at Veeam joins the show to explore the growing gap between cyber confidence and proven resilience across federal agencies. Together they unpack why having a recovery plan isn’t the same as knowing it will work when an attack...
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214: The One with the ServiceNow Government GVP
Mike Hurt, Group Vice President for U.S. Public Sector at ServiceNow joins the show to unpack findings from a new research report on AI adoption across civilian and defense agencies. Together we explore what separates a successful AI deployment from a science experiment, detail the governance...
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213: The One with the CivicTech Ninja
Evan Meyer, GovTech entrepreneur, community advocate, podcast host, and self-proclaimed "civic ninja" joins the show for a thought-provoking conversation about civic engagement, public trust, and the future of local government. Drawing on his experience spanning technology startups, neighborhood...
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212: The One About Medicaid Program Integrity
Amanda D'Amico, Senior Director of Market Planning for Fraud and Eligibility Solutions at LexisNexis Risk Solutions joins the show to discuss why operational execution—not just understanding policy—will determine success ss Medicaid agencies prepare for the implementation of H.R. 1. We dive into...
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211: The One with the Global Tech Humanist
Kate O'Neill, globally recognized tech humanist, strategic advisor to Fortune 500 companies, and author of What Matters Next joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on AI, ethics, and what it truly means to lead with humanity in the age of intelligent machines. We discuss her early days as...
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210: The One About the Future of Cyber Warfare
Tom Marlow, Managing Director at Dark Wolf Solutions joins the show to discuss the evolution from opportunistic cybercrime to full-scale cyber warfare. Together we break down why today's adversaries aren't just after financial gain, they're positioning inside critical infrastructure, waiting.…
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209: The One About the Future of Benefits Delivery
Chris McDermott, Head of Social Security Solutions at LexisNexis Risk Solutions and former federal government leader joins the show to explore the evolving intersection of modernization, customer experience, identity verification, and public trust in government services. Together we unpack why...
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208: The One with the GovCon AI Research Study
Regan Riddoch, Senior Director of Product Marketing for GovCon Solutions at Deltek joins the show to unpack findings from the newly released 2026 Deltek GovCon Clarity Study and how AI is transforming the industry. Together we unpack why AI is transforming proposal development and how speed…
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207: The One with the Dataminr Global Field CTO
Tim Miller, Global Field CTO and Chief Cybersecurity Strategist at Dataminr joins the show to discuss the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape and what it means for governments and critical infrastructure. Drawing on insights from Dataminr’s latest cyber threat report, he unpacks the widening...
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206: The One with the Homeland Security SME
Alan Metzler, Vice President of Department Homeland Security at ITC Federal joins the show to unpack one of the most pressing challenges in government today: aligning emerging technologies with mission outcomes. He shares an insider’s perspective on the complexity of the Department of Homeland...
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205: The One with the Elastic Public Sector VP
Chris Townsend, Global Vice President of Public Sector at Elastic joins the show to explore the evolving intersection of cybersecurity, AI, and data strategy in government. We dive into the shift toward continuous Authority to Operate (ATO) and why real-time, always-on security is becoming...
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204: The One with the Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback
Sean Clifford, Quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals and former Heisman Trophy candidate at Penn State University joins the show to explore leadership under pressure and why those lessons are directly applicable to today’s public sector challenges. As government organizations navigate...
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203: The One with the Data Resilience SME
Mark Bentkower, Principal Technologist, Americas at Veeam Software joins the show to unpack what data resilience really means for public sector organizations. Together we explore the shift from traditional compliance checklists to a resilience-first mindset built on zero trust, automation, and...
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202: The One with the Former Department of the Interior CISO
Lou Eichenbaum, former Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Department of the Interior and current Federal CTO at ColorTokens joins the show for a deep dive into the evolving world of federal cybersecurity. We dive into firsthand insights on what it really means to balance mission...
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201: The One with the Marin County, CA Innovation Chief
Crosby Burns, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer for Marin County, California joins the show for a candid and forward-looking conversation on what digital innovation really means in government today. Together, we explore how a service-first mindset can help governments balance security,...
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200: The One with the Former Obama Federal CIO
Tony Scott, former Federal Chief Information Officer under President Barack Obama and current President & CEO of Intrusion joins the show to give a candid, inside look at how the CIO role has evolved across government and industry—from back-office IT leadership to becoming a critical connector...
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199: The One with the CivicPlus Market Expert
Brenden Elwood, Vice President of Market Research at CivicPlus and a City Councilor in North Bend, Washington joins the show to unpack the latest insights from CivicPlus’ nationwide resident research. We explore what drives citizen satisfaction and trust in local government, from proactive...
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198: The One with the Results for America Director
Emily Ferris, Director for What Works Cities at Results for America joins the show to discuss how artificial intelligence is impacting cities and what to expect in the future.
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197: The One with the Human-Centered Design Pioneer
Suzanne Boyd, CEO of Anthro-Tech and a pioneer in human-centered design joins the show to share her journey from growing up in a family of entrepreneurs to founding Anthro-Tech in 1997, by blending her love of anthropology with technology to improve lives through thoughtful design. We unpack the...
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196: The One About Modernizing Government Security
Peter O’Donohue, CTO at Tyto Athene, and Gaurav “GP” Pal, Principal at Stack Armor join the show to unpack the future of federal compliance, security, and cloud modernization. From automating risk management frameworks to balancing mission urgency with cybersecurity, the discussion dives into how...
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195: The One with the Alliance of Digital Innovation Leader
Dan Wolf, former Deputy CIO for the Commonwealth of Virginia and current Director of State Programs for the Alliance of Digital Innovation returns to the show to unpack some of the most pressing issues shaping state and local government today. From the surge of artificial intelligence legislation...
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194: The One with the e.Republic President
Dustin Haisler, State and Local Government expert and President of e.Republic joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving landscape of state and local government. Together, we dive into the findings from the 2025 Adobe Digital Government Index and explore the tension between...
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193: The One with the iTech AG Vice President
Chris Cullerot, Vice President for Technology and Innovation at iTech AG joins the show to unpack the massive savings potential outlined in a recent GAO report—over $100 billion—through better IT asset management and consolidation. He shares real-world examples of how federal agencies are...
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192: The One with the Political Philosopher
Crom Carmichael, a government contracting entrepreneur, investor, and historian joins the show to explore what a truly efficient government could look like and what history has shown us to be the best way achieve one. We discuss his journey into political philosophy and the creation of his...
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191: The One with the 2025 Adobe Digital Government Index (DGI)
Amita Prabhu, Amber Lao, and Kaila Cage from Adobe’s Public Sector Digital Strategy Group join the show unpack the inspiration, methodology, and key findings of the report, which benchmarks digital maturity across U.S. state governments. Together we discuss the origins of the DGI and how it…
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Breaking the Huddle: Reframing Resilience in Uncertain Times
Laura Bennett, host of the Coach’s Corner Podcast and a principal at BDL Consulting joins the show for a candid conversation on leadership, resilience, and how to take meaningful steps forward amid uncertainty. Together, we explore what it truly means to be resilient—not just to withstand...
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190: The One with the Organizational Change Management Expert
Richard Carson, author of the best-seller The Book of Change and an experienced public sector leader joins the show to explore the evolving landscape of organizational change management. Drawing on over 30 years of experience across local, regional, and state government, he shares why effective...
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189: The One with the Former Defense Media Activity Leader
Howard Cohen, former Senior Advisor at the Department of Defense's Defense Media Activity and current strategist at CX Studios joins the show to unpack the power of non-kinetic capabilities in modern defense strategy. From web consolidation and cost-saving at scale to safeguarding national…
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188: The One with the National Park Service Creative Leader
Mathew John, the award-winning Creative Director at the United States National Park Service joins the show to explore the transformative power of storytelling in the public sector. From growing up as a second-generation American in small-town Ohio to producing emotionally charged films for...
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187: The One with the Federal Platform Playbook
Mia Jordan, Global Go-To-Market Executive at Salesforce and former USDA Chief Information Officer, and Josh Millsapps, CEO of Millsapps, Ballinger & Associates join the show to explore the importance of platform strategies over one-off projects to ultimately drive strategic value for government...
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186: The One with the Global National Security Experts
Dr. David Bray, Former Chief Information Officer of the Federal Communications Commission and CEO at Lead Do Adapt Ventures, and the Honorable Ellen McCarthy, former Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Intelligence and Research join the show for a candid, wide-ranging conversation…
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Breaking the Huddle: The State of Social Services - Navigating Change to Preserve Critical Programs (Part 3)
Andrew McClanahan, Senior Director at LexisNexis Risk Solutions for Government Relations rejoins for Part Three of the conversation around government program integrity and we tackle the urgent "so what" in today’s government assistance landscape — what can agencies actually do to strengthen their...
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185: The One with the Fortinet Global CISO
Jim Richberg, Head of Cyber Policy and Global Field CISO at Fortinet rejoins the show for a timely discussion on the fast-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and we unpack AI’s unprecedented energy demands, its implications on national infrastructure, and the critical cybersecurity...
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Breaking the Huddle: The State of Social Services - Navigating Change to Preserve Critical Programs (Part 2)
Andrew McClanahan, Senior Director at LexisNexis Risk Solutions for Government Relations rejoins for Part Two of the conversation around government program integrity and he unpacks the increasing state responsibilities for service delivery and the tough financial balancing acts agencies face…
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184: The One with the “AI First, Human Always” Author
Sandy Carter, Author of the new book “AI First, Human Always Author” and the Chief Operating Officer of Unstoppable Domains joins the show to dive into the inspiration behind her latest book and shares why empathy and people-first strategies are essential for the future of artificial…
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183: The One with the BeyondTrust Chief Security Strategist
Kevin Greene, Chief Security Strategist for the Public Sector at BeyondTrust joins the show for a critical conversation on the evolving cybersecurity landscape in government. Together, we explore the mounting pressures government agencies face from increasingly sophisticated threat actors—and the...
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Breaking the Huddle: The State of Social Services - Navigating Change to Preserve Critical Programs (Part 1)
Andrew McClenahan, Senior Director of Government Relations at LexisNexis Risk Solutions and former program leader at the Florida Department of Children and Families joins the show to dissect the growing concerns surrounding program integrity and fraud mitigation in federal and state benefit...
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182: The One with the Former Octo COO
Jay Shah, former Chief Operating Officer of Octo and now Strategic Advisor at Technomile joins the show to explore how small and mid-sized companies can scale effectively and thrive amid federal market shifts. We also unpack his personal journey from helping build Octo from the ground up to...
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181: The One with the Government Workforce Strategist
Mika J. Cross, Public Sector Workforce Transformation Strategist and former Government Executive joins the show to explore the evolving dynamics of the modern government workforce and together we unpack the critical issues surrounding return-to-office mandates, skills-based hiring, generational...
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180: The One with the Applied Information Sciences CEO
Larry Katzman, Chief Executive Officer of Applied Information Sciences (AIS)joined the show for a candid and insightful conversation on the evolving landscape of technology in government. We discuss his journey from developer to CEO and the intentional leadership practices that have guided AIS...
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179: The One with the Metrostar Distinguished Technical Fellow
Hannah Hunt, Distinguished Technical Fellow at MetroStar and former Chief of Product at the Army Software Factory joins the show to share how her government experience is now shaping her impact from the private sector. She also offered candid insights on software factory success metrics, the...
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178: The One with the Kyiv Chief Advisor for Digitalization
Oleg Polovynko, the Chief Advisor for Digitalization to the Mayor of Kyiv, Ukraine and Former Kyiv Chief Information Officer returns to share how the city has evolved through crisis, transforming its digital infrastructure amidst a full-scale invasion. From the launch of Misto—a platform designed...
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177: The One with the Center for Public Sector AI CEO
Justin Brown, CEO of the Center for Public Sector AI and former Secretary of Human Services for the State of Oklahoma joins the show to level-set on where things stand with AI adoption in government—especially at the state and local levels. From small-scale AI implementations to larger strategic...
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176: The One with the “Becoming Digital Nations” Author
Mohammad J. Sear, Global Public Sector Consulting Leader at EY and Author of “Becoming Digital Nations,” joins the show for a deep dive into his new book while also sharing his inspiration behind the book and the bold ideas that drive his vision for rethinking governance, service delivery, and...
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175: The One with the Code & Theory Managing Director
Dominic Sale, Managing Director at Code and Theory for Public Sector and Deputy Chief Information Officer of the United States joins the show to discuss the current state of government modernization and the critical need to reimagine public service delivery. We also deliberate on what…
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174: The One with the DoD Chief Experience Officer
Savanrith Kong, the First Chief Experience Officer for the United States Department of Defense joins the show to discuss why customer experience is critical in defense and national security. He also shares personal reflections on his leadership journey, insights from building the DoD's CX office...
About this show
The Government Huddle Podcast, hosted by Brian Chidester, is a thought leadership platform dedicated to exploring the intersection of technology, innovation, and government. Through engaging conversations with industry experts, public sector leaders, and policymakers, the podcast delves into topics like digital transformation, IT modernization, citizen experience, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies shaping the future of government. It offers listeners valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities governments face in an increasingly digital world, making it a go-to resource for professionals looking to stay informed about trends impacting the public sector.
Hosted by
Brian Chidester
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