GovCIO Media & Research Podcasts

Hosted by GovCIO Media & Research

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424

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The GovCIO Media & Research podcast network comprises GovCast, CyberCast and HealthCast featuring conversations with key leaders on timely issues impacting the federal IT landscape. Topics include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, IT modernization, data analytics, workforce development and more. New episodes release each Tuesday.

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June 16, 202611 min

Inside DOE's Effort to Use AI for Nuclear Waste Cleanup | AI GovCast

Artificial intelligence is helping transform how the Energy Department approaches one of its most complex challenges: cleaning up nuclear waste. At the 2026 SCSP AI+Expo, Savannah River National Laboratory Associate Laboratory Director for Environmental and Legacy Management Eric Pierce joined GovCIO Media & Research to discuss how the lab is applying AI to improve environmental monitoring, reduce costs and accelerate cleanup efforts across the Savannah River Site. Pierce highlighted SRNL's Advanced Long-Term Environmental Monitoring Systems (ALTEMIS), which uses AI to predict contaminated groundwater plume movement. The technology has reduced monitoring requirements from quarterly sampling across 2,000 wells to a single annual verification sample, significantly lowering costs while maintaining confidence in environmental safety. He also discussed the lab's AI Accelerated Strategies and Solutions in Environmental Technology (AI-ASSET) initiative, which builds on ALTEMIS by collecting real-time, AI-ready environmental data. Currently, roughly 30% to 40% of the site's data is prepared for AI applications. Pierce also explained how SRNL is working with industry and government partners to modernize the remaining data and expand the use of AI-driven environmental cleanup technologies. The effort is part of a broader DOE initiative exploring how AI can advance scientific discovery, operational efficiency and innovation across the national laboratory system.

June 10, 202645 min

Wellness Tips for Cyber Leaders at Home | Technically Zen

Avni Desai is a dedicated professional at CGI, where she brings a thoughtful blend of leadership, strategic insight and a people‑centered approach to her work. Desai shared her journey from clinical practice to technology and discussed how she tackles challenges after work, such as the emotional impact of "mom guilt" and the importance of setting positive examples for children. As a mother to two young children, she discussed balancing her professional commitments with a nurturing, intentional approach to family life. She also critiqued the lack of wellness and emotional regulation programs in school and advocated for teaching financial literacy and healthy habits early.

June 9, 202612 min

How AstroAI is Redefining Discovery in Space Science | AI GovCast

Astronomical data presents unique challenges for artificial intelligence, often requiring specialized AI models tailored to the needs of astrophysicists and large-scale scientific research. Scientists at the Center for Astrophysics — a collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and Harvard College Observatory — developed the AstroAI Institute to help researchers analyze massive datasets and accelerate scientific discovery through AI-driven analysis. At the 2026 SCSP AI+Expo, the institute's Founder and Director Cecilia Garraffo told GovCIO Media & Research the center is using AI to search for unexpected patterns in large data sets and cluster data based on similarity without prior coding, enabling scientists to detect new phenomena and uncover previously unseen relationships. Garraffo also discussed the growing need for AI education and workforce development across the scientific community. She explained how AstroAI is helping train researchers at all levels — from students to senior scientists — to use AI effectively in astrophysics research and discovery.

June 4, 20268 min

Inside Federal Acquisition and Procurement | GovCast

The General Services Administration is positioning itself as the federal government's central hub for technology acquisition (GSA to Extend OneGov Software Deals in Next Phases ), helping agencies operate as one government through shared services and enterprisewide procurement strategies. At GovCIO Media & Research's 2026 Federal IT Efficiency Summit, Jonathan Plante, senior strategist for cloud hardware and software at GSA, discussed the key trends shaping federal cloud acquisition over the next six to 12 months. He outlined efforts to consolidate procurement vehicles under GSA, increase transparency into software and subscription spending, and leverage the federal government's collective buying power to drive greater efficiency and value. Plante also highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity, asset management and interoperability as agencies modernize their IT environments. Looking ahead, he encouraged agency leaders to align cloud investments with mission outcomes, advance zero trust security strategies and prepare for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and post-quantum cryptography.

May 28, 202618 min

AI Prototype Aims to Close Feedback Gaps Driving Marine Corps Attrition | AI GovCast

Climate surveys used by the War Department like the Defense Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS) are annual check-ins to assess unit morale, cohesion and leadership trust. Traditionally, these surveys take a long time to gather and analyze by leadership. A pair of Marine Corps innovators told AI GovCast that they've created a new AI–enabled survey tool prototype that is designed to give commanders near‑real‑time insight the day‑to‑day stressors affecting Marines. The prototype, called PULSE Check, aims to close long‑standing feedback gaps that leaders say contribute to retention problems — particularly in the reserve component. Col. Prescott Wilson, chief of staff for the 4th Marine Logistics Group, said the idea emerged after a commanders' conference where Marines explained why they were leaving drilling status for the Individual Ready Reserve. "By the time we're talking to these Marines on stage, they've already made a decision … that's talent we can't get back," Wilson said. Lt. Col. Samuel Sung, an innovation officer with the Logistics Innovation Office and a Marine reservist who co‑developed the prototype, said the team deliberately focused first on whether the idea was even useful before tackling the complex security and compliance requirements of deploying AI inside the department. He added that AI-driven analysis enables more frequent surveys and faster feedback cycles, allowing commanders to test changes and measure results monthly instead of annually. That accelerated process, Sung said, can improve decision-making while also reinforcing to Marines that their feedback is being heard.

May 26, 202611 min

Inside the Navy's Push for Trustworthy AI at the Tactical Edge | AI GovCast

The United States Navy is taking steps to integrate artificial intelligence into Maritime Operations Centers — balancing the need for operational agility with the rigor required for warfighting, according to Rear Adm. Susan BryerJoyner, director of the Warfighting Integration Directorate in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Speaking with AI GovCast, BryerJoyner said Navy leadership is focused on maximizing taxpayer return on investment through data-informed analysis to determine which AI capabilities are ready for operational use and which require further evaluation. Mitigating AI hallucinations remains a top priority, BryerJoyner added, emphasizing that commanders will always remain part of the decision-making process. She said operational staff must understand how AI-generated recommendations are developed to ensure outputs align with mission requirements, planning assumptions and ethical standards. BryerJoyner also discussed how the Chief of Naval Operations is working with the Naval Postgraduate School to expand AI education through the school's new master's degree program in AI.

May 19, 202612 min

CROCS Turns OT Cyber Policy Into Action | CyberCast

The Air Force's Cyber Resiliency Office for Control Systems (CROCS) is translating high-level Pentagon cyber directives into operational steps to secure control systems across the department. Technical Director Daryl Haegley said the office was created to close a long‑standing policy gap to secure operational technology (OT). The Department of the Air Force has spent more than a year assembling stakeholders from mission assurance, intelligence, operations and logistics to develop a 100‑point cyber plan. The office now tracks progress on each initiative and convenes more than 100 OT experts monthly to coordinate implementation. Haegley emphasized that missions depend on their continuous availability. No base can operate without electricity, water and other critical services. CROCS plays a central role in aligning those priorities and helping assign appropriate levels of cyber risk. The office is also pushing services to train for degraded conditions. Bases are conducting energy resilience exercises that simulate cyberattacks by disconnecting from commercial power and disrupting systems like HVAC. "Operating in a contested environment — and training and rehearsing that — is what CROCS is trying to coordinate," Haegley said.

May 14, 20266 min

IHS is Positioning Cybersecurity as Patient Safety | HealthCast

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is modernizing its electronic health record (EHR) systems while strengthening cybersecurity to protect sensitive patient data. IHS CISO Benjamin Koshy joined GovCIO Media & Research at CyberScape: The Federal Cybersecurity Summit to discuss how his agency is building a culture of cyber awareness among clinicians and staff. Koshy also outlined the challenges of securing telehealth services in remote environments and how AI is helping cybersecurity teams more quickly identify and respond to threat actors.

May 12, 20265 min

DLA CIO: Securing AI Pipelines Is Now a Core Mission Requirement | GovCast

The global supply chain supporting U.S. military operations faces persistent cyber threats from adversaries targeting both government systems and the broader industrial base. Speaking at the CyberScape Federal Cybersecurity Summit in April, Defense Logistics Agency CIO Adarryl Roberts said the agency is prioritizing efforts to secure small suppliers while protecting AI-driven decision pipelines. Roberts said DLA's first line of defense in managing third-party risk remains contractual enforcement. The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) enables the agency to require prime contractors to ensure subcontractors meet federal cybersecurity standards, he added. As DLA expands its use of artificial intelligence for logistics planning and operational decision-making, securing the data pipelines that feed those models has become a top priority. Roberts pointed to multifactor authentication and the War Department's zero-trust architecture as foundational, enabling DLA to inherit cloud-native protections while layering on departmentwide cybersecurity policies.

May 6, 202633 min

How to Thrive in Cybersecurity Without Burning Out | Technically Zen

JoJo D, The Chaos Guru, in conversation with Taylor Kelley, business development director at GDIT, discussed what it really takes to stay grounded in the high-pressure world of cybersecurity and tech. Kelley shares her path as a young professional in a male-dominated field, opening up about imposter syndrome, earning credibility and learning to use her voice. The discussion goes beyond career growth, digging into the realities of balancing demanding roles with personal life, including her experience as a working parent. The conversation offered practical advice for how to set boundaries without guilt, communicate transparently, build supportive relationships and know when to ask for help. She also shared how the role of therapy, community and small habits played in maintaining resilience when work feels overwhelming.