Fed Gov Today

• From Vision to Vague: Why DOD’s Acquisition Overhaul Fell Short

  On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, former Under Secretary of Defense Bill Greenwalt dissects the Pentagon’s latest acquisition reform push. He explains how Secretary Hegseth’s bold vision for faster, more agile procurement fixed timelines, rapid prototyping, flexible funding, and broader use of OTAs was watered down in the final memo by risk-averse bureaucracy. Greenwalt warns that without empowered program managers, modular open systems, and real portfolio authority, the department can’t deliver new capabilities at the speed commanders need. Francis also previews upcoming Fed Gov Today TV with OPM Director Scott Cooper and shares the podcast’s holiday scheduleSubscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  --------  

  15:33

  --------

  15:33
• Sailors First: Inside CNO's Ideal Navy Vision

  In his first long-form interview as CNO, Adm. Daryl Caudle says Navy success hinges less on a headline ship count and more on readiness, capability, and sustainability. He prioritizes protecting sea lanes, integrating with allies, and the right mix of crewed and unmanned systems. “Sailors First” means ending afloat living, improving quality-of-life basics, and strengthening maintenance and the industrial base.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  --------  

  25:15

  --------

  25:15
• Build Back Mode: The Real Reboot is How Agencies Treat Their People

  Former DHS and IRS CIO Richard Spires joins Francis Rose to break down what “build back” really means for agencies after months of disruption. He praises efforts to cut bureaucracy, reduce stovepipes, and modernize acquisition, pointing to OPM’s ambitious push to consolidate 119 HR systems into one as the kind of big swing government needs.But he argues the biggest problem isn’t tech—it’s people. Spires says workforce treatment has damaged morale and trust, especially among technologists, and rebuilding starts with a fundamental shift in how leaders view and support employees. He recalls DHS’s HR consolidation work: requirements and procurement moved, but leadership turnover created a vacuum and internal fear about job loss helped collapse the effort.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  --------  

  17:38

  --------

  17:38
• The AI Advantage: Outsmarting America’s Adversaries

  On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, retired DISA Director Lt. Gen. Robert “Bob” Skinner breaks down who will truly win the AI race—and why the edge belongs to organizations that deeply understand both operations and emerging technology. Skinner explains how DISA’s upcoming 2025 Forecast to Industry equips companies to anticipate challenges, align with agency strategy, and deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions for the warfighter. He emphasizes the power of problem-based requirements, tighter industry collaboration, and the innovative spirit that keeps the United States ahead of adversaries who may have scale, but not creativity.Skinner details AI’s sweeping influence across cloud, cyber, and mission operations, noting that advantage will come to teams able to merge operational insight with AI-driven agility. He also discusses acquisition reforms—like OTAs and accelerated proof-of-concept pipelines—that aim to get cutting-edge technologies into government hands faster, even as contracting workforce shortages pose new obstacles.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  --------  

  12:58

  --------

  12:58
• The 2026 Playbook: Capacity, Experience & Data That Drives Decisions

  As agencies look ahead to 2026, the federal technology landscape is entering a period of realignment — and this time, the shift centers on people, experience, and data. In this episode, Former NASA CIO, Renee Wynn breaks down what leaders should expect as teams return to full operations post-shutdown and begin planning for long-term mission delivery.She explains why organizational capacity building must replace the old “do more with less” mindset, and how focusing on the individual — reducing friction, providing better tools, and creating room for talent to flourish — can unlock performance gains agencies have long struggled to reach. She also highlights the value of time in the saddle, describing how seasoned professionals provide critical guardrails while fresh perspectives help reimagine outdated processes.You’ll learn why understanding your agency’s data — not just the systems that hold it — is becoming the defining factor in whether analytics and AI can actually deliver meaningful insights. She also outlines how nonexistent or misunderstood data can derail mission outcomes, and why success often comes when teams finally feel confident they’ve identified the right data sources to solve the problem at hand.Subscribe and listen to the Fed Gov Today Podcast anytime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at FedGovToday.com

  --------  

  19:47

  --------

  19:47

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Fed Gov Today