Claim OwnershipKeeping IT Brief
Subscribed: 2Played: 4
Subscribe
© 2026 Keeping IT Brief
Description
Keeping IT Brief is FORUM’s fast, focused podcast delivering essential insights on government technology, federal modernization, and the evolving GovCon landscape. Each short episode features conversations with industry leaders, government executives, and innovators who are driving mission success through new strategies, emerging technologies, and forward-thinking approaches to public sector IT.
Designed for busy federal and industry professionals, Keeping IT Brief gets straight to what matters—key trends, practical takeaways, and expert perspectives on cybersecurity, digital transformation, AI adoption, cloud advancements, and the policies shaping federal technology priorities. Instead of long discussions, the podcast provides concise, high-value briefings that help listeners stay informed and ready for what’s next.
Whether you support federal programs, lead technology initiatives, work in business development, or simply want to keep pace with the rapid changes across government IT, Keeping IT Brief delivers the insights you need in a format that fits your schedule. Guests include senior government officials, CIOs, CTOs, acquisition experts, solution architects, and strategic voices from across the public and private sectors.
About the Host:
Mary Ann Brown hosts Keeping IT Brief and brings extensive experience in connecting government and industry across technology, policy, and mission-driven initiatives. As Senior Director of Operations at FORUM, she supports collaboration through strategic events, leadership programs, and platforms that elevate critical conversations in the federal space.
Stay informed in minutes. Subscribe to Keeping IT Brief for timely insights that help you understand federal IT trends and anticipate opportunities across the government technology community.
174 Episodes
Reverse
What does it take to modernize technology inside the Department of Defense? In this episode of FORUM’s Keeping IT Brief, we sit down with Richard Kellahan, Project Manager at TIAG, to talk about DoD contracts, electronic security systems, and federal IT project management. Richard has supported Department of Defense programs since 2006 and currently leads projects in Charleston, SC — identifying opportunities in the Electronic Security Systems (ESS) federal government space. With ...
Federal agencies are under pressure to modernize legacy systems, strengthen cybersecurity, and deliver better digital services—all while staying mission-focused. In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Mike Deutsch, Chief Growth Officer at Alpha Omega, to talk about what it really takes to drive digital transformation in government IT. With more than 20 years of federal market experience, Mike has helped scale and grow industry leaders like A...
AI is moving fast—and cyber threats are moving faster. As federal agencies race to modernize, how can they adopt AI securely without increasing risk? In this episode of FORUM’s Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Chris Townsend, Global VP of Public Sector at Elastic, to unpack what’s coming next for AI, cybersecurity, and federal IT modernization in 2026. With the federal government prioritizing AI adoption and digital transformation—highlighted by the 2025 AI Action Plan an...
Healthcare AI can’t scale without the right cloud foundation. On this episode of FORUM’s Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Jaison Correya, CEO of CLOUDVICE, to explore how cloud, data engineering, and AI are reshaping healthcare and the U.S. public sector. Founded in 2020, CLOUDVICE is an Oracle partner with an exclusive focus on the public sector. The company helps healthcare organizations and state and local governments modernize back-office and front-office operations—fr...
Some conversations are worth hearing again—this episode is one of them. Federal agencies are under pressure to innovate—while staying compliant. As cyber threats evolve and AI becomes mission-critical, agencies are struggling with the growing tension between innovation and compliance. Frameworks like NIST’s Risk Management Framework (RMF) are essential—but increasingly criticized for slowing modern technology adoption. One of the biggest pain points? The Authority to Operate (ATO)...
In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown speaks with Oliver Sadorra, Chief Growth Officer at Dark Wolf Solutions. Oliver explores the real-world state of AI across government and industry and shares insights from years leading software development, DevSecOps adoption, and AI/ML integration for national security missions. Together, they unpack the AI trends that truly matter, public perception vs. reality, how agencies can innovate without compromising trust, the emerging skill...
Keri Gentilcore leads the DHS and National Security portfolio at ITC Federal, where she oversees teams delivering innovative, mission-focused technology solutions. With more than 20 years of experience across federal security and civilian markets—including leadership roles at Eagle Hill Consulting and Booz Allen Hamilton—Keri brings deep expertise in mission analytics, risk management, strategic planning, and IT modernization. ITC Federal delivers advancements in automation and AI, IT infrast...
From the FIFA World Cup to the Olympics, securing massive global events isn’t just about physical barriers—it’s about defending digital infrastructure that supports everything behind the scenes. In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown speaks with Tim Miller, Field CTO and Public Sector Cyber Lead at Dataminr, about how cyber and physical security are converging—and why governments and event organizers must think holistically to stay ahead of threats. Tim shares insights from ...
Federal agencies struggle with tension between innovation and compliance as cyber threats evolve and AI becomes mission-critical. NIST's Risk Management Framework (RMF) faces scrutiny for complexity that slows transformative technology adoption. The Authority to Operate (ATO) has become a bottleneck, frustrating agencies with delays and manual processes misaligned with modern development practices. Peter O'Donoghue (Tyto Athene CTO) and Gaurav Pal (stackArmor CEO) join Keeping IT ...
Federal agencies are under growing pressure to modernize digital identity systems as cyber threats escalate and citizens expect seamless digital services. Yet legacy infrastructure, siloed systems, and inconsistent standards create barriers to trust and efficiency. Biometrics and next-generation identity technologies offer a path forward—but adoption requires careful balance between security, usability, and privacy. Today Jesus Aragón, CEO and Co-Founder of Identy.io discusses how investing i...
A recent report from the Government Accountability Office from April identified cybersecurity concerns and lack of data privacy as some of the top risks associated with Generative AI. As the federal government ramps up AI investments, with the DOD prioritizing AI in its Software Fast Track (SWFT) Initiative and recent legislation allotting hundreds of millions for AI-related efforts, industry findings point to emerging risks that government agencies need to start addressing during initial AI ...
The White House's latest cybersecurity executive order has introduced critical new directives for federal agencies: incorporate AI software vulnerability management into existing processes and share indicators of compromise for AI systems. But as agentic AI and GenAI adoption accelerates across government—often creating complex Shadow IT networks—how can agencies gain the visibility needed to securely integrate these powerful tools? In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown sit...
Join host Mary Ann Brown for a fascinating conversation with Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace, as he takes us beyond Earth's atmosphere to explore one of the most critical challenges of our time: keeping space safe, sustainable, and secure. In this episode, Tim reveals how Slingshot Aerospace is transforming space domain awareness through cutting-edge AI technology. As space becomes increasingly crowded with thousands of satellites and growing commercial activity, the need for comp...
As the federal government looks to modernize IT solutions to better support citizens and create efficiencies, they often face challenges in adopting emerging technologies like AI due to complex compliance requirements and integration barriers. It’s key that organizations have the ability to help government teams navigate these complexities and deliver measurable outcomes that modernize operations and maximize value for federal missions. In December 2024, iTech AG achieved a milestone in feder...
Fraud, waste and abuse of the Medicare system have always been challenging to get under control. Those who exploit federal health care programs can cost taxpayers billions of dollars, according to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report, while putting beneficiaries’ health and welfare at risk. CMS’s Center for Program Integrity plays a key role in managing this challenge by detecting, preventing and combating fraud, waste and abuse across CMS and other federal health programs. Bey...
In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown is joined by Max Shuftan, Director of Mission Programs at SANS Institute, to discuss one of the most pressing issues in cybersecurity today: the talent shortage in federal agencies. As nation-state cyber threats continue to evolve, agencies are facing an uphill battle to find skilled cybersecurity professionals. Max sheds light on how inclusive and targeted training programs can help address this critical shortage by unlocking untapped ...
In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Jim Coyle, US Public Sector CTO at Lookout, to discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats posed by nation-state actors. With over two decades of experience in cybersecurity, Jim brings invaluable insights into the emerging tactics, tools, and techniques used by global adversaries to target critical infrastructure. As we look toward 2025, Jim highlights the growing alignment between cyber efforts from na...
In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with George Kamis, Chief Technology Officer at Everfox, to dive into the critical intersection of cybersecurity, zero trust, and cross-domain solutions. With over 25 years of experience in Cyber and Cross Domain Solutions, George sheds light on the common misconceptions surrounding zero trust and its role in government security frameworks. While zero trust is foundational to securing networks, George explains why it cann...
In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown is joined by Robert Ezekiel, Director and Product Strategist at Booz Allen Hamilton, and a winner of the prestigious 2025 FORUM IT100 Award. Robert reflects on what this award means to him personally and professionally, sharing how his work supporting Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Hiring Our Heroes program has made a lasting impact. Robert talks about a pivotal career moment that shifted his focus from a technical role to one centered o...
In today’s episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown chats with Matt Quinn, Science Director at TATRC/DoD, about his groundbreaking program, Passive Data Collection for Automated Documentation, which won a 2025 Disruptive Tech Award. Matt dives into the specifics of his award-winning program, explaining how it addresses key challenges in the GovCon space and what makes it stand out in the industry. He shares insights into the innovation process, the critical technologies that played a ...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States