​​In a year defined by acceleration and transformation, 2025 will be remembered across the federal government as the start of artificial intelligence moving from pilot projects to production reality. Agencies are no longer debating whether to use AI; the conversation has shifted decisively to how to deploy it safely, effectively, responsibly, and at scale. On the most recent episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, host, Lucas Hunsicker, spoke with Steve Boone, Director of Product Marketing at Checkmarx, about what this reframing has meant for government IT teams and what it signals as we move through 2026 and beyond.

​As federal agencies continue to invest in, and deploy, AI solutions, the physical infrastructure needed to support mission-enabling use cases is top of mind for agency leaders. But the way these solutions will be acquired, implemented, and used significantly impacts the design of AI systems. Trust, security, and procurement all play a role in the value agencies get from AI and therefore must be considered from the onset.

​In part one of our podcast series, Michael Montgomery, President of Chenega Architecture and Design Solutions, explained how federal agencies can power and cool the systems enabling AI use cases and capabilities. In today’s episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, we take a deeper dive into the operational challenges agencies need to keep in mind as they invest in AI.

​The increasing presence of AI in federal buildings is reshaping how the federal government works. From predictive AI that solves previously intractable challenges, enables digital twinning, and supports decision-advantage and operational superiority on the battlefield to generative AI that enables vital service delivery improvements, AI is the focus of federal agency investments.

​While there is little doubt about the value that AI can deliver to federal agencies, there are some very practical obstacles standing in the way. Before they can reap the benefits, agencies must confront the challenges of powering the vast AI infrastructures they are building and cooling the racks of servers that form the backbone of an AI-powered federal government.

​In this two-part series on the Government Technology Insider Podcast, we invited Michael Montgomery, President of Chenega Architecture and Design Solutions, to discuss how federal facilities managers and their teams are addressing these mission-critical challenges, as well as the ubiquitous power and cooling issues that agencies will encounter as they move into the AI age.

​At the end of last year, the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) released new Android 16 and iOS 26 Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) designed to provide military organizations with the guidance they need to better secure their mobile endpoints against modern adversaries.

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​One of the most significant new requirements in the latest Android and Apple STIGS is for all managed mobile devices to have a mobile threat defense (MTD) solution deployed to remain compliant – a major undertaking for an organization with hundreds of thousands of mobile endpoints.

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​In this episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, host, Matt Langan, is joined by Farhan Saifudin of Ivanti, and Alex Froede of DISA to define STIGs, explain their importance for mobile device security, and discuss the new STIG changes and how they’ll impact military organizations.

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​Farhan Saifudin, is Ivanti's sales engineer manager for the public sector. Alex Froede, a senior mobile cybersecurity architect and principal author of DISA’s mobile technology STIGs at the DISA Cyber Standards and Analysis Branch, also known as the DISA STIG Office.

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​During their detailed discussion on the changes to Apple and Android device STIGS, they explore the current threat landscape for mobile devices in the U.S. DoD explain why MTD solutions are necessary in today's threat environment, provide considerations for DoD decision-makers looking to choose an MTD solution, and the importance of marrying an MTD solution to a mobile device management (MDM) solution.

​In today’s highly volatile geopolitical environment, being able to communicate and operate securely is a vital strategic advantage for the warfighter and command. With multivariant threats targeted at United States assets at the core and the edge, on land, in space, and at sea, investment in robust and resilient secure facilities has never been more important. The challenges of balancing effective communication with secure operations will surely be top of mind at the Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium 2026, taking place this week in Colorado.

​In this episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, we invited Michael Montgomery, who leads Chenega Architecture and Design Solutions and is President of Chenega Worldwide Support, and Jeff Kronewitter, Director of Strategic Solutions at Chenega MIOS, to discuss best practices in building a secure operations and communications environments in an era of disruption.

​Modernizing the technology that supports government services is a primary way state agencies are working to deliver services more efficiently and meet constituent demand. But while implementing new technology is a significant milestone, the challenge of ensuring that systems are capable of delivering on the mission extends far beyond launch day. A perpetually adaptive system—and a mindset to match—are critical to keep systems functional and relevant.

​In our previous podcast, Amber Shultz, Kansas’s Secretary of Labor, shared the four keys to successfully delivering a complex digital transformation project. In today’s episode, we welcome Secretary Shultz back to share her insights on ensuring that the new unemployment insurance system in Kansas can adapt to user needs, evolving policies, and ever-changing technology.

​​Today, technology is a critical part of delivering state services like unemployment insurance, but many states still rely on decades-old systems that struggle to meet demand. Like many agencies, the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) reached a turning point when unemployment claims surged at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legacy system, created in the 1970s, was unable to support the volume of claims and calls, causing delays in service and overburdening state staff. KDOL needed to not only stabilize its current unemployment insurance system but modernize it so it could become more agile and perpetually adaptive.

​In today’s episode of the Government Technology Insider Podcast, guest host Monica Mayk spoke with Amber Shultz, Secretary of Labor for the State of Kansas, about the state’s unemployment insurance modernization program. The landmark transformation, which now enables the state to better support Kansans during critical and vulnerable times, was honored with a 2025 State IT Recognition Award for Digital Experience: Agency and Program Solutions by the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO). Secretary Shultz shares the story of KDOL’s transformation effort, the outcomes for constituents and state staff, and the four key factors that led her department to success.

The potential for data to power government systems and transform service delivery has made maximizing the value of their data a top priority for many state agencies. But states still struggle to transform raw data into actionable insights that can drive economic growth and social benefits. Solving this conundrum may depend on data sharing: pooling information and insights among state agencies to optimize resources and support staff and citizens.

In today’s episode of the Government Technology Insider podcast, guest host Dale Smith, Director of Labor and Workforce at TCS – Tata Consultancy Services, speaks with Rick Maher, CEO of Adaptive Human Capital, about how state agencies can become data sharing organizations and put that data to use for constituents.