2025 AI Summit Recap

Jake Glassman in his newly appointed role advises senior defense leadership on advancing critical technologies from fundamental research to battlefield capabilities. With deep experience deploying AI, modular architectures and rapid acquisition across defense programs, Glassman will provide a practitioner’s perspective on how the War Department is researching and operationalizing AI to maintain technological advantage.

Featured Speaker:

• Jacob Glassman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology Foundations, DOW

For federal agencies, there are multitudes of value propositions in building out AI workloads with respect to network connectivity. From breaking data silos to improved application aware routing, properly planned networks with the ability to handle higher amounts of data AI produces and requires. And with the volume of data AI produces, there are ways AI can also help in network management.

Verizon will discuss ways AI can be maximized with a solid network plan and how networks can use AI to manage loads.

Featured Speaker:

• William Shealy, Senior Systems Engineer, Federal, Verizon

This panel highlighted the foundational elements needed to scale AI securely and effectively across government. Experts discussed computing power, data readiness and systems integration as critical pillars of AI success.

Featured Speakers:

• Scott Godwin, Director of the Center for Continuum Computing, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• Reuben Richards, Senior Technical Director – US Government, SAS Institute
• Maria Coelho, Model-Based System Engineering Scientist, INL

Leaders across government and industry examined how to accelerate AI development and deployment through agile acquisition, pilot-to-scale strategies, workforce training and public-private partnerships.

Featured Speakers:

• Megan Baird, Acting Administrator, Office of Apprenticeship, Employment and Training Administration, DOL
• Doyle Choi, Senior Director Strategic Federal Programs, Pure Storage
• Krista Kinnard, Deputy CAIO, NASA
• Justin Ubert, Division Chief for Cybersecurity & Operations, Federal Transit Administration

This session explored how agencies and organizations can design and deploy AI systems that are fair, transparent and accountable. Experts delved into data maturity, testing protocols and governance frameworks to mitigate AI bias as the tech becomes more prominent in delivering on government’s critical missions.

Featured Speakers:

• Kevin Byrne, DevSecOps Lead, Idaho National Laboratory, DOE
• Tommy Gardner, CTO, HP Federal
• Arun Vemury, Director, Biometric and Identity Technology Center, DHS S&T

Federal and industry leaders are recognizing that their initial AI strategies are becoming outdated as more advanced capabilities reshape the market. This discussion explored how agencies and organizations can build flexible, workforce-enabled strategies grounded in strong data foundations, adaptable governance and practical adoption pathways to ensure longevity as the tech rapidly evolves.

Featured Speaker:

• Randy Soper, Senior Director, Federal Data & AI Lead, Slalom

Federal AI leaders shared real-world examples of how artificial intelligence is being applied across government to improve mission delivery, enhanced decision-making and streamlined operations. Panelists discussed key use cases at their organizations, the challenges agencies have encountered in implementation and emerging opportunities to expand AI adoption across government.

Featured Speakers:

• John Dvorak, CTO, Public Sector, Red Hat
• Jennifer Hay, Former Director, Defense Digital Service, DOW
• Cara Rose, Director, Workplace and Collaboration Services, NASA
• Alan Rosner, Acting CIO, NTIA

GSA’s AI chief explored how GSA is supporting a unified approach to AI through shared inventories, communities of practice and vendor-agnostic frameworks designed to evolve alongside rapidly changing technology. He also discussed how agencies can begin to assess mission impact for AI, and how to leverage GSA’s resources on their AI journey.

Featured Speaker:

• Zach Whitman, Chief AI Officer and Data Scientist, GSA

The Flywheel Awards recognize leaders and their work in the federal government.

The flywheel — a critical component in a machine to increase its momentum — is also a critical symbol representing our publication’s goal to keep federal IT decision-makers informed on technology’s impact on government. This momentum is what fuels the constant need for transformers to innovate and drive efficiency in government.

Categories include: Rising Star, AI Talent Advocate, AI Innovator, AI Evangelist and CAIO of the Year.

AI Summit Flywheel Award Winners:

• Rising Star: Oliver Tannheiser, Product Lead, Digital Transformation, Space Force
• AI Talent Advocate: Amanda Bullock, Former Senior AI Strategist, Digital Transformation Office, Air Force
• AI Innovator: Sunil Madhugiri, CTO, OIT, CBP
• AI Evangelist: Martin Stanley, AI and Cybersecurity Researcher, ITL, NIST
• CAIO of the Year: Zach Whitman, CAIO and Chief Data Scientist, GSA

Featured Speaker:

• Sashi Ravipati, VP, Capability Integration, Leidos

AI is only as useful as the data it can actually find, understand and trust. This session highlighted how modern retrieval and agent-driven workflows turn raw, distributed data into real answers that drive action.

Featured Speaker:

• Josh Phifer, Principal Solutions Architect, Elastic

This panel explored U.S. efforts to standardize AI and spur collaboration. Panelists also discussed the intersection of national security, trade and leadership on the global AI arena.

Featured Speakers:

• Capt. Christopher Clark, AI Lead, Deputy Commandant for Information, Service Data Office, Marine Corps
• Christopher Page, Deputy Director, OPNAV N2N6Q
• Anish Patel, Head of Federal Sales, Cloudflare
• Martin Stanley, AI and Cybersecurity Researcher, ITL, NIST

Agentic AI refers to systems that operate with autonomy to make decisions and pursue goals. As this capability gains traction, it introduces new possibilities and risks for mission-driven applications. This panel explored the technical, ethical and operational considerations of deploying agentic AI in federal environments.

Featured Speakers:

• Mike Chon, Vice President and Senior Partner, Federal Strategy and Transformation and Business Application Practice Area Leader, IBM
• Robert Costello, CIO, CISA
• Adarryl Roberts, CIO, DLA

AI leaders from federal agencies shared their high-level priorities, progress and perspectives on some of the AI executive orders’ guidelines. This session highlighted cross-agency collaboration, workforce development and federal innovation.

Featured Speakers:

• Josh Finke, Sr. Vice President, Public Sector, Lumen
• Niki Maslin, CAIO and CTO, EPA
• Amy Ritualo, Acting Chief Data & AI Officer, State Department
• Taylor Stockton, Chief Innovation Officer, DOL