Agencies Look to AI, Policy to Advance Modernization Goals

Federal IT officials shared some of their tech initiatives aligning with recent presidential actions. This includes new approaches in Defense Department procurement, leaders said during the Potomac Officers Club 2025 Digital Transformation Summit in McLean, Virginia, Thursday.

Defense Department’s ‘SWFT’ Approach to Software Acquisition

The Defense Department’s Principal Deputy CIO Leslie Beavers said DOD’s software modernization plans for fiscal year 2025 to 2026 comes with updated plans for implementing them.

The Software Fast Track (SWFT) program centralized 29 different case management systems, so warfighters “don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” Beavers said.

“We’re making a big pivot within the department to use more commercial, off-the-shelf capability and not develop our own bespoke,” said Beavers.

Beavers said that, based on the success of previous software factories across the DOD, she is working to establish a department-wide software factory ecosystem.

“[Our software factories] they’ve had good pockets of excellence, and that’s kind of how these things grow. Now we need to make sure that it becomes an ecosystem for the department and we can share information and software development,” said Beavers.

AI and Data Management Drive Digital Transformation

Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Chief Digital Transformation Officer James McCament said at the event the agency’s mission has “outsized the resources.” By adapting new technologies like artificial intelligence early and often, McCament said the agency can close gaps presented by legacy technology.

As the largest law enforcement agency, CBP tracks over $10 billion worth of goods between trade and travel in the U.S. McCament added that hundreds of data points are created as individuals, groups and cargo enter the country.

“We need that information to be able to detect anomalies, to reduce some of the redundancies and, most of all, to counter threats. Our officers and agents have generally within seconds to minutes to make the decision whether the person can come into the country,” said McCament.

CBP is working on a robust data management strategy to ensure AI works to the best of its ability. McCament reflected on how DHS has numerous systems and silos full of data, but not all the data is needed all the time.

Modernizing data management frameworks means building a common space for data to live and ensuring that those across the agency can access it when needed. McCament wants the approach CBP is taking to scale across the government.

“We’ve developed a Center of Innovation and Excellence for AI so that we can provide a data library and the ability to integrate legacy data and access it,” said McCament.