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Keeping IT Brief
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.
Episodes
180 episodes
Building Smarter Cybersecurity Strategies for a High-Risk World
Cyber threats aren’t slowing down—and neither can your strategy.In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, we sit down with Bryan Thompson, Chief Product Officer at Everfox, a leader in cybersecurity, enterprise technology, ...
The Alignment Advantage: Turning Strategy into Scalable Business Growth
Ready to rethink everything you know about business growth? This episode dives into how breaking the “right” rules can actually be your biggest advantage.In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, we sit down with Krystn Macomber (...
How AI & AR Are Transforming Firefighter Training
What if firefighter training could be faster, smarter, and powered by AI?In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, we explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) are transforming training ...
The Cybersecurity Talent Gap: What’s Driving the Shortage?
Cybersecurity jobs are everywhere—but why is there still a massive talent gap?In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, we break down the cybersecurity workforce shortage, what’s really causing it, and what it means for...
Transforming Federal Healthcare: Cloud, AI, and Digital Innovation in Government
Healthcare is undergoing a massive digital transformation—but what does that actually look like inside the U.S. federal government? In this episode, we break down how cloud computing, Salesforce platforms, and emerging technologies ...
Federal IT Modernization: GenAI, DevSecOps & Digital Transformation
How do you turn emerging technology into real mission impact for the Federal government? In this episode of FORUM’s Keeping IT Brief, we sit down with Brian Funk, Chief Technology Officer at MetaPhase, to explore Federal...
DoD Modernization, PMP Leadership & Electronic Security in Federal IT
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, ele...
Digital Transformation in Federal IT: Growth, AI & Modernization Strategies
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 A...
AI Is Transforming Government—How to Stay Secure in 2026 with Chris Townsend of Elastic
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
Building the Cloud Foundation for Healthcare AI & Public Sector Innovation | Jaison Correya, CEO of CLOUDVICE
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 enginee...
Encore Episode: Federal Cybersecurity: Creating a Modern Response for Today’s Risks
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 a...
AI, Security & The Future Workforce with Oliver Sadorra of Dark Wolf Solutions
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 ...
Strengthening DHS IT Operations: Next Steps for National Security Efficiency with Keri Gentilcore
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 marke...
Bridging the Cyber-Physical Divide: Safeguarding Major Events with Tim Miller of Dataminr
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
Federal Cybersecurity: Creating a Modern Response for Today’s Risks
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...
Solving the Federal Identity Crisis: Balancing Security, Privacy, and User Experience
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 ...
New GitLab Data Shows AI Security Risks that Government Can’t Ignore
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. A...
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Securing AI in the Federal Landscape: Navigating the New Cybersecurity Executive Order
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 ...
Guarding the Final Frontier: How AI is Revolutionizing Space Safety and Security
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...
Revolutionizing Federal Workflows: iTech AG Drives AI Support for CMS’s Customer Service Management
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. ...
CMS Modernization: Data Management is Key to Preventing Fraud, Waste and Abuse
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 re...
Unlocking Cyber Talent: Reskilling and Inclusion in Federal Agencies with Max Shuftan
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 agenci...
The Cyber Arms Race: Defending Against Nation-State Threats with Jim Coyle
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 exper...
Securing the Divide: Zero Trust vs. Cross-Domain Solutions with George Kamis
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...
Supporting Veterans & Embracing the Future with Robert Ezekiel of Booz Allen Hamilton
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 me...