Data, Not Just Tech: the Missing Link in Government’s Digital Transformation

Original broadcast 6/22/25

Presented by Snowflake & Carahsoft

Clare Martorana, former Federal Chief Information Officer, has long been a passionate advocate for improving the government’s digital infrastructure. But as she emphasized in her conversation with Francis Rose on Fed Gov Today, it's not cloud computing or artificial intelligence that represents the government’s biggest challenge—it's data. Data, she argues, is the connective tissue of government operations, and without a strategic, funded, and human-centered approach to managing it, transformation efforts will remain incomplete.

The Data Disconnect

“We have silos of excellence where people are doing extraordinary work,” Martorana said. But the problem is fragmentation. Across the federal government, agencies still struggle to unify data strategies and implement governance models that can scale. “We don’t have a relationship that is functional with our members of Congress to build sustainable, long-term funding strategies,” she added, pointing to the financial disconnect that often undermines otherwise successful technical initiatives.

Martorana stressed that while agencies have advanced through initiatives like “Cloud First” and “Cloud Smart,” there remains a gap when it comes to ensuring the infrastructure serves the broader needs of data sharing, analytics, and decision-making. “Computers are just bricks without data,” she said bluntly.

Data-Centric Transformation Starts With People

Although she spoke passionately about the need for better tools and platforms, Martorana returned repeatedly to the human side of transformation—especially the importance of designing around the user. “I have a real bias for customer experience,” she said. In her view, the “customer” isn’t just the American public—it’s also the federal employees working every day to meet mission demands.

Whether it's a Customs and Border Protection officer at the border or a caseworker at HHS, the digital systems they use must be intuitive, reliable, and informed by real operational needs. Martorana emphasized that understanding “who the customer is” and “what problem we are trying to solve with the data” is essential for effective digital modernization.

AI’s Role—and What Comes Next

While artificial intelligence is transforming public sector capabilities, Martorana warned that it won’t deliver results without quality data. She noted that many Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) projects she supported during her tenure revolved around data—its governance, accessibility, and strategic use. These investments reflect a growing recognition across government that AI is only as good as the data that feeds it.

Martorana also looked to the horizon. “The quantum future is coming in a moment’s time,” she said, referencing recent breakthroughs like DeepSeek’s surprise developments. To prepare for quantum computing, she argued, agencies must first master the foundational challenges they face today—namely, making sure their data is interoperable, governed, and available for secure analysis.

Sharing, Not Competing

One of the core lessons Martorana shared was the importance of learning across agency boundaries. She cited the work of the General Services Administration’s Centers of Excellence (CoE) and the CIO Council as examples of “safe spaces” where CIOs and technology leaders can share lessons, avoid reinventing the wheel, and accelerate modernization by leaning on each other’s successes.

“The CIO Council is one of those incredible organizations where the camaraderie and safe space that is created… is really a critical part of how we operate in government,” she said. These communities of practice give CIOs a way to compare strategies, discuss challenges, and replicate progress in their own agencies.

Martorana added that this kind of knowledge sharing is essential for leaders who may not have had access to consistent funding or political support. In her experience, these forums can empower under-resourced leaders to advocate for better tools and adopt proven models more quickly.

Continuity Across Administrations

Perhaps one of the most compelling themes Martorana raised was the importance of preserving effective initiatives across administrations—regardless of political affiliation. “Technology is purple,” she said. “It’s not red or blue.” That ethos guided her decision not to dismantle programs started under the Trump administration—like the Quality Service Management Offices (QSMOs)—just because they came from a different political team.

Rather than rebranding for vanity’s sake, Martorana chose to build on what worked. She praised her predecessor Suzette Kent for evolving cloud strategy from “Cloud First” to “Cloud Smart,” calling it “a really elegant evolution.” Her goal, she said, was always to focus on the mission and the problems agencies were trying to solve, not political wins or branding exercises.

A Moment of Opportunity

For Martorana, the federal government stands at a critical inflection point. With the momentum of AI, the maturity of cloud, and a growing awareness of the importance of user experience and data, she sees the potential for meaningful transformation—if agencies can seize the opportunity.

“We have such a unique opportunity at this moment in time, especially with AI, to learn from each other,” she said. But that opportunity will only be realized if agencies prioritize long-term strategies, fund them appropriately, and continue to break down barriers between programs, people, and data.

Martorana’s message is clear: Government modernization is about more than acquiring new tools. It’s about creating ecosystems where people, platforms, and data work in harmony to solve real-world problems. That starts with clarity of purpose, collaboration across agencies, and a commitment to long-term, sustainable progress.

Key Takeaways:

• Data governance, not just technology acquisition, is the cornerstone of digital transformation.

• User experience—both for federal employees and the public—must guide system design.

• Collaboration across agencies, administrations, and funding partners is essential for lasting progress.