Original broadcast 10/7
Presented by Carahsoft
The latest Innovation in Government program, recorded at the AFCEA and INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit, brings together leaders from government and industry to discuss how the intelligence community is adapting to new technologies, managing evolving threats, and strengthening public-private partnerships. The conversations cover topics ranging from cyber hygiene and zero trust, to the professionalization of open-source intelligence, to supply chain resilience and the modernization of the defense industrial base.
Artificial intelligence is not being discussed abstractly, he noted, but rather in mission-specific terms: using AI to accelerate analytics, reduce decision cycles, and save lives. Looking ahead, Shrader pointed to the China threat and the race for technological dominance in AI and quantum as central challenges for the intelligence community.
Key Takeaways
Agencies are deepening reliance on industry innovation to stay mission-focused.
OSINT and AI are central to decision speed and mission effectiveness.
Maintaining technological dominance over China remains the top long-term priority.
He emphasized that the biggest barrier is not resources, but awareness: OT engineers and technicians often prioritize convenience over cybersecurity. Roebuck urged greater education and direct outreach, including CISA’s regional engagements and the agency’s Cyber Performance Goals. He warned that ransomware and hacktivist threats are increasingly targeting utilities, while sophisticated nation-state actors lie in wait to hold infrastructure at risk.
Key Takeaways
Simple, low-cost cyber hygiene practices can stop many threats.
Awareness and education for OT engineers are critical to progress.
Hacktivists, ransomware actors, and nation-states each present distinct risks.
She noted that industry sometimes surprises agencies with capabilities they didn’t know existed. To prevent gaps, she advocated for institutionalized roles and processes that maintain continuity beyond personal relationships. Balch also highlighted the need for cleaner, clearer contracting processes to accelerate innovation.
Key Takeaways
Government-led partnerships create stronger alignment between needs and solutions.
Transparency and problem statements drive effective collaboration.
Institutionalized innovation roles prevent reliance on personal relationships alone.
He highlighted the Army’s OSINT Strategy (2022–2030), the first of its kind in the intelligence community, which has already delivered 80 percent of its objectives. This strategy has driven cultural change within Army Intelligence, ensuring OSINT informs and synchronizes with other intelligence disciplines.
Key Takeaways
The Army views OSINT as a foundational discipline requiring professional tradecraft.
The 2022 OSINT Strategy has transformed Army Intelligence culture and practice.
OSINT provides speed, volume, and breadth of information to inform other disciplines.
Sears emphasized the growing role of AI-enabled multilingual models that curate data across languages, reducing analyst workload and improving accuracy. Synthetic media, he warned, will continue to escalate as adversaries weaponize generative AI.
Key Takeaways
Synthetic media poses an immediate OSINT challenge.
Multilingual AI models are transforming OSINT by curating global data.
Supply chain intelligence is essential for resilience and security.
Sweatman argued that leveraging commercial OSINT capabilities is essential, enabling government agencies to focus on priority missions while industry monitors the broader global landscape. He also stressed the importance of preventing duplication in procurement, echoing NGA Director Vice Admiral Whitworth’s push for efficiency.
Key Takeaways
OSINT enables unclassified, coalition-wide intelligence sharing.
Industry capabilities can fill gaps where government capacity is limited.
Collaboration and efficiency in procurement are key to success.
He emphasized the Guard’s enterprise-level zero trust plan, designed to protect the DODIN and align with the broader Department of Defense. Collaboration with Army and Air Force CIOs ensures innovation, while retaining cyber talent remains a top priority.
Key Takeaways
BYOD transformed Guard operations and has influenced the entire DoD.
The Guard has its own enterprise zero trust plan to secure operations.
Retaining cyber workforce skills is a key challenge for future readiness.
He noted that effective threat management combines OSINT tools with human judgment, factoring in proximity, weapons access, and behavioral patterns. Social media fragmentation, including into smaller platforms like Mastodon servers, has made the collection challenge more complex.
Key Takeaways
OSINT is increasingly vital in executive protection and threat management.
Threat actors operate across multiple platforms, requiring cross-source analysis.
Effective assessment blends technology with human expertise in risk evaluation.
He pointed to reforms easing the path for private companies to work with government, but emphasized that cultural and practice-based changes remain harder. A resilient defense industrial base, he stressed, requires sustainable supply chains, secure stockpiles, and reduced dependence on adversary-linked inputs.
Key Takeaways
The defense industrial base must adapt to rapid tech evolution and new threats.
Policy reforms are helping, but cultural and practice changes are harder.
Supply chain resilience and sustainability are central to future readiness.