Presented by Carahsoft
At Google Cloud Next ‘26 in Las Vegas, public sector leaders moved beyond the early hype of generative AI to focus on what matters most—delivering measurable mission outcomes. Across government, industry, and academia, the conversation has shifted toward building trusted, scalable, and resilient systems that align technology with real-world impact. This program brings together key voices driving that transformation, exploring how cloud infrastructure, AI, and acquisition strategies are evolving to meet the demands of modern government. From system-level thinking and data sovereignty to agentic AI and workforce readiness, the mission-ready cloud is no longer a future concept—it is happening now.
At Google Cloud Next ‘26, Sindhu Venkata, VP of Technology Delivery at Resultant, and Dr. Chrysoula Malogianni, Chief Digital Experience Officer at Old Dominion University, emphasized a critical shift in how organizations approach artificial intelligence—moving from theoretical discussions to real-world system design. Rather than focusing on individual tools or isolated use cases, they argued that success with AI depends on embedding principles like privacy, security, and accountability directly into system architecture.
Dr. Chrysoula Malogianni expanded on this idea with a focus on “system thinking,” urging organizations to evaluate AI not by the number of tools deployed, but by the outcomes achieved at the organizational level. She stressed that AI must be integrated across people, processes, and technology to drive meaningful improvements in efficiency, effectiveness, and mission alignment. The conversation underscored that AI is not an isolated capability, but part of a broader ecosystem that must be designed intentionally to deliver results.
Key Takeaways
Elizabeth Moon, Managing Director of Google Public Sector, described how cloud computing is evolving into something far more foundational than a traditional vendor service. At Google Cloud Next ‘26, she framed the cloud as a mission-critical platform—purpose-built for the demands of artificial intelligence and increasingly central to how government delivers services.
A key theme in her remarks was the urgency of the current moment. While public sector organizations are actively adopting AI, the pace of innovation in the commercial sector continues to accelerate. Moon emphasized the importance of strong partnerships to ensure government agencies can keep up—and in some cases, leap ahead—by leveraging the same advanced technologies available in the private sector.
She also highlighted the growing expectation from citizens for seamless, intuitive digital experiences. Whether accessing benefits or filing taxes, constituents now expect government services to match the responsiveness and ease of consumer platforms. AI-powered cloud solutions are enabling agencies to meet those expectations while improving efficiency for public servants.
Ultimately, Moon positioned the cloud not just as infrastructure, but as a strategic enabler of innovation, helping government organizations deliver better outcomes faster and more effectively.
Key Takeaways
At Google Cloud Next ‘26, Jeff Dowdy, Director at Carahsoft, addressed one of the most persistent challenges in government technology adoption: the gap between the pace of innovation and the speed of procurement. As AI capabilities evolve rapidly, traditional acquisition processes risk delivering solutions that are outdated before they are even deployed.
He also highlighted how AI itself is beginning to play a role in improving procurement processes. By automating repetitive tasks and streamlining reviews, agencies can reduce bottlenecks and focus more on strategic decision-making. At the same time, efforts to modernize compliance frameworks, including advancements in FedRAMP, are helping accelerate the availability of cutting-edge technologies for government use.
Another key development is the move toward greater parity between commercial and government cloud environments. Innovations like software-defined compliance are enabling providers to deliver new capabilities to public sector customers more quickly, reducing the lag that has historically slowed adoption.
Dowdy’s perspective makes clear that closing the acquisition gap is essential for ensuring that government agencies can fully capitalize on the potential of AI—and that doing so requires both process innovation and deeper collaboration across the ecosystem.
Key Takeaways
Segment 4: Agentic AI and the Future Workforce
Sean Maday, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Game Plan Tech, and Dr. Deya Banisakher, Deputy Director for Enterprise Frontier AI at the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, explored how agentic AI is reshaping decision-making and workforce development across the public sector.
A major focus of the discussion was how organizations build AI fluency. Banisakher emphasized that true understanding does not come from traditional classroom training alone, but from embedding AI tools directly into daily workflows. By putting these capabilities into the hands of users and encouraging peer-to-peer learning, organizations can create a culture of continuous adaptation and improvement.
Sean Maday expanded on the role of AI agents, describing them as a natural evolution beyond chat-based interactions. These agents are designed to take on tasks, support decision-making, and augment human capabilities by processing vast amounts of information quickly. Rather than replacing people, they enable individuals to focus on higher-value work while improving speed and accuracy across operations.
Key Takeaways