Original Broadcast Date: 10/04/2026
The Army is moving quickly to test artificial intelligence for cyber defense, the Transportation Department is changing how it builds and manages technology, and the Air Force community is coming together to support wounded airmen and guardians.
On this episode of Fed Gov Today, Brandon Pugh, the Army’s principal cyber advisor, explains how Project Griffin is exploring the use of AI agents to defend Army networks. Pugh says one of his priorities is determining how AI can strengthen human cyber defenders as adversaries gain access to the same technology.
The Army brings 14 C-suite leaders together for a tabletop exercise built around a scenario involving thousands of autonomous cyberattacks. That exercise identifies roughly 17 to 20 capabilities the Army could pursue. Instead of trying to tackle all of them, Pugh says the Army narrows its initial focus to three areas that can move through rapid acquisition and fielding.
Project Griffin focuses in part on moving beyond detecting cyber incidents toward responding to them agentically. The Army receives 108 submissions during a seven-day industry solicitation. Pugh says the Army also wants to explore agentic cyber deception and improve how purple teams assess and respond to cybersecurity risks.
Pugh also discusses the Army’s defense critical infrastructure mission. With 288 camps, posts and stations, he says the Army needs to work with agencies including DHS, the FBI and Department of Energy, along with private utilities, to protect infrastructure supporting military operations.
Pavan Pidugu, outgoing chief digital and information officer at the Department of Transportation, says DOT’s modernization is as much about changing its technology culture as rebuilding infrastructure.
DOT consolidates nine IT organizations under a single structure and shifts from a project-centric model toward a product approach. Padugu says that means measuring technology by the outcomes it delivers rather than outputs such as lines of code.
The department also looks for duplicated technology efforts and creates common foundations that can be reused across its operating modes. At the infrastructure level, DOT is undertaking an effort to move 90% of its data center infrastructure into cloud hosting. Padugu says that can free resources for technology directly supporting DOT’s transportation safety mission.
Finally, Fed Gov Today goes on the road with the Memorial to Memorial Ride, a four-day cycling event covering almost 340 miles from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C.
Brad Glasco says the ride raises $116,000, exceeding its $110,000 goal, while bringing new participants including the Air Force Academy cycling team into the event. Riders describe a community built around fitness, readiness and support for wounded airmen and guardians.
First Sgt. Joshua Johnson says the cadets bring energy to the peloton while wounded warriors continue to inspire participants with their performance and determination. The ride has taken place annually since 2022.