Original Broadcast Date: 09/20/2026
Sponsored by Carahsoft
Cybersecurity is becoming faster, more complex and increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence. On this episode of Fed Gov Today, leaders from the Department of Homeland Security, industry and the Navy examine how organizations are preparing for a threat environment where attackers and defenders are both gaining new capabilities.
Donald Coulter, Senior Science Advisor for Cybersecurity at the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, says cyber defenders face growth in both the volume and sophistication of threats. Vulnerabilities are being identified and exploited quickly, while AI models are gaining the ability to reason and plan across increasingly long time horizons. That combination creates pressure for defenders to expand their capabilities and respond faster.
Coulter says organizations should build an “adversarial mindset” into AI systems throughout their entire lifecycle. That means considering potential misuse and vulnerabilities from requirements and design through implementation, operations and maintenance. He also points to AI supply-chain risks, including data provenance, poisoned datasets, software vulnerabilities and even physical attacks against infrastructure supporting AI systems.
Mike McCalip, Vice President for Government Programs and Strategy at Carahsoft, says reacting to a cyber incident can mean organizations are already too late. He identifies workforce development as one of the fundamental pieces of a more proactive approach. Government needs people with the training and education to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology and emerging threats.
McCalip also highlights the potential for AI to help people process enormous amounts of information. Rather than replacing humans, he describes AI as a way to bring together content at a scale that would overwhelm an individual and help put people in a better position to make decisions.
Finally, Chris Page, Acting Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (N6N9C), explains why cyber could take on an even larger role in future military operations. Cyber traditionally enables other warfighting functions, but Page says it is possible to envision a battle, phase or even campaign in which cyber becomes the main effort.
Page compares cyber resilience to the Navy’s approach to damage control aboard a ship. Sailors train to keep fighting even after taking damage, and he argues the same mentality should apply in cyberspace. Procedures, fallback capabilities, onboard data, resilient systems and experienced sailors can help the Navy continue operating through a cyberattack.