Mission-Driven Cyber: Transforming Security and Workforce Strategy at the Pentagon

Original broadcast 4/6/25

Presented by Palo Alto Networks and Carahsoft

On this edition of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, cyber leadership, workforce transformation, and defense innovation take center stage. Daniel Kroese, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Palo Alto Networks, explains how AI-powered security operations can revolutionize federal cybersecurity. Katie Arrington, now performing the duties of Chief Information Officer at the Department of Defense, joins for her first media appearance since returning to the Pentagon. She shares insights on the cyber workforce, Zero Trust implementation, CMMC’s next phase, and the DIB’s evolving role in national security.

The Double-Edged Sword: Cyber Efficiency and Quantum Readiness

Daniel Kroese, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Palo Alto Networks outlines how AI-driven Security Operations Centers (SOCs) are slashing incident response times and changing the cybersecurity equation. He also discusses the looming threat of quantum computing and the importance of post-quantum cryptography and data protection.

3 Key Takeaways:

• AI-powered SOCs reduce cyber incident response times from days to minutes.

• The current bottleneck in cybersecurity is the legacy mindset in processing and triaging data.

• Quantum threats are real and imminent — adversaries are already harvesting data for future decryption.

Katie Arrington Returns: Driving Zero Trust, CMMC, and Cyber Culture at DoD

In her first media appearance since rejoining the Department of Defense, Katie Arrington, PTDO CIO, discusses her vision for Zero Trust as a cultural shift, not just a cybersecurity strategy. She recaps highlights from the 2025 Cyber Workforce Summit, shares updates on the CMMC program, and outlines how the DIB and commercial innovation are being integrated into DoD’s evolving IT and acquisition landscape.

3 Key Takeaways:

• Zero Trust is a cultural transformation, requiring alignment across leadership, policy, and acquisition.

• The CMMC program is moving forward as a key enabler of supply chain security, with strong support from DoD leadership.

• Integration of commercial innovation and DIB readiness is essential to flattening the “valley of death” in defense acquisition.