Solving the Hard Problems: Technology Innovation for Government Efficiency

Original broadcast 8/3/25

Presented by Carahsoft

This week on Fed Gov Today, two federal technology leaders share their visions for driving greater mission impact through smarter technology integration. Craig Abod, President of Carahsoft, explores how industry can help agencies better acquire and use the tools they already have, while Katie Arrington, Performing the Duties of the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Defense, outlines a bold, AI-enabled strategy for streamlining systems, modernizing cybersecurity practices, and preparing for full audit readiness. Together, these conversations provide a roadmap for how government and industry can work together to solve some of the hardest problems in federal IT.

Empowering Agencies to Maximize Tech Value

Craig Abod, President of Carahsoft, describes his company’s approach to helping government agencies not just acquire technology, but truly maximize its value. He emphasizes that many agencies already own sophisticated tools but use only a fraction of their capabilities. By focusing on education and awareness, Carahsoft helps agencies better understand what they have and how to use it more effectively. In addition to supporting existing platforms, Abod highlights the importance of onboarding emerging technology companies into the government ecosystem. Through partnerships with venture capital and private equity firms, Carahsoft introduces hundreds of innovative startups to the federal market each year, guiding them through the complexities of contracting and procurement. These efforts are amplified through mission-specific verticals—such as cybersecurity, DevSecOps, drones, and FedRAMP compliance—that help government buyers more easily discover and deploy integrated solutions. Abod also notes that solving today’s toughest challenges in AI, cybersecurity, and modernization requires deeper collaboration and smarter investment from both government and industry.

Key Takeaways

• Agencies often use only a small portion of the capabilities they already own; education is key to unlocking greater value.

• Carahsoft helps hundreds of emerging tech firms enter the federal space through strategic partnerships and mission-driven verticals.

• The hardest technology challenges—like full-scale AI adoption and cybersecurity—require focused investment and public-private collaboration.

Transforming the Department of Defense with AI and Cyber Reform

Katie Arrington, Performing the Duties of the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Defense, shares how the Pentagon is using artificial intelligence and policy reform to modernize operations and prepare for audit readiness by 2027. She explains that the department historically operated with over 1,800 different business systems—a massive inefficiency. AI and large language models are now being used to identify redundancies, align business rules, and promote interoperability, all with the goal of consolidating systems into a unified platform called Urbana. Already, 84 systems have been shut down this year, with a long-term goal of just two systems per service. Arrington credits this progress to a new culture of collaboration among leaders across the DoD, including the Comptroller, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, and CAPE, who are aligning efforts weekly. She’s also advancing reforms in cybersecurity, continuing to champion the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), and proposing new ways to help small businesses meet compliance—including a cybersecurity-focused SBA loan program. For Arrington, improving lethality and readiness while protecting the defense industrial base starts with smarter systems and scalable security.

Key Takeaways

• The DoD is using AI to collapse legacy business systems and create a unified, auditable enterprise.

• Weekly collaboration among DoD leadership is driving faster, more cohesive decision-making across functions.

• CMMC and NIST 800-171 compliance remain essential, and scalable solutions—including financial support—are key to bringing small businesses along.