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DOJ Appoints Shantrell Collier as CIO
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Shantrell Collier. The Department of Justice deputy chief information officer has been named CIO.

The Department of Justice has appointed Shantrell “Nikki” Collier, deputy chief information officer, as deputy assistant attorney general for information resources management and CIO, Nextgov/FCW reported Wednesday. 

What Led to the DOJ CIO Transition?

The leadership transition followed the departure of Melinda Rogers, who left her role as DOJ CIO at the end of May 2025.

Rogers announced in a LinkedIn post that her departure marked an “inflection point” in her life, as her twin sons prepared to leave for college. She said she planned to pursue a new milestone while maintaining the professional relationships she built during her time at the department.

Rogers joined DOJ in 2010 and served in several senior IT leadership roles, including deputy CIO and chief information security officer. During her tenure, she oversaw the development and release of the department’s fiscal year 2025–2027 IT strategic plan.

Who Is Shantrell Collier?

Collier has served as DOJ’s deputy CIO since January 2025. She served as acting CIO following Rogers’ departure in May 2025, according to the report.

According to her LinkedIn profile, she served as the chief of staff to the assistant attorney general of administration at the department from October 2022 to February 2025.

Before rejoining DOJ in 2022, this time in its Justice Management Division, she served as CIO of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

Earlier in her DOJ career, she served as acting deputy director of the service delivery staff and led the department’s Microsoft 365 migration, consolidating 120,000 email accounts across 23 systems. Women in Technology recognized her as an “Unsung Hero” in 2017.

Collier retired from the U.S. Army in 2015 as a sergeant major after 22 years of service.

She holds a doctor of business administration degree from Trident University International and maintains project management and IT Infrastructure Library 4 certifications.

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Former DHS IT Operations Leader Zeke Maldonado Named FEMA Acting CIO
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Zeke Maldonado. The former DHS IT operations executive director was appointed as acting CIO at FEMA.

Zeke Maldonado has been appointed acting chief information officer at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Former Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary and Chief Acquisition Officer Chris Cummiskey congratulated Maldonado on the appointment in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday.

In his new role, Maldonado is responsible for delivering enterprise information management, technology and cybersecurity services that support FEMA’s workforce and disaster response operations, Cummiskey said. The role also includes shaping the agency’s technology strategy, overseeing major IT acquisitions, and ensuring alignment with federal architecture and security requirements.

The new acting CIO will report to Shila Cooch, FEMA’s associate administrator for mission support.

Who Is Zeke Maldonado?

Before joining FEMA, Maldonado served as executive director for IT operations at DHS. In that capacity, he oversaw IT service delivery supporting approximately 15,000 personnel across multiple U.S. locations and managed a technical workforce of more than 400 federal employees and contractors.

He previously held the position of CIO and director of technology and data services for DHS’ intelligence and analysis directorate. In that role, he oversaw planning, budgeting and execution of IT architecture and operations supporting the department’s intelligence mission, including management of classified network environments.

What Is Maldonado’s Background in Naval Intelligence?

Earlier in his career, Maldonado spent over 18 years with the Office of Naval Intelligence. As command information officer and director of the technology and innovation directorate, he led enterprise IT, cybersecurity, cloud strategy and data science initiatives.

His previous roles at ONI include deputy CIO for information management and chief knowledge officer; deputy department head for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and division head for platforms engineering, modeling and signatures. Throughout this tenure, Maldonado managed broad technology strategies, oversaw scientific and technical intelligence programs, and led multidisciplinary engineering and analytical teams.

What Is Maldonado’s Private-Sector and Education Background?

Prior to his government career, Maldonado worked at BAE Systems as an electrical engineer, leading software and hardware design, development and integration efforts tied to naval radar and AN/UPX-24 systems.

He holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Naval Postgraduate School and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland.

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FAA Unveils ATLAS Challenge-Based Acquisition Effort to Modernize IT Portfolio
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Federal Aviation Administration seal. FAA launched the ATLAS challenge-based acquisition effort to modernize IT systems.

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched the Accelerated Transformation of Legacy Applications and Systems, or ATLAS, initiative as a challenge-based acquisition effort designed to modernize more than 200 applications and approximately 3,000 databases across its mission-support portfolio.

FAA Unveils ATLAS Challenge-Based Acquisition Effort to Modernize IT Portfolio

As federal agencies accelerate enterprise IT modernization and AI-driven transformation initiatives, leaders across government and industry are advancing the broader digital reform agenda. Save your seat at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 and join experts as they discuss enterprise IT reform, AI and other emerging technologies shaping mission delivery.

In a Feb. 17 notice posted on SAM.gov, the FAA said it expects to award one or more production contracts by Sept. 30, following a structured, downselect-driven evaluation process.

What Is the FAA ATLAS Effort?

The ATLAS initiative seeks to accelerate the rationalization, consolidation, modernization and sustainment of legacy and operational systems within the FAA’s application environment.

According to the statement of objectives, the agency is transitioning from a legacy sustainment model to an operating framework characterized by automated workflows, cloud-native architectures and artificial intelligence integration to meet the changing demands of aviation safety. The FAA stated that it seeks a strategic partnership to improve user experience, reduce technical debt and enhance security and resiliency.

The agency anticipates a 10-year period of performance, including options, for any resulting contract awards.

How Will the FAA Evaluate & Downselect ATLAS Participants?

The FAA structured ATLAS as a four-phase challenge-based acquisition under its Acquisition Management System.

Under the model, Phase 1 requires offerors to submit corporate experience documentation along with a concept paper outlining their technical approach. In Phase 2, the FAA will evaluate selected participants’ strategies for portfolio rationalization. Phase 3 will assess vendors’ ability to execute and demonstrate a modernization factory framework. Phase 4 may involve the issuance of a formal request for proposals and culminate in a contract award.

According to the announcement, the FAA will first rank offerors based on a self-scored corporate experience model and validate the top 10 submissions. Only those top-ranked vendors will proceed to concept paper evaluation. The agency stated it intends to invite approximately five companies into Phase 2, depending on the quality of responses.

The FAA indicated that technical importance increases in later phases, with Phase 3 execution weighted more heavily than earlier submissions. Final award decisions in Phase 4 will follow a best-value tradeoff in which technical factors are more important than price.

Phase 1 responses are due March 10

What Are the FAA ATLAS Program Objectives?

The FAA identified eight objectives for the ATLAS initiative: portfolio modernization and technical debt reduction; user experience; high-availability mission operations; accelerated value delivery via DevSecOps; enterprise data excellence and intelligent automation; proactive cybersecurity and compliance; program governance; and seamless service transition.

According to the SOO, the initiative calls for the use of AI and machine learning to accelerate code refactoring and application analysis; support data-driven decision-making; and enable intelligent automation, among other functions.

What Are Other FAA Modernization Initiatives?

In addition to the ATLAS initiative, the FAA has launched several other efforts to modernize key aviation systems. The agency introduced a vendor challenge to accelerate the replacement of its Traffic Flow Management System with a new platform.

In November, the agency issued a request for information on IT service providers to support its Configuration, Logistics and Maintenance Resource Solutions portfolio. It also sought industry feedback on a common automation platform that would give air traffic controllers access to flight data.

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AIA Calls for Funding Stability, Continued Acquisition Reforms in Letter to Congress
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AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning. Fanning penned a letter to Congress outlining AIA's legislative priorities for 2026

The Aerospace Industries Association has called for stable federal funding, acquisition reform, space investment and reauthorization of key programs across government.

In a letter to Congress published Wednesday, AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning, a Wash100 winner, urged lawmakers to advance key authorizations to support the aerospace and defense industrial base, which employs 2.2 million workers nationwide.

“As lawmakers return from recess, we are focused on advancing key legislative priorities for 2026: securing stable, predictable federal funding; modernizing defense and commercial systems; and reauthorizing the critical agencies that underpin our industry,” Fanning wrote.

“Congress must move these priorities forward to provide the certainty and direction our industry — and the nation — depend on,” he added.

AIA Calls for Funding Stability, Continued Acquisition Reforms in Letter to Congress

Leaders from across the Department of War, the Air Force and the Space Force will take the stage at the 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 30. The event will feature insightful keynote speeches and panel discussions where defense leaders will identify strategies and advanced technologies that warfighter need to remain ahead of adversaries. Get your tickets here.

What Are AIA’s 2026 Priorities?

In the letter, Fanning and the AIA urged Congress to avoid long-term continuing resolutions and instead pass appropriations for fiscal year 2027. 

Although the group commended changes enacted in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act to reduce bureaucracy, accelerate acquisition and lower barriers for doing business with the government, it also called for further defense acquisition reform that “would provide even greater benefit.”

AIA also called for the timely reauthorization of programs such as the Export-Import Bank, Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, and the Defense Production Act to sustain growth in the aerospace manufacturing sector.

Additionally, the associated urged Congress to reauthorize NASA and the passage of an FY2027 NDAA with expanded mission requirements for the U.S. Space Force and provides funding for the Golden Dome.

What Is AIA?

Founded in 1919, AIA has served as the voice of the aircraft, space and defense industries. The organization represents over 300 member companies and advocates for policies that strengthen national security, promote aviation safety and support a competitive industrial base.

In January, AIA outlined its 2026 space priorities focused on sustained funding for civil, commercial and national security space programs, regulatory modernization, and investment in resilient space infrastructure.

The association also recently expressed support for President Donald Trump’s executive order to accelerate defense contracting practices.

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DISA Aligns Acquisition Model With War Department Reform Push
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DISA logo. DISA updated its acquisition framework to align with DOW reforms.

The Defense Information Systems Agency has unveiled new guidance to accelerate its acquisition framework in response to the Department of War’s directive to speed capability delivery and reduce bureaucratic friction.

DISA said Wednesday the update reinforces reforms DISA began implementing over the past two years, particularly the shift to a portfolio acquisition executive, or PAE, structure designed to centralize governance and strengthen integration across programs.

Speaking at a recent industry event, DISA Acquisition Director Jason Martin noted that while this restructuring predates the department-wide mandate, it aligns with Secretary of War and two-time Wash100 Award winner Pete Hegseth’s focus on operational agility.

What Is Changing Under DISA’s Acquisition Model?

DISA’s approach centers on empowering PAEs with decision authority over integrated capability portfolios rather than individual programs. The model is intended to break down organizational silos and align accountability at the portfolio level.

According to Martin, the structure has already been applied to efforts such as the Joint Operational Edge–Coalition Environment prototype. “We were told in 90 days we would do JOE-CE. We prioritized, we moved resources around, and we are ready for Keen Edge. We are there now,” he continued.

Caroline Bean, PAE for services at DISA, said the agency is also encouraging earlier engagement with industry, expanded use of acquisition flexibilities such as other transaction authorities and greater acceptance of iterative prototyping.

How Does This Connect to Broader DISA Contract Efforts?

The portfolio-based structure complements other consolidation initiatives, including the Joint Enterprise License Agreement program, known as JELA, which seeks to reduce duplicative IT purchases across the department. DISA has established four consolidated JELAs and is scaling the program to further unify vendor terms and streamline procurement.

In parallel, the agency is applying lessons learned from the current Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability contract as it prepares its JWCC-Next acquisition strategy. John Hale, chief of product management and development at the Defense Information Systems Agency, indicated that the next iteration may expand access to ancillary cloud ecosystem services while avoiding overlap with the existing vehicle.

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Air Force, Northrop Grumman Reach Agreement to Expand B-21 Production by 25 Percent
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Kathy Warden, CEO of Northrop Grumman. Warden noted in a press release that Northrop is ready to produce B-21s faster

The Department of the Air Force has signed an agreement with Northrop Grumman to expand production of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber aircraft by 25 percent annually.

The agreement will apply $4.5 billion in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill, DAF said Monday.

“The strong performance of the B-21 program has our Northrop Grumman and Air Force team ready to accelerate production of this game-changing capability for our nation,” Kathy Warden, chair, president and CEO of Northrop Grumman and a 10-time Wash100 winner, stated in a company press release. “Northrop Grumman has invested more than $5 billion in digital engineering and manufacturing infrastructure, and we are ready to produce B-21 faster.”

DAF expects the first B-21 to arrive at the Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota by 2027.

Air Force, Northrop Grumman Reach Agreement to Expand B-21 Production by 25 Percent

Explore the advanced capabilities keeping airmen ahead of adversaries at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Air and Space Summit on July 31. Department of War and Air Force leaders will be present at the summit to discuss how industry can support American warfighters in the air and space domains. Register now to secure your seats.

What Is the B-21 Raider?

The B-21 Raider is a sixth-generation bomber designed to bypass air defenses and operate in contested environments.

Designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, the aircraft can strike targets anywhere in the world. Its open architecture allows for continuous upgrades, enabling the platform to adapt to evolving threats while sustaining readiness and strategic deterrence.

Troy Meink, secretary of the Air Force and a 2026 Wash100 Award recipient, described the B-21 as foundational the service’s long-range strike capability and strengthens deterrence.

“Accelerating production capacity now ensures we deliver operational capability to combatant commanders faster — strengthening our ability to outpace, deter, and, if necessary, defeat emerging threats,” he added.

How Many B-21s Will the Air Force Acquire?

The Air Force is targeting a fleet of 100 B-21 Raiders, The War Zone reported. However, in recent years, officials have expressed support for a larger fleet with up to 145 aircraft.

According to Aviation Week, Northrop has delivered two test aircraft to the Air Force. A third test aircraft is undergoing ground test, with two more currently in assembly.

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CISA Orders Federal Agencies to Mitigate Critical Cisco SD-WAN Threats
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CISA Acting Director Madhu Gottumukkala. CISA released emergency directives to agencies to mitigate Cisco SD-WAN threats.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has released Emergency Directive 26-03, Mitigate Vulnerabilities in Cisco SD-WAN Systems, along with Supplemental Direction ED 26-03, Hunt and Hardening Guidance for Cisco SD-WAN Systems, to address threat actors actively targeting federal networks leveraging designated Cisco systems and software.

CISA Orders Federal Agencies to Mitigate Critical Cisco SD-WAN Threats

The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 will examine how government and industry are responding to escalating global cyber threats similar to the attacks on Cisco SD-WAN Systems. Sign up now to join this important GovCon event!

What Prompted the 26-03 Directive?

CISA said Wednesday the identified flaws pose an unacceptable risk to federal civilian executive branch networks, prompting immediate remediation. The company’s forensic analysis, conducted in coordination with international partners, determined that the vulnerabilities could be exploited with limited complexity.

What Actions Must Agencies Take in Response to 26-03?

Agencies are required to create a comprehensive inventory of all affected Cisco SD-WAN assets, collect relevant system logs and virtual snapshots, and apply patches addressing CVE-2026-20127 and CVE-2022-20775. In addition, organizations should actively search their environments for signs of compromise and follow the security measures detailed in Cisco’s Catalyst SD-WAN Hardening Guide. The agency issued an alert accompanied by joint guidance titled the Cisco SD-WAN Threat Hunt Guide to help network defenders identify and respond to malicious activity.

“Operational disruptions create strain and uncertainty, give our adversaries unnecessary advantages, and forces our frontline cybersecurity experts to carry out critical work without pay. Based on collaboration with international partners and CISA’s forensic analysis, the ease with which these vulnerabilities can be exploited demands immediate action from all federal agencies,” said Madhu Gottumukkala, acting director of CISA.

Previous Cisco-Related Emergency Action

The directive follows earlier warnings about threats targeting Cisco systems. In September 2025, CISA issued an emergency directive warning of attackers exploiting vulnerabilities affecting Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances web services. The directive required organizations to identify all affected devices, collect forensic evidence, evaluate systems for signs of intrusion, disconnect unsupported hardware and update software to current supported releases.

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CMMC 2.0 for Small Businesses: Is It Worth It?
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Cybersecurity. A small defense contracting firm is frustrated by CMMC 2.0's high fees, excessive paperwork and long waits.
  • A small cyber firm that does business with the DOW feels pinched by CMMC 2.0’s high costs, excessive paperwork and long waits for third-party assessors
  • DOW contracts will soon require third-party certification and prime contractors and big opportunities like Golden Dome are already requiring them
  • Hear the latest developments in CMMC directly from top DOW and federal officials at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18!

A small cyber firm that does business with the Pentagon and the intelligence community is frustrated by the process for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification 2.0, specifically high costs, excessive paperwork and long waits for third-party assessors.

Angie Lienert, IntelliGenesis owner, president and CEO, told ExecutiveGov that she has spent $100,000 toward CMMC 2.0 Level 2 certification and expects to spend $180,000 to $200,000 to become fully CMMC-certified, not including updates nor additional assessments. She said CMMC 2.0’s excessive costs will eventually be passed down to the customers and that she had hoped for some sort of credit, discount or benefit in certification costs for small businesses.

What Is IntelliGenesis?

IntelliGenesis is a woman- and veteran-owned firm that has about 140 employees and revenues in the eight-figure range. It performs services such as cybersecurity and network operations, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and data science and analytics, among others.

CMMC 2.0 Level 2 mandates third-party certification starting Nov. 10, 2026, for all applicable Pentagon contracts. Jeremiah Jensen, IntelliGenesis chief operating officer and program manager, told ExecutiveGov that the company is struggling to find an available third-party assessor available because many other companies are also pursuing CMMC. In January, Jensen said the earliest IntelliGenesis could book a third-party assessor was March and, if that got postponed, October.

“Just trying to get on the schedule, and trying to push this through, and everything has been really, really staggering,” Jensen said.

Lienert feels the unavailability of third-party assessors also allows them to charge premium pricing for their services, which will also eventually get passed down to the customer and taxpayers. A mock CMMC Level 2 assessment, Lienert said, cost $40,000. If a company fails the assessment, they have to pay for another one.

Get the latest on CMMC from top DOW and federal officials at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18! Hear whether relief is coming for small businesses or whether CMMC will expand throughout the federal government. Secure your seat today!

What Is CMMC?

CMMC is a Department of War effort that started in the first Trump administration. It seeks to strengthen the DOW’s industrial base cybersecurity and better protect DOW information as it faces increasingly frequent and complex cyber attacks. CMMC assesses defense contractor compliance with existing safeguarding requirements for federal contract information and controlled unclassified information.

DOW officially launched a three-year rollout of CMMC 2.0 cybersecurity requirements on Nov. 10, 2025. Contracting officials will now, in what’s called Phase 1, include new CMMC 2.0 requirements in new solicitations and contracts for the basic safeguarding of FCI. Companies must self-assess and submit scores in the Supplier Performance Risk System.

Phase 2, which begins Nov. 10, 2026, will require either a self-assessment or an independent assessment by an authorized CMMC third-party assessment organization every three years, depending on the type of information involved. Phase 3, where some solicitations will require Level 3 certification, begins on Nov. 10, 2027.

Every contractor will have to be fully compliant by the fourth year, or Nov. 10, 2028.

Deltek’s 2025 Clarity Government Contracting Industry Study provides insights to how businesses are spending money preparing for CMMC. The top three cost-drivers in CMMC, according to survey respondents, are investing in new cybersecurity tools and technologies; infrastructure upgrades, such as hardware or software; and developing and documenting compliance policies and procedures. Thirty-six percent of respondents said they were hiring external CMMC consultants.

Jensen described the paperwork required for CMMC Level 2 as staggering. The company, he said, has already processed 50 documents as part of certification. IntelliGenesis also brought in a consultant, at additional cost, to help with the more technical questions because third-party assessors are not allowed to provide guidance or advice.

Lienert told her team to wait as long as possible to do CMMC Level 2 to see if the DOW would provide any sort of sliding scale for small businesses. Once she realized that help wasn’t coming, she moved forward.

Additionally, Lienert said larger companies are already forcing smaller businesses like hers to comply with CMMC ahead of the DOW’s timelines. Small businesses, she said, could find loopholes around the CMMC process by changing their business structure to stop providing services and only provide products.

If the customer wants the product, she said, there might not be any CMMC associated with it.

“Then push is going to come to shove, and we’ll see which way wins,” Lienert said.

The DOW and Katie Arrington, the Wash100 Award-winning former Pentagon chief information officer, now CIO for IonQ and considered the lead architect of CMMC, declined to comment for this article.

Are you a small business laboring through CMMC? Then you cannot miss the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18! Hear how leading contractors are securing their AI systems to secure future DOW business. Learn of new business opportunities with AI and cybersecurity. Sign up today!

Deltek Insights on Small Businesses and CMMC Level 2

An expert on cybersecurity and the CMMC process was not surprised to hear IntelliGenesis’ concerns. Michael Greenman, Deltek senior product marketing manager, told ExecutiveGov that CMMC’s development has had a lot of starts and stops, and opponents and proponents, along the way before implementation.

Greenman said many businesses were skeptical, or even doubtful, that CMMC would get implemented. The market, he said, may have also been misled as to CMMC’s importance, when it would be implemented and how quickly it would be required.

But Greenman said businesses who started the CMMC process early are being rewarded. Firms that started the compliance process earlier had better available third-party assessors and, thus, lower fees.

Additionally, Greenman said CMMC serves a competitive differentiator, as it’s not a bad thing to have extra security, credentials and receipts.

“You have gone through this extra effort to demonstrate to your customer, whether the federal government or a prime contractor, that you have the security, and proof,” Greenman said. “That’s when the lights flicked [on] for that group of typically highly-intelligent, highly-motivated individuals.”

Is CMMC Required for Golden Dome?

Yes, CMMC is required for the first two Golden Dome homeland missile defense system  contract vehicles. The Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense, or SHIELD, both require CMMC Level 2, and, in some cases, Level 3, to do business, Greenman said this caught many small businesses by surprise.

Golden Dome is an especially lucrative program. SHIELD is potentially worth $151 billion over 10 years. Golden Dome, overall, is estimated to cost at least $252 billion over 20 years. The White House has already provided a $25 billion down payment for Golden Dome.

Greenman doesn’t believe the DOW should have provided special considerations, or a sliding scale, for small businesses in CMMC. Data has to be protected, he said, regardless of how cheap or expensive it can be. Greenman said small business CMMC certification is important because their security is weaker than security used by the DOW, and they’re targeted for data breaches.

“They’re not going to try to attack the Pentagon,” Greenman said. “That data needs securing because our warfighters are in danger and our national security is in danger now more than ever.”

Prime Contractors Wield Influence in CMMC Level 2

Greenman said prime contractors have the most effective leverage in CMMC to garner compliance from smaller businesses. He said they have published communication putting subcontractors and small businesses on notice that they are taking CMMC seriously.

Primes aren’t going to risk their business, Greenman said, to uncertified supply chain members because the primes are both in positions of responsibility and enforcement.

“They hold the authority,” Greenman said. “They hold the responsibility and ability to kind of command and demand compliance.”

Could the US Government Expand CMMC?

The federal government could also expand CMMC to other agencies. Greenman said the General Services Administration is starting to put similar language in its contracts. There could also be a top level Federal Acquisition Regulation rule implemented in 2026, he said, that will require all agencies to mandate National Institute of Standards and Technology SP 800-171, likely revision three, as a minimum standard requirement for all contracts.

Of course, how it would be enforced is another open question, he said.

CMMC 2.0 for Small Businesses: Is It Worth It?
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Kim Brandt: CMS Saves $2B Using AI to Combat Fraud, Prevent Contract Duplication
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Kim Brandt. The CMS deputy administrator and COO talked about the use of AI to strengthen fraud detection.

Kim Brandt, deputy administrator and chief operating officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said CMS has saved $2 billion since March 2025 by using artificial intelligence to strengthen fraud detection and contract oversight, Nextgov/FCW reported Tuesday.

Kim Brandt: CMS Saves $2B Using AI to Combat Fraud, Prevent Contract Duplication

As agencies report measurable outcomes from AI initiatives, interest continues to grow across government and industry in how emerging technologies are being applied to mission delivery. Book your seat at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18 and take part in the conversation with federal and industry leaders on the evolving role of AI across the public sector.

How Does CMS Leverage AI to Combat Fraud?

Brandt said CMS uses what she described as a “Netflix-type algorithm” that analyzes existing data to identify potentially high-risk applicants. The system flags those entities for internal monitoring, but does not block participation in CMS programs.

“Within the first year [of using AI], to be able to get rid of 90 percent of some of these potentially bad actors, it’s a huge thing for us,” she said at the Nextgov/FCW Fed Tech Priorities Summit on Feb. 18. “Our hope is that … in this next year, as we implement that even more widely, it’s going to be a huge saver for us.”

How Does CMS Prevent Contract Duplication Using AI?

CMS has also implemented an internal AI tool to compare existing contracts and identify and prevent potential duplication.

“It really gives us the ability to use historical knowledge to be able to make smart financial decisions about how we move forward on the contracts,” Brandt said of the AI tool. “The team has only been using this for a few months now [and] it’s already been extremely effective. They think it saved us maybe the better part of several hundred million [dollars] already.”

What Are the Federal Efforts to Advance AI in Healthcare?

Federal agencies and departments are taking a series of steps to integrate AI into healthcare delivery, oversight and clinical support.

CMS has launched an AI research challenge to address fraudulent activities within the Medicare program. The Department of Veterans Affairs has also released an AI inventory outlining use cases tied to suicide prevention initiatives and electronic health record modernization efforts.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a request for information to gather feedback on accelerating AI adoption in clinical settings, including regulatory and reimbursement considerations. HHS also launched a department-wide AI strategy to advance the use of the technology in improving healthcare delivery, public health, human services, biomedical research and agency operations.

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Navy Designates GenAI.mil as Enterprise IT Service for CUI, IL5 Generative AI
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Department of the Navy seal. DON designated GenAI.mil as its enterprise IT service for CUI and IL5 generative AI use.

The Department of the Navy has officially designated GenAI.mil as its enterprise IT service for controlled unclassified information, or CUI, and Impact Level 5 generative artificial intelligence use.

Navy Designates GenAI.mil as Enterprise IT Service for CUI, IL5 Generative AIAs the Navy formalizes its enterprise approach to generative AI with the GenAI.mil designation, interest in how agencies structure and govern AI adoption continues to grow. Reserve your seat at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18 and stay informed on the developments shaping AI in the public sector.

The DON said Tuesday that the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition; principal military deputy; and the DON chief information officer issued a memorandum on Jan. 28, directing mission owners and all DON users to transition to GenAI.mil as the mandated generative AI platform.

What Is the DON Policy on GenAI.mil?

Under the policy directive, all DON organizations and commands must transition to GenAI.mil no later than April 30.

The memorandum requires DON commands and organizations to report all current and planned generative AI capabilities for classified and unclassified systems to the DON CIO-established GenAI Task Force within 15 days of the memo’s publication. The DON CIO will submit a consolidated report to the secretary of the Navy.

Within 45 days of the memo’s release, capability owners will receive notification to start consolidation efforts in alignment with the DON Cattle Drive initiative. The Navy will update the memo semiannually to reflect additional capabilities and enhancements to the enterprise AI service.

The memo states that whlie GenAI.mil is certified at IL5 and authorized to process CUI, the use of protected health information and personally identifiable information on the platform is prohibited.

What Is GenAI.mil?

Launched in December, GenAI.mil is the Department of War’s enterprise AI platform designed to provide a unified environment for mission-ready AI capabilities. According to DON, it provides a conversational chat interface for authorized users and supports file uploads, including PDF, DOCX, TXT, PPTX and image formats.

The platform offers Retrieval Augmented Generation, enabling users to generate responses grounded in uploaded documents. It also provides secure web grounding, deep research capabilities and persistent chat histories that allow users to organize and retain conversations.

The DON said GenAI.mil enables personnel to use commercial AI tools for analysis, productivity and decision-making while maintaining strict controls to protect data and ensure compliance with DOW policies. The platform initially rolled out with Google’s Gemini for Government as one of its first frontier AI tools and later expanded to include xAI for Government.

In early February, the DOW partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into GenAI.mil to expand access to large language models for personnel across the department.

Adoption of GenAI.mil has expanded across the military services. The Air Force and Space Force have adopted GenAI.mil, while the U.S. Marine Corps designated GenAI.mil as its enterprise AI platform.

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