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Civilian/Executive Moves/News
VA Forms Commission to Select Under Secretary for Benefits Candidates
by Elodie Collins
Published on January 16, 2026
The Department of Veterans Affairs' logo. VA is searching for candidates to lead the Veterans Benefits Administration.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched its search for candidates for the under secretary for benefits, or USB, position with the establishment of a commission led by VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence.

The USB will oversee the Veterans Benefits Administration and will be responsible for the timely delivery of benefits and services to veterans and their loved ones, the VA said Thursday. 

VA Forms Commission to Select Under Secretary for Benefits Candidates

The modernization of healthcare systems to accelerate the delivery of benefits and care is one of the key topics at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit on Feb. 12. The GovCon networking event is open to new businesses offering innovative healthcare technologies and established companies that want to deepen their partnership with government agencies, such as the VA. Secure your tickets today.

Table of Contents

  • How Is the Under Secretary for Benefits Appointed?
  • What Is VBA?

How Is the Under Secretary for Benefits Appointed?

The commission will present a list of candidates that President Donald Trump can nominate as USB. 

Once the president has made his pick, the White House will send a notification to the Senate committee in charge of the nomination process, which will include a confirmation hearing and a Senate vote. 

VBA has been without a permanent leader since January 2025, when Josh Jacobs stepped down from the USB role following the change of administration. 

Trump previously nominated Karen Brazell, a U.S. Army veteran and former senior adviser to VA Secretary Doug Collins, to lead VBA, but she withdrew her nomination in October for “personal reasons,” Politico reported.

What Is VBA?

VBA is the VA’s arm that ensures eligible beneficiaries have access to resources and various support tied to military service and post-service needs.

In January 2025, the agency partnered with Leidos QTC Health Services to enhance the medical disability examination services, including claimant appointments, medical records management and customer satisfaction evaluations, in Regions 1 through 4.

Artificial Intelligence/DoD/News
New Pentagon CDAO Urges Industry to Deliver Faster, More Innovative AI Offerings in Executive Mosaic Video
by Kristen Smith
Published on January 16, 2026
Cameron Stanley. The new CDAO shares how industry can help the Pentagon advance its AI strategy in an Executive Mosaic video.

Cameron Stanley, who assumed the role of chief digital and artificial intelligence officer at the Department of War on Monday, is urging industry partners to respond more aggressively as the Pentagon moves into the next phase of its artificial intelligence strategy. 

New Pentagon CDAO Urges Industry to Deliver Faster, More Innovative AI Offerings in Executive Mosaic Video

The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit on March 18 brings together federal, defense and GovCon leaders to examine how AI is moving from experimentation to mission use. Through keynotes and practitioner-led panels, the event will explore real-world implementation, integration with legacy systems and the challenges of scaling AI across government environments. Register now!

In a video recorded for Executive Mosaic at a 4×24 Leadership Program dinner held earlier this week, Stanley emphasized that the department is seeking not only innovative ideas but also new ways to execute and deliver technologies at speed as AI adoption accelerates across defense missions.

Stanley’s remarks come as the Pentagon rolls out its updated AI strategy and follow a recent speech by War Secretary and Wash100 Award recipient Pete Hegseth outlining the department’s priorities for innovation and emerging technology.

Table of Contents

  • What Is Industry’s Role in the Pentagon’s AI Push?
  • What Is the New CDAO Asking of Industry Beyond OTAs?
  • Who Is Cameron Stanley?
  • What Is the 4×24 Leadership Program?

What Is Industry’s Role in the Pentagon’s AI Push?

Stanley began by pointing to recent policy and strategy announcements, calling on industry to step up as the department looks to translate vision into operational capability.

“The AI strategy has just been released as well as the next phase of innovation that you heard in the secretary’s speech down at SpaceX,” Stanley said. “I would just like to focus attention on the need for industry to step up across the board.”

He stressed that the Department of War is looking broadly across the market for ideas to address a range of challenges.

“We’re going to need solutions that solve a lot of potential problems,” Stanley said. “As the secretary said, we are looking for new innovative ideas as well as new, innovative approaches to solving those problems.”

What Is the New CDAO Asking of Industry Beyond OTAs?

Stanley also addressed how the Pentagon plans to engage companies to accelerate delivery timelines, highlighting the role of alternative contracting pathways alongside expectations for improved execution.

“Unique contracting aspects like OTAs and things like that will definitely help us get to some of those companies,” he said.

But contracting flexibility alone, Stanley added, will not be enough. He underscored the importance of how technologies are executed once selected.

“We’re also looking for creativity on the execution side to help us actually deliver those solutions faster, better and more effectively than we have previously.”    

Who Is Cameron Stanley?

As the new CDAO, Stanley is responsible for advancing the Department of War’s adoption of data, analytics and AI to support decision advantage.

Before joining the Pentagon, he served as national security digital transformation lead at Amazon Web Services. Earlier in his career, Stanley was the chief data officer in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security and led the Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team, known as Project Maven.

A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Stanley also held a technology advisory role at U.S. Southern Command and served as chief of the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization’s Technology Strategy Division.

What Is the 4×24 Leadership Program?

Executive Mosaic’s 4×24 Leadership Program is an application-based GovCon community designed to connect senior executives with federal leaders through high-level engagement and dialogue.

The program convenes industry participants through monthly summits, executive dinners and year-round interaction across Executive Mosaic’s media platforms, supporting insight-sharing, relationship-building and mission alignment.

If you’re interested in the joining the program, reach out to the EM team today!

Civilian/News
Senate Passes FY 2026 Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations Bill
by Miles Jamison
Published on January 16, 2026
US Senate seal. The U.S. Senate has passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill.

The U.S. Senate has passed the fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Act by a bipartisan vote of 82-15.

The bill, which cleared the House of Representatives by a vote of 397-28, now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law, the Committee on Appropriations said Thursday.

Table of Contents

  • What Is the FY 2026 CJS Appropriations Bill?
  • What Does the CJS Appropriations Act Invest In?

What Is the FY 2026 CJS Appropriations Bill?

The FY 2026 CJS Appropriations Act allocates funding for key national priorities, including federal law enforcement, scientific research and economic development. It includes $78 billion in discretionary funding, with $71.4 billion for non-defense programs and $6.6 billion for defense funding. Senate appropriators said the bill aims to support public safety, competitiveness and research while making targeted spending reductions.

What Does the CJS Appropriations Act Invest In?

The bill makes significant investments to strengthen U.S. economic competitiveness and innovation by strengthening trade promotion, exports and support for American businesses to compete globally. It funds early preparations for the 2030 Census and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s efforts to replace aging weather satellites and enhance the National Weather Service workforce.

The measure provides funds for the U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in their efforts against violent crime, fentanyl distribution, and drug trafficking, respectively. It also increases resources for crime victims and Violence Against Women Act programs.

The legislation also reinforces U.S. capabilities in science and space. It invests in the National Science Foundation to support research, regional innovation and critical scientific infrastructure nationwide. The bill also allocates funding for NASA to advance lunar and future Mars exploration and to expand Earth and space science missions. Aside from restoring funding for the agency’s science programs, the measure also rejects proposed cuts, SpaceNews reported.

Executive Moves/News
Former CISA Director Jen Easterly Joins RSA Conference as CEO
by Elodie Collins
Published on January 16, 2026
Jen Easterly, CEO of RSA Conference. Easterly previously served as director of CISA

RSA Conference has named Jen Easterly, former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and a three-time Wash100 winner, as its new CEO.

Table of Contents

  • What Are Jen Easterly’s Responsibilities as RSAC CEO?
  • Who Is Jen Easterly?

What Are Jen Easterly’s Responsibilities as RSAC CEO?

RSAC said Wednesday that Easterly will guide its global portfolio, including its flagship conference in San Francisco, California, happening in March. The conference features speakers and exhibitors from across the cybersecurity and technology markets.

Former CISA Director Jen Easterly Joins RSA Conference as CEO

Join key government and industry cyber leaders and experts at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 to explore the threats targeting American systems. The event will feature insightful keynote speeches and panel discussions on the most pressing cyber-related issues and networking sessions to create lasting partnerships. Grab your tickets today.

She will also oversee the organization’s Innovation Sandbox startup competition and its professional membership platform. 

Additionally, as CEO, Easterly said she will also lead RSAC’s international expansion and build new partnerships around the world. 

“RSAC is not just a conference—it’s the home of the global cybersecurity community,” she stated.

“We’re at a pivotal moment where cybersecurity and AI have become inseparable, and the world needs a trusted platform to bring together the people, ideas, and technologies that will shape the next decade,” she added.

Who Is Jen Easterly?

Easterly has over three decades of leadership experience across government, military and the private sector. 

During her time at CISA, she championed secure-by-design, a cybersecurity principle that integrates security across all phases of the product’s development lifecycle. The agency, under her leadership, introduced the Secure by Design pledge, which encouraged signees to adopt multi-factor authentication and publish a vulnerability disclosure policy. 

Before leading CISA, Easterly held senior positions at the National Security Agency, where she helped stand up U.S. Cyber Command. 

A U.S. Army veteran, she has also served in advisory roles with the White House and led military operations overseas.

In the private sector, Easterly served as head of firm resilience and global head of the Cybersecurity Fusion Center at Morgan Stanley. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is currently a visiting fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford.

Civilian/Industry News/News
SBA Modernizes SBIC Program With Final Rule
by Jane Edwards
Published on January 15, 2026
Kelly Loeffler. The SBA administrator commented on a final rule modernizing the Small Business Investment Company program.

The Small Business Administration has published a final rule that seeks to modernize the Small Business Investment Company, or SBIC, program to drive private capital investment in critical industries.

SBA said Wednesday the final rule, which will take effect Feb. 2, eliminates certain eligibility requirements for SBIC license applications seeking access to the Expedited Subsequent Fund Evaluation Process and reduces regulatory burdens by removing obsolete provisions and improving terms and conditions that help advance SBIC investments.

According to the agency, the final rule ensures that the SBIC program remains a strong platform for funding small businesses operating in manufacturing, energy, food production and other critical industries.

“By modernizing decades-old regulations, this final rule strengthens our public-private partnership and ensures capital can flow more efficiently to qualified emerging growth companies ranging from startups to manufacturers who are powering innovation, strengthening critical supply chains, and securing America’s industrial future by building today,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.

Table of Contents

  • What Does SBIC Mean?
  • What Were the Previous SBIC Initiatives?

What Does SBIC Mean?

SBIC is a public-private partnership program that aims to stimulate the flow of private equity capital and long-term debt financing into U.S. small businesses to support expansion and modernization efforts.

Through the SBIC program, SBA supports small businesses by licensing and providing capital to professionally managed private equity and debt funds. SBA capital is provided as a government-guaranteed loan that matches privately raised capital. Combined with private investment, this financing expands access to capital for qualifying U.S. small businesses and startups and can improve risk-adjusted returns for investors. 

In fiscal year 2025, the program recorded $53 billion in combined private capital and SBA leverage, up from $46 billion in FY 2024.

What Were the Previous SBIC Initiatives?

SBA previously implemented a series of initiatives to strengthen and expand the SBIC program. 

In 2023, the SBA finalized the SBIC Investment Diversification and Growth Rule to increase access and diversify funding for small businesses and startups in underserved communities. 

In January 2025, the Pentagon and SBA published the names of 18 approved Green Light funds for the SBIC Critical Technologies Initiative, which aims to strengthen national and economic security by attracting and scaling private investment into critical technology areas and component-level technologies and production processes.

Cybersecurity/DoD/News
Bipartisan Senate Bill to Direct Pentagon to Develop Cyber Workforce Strategy
by Jane Edwards
Published on January 15, 2026
Military cyber workforce. A bipartisan Senate bill would direct the Pentagon to develop a cybersecurity workforce strategy.

Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., have proposed a bill that would require the Department of War to develop a cybersecurity workforce strategy.

Bipartisan Senate Bill to Direct Pentagon to Develop Cyber Workforce Strategy

As lawmakers push for a more coordinated Pentagon cyber workforce strategy, collaboration across government and industry remains essential to strengthening national cyber capabilities. The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit will bring together leaders shaping the cyber mission across the federal landscape on May 21. Register today to connect with the broader cyber community and stay informed about developments shaping the future of cybersecurity.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee said Wednesday the proposed Department of Defense Comprehensive Cyber Workforce Strategy Act aims to prioritize the recruitment and retention of cybersecurity professionals to protect federal networks from foreign adversaries and evolving cyberthreats.

“This bipartisan, commonsense bill will ensure that we have the highly skilled experts we need in place to protect against ever-evolving cybersecurity threats,” said Peters.

Table of Contents

  • What Are the Provisions of the Senate DOW Cyber Workforce Strategy Bill?
  • What Steps Is the Pentagon Taking to Advance Cyber Workforce Development?

What Are the Provisions of the Senate DOW Cyber Workforce Strategy Bill?

According to Federal News Network, the proposed measure would require the Pentagon to submit a report on its cyber workforce strategy by the end of January 2027.

The bill calls for the department to perform a detailed analysis of the Defense Cyber Workforce Framework, including its implementation efforts, goals and milestones, as well as identify any problems or issues with regard to the framework’s implementation.

Under the legislation, the Pentagon should explore alternative personnel models; leverage talent management authorities used by other agencies; assess the use of commercial tools for tracking workforce certifications and qualifications; and work with universities and academic centers of excellence to improve talent acquisition and workforce development, according to FNN.

What Steps Is the Pentagon Taking to Advance Cyber Workforce Development?

In June 2025, Mark Gorak, Director of the department’s Cyber Academic Engagement Office, emphasized the need to expand the DOW’s cybersecurity workforce and provided updates on the CyberSkills2Work program at an event in Washington.

Gorak also highlighted the five initiatives that the DOW chief information officer is advancing to establish a “world-class” cyber workforce: qualifying personnel; mature, skills-based hiring; increasing certification and training opportunities; enhancing cyber workforce initiatives and pay flexibilities; and recognizing and addressing resource limitations.

DoD/News
University of Arizona, Precise Systems Team Up for $151B SHIELD Contract Vehicle
by Elodie Collins
Published on January 15, 2026
Golden Dome missile system. The University of Arizona and Precise Systems will compete for Golden Dome contracts

The University of Arizona has joined a team led by Maryland-headquartered defense technology company Precise Systems to compete for task orders under the Missile Defense Agency’s $151 billion Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense, or SHIELD, contract vehicle.

The university said Wednesday that its participation in SHIELD, which supports the establishment of the Golden Dome multi-layer missile defense system, aligns with the U of A Office of Research and Partnerships’ national defense focus.

University of Arizona, Precise Systems Team Up for $151B SHIELD Contract Vehicle

Be among the first to learn about opportunities related to the Golden Dome and other technology initiatives at the Department of War by registering for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29. The highly anticipated GovCon event will have keynote speeches and panel discussions featuring Pentagon leaders and industry innovators, including a keynote from the Missile Defense Agency’s Warren O’Donnell. Get your tickets today.

“At the University of Arizona, we view national security as one of the grand challenges of our time and a call to action for public research universities,” Tomas Diaz de la Rubia, the university’s senior vice president for research and partnerships.

“Partnerships like this one with Precise Systems are essential, as they enable us to connect our expertise in space science and satellite systems, hypersonics, quantum technologies and cybersecurity with mission needs to succeed in an increasingly complex global landscape,” Diaz de la Rubia continued.

Table of Contents

  • What Capabilities Will the University of Arizona Offer to the Golden Dome?
  • What Is Precise Systems’ Role in the SHIELD Contract?

What Capabilities Will the University of Arizona Offer to the Golden Dome?

The U of A offers its expertise in space sciences to the program. The university said it is home to experts in directed energy, optical sciences, and spectrum and information dominance.

It has also launched multiple projects to support secure communications, critical infrastructure, military readiness and economic resilience.

What Is Precise Systems’ Role in the SHIELD Contract?

Precise Systems, a Bluestone Investment Partners portfolio company, is one of the companies named in the second tranche of SHIELD awards in November. Other awardees include Lockheed Martin, Leidos, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, CGI Federal and General Dynamics Information Technology.

Cybersecurity/News
CISA, NCSC-UK, FBI Release OT Secure Connectivity Guidance
by Miles Jamison
Published on January 15, 2026
CISA's Nick Andersen. CISA, NCSC-UK and the FBI have released Secure Connectivity Principles for Operational Technology.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, in collaboration with UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, or NCSC-UK, the FBI and international partners, has released Secure Connectivity Principles for Operational Technology.

CISA, NCSC-UK, FBI Release OT Secure Connectivity Guidance

As cyber threats intensify and the DOW’s 2027 zero-trust deadline approaches, join government and industry cyber leaders at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Cyber Summit on May 21 to assess agency readiness, share best practices and build critical partnerships. Register now to attend.

Table of Contents

  • What Is the Joint Guidance For?
  • Why Is OT Connectivity a Growing Concern?

What Is the Joint Guidance For?

The NCSC-UK-led guidance provides organizations with practical direction on addressing insecure connectivity and safeguarding operational technology environments from cyber risks, including nation-state-sponsored activity, CISA said Wednesday.

The joint guide outlines clear goals to help owners and operators design and operate secure connectivity within their operational technology, or OT, environments. As CISA’s Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity Nick Andersen noted, the guidance helps safeguard critical infrastructure against cyber threats and highlights the agency’s focus on collaborating with U.S. and international partners to deliver timely, actionable cybersecurity guidance.

“Together with our partners, CISA also urges OT device manufacturers and integrators to embrace secure-by-design principles because building security in from the start is the most effective way to reduce risk and safeguard the nation’s vital systems,” said Andersen.

Why Is OT Connectivity a Growing Concern?

As OT networks become more interconnected, organizations gain capabilities such as real-time analytics, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance. They also face greater exposure to cyber threats, which can potentially result in physical, environmental, or service-level impacts.

DoD/Government Technology/News
DARPA RACER Program Nears End After Army Autonomy Tests
by Kristen Smith
Published on January 15, 2026
DARPA logo. DARPA's RACER program is nearing completion following Army demonstrations.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is nearing the conclusion of its Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency, or RACER, program, marking a milestone in the evolution of off-road autonomous ground systems for military use.

Launched in 2021, RACER was designed to move beyond single-purpose robotic vehicles and deliver a reusable autonomy stack that can be applied across multiple ground platforms, DARPA said Wednesday. As the program wraps up, recent Army demonstrations indicate the technology is ready to transition from the experimentation phase into operational use.

DARPA RACER Program Nears End After Army Autonomy Tests

DARPA serves as the Department of War’s central research and development organization. Join the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29 to learn from top defense leaders, researchers and innovators about the technologies revolutionizing the future of warfare.

Table of Contents

  • What Capabilities Did RACER Demonstrate?
  • Why Is RACER’s Autonomy Architecture Significant?
  • What Comes Next After RACER?

What Capabilities Did RACER Demonstrate?

In late 2025, U.S. Army units used RACER platforms during live demonstrations to validate autonomous mobility in contested and GPS-denied environments. At Fort Hood, Texas, the Army’s 36th Engineer Brigade integrated a Carnegie Robotics-built RACER Heavy Platform with a mine-clearing line charge to support combat breaching operations, illustrating how autonomy could reduce risk to soldiers during high-threat missions.

In a separate exercise at the National Training Center, soldiers from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed RACER Fleet Vehicles for autonomous long-range reconnaissance. By utilizing these Polaris RAZR-based systems, which carry intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance payloads, the Army could conduct deep-penetration missions without the need for human scouts. The RACER platform operates with diminished reliance on GPS and pre-programmed routing.

Why Is RACER’s Autonomy Architecture Significant?

According to DARPA, RACER’s most important advancement lies in its perception and adaptation architecture. Unlike earlier autonomous systems that required weeks of retraining when moved to new terrain, RACER platforms can adapt to unfamiliar environments in roughly a day.

The system uses predictive reasoning to anticipate terrain and adjust behavior in uncertain conditions, enabling higher speeds and safer operation in complex off-road settings. DARPA validated this capability during its final RACER experiment at Fort Irwin, California, concluding years of testing with military partners.

What Comes Next After RACER?

Although the program is coming to an end, DARPA expects its impact to continue. RACER has already contributed to the emergence of new companies focused on off-road autonomy, including Field AI and Overland AI. The autonomy stack developed under the program is considered transferable to commercial sectors such as agriculture, construction, mining and transportation.

“It’s time for both military users and private investors to recognize the transformative potential of RACER and embrace a future where autonomous systems are not just a possibility, but a reliable and integral part of our world.” said Stuart Young, DARPA RACER program manager.

Artificial Intelligence/Government Cloud/Healthcare IT/News
How AI & Cloud Are Reshaping Federal Healthcare—From Battlefield Care to Biomedical Research
by Elodie Collins
Published on January 15, 2026
AI and cloud are transforming how federal agencies are performing healthcare services.

Artificial intelligence and cloud technologies are becoming increasingly more prevalent across government as federal agencies pursue modernization initiatives. 

A Government Accountability Office report published in July found that AI use across 11 federal agencies increased from 571 to 1,110 instances from 2023 to 2024, with generative AI use in government also growing from 32 to 282 usage cases in the same period.

Cloud migration from legacy systems has also been a long-time priority across government. Data from The Global Statistics revealed that federal civilian agencies invested $8.3 billion in cloud computing initiatives in fiscal 2025. For comparison, the same agencies spent $4.4 billion in cloud products and services in 2020. 

For this article, we dove deep into cloud and AI use cases in healthcare across the government. 

How AI & Cloud Are Reshaping Federal Healthcare—From Battlefield Care to Biomedical Research

The Potomac Officers Club is hosting a panel on cloud and AI in healthcare featuring leaders from government and industry at the 2025 Healthcare Summit on Feb. 12 (rescheduled due to the fall’s government shutdown). The event will convene government and industry leaders to examine the future of healthcare technology. Get your tickets today.

Table of Contents

  • How Can Cloud, AI Improve Organizational Efficiency?
  • How Does Advanced Tech Improve American Healthcare Outcomes?
  • What Are the Roles Cloud & AI Play in Biomedical Research?
  • Can AI Stop Fraud?

How Can Cloud, AI Improve Organizational Efficiency?

Health agencies are looking to cloud and AI to reduce routine tasks, simplify workloads and accelerate mission execution. 

For instance, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ partnership with cloud company Oracle to modernize its electronic healthcare record system is intended to provide a secure and interoperable medical record system, allowing healthcare professionals across federal and commercial partners to share data and coordinate care. 

Meanwhile, General Dynamics Information Technology is one of the companies providing the government with AI tools to bolster the productivity of the federal workforce. The company is utilizing AI and automation to improve benefits coordination, digital imaging, secondary payer assessment and debt determination, waivers and appeals, data management, and debt collection for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center.

Martin Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, highlighted the potential of AI to improve efficiency when he announced in May an agency-wide rollout of the technology to support scientific reviewers. 

“The agency-wide deployment of these capabilities holds tremendous promise in accelerating the review time for new therapies,” Makary said at the time. 

“The opportunity to reduce tasks that once took days to just minutes is too important to delay,” he added.

How Does Advanced Tech Improve American Healthcare Outcomes?

Many agencies are exploring AI to improve patient care, especially because of the technology’s capability to process large volumes of data and generate insights. 

Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a report by FedScoop in September that OpenAI’s ChatGPT can “promote rigorous science, radical transparency and robust good health.” O’Neill added that ChatGPT has received an authority to operate, or ATO, while OpenAI has achieved Federal Information Security Management Act moderate level certification. 

The Defense Health Agency also wants AI deployed in the Military Health System, or MHS, a program providing virtual health care capabilities on the battlefield. 

Stephen Ferrera, acting assistant secretary for health affairs for the Department of War, said on a Federal News Network podcast that AI can serve as a force multiplier for field personnel. 

“We can have specialists, whether they’re trauma specialists, intensivists, surgeons — you name it — be able to, in real time, help guide people that are on the ground at the front line,” he shared. 

One potential use of AI in healthcare is to monitor patient conditions in real time and generate informed clinical support to a battlefield provider. 

Jesus Caban, chief data and analytics officer at DHA, will participate in a panel discussion on integrating cloud and AI capabilities to public health services at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit on Feb. 12. Register here.

What Are the Roles Cloud & AI Play in Biomedical Research?

In biomedical research, cloud and AI offer opportunities to aid scientists and accelerate scientific discovery. In November, President Trump signed an executive order establishing the Genesis Mission to promote the use of AI in federal research and development activities, including in finding new drugs and other breakthroughs.

The National Institutes of Health also sees the benefits of cloud computing in biomedical research. The agency said cloud offers scalable computing power and storage and provides access to extensive datasets, which are especially valuable to research institutions with limited on-premise capability.

Its Cloud Resources Program is designed to empower NIH researchers to utilize cloud resources in their research, with the latest cohort announced in March.

Can AI Stop Fraud?

One way the federal government wants to utilize AI capabilities is to detect fraudulent activities related to Medicare. According to CMS, Medicare’s traditional fee-for-service program reported $31.7 billion in improper payments in fiscal year 2024. Medicaid $31.1 billion in improper payments for the same period.

The One Big Beautiful Bill, which was signed into law in July, includes a $25 million in funding for HHS to develop AI tools that can prevent and recoup improper Medicare payments.

In August, CMS launched the Crushing Fraud Chili Cook-Off Competition, a research challenge that aims to identify data-driven methodologies for analyzing volumes of data and detecting unusual patterns or behavior that may signify fraud. 

Don’t miss the Cloud‑First, AI‑Ready: Powering the Next Generation of Public Health Services panel featuring expert perspectives on the role of cloud and AI in healthcare at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit. Secure your tickets today.

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