The GovNavigators Show

Adam
  • 5.0 (17)
  • GOVERNMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome, everyone, to the The GovNavigators Show - a government focused show that won’t make you seasick. We hope to enlighten and enliven your week with news and insightful, entertaining guests all on the topic of government management.Check out more at www.govnavigators.com 

  1. 3D AGO

    Inside America’s Global Back Office: How the State Department Keeps Government Running Overseas

    This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with Daniel Gaush, Acting Director of the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services Service Center at the U.S. Department of State, for a fascinating look at one of the federal government’s largest and least understood shared services operations. Daniel explains how the ICASS system coordinates administrative support for more than 300 federal entities across embassies and consulates worldwide, everything from HR and motor pools to security, facilities, and logistics. He shares stories from a 24-year career spanning Morocco, China, Afghanistan, and Washington, including negotiating trade agreements, touring a Chinese nuclear reactor, and managing support operations in wartime environments. The conversation explores the promise and pain points of shared services: balancing costs, managing interagency consensus, handling global crises, and adapting to major structural changes, such as the integration of USAID functions into the State Department. Daniel also reflects on the unique culture of the Foreign Service and offers advice for the next generation of Americans considering international public service careers. Show Notes: Final Report from The President’s Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management AgencyWhat's on the GovNavigators' Radar? May 13: House Oversight & Government Reform Committee Hearing: DoW Financial Management: Examining Progress and New Audit Approaches May 14: House Oversight & Government Reform Hearing: Reducing America’s National Debt: Rooting Out Federal Waste, Fraud, and Overregulation May 14-15: ACT-IAC’s Emerging Technology & Innovation Summit

    26 min

  2. MAY 4

    Bots Writing RFPs? Josh Martin on the Future (and Risks) of AI in Procurement

    This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with the GovNavigator Network's Josh Martin, former Chief Data Officer for the State of Indiana turned founder and AI practitioner, for a candid, highly practical conversation about what AI can (and can't!) do in government today. Josh shares how he’s building AI-powered tools to solve real-world problems, like instantly preparing for vendor meetings or streamlining procurement reviews, and explains why AI’s biggest value isn’t replacing people, but accelerating decision-making. He also offers a clear-eyed warning: agencies that over-automate without human oversight risk serious errors, hallucinations, and reputational damage. We dive into how governments can responsibly adopt AI, the importance of understanding data and prompting, and why “personal responsibility” is the missing ingredient in most AI strategies. Josh also reflects on his transition out of government, what he misses, and where he sees the biggest opportunities for innovation across the public sector. Show Notes: Partial DHS funding measure passedHouse Oversight advances nine anti-fraud billsDoW strikes new AI deal with major companiesNew EO pushing fixed-price contractingWhat's on the GovNavigators' Radar? May 2-4: Professional Services Council Annual ConferenceMay 5: AGA’s Performance Counts SummitMay 6: Service to America MedalsMay 14-15: ACT-IAC’s Emerging Technology & Innovation Summit

    23 min

  3. APR 27

    Too Few Data Chiefs? Inside the Data Foundation and Deloitte's CDO Survey

    This week on the GovNavigators Show, hosts Adam and Robert sit down with Dr. Amanda Cash of the Data Foundation and Dr. Adita Karkera of Deloitte to unpack the latest Federal Chief Data Officer (CDO) Survey and what it reveals about the state of data, AI, and capacity across government. Drawing on six years of survey data, Amanda and Adita explain how the federal CDO role has evolved since the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act and why today’s environment may be the most challenging yet. With more than half of CDOs operating with five or fewer staff, agencies are being pushed to do more with less, even as expectations around AI, data governance, and transparency continue to rise. The conversation explores the growing overlap between Chief Data Officers and Chief AI Officers, the risks and opportunities of combining those roles, and how agencies can use AI to compensate for workforce gaps. They also highlight the critical role of the federal CDO Council in enabling collaboration and scaling best practices across government. Show Notes: Check out the CDO Survey hereCDO Survey webinar recordingWhat's on the GovNavigators' Radar: Apr 26 – 28: NASCIO’s mid year conferenceApr 30: Fed100 Evening of Honors

    25 min

  4. APR 20

    Drew Friedman has the Scoop on the Federal Workforce

    This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Drew Friedman, reporter at Federal News Network and nominee for the ECHO Award for Best Government Management Journalist. Drew pulls back the curtain on what it's like to cover the federal workforce in one of the most turbulent periods in recent memory. The conversation covers the shifting landscape of federal hiring, including OPM's push toward skills-based hiring in the IT space, the latest on Schedule F's successor, and the growing body of litigation challenging the administration's workforce actions, as well as budget issues, and the administration's push to shrink the federal real estate footprint. Drew also reflects on what it takes to keep up with stories this big, and why the Federal News Network team's collaborative approach has been essential to staying on top of it all. Show Notes: New OMB Memo on commercial buyingVote for Drew at the ECHO Awards' websiteWhat's on the GovNaviagtors' Radar: Apr 21: Grants QSMO’s Industry DayApr 22: House Oversight Committee Markup on anti-fraud legislation (TBD)Apr 26-29: NASCIO Midyear Conference

    29 min

  5. APR 13

    Jason Robertson on Wildfire, Workforce Gaps, and the Future of Federal Land Management

    This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with GovNavigators Network member Jason Robertson, former regional CFO and senior leader at the U.S. Forest Service, for a conversation on what happens when government systems face real disruption. Jason shares insights from his two decades in federal service, including managing wildfire funding, overseeing recreation and land use across multiple states, and navigating the complex financial realities of public land management. He breaks down how wildfire policy, procurement, and interagency coordination are evolving, and why looming fire risks and structural changes are colliding in real time. Now in the private sector, Jason offers a candid view into the massive workforce and knowledge gaps emerging across agencies, and the opportunities those gaps create for new models of support, consulting, and innovation. From shifting procurement pathways to rethinking how agencies deliver on their missions, we explore how disruption is reshaping the federal landscape. Show Notes: FY27 Budget RequestGovernment official impersonation scams increaseGood job, GSA! Underutilized properties soldWhat's on the GovNavigators' Radar: Apr 13-14, 2026: AGA DC Chapter’s Annual Spring TrainingApr 19-22, 2026: Navy League's Sea-Air-Space ConferenceApr 26-29, 2026: NASCIO's Midyear Conference

    29 min

  6. APR 6

    Inside the House Floor: Max Spitzer on Rules, Power, and Congressional Chaos

    This week on the GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam sit down with Max Spitzer, former Assistant Parliamentarian in the U.S. House of Representatives, for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most misunderstood offices in Congress. Max explains how the House Parliamentarian keeps the chamber running day to day, from advising the presiding officer in real time to shaping precedent that governs how legislation moves. He shares stories from the House floor, including high-pressure moments during the 2008 financial crisis! The conversation also dives into the mechanics of power in the House: how rules actually work, why the Rules Committee can override almost anything, and what would happen if control of the House flipped mid-Congress. Max also offers a candid take on congressional dysfunction, and why fixing the rules, not just the Speaker, may be the key to reform. Show Notes: OMB's FY27 budget proposalOMB's new memo requiring IT spending dataGAO's emerging tech risksFederal buildings fail to reach occupancy benchmarkWhat's on the GovNavigators' Horizon: Apr 7: Federal Cybersecurity Executive Summit (GovExec, Optiv, ClearShark, Carasoft)Apr 8: ACT-IAC Contact Center SummitApr 13–14: AGA DC Chapter Spring MeetingApr 15: Carasoft's AI-Powered Government Solutions Event

    27 min

  7. MAR 30

    Rewriting FedRAMP: Inside the Push to Modernize Federal Cloud Security

    This week on the GovNavigators Show, Adam and Robert sit down with Ryan Hoesing, Chief of Staff for FedRAMP, and Nicole Thompson, Security Director, for a deep dive into one of the most consequential federal IT programs undergoing transformation today. Ryan and Nicole walk through the sweeping changes to the FedRAMP program and explain what the new “FedRAMP 20x” approach means for agencies and industry. They unpack the shift from authorization to certification, the move toward continuous and machine-readable security data, and why redefining FedRAMP’s role is critical to making cloud adoption actually work across government. Show Notes: Continued DHS appropriations uncertaintyLaunch of VP Vance's anti-fraud taskforceNew DEI EOWhat's on the GovNavigators' Radar: Mar 31: Oracle Federal ForumApr 8: ACT-IAC Contact Center Summit

    29 min

  8. MAR 23

    AI for Readiness: Making Sense of Defense Data with Rob Bocek

    This week on The GovNavigators Show, Robert and Adam are joined by Rob Bocek, Chief Commercial Officer at Virtualitics, for a conversation on how artificial intelligence is reshaping defense readiness. Drawing on his wide experience from Navy Special Warfare to Microsoft, Rob explains how AI can help the Department of Defense move beyond fragmented data and toward faster, more informed decision-making. We explore how these tools surface hidden readiness gaps, improve situational awareness, and support leaders operating in high-stakes, time-sensitive environments. Rob also walks through how Virtualitics is helping defense leaders make sense of massive, fragmented datasets, using AI-powered analytics to surface hidden risks, identify readiness gaps, and support faster, more confident decision-making. He explains how their approach emphasizes explainable AI, enabling operators and commanders to trust and act on insights in real time. Show Notes: DHS budget conflict continuesDoW's $200B supplemental requestFraud Task Force EOHR shared services pushGSA to establish Acquisition QSMOWhat's on the GovNavigators' Radar: Mar 24: The Hill and Valley ForumMar 25:  House Oversight Committee hearing: “Doing More with Less: Eliminating Duplicative Programs”

    28 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Welcome, everyone, to the The GovNavigators Show - a government focused show that won’t make you seasick. We hope to enlighten and enliven your week with news and insightful, entertaining guests all on the topic of government management.Check out more at www.govnavigators.com 

Information

  • Creator
    Adam
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The GovNavigators Show
  • Show Website
    The GovNavigators Show

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