Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon ABCD

Opening Remarks

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon EF

J.R. Sloan, Chief Information Officer, State of Arizona

Keynote - SPY vs. AI: Defending Against Artificial Intelligence's Threats to Your Life, Loved Ones and Livelihood

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon EF

What happens when the tradecraft of a spy meets the speed of artificial intelligence? In this riveting keynote, former Defense Intelligence Agency case officer Shawnee Delaney reveals how the same manipulation techniques she once used to steal secrets in war zones are now being automated by AI — at a speed, scale, and precision that no human operative could ever match. Drawing from real-world cases — a cloned voice that fooled a grandmother at 2 a.m., North Korean operatives hired through LinkedIn, a deepfake that nearly duped a Ferrari executive, and AI-powered romance scams running 200 victims simultaneously, Shawnee exposes how attackers weaponize trust to socially engineer and target individuals, families, and businesses alike.

With $40 billion in AI-driven fraud losses projected by 2027 and 82% of phishing emails now AI-generated, the threat isn't theoretical, it's happening right now. But this isn't a doom-and-gloom talk. Shawnee arms audiences with the same counterintelligence instincts that kept her alive in the field: practical detection techniques for deepfake audio and video, behavioral red flags that work whether the attack is AI-generated or old-fashioned manipulation, and a simple protocols that can stop a scam in its tracks. Equal parts intelligence briefing, cautionary tale, and survival guide, Spy vs. AI leaves every audience member (from C-suite executives to parents) with one unforgettable rule: prepared people don't get played.

Shawnee Delaney, Founder and CEO, Vaillance Group

Sponsored By: CGI, Gartner, Traversant Group

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon ABCD

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: Red Hat LLC

Concurrent Sessions

Using AI to Stay Ahead of Threat Actors

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon G

As threat actors become more sophisticated, government agencies are increasingly turning to AI to strengthen their cybersecurity posture. From threat detection and anomaly monitoring to automated response and data analysis, AI is creating new opportunities to identify and respond to risks faster. In this session, security leaders will explore practical ways agencies are leveraging AI to bolster defenses, protect critical data, and counter evolving cyber threats.

Moderator: Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Ryan Murray, Deputy Director, State Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Homeland Security, State of Arizona

Reducing Technical Debt in the Modern Age

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon H

Modernization and technical debt remediation are central to delivering faster and more reliable public services. How can agencies accelerate updates while separating hype from the art of the possible, especially as AI and automation enter the conversation? This session will explore practical use cases, how emerging technologies fit into modernization efforts, and tactics to move faster while reducing technical debt without creating new challenges.

Melissa Edwards, Vice President, Kyndryl Consult Partner, US State and Local Government, Education, Kyndryl

Steve Troxel, ASG Field Chief Technology Officer, SHI International Corp

Living with Shadow IT: Governing the Tools You Can’t See!

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon I

Government employees today have access to more technology than ever before, and many are using tools outside official IT environments to get their work done faster and more effectively. From AI assistants to unsanctioned apps and automation tools, “Shadow IT” is no longer the exception, it’s the workplace reality. In this session, experts will explore the evolving Shadow IT landscape, the opportunities it presents for innovation, and the risks it introduces for security and governance. Learn how your organization can bring shadow tools into the light, creating guardrails that protect the enterprise while still empowering employees to work smarter and more efficiently.

Mark Darmer, Chief Information Officer, Department of Economic Security, State of Arizona

Managing the Data Lifecycle: Governance, Retention, and Smart Storage

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon J

Governments are managing more data than ever, creating challenges around governance, compliance, and cost. This session explores how agencies are taking a strategic approach to data lifecycle management, balancing access, transparency, and security with decisions about what to retain, archive, or dispose of. Learn how data governance and electronic records management work together to reduce risk and improve efficiency.

Shyrene Gray, Director, Records Management, Department of Education, State of Arizona

Kari Johnson, Deputy CIO – Chief Data and Analytics Officer, City of Scottsdale

Lunch

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon EF

Bits and Bytes

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon EF

Short Break

Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.

Concurrent Sessions

When Nothing Bad Happens: Telling the Story Behind Cyber Defense

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon G

Cybersecurity teams work every day to prevent breaches and protect critical systems, but much of that work happens behind the scenes. When attacks are stopped or vulnerabilities are addressed early, these “near misses” often go unnoticed. Yet these moments represent some of the most important successes in cybersecurity. So how can leaders communicate the value of defense when nothing bad happens? This session will explore how technology and business leaders can better connect cybersecurity investments to strategic priorities, risk management, and measurable outcomes. Panelists will share approaches for demonstrating the impact of prevention, strengthening executive understanding of cyber risk, and telling the story behind the work that keeps government secure.

Moderator: Ryan Murray, Deputy Director, State Chief Information Security Officer, Department of Homeland Security, State of Arizona

Michael Moore, Chief Information Security Officer, Secretary of State, State of Arizona

Beyond Compliance: Accessibility, Liability, and Human-Centered Digital Services

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon H

In April 2026, a major milestone arrived for digital government. Under the Department of Justice’s updated ADA Title II rule, state and local government websites, mobile apps, and digital services are required to meet accessibility standards. This brings long-anticipated clarity and accountability to digital accessibility requirements. This session will explore how agencies are navigating accessibility across applications. Panelists will discuss potential enforcement risks, legal exposure and what organizations should be doing to maintain compliance. Most importantly, the conversation will highlight how accessibility should support human-centered design and inclusive digital services to improve the experience for all constituents.

Jacque S. Lee, Director of Government Vertical Strategy and Accessibility, T-Mobile

Lisa Meyerson Marshall, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Department of Administration, Strategic Enterprise Technology Office, State of Arizona

Future-Proofing IT: Strategies for Resilience and Continuity

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon I

In today’s unpredictable world, the continued operation of government services is a disaster is critical, the safeguarding of digital infrastructure and data have never been more important. Public sector organizations must collaborate to build resilience against diverse disruptions such as natural disasters and cyber threats. What lessons have we learned from past incidents that could be applied to future preparedness? This session provides an in-depth exploration of continuity of operation plans and highlights best practices in IT continuity and recovery.

Moderator: Bianca Lochner, Ph.D., Chief Information Officer, City of Scottsdale

Scott Sailer, Senior Account Director, Specialized Sales, Lumen

Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon J

Hosted by: J.R. Sloan, Chief Information Officer, State of Arizona

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon ABCD

Refuel and reconnect over premium refreshments courtesy of Recharge Break Sponsors: Red Hat LLC

General Session – From Dial-Up to Digital Twins: 25 Years of the CDG and the Road to 2050

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon EF

In 2001, "digital government" meant moving paper forms to static PDF downloads. Today, it means real-time, AI-driven resident services, "whole-of-state" cybersecurity, and cloud-native infrastructure that never sleeps. As the Center for Digital Government (CDG) celebrates its 25th anniversary, we invite you to a high-energy retrospective and a forward-looking strategy session that tracks the evolution of the public sector’s digital DNA. We will walk through the "waves" of transformation we’ve navigated together and will provide a roadmap for the next quarter-century of innovation.

Sean McSpaden, Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area

Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) Salon ABCD

Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.

End of Conference

Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.