Name: Washington DC Digital Government Summit 2026
Start: 2026-10-23T08:00
Location: The George Washington University Student Center

Overview

The Washington DC Digital Government Summit is where innovation meets impact!

Bringing together the brightest minds in state and local government, this summit empowers public-sector leaders to explore cutting-edge technologies, modernize operations, and solve pressing challenges. From cybersecurity and AI to data governance and digital service delivery, sessions are designed to spark insight, foster collaboration, and accelerate real-world results. Whether you're shaping strategy or implementing solutions, the Summit delivers valuable peer connections and actionable guidance to help move your mission forward.

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Stephen N. Miller

Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Washington, DC / DC Government

Stephen N. Miller serves as the sevent Chief Technology Officer for the District of Columbia, where he leads enterprise technology strategy, digital transformation and emerging technology initiatives for one of the nation's most digitally advanced municipal governments. With 24 years of experience as a software developer, technologist and operations manager in the public sector – including 17 years architecting solutions within DC Government – Stephen oversees the implementation and operation of enterprise platforms supporting collaboration, data management, process automation and organizational change across District agencies. 
Stephen's work directly impacts residents' daily lives: streamlining business certification and licensing processes, ensuring timely payroll systems for government employees, creating economic opportunities for DC residents and powering school choice systems that place students in their preferred schools. His approach balances mission-critical service delivery with identifying IT budget efficiencies and process improvements across District operations. 
As Task Force Lead of DC's Artificial Intelligence Task Force, Stephen directs the District's AI strategy and software development initiatives. Under his leadership, the Task Force received the inaugural AI 50 Award from the Center for Public Sector AI in 2025, recognizing its ethical, resident-focused approach to deploying production AI systems. 
Current projects include an AI case management assistant for the Child and Family Services Agency, DC Compass – an intelligent navigation system for open data – and automated deed review processing for the Rent Registry.  
The DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer is responsible for how DC Government plans, designs, develops, and continuously improves technical solutions serving residents, businesses, visitors and government staff, positioning the District as a national leader in digital government and responsible AI implementation. 

Shawnee Delaney

CEO, Vaillance Group and Former Spy

Shawnee Delaney is co-host of the popular YouTube series, Control Room, founder and CEO of Vaillance Group and an award-winning globally recognized expert in human risk management. As a decorated former Case Officer with nearly a decade at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), she conducted clandestine human intelligence (HUMINT) operations worldwide, including four combat zone tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, ultimately serving as both Detachment Chief and Supervisory Branch Chief. After leaving DIA, Shawnee supported the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in protecting U.S. critical infrastructure with the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) before leading the creation of insider threat programs at Fortune 500 companies such as Uber and Merck Pharmaceuticals. Shawnee has advised nation-states, multinational corporations, and startups alike on preventing, detecting, and managing insider threats and continues to be a highly sought-after keynote speaker and consultant on insider threat, cybersecurity, and risk management. She has written articles or been cited on Insider Threat in publications such as the Cipher Brief, USA Today, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, the Hill, Spyscape, Associated Press, Benzinga, and the Financial Times, among other international periodicals. She holds master’s degrees in Counter-Terrorism & Counter-Proliferation and Cybersecurity.

Phil Bertolini

Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology

Phil Bertolini is a Chief Delivery Officer for Government Technology, the premiere event and thought leadership content provider for state and local government technology professionals. Previously, he served as deputy county executive and CIO for Oakland County, Michigan. During his 31-year tenure, Phil built a world-class IT organization in the second-largest county in Michigan, just north of Detroit. As Oakland County CIO, he oversaw more than 150 employees serving over 1.2 million residents. In 2005, he was also promoted to deputy county executive, holding dual positions until his retirement. Phil’s efforts earned the county national attention, winning numerous awards for technology innovation and excellence. He was named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year and Government Technology Magazine’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers. He was also honored by the President Obama White House as a Champion of Change.

Steven Boberski

Public Sector Chief Technology Officer, Genesys

Steven Boberski is a Senior Business Development Executive and the Public Sector CTO for Genesys.  A digital transformation and compliance subject matter expert and AI practitioner, Steve brings more than two decades of experience designing, selling and delivering large, complex, information technology and telecommunications solutions to enable government and commercial enterprise IT transformation. Steve holds a BA in English Writing and Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Systems Engineering from George Washington University.

Jonathan Cedarbaum

Professor of Practice for National Security, Cybersecurity and Foreign Relations Law, The George Washington University

Before joining the GW faculty in 2023, Professor Cedarbaum served as Deputy Counsel to the President and National Security Council Legal Advisor. Immediately before that, he spent eight months as the Senior Counsel for Litigation on the Biden 2020 presidential campaign.
Formerly a longtime partner in the litigation and cybersecurity and privacy practices at WilmerHale, Professor Cedarbaum has done a series of stints at the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1997-1998 he served as a Bristow Fellow in the Solicitor General's Office. From 1999 to 2002, he worked as an attorney-adviser in the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). Professor Cedarbaum returned to OLC from 2009 to 2011 as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and ultimately the Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the office, which provides authoritative legal advice to the Attorney General, the President, and all Executive Branch Departments and Agencies.
From 2015 to 2020, Professor Cedarbaum was one of the first group of statutorily designated amici for the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review. Earlier in his career, he served as a legal advisor and deputy chief of staff to the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. Professor Cedarbaum has also worked as a legislative assistant to a member of the House of Representatives.
Professor Cedarbaum graduated from Yale Law School in 1996, where he served as Editor in Chief of the Yale Law Journal. He clerked for Judge David Tatel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit and for Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Suneel Cherukuri

Chief Information Security Officer, DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer

Suneel Cherukuri has over 20 years of industry experience in large enterprise network environments specializing in cyber security architecture, design, engineering, and operations. As CISO for DC Government, Mr. Cherukuri provides visionary and strategic leadership in securing and protecting DC’s information resources, and the supporting infrastructure from external and internal threats, while administering the overall security operations.
Suneel’s passion to equip District employees with cybersecurity mitigation strategies is reflected in his thoughtful design and implementation of tools that educate employees about their role in reducing the risk and impact of cybersecurity threats.
A sought-after industry leader, Mr. Cherukuri received the 2019 StateScoop 50 Award in the “State Cybersecurity Leader of the Year” category and 2022 LocalSmart Award that honors the visionaries who transform local government to make a difference in citizens' lives. Prior to OCTO, Mr. Cherukuri worked in financial sector in various roles at some of the largest banks in Asia Pacific region.

Tiffany Crowe

Director, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Government of the District of Columbia

Tiffany Crowe's confirmation as the permanent Director of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) was met with resounding approval by The Council of the Committee on Public Works and Operations on November 7, 2023. Her journey in this role commenced when Mayor Muriel Bowser first appointed her as the Acting Director on September 7, 2023.
Director Crowe is a long-serving public administrator with over a decade of leadership experience in operations, human resources, and systems. From 2012 to 2019, she served as Senior Advisor and Counsel to the Associate Director of Supervision, Enforcement, and Fair Lending at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In this role, she provided guidance to the Associate Director and senior staff on operational, legal, and strategic matters.
Director Crowe also worked as a Senior Advisor in the Office of Market Intelligence at the Securities and Exchange Commission. From 2019 to 2021, Director Crowe served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs where she helped build the agency’s data and performance team, focusing on recurrent and on-demand reporting and transparent performance management and established the agency’s Consumer Protection Unit. Director Crowe recently served as an Associate Chief Technology Officer at OCTO, where her team focused on the District’s critical enterprise applications, including procurement, human resources, messaging, and IT service request platforms.

Garrett Lee

Regional Vice President, Public Sector Sales, Broadcom Enterprise Security Group

Garrett Lee is the Regional Vice President of the Enterprise Security Group at Broadcom (ESG). He is responsible for Broadcom's U.S. Public Sector go-to-market for the combined portfolio of Symantec and Carbon Black solutions for Information, Network, Endpoint and Application Security. The Enterprise Security Group delivers legendary enterprise security solutions to protect any IT mission. Over the last 23 years, Mr. Lee has energetically contributed to the U.S. Public Sector’s IT mission with a focus on efficiently advancing our Nation’s critical cybersecurity defenses and programs. Garrett has enthusiastically supported U.S. Federal Agency, Prime Contractor, and U.S. State & Local customers alike in their evaluation and implementation of enterprise security capabilities such as software asset management, application control, incident response, data loss prevention, network security, endpoint detection & response and cloud-native endpoint protection.

Henry Lofton

Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Government of the District of Columbia

As the District's Deputy Chief Technology Officer (DCTO), Henry is a visionary leader who encourages all District agencies to explore artificial intelligence (AI) with boldness and strategic intent. He plays a pivotal role in the District's first AI task force, providing technical guidance to the public Advisory Committee.
Henry is a staunch advocate for the transformative potential of AI, often highlighting its capability to holistically enhance the operations of the DC Government. He urges stakeholders to recognize the vast opportunities AI presents across various domains, including IT operations, enterprise applications, data management, and IT infrastructure.
To ensure responsible and beneficial AI implementation, Henry recommends that interested parties develop their own guiding principles, akin to the District's AI Values. These values are designed to ensure that AI implementations benefit people, prioritize safety and equity, uphold accountability and transparency, promote sustainability, and protect privacy and cybersecurity.
Henry's leadership and commitment to harnessing the power of AI are driving forces behind the District's efforts to improve community services and operations through innovative technology.

Rebekah Mena

Chief of Staff for Government Operations, Office of the Assistant City Administrator, Government of the District of Columbia

Rebekah Mena is a senior government executive with a decade of experience in emergency management, crisis communications, public information, and incident response. She currently serves as Chief of Staff to the Assistant City Administrator for Government Operations in the Executive Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., where she helps oversee a portfolio of nine District agencies with an $8B budget and advises senior leadership on strategic priorities, emerging issues, and cross-government initiatives. Her current work includes supporting D.C. Government's responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and planning the District's first enterprise cybersecurity tabletop exercise.
Previously, Mena served as Deputy Assistant Director for External Affairs at the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), leading public information operations for major emergencies and National Special Security Events. She co-chaired the public affairs subcommittee for the District's Presidential Inaugural Committee ahead of the 58th and 59th Presidential Inaugurations, led the District's Joint Information Center during the NATO Summit, and coordinated public information activities across more than 80 public information officers during planned and unplanned events. She also led the redevelopment of the District's Crisis Communications Plan and built a progressive crisis communications exercise program to strengthen readiness across D.C. Government.
Mena has also served as Interim Deputy Communications Director in the Executive Office of the Mayor, advised FEMA as a strategic communications consultant, and served as Public Information Officer for the City of Atlantic City, New Jersey. She has taught crisis communications as an adjunct professor at Herkimer County Community College and regularly speaks and trains on advancing government operations, crisis communications, and Joint Information Center operations.
She holds a Master of Arts in Communication Management and Public Relations from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology. She is an inaugural cohort participant in George Washington University's Micro-Certificate in Emerging Technology Leadership Program and serves as President-Elect of the National Association of Government Communicators.

Absala Mengestab

Chief Information Officer, Department of Human Resources, Government of the District of Columbia

Absala Mengestab serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the DC Department of Human Resources (DCHR). In this role, Ms. Mengestab directs DCHR's information technology (IT) modernization projects, ensures information security, and promotes operational service delivery. She is responsible for planning, developing, and managing agency-wide IT related services -ultimately advancing the mission critical work that DCHR delivers to District residents and employees.
Ms. Mengestab joined DCHR in 2016 as Program Manager under the Policy and Compliance Administration. In this role, she led automation efforts for the District’s employment suitability program streamlining the background check and drug and alcohol screening protocols. Prior to joining District government, Ms. Mengestab has served in a variety of IT positions both in public and private sectors where she achieved transformational results building and implementing enterprise-wide, customer-focused technical solutions. She has over 10 years of progressive experience in system administration, operations and program management.
Ms. Mengestab earned her Bachelor of Science degree from University of Maryland, College Park and Master’s degree in Management Information Systems from University of Maryland, University College. She also holds numerous industry certifications including Scaled Agile for Enterprise (SAFE),Lean Six Sigma (LSS BB) and Certified Public Manager (CPM) through George Washington University.

Jay Nath

Director, OpenAI

RJ Niesen

WA Cybersecurity State Coordinator, Region 10, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) 

RJ Niesen serves as the Washington Cybersecurity State Coordinator (CSC) for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). As the CSC, he assists state, local, and tribal government stakeholders in enhancing the security and resiliency of critical infrastructure facilities across Washington.
Before joining CISA in November 2024, RJ served for twenty years in the US Army, holding leadership roles across several career management fields, including threat intelligence, protective security, information technology, and cybersecurity. In his previous role with the US Army, he directed Information Technology (IT) and Cybersecurity for the Army's first Multi-Domain Task Force (1st MDTF) upon its establishment in 2020. RJ led a team of twelve IT and four cybersecurity professionals, advising on all matters pertaining to both disciplines as the 1st MDTF expanded from 40 to 2,200 employees within three years. RJ deployed four times during the Global War on Terrorism: Iraq in 2004 and 2009, and Afghanistan in 2007 and 2012. During his service, he earned the Bronze Star and is a Purple Heart recipient.
RJ holds CISSP and PMP certifications and earned a Master of Arts in Information Technology Management from Webster University. He is committed to serving his community as a youth sports coach and as an Outreach Coordinator for Reboot Recovery, a nonprofit organization that helps combat veterans manage trauma and build brighter futures.
RJ values his 20-year marriage to his wife, Marisa, and their three sons. He is also deeply committed to supporting the local veteran community and serving the American people!

Rodger Pulley

Client Solutions Executive, AT&T

Rodger Pulley has a combined 30 years of wireless industry experience, spending 25 years in various roles at AT&T in consumer, operations, and global enterprise. Before supporting the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia public sector agencies and their missions, Rodger onboarded state and local public safety agencies in the National Capitol Region to FirstNet.

Tristan Reed

Chief Information Officer, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, Government of the District of Columbia

Tristan Reed is the Chief Information Officer for the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA). He oversees the agency’s data, GIS, IT, interoperability, and incident management systems, as well as its AI strategy. His teams provide public safety partners and senior leaders with the tools and insights needed to maintain a real time common operating picture. Over his career at HSEMA, Tristan has led cross agency initiatives, from serving as Planning Section Chief in the District’s Emergency Operations Center to building the agency’s data program as its first Chief Data Officer.

Toby Semroc

GIS Developer and Technical Lead, City of Seattle IT 

I am the GIS technical lead and supervisor of the GIS & CADD Developer team for the City of Seattle with over 20 years of experience creating GIS software solutions. My team's main focus is on integrating business systems with GIS to spatially enable data in enterprise asset management systems, customer relations management systems, billing systems, and document management systems. These integrations support field operations, risk analysis, preventive maintenance, and the equitable and effective delivery of city services to the public.

Matt Sokol

Chief Data Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Government of the District of Columbia

With 20 years of data industry experience in both the public and private sectors, Matt Sokol focuses on improving data for organizations with people, process and technology through team building, data strategy and governance.
Currently serving as the Chief Data Officer for the DC Government Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO), his portfolio includes GIS, Big Data and Data Integration, Data Visualization and Analysis and Data Strategy. Matt supports the city through a unified data approach, by breaking down silos to implement enterprise solutions that will benefit the District residents, businesses, and visitors. For multiple fiscal years, he has chaired DC’s Information Technology Investment Review Board, aimed at informing city leadership on the high profile and large budget IT projects.
Matt is also a member of the Mayor’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force, advising OCTO and Mayor Bowser on AI solutions and their alignment with DC’s values on AI. He was a key leader in the creation of DC Compass, DC government’s first generative AI solution, built on top of the Open Data DC platform.

Matthew Swenson

Senior Vice President and Deputy General Manager, Center for Internet Security

Matt Swenson is the Senior Vice President and Acting General Manager of Operations, Intelligence, and Services (OIS) at the Center for Internet Security (CIS). Reporting to the President and CEO, he directs the strategy, performance, and financial stewardship of CIS’s operational portfolio, delivering critical cybersecurity services to U.S. state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments. In this role, he oversees the organizations that operate the MS-ISAC and EI-ISAC, directing a diverse suite of products and services designed to harden nationwide cyber resilience through strategic technology partnerships and member-focused initiatives.
A veteran of large-scale security operations, Matt directs CIS’s national cybersecurity operations and intelligence programs, supporting thousands of SLTT organizations through advanced threat monitoring and adversary engagement. His leadership focuses on operational excellence, service maturity, and scaling CIS programs to meet the rapid evolution of the global threat landscape.
Before joining CIS, Matt held senior executive roles in the private sector, including Chief Executive Officer – North America at BlackRainbow Inc. and Senior Vice President of Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) at Cadien Cyber Response. In these positions, he drove regional growth, built and led DFIR organizations, and forged technology partnerships to support high-stakes incident response and cyber investigations. Matt brings 20 years of federal law enforcement experience with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to his executive leadership. He retired as the Division Chief of the Cyber Division at the DHS Cyber Crimes Center (C3), where he directed national programs targeting ransomware, dark web markets, and cryptocurrency-based crime. Notably, he was a founding leader of Operation Cyber Centurion, a proactive disruption initiative that accelerated victim identification and remediation across critical U.S. networks.
Throughout his career, Matt has briefed Members of Congress, senior government leaders, and international partners on emerging cyber threats. He has provided expert testimony in U.S. and international courts and serves on advisory boards focused on public-sector collaboration, including Flashpoint National Security Solutions. Matt holds a Master of Science in Information Security Engineering from the SANS Technology Institute and a Bachelor of Arts from Washington State University.

Thanh Thai

Security Operations Manager, City of Seattle IT

Seasoned technology and cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience developing security and IT strategic plans, creating governance frameworks and processes, cybersecurity programs and aligning AI, cybersecurity and IT priorities with business strategy.

Greg Tudor

Chief Information Officer and Information Technology Manager, Recreation and Conservation Office, State of Washington

Greg joined RCO in 2010 as the chief information officer and manager of the Information Technology (IT) Section. He supervises the IT team, provides IT oversight and consulting on application and data development contracts, provides Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and database support, and represents the agency at the Chief Information Officer Forum. Greg has worked nearly thirty years in enterprise IT/GIS – developing applications, administering databases, and managing projects and programs for regulation, aquatic land, land survey, records, photogrammetry, hydrography, transportation, firefighting, salmon and ecosystem recovery, and grants in private, county, state, and federal sectors. Greg majored in physics, astronomy, and Russian, and mastered in land survey and photogrammetric engineering. Outside of work, Greg enjoys his family, skiing, backpacking, kayaking, rowing, sailing, rock and ice climbing, trumpet, and piano.

Brad Wintersteen

Chief Information Officer, Office of Contracting and Procurement, Government of the District of Columbia

Brad serves as the Chief Information Officer for the DC Office of Contracting & Procurement where is oversees the modernization of the District’s procurement and financial systems and their associated infrastructure.
He previously served as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow - where he served as Senior Advisor in the Office of Policy within the US Department of Energy. During this time, he led and advised on data modernization efforts and emerging technology implementations across the US federal government. Prior to this, he served as the Director of IT Strategy for the City of Detroit where he oversaw a wide range of large-scale technology modernizations efforts. His time with the City of Detroit is most remembered for his work on the Covid19 Executive Team where he developed and managed a system to procure and distribute over 7.2 million items of PPE.
Brad has also worked for the UNHCR and as an AIF William J. Clinton Fellow in Bangalore, India. Brad earned his Masters of Public Policy from the University of Michigan.

Thursday, November 12
8:00 am Eastern	Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area 3rd Level Lobby
9:00 am Eastern	Welcome and Opening Remarks Ballroom A/B/C Bill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington
9:15 am Eastern	Keynote - EMBRACE THE SHAKE: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities Ballroom A/B/C Success, especially in today’s fast-changing business environment, depends on our ability to make creativity and innovation a continuous process. Leaders want to know how their teams can rise above any challenge and succeed no matter what comes their way. Whether the goal is to embrace change, overcome obstacles, sustain growth, or take your success to the next level, leaders and teams want to learn how to “Embrace the Shake.” The term “Embrace the Shake” is coined from artist Phil Hansen’s personal story of transformation. Sponsored by: Phil Hansen, Professional Artist, and Inspirational Public Speaker Armis, Carahsoft \| Adobe Inc., Sabot Consulting
10:15 am Eastern	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area 3rd Level Lobby
10:45 am Eastern	Concurrent Sessions Choose Your Own AI Adventure: Table Talks Meeting Room 316 There is no single AI challenge facing government - and no single conversation that covers them all! In this interactive session, following a brief overview of key AI trends by topic leaders, attendees will join facilitated table discussions on topics including AI Tools and Use Cases, Scaling and Operationalizing AI, Responsible AI, Governance and Risk, AI Workforce and Literacy, and AI in the Physical World. Come ready to share experiences, ask questions and learn from peers tackling similar challenges. Heidi Geathers, Senior Assistant Director of Administrative Services, Department of Revenue, State of Washington Lisa Qian, City AI Officer, City of Seattle IT Mark Quimby, Deputy Director for Technology and Operations, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Katy Ruckle, State Chief Privacy Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Nadia Hansen, Global GTM AI Strategist, Salesforce Jay Nath, Account Director, OpenAI Beyond Cybersecurity: Managing the New Risk Landscape Meeting Room 318 AI is reshaping the risk landscape, introducing new considerations around cybersecurity, reputation, critical infrastructure and operational resilience. As frontier AI capabilities accelerate, public sector leaders must understand how the threat landscape is changing, determine what systems and services are truly critical, and prioritize limited security resources based on risk and potential impact. This session explores an all-risk approach to the AI era, including emerging threats, infrastructure and industrial control vulnerabilities, reputational risk, and strategies for protecting the systems and services constituents depend on. Lead Panelist: Scott West, Chief Information Officer, Pierce County Michael Kirchner, SLED Technology Strategist, Lumen RJ Niesen, WA Cybersecurity State Coordinator, Region 10, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Thanh Thai, Security Operations Manager, City of Seattle IT Connecting the Dots: Turning Data into Action Meeting Room 317 Government has more data than ever, but creating value often depends on connecting information that was collected by different organizations, systems and for entirely different purposes. This session explores how data integration, GIS and AI can bring information together to generate new insights, improve services and support better decision-making - while recognizing the limitations, context and guardrails that aren't always visible in the data itself. Hear how organizations can move from simply possessing data to connecting and using it responsibly for meaningful outcomes. Joanne Pearson, State Geospatial Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Toby Semroc, GIS Developer and Technical Lead, City of Seattle IT Reid Rose, Vice President, IBM Data Platform Sales, US Public Market, IBM Rethinking the Technology Playbook: More Choices, New Rules Meeting Room 315 The lines between building, buying and configuring technology are blurring as low-code tools, citizen development, and AI-assisted coding give agencies more ways to solve problems - and do it faster. But greater choice and speed also bring new questions: What should be built internally or sourced externally? Who should be empowered to create solutions, how will they be funded and maintained, and what standards and guardrails need to be in place? This session explores how IT and business leaders can rethink technology decision-making, enable experimentation and rapid proofs of concept, and balance flexibility with governance, security and long-term sustainability. Ashley Cooper, Associate Director, Business Solutions Division, City of Seattle IT Tamara Davis, Chief Technology Officer, King County Michael DeAngelo, Chief Information Officer, Department of Revenue, State of Washington Deanna Rink, IT Manager, Architecture & Software Development, Pierce County
11:45 am Eastern	Lunch Ballroom A/B/C
12:45 pm Eastern	Bits and Bytes - Connecting Washington's Innovation Ecosystem Ballroom A/B/C Innovation doesn't happen in isolation. Across Washington and the region, governments, communities and partners are finding new ways to connect, share ideas and tackle emerging technology challenges together. In this showcase, you will hear examples of collaboration in action - from cross-government exchanges and regional innovation networks to AI coalitions and resident-driven conversations about emerging technology. Discover what's working, what others can learn from these efforts and how stronger connections can help turn promising ideas into shared progress. Viggo Forde, Chief Information Officer and Director of IT, Snohomish County Gretchen Peri, Chief Technology Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Sabra Schneider, Chief Information Officer, City of Bellevue
1:15 pm Eastern	Short Break Please proceed to the concurrent sessions.
1:35 pm Eastern	Concurrent Sessions Trust by Design: Data, Privacy and Governance for Emerging Technology Meeting Room 318 As AI and emerging technologies become more embedded, they are putting new pressure on existing approaches to data governance, privacy and technology oversight. How can organizations adapt their governance structures to keep pace, protect sensitive information and maintain trust while still creating room for innovation? This session explores evolving approaches to data, privacy, governance and security - and how getting these foundations right can support the responsible adoption of emerging technologies. Anja Canfield-Budde, Associate VP and Deputy Chief Information Officer, University of Washington José Matthews, Enterprise Data Manager, Snohomish County Future Ready: Workforce Table Talks Meeting Room 316 As emerging technologies reshape government work, the skills, roles and career paths of today's workforce are evolving just as quickly. How can organizations prepare for skills they may need a year or two from now, build adaptability alongside technical expertise, and create learning opportunities that keep pace with change? In this interactive session, following brief insights from topic leaders, attendees will join facilitated table discussions exploring Skills for the Future, Closing Today's Skills Gap, Learning and Upskilling That Works, and Evolving Roles and Career Paths. Come ready to share experiences, ask questions and learn from peers tackling similar challenges. Callie Goldsby, Chief Information Officer, Department of Commerce, State of Washington Nikki Kloepfer, People Strategy and Operations Manager, City of Seattle IT Cathleen Overmiller, Human Resources Director, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Greg Tudor, Chief Information Officer, Recreation and Conservation Office, State of Washington Reimagining How Government Works: Technology as a Catalyst for Transformation Meeting Room 317 Government operations have grown increasingly complex over time, with business processes, organizational structures and technology often evolving independently of one another. Today, we have an opportunity to rethink how those pieces come together - streamlining and integrating processes, breaking down organizational and technology silos, and using technology to enable new ways of working. Product thinking, new delivery approaches and emerging technologies can help organizations become more responsive, innovative and focused on the work that delivers the greatest value. This interactive session explores how government can modernize not just its technology, but how it operates - and the cultural and organizational shifts needed to make that transformation successful. Moderator: Amy Pearson, Chief of Staff to the State Chief Information Officer and Director of IT, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Rob Allred, State Chief Architect, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Jade Redfield, Portfolio, Products, and Projects Manager, City of Seattle IT Brad Steiner, Principal Strategist, AT&T/FirstNet Ed Therriault, Principal Digital Transformation Architect, Portage Cybertech Exclusive Briefing for Industry Partners \| Around the Table: Government and Industry Conversations Meeting Room 315 Industry partners are encouraged to join this session to connect directly with state and local IT leaders for candid, small-group conversations around some of today’s most important technology priorities. In this rotating roundtable format, industry attendees will move between discussions focused on modernization, privacy, networks, cybersecurity, cloud, and AI - creating an opportunity to hear government perspectives, share ideas, ask questions, and better understand the challenges and opportunities shaping public-sector technology in the State of Washington. Hosted by: Bill Kehoe, Director and State Chief Information Officer, Washington Technology Solutions, State of Washington Stephen Heard, Chief Information Officer, King County Shannon Smith, Chief Technology Officer, City of Seattle
2:35 pm Eastern	Networking Break in the Exhibit Area 3rd Level Lobby
3:00 pm Eastern	General Session – 25 Years of Digital Government 'The Eras Tour': How Technology, Policy and Public Service Evolved - and What Comes Next Ballroom A/B/C 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. Rob Lloyd, Executive Director, Center for Digital Government
3:45 pm Eastern	Networking Reception in the Exhibit Area 3rd Level Lobby Network with your colleagues and discuss technology solutions with the event exhibitors.
4:15 pm Eastern	End of Conference Conference times, agenda, and speakers are subject to change.

The George Washington University Student Center

800 21st Street NW
Washington, D.C., DC 20052
2029944398

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Registration Information / Contact Us

Event Date: October 23, 2026

Open to Public Sector only.

Registration - Free

If you represent a Private Sector organization and are interested in Sponsorship Opportunities, please contact Heather Earney.

This event is open to all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.

Contact Information

Need help registering, or have general event questions? Contact:

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Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 932-1308
E-mail: jtetzlaff@erepublic.com

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Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone:(916) 296-2617
E-Mail: mgaton@erepublic.com

Want to sponsor and stand out? Reach out to explore opportunities!

Heather Earney
Government Technology
A division of e.Republic
Phone: (916) 365-2308
E-mail: heather.earney@erepublic.com

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Washington DC Digital Government Summit 2026

Overview

A message from our Keynote Speaker

Speakers

Stephen N. Miller

Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Washington, DC / DC Government

Shawnee Delaney

CEO, Vaillance Group and Former Spy

Phil Bertolini

Chief Delivery Officer, Government Technology

Steven Boberski

Public Sector Chief Technology Officer, Genesys

Jonathan Cedarbaum

Professor of Practice for National Security, Cybersecurity and Foreign Relations Law, The George Washington University

Suneel Cherukuri

Chief Information Security Officer, DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer

Tiffany Crowe

Director, Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Government of the District of Columbia

Garrett Lee

Regional Vice President, Public Sector Sales, Broadcom Enterprise Security Group

Henry Lofton

Deputy Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Government of the District of Columbia

Rebekah Mena

Chief of Staff for Government Operations, Office of the Assistant City Administrator, Government of the District of Columbia

Absala Mengestab

Chief Information Officer, Department of Human Resources, Government of the District of Columbia

Jay Nath

Director, OpenAI

RJ Niesen

WA Cybersecurity State Coordinator, Region 10, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Rodger Pulley

Client Solutions Executive, AT&T

Tristan Reed

Chief Information Officer, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, Government of the District of Columbia

Toby Semroc

GIS Developer and Technical Lead, City of Seattle IT

Matt Sokol

Chief Data Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Government of the District of Columbia

Matthew Swenson

Senior Vice President and Deputy General Manager, Center for Internet Security

Thanh Thai

Security Operations Manager, City of Seattle IT

Greg Tudor

Chief Information Officer and Information Technology Manager, Recreation and Conservation Office, State of Washington

Brad Wintersteen

Chief Information Officer, Office of Contracting and Procurement, Government of the District of Columbia

Agenda

Thursday, November 12

8:00 am Eastern

Registration and Morning Refreshments in the Exhibit Area

3rd Level Lobby

9:00 am Eastern

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Ballroom A/B/C

9:15 am Eastern

Keynote - EMBRACE THE SHAKE: Transforming Limitations into Opportunities

Ballroom A/B/C

10:15 am Eastern

Networking Break in the Exhibit Area

3rd Level Lobby

10:45 am Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Choose Your Own AI Adventure: Table Talks

Meeting Room 316

Beyond Cybersecurity: Managing the New Risk Landscape

Meeting Room 318

Connecting the Dots: Turning Data into Action

Meeting Room 317

Rethinking the Technology Playbook: More Choices, New Rules

Meeting Room 315

11:45 am Eastern

Lunch

Ballroom A/B/C

12:45 pm Eastern

Bits and Bytes - Connecting Washington's Innovation Ecosystem

Ballroom A/B/C

1:15 pm Eastern

Short Break

1:35 pm Eastern

Concurrent Sessions

Chief Technology Officer, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Washington, DC / DC Government

Steven Boberski

WA Cybersecurity State Coordinator, Region 10, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) 

GIS Developer and Technical Lead, City of Seattle IT 