Tag Archives: McLean

New AI Guidance, Similar Goals

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In early April, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a pair of memos to provide agencies with guardrails for how they use and purchase artificial intelligence (AI). These memos replaced guidance issued by the previous administration but maintain many of the same structures.

The first memorandum, M-25-21, gives agencies three priorities when accelerating the federal use of AI: innovation, governance, and public trust. It states, "...agencies are directed to provide improved services to the public, while maintaining strong safeguards for civil rights, civil liberties, and privacy." The memo maintains items that were established under the Biden administration, including:

  • The creation of chief AI officer roles and AI councils "to serve as change agents and AI advocates, rather than overseeing layers of bureaucracy."
  • Implement minimum risk management practices for "high-impact" AI use--those applications of AI that could have significant impacts when deployed.

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Evolving Acquisition

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For years, government has worked to streamline acquisition so needed technologies get in the hands of agencies more quickly. With the new administration's focus on efficiency and improved use of emerging technology, these ongoing efforts to evolve government acquisition will likely move into high gear.

Legislation Driving Change

2024 saw a number of bi-partisan legislative proposals aimed at streamlining acquisition and spending. The Federal Improvement in Technology (FIT) Procurement Act was introduced in March 2024 to eliminate restrictive requirements and expand procurement options that let agencies move quickly to buy and utilize technology. A key focus of the legislation is enabling agencies to make advance payments for cloud computing, data center solutions, and other technology acquired on a subscription or tenancy basis. A pay-in-advance model is standard for these technologies, but not something that government procurement rules are set up to easily allow. Continue reading →

AI and National Security

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) can greatly improve human efficiency and deliver insights that drive decision-making. However, for all of its benefits, AI also introduces security risks both for the organizations that are using it and for the nation at large. The National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence, released in the fall of 2024, details national security strategy and policy toward AI. While this particular guidance is aimed at agencies directly involved in national security, its three high-level policy objectives should be part of every agency's AI strategy.

  1. Maintain U.S. leadership in the development of advanced AI systems

A key focus is on not just using AI but driving responsible AI development. To do so, the U.S. needs an AI-capable workforce. This means having the experts that develop the technology as well as training the operational and tactical workforce in how to best use it. Continue reading →

Securing the Machines that Drive our Democracy

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The devices used in voting are relatively low-tech. In order to avoid cyber threats, even those that use a touch screen to capture votes are intentionally not connected to the internet. However, even this unconnected approach has security risks that need to be addressed so that these devices and the data they hold aren't tampered with. The states and localities that administer elections are continually focused on the full spectrum of security risks, putting processes and systems in place in advance of election day to ensure that voting is safe and secure.

Diversity is a Strength

The diversity of voting machines being used across the country reduces threat impacts. If there is an issue with a piece of software, it won't impact the entire national voting system, just particular machines. While software vulnerabilities are still huge problems, standardizing on one type of machine nationwide would mean one software bug could wipe out all electoral results. Continue reading →

No Degree? No Problem. The Changing Landscape for Government Job Seekers

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There are nearly 200,000 job openings across the federal government. Within those openings, a large percentage are in the areas of Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Building the workforce in these relatively new disciplines is forcing a new look at traditional requirements for careers in government.

The practice of skills-based hiring is gaining traction in government as a way to fill these important vacancies with a more diverse set of talent. Skill-based hiring involves looking beyond degrees and certifications and identifying candidates' skills that are applicable to the role. For example, a person may not have a computer science degree, but they have worked extensively with a key programming language or system in previous roles.

Uncovering Skills Not Experience

A candidate could have great experience. A four-year degree from a prestigious school. Past work with brand-name companies. But if you really dig in, you may find they don't actually possess the skills needed to get the job done. Continue reading →