GovExec

Federal agencies are under growing pressure to deliver AI at mission scale. While cloud has played an important role in accelerating early adoption, it's not always the right fit for every workload. For the most sensitive, high-stakes missions, compliance friction, data sovereignty concerns, and unpredictable costs can slow momentum when agencies can least afford it.

There's a smarter path forward.

Join technology leaders from Leidos, NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, and Sterling to explore how the AI Factory model is giving federal agencies full control over their data, their costs, and their AI roadmap, purpose-built for the environments where it matters most. What's standing between your agency's AI pilots and full production? More often than not, it comes down to infrastructure. The Leidos AI Factory changes that equation. Powered by NVIDIA's accelerated computing platform, built on Dell Technologies infrastructure, and deployed by Sterling's security-cleared engineers, it delivers enterprise-grade AI performance inside your own data center. Agencies can save up to 63% compared to cloud alternatives over four years and break even on their investment in as little as 18 months, without sacrificing security, compliance, or compute power. In this webinar, you’ll hear directly from the architects and operators of a real, deployed federal AI Factory.

You’ll leave with a clear understanding of:

• Why on-premises AI infrastructure is the right choice for sensitive federal workloads
• How the AI Factory model delivers up to 63% cost savings vs. cloud over four years
• What the architecture looks like from NVIDIA H200 GPUs to Dell PowerEdge infrastructure 
• What it takes to deploy, train, and operationalize an AI Factory inside your agency 

The Golden Dome missile defense initiative marks a generational investment in layered, integrated defense. By combining space-based interceptors, advanced sensing, and resilient command-and-control, the $151 billion SHIELD contract vehicle reflects the urgency of emerging missile threats and highlights a significant opportunity for the defense industrial base.

However, the scope and scale of Golden Dome raise critical questions for industry: How will funding increase over time? How will architectural decisions affect cross-agency integration? How will acquisition strategies influence competition? And what does success look like from the DoD’s perspective? 

During this Power Breakfast, Washington Technology will bring together defense officials, market analysts, and industry executives to discuss Golden Dome’s funding profile, architectural vision, and acquisition roadmap, enabling contractors to align their organizations for long-term participation in one of the defense sector’s most consequential modernization efforts.

Join Us In-Person on Thursday, May 14 at 9:00 AM CDT

This regional event brings together state, local, and higher education (SLED) leaders to explore how modern cloud platforms and Agentic AI empower organizations to break down data silos and transform service delivery. Today, secure cloud systems act as autonomous agents that can independently execute complex workflows on behalf of residents, students, researchers, and public servants.

Through hands-on exercises, real-world use cases from leading municipalities, and insights from top research departments and universities, this event will prove that AI is a measurable driver of speed, reliability, and resilience. Attendees will discover how cross-sector collaboration and enterprise-grade AI can accelerate mission outcomes, strengthen cybersecurity, and build unprecedented public trust across civic and academic communities.

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated and attack surfaces continue to expand, public sector organizations are being asked to protect critical missions in an environment defined by constant change. Federal leaders are navigating a delicate balance, meeting compliance mandates while managing real-world risk, modernizing legacy systems, expanding cloud and hybrid environments, and advancing Zero Trust, all without slowing the mission. At the same time, agencies are exploring how artificial intelligence and autonomous capabilities can strengthen cyber defense while maintaining governance, public trust, and mission assurance. These decisions are unfolding as the pace of threats accelerates, complexity increases, and operational demands remain relentless.

ROCon: Public Sector brings senior federal and defense leaders together for a practitioner-led forum focused on operationalizing cyber risk management in support of mission success. The discussions center on how agencies are moving beyond static security models and compliance-heavy checklists toward continuous, risk-driven operations that evolve with the threat landscape. Public sector leaders will offer a candid look at how federal organizations are strengthening cyber resilience, aligning technical risk with business and mission outcomes, and building a more adaptable foundation for the future of public sector cyber operations.

Key themes include:

• Modernizing Governance: Rethinking authorization, continuous monitoring, and automated compliance to better align security with mission demands.
• Operationalizing Zero Trust: Advancing identity-centric security across diverse, hybrid mission environments.
• Applying AI with Intent: Using automation and autonomous capabilities to accelerate detection and response while preserving oversight and accountability.
• Simplifying the Attack Surface: Reducing technical debt and complexity to focus resources on protecting what matters most.

A full-day summit built for public sector technologists, security architects, and data leaders across federal civilian, defense, intelligence, and SLED — designed to move your data strategy forward.

• A modern, AI-ready telemetry architecture — Core principles for separating data from tools, adopting tiered storage, and building pipelines that support AI initiatives without sacrificing compliance posture.

• A Zero Trust-ready data layer — How telemetry control underpins zero trust across federal civilian, DoW, and SLED, from on-prem to FedRAMP-authorized cloud.

• Real-world modernization playbook — Anonymized agency examples of pipeline modernization, cost reduction, and FedRAMP navigation — with ROI models that survive budget scrutiny.

• Peer-driven insight — Spend the day with counterparts operating in classified environments, hybrid state infrastructures, and mission-critical defense programs.

In an era where cyber threats evolve at lightning speed, the public sector stands at a crossroads. Traditional security models, once deemed sufficient, now falter against sophisticated attacks targeting dispersed networks and cloud infrastructures. The 2026 Engage Public Sector Summit emerges as a pivotal gathering for visionaries committed to redefining government cybersecurity.

This summit will spotlight the transformative potential of integrated technologies such as Hybrid Mesh Firewalls and AI-driven email security. Participants will delve into strategies that prioritize agility, proactive defense, and unified management, moving beyond outdated frameworks. Join us to explore how these innovations can fortify the digital future of public services.

Stay for the networking reception in the expo area, where we'll host a fun Meet-and-Greet with a Washington Legend. It's the perfect way to wrap up the day, connect, and enjoy the experience.

Governments are redefining their service delivery and the customer experience through precision, performance, and AI-driven innovation. As agencies continue to improve services and optimize internal operations, the focus has shifted from defining CX to operationalizing it across every mission area.

This year’s Carahsoft GovExperience Summit: Advancing Government Service Delivery & CX will explore how artificial intelligence, automation, and data intelligence are transforming government service delivery, from citizen engagement to workforce optimization. Leaders from federal, defense, and state and local agencies will share how they’re using emerging technologies to improve responsiveness, strengthen trust, and accelerate mission outcomes.

Attendees will gain insights into AI integration, personalized digital services, data-informed decision-making, and secure, connected experiences that make government more efficient and human-centered. Join public-sector innovators and technology partners as they define what’s next and how accessibility, speed, and trust converge to deliver measurable impact for every constituent.

• Proven strategies for strengthening cyber resilience across federal environments 
• Guidance on enabling secure, compliant AI adoption in line with government standards 
• Insights into protecting data across hybrid, multi-cloud, and on-prem systems 
• Perspectives on supporting continuity of operations (COOP) and disaster recovery readiness 
• Direct access to experts, partners, and peers across the federal ecosystem

Join Us In-Person on Tuesday, July 28 at 9:00 AM EDT

This regional event brings together state, local, and higher education (SLED) leaders to explore how modern cloud platforms and Agentic AI empower organizations to break down data silos and transform service delivery. Today, secure cloud systems act as autonomous agents that can independently execute complex workflows on behalf of residents, students, researchers, and public servants.

Through hands-on exercises, real-world use cases from leading municipalities, and insights from top research departments and universities, this event will prove that AI is a measurable driver of speed, reliability, and resilience. Attendees will discover how cross-sector collaboration and enterprise-grade AI can accelerate mission outcomes, strengthen cybersecurity, and build unprecedented public trust across civic and academic communities.