The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester

202: The One with the Former Department of the Interior CISO

Lou Eichenbaum, former Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Department of the Interior and current Federal CTO at ColorTokens joins the show for a deep dive into the evolving world of federal cybersecurity. We dive into firsthand insights on what it really means to balance mission enablement with effective risk management and why today’s CISO must act not just as a security expert, but as an executive risk manager focused on resilience, communication, and strategic alignment. We unpack what real zero trust implementation looks like beyond the buzzword, why micro-segmentation is foundational to preventing lateral movement and building mission resilience, and how federal agencies can move beyond compliance checklists toward meaningful security outcomes. We also discuss candid perspectives on what drives cybersecurity priorities inside federal agencies and and how zero trust principles will play a critical role in protecting both IT and critical infrastructure systems in the years ahead.

201: The One with the Marin County, CA Innovation Chief

Crosby Burns, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer for Marin County, California joins the show for a candid and forward-looking conversation on what digital innovation really means in government today. Together, we explore how a service-first mindset can help governments balance security, accessibility, and trust in an era increasingly shaped by AI, bots, and new digital entry points. We also discuss how Marin County is rethinking public websites as repositories of structured information designed for both humans and machines and how accessibility is about far more than compliance, but about removing friction across the entire citizen journey.

200: The One with the Former Obama Federal CIO

Tony Scott, former Federal Chief Information Officer under President Barack Obama and current President & CEO of Intrusion joins the show to give a candid, inside look at how the CIO role has evolved across government and industry—from back-office IT leadership to becoming a critical connector across mission, policy, technology, and organizational strategy. Tony reflects on his time overseeing an $85B federal IT portfolio, the challenges and urgency of modernizing aging systems, and the events surrounding the OPM breach that reshaped federal cybersecurity. 

199: The One with the CivicPlus Market Expert

Brenden Elwood, Vice President of Market Research at CivicPlus and a City Councilor in North Bend, Washington joins the show to unpack the latest insights from CivicPlus’ nationwide resident research. We explore what drives citizen satisfaction and trust in local government, from proactive communication to transparent service delivery. We also discuss how accessibility and user experience directly shape public perception, and why digital inclusivity is more than just a compliance checkbox, it’s a cornerstone of good governance.

198: The One with the Results for America Director

Emily Ferris, Director for What Works Cities at Results for America joins the show to discuss how artificial intelligence is impacting cities and what to expect in the future.

197: The One with the Human-Centered Design Pioneer

Suzanne Boyd, CEO of Anthro-Tech and a pioneer in human-centered design joins the show to share her journey from growing up in a family of entrepreneurs to founding Anthro-Tech in 1997, by blending her love of anthropology with technology to improve lives through thoughtful design. We unpack the evolution and institutionalization of human-centered design, its impact on government and private sector organizations, and the importance of inclusivity and accessibility from the start of any project.

196: The One About Modernizing Government Security

Peter O’Donohue, CTO at Tyto Athene, and Gaurav “GP” Pal, Principal at Stack Armor join the show to unpack the future of federal compliance, security, and cloud modernization. From automating risk management frameworks to balancing mission urgency with cybersecurity, the discussion dives into how government and industry can partner to drive efficiency, accountability, and continuous monitoring. Finally we explore insights on the evolution of FedRAMP, secure-by-design practices, and the role of AI and quantum in shaping the next five years of compliance.

195: The One with the Alliance of Digital Innovation Leader

Dan Wolf, former Deputy CIO for the Commonwealth of Virginia and current Director of State Programs for the Alliance of Digital Innovation returns to the show to unpack some of the most pressing issues shaping state and local government today. From the surge of artificial intelligence legislation sweeping all 50 states, to the rise of cybersecurity mandates like New York’s reporting requirements and Texas’s bold Cyber Command initiative, we discuss insights into how policymakers, CIOs, and the private sector are navigating these transformative shifts. 

194: The One with the e.Republic President

Dustin Haisler, State and Local Government expert and President of e.Republic joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving landscape of state and local government. Together, we dive into the findings from the 2025 Adobe Digital Government Index and explore the tension between rising citizen expectations and governments’ ability to keep pace. From AI adoption and accessibility mandates to cloud modernization, workforce challenges, and shifting federal-to-state responsibilities, we unpack the trends shaping public sector innovation. We also discuss how states are addressing technical debt, why building strong digital foundations is critical for AI success, and how leaders can move from pilots to enterprise rollouts with confidence.

193: The One with the iTech AG Vice President

Chris Cullerot, Vice President for Technology and Innovation at iTech AG joins the show to unpack the massive savings potential outlined in a recent GAO report—over $100 billion—through better IT asset management and consolidation. He shares real-world examples of how federal agencies are addressing duplicative systems, overcoming change management hurdles, and building scalable platforms that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen security.