Weekly Roundup March 14-18, 2022

USDR Leaders Reflect on State of Government Digital Services. The United States Digital Response (USDR) group, which was formed as a volunteer response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, is celebrating its second anniversary, as it continues to expand the scope and focus of its work.

Leading the U.S. Government Accountability Office

For over 100 years, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has helped Congress to improve the performance of government, ensure transparency, and save federal funds. Today, GAO’s work spans all federal programs and spending—from agriculture to space programs, banking regulation to public health, and cybersecurity to international aid. It also does financial audits of the U.S. government and assessments of its fiscal outlook.

Weekly Roundup: March 7-11, 2022

Hill Leaders Looking for Near-Term Action on FISMA, FedRAMP Legislation. Two senior House leaders on Federal technology issues said today they are looking for decisive action soon on legislation to update the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), and codify and improve the General Services Administration’s Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP).

Weekly Roundup: Februay 28-March 4, 2022

High-Risk Series: Key Practices to Successfully Address High-Risk Areas and Remove Them from the List. Every 2 years, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) update our High Risk List of federal programs and operations vulnerable to waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement, or needing broad reform. Working on the problems GAO flagged has saved more than $626 billion for the government over FYs 2006–2021.

Leveraging Data as a Strategic Asset

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is considered the nation’s premiere IT combat support agency and the trusted provider to connect and protect the warfighter in cyberspace. DISA provides, operates and assures command and control (C2), information-sharing capabilities, and a globally accessible enterprise information network that directly supports DoD and the services. “We have supported and enhanced,” explains Caroline Kuharske, acting chief data officer, “the overall communication infrastructure at a global scale to support the warfighters.

Weekly Roundup: February 21-25, 2022

DHS Deputy CDO Emphasizes Data for Evidence-Based Decisions. Carlene Ileto, deputy chief data officer at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), explained the agency’s data strategy and data governance approaches at a Feb. 23 virtual event organized by FCW, and emphasized how DHS is aiming to use data for making evidence-based decisions.

Weekly Roundup: February 14-18, 2022

Federal CIO Issues Data Call Asking Agencies How They are Using AI. Federal CIO Clare Martorana currently has a data call out to several Federal agencies asking them how they are currently using AI, their current AI use cases, and what AI work they have in production, according to a DHS program manager.

Advancing Mission Success Using Innovation and Technology

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) protects our nation’s borders from terrorism, human and drug smuggling, and illegal migration while simultaneously facilitating the flow of lawful travel and trade. Its mission is vitally important for the protection of the country and the national economy.

Weekly Roundup: February 7-11, 2022

Federal Employees Teleworked More During COVID-19, But What Does the Future of Work Look Like? When COVID-19 struck, many offices and businesses allowed their employees to work from home or telework. But what do we know about the challenges telework has presented to federal agencies and staff, and what could the future of telework activities look like?

On Modernizing Financial Management Systems

Today, the nation faces a range of diverse threats and challenges. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security continues to play a leading role in battling the pandemic, securing the border, and implementing our immigration laws, strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity, building greater resilience and preparedness, and so much more. Now the third largest department in the U.S. federal government, DHS meets its mission with an annual budget of $49.8 billion and the dedication of more than 240,000 employees. One of its most important duties is to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars.

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Leadership Fellow & Host
IBM Center for The Business of Government
600 14th Street, NW Second Floor
Washington, DC 20005
United States
202-551-9339

Michael has two decades of experience with both the private and public sectors encompassing strategic planning, business process redesign, strategic communications and marketing, performance management, change management, executive and team coaching, and risk-financing.

Michael leads the IBM Center for The Business of Government's leadership research. As the Center’s Leadership Fellow, his work is at the nexus of the Center’s mission – connecting research to practice. My work at that the Center complements frontline experience of actual government executives with practical insights from thought leaders who produce Center reports – merging real-world experience with practical scholarship. The purpose is not to offer definitive solutions to the many management challenges facing executives, but to provide a resource from which to draw practical, actionable recommendations on how best to confront such issues. Michael also hosts and produces the IBM Center’s The Business of Government Hour. He has interviewed and profiled hundreds of senior government executives from all levels of government as well as recognized thought leaders focusing on a range of public management issues and trends. Over the last four years, Michael has expanded both the show’s format and reach – now broadcasting informational and educational conversations with dedicated public servants on two radio stations five times a week and anywhere at anytime over the web and at iTunes. Michael is also the managing editor of The Business of Government magazine, with a targeted audience of close to 14,000 government and non-government professionals. Additionally, he manages the Center’s bi-annual proposal review process that awards stipends to independent, third party researchers tackling a wide range of public management issues.

Prior to joining the Center, Michael worked as a senior managing consultant with IBM GBS (Global Business Services) and as a principle consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers’ Washington Consulting Practice (WCP). He led projects in the private and federal civilian sectors including the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, FEMA, and the Veterans Health Administration. Before entering consulting, he worked in the private sector as product development manager at a New York City based risk financing firm.

Since 2003, Mr. Keegan has been a reviewer for Association of Government Accountant’s Certificate of Excellence in Accountability Reporting (CEAR)© program, keeping abreast of the most recent developments in authoritative standards affecting federal accounting, financial reporting and performance measurement. He is also a member of APPAM, the NYU Alumni Association, and the Data Center & Cloud Talent, USA. He holds masters in public administration and management from New York University and was the founder of its DC alumni group as well as previous treasurer of the NYU graduate school’s alumni board.