Weekly Round Up: August 4-8, 2025

Technology

Federal CIO Says Digitized Isn’t Modernized.  Greg Barbaccia, federal chief information officer (CIO) gave rare commentary on the direction he wants to see the federal government take in modernizing its processes and functions – marking one of his most public statements yet.  On Thursday, he took to LinkedIn where he shared thoughts on the government considering itself to be “digital,” as he put it, but commented that “in reality, we’ve only digitized, not transformed.”  Barbaccia – who was also named Federal chief AI officer last month – has an extensive background in highly technical positions within the private sector, while also serving in various roles within the intelligence community throughout the early 2000s.  

Cybersecurity

Federal Courts Hit by ‘Escalated’ Cyberattacks, Tighten Security. The Federal Courts system is ramping up its cybersecurity protections after saying that its electronic case filing system has been the target of recent “escalated cyberattacks,” including sensitive case information.  “The federal Judiciary is taking additional steps to strengthen protections for sensitive case documents in response to recent escalated cyberattacks of a sophisticated and persistent nature on its case management system,” a statement from court officials said, adding that the court system is “further enhancing security of the system and to block future attacks, and it is prioritizing working with courts to mitigate the impact on litigants.” 

FAA

FAA Proposes Tougher Cyber Rules for Drones in New Flight Plan. Newly proposed rules from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would require, if adopted, that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) – also known as drones – undergo new cybersecurity screening processes to prevent security breaches and unauthorized access. Those policies were outlined in the 731-page document made public by the FAA on Aug. 6, which in addition to requiring additional cybersecurity practices, would allow drones to be flown beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of their pilots or those observing autonomous aircraft. 

Veterans

Records Often Missing From Veterans’ EHRs Due to Tech Hurdles, OIG Finds. According to the Aug. 7 new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) reveals that community care staff did not always import records into veterans’ electronic health records (EHRs), due in part to technology limitations. VA can authorize veterans to receive community care in certain instances. After their appointment, the community provider must return associated medical records to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The OIG found that, as of Dec. 16, 2024, VHA closed nearly 3 million community care consults for appointments. Of the 3 million, over 2.4 million (82 percent) had medical records attached, and nearly 1 million were administratively closed (34 percent).

Defense

DISA to Launch JWCC Next in FY2026 Second Quarter. The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) plans to launch “JWCC Next,” – a follow-on to the Department of Defense’s (DoD) $9 billion Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract – in the second quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2026.  “The plan is to get [JWCC Next] on the street in the second quarter of FY 2026 with an award [anticipated] in early FY 2027,” said John Hale, DISA’s chief of product management and development. JWCC Next is currently in the acquisition strategy phase. JWCC Next is being developed to expand beyond the four hyperscale cloud providers. Established in 2022 to streamline DoD’s access to commercial cloud services, JWCC has since generated more than $3 billion in task orders.

Navy CIO Unveils Adaptive Roadmap for Data-Driven Capabilities. The Department of the Navy (DON) Chief Information Officer (CIO) has unveiled a new plan to guide the service’s capability investments using data and strategy. Outlined in a July 31 memo, the Adaptive Roadmap is now the official process for evaluating and prioritizing investments in emerging technologies across the DON. It aims to streamline the transition from concept to divestment by providing a clear, structured path to assess technology lifecycles and align resources to mission needs. The new framework builds on the concept of Investment Horizons, a methodology introduced last year by Acting DON Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Justin M. Fanelli.

USPTO

Deborah Stephens Steps In as Acting USPTO CIO. Deborah Stephens is the new acting chief information officer (CIO) at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) following the departure of former CIO Jamie Holcombe earlier this week. Previously, Stephens served as the deputy CIO at the USPTO since 2019. As CIO, “she is the principal advisor to the agency on the design, development, and management of its information systems and technology,” according to the USPTO’s website.

Leadership

Avoid These Communication Breakdowns When Launching Strategic Initiatives. Communication “leak points”—specific transition moments where critical meaning evaporates—require systematic intervention. There are three leak points that are most common in organizational messaging. The first leak point is where visionary thinking often becomes pedestrian communication. The second leak point occurs when moving from documentation to presentation. Even well-formulated ideas suffer degradation when articulated publicly. The final and most treacherous leak point occurs when listeners interpret your message through their unique filters of experience, role, and self-interest—often creating meaning you never intended.  

THIS WEEK @ THE CENTER 

RECENT BLOGS

Seamless Care, Unified Vision: A Journey to a Single, Common Federal Electronic Health Record by Michael J. Keegan. This essay highlights insights from my conversation with Bill Tinston, Director of the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization Office (FEHRM), revealing critical insights into the mission, challenges, and strategies of the FEHRM, offering valuable lessons for leaders navigating complex, large-scale transformations in government or any enterprise setting.

ICYMI – Implementing a Single, Common Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR): A Conversation with Bill Tinston, Director, Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization Office (FEHRM). This week Michael Keegan welcomed Bill Tinston, Director of the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization Office (FEHRM) and discover the FEHRM’s mission to implement a single, common Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR), how it tackles this ambitious goal, and the key challenges it faces in transforming healthcare delivery.