Former Fed Friday

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Hunter Gros and Shelley McGuire sit down with Katrina Brisbon, CEO of Columbia Alliance and former HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition and Senior Procurement Executive, to challenge one of GovCon’s most common assumptions: that access equals advantage. Drawing on more than 27 years of federal experience, Katrina explains why relationships can provide valuable insight into an agency’s mission, pain points and priorities—but positioning is what ultimately wins.
Katrina breaks down the four types of intelligence companies should be gathering long before an opportunity hits the street: market, opportunity, competitive and engagement intelligence. From tracking budget movements and contract expirations to understanding incumbents, competitors, vehicles and changing procurement strategies, she shares what companies should be watching to make smarter bid, teaming and investment decisions.
The conversation also explores why industry days should validate your research—not begin it—and why listening may be far more valuable than walking into a meeting ready to deliver your capabilities pitch.
The takeaway? If your strategy starts when the opportunity is posted, you’re already behind. The companies positioned to win are watching the market, following the breadcrumbs and building their strategy years before everyone else sees the opportunity.
To connect with Katrina visit her on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Columbia Alliance by visiting their website here.

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Hunter Gros and Shelley McGuire sit down with Ryan Ferry, National Security Manager at RELI Group and a former DHS and TSA leader with nearly two decades of federal experience. Ryan shares a firsthand perspective on the role data plays in mission execution, from passenger screening and workforce planning to technology deployment, risk management, and resource allocation.
The conversation explores some of the biggest challenges facing national security agencies today. How can agencies break down data silos and connect legacy systems? What does modern data sharing actually look like? How do you make information more accessible without creating new security risks? And what role should industry play in helping agencies modernize beyond simply delivering new technology?Ryan also discusses where agencies early in their modernization journey should begin and why understanding the mission, existing capabilities, resources, and acceptable risk is critical to making meaningful progress.
If you work in national security, federal technology, data, or GovCon, this conversation offers an inside look at what effective modernization really requires.
To connect with Ryan visit him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about RELI Group by visiting their website here.
Don't know vTech yet? You should as vTech Solution is a trailblazer in the IT services domain with key offerings that include Digital Modernization, including Application Modernization; Managed Cloud infrastructure; and Cybersecurity. Learn more about vTech Solution here.

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire and Hunter Gros sit down with Leslie Reid, Vice President of Defense Programs at iWorks Corporation and former Senior Advisor at DCSA, for an inside look at one of the federal government's most ambitious modernization efforts.
Drawing on her experience leading through the evolution of the National Background Investigation Services (NBIS) and Trusted Workforce 2.0, Leslie shares why modernizing government technology is far more than replacing legacy systems. The conversation explores the challenge of translating policy into technology requirements, why strong workflow design matters more than simply adding AI, and how identity data and continuous vetting are reshaping the future of personnel security.
Leslie also reflects on her transition from government to industry, explaining how understanding customer pain points drives better technology solutions, why "innovation theater" often stalls meaningful progress, and what it takes to bridge the gap between operational expertise and technical implementation. Whether you're navigating government modernization, developing AI-enabled solutions, or supporting federal missions, this episode offers practical lessons from someone who has worked on both sides of the table.
To connect with Leslie visit her on LinkedIn here.Learn more about iWorks Corporation by visiting their website here.
Don't know vTech yet? You should as vTech Solution is a trailblazer in the IT services domain with key offerings that include Digital Modernization, including Application Modernization; Managed Cloud infrastructure; and Cybersecurity. Learn more about vTech Solution here.

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Hunter Gros and Shelley McGuire welcome Lee Ann Crochunis, former CMS Deputy Director of the Office of Information Technology and now Technology Account Lead focused on CMS at Guidehouse, for a candid conversation about the realities of government, industry, and what it takes to successfully bridge the two.
Drawing from more than 24 years at CMS and leadership roles in both government and industry, Leanne shares why empathy—not assumptions—is one of the most valuable skills anyone working in the federal market can develop. She explores the unseen pressures driving both federal employees and contractors, why commercial solutions often require more adaptation than companies expect, and what industry frequently gets wrong when trying to build relationships with government leaders.
Rather than focusing on the next sales pitch, Leanne challenges listeners to rethink how they engage with federal customers by listening more deeply, understanding context, and building genuine trust before offering solutions. Whether you're new to GovCon or a seasoned federal contractor, this episode offers practical lessons on navigating change, translating commercial innovation into government, and creating partnerships that last.
To connect with Lee Ann visit her on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Guidehouse by visiting their website here.

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire sits down with Robert Wood, former Chief Information Security Officer at CMS and founder of Sidekick Security, to discuss what it really takes to secure AI adoption in federal agencies and the companies that support them. Drawing on his experience leading cybersecurity programs in government and advising organizations today, Robert explains why there is no one-size-fits-all approach to AI governance and how organizations can avoid the most common security blind spots.
The conversation explores the difference between traditional compliance and operational AI governance, why understanding your organization's AI use cases should come before investing in new tools, and how contractors can make smarter cybersecurity investments as AI capabilities continue to evolve. Robert also shares why governance isn't a one-time exercise, but an ongoing process of adapting to new features, new risks, and new ways AI is being used across the enterprise.
Whether you're a federal leader, GovCon executive, cybersecurity professional, or AI strategist, this episode offers practical insights for protecting innovation while enabling responsible AI adoption.
To connect with Robert visit him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Sidekick Security by visiting their website here.
Don't know vTech yet? You should as vTech Solution is a trailblazer in the IT services domain with key offerings that include Digital Modernization, including Application Modernization; Managed Cloud infrastructure; and Cybersecurity. Learn more about vTech Solution here.
 

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Hunter Gros sits down with Hemant Baidwan, former DHS Chief Information Security Officer and Acting Deputy CIO, and current Chief Information Security Officer with Knox Systems, Inc. to discuss leadership, career growth, cybersecurity, and the transition from public service to industry. Hemant reflects on the experiences that shaped his 26-year career, the importance of building a strong personal brand, and why successful leaders never stop rolling up their sleeves to help their teams.
The conversation explores lessons learned leading cybersecurity efforts across the Department of Homeland Security, how trust and empowerment drive success in large organizations, and what professionals can do today to prepare for future leadership opportunities. Hemant also shares his perspective on moving from government to the private sector, the realities of managing cyber risk in both environments, and why adaptability remains one of the most valuable skills in technology and security.
To connect with Hemant visit him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Knox Systems, Inc. by visiting their website here.
Don't know vTech yet? You should as vTech Solution is a trailblazer in the IT services domain with key offerings that include Digital Modernization, including Application Modernization; Managed Cloud infrastructure; and Cybersecurity. Learn more about vTech Solution here.

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Shelley McGuire and Hunter Gros welcome back Jeff Grant, founder of Schedule F Healthcare Strategies and former CMS executive, for a candid discussion about what he has learned during his first year helping displaced federal employees find new opportunities and supporting GovCon companies navigating the healthcare market.
Drawing on his experience inside CMS and now in industry, Jeff shares why networking matters long before you need a job, what federal employees often underestimate about the business development and teaming process, and how stronger collaboration between agencies and industry can lead to better procurement outcomes.
The conversation also explores emerging trends at CMS, including the agency’s growing focus on fraud prevention, modernization of legacy systems, and the increasing use of proof-of-concept evaluations to assess contractor capabilities. Jeff offers a unique perspective on why demonstrating solutions may become just as important as writing proposals, especially as agencies look to evaluate AI and digital transformation efforts more effectively.
To connect with Jeff visit him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Schedule F Healthcare Strategies by visiting their website here.
Don't know vTech yet? You should as vTech Solution is a trailblazer in the IT services domain with key offerings that include Digital Modernization, including Application Modernization; Managed Cloud infrastructure; and Cybersecurity. Learn more about vTech Solution here.

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Hunter Gros and Shelley McGuire sit down with former CMS cybersecurity leader Malachi Robinson for a candid conversation about influence, innovation, and what really drives federal technology adoption. After spending more than a decade shaping cloud authorization strategy, SaaS governance, and risk-based frameworks at CMS, Malachi shares why he walked away from traditional cybersecurity leadership paths and chose to focus on user experience instead.
The conversation explores how government influence changes once you leave public service, why authority alone doesn’t create lasting impact, and how poor user experience fuels shadow IT and emerging risks around shadow AI. Malachi also breaks down what industry often gets wrong when engaging federal agencies, what actually cuts through the noise for government decision-makers, and why empathy and translation between government and industry matter more than ever.
From FedRAMP and continuous ATO modernization to the future of SaaS governance, this episode offers a thoughtful look at the human side of cybersecurity and why the future of federal tech may depend less on policy alone and more on designing systems people can actually use.
To connect with Malachi visit him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Aquia by visiting their website here.
Don't know vTech yet? You should as vTech Solution is a trailblazer in the IT services domain with key offerings that include Digital Modernization, including Application Modernization; Managed Cloud infrastructure; and Cybersecurity. Learn more about vTech Solution here.

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Hunter Gros and Shelley McGuire talk with Krista Drobac and Kristen McGovern, partners at Sirona Strategies and co-founders of the Health Policy Futures Lab, for a candid conversation about healthcare policy, government operations, and the realities of working across the public and private sectors.
Drawing from decades of experience inside CMS, OMB, Capitol Hill, and state government, Krista and Kristen share what they learned as federal leaders, and how those lessons now shape the way they advise healthcare organizations navigating Medicare, Medicaid, health IT, telehealth, and value-based care.
The discussion dives into what the government often misunderstands about industry, what industry misunderstands about government, and why timing, process, and collaboration matter more than most people realize. From policy sequencing and internal clearance battles to building trust across agencies and stakeholders, this episode offers an insider’s look at how healthcare policy actually gets made.
If you work in healthcare, GovCon, policy, or public affairs, this conversation is packed with practical insights from two leaders helping shape the future of health policy.
To connect with Krista visit her on LinkedIn here.To connect with Kristen visit her on LinkedIn here.Learn more about Sirona Strategies by visiting their website here.Learn more about Health Policy Futures Lab by visting their website here.
Don't know vTech yet? You should as vTech Solution is a trailblazer in the IT services domain with key offerings that include Digital Modernization, including Application Modernization; Managed Cloud infrastructure; and Cybersecurity. Learn more about vTech Solution here.

On this episode of Former Fed Friday, Hunter Gros and Shelley McGuire catch up with Calvin Mitchell, Senior Director, Acquisition Strategy and Engagement, GDIT, shares how an unexpected push from his mom launched a 20-year federal career that spanned weapons systems, disaster response, Capitol Hill, and the Department of Education, ultimately rising to Deputy Assistant Secretary. Along the way, he reveals the pivotal moments, bold decisions, and leadership lessons that shaped his path.
Now on the industry side with GDIT, Calvin offers a candid look at the realities of transitioning out of government, debunks common misconceptions about federal procurement, and shares why relationships, not just resumes, are the key to success. He also opens up about what surprised him most on the other side, including the pace, the empathy, and the mission-driven mindset that still carries through.
To connect with Calvin visit him on LinkedIn here.Learn more about GDIT by visiting their website here.