Arificial intelligence. The technology can help slash costs and labor hours upgrading outdated IT systems and code, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars to operate and sustain.

AI Is Transforming Legacy Federal Systems—Are GovCons Ready?

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Pat Host

AI has the potential to reduce reduce costs and labor hours modernizing old federal IT systems and code
These outdated legacy IT systems require hundreds of millions of dollars to operate and sustain
Get the latest strategies for integrating AI into legacy federal systems during an illuminating panel discussion at the 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit this coming Wednesday—March 18!

Modernization has been a difficult mission for government technology professionals for decades. But artificial intelligence is providing an unique opportunity to achieve federal technology modernization at scale.

AI can help slash costs and labor hours upgrading outdated IT systems and code, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars to operate and sustain, according to Federal News Network. AI can transform the processes required to retire these systems, including code refactoring, that typically have been time consuming and unable to scale.

What Are AI-Enabled Refactoring Tools?

AI-enabled refactoring tools translate between programming languages, converting ages-old Cobol and Fortran systems into cutting-edge, maintainable code while preserving business logic. These tools also find security vulnerabilities, provide compliance and create documentation throughout the modernization timeline.

How Much Does the Federal Government Spend on IT Modernization?

The federal government spends more than $100 billion on IT and cyber-related investments annually, according to the Government Accountability Office. Eighty percent of that, or $80 billion, is spent on operations and maintenance of existing IT, such as maintaining legacy systems.

Who Are the GovCon Industry Experts on Legacy System Modernization?

Learn the latest strategies for integrating AI into legacy federal systems during the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit this Wednesday—March 18! Hear directly from distinguished federal servants including:

Retired Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth, previously National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency director and a three-decade Navy veteran, and
Stephen Kucharski, who spent nearly three decades at the Small Business Administration, culminating as chief information officer and chief AI officer.

They’ll be speaking on an intriguing Integrating AI into Legacy Federal Systems: Architectural Patterns that Work panel discussion. Few tickets remain—secure your seat today!

Let’s dig into the backgrounds of our distinguished panelists:

Jennifer Sample (moderator)

Chief Technology Officer, Empower AI

Jennifer Sample is responsible for Empower AI’s technology strategy, vision and execution. She has over 20 years of experience in AI, robotics and advanced computing. Previously, she shaped and executed AI strategy as data and AI managing director at Accenture Federal Services.

Sample has also held leadership roles at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where she performed groundbreaking research and development initiatives.

Joe Norton

Chief Information Officer, LMI

Joe Norton brings more than 10 years of experience providing mission-focused technology services to government customers. He’s directed high-performing teams in creating enterprise systems powered by AI, system engineering and advanced analytics designed for impact and built to scale.

He previously led the LMI Forge, a mission-oriented technology facility purpose-designed to accelerate impact with commercial-grade services. These bridged the divide between fast-moving innovation and the challenging demands of federal customers.

Are you a GovCon technology executive? Then you cannot afford to miss the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Artificial Intelligence Summit this Wednesday—March 18. It’s curated just for you! Get the latest AI business opportunities and procurement strategies directly from Cameron Stanley, DOW chief digital and AI officer and a Wash100 Award winner. Have your burning questions answered by Stanley during his Q&A. Buy your ticket today!

Stephen Kucharski

Former CIO and Former Chief AI Officer, Small Business Administration

Stephen Kucharski is an experienced public servant with decades of federal experience. He spent almost 27 years at the Small Business Administration, with his final years spent as CIO and chief AI officer. In this position, he modernized the SBA’s $1 trillion loan portfolio and overhauled servicing and securitization systems for more than 7,500 lenders.

Kucharski also led the technology delivery of the agency’s $800 billion pandemic financial assistance, delivering digital infrastructure in 10 days and enabling rapid loan distribution. He is now part of Logivia LLC.

Vice Adm. (retired) Frank Whitworth

President for National Security, r4 Technologies

Frank Whitworth retired as a vice admiral from the Navy after more than 36 years in the service. He served as director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency from 2022 to 2025 and won the Wash100 Award, GovCon’s highest honor, four times consecutively, 2022 through 2025.

Whitworth’s operational tours included director of intelligence for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, director of intelligence for Africa Command, and director of intelligence and deputy director of Maritime Operations Center for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet.

At r4 Technologies, Whitworth leads the company’s strategic efforts supporting defense and intelligence partners with a focus on AI, predictive analytics and operational decision advantage.