How to Operationalize AI in Government Without Compromising Mission Security & Integrity

Agencies are rapidly operationalizing artificial intelligence to comply with executive mandates, not just to streamline workflows and improve efficiency but also to support decision-making by extracting actionable insights from large volumes of data. Although AI offers tremendous benefits to improve the delivery of public services and to accelerate mission execution, the technology also poses serious risks.

AI has become a critical component of modernization across public and private sectors. As more organizations implement AI, the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 will serve as an avenue for government and industry to explore the technology’s impact on modernization efforts and address the challenges of deploying it securely and at scale. Limited tickets are still available here.

What Are the Risks Associated With AI Use?

To fully realize the benefits of AI, organizations must address a series of risks that could impact data security, system reliability and national security operations.

Data Exposure Risks

An April 2025 report from the Government Accountability Office warned that the use of generative AI without sufficient guardrails could lead to sensitive information being disclosed. Agencies risk unintentionally exposing classified, proprietary or personally identifiable information to unauthorized individuals.

Model Reliability Issues

In the same report, the congressional watchdog also warned about model hallucinations and loss of control, wherein the system ends up carrying out harmful behavior. These issues can result in inaccurate output, flawed decision-making and reduced trust in AI systems.

Cyber Vulnerabilities

Additionally, cybersecurity and intelligence agencies from the U.S. and allied nations have warned about data security vulnerabilities across the AI lifecycle. A joint guidance published in May 2025 by the National Security Agency and partners in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom identified risks related to the data supply chain, maliciously modified data and data drift, which may compromise the integrity of AI systems.

National Security Impact

In the public sector, AI risks left unaddressed could lead to disastrous consequences that may impact public safety and national security. Compromised AI systems could expose critical infrastructure to attackers who can disrupt not just essential services, such as healthcare and electricity, but also impede military action in case of conflict. Moreover, AI, when deployed without proper oversight and validation, can degrade decision-making by producing unreliable output that undermines confidence in mission-critical operations.

Gain exclusive insights on secure AI deployment in government at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22. No less than five unique panel sessions at the event will tackle AI-related topics. Register here.

How Are Agencies Balancing AI Implementation & Risk Mitigation?

In response to executive mandates for AI adoption across government, agencies are taking steps to ensure that the technology use within their respective operations maintains security, reliability and compliance with federal standards.

GAO, in a September 2025 report, revealed that federal agencies are guided by a growing set of requirements, including laws, executive orders and policy guidance, to govern AI use. The watchdog identified 94 AI-related requirements with government-wide implications, along with multiple oversight and advisory bodies tasked with ensuring responsible AI adoption and frameworks intended to promote transparency, accountability and risk management.

Agencies are also working with industry to ensure that AI systems that will be deployed in government systems are secure and trustworthy. The Defense Intelligence Agency, for example, turned to the private sector earlier this year to support the development of tools that can test, evaluate, verify and validate new AI technologies to minimize risks. 

Why Should GovCons Attend the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit?

For the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit, the Potomac Officers Club invited panelists who have real-world experience leading the integration of advanced technologies in high-security federal and military environments. At the Operationalizing AI in High-Security Federal Environments, speakers will offer not only lessons from successful AI implementations but also guidance on how industry can support agencies in safely and securely operationalizing AI at scale while addressing risks that may impact government missions.

The panel will also cover:

• Transitioning from pilot initiatives to enterprise-wide deployment
• Establishing governance frameworks to support AI at scale
• Integrating AI into zero trust architectures
• Strengthening cybersecurity through secure AI implementation

The speakers are:

Col. Jonathan McCall

Deputy Director for Space, Advanced Battle Management System Cross-Functional Team, U.S. Space Force

Col. Jonathan McCall offers expertise in advanced technology integration in military operations as deputy director for space within the ABMS CFT, the Department of the Air Force entity providing advanced capabilities, including AI, in support of the DAF Battle Network. 

Commissioned in 2002, McCall has held several key leadership roles across the Air Force and the Space Force. Prior to his current role, he served as a senior Space Force fellow at NASA, where he helped shape national space policy and coordinated cross-agency efforts.

His career also includes leadership positions at the Air Force Research Laboratory, where he oversaw hypersonic and intercontinental ballistic missile research and development initiatives, and at Air Force Space Command, where he managed space and cyber investment portfolios.

Gregory Touhill

Director of the CERT Division, Carnegie Mellon University

Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory Touhill is a cybersecurity expert who has served as the U.S. government’s first federal chief information security officer, a role he held from 2016 to 2017. As federal CISO, he spearheaded national cybersecurity efforts and advised senior federal decision-makers on all matters related to cyber risk management. 

Touhill’s public sector experience also includes leadership at the Department of Homeland Security as deputy secretary for cybersecurity and communications and 30 years of service at the U.S. Air Force, where he held operational commander roles at the squadron, group, and wing levels.

Currently, Touhill sits as the director of Carnegie Mellon University’s CERT Division, an organization within CMU’s Software Engineering Institute known for researching software vulnerabilities and providing critical information and training that contribute toward stronger cybersecurity across industries. 

Wade Allen (Moderator)

Director of Sales and Federal Growth Strategy, Valiantys Federal

Wade Allen is a federal technology and business development executive with extensive experience driving growth, cloud adoption and digital transformation across the Department of War, the intelligence community and other government customers. As director of sales for federal growth strategy at Valiantys Federal, he leads the government technology company’s go-to-market strategy, capture management and enterprise software sales.

Prior to Valiantys, he held leadership positions at IPTA, where he helped increase the company’s valuation and launched artificial intelligence initiatives.

His earlier career includes work supporting major DOW cloud initiatives, including contributions to the Air Force Cloud One program. Allen also spent more than a decade at Permuta Technologies, where he led enterprise architecture and cloud services programs for defense customers.

Rob Gordon

Chief Technology Officer, Omni Federal

Rob Gordon is a seasoned executive with experience delivering enterprise cloud, cybersecurity, zero trust, and identity, credential and access management tools and support services across commercial and government sectors. As Omni Federal’s CTO, a role he has held since 2024, Gordon is responsible for developing and implementing the company’s technical strategy and aligning technology investments with customer mission requirements. 

Before Omni, he served as director of engineering at Akamai Technologies, where he led teams supporting major programs for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army. He also held multiple leadership roles over his two decades at Isobar.