The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester

Tony Scott, former Federal Chief Information Officer under President Barack Obama and current President & CEO of Intrusion joins the show to give a candid, inside look at how the CIO role has evolved across government and industry—from back-office IT leadership to becoming a critical connector across mission, policy, technology, and organizational strategy. Tony reflects on his time overseeing an $85B federal IT portfolio, the challenges and urgency of modernizing aging systems, and the events surrounding the OPM breach that reshaped federal cybersecurity. 

Brenden Elwood, Vice President of Market Research at CivicPlus and a City Councilor in North Bend, Washington joins the show to unpack the latest insights from CivicPlus’ nationwide resident research. We explore what drives citizen satisfaction and trust in local government, from proactive communication to transparent service delivery. We also discuss how accessibility and user experience directly shape public perception, and why digital inclusivity is more than just a compliance checkbox, it’s a cornerstone of good governance.

Emily Ferris, Director for What Works Cities at Results for America joins the show to discuss how artificial intelligence is impacting cities and what to expect in the future.

Suzanne Boyd, CEO of Anthro-Tech and a pioneer in human-centered design joins the show to share her journey from growing up in a family of entrepreneurs to founding Anthro-Tech in 1997, by blending her love of anthropology with technology to improve lives through thoughtful design. We unpack the evolution and institutionalization of human-centered design, its impact on government and private sector organizations, and the importance of inclusivity and accessibility from the start of any project.

Peter O’Donohue, CTO at Tyto Athene, and Gaurav “GP” Pal, Principal at Stack Armor join the show to unpack the future of federal compliance, security, and cloud modernization. From automating risk management frameworks to balancing mission urgency with cybersecurity, the discussion dives into how government and industry can partner to drive efficiency, accountability, and continuous monitoring. Finally we explore insights on the evolution of FedRAMP, secure-by-design practices, and the role of AI and quantum in shaping the next five years of compliance.