The Government Huddle with Brian Chidester

Sean Clifford, Quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals and former Heisman Trophy candidate at Penn State University joins the show to explore leadership under pressure and why those lessons are directly applicable to today’s public sector challenges. As government organizations navigate transformation, workforce shifts, and increasing complexity, this conversation highlights the core leadership traits that truly move teams forward: trust, preparation, resilience, and the ability to lead without formal authority. He shares what it means to operate in high-stakes, uncertain environments, where preparation meets opportunity, and how leaders can add value even when they’re not “the one in charge.” From mastering transitions to building confidence through disciplined preparation, the discussion offers practical insights for leaders working across agencies and missions.

Mark Bentkower, Principal Technologist, Americas at Veeam Software joins the show to unpack what data resilience really means for public sector organizations. Together we explore the shift from traditional compliance checklists to a resilience-first mindset built on zero trust, automation, and cross-functional alignment. He also shares insights into how agencies can move beyond siloed operations and what separates organizations stuck in reactive mode from those building true operational resilience. Finally we dive into Veeam’s Data Resilience Maturity Model (DRMM) developed with McKinsey and discuss how agencies can benchmark their posture, align people, process, and technology, and make a business case for modernization.

Lou Eichenbaum, former Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. Department of the Interior and current Federal CTO at ColorTokens joins the show for a deep dive into the evolving world of federal cybersecurity. We dive into firsthand insights on what it really means to balance mission enablement with effective risk management and why today’s CISO must act not just as a security expert, but as an executive risk manager focused on resilience, communication, and strategic alignment. We unpack what real zero trust implementation looks like beyond the buzzword, why micro-segmentation is foundational to preventing lateral movement and building mission resilience, and how federal agencies can move beyond compliance checklists toward meaningful security outcomes. We also discuss candid perspectives on what drives cybersecurity priorities inside federal agencies and and how zero trust principles will play a critical role in protecting both IT and critical infrastructure systems in the years ahead.

Crosby Burns, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer for Marin County, California joins the show for a candid and forward-looking conversation on what digital innovation really means in government today. Together, we explore how a service-first mindset can help governments balance security, accessibility, and trust in an era increasingly shaped by AI, bots, and new digital entry points. We also discuss how Marin County is rethinking public websites as repositories of structured information designed for both humans and machines and how accessibility is about far more than compliance, but about removing friction across the entire citizen journey.

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.