Ross Gianfortune

Washington, D.C.

Managing Editor at GovCIO Media & Research

Digital journalist/editor. Bylines @washingtonpost, @theatlantic, some zines, etc. @rjgianfortune basically everywhere, including bsky, IG, whatever.

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Articles

DOD's Tech Advantage Hinges on Commercial Collaboration, Says DIU Director

4 days ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

Seamless public-private sector integration is crucial for national security to compete with global powers, DIU Director Doug Beck said. The traditional defense pathways for technology development are no longer sufficient to maintain a national security advantage, DIU Director Doug Beck said during a panel at the Special Competitive Studies Project AI+ Expo in Washington, D.C. on Monday.
Space Force to Helm Trump's Golden Dome Missile Shield Project

2 weeks ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

The initiative, led by Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein, marks a major shift toward multi-layered, tech-driven U.S. defense capabilities. President Donald Trump announced the next phase of the tech-forward Golden Dome missile defense project during a press conference in the Oval Office on Tuesday, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to constructing a space-based missile shield “super technology” capable of intercepting both space- and earth-based threats.
Rep. Gerry Connolly Leaves Lasting Mark on Federal Tech

2 weeks ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

Connolly’s leadership in Congress significantly advanced government IT, emphasizing accountability, efficiency and a robust cybersecurity posture. Rep. Gerry Connolly, who died Wednesday at 75, laid the ground work for the future of federal IT modernization, accountability and cybersecurity during his time in Congress. Connolly represented federal employees as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s 11th district since 2009.
DOD Cyber Strategy to Adapt to New Budgets, Tech Innovation

3 weeks ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

The Defense Department is entering a significant phase of rationalization and innovation in its cybersecurity strategy, driven by budgetary constraints and an evolving threat landscape, officials said this week at the Potomac Officers Club 2025 Cyber Summit in Falls Church, Viginia.
Federal Agencies Tout Tech in President Trump’s First 100 Days

3 weeks ago | govciomedia.com | Nikki Henderson |Ross Gianfortune

Federal agencies are highlighting technology impacts within President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. The administration has released several new directives to make government more efficient, including boosting emerging tech, streamlining federal acquisition and reforming the workforce.
GSA Positions Itself as a Federal AI 'Enabler,' CAIO Says

3 weeks ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

The General Services Administration (GSA) sees itself as an enabler for other federal agencies AI use as it works to align with new presidential directives, the agency’s Chief Data Scientist and Chief AI Officer Zach Whitman said on Tuesday at GovCIO Media & Research’s AI FedLab in Reston, Virginia. “We see ourselves in GSA as an enabler for the federal workforce, for the federal complex generally,” Whitman said.
DISA, Navy Progress in Zero Trust Implementation Goals

1 month ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

Initiatives like Flank Speed and Thunderdome are proving successful scale in zero trust around lessons learned this year. Zero trust initiatives at the Defense Department are scaling. Officials said this week they plan to roll out the Defense Information Systems Agency’s Thunderdome to the entire DODNet terrain starting with U.S. Southern Command and the Coast Guard. Last month, DISA’s zero-trust Thunderdome architecture passed 152 zero-trust exercises during testing.
Navy Software Optimization Journey Focuses on Efficiency

1 month ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

The Department of the Navy is intensifying scrutiny of its software enterprise to boost efficiency and enhance mission-critical capabilities. The more comprehensive review seeks to eliminate redundant software and improve Navy effectiveness, Department of the Navy Deputy CIO Barry Tanner told GovCIO Media & Research. “We’re starting to really dig in,” said Tanner.
President's FY2026 Budget Request Puts Big Bets on Tech

1 month ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

OMB proposes significant reductions for civilian agencies, but earmarks funds for AI, space exploration and energy. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget released its 2026 budget request on Friday morning, with major cuts to non-defense discretionary funding while maintaining investment in emerging technologies. The request calls for a $163 billion cut, 22.6% from 2025 levels, affecting civilian agencies including the Departments of Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security and others.
DIU Platform to Link Private Sector Innovation with Defense Needs

1 month ago | govciomedia.com | Ross Gianfortune

The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is set to launch a new artificial intelligence-powered program to connect innovative private sector companies to Defense Department. The platform, named DOD Digital OnRamp, will also simultaneously make private sector capabilities discoverable by DOD users. The tool comes amid calls from the Trump administration to modernize acquisition and bolster AI capabilities to speed innovation across the defense industrial base.