Pick up your badge, grab a cup of coffee, and get ready for GITEC 2026 to officially start! 

Federal IT modernization is increasingly defined by how well agencies align technology, policy, and mission outcomes. As expectations for security, data-driven decision-making, and service delivery grow, leaders must modernize legacy environments while improving efficiency, governance, and cross-agency collaboration. Success depends on clear executive leadership, disciplined prioritization, and a strategic approach that ties modernization investments to measurable impact.

Join this executive-level panel featuring senior government IT leaders for a strategic discussion on the decisions shaping federal IT modernization. Panelists will share leadership perspectives on enterprise transformation, policy alignment, risk management, and operational efficiency—offering lessons learned and insights into what effective modernization looks like at scale
 

Cyber and AI initiatives demand strong leadership to ensure security, accountability, and mission alignment. In this fireside chat, senior leaders discuss how they are navigating emerging risks, governing AI use, and building resilient digital environments.

Leaders from across federal IT gather to exchange insights on leadership, innovation, and advancing agency missions through technology. Featuring women leaders from across the federal government, the discussion highlights their experiences leading IT initiatives and teams across agencies, as leadership roles continue to evolve alongside emerging technologies and shifting mission priorities.The conversation will focus on leadership development, strategic decision-making, and approaches to leading teams through change in complex federal environments. Attendees will gain practical perspectives on effective leadership in government IT, including building resilient organizations, driving innovation, and delivering mission impact through strong, collaborative leadership.

Celebrate the leaders and teams shaping the future of government technology as we announce the winners across all five GITEC Award categories, honoring innovation, impact, and excellence across the public sector.

Amidst the relentless backdrop of daily cyber attacks, organizations confront the urgent imperative of identifying and mitigating relevant threats. This session focuses on exploring the pivotal role that threat intelligence plays in strengthening cybersecurity defenses. Attendees will gain insights into the profound significance of integrating threat intelligence to enhance cybersecurity resilience, understand the operational advantages derived from its effective utilization, and explore the evolving use cases that result in expanding benefits through seamless integration into existing security frameworks.

Recruiting and retaining top talent is a pressing challenge for federal agencies seeking to stay competitive in an evolving job market. This panel will examine innovative approaches to attract highly skilled professionals while addressing systemic barriers to recruitment, including complex hiring processes and competition with the private sector. Discussions will center on creating compelling value propositions for prospective employees, leveraging data to identify trends, and tailoring retention strategies to meet the diverse needs of a multi-generational workforce. Attendees will gain actionable insights into improving employee engagement, onboarding practices, and fostering a workplace culture that supports long-term career satisfaction. This session is an invaluable opportunity to learn from peers and experts on how to build and sustain a resilient federal workforce.

As federal agencies modernize their digital environments, application modernization has become a critical driver of mission agility, security, and operational efficiency. This discussion will explore how agencies are evolving legacy applications through cloud-native architectures, modular development, improved data integration, and automation. Panelists will examine common challenges such as technical debt, interoperability, security, and workforce readiness, as well as strategies for scaling modernization efforts across complex environments. Speakers will also discuss how emerging technologies, automation, and DevSecOps practices are reshaping the application lifecycle. Attendees will gain insights into strategies that support scalable, resilient applications capable of meeting current and future mission demands.

Quantum technologies are poised to significantly impact federal IT modernization, reshaping how agencies think about security, resilience, and long-term infrastructure planning. As quantum capabilities advance, agencies are beginning to assess implications for encryption, secure communications, and data protection—reinforcing the need for quantum-resistant approaches that align with Zero Trust principles. Preparing for a post-quantum future requires balancing immediate risk mitigation with forward-looking strategy across mission systems and enterprise environments.

Join this panel discussion with federal and industry leaders as they examine how agencies are incorporating quantum considerations into Zero Trust architectures, modernization roadmaps, and workforce planning. Panelists will share practical insights on post-quantum readiness, emerging use cases, policy alignment, and the decisions being made today to ensure systems remain secure and resilient in a quantum-enabled future.

That's a wrap on our first day of sessions for GITEC 2026!  Join us for our GITEC Awards reception at 4:30PM!