The window for government contractors, especially those in defense and space technology, to go public is open again as several listings over the past 12 months show and SpaceX’s own offering this year will illustrate.
Dave Khalsa, head of mid-cap defense and government technology investment banking at J.P. Morgan, works on transactions of many different types and observes all of them to help companies in the market figure it all out.
In starting out this episode, Dave explains what all companies can take away from the handful of initial public offerings over the past 12 months and SpaceX’s listing. This is true of whether they plan to go down the IPO path or not.
The rest of the conversation between Dave and our Ross Wilkers focuses on how government priorities shape merger-and-acquisition activities by companies under different ownership models, including private equity and venture capital.
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Public offerings put GovCon in a new spotlight as SpaceX's listing looms</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HawkEye 360's public offering hauls in $416M</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AEVEX fetches $320M in IPO proceeds</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Firefly captures $868M in IPO proceeds</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">York Space Systems raises $629M in public offering</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Merlin Labs’ public offering collects $200M to build an AI autopilot for any aircraft</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">L3Harris to spin off its rocket motor business with the Pentagon as an anchor investor</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AeroVironment's tech and business blueprints with BlueHalo now in the fold</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Veritas Capital's ninth fund grows to $15.3B</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">OceanSound Partners hauls in $3.4B for third fund</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Arlington Capital fetches $6B for its seventh fund</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Government equity investments open a new frontier for industry</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Venture investing is part of the M&A conversation too</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Anduril hauls in $5B for Series H round</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shield AI closes $1.5B Series G round and moves on acquisition</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Saronic wraps up $600M Series C round</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sierra Space and Vast detail their Series C investment rounds</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;The window for government contractors, especially those in defense and space technology, to go public is open again as several listings over the past 12 months show and SpaceX’s own offering this year will illustrate.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dave Khalsa, head of mid-cap defense and government technology investment banking at J.P. Morgan, works on transactions of many different types and observes all of them to help companies in the market figure it all out.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In starting out this episode, Dave explains what all companies can take away from the handful of initial public offerings over the past 12 months and SpaceX’s listing. This is true of whether they plan to go down the IPO path or not.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The rest of the conversation between Dave and our Ross Wilkers focuses on how government priorities shape merger-and-acquisition activities by companies under different ownership models, including private equity and venture capital.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Public offerings put GovCon in a new spotlight as SpaceX's listing looms&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;HawkEye 360's public offering hauls in $416M&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;AEVEX fetches $320M in IPO proceeds&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Firefly captures $868M in IPO proceeds&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;York Space Systems raises $629M in public offering&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Merlin Labs’ public offering collects $200M to build an AI autopilot for any aircraft&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;L3Harris to spin off its rocket motor business with the Pentagon as an anchor investor&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;AeroVironment's tech and business blueprints with BlueHalo now in the fold&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Veritas Capital's ninth fund grows to $15.3B&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;OceanSound Partners hauls in $3.4B for third fund&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Arlington Capital fetches $6B for its seventh fund&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Government equity investments open a new frontier for industry&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Venture investing is part of the M&amp;A conversation too&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Anduril hauls in $5B for Series H round&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Shield AI closes $1.5B Series G round and moves on acquisition&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Saronic wraps up $600M Series C round&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/04/public-offerings-put-govcon-new-spotlight-spacexs-listing-looms/412797/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Sierra Space and Vast detail their Series C investment rounds&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Dave Khalsa, head of mid-cap defense and government technology investment banking at J.P. Morgan, overviews the conditions and decisions shaping public offerings and all other transaction types across the sector.

A pulse check on GovCon’s capital market landscape

The federal government’s lead agency for domestic cybersecurity and infrastructure protection matters has only completed its first week of being fully back up and running after not being funded for 11 weeks.
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/voices/david-dimolfetta/25968/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">David DiMolfetta</a>, cyber reporter at <a href="https://www.nextgov.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NextGov/FCW</a>, has covered how the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has operated through a period that followed losses of nearly one-third of its workforce under this Trump administration.
David joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to lay out CISA’s path forward with funding in place, plus what the agency’s stakeholders in the private and public sectors should watch out for amid the catchup.
David then breaks down NextGov/FCW’s recent reporting on two major storylines on artificial intelligence policy coming out of the White House that has direct implications for industry.
The second half of their conversation is all about a deep dive article David put together on where industry fits, or may not fit, into the government’s offensive cyber approach.
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CISA resources ‘more limited than I would like’ amid shutdown, top official says</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">IBM security executive emerges as possible contender to lead CISA</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Plankey withdraws nomination to lead CISA</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump admin floats policy language limiting contractor say on agency uses of technology</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">White House is drafting plans to permit federal Anthropic use</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Operational technology providers are feeling ‘annoyance’ at exclusion from Anthropic’s Mythos rollout, sources say</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Anthropic’s Glasswing initiative raises questions for US cyber operations</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">US push to counter hackers draws industry deeper into offensive cyber debate</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">US lists offensive cyberattacks in counterterrorism strategy</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump admin will push for ‘long-term’ reauthorization of key cyber data-sharing law</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;The federal government’s lead agency for domestic cybersecurity and infrastructure protection matters has only completed its first week of being fully back up and running after not being funded for 11 weeks.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/voices/david-dimolfetta/25968/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;David DiMolfetta&lt;/a&gt;, cyber reporter at &lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;NextGov/FCW&lt;/a&gt;, has covered how the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has operated through a period that followed losses of nearly one-third of its workforce under this Trump administration.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;David joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to lay out CISA’s path forward with funding in place, plus what the agency’s stakeholders in the private and public sectors should watch out for amid the catchup.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;David then breaks down NextGov/FCW’s recent reporting on two major storylines on artificial intelligence policy coming out of the White House that has direct implications for industry.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The second half of their conversation is all about a deep dive article David put together on where industry fits, or may not fit, into the government’s offensive cyber approach.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;CISA resources ‘more limited than I would like’ amid shutdown, top official says&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;IBM security executive emerges as possible contender to lead CISA&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Plankey withdraws nomination to lead CISA&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Trump admin floats policy language limiting contractor say on agency uses of technology&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;White House is drafting plans to permit federal Anthropic use&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Operational technology providers are feeling ‘annoyance’ at exclusion from Anthropic’s Mythos rollout, sources say&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Anthropic’s Glasswing initiative raises questions for US cyber operations&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;US push to counter hackers draws industry deeper into offensive cyber debate&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;US lists offensive cyberattacks in counterterrorism strategy&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/04/cisa-resources-more-limited-i-would-amid-shutdown-top-official-says/412939/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1778185128222.1778261271641.163&amp;__hssc=153560295.1.1778261271641&amp;__hsfp=77c20f4d81bc449cb537eee1c8812ba3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Trump admin will push for ‘long-term’ reauthorization of key cyber data-sharing law&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

David DiMolfetta, cyber reporter at NextGov/FCW, jumps in to break down the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s path forward after an 11-week funding lapse and other major storylines in his coverage universe.

NextGov/FCW’s David DiMolfetta on CISA’s catchup, federal AI policy and offensive cyber

Once again, the U.S. government is accusing China of being among several foreign entities that are looking to steal proprietary information on artificial intelligence models from American companies.
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/voices/edward-graham/24175/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Edward Graham</a>, managing editor and Veterans Affairs Department reporter at <a href="https://www.nextgov.com/?oref=ng-nav" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NextGov/FCW</a>, discovered a memo the White House sent to federal agencies that warns of distillation campaigns seeking to help create knockoff versions of AI models.
Ed joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to explain how those campaigns work and, more importantly, how they help illuminate the competition between the U.S. and China to lead the world in AI and robotics tech development.
Ed also provides an update on where things stand with VA’s rollout of a new electronic health record, which has had many fits and starts over the years to say the least.
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">White House accuses China of ‘deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns’ to steal US AI models</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">US needs to flesh out strategy to counter China’s robotics advances, lawmakers say</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">AI capabilities are needed to counter drone threats, senator says</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">House FY27 VA funding bill allocates $3.4B for EHR rollout</a>
<a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">VA resumes EHR rollouts at four Michigan medical sites</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Once again, the U.S. government is accusing China of being among several foreign entities that are looking to steal proprietary information on artificial intelligence models from American companies.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/voices/edward-graham/24175/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Edward Graham&lt;/a&gt;, managing editor and Veterans Affairs Department reporter at &lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/?oref=ng-nav" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;NextGov/FCW&lt;/a&gt;, discovered a memo the White House sent to federal agencies that warns of distillation campaigns seeking to help create knockoff versions of AI models.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ed joins our Ross Wilkers for this episode to explain how those campaigns work and, more importantly, how they help illuminate the competition between the U.S. and China to lead the world in AI and robotics tech development.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ed also provides an update on where things stand with VA’s rollout of a new electronic health record, which has had many fits and starts over the years to say the least.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&amp;__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&amp;__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;White House accuses China of ‘deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns’ to steal US AI models&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&amp;__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&amp;__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;US needs to flesh out strategy to counter China’s robotics advances, lawmakers say&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&amp;__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&amp;__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;AI capabilities are needed to counter drone threats, senator says&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&amp;__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&amp;__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;House FY27 VA funding bill allocates $3.4B for EHR rollout&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.nextgov.com/artificial-intelligence/2026/04/white-house-accuses-china-deliberate-industrial-scale-campaigns-steal-us-ai-models/413083/?oref=wt-related-article&amp;__hstc=153560295.405ccdfffb127eecfcb6edb9cdb16a48.1773355762538.1777646647907.1777650271726.140&amp;__hssc=153560295.6.1777650271726&amp;__hsfp=8123de1c7d210618e4070cc5e6cc7769" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;VA resumes EHR rollouts at four Michigan medical sites&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Edward Graham, managing editor at NextGov/FCW, jumps in to take us through how a new White House memo on artificial intelligence security helps illuminate the competition between the U.S. and China.

NextGov/FCW’s Edward Graham on the world’s AI and robotics leadership race

Decision authority shifts, the government acting like a venture customer and data transparency being the standard mode of operations are examples of how the old formulas of GovCon business success are becoming outdated.
Davi Hayes, senior director for federal strategy at The Chertoff Group, fields any questions from industry clients seeking to understand those trends and more about how the buying behaviors of their federal customers are changing.
For this episode, Davi joins our Ross Wilkers to lay out some of the answers he found in putting together the article “<a href="https://chertoffgroup.com/the-federal-market-has-changed-has-your-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Federal Market Has Changed. Has Your Strategy?</a>” The three trends highlighted at the top feature in their discussion.
Davi and Ross also overview how services companies are also part of the equation when “<a href="https://chertoffgroup.com/navigating-the-new-production-first-defense-paradigm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Navigating the New “Production-First” Defense Paradigm</a>,” a second article to read along as they discuss the new world order of GovCon.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Decision authority shifts, the government acting like a venture customer and data transparency being the standard mode of operations are examples of how the old formulas of GovCon business success are becoming outdated.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Davi Hayes, senior director for federal strategy at The Chertoff Group, fields any questions from industry clients seeking to understand those trends and more about how the buying behaviors of their federal customers are changing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For this episode, Davi joins our Ross Wilkers to lay out some of the answers he found in putting together the article “&lt;a href="https://chertoffgroup.com/the-federal-market-has-changed-has-your-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;The Federal Market Has Changed. Has Your Strategy?&lt;/a&gt;” The three trends highlighted at the top feature in their discussion.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Davi and Ross also overview how services companies are also part of the equation when “&lt;a href="https://chertoffgroup.com/navigating-the-new-production-first-defense-paradigm/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Navigating the New “Production-First” Defense Paradigm&lt;/a&gt;,” a second article to read along as they discuss the new world order of GovCon.&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

Davi Hayes, senior director for federal strategy at The Chertoff Group, summarizes the past 12 months of fundamental change across the market and what companies must have in mind as they adjust to today’s landscape.

GovCon’s new world order requires hard pivots

Noblis was stood up in 1996 as a science, technology and strategy organization that works with federal agencies on creating and rolling out solutions for some of their most complex problems.
Mile Corrigan, chief executive of Noblis, joins for this episode to go over the firm’s blueprint for its future beyond this milestone year of celebrating its 30th anniversary and how technology transition efforts are at the heart of that vision.
The government wants tech to get from lab to field much quicker than before. In talking with our Ross Wilkers, Corrigan explains some of the keys to making that happen from an industry point-of-view.
Corrigan also lays out how Noblis looks at applied science, the firm’s venture investment activity since starting out on that in 2023 and what it means to be a nonprofit in today’s landscape.
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WT 360: The tech and investment threads of Noblis 'Vision 2030'</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noblis' venture arm backs generative AI company</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noblis' venture arm invests in space data tech company</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noblis' venture arm backs digital twin specialist</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noblis looks within for its next chief executive</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">More code than papers: inside Noblis' turn into that direction</a>
<a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Noblis' evolution told by this foray into solutions</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;Noblis was stood up in 1996 as a science, technology and strategy organization that works with federal agencies on creating and rolling out solutions for some of their most complex problems.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mile Corrigan, chief executive of Noblis, joins for this episode to go over the firm’s blueprint for its future beyond this milestone year of celebrating its 30th anniversary and how technology transition efforts are at the heart of that vision.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The government wants tech to get from lab to field much quicker than before. In talking with our Ross Wilkers, Corrigan explains some of the keys to making that happen from an industry point-of-view.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Corrigan also lays out how Noblis looks at applied science, the firm’s venture investment activity since starting out on that in 2023 and what it means to be a nonprofit in today’s landscape.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;WT 360: The tech and investment threads of Noblis 'Vision 2030'&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Noblis' venture arm backs generative AI company&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Noblis' venture arm invests in space data tech company&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Noblis' venture arm backs digital twin specialist&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Noblis looks within for its next chief executive&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;More code than papers: inside Noblis' turn into that direction&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.washingtontechnology.com/podcasts/2023/06/wt-360-tech-and-investment-threads-noblis-vision-2030/387458/?oref=wt-related-article" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Noblis' evolution told by this foray into solutions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
</description>

CEO Mile Corrigan discusses technology transition efforts and venture investments as federal agencies seek faster lab-to-field solutions.

Noblis and its next 30 years

WT 360 is where the conversation takes place on what’s driving the federal government market now and where the sector is going. Editor-In-Chief Nick Wakeman and Senior Staff Reporter Ross Wilkers look at the market from all angles through interviews with industry executives and informed observers of the sector.

WT 360: The market from all angles

Details

Recent Episodes