Nothing Should Stand in the Way of a Secure Government

March 30, 2026

Join Us for the Federal Cybersecurity Executive Summit

Federal cybersecurity leaders are at a breaking point—not from lack of tools or mandates, but from the growing complexity of integrating security into real mission outcomes.

 

That’s why government and industry leaders will convene in Washington, D.C. for the Federal Cybersecurity Executive Summit, hosted by GovExec in partnership with Optiv + ClearShark. This exclusive, in-person event brings together senior cyber, IT, and mission leaders to focus on one core objective: breaking through complexity to achieve mission-ready security.

 

 

Why This Summit Matters Now

Federal agencies today are navigating a convergence of challenges—evolving threats, expanding attack surfaces, and increasing pressure to operationalize zero trust, AI, and data security strategies.

 

But while compliance requirements continue to grow, they don’t always translate into real operational resilience.

 

This summit is built on a clear premise: compliance is the baseline—not the goal.

 

Through real-world insights and peer-driven discussions, attendees will explore how to:

  • Close the gap between policy and operational security
  • Align identity, data, and SecOps into a unified defense strategy
  • Accelerate security outcomes without increasing complexity

 

Rather than theory, this event is focused on execution—how agencies are actually making progress today.

 

 

What You’ll Experience

This year’s agenda is designed to move beyond concepts and into practical, mission-aligned cybersecurity strategies:

 

Opening Keynote — Mission-Focused Cybersecurity Leadership

 

A call to action for federal leaders to move beyond fragmented approaches and drive unified, outcome-based security

 

Identity Is the New Attack Surface

 

How agencies are modernizing identity security to reduce risk and enable mission execution

 

SecOps at Machine Speed

 

Leveraging automation, orchestration, and AI to transform security operations and reduce response time

 

Trusted Data. Mission-Ready AI.

 

Exploring how agencies can operationalize data securely to power AI without introducing new vulnerabilities

 

Breaking Through Operational Barriers

 

A forward-looking discussion on overcoming real-world constraints—budget, culture, and legacy infrastructure

 

Networking & Collaboration

 

Engage directly with peers, solution experts, and federal leaders shaping the future of cybersecurity

 

 

Featured Government Speakers

This year’s summit brings together an exceptional lineup of federal leaders actively shaping cybersecurity across defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies:

  • John Bass, Defense Information Systems Agency
  • Colonel Juliet Calvin, U.S. Marine Corps
  • Mark Canter, Government Accountability Office
  • James Johnson, Defense Logistics Agency
  • Ryan Galuzzo, National Institute of Standards and Technology

 

These speakers bring firsthand perspectives from the front lines of federal cybersecurity—offering practical insights you won’t find anywhere else.

 

 

Who Should Attend & What You’ll Gain

This summit is designed for:

  • Federal CISOs and senior cybersecurity leaders
  • IT modernization and digital transformation executives
  • Mission owners responsible for secure program delivery
  • Federal systems integrators and technology partners

 

Attendees will walk away with:

  • Actionable identity security strategies to reduce risk across distributed environments
  • Blueprints for modern SecOps driven by automation and AI
  • Practical approaches to securing data for AI adoption
  • Real-world strategies for overcoming organizational and operational barriers
  • Valuable peer connections across the federal cybersecurity ecosystem

 

 

Call to Action

Seats are limited for this high-impact executive event.

 

Join your peers in Washington, D.C. to explore how federal agencies are breaking through complexity and building faster, more resilient, mission-aligned cybersecurity programs.

 

Register now to secure your spot at the Federal Cybersecurity Executive Summit.

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tom mahoney
Vice President of Marketing
Tom Mahoney is Vice President of Marketing, where he brings more than 20 years of marketing experience for Fortune 100 companies, with over a decade of experience in sales and marketing in the U.S. public sector.

In his role at Optiv + ClearShark, Tom is responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies to support the company’s vendor community and growth goals. He is a customer-focused leader with a passion for delivering best-in-class cybersecurity solutions. With his extensive experience in marketing and the U.S. public sector, Tom is poised to help Optiv + ClearShark achieve its mission of managing cyber risk and providing innovative solutions to modernize and secure information technology within the government.

About Optiv + ClearSharkTM

Optiv + ClearShark is a cybersecurity and IT solutions provider focused exclusively on serving the U.S. federal government. From the data center, cloud and to the edge, we have decades of experience securing and modernizing federal agency data and infrastructure. Our world-class advisory and engineering team is comprised of mission-focused, results-driven subject-matter experts with deep technology and agency domain knowledge and security clearances.

 

Part of Optiv, the cyber advisory and solutions leader, Optiv + ClearShark partners with federal agencies to advise, deploy and operate complete cybersecurity programs.