Welcome to IBM Think Gov 2026

At Think Gov 2026, forward-thinking Federal IT decision-makers explored how AI, automation, and hybrid cloud are driving productivity and mission advantage. Attendees learned how other agencies are deploying AI agents and assistants, optimizing AI-ready data, and ensuring maximum ROI with IT automation — all with the power of choice, trust, and seamless integration.

Opening Remarks

Susan Wedge, Managing Partner, U.S. Public & Federal Market, IBM

Mission First: Accelerating Government Transformation Through Bold Partnership

Gary Cohn, Vice Chairman, IBM
Ed Forst, Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration

Rising security demands and rapid technological change require bold government-industry collaboration to drive modernization.

Government Fireside Chat with Sonny Bhagowalia

Sonny Bhagowalia, Assistant Commissioner & Chief Information Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Vanessa Hunt, General Manager, U.S. Federal Market Technology, IBM

Hear a candid conversation on balancing technology modernization, cybersecurity, and operational resilience to advance mission outcomes without disrupting critical day-to-day operations.

Embracing AI for lasting advantage: A comprehensive approach to transformation

Carl Coe, Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of Energy
Richelle Gibson, Deputy Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Jason Prow, Chief Technology Officer, Federal, IBM

Discover how AI-driven innovation and strategic investments are transforming federal agencies and advancing mission success.

What’s next for the future of computing?

Dr. Joseph Broz, Vice President, U.S. Government Quantum Business Development, IBM

Join IBM Research for an inside look at the next generation of enterprise computing and emerging technologies poised to drive future innovation and competitive advantage.

Featured Thinker – Dr. Ed Mays

Dr. Joseph Broz, Vice President, U.S. Government Quantum Business development, IBM
Dr. Ed Mays, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Infrastructure and Support Services and Chief Enterprise Infrastructure Officer, U.S. Customs and border Protection

A chat with Dr. Ed Mays.

Closing Remarks

Vanessa Hunt, General Manager, U.S. Federal Market Technology, IBM
Susan Wedge, Managing Partner, U.S. Public & Federal Market, IBM

Transformation case study: GenAI in action – what’s next?

Steve Moss, Director, watsonx Americas, Client Zero Go to Market, IBM

Learn how IBM leveraged AI, automation, and AI agents to achieve $3.5 billion in productivity gains – and how federal agencies can apply these proven strategies to modernize operations and accelerate mission impact.

AI Agents that deliver on the hype

Dr. Delester Brown, Jr., Chief Data & AI Officer, National Guard Bureau
Bridget Deary, Partner, Automation & Data Platforms Practice, IBM
Jennifer Rostami, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of TTS Technology Talent, General Services Administration

Accelerate application modernization with AI and automation

Jacob Waheed [moderator], Chief Information Officer, Hybrid Cloud and Data Leader, IBM
Sunil Madhugiri, Chief Technology Officer, Office of Information and Technology, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Discover and deliver meaningful data with data intelligence

Jonathan Entwistle, Field Chief Technology Officer, Federal Data, IBM
Melanie M. Keller, Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Food and Drug Administration
CDR Jonathan White, Cloud and Data Branch Chief, C5ISC Infrastructure Services Division, U.S. Coast Guard

Automate hybrid cloud operations and scale with AI:

Nikhil Radheshwar [moderator], Senior Partner and Vice President, Hybrid Cloud Management, IBM
Mark James, Director of the OIT Enterprise Cloud Services Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Jahin Patwary, Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services
Megan Sikora, Senior Account Manager – Public Sector, Apptio

Technology Business Management: Drive ROI with every dollar of tech spend

Bob Carter [moderator], Vice President, Public Sector, Apptio, an IBM company
Andi Fisher-Colwill, Director of Business and Administrative Services and Acting Deputy CIO, Department of Commerce Policy and Business Management

Transforming the future of program integrity within the U.S. Federal Government

Dan Chenok [moderator], Executive Director, IBM Center for The Business of Government, IBM
Jeneen Iwugo, Acting CPI Director, CMS Center for Program Integrity
Justin Marsico, Assistant Commissioner for Fraud Prevention and Financial Integrity, U.S. Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service
Linda Miller, President, Program Integrity Alliance
Raafat Raafat, Associate Partner, IBM’s Federal Strategy & Transformation Service Line Leader, IBM’s Program Integrity, IBM

Quantum Computing for Government: What’s Real and What’s Next?:

Bert de Jong, Director of the Quantum Systems Accelerator, National Quantum Initiative
Dr. Travis L. Scholten, Technical Lead, Public Sector, IBM Quantum | IBM T. J. Watson Research Center