Tech + Tequila: Tapping into Tech Hubs

If there’s one thing we can say about the Obama administration’s tech legacy, it’s that civilian, military and intelligence agencies have made significant inroads seeking innovation from tech hubs outside the Beltway.

Agencies with various missions—from the Pentagon’s national security imperative to the Federal Communications Commission’s regulatory duties—are turning to the nation’s private-sector tech hubs for funky new ideas, talent and perspective.

It makes sense.

New organizations like 18F, the U.S. Digital Service and the Defense Digital Service are using hiring authorities to staff offices in and outside Washington, D.C. full of private-sector and academic tech talent, initiating two-way flows of ideas and information.

Chris Lynch, who heads the DDS, affectionately refers to these stints as “a tour of duty for nerds,” and there’s no doubt their impact is being felt.

On Thursday, Sept. 29, we’ll explore the relationship between the federal government and tech hubs with several panelists who’ve been a part of this influx of innovation and ideas. And we’ll do it over beers and tequila because that’s how we roll here at Nextgov.

We’re hosting two panels from 5:45-7:30 p.m. at Eastern Foundry.

The first will discuss the collaboration with tech hubs and private-sector companies, and includes Justin Antonipillai, undersecretary for economic affairs, Department of Commerce; Erwin Godoy, chief innovation strategist at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Office’s Enterprise Innovation Office and Hala Furst, cybersecurity and technology business liaison for the Department of Homeland Security’s Private Sector Office. Nextgov staff correspondent Mohana Ravindranath will moderate.

The second panel is comprised of Dustin Laun, chief executive officer of Mobotour; Steven Babitch, design and innovation strategist and Presidential Innovation Fellow at the White House and Joel Minton, director of identity at USDS. I’ll be moderating this panel, and we’ll be talking about the value techies from the private sector are bringing to the public sector. There will some dollars and cents talk, but also a conversation around less direct value this type of two-way innovation delivers.

For more information, check out our Tech + Tequila website, or just click here to sign up and register.

Come thirsty.