Engage

Significant changes are underway across Department of Veterans Affairs acquisition, and understanding where VA is headed matters for companies supporting the Department and those looking to enter the market.
In this timely executive conversation, Phillip Christy, VA Chief Acquisition Officer and leader of the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC), joins Scott Semple, Founder and CEO of NewTHINK Solutions, for a candid discussion about the transformation of VA's acquisition organization, the thinking behind the changes, and what they mean for government and industry.
Drawing on his leadership experience and firsthand perspective, Christy offers valuable insight into the realignment of acquisition offices, efforts to improve consistency and efficiency, evolving procurement processes, and the priorities shaping VA's acquisition future. Semple brings a seasoned GovCon growth perspective, helping connect these developments to the practical questions contractors are asking about positioning, procurement planning, and doing business with VA.
Recorded ahead of the 2026 National Veterans Small Business Engagement (NVSBE), this discussion offers an opportunity to hear directly from senior VA acquisition leadership as the Department navigates significant organizational and operational changes.
The conversation also featured an audience Q&A sponsored by Leidos, led by Craig Potter, Federal Health IT Growth Lead for VA, bringing additional industry perspectives into the discussion.
Whether you're an established VA partner or evaluating opportunities in the market, this is a conversation worth hearing to better understand the changes underway and the leadership priorities behind them.
To connect with Phillip, visit him on LinkedIn here.
To connect with Scott, visit him on LinkedIn here.To learn more about NewTHINK Solutions, visit their website here.

What happens when a Navy acquisition leader who has spent her career on both sides of the government-industry divide shares her perspective on where acquisition is headed next? You listen.
OrangeSlices recently hosted an Engage session featuring Maria Proestou, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Acquisition Policy & Budget, for a wide-ranging conversation about the forces shaping Navy acquisition, what is changing, and what industry should be paying attention to now.
Maria brought an unusually broad perspective to the discussion.
Across a 30-year career spanning government and industry, she has helped shape complex warfighting investments, navigated the DoD planning and budgeting process, built and led a successful defense business, supported major acquisition and integration efforts, and worked extensively across the Navy acquisition enterprise. Today, she brings that experience to one of the most consequential intersections within the Department of the Navy: acquisition policy and budget.
Expertly moderated by Sharon Woods, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Accounts, Public Sector at Invisible Technologies, the conversation moved well beyond acquisition mechanics. Maria offered her perspective on Navy priorities, the continued push for speed and flexibility, the growing role of AI, automation, data and emerging technologies, and what effective government-industry engagement needs to look like as mission requirements evolve.
Perhaps most valuable for industry, Maria also discussed what it means to be a stronger mission partner. Not simply how companies pursue the next opportunity, but how they can better understand where the Navy is going, bring meaningful capabilities forward, and position themselves to deliver value over the next three to five years.
If the Navy is part of your growth strategy, put this one in the queue. Whether you lead growth, capture, strategy, technology or delivery, this 40-minute conversation offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from a senior Navy acquisition executive about what is changing, what matters, and what industry should be preparing for next. Listen to the full conversation.
Of note: Those who attended Engage live also had an additional 20 minutes with Maria after the recording ended for an audience Q&A. If you value the opportunity to take these conversations one step further and engage directly with leaders like Maria, keep an eye out for upcoming Engage sessions.
 
To connect with Maria, visit her on LinkedIn here.
To connect with Sharon, visit her on LinkedIn here.To learn more about Invisible Technologies, visit their website here.

If you missed the August 19 Engage Series, here’s your chance to hear directly from one of HHS’s top acquisition leaders.
Jennifer Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Senior Procurement Executive for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, delivered a candid and insight-packed conversation on where HHS acquisition is headed, what the Department is focused on, and what industry needs to know.
Jennifer Johnson was especially generous in sharing her perspective, offering practical insights and tips on HHS acquisition priorities, modernization, procurement trends, industry engagement, and how companies can better position to support the Department’s mission.
The conversation also highlighted the work HHS acquisition leadership is doing to engage industry, share information, and create greater visibility into the Department’s direction and priorities.
Whether you joined the conversation live or missed it entirely, this replay is well worth your time. Hear directly from Jennifer Johnson and get a firsthand look at what’s happening across HHS acquisition and what industry should be paying attention to.
To connect with Jennifer, visit her on LinkedIn here.To learn more about HHS, visit their website here.
To connect with Kimberly, visit her on LinkedIn here.To learn more about Integrity Management Services, visit their website here.

What happens when one of the Department of War's key acquisition leaders sits down to discuss how AI, data, and digital transformation are reshaping mission delivery?
In this episode of OrangeSlices, we bring you a candid conversation with Ryan Connell, Head of Procurement for the Department of War's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO). Ryan shares perspectives on acquisition execution, procurement innovation, commercial buying strategies, and the challenges of delivering technology at the speed of mission.
Guiding the discussion is Blake Harvey, President of Red Team Consulting, who draws out practical insights and real-world perspectives that matter to government and industry leaders alike.
Whether you're supporting defense customers, tracking CDAO priorities, preparing for upcoming opportunities, or simply trying to understand where federal acquisition is headed in the age of AI, this is a conversation worth your time.
A special thank you to our sponsor, ISI. Supporting more than 900 defense contractors, ISI helps organizations navigate CMMC and NIST compliance, security clearances, FSO services, and managed IT and cybersecurity needs. Learn more at OrangeSlices' dedicated CMMC resource center.
Now, sit back and enjoy this timely discussion with Ryan Connell from the Department of War's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.
To connect with Ryan, follow him on LinkedIn here.

The pressure on federal acquisition isn’t coming from one place. It’s coming from everywhere at once. Mission demands, budget realities, technology shifts, and rising expectations around speed, efficiency, and outcomes.
 
In this session of Engage. Driving Federal Change. Acquisition & Procurement, we bring together leaders who are not just responding to that pressure, they’re helping define how acquisition and operations evolve across government.
 
This is a grounded conversation. It gets into what it actually takes to align strategy with execution, how agencies are approaching modernization in practice, and where real progress is being made.
You’ll hear from:
Kyra Stewart, General Services Administration, Director of the IT Vendor Management Office
Theresa Terry, Department of the Air Force, Director of Enterprise Performance
Trevor Wagner, Department of Commerce, Director of The LAB
Josh Jordan, Federal Railroad Administration, Director of Acquisition
Todd Lennox, USDA Rural Development, Deputy Director and Chief of Contracting Office
The discussion is moderated by Krystn Macomber, Founder and CEO of Summit Strategy. Krystn leads a win studio focused on helping GovCon organizations actually compete and win, and she brings a level of clarity and execution that keeps this conversation grounded in what it really takes to perform.
If you’re working in or around federal acquisition, this is a conversation that gives you a real look at how decisions are being made and how progress is actually happening.
Listen in to hear how experienced leaders are navigating complexity, driving change, and keeping mission delivery moving forward.

Transformation is not waiting for permission. It is already underway across federal agencies, reshaping how missions are executed, how systems are built, and how outcomes are delivered.
In this session of Engage. Leading Change. Federal Technology Operational Excellence, we bring together a group of federal and industry leaders who are not just talking about transformation, they are actively driving it inside some of the most complex and high-stakes environments in government.
This conversation goes beyond theory. It gets into what it actually takes to modernize while maintaining performance, how to scale innovation inside constrained systems, and where leadership makes the difference between progress and friction.
You will hear from:
Kris Saling, Chief Technology Advisor and Strategy Lead for US Army Manpower and Reserve Affairs
Dr. Justin Ubert, Chief of Cybersecurity and Operations at the DOT Federal Transit Administration
Tamika Spencer, Business Management Division Director at GSA
Sophie Myers, Vice President of Veterans Affairs at Ad Hoc and former VA Veterans Experience Services Portfolio leader 
Moderated by Greg Gershman, Co-Founder and CEO of Ad Hoc, this discussion brings a grounded, real-world perspective on what it takes to lead change across government today.
If you are navigating modernization, scaling digital services, or trying to balance innovation with operational stability, this session offers practical insights from leaders doing that work right now.
Watch the full conversation to hear how transformation is actually being delivered across federal agencies, and what it takes to lead it effectively.

What does it really take to deliver high impact IT in today’s federal environment. This conversation gets into it.
This episode is the latest in the OrangeSlices Engage series and captures a candid 40 minute discussion with Kathryn Wetherby from CMS, David Raley from Marine Corps Community Services, Maria Shams-Ramsey, recently with FDA and now at Dynanet, and moderated by Peter Anih, CTO at Dynanet, in a session sponsored by Dynanet.
 
They get into what it takes to run and deliver on high priority IT efforts across CMS, FDA, and the Marine Corps, where efficiency is actually being gained, how leaders are approaching modernization, and what it takes to build teams that can adapt and execute under pressure.
 
If you are responsible for delivery, growth, or strategy at FDA, NIH, or Marine Corps Community Services, or operating anywhere in today’s federal market, this is worth your time.

This event is a must-attend opportunity for industry partners and federal agencies to explore and address the transformative shifts reshaping our public sector landscape. With a focus on evolving acquisition strategies, innovative contracting approaches, and the integration of artificial intelligence and automation solutions to drive cost efficiency, participants will gain invaluable insights on aligning with emerging funding programs and impactful initiatives. Join us to navigate these dynamic changes together and build stronger, more collaborative partnerships that meet today’s challenges head-on.
This event will focus on ways DoD organizations and leaders are empowering and changing how government and industry can work together to meet these emerging needs, with the end goal of making a real and measurable impact for all.
Acquisition Strategies and the Changing Landscape
AI, Intelligent Automation, and Digital Transformation
Impact – Delivering Measurable Results
⁠Young Bang⁠, Operating Executive, The Carlyle Group, Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics & Technology)
⁠Gabe Mounce⁠, Director, Outreach & Technology Engagement in New Mexico, Air Force Research Laboratory
⁠Chelsea Roberts⁠, Founder and CEO, Collaborative Compositions
⁠John Williams II⁠, Product Manager Special Operations Forces Training Systems, U.S. Army PEO STRI

This event focused on ways FedHealth organizations and leaders are empowering and changing how government and industry can work together to meet these emerging needs, with the end goal of making a real and measurable impact for all.
Event topics include:
Acquisition Strategies and the Changing Landscape
AI, Intelligent Automation, and Digital Transformation
Impact – Delivering Measurable Results
Event Speakers
Mark Canfield, Founder and CEO, 5pointe (Former Deputy Director, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
Solitaire Carroll, Acting Director of Veteran Services Portfolio, Department of Veterans Affairs
Charlee Hess, Director, Healthcare and Public Health Cybersecurity Division, Department of Health and Human Services (pending approval)
Farhan Khan, Chief AI Officer, Swingtech (Former Chief Digital Officer, Food and Drug Administration)
Carrie Lee, Chief Product Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer, Product Delivery Service, Department of Veterans Affairs
Alastair Thomson, Founder and Principal Consultant, AI Strategy LLC (Former Chief Data Officer, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) )