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Shift Happens

Federal IT isn’t standing still, and neither are the rules, priorities, and playbooks shaping it.

Shift Happens is a one-day MeriTalk forum where government and industry leaders examine what’s changing in how agencies fund, buy, secure, authorize, and scale technology – and what those shifts mean in practice.

Candid, policy-forward conversations will explore the shift in approach across AI, cybersecurity, quantum, acquisition, cloud authorization, and digital services, focusing on practical implications, implementation realities, and what comes next.

July 14, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
International Spy Museum
Washington, D.C. 20024
Attendees are eligible to receive continuing professional education credits (CPE) for this event. No advance preparation is required. View CPE details.
Felipe Fernandez
Fortinet Federal, Inc.
Bart Larango
Splunk
Matheus Passos
Department of Commerce
Egon Rinderer
NinjaOne
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As agencies push AI from experimentation into day-to-day operations, security, governance, and risk management can no longer sit on separate tracks. This session will examine how leaders are adapting their strategies to support faster deployment, stronger safeguards, and more confident decision-making as AI use expands. Learn how agencies can build trust, resilience, and operational readiness into AI adoption from the outset. […]

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AI, automation, and shifting mission demands are changing what agencies need from their IT workforce and how that work gets done. This session will explore how leaders are rethinking roles, skills, team structures, and day-to-day operations to prepare for a more dynamic, technology-enabled environment. Learn how agencies can strengthen workforce readiness while building more adaptive, efficient, and mission-focused IT organizations. […]

Matheus Passos
Matheus Passos [pending approval]
Acting Chief Technology Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer
Department of Commerce
Egon Rinderer
Senior Vice President, Federal & Enterprise Growth
NinjaOne
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As budgets tighten and expectations for results climb, modernization efforts are facing a higher bar for prioritization, execution, and measurable value. This session will examine how leaders are sharpening modernization strategies, focusing investments, and improving visibility into progress and outcomes as every decision carries greater weight. Learn how to approach modernization with more discipline, clearer justification, and less room for delay or drift. […]

Bart Larango
Federal Industry Advisor, Public Sector
Splunk
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As new technologies, policies, and expectations reshape the federal environment, leadership is increasingly defined by the ability to guide change without losing sight of core mission goals. This session will explore how leaders foster adaptability, align teams around shared purposes, and create the conditions for lasting organizational resilience. Learn how agencies can lead through change with greater clarity, consistency, and organizational confidence. […]

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Agencies are being asked to do more than modernize security – they are being asked to prove it is working in an environment shaped by more complex threats, faster operations, and growing use of automation and AI. This session will explore how cyber leaders are sharpening strategy, strengthening execution, and improving enterprise-wide visibility as demands for speed, resilience, and accountability grow. Learn how agencies are aligning cyber operations with mission needs in a more dynamic security environment. […]

Felipe Fernandez
Chief Technology Officer
Fortinet Federal, Inc.
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Cloudflare
Fortinet Federal
ninjaOne
Splunk
Workday Government

International Spy Museum

700 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, D.C. 20024

Event Enquiries

shifthappens@meritalk.com
703-883-9000, ext. 127