Red Hat Government Symposium 2024: Today’s Decisions, Tomorrow’s Advantage

Innovation in government doesn’t happen in isolation—it thrives through collaboration, open dialogue, and a shared vision for a future where technology works to improve lives and empower communities. This was the focus of the Red Hat Government Symposium 2024, where government and industry leaders gathered to explore how technology and partnerships are shaping the future.

With an overarching theme of “Today’s Decisions, Tomorrow’s Advantage,” the one-day event on November 19 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. packed in eight insightful keynote and panel discussions delivered by nearly 30 industry and government leaders, plus six engaging breakout sessions, with a focus to equip attendees with insights that can be applied directly to their mission goals. The audience was challenged to reconsider their approach to AI lifecycle challenges, such as updating and retraining models in production, driving interoperability between AI systems, addressing technical limitations on edge devices and adapting to evolving trends in cloud security and cyber resiliency.

The role of open source in AI innovation

Steven Huels, vice president, AI engineering and product strategy at Red Hat, opened the day with a keynote on how open source is driving artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) innovation. He emphasized that while open source accelerates progress, government agencies face challenges in implementing AI solutions amidst rapidly evolving technologies and strict security and privacy requirements. Collaboration between public and private organizations is essential for building a secure, transparent, and standardized foundation for AI, underscoring the event’s overarching theme.

Read next: AI: Red Hat's vision for an open source future

Securing the software supply chain in the age of AI

We explored how automation and operational flexibility can enhance AI application delivery during a morning panel. Panelists included E.P. Mathew, deputy chief information officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency, Alex Reber, operations manager for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and Daniel Rubenstein, infrastructure architect at the FBI. They discussed strategies for safeguarding the software supply chain while delivering scalable AI solutions with enhanced security foundations, emphasizing the role of automation in reducing risk and speeding innovation.

Advanced technologies in space missions

In an engaging fireside chat, Red Hat’s chief technology officer for North America Public Sector, John Dvorak, sat down with Josiah Johnson, systems architect at NASA’s Operations Support Center. They highlighted the integration of advanced technologies into space missions and the importance of cross-agency collaboration in overcoming complex challenges. Johnson noted that it’s through partnerships that we’re able to extend our reach from Earth to space.

Deploying predictive and generative AI for mission advantage

Moderated by Michelle Davis, director of Solutions Architecture at Red Hat, this session brought together Col. Daniel May from the U.S. Air Force and Rear Admiral Dennis Velez from U.S. Cyber Command. They explored the importance of an end-to-end AI platform built on Linux and Kubernetes to deliver actionable intelligence and mission-critical insights. Their discussion illuminated the practical steps agencies can take to operationalize AI effectively and with a greater security footprint.

Innovating at the mission edge

Travis Steele, chief architect for Air Force and Space Force at Red Hat, led a session examining edge computing’s impact on mission-critical environments. Josiah Johnson from NASA, Chris Johnson, deputy CTO of NGA, and Jason Aspiotis, global director of In-Space Data and Security at Axiom Space, shared how edge computing enables groundbreaking advancements in data processing and decision-making, even in the most remote environments.

Download the e-book: Scale innovation at the edge

Insights from breakout sessions

The symposium’s breakout sessions delved into specialized topics, such as AI in healthcare, modernizing with Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization, and enhancing the reliability of tactical weapon systems. In one session, Bharat Patel, product lead for Project Linchpin at the U.S. Army Research Lab, joined Mike Zizza, strategic account director for the Army at Red Hat, to discuss the role of open source communities and dual-use technology firms in accelerating AI/ML advancements. Patel highlighted how collaboration with the private sector is enabling secure and scalable defense solutions while advancing the Army’s modernization goals.

Unique for this year were the winners of the Red Hat 2024 North America Public Sector Partner Pinnacle Awards - specifically Deloitte Consulting LLP, Accenture Federal Services, Iron Bow, Emergent and Trilogy. These public sector partners were recognized for their continued efforts in developing innovative solutions using Red Hat technologies to meet the U.S. government’s needs and improve mission critical outcomes.

The 15th-annual Red Hat Government Symposium demonstrated that innovation for mission advantage requires the right technologies deployed effectively—but it also demands relationships that foster transparency, security, and adaptability. By bringing together leaders from across government and industry, the symposium provided a platform for actionable insights and transformative strategies. The event also showcased how collaboration and open innovation are driving the future of mission-critical solutions. Whether you’re modernizing systems or exploring AI at the mission edge, the time to act is now.

Couldn't make it to DC for Red Hat Government Symposium in-person? Catch the keynotes and breakout sessions anytime—stream them online for free, on demand!