Weekly Roundup - April 20-24, 2026

Submitted by on Fri, 04/24/2026 - 13:54

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & AGENTIC TECHNOLOGY

From Promise to Delivery: Dr. Paul Lawrence on the Mission of Serving Veterans

Submitted by on Fri, 04/24/2026 - 11:21

Not many government leaders return to an institution carrying the same sense of mission and unfinished business as Dr. Paul R. Lawrence. Recently, I spoke with him on The Business of Government Hour in his current role as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  A role he had accepted, by his own telling, because the pull of what remained undone was simply too strong to ignore.

Transforming the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: A Conversation with Dr. Paul Lawrence, Deputy Secretary of VA

Submitted by on Mon, 04/20/2026 - 10:07
What does it take to lead one of the largest and most complex service organizations in the federal government? What are the VA’s most urgent priorities? How is VA reducing its claims backlog? What will it take to get electronic health record modernization right? Join host Michael J. Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Dr. Paul Lawrence, Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Broadcast Date: 
Monday, April 20, 2026 - 10:04
Author: 
Dr. Paul Lawrence
Audio: 
Audio icon dr_paul_lawrence_podcast_ab.mp3

The Gap Between Hope and Execution: Rethinking the American Safety Net

Submitted by on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 10:27

Clarence Carter has spent 34 years watching the same heartbreak repeat itself. A family in crisis walks through the door of a government office. They need help: real, sustained, life-changing help. What they get instead is a form. Then another form. Then a phone number. Then another office. By the time the system has finished processing them, the moment of intervention has often passed.

Reforming the Human Services Safety Net: A Conversation with Clarence Carter, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Human Services

Submitted by on Mon, 04/13/2026 - 11:18
What would it take to redesign it for outcomes, not just compliance? How is Tennessee leveraging data, digital tools, and emerging technologies like AI to transform the delivery of human services? What can we learn from the new book, Our Net Has Holes In It? Join host Michael J. Keegan as he explores these questions and more with Clarence Carter, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Human Services and author of Our Net Has Holes In It.
Broadcast Date: 
Monday, April 13, 2026 - 09:53
Author: 
Clarence Carter
Audio: 
Audio icon clarence_carter2_podcast_abcd.mp3

Tim Cummins

Submitted by on Wed, 04/08/2026 - 10:03

Tim Cummins serves as the Executive Director of the CCM Institute and as the President of World Commerce & Contracting. Until 2023, he was a Professor in the Law School at the University of Leeds (UK).

Daniel Finkenstadt

Submitted by on Wed, 04/08/2026 - 10:00

Dr. Daniel Finkenstadt is a recognized expert in public procurement and policy, currently supporting the CCM Institute. With over 23 years of experience in public sector acquisitions— from operational units to headquarters—he brings deep, practical knowledge to the field. His career includes overseas roles in Italy and Afghanistan, as well as joint acquisition work with the intelligence community.

Outcome-Based Contracting in U.S. Government

Submitted by on Wed, 04/08/2026 - 09:56

For years, federal agencies have been encouraged to shift their acquisition strategies from buying activities to buying results—yet the distance between aspiration and execution remains wide. This report, Outcome-Based Contracting in U.S. Government: From Policy to Performance by Daniel Finkenstadt and Timothy Cummins, addresses that gap.

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