Tech Talks
The GSA CTO team hosts in-depth Tech Talks, where presenters discuss technology topics affecting the agency. Each Tech Talk is a 30-minute informal meeting with an audience of internal GSA members. Demonstrations are often provided along with follow-up Q&A. Registration is limited to internal GSA personnel. To register to attend a Tech Talk event, please contact Joe Novak at Joseph.Novak@gsa.gov.
For general questions about the Tech Talks, please contact the GSA CTO team at cto@gsa.gov.
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Sustainability & GSA IT
January 16, 2025, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
When it comes to sustainability, GSA is getting more strategic about data in order to improve GSA building performance. Join us to hear from Jeremey Alcorn, PBS Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Facilities Management, who will share about GSA’s efforts to inform decisions and efficiently scale building sustainability. Jeremey will also be discussing challenges, successes, and lessons learned about data as well as discussing some new tools (including AI) being used to improve building performance.
Location
Virtual upon Invitation
Who
Jeremy Alcorn
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FCS cloud network strategy Tech Talk
December 10, 2024, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
Cloud Network Strategy Tech Talk:As part of multiyear cloud network modernization strategy, GSA IT/FCS has migrated to our new multi-cloud distributed network architecture reducing potential for cross-tenant impacts while increasing intra-vpc throughput by 100x and incorporating IPv6 readiness. FCS partnered closely with GSA security to develop future state architecture with baked-in firewall integration and modern DNS architecture, while decommissioning legacy Cisco devices and adopting cloud native services. We will use this forum to share architectural patterns, methodology and some lessons learned with the community.
Location
Virtual upon Invitation
Who
Manoj Chalise and Benjamin Peters
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Artificial Intelligence Tech Talk
November 14, 2024, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
Want to learn more about how GSA is using artificial intelligence? Join us in hearing from GSA’s Chief AI Officer, Zach Whitman, who will review GSA’s AI governance and explore how teams are currently using AI tools, including the current pilot for Google’s Gemini for Workspace. Zach will also be discussing GSA’s long-term strategy for leveraging AI to improve public services.
Location
Virtual upon invitation
Who
Zach Whitman
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Mobile Security
October 29, 2024, 3:00pm - 4:00pm ET
Objective
GSA IT is rolling out a new security policy for applications used on government-issued mobile devices. This policy will improve GSA’s mobile security posture and aligns with our zero trust architecture strategy. It will ensure that the applications on these devices meet the highest security and compliance standards.
Location
Virtual upon invitation
Who
Parimala Rao, Benjamin Peters, and John Latragna
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GSA IT Tech Training
September 25, 2024, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
This year GSA IT Tech Training students’ ratings on course quality reached a staggering 83.4% Excellent, climbing 7% over FY23 ratings.
For more than ten years GSA IT Tech Training has provided first-rate application training about telework, remote work, IT tools and apps, meeting platforms, BookIt, Jabber, cell phones, digital signatures, HR Links, Google apps and more.
Join the September Tech Talk to learn how Tech Training has evolved into a highly rated, full blown, curriculum based program supporting all GSA employees and GSA Internal contractors.
Location
Virtual Upon Invitation
Who
Mark Redpath and Jay Brosch
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Open Source Tech Talk
August 14, 2024, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
Open source software permeates our modern existence. This session aims to address the questions:
- Where does open source software come from?
- Why and how do we use open source software responsibly in our work?
- How can we contribute back to the community?
- What are the special responsibilities we have as civil servants in the Federal government to share work in the open?
- What are good resources to learn more and get involved?
Location
Virtual upon Invitation
Who
Paul Hirsch and team
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User Experience & Usability Tech Talk
July 23, 2024, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
July 23 Tech Talk User Experience & Usability w/Maria Cossio & Steve Gillespie
GSA IT Service Desk Portal: A case study on research-driven design
At our last Tech Talk, we shared the updates made to the GSA IT Service Desk Portal. Join the GSA IT Office Of Digital Infrastructure Technologies (IDT) and the GSA IT Usability Team again to learn about their human-centered design approach that made these enhancements to the GSA IT Service Desk Portal possible.
IDT’s Steve Gillespie and the GSA IT Usability Team’s Maria Cossio will discuss how the two teams partnered together to improve the user experience of the Service Desk Portal. Maria will share how the team learned about users’ needs through user research and used iterative design processes to create the updated user interface.
Join us to see how user research data can be used to guide design and business decisions.
Location
Virtual upon invitation
Who
Maria Cossio & Steve Gillespie
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Updated GSA IT Self Service Portal and ServiceNow TechTalk
June 26, 2024, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
GSA IT continues to help drive technology transformation by providing employees with the tools they need, and the GSA IT Service Desk is committed to providing you with excellent customer service in delivering and supporting those tools. The GSA IT Service Desk Portal (formerly known as the GSA IT Self Service Portal) is your gateway to request, track, and learn about available IT Services and request support.
The comments we received from GSA’s 2024 Annual IT Survey identified the need to make the IT ticket process easier. In response, we partnered with GSA IT’s Usability Team and have updated the service request names and descriptions to use plain language and provide a better description of the services offered. We have also enhanced the GSA IT Service Desk Portal layout and interface to make submitting and tracking a ticket easier.
Join us to learn about these enhancements to improve your IT support experience.
Location
Virtual upon Invitation
Who
Steve Gillespie
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IT Modernization Tech Talk
May 15, 2024, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
IT Modernization Tech Talk!
May 15, 2024 @ 1:00pm EST
Are you a member of the IT acquisition workforce, management, or supporting program offices on IT security or requirements? Are you an Acquisition Professional looking to learn more about the important work that is going on to overhaul professional development so you can do your job better in the current evolving environment? Are you a member of GSA IT?
Then join OGP’s IT Acquisition Working Group to learn about relevant, credible, accessible resources and solutions and be part of the movement to revolutionize workforce development and yield better acquisition outcomes!
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to understand our team’s approach to IT modernization which is a people+ technology approach. We look forward to seeing you on May 15th at 1:00pm Eastern!
Location
Virtual upon invitation
Who
OGP’s IT Acquisition Working Group (ITAWG)
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GEAR Tech Talk
April 30, 2024, 1:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Objective
GSA EA Analytics and Reporting (GEAR) is a tool that provides commonly used strategic, business, and technology information to users throughout GSA. The newest edition of GEAR has undergone major changes and improvements. These enhancements include:
- incorporating authoritative Agency sources of data via automated processes to improve data quality,
- normalizing the software inventory with industry-standard naming conventions, and
- improving the accessibility and overall look/feel for an enhanced user experience.
Learn more about these exciting upgrades and other GEAR features at the April 30th Tech Talk!
Location
Virtual upon invitation
Who
Jonah Hatfield
