From the trenches: Five essential lessons for federal IT modernization

Having spent nearly a decade leading digital infrastructure and technology initiatives at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), I’ve had a front-row seat to the opportunities and challenges federal agencies face in their modernization journeys. During my tenure as Associate CIO for Digital Infrastructure Technologies, overseeing the IT backbone for 17,000 users, I learned that successful transformation isn't just about the latest tech: it’s about strategic vision, collaborative execution and a willingness to learn from experience.

The federal landscape is unique, demanding both agility and accountability. As agencies leverage IT, AI and innovation to enhance operations, here are five foundational lessons from my time at GSA.

1. Enlist Your leadership as co-pilots

Modernization initiatives are expeditions, not solo journeys. Without consistent and visible backing from the C-suite, even the most innovative projects can lose altitude, grounded by resource constraints or internal friction.

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