Top AI Execs to Watch in 2026: AWS’ David Appel
David Appel Vice President of Global Government, National Security and Defense, AWS David Appel had a defining 2025. In October, AWS launched its Secret-West Region, expanding classified computing capacity for defense and intelligence missions. Appel also secured the company’s $50 billion AI and supercomputing infrastructure investment, Amazon’s largest public sector commitment, accelerating federal innovation at
CGI, AWS Team Up to Bring AI, Cloud to US Public Sector
CGI and Amazon Web Services have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to accelerate AI adoption, advance secure cloud and drive digital transformation across the U.S. public sector. Under the multiyear deal, CGI will deliver cloud-based solutions targeting AI integration, zero trust cybersecurity, government data modernization and citizen-facing digital services. “This agreement enhances our proven ability
WATCH: How GenAI Is Reshaping Federal Missions with GAO’s Dave Hinchman & AWS’ Jamie Baker
In this virtual video panel series, WashingtonExec interviews industry and public sector leaders to explore the challenges, innovations and initiatives shaping the government IT landscape. This video was originally recorded Sept. 18, 2025. In this segment, WashingtonExec’s Amanda Ziadeh sits down with Dave Hinchman, director of IT & cybersecurity for the Government Accountability Office,
AWS’ Christian Hoff on Cloud Strategies, AI Leadership
As the federal sector adopts technology transformations, Christian Hoff, an executive at Amazon Web Services, understands the trends aren’t just about having the shiniest new tools and services. They’re about meeting the mission in ways that impact the U.S.’s leadership at home and beyond. Recent executive orders emphasize artificial intelligence leadership, interagency system interoperability and
AWS’ Renzo Rodriguez Named WashingtonExec Cloud Council Co-Chair
Generative AI. Quantum computing. Orbital data centers. The technologies shaping the future of government aren’t theoretical anymore— they’re here, and federal agencies need a clear path forward. Enter Renzo Rodriguez, director of federal technology and innovation at Amazon Web Services, and now co-chair of WashingtonExec’s Cloud Council for 2025. With over 20 years of experience
GDIT Partners with AWS to Drive Digital Modernization in Government
General Dynamics Information Technology announced a new strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services to drive digital modernization and advance government missions. GDIT and AWS will partner to develop cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud migration and modernization solutions that help advance digital transformation for defense, intelligence and civilian agencies, the company said. Government agencies can use
Leidos Enters Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS
Leidos announced a multiyear Strategic Collaboration Agreement with Amazon Web Services, which will leverage each company’s strengths to accelerate innovation for new and existing customers in public sector and select commercial markets. “We’re excited to build on our existing work with AWS and create innovative solutions for our customers,” said Steve Hull, president of Leidos’
AWS’ David Levy on His New Role as VP of Worldwide Public Sector
David Levy recently became the vice president of Amazon Web Services’ Worldwide Public Sector. We talked with him about his main goals, past experiences, moving from his earlier position overseeing U.S. government, nonprofit and healthcare sectors, aiding government innovation and other topics. Levy also talked about his team’s upcoming focus and how he keeps motivated
Amazon Web Services’ Christian Hoff Named Chair of WashingtonExec Federal Civilian Council
Christian Hoff, director of U.S. federal civilian and health for Amazon Web Services, has been appointed chair of the WashingtonExec Federal Civilian Council for 2023-2024. In his position, Hoff supports cabinet-level civilian agencies and departments, including military health and civilian intelligence customers. He also leads cross-functional teams focused on helping customers address executive orders and
Top DOD Execs to Watch in 2023: AWS’ Liz Martin
Liz Martin Director of the Department of Defense Business, Amazon Web Services In December 2022, AWS was chosen to support the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability contract. JWCC enables DOD to acquire cloud capabilities and services from cloud service providers, covering all security domains and classification levels from enterprise to tactical edge. The contract allows DOD
AWS’ Ash Thankey on NatSec Market Trends, Leveraging Tech to Boost Security
For Amazon Web Services’ national security team, security is the top priority ⏤ and the defense and intelligence communities require the best in technology to stay ahead of adversaries. That’s according to Ash Thankey, senior manager of advanced programs and military intelligence for AWS’ national security team. Thankey oversees AWS’ relationship with the key IC
GDIT Forms 5G, Edge Accelerator Coalition with AWS, Cisco, Dell Technologies, Splunk and T-Mobile
General Dynamics Information Technology has formed a coalition with Amazon Web Services, Cisco, Dell Technologies, Splunk and T-Mobile to accelerate the adoption of 5G, advanced wireless and edge technologies across government agencies. The GDIT 5G and Edge Accelerator Coalition is collaborating with government agencies, leveraging GDIT’s Advanced Wireless Emerge Lab to make it faster, easier
Top Cyber Execs to Watch in 2022: AWS’ Victor Gavin
Victor Gavin Head, Federal Technology Vision & Business Development, Amazon Web Services In 2020, Victor Gavin stood up the Defense Department Strategic Development Team at AWS, which focuses on assisting DOD customers in their cloud journey. In 2022, his team continues to focus on supporting the DOD mission space and diving deeper into cyber operations.
Top 25 DOD Execs to Watch in 2021: AWS’ Liz Martin
Liz Martin Director, Department of Defense, Amazon Web Services Since assuming her role leading the Defense Department business for Amazon Web Services last year, Liz Martin has helped customers in the armed forces and related agencies enhance security, innovate faster, become more agile and lower costs. Earlier this year, Martin helped announce a new AWS
Pinnacle Award Finalist Phoebe Yang: ‘I Am Intensely Inquisitive, and This Propensity for Curiosity has Fueled my Growth and Learning’
The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 13, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place virtually Dec. 8. What has made you successful in your current role? At Amazon, our culture is driven by 16 Leadership Principles (or LPs) that we use to frame nearly everything that we do,
Pinnacle Award Finalist Dave Levy: ‘My Team Consistently Looks for Ways to Improve and Reinvent Customer Experiences’
The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 13, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place virtually Dec. 8. Next is Cloud Industry Executive of the Year (Public Company) finalist Dave Levy, who’s vice president for U.S. government, nonprofit and nonprofit health care businesses at Amazon Web Services. Here, he
Pinnacle Award Finalist Andre Kearns: ‘Find a Way to Make a Difference in the World’
The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 13, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place virtually Dec. 8. Next is Marketing Executive of the Year (Public Company) finalist Andre Kearns, who’s marketing director of Aerospace and Satellite at Amazon Web Services. Here, he talks key achievements, priorities going forward,
Pinnacle Award Finalist Clint Crosier: ‘No One Can Achieve Their Ultimate Potential Without Doing Something They Have a Passion For’
The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 13, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place virtually Dec. 8. Next is Space Industry Executive of the Year (Public Company) finalist Clint Crosier, who’s director of aerospace and satellite solutions at Amazon Web Services. Here, he talks key achievements, learning from
Telos Corp., Splunk, stackArmor Join Forces Under ATO on AWS for Speedy Compliance
Telos Corp., Splunk Inc. and stackArmor have partnered under the Authority to Operate on Amazon Web Services through a new initiative called Faster ATO with Splunk, Telos and ThreatAlert for Regulated Markets, or FASTTR. FASTTR brings together three cybersecurity solutions to benefit independent software providers and regulated defense contractors required to comply with state and
WATCH: AWS’ Max Peterson Previews Sept. 28 Public Sector Summit
Max Peterson, vice president of Amazon Web Services worldwide public sector, joins WashingtonExec’s Amanda Ziadeh to provide a preview of the AWS Public Sector Summit in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28-29. As this will be AWS’ first in-person event since the start of the pandemic, Peterson highlights the ground-breaking public sector innovations borne out of
GDIT Announces AWS on milCloud 2.0
General Dynamics Information Technology has announced the availability of Amazon Web Services through the milCloud 2.0 contract, providing Defense Department mission partners access to an expanded portfolio of secure cloud services. This gives DOD agencies another mechanism to quickly and easily move their workloads to AWS through a streamlined contracting process. “We’re pleased to announce
The Power of Cloud Computing to Detect Smoke Before the Fire
Cloud computing remains a catalyst for critical cross-sector capabilities like real-time data analytics, artificial intelligence and large-volume data acquisition and management — and experts spanning various industries agree putting data to use can help catapult government’s adoption of next-generation technologies. The Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center recently held a discussion titled “Space salon: Innovative solutions to
Business Technologist David Pizzano’s Career Journey: From the Circus to Public Sector and Mentorship
David Pizzano was an undergraduate at George Mason University when his mentor said something that ultimately shifted Pizzano’s career path away from engineering. “You’re really an economist, not an engineer,” the mentor said. Pizzano, a Northern Virginia native who’s an executive at Amazon Web Services, said as he looks back at his 30-year career, “that
Cerner, AWS Collaborate to Improve Health Care Services
Global health platform and tech company Cerner and Amazon Web Services have formed a strategic partnership to speed up global innovation in health care. The partnership aims to leverage AWS’ artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technology-driven innovations to provide more efficient and beneficial patient health outcomes. “As we work to transform Cerner, we are
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