The Daily Scoop Podcast – September 5, 2025

Host: Billy Mitchell
Episode Theme: Leadership Transitions in Federal Technology – OPM & GSA

Overview

This episode focuses on two major leadership shifts in federal technology:

• The departure of Greg Hogan as Chief Information Officer at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
• Stephen Ehikian’s exit from the General Services Administration (GSA) to become CEO of C3AI, a major enterprise AI software company.

The host, Billy Mitchell, delivers concise updates on how these changes reflect broader trends in government tech leadership, innovation, and modernization.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. OPM CIO Greg Hogan’s Departure

[00:25–03:00]

• Tenure & Background:

  • Greg Hogan served as OPM CIO for approximately seven and a half months.
  • He started on January 20th, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s second term.
  • Previously VP of Infrastructure at Comma AI (self-driving car software), with 20 years in private-sector IT and a computer engineering degree.

• Transition Details:

  • Hogan replaced Melvin Brown II, who had served just a week in the role.
  • Perrin Ashmore, Assistant Director of Enterprise and Learning, is now acting CIO.

• Controversies & Challenges:

  • Little background was officially shared by OPM; legal filings revealed his experience.
  • Hogan’s time was marked by DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) efforts, including:
    • Establishing all-employee email communication.
    • Providing DOGE workers access to OPM data.
  • Both initiatives are facing ongoing legal scrutiny.
  • Hogan clarified he was “not part of the U.S. DOGE service, formerly known as the U.S. Digital Service,” despite regular associations.

• Notable Segment:

  • “Hogan departed the agency earlier this week and Perrin Ashmore, who is currently assistant Director of Enterprise and Learning at the agency, is currently serving as CIO in an acting capacity.” ([01:17])

2. Stephen Ehikian Leaves GSA for C3AI CEO Role

[03:00–06:00]

• Transition Announcement:

  • Ehikian recently informed GSA staff of his departure via email.
  • He will advise GSA leadership during the transition.
  • C3AI publicly announced his hire as CEO.
  • Ehikian said he is "honored to join the company at such a pivotal time in the AI era." ([03:43])

• Background & Tenure:

  • GSA’s acting head for first half of 2025, until July.
  • Returned to deputy administrator role after Michael Rigas was appointed by President Trump.
  • Edward Forrest, a veteran financial services executive, is tapped as next GSA administrator (hearing date TBD).

• Career Highlights:

  • Serial entrepreneur; founded two Salesforce-acquired AI platforms.
  • Experience with Morgan Stanley, Westbrook Partners, SRS Investment Management.

• Major GSA Initiatives under Ehikian:

  • Overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR, over 2,000 pages) – a major regulatory modernization for federal procurement procedures.
    • “GSA's overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation, a more than 2,000 page document detailing the regulations and rules for federal procurement, as one of his top accomplishments.” ([05:07])
  • FedRAMP 20x Revamp program: aims to cut FedRAMP approval timeline “from months to weeks.”
  • “One Gov” procurement strategy: forged technology partnerships with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google.

3. Broader Context & Implications

• Leadership turnover at technology-focused federal agencies signals transformation and ongoing challenges tied to modernization.
• The high value and challenges of bringing private-sector innovation into government IT roles.
• The push for government to leverage advanced AI and tech partnerships aligns with private sector trends.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Hogan served as CIO during a time when the agency was a hub for the DOGE work…both of which have faced legal challenges.” – Billy Mitchell ([02:20])
• “Ehikian told GSA staff earlier this week in an email obtained by FedScoop that he would transition out of the agency's deputy administrator role but remain an advisor to the leadership team during the transition process.” ([03:22])
• “He said in a statement that he is honored to join the company at such a pivotal time in the AI era.” – Billy Mitchell quoting Ehikian ([03:43])
• “He also mentioned the FedRAMP 20x Revamp program, which aims to reduce the FedRAMP approval timeline from months to weeks.” ([05:15])
• “During his time at GSA, the agency has also rolled out a series of deals under the One Gov procurement strategy involving major tech companies like Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic and Google.” ([05:33])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:25 – Introduction of Greg Hogan’s departure from OPM CIO role
• 01:17 – Perrin Ashmore takes over as acting OPM CIO
• 02:20 – Legal and operational challenges during Hogan’s tenure
• 03:00 – Stephen Ehikian’s exit from GSA and move to C3AI
• 03:43 – Ehikian’s statement on joining C3AI
• 05:07 – Ehikian highlights GSA’s FAR overhaul
• 05:15 – Overview of the FedRAMP 20x Revamp program
• 05:33 – The “One Gov” strategy and major tech partnerships

Tone & Delivery

Billy Mitchell delivers news with a direct, matter-of-fact style, focusing on the substance of leadership changes and their significance:

• Emphasizes breadth and impact of government tech shifts
• Maintains a brisk, informative pace to cover a range of updates within a short timeframe

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode provides a clear and concise update on major leadership departures in two key federal technology agencies—OPM and GSA. It offers context around the backgrounds of Greg Hogan and Stephen Ehikian, points to significant modernization initiatives they oversaw, and highlights how these transitions might shape the evolution of federal technology. For those tracking government IT trends, this episode captures essential news on personnel moves and policy priorities at the highest levels.