RECAP – 2025 FORUM Innovation Awards & Dinner

opens in a new tab)The 11th Annual FORUM Innovation Awards brought together innovators, decision-makers, and disruptors to celebrate bold ideas reshaping how government works. With conversations spanning AI, cybersecurity, acquisition reform, and digital modernization, the event offered both inspiration and action for those building what’s next in federal technology.

Zero Trust, Elevated
A high-energy fireside chat kicked off the evening, exploring Zero Trust as a cultural shift—not just a technical implementation. Experts from Fusion Advanced Technology and the Carlyle Group emphasized the importance of automation, AI-assisted orchestration, and reducing tool redundancy to streamline operations across DOD and the IC community.

AI at the Frontier: OpenAI’s Bold Partnership with Los Alamos
Alexis Bonnell shared the behind-the-scenes story of how OpenAI brought its frontier models into secure government infrastructure for the first time—enabling real-time national security innovation and shifting the paradigm for how government accesses leading-edge AI.

“AI is the worst it’s going to be today. If you’re not experimenting, you’re falling behind.”

Her call to action: prototype boldly, lead with trust, and treat security not as a barrier—but as part of the design.

Revolution in Procurement
Polly Hall (GSA) unveiled the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO), which brings agile, incremental reform to federal acquisition. Paired with other innovation-friendly tools like OTAs, CSOs, and SBIRs, the RFO signals a shift toward faster, smarter procurement across agencies.

CMS: Government at Startup Speed
Catherine Weatherby revealed how CMS modernized healthcare.gov using outcome-based contracting, continuous improvement, and private-sector style planning. The result? 25 million enrollees, a 2-second eligibility response time, and a model for digital government success.

Keynote Spotlight: Jennifer Thabit, DARPA
DARPA’s head of small business programs, Jennifer Thabit, energized the audience with a message of inclusion, clarity, and urgency: government needs nontraditional thinkers. From SBIR pathways to the DARPA Connect initiative, she outlined how small companies can—and must—step up to shape the future.

Celebrating the Winners
The evening culminated in honoring this year’s Innovation Award recipients—programs and people who are not only solving today’s challenges but reimagining tomorrow’s solutions.

For dull event details, visit the 2025 FORUM Innovation Awards event page! FORUM Innovation Awards | FORUM Event