Fraud, waste and abuse of the Medicare system have always been challenging to get under control. Those who exploit federal health care programs can cost taxpayers billions of dollars, according to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report, while putting beneficiaries’ health and welfare at risk.

CMS’s Center for Program Integrity plays a key role in managing this challenge by detecting, preventing and combating fraud, waste and abuse across CMS and other federal health programs. Beyond that, the organization is tasked with strengthening integrity programs, expanding the scope of integrity programs and integrating technological improvements like AI to reduce fraud, waste and abuse, and streamline operations.

In a time when efficiency has become top-of-mind for most federal agencies, optimizing CPI’s ability to catch fraud, waste and abuse will play a major role in the government’s larger push to streamline operations and costs.

Ken Hofgesang

Vice President of Health at RELI Group

Ken Hofgesang brings 20+ years of experience in the federal health arena. He holds expertise in account and project management, business development, and executive leadership, focused on cost control, new operation setup, automated solutions, and innovative technology infusion. Prior to joining RELI Group, Ken served as the VP of the HHS account at SAIC. In addition to his extensive experience across the industry, he holds a master’s degree in computer science from Hood College, as well as a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Mount Saint Mary’s College. Ken is a certified Project Management Professional, holds an ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management, and has earned certificates in both executive and performance leadership from Cornell University.

RELI Group

Based near Baltimore, Maryland, RELI Group is a trusted partner to federal agencies, delivering innovative solutions that address today’s complex challenges across health, security and technology. Since 2013, the company has been collaborating with agencies throughout the government that touch the lives of every American, with goals of improving health, safety and national security.

RELI Group’s success is driven by skilled professionals who embrace innovation, collaboration and continuous learning to meet client needs. Through structured, efficient processes that enhance organizational performance and ensure consistent outcomes, the team provides cutting-edge technology to optimize operations, enhance security and enable data-driven decision-making for mission-critical operations.

In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown is joined by Max Shuftan, Director of Mission Programs at SANS Institute, to discuss one of the most pressing issues in cybersecurity today: the talent shortage in federal agencies. As nation-state cyber threats continue to evolve, agencies are facing an uphill battle to find skilled cybersecurity professionals. Max sheds light on how inclusive and targeted training programs can help address this critical shortage by unlocking untapped potential within the workforce.

Max explores the value of reskilling and upskilling programs, sharing insights on how agencies can turn individuals with diverse backgrounds into cyber professionals. He also discusses how agencies can not only fill cyber roles but retain this talent by fostering a supportive and growth-oriented environment.

Key Topics Include:

• The role of inclusive cyber training programs in addressing the skills gap
• The power of reskilling programs and how to successfully transition employees into cyber roles
• Strategies for retaining cybersecurity talent once agencies have filled the roles

If you're interested in the future of cybersecurity workforce development, this episode is a must-listen!

Max Shuftan leads mission programs and partnerships at SANS Institute. In this role, he manages strategic partnerships for SANS and oversees an organization focused on (1) growing the global cybersecurity talent pipeline, and (2) fostering a stronger cyber workforce through partnerships that expand targeted reskilling and upskilling efforts.

SANS Institute: Launched in 1989 as a cooperative for information security thought leadership, it is SANS’ ongoing mission to empower cyber security professionals with the practical skills and knowledge they need to make our world a safer place. We fuel this effort with high-quality training, certifications, scholarship academies, degree programs, cyber ranges, and resources to meet the needs of every cyber professional. Our data, research, and the top minds in cybersecurity collectively ensure that individuals and organizations have the actionable education and support they need.

In this episode of Keeping IT Brief, host Mary Ann Brown sits down with Jim Coyle, US Public Sector CTO at Lookout, to discuss the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats posed by nation-state actors. With over two decades of experience in cybersecurity, Jim brings invaluable insights into the emerging tactics, tools, and techniques used by global adversaries to target critical infrastructure.

As we look toward 2025, Jim highlights the growing alignment between cyber efforts from nation-states and the increasing sophistication of their attacks—especially with the rise of social engineering, phishing, and AI-powered threats. Tune in as he explores the most pressing cyber threats agencies should be preparing for and the steps they can take to protect vital systems.

Key Topics Include:

• Emerging nation-state cyber threat actors to watch
• Top attack methods and priority targets for nation-states
• How agencies can bolster defenses against the surge in cybercrime from these actors

Don’t miss this deep dive into the future of cybersecurity for government agencies, and how to stay one step ahead of the next wave of cyber threats.

Jim Coyle serves as the US Public Sector CTO at Lookout, drawing upon two decades of hands-on experience in cybersecurity to assist government agencies in fortifying their defenses. Jim is a cyber security industry thought leader, delving into geopolitical cyber issues, emerging threats, defense tactics, and industry developments, offering valuable insights cultivated throughout his career.

Lookout, Inc. is the data-centric cloud security company that uses a defense-in-depth strategy to address the different stages of a modern cybersecurity attack, which now starts with mobile. Data is at the core of every organization, and our approach to cybersecurity is designed to protect that data within today’s evolving threat landscape no matter where or how it moves. People — and human behavior — are central to the challenge of protecting data, which is why organizations need total visibility into threats in real time, starting with the mobile endpoint.

The Lookout Cloud Security Platform is purpose-built to stop modern breaches as swiftly as they unfold, from the first mobile phishing text to the final cloud data extraction. We are trusted by enterprises and government agencies of all sizes to protect the sensitive data they care about most, enabling them to work and connect freely and securely.