OCTOPod DC

The deals are live, and so are the scammers. This Black Friday, OCTO's Chief Information Security Officer Suneel Cherukuri and Chief Technology Officer Stephen N. Miller are here to help you shop safely online. Suneel reveals why cyber criminals never clock out and walks through the three essential security habits that protect you from fraud. You'll learn the "Golden Rule" that could save your ban...

OCTO has led the charge to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in DC government under the leadership of Mayor Muriel Bowser and her February 2024 Mayor’s Order Defining DC’s AI Values and AI Strategic Benchmarks.  Since then, OCTO has created the Handbook for AI Values Alignment -- the blueprint that guides agencies through the careful consideration of AI tools against the District’s...

Today, we’re excited to have Program Development Specialist, Donald Clark, join us from the DC Department on Disability Services (DDS).  Making tech accessible to all, is a core OCTO principle that always informs our work – which is why having DDS as a guest is so important.     The District's Tech Plan is focused on Unleashing the Possible. OCTO knows everyone can’t unleash the possible – unl...

Today, we’re excited to have the Chief Information Security Officer for the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Suneel Cherukuri -- joining us.   Suneel Cherukuri provides leadership and day-to-day coordination for securing and protecting Washington, DC’s information resources from external and internal threats.  A recipient of the StateScoop 50 Award in the “State Cybersecurity Leader of the...

We’re excited to have the OCTO Innovation Team joining us! Started in 2021, by a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Innovation Team – or iTeam –was created to enhance public services and create an exceptional digital experience for District residents.   Key takeaways:   Gratitude Powers DC: Discover how this art and community engagement project is celebrating wh...

Get the scoop on the DC Business Portal and how DLCP is making a difference in the District. The DC Business portal is your one-stop destination for turning dreams into reality. In its first year, entrepreneurs and owners have logged into business.dc.gov over 13,000 times to kickstart and manage their businesses effortlessly.  More than a thousand Washingtonians with big dreams started their own b...

OCTOpod Adrian interviews the Capitol City Robotics Director and three members of the team that will represent the District of Columbia at the VEX Robotics World Championship in May 2022. The Capitol City Robotics is a robotics and coding educational program that exposes K-12 students to science and technology while inspiring them to pursue a STEM career. We learned about the different roles on a...

In honor of Women’s History Month, we have Joya Matthews, Associate Director of the Mayor’s Office on Women’s Policy and Initiatives (MOWPI). She comes to MOWPI after years of public service in workforce development and here to talk to us about this year's Women's HERstory Month and "the why" behind the creation of an agency that specifically focuses on women's initiatives and policies.   For...

In honor of Black History DC, we are sitting down with Director Ashley Emerson, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of African American Affairs (MOAAA) to talk about how innovation impacts Africans Americans in the DC area, the community, #BlackHistoryDC, and more! Follow @MOAAA_DC and visit http://MOAAA.dc.gov for the city-wide calendar of events. And as always, make sure to follow us fo...

From parks and recs to building modernization, OCTOPod sits down with the Director of DC Department of General Services (DGS), Keith Anderson to talk about school modernizations, tech lounges, Percent for Art Programs and more! Learn more about the DC Department of General Services: Visit dgs.dc.gov Follow @ dcdgs Guest: Keith Anderson Co-Hosts: Mike Rupert Nina Liggett Editor/Producer: Serena Ien...

From FREE tech support to Senior tech workshops, OCTOPod sits down with Director of Connect. DC, Delano Squires to talk about bridging the digital divide! Connect. DC making technology easier to use, more accessible, more affordable, and more relevant to the everyday lives of District residents. Learn more about all the Connect. DC programs: connect.dc.gov/ connect.dc.gov/free-tech-support connect...

The new DC For Hire Vehicles (DCFHV) CIO, Eric Fidler joins OCTOPod to talk about tech and taxis! Discussing his transition to DC government, DC taxis vs. Rideshare apps, "Where Are the Taxis" digital platform and more! Guest: Eric Fidler dfhv.dc.gov/ Co-Hosts: Mike Rupert Nina Liggett Michele Roseman Editor/Producer: Serena Ieng

Having been confirmed just two weeks ago, meet DC's new Chief Technology Officer, Lindsey Parker as she sits down with team OCTOPod to talk about tackling tech and innovation in the nation's capital and more. Guest: Lindsey Parker https://octo.dc.gov/biography/lindsey-parker Co-Hosts: Mike Rupert Nina Liggett Michele Roseman Editor/Producer: Serena Ieng

OCTOPod team Mike, Nina and Michele sit down with Acting Director of the Department of Public Works, Christopher Geldart to "talk trash" about all things DPW. Discussing the new launch of the MyDPW App, smart waste collection solutions, Zero Waste DC and more! Guest: Christopher Geldart https://dpw.dc.gov/biography/christopher-geldart MyDPW App: https://dpw.dc.gov/es/node/1388026 The mobile app ca...

In the inaugural OCTOpod Mike and Nina interview DC’s newly hired Chief Information Security Officer, and grill him about why passwords need to be complex, why emails are a big risk, and how DC agencies can work with us to stay innovative but also cyber secure. Guest: Suneel Cherukuri Read more about Suneel: https://octo.dc.gov/release/dc-names-new-chief-information-security-officer-ciso Co-Hosts:...

The OCTOPod is the place to track government techies, geeks and innovators who are making a huge difference in the nation's Capital. There are a lot of cool people in the DC Government tech space and on OCTOPod you can meet them all. Let's tech it out!