Resilient Cyber - Episode 12 - Jason Weiss - DoD Software Modernization

Overview:

In this episode of the Resilient Cyber Podcast, Chris Hughes and Dr. Nikki Robinson are joined by Jason Weiss, the Director of Software Modernization for the Department of Defense (DoD). Jason shares his extensive background in software engineering, his journey through various roles in government and entrepreneurial ventures, and his current focus on modernizing software across the DoD. The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities of modernizing legacy systems, the importance of software in national defense, and the balance between innovation and maintaining secure, resilient systems.

Highlights:

• Jason Weiss's Background: Jason discusses his unique career path, including his time as a naval cryptologist and his ventures in software-related businesses, culminating in his current role at the DoD.

• Role in Software Modernization: Jason explains his relatively new position at the DoD and the scope of his responsibilities, including harvesting best practices and addressing areas needing improvement across various DoD software initiatives.

• Challenges in Modernization: The discussion covers the complexities of modernizing large-scale, often outdated, software systems within the DoD, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

• Enterprise Services and Innovation: Jason touches on the challenges of implementing enterprise services in a vast organization like the DoD and the importance of balancing standardization with innovation.

• Cyber Resiliency: The conversation wraps up with Jason’s thoughts on cyber resiliency, emphasizing the importance of systems that can "bend but not break" under cyber threats, ensuring continuity and security in critical operations.