Episode 149: Joel Hinzman: The Man Who Crashed the Internet (And Wired Congress)

This week on the GovNavigators Show, we're joined by Joel Hinzman, one of the most seasoned voices in government technology and policy, and a member of the GovNavigators Network. Joel has been walking the halls of Congress and the executive branch longer than most, and his career reads like a history of modern government IT. He helped move the House of Representatives onto the internet, put the Starr Report online (and yes, crashed the servers doing it), and spent years at GSA overseeing IT modernization and acquisition policy, before heading to Oracle.

In this conversation, Joel breaks down where Congress still struggles with technology, why AI is the next big test for Capitol Hill, and what the sweeping changes at GSA mean for companies trying to do business with the federal government. He also shares what he's up to now, helping clients navigate procurement, budgets, government affairs strategy, and how to actually turn lobbying relationships into business results.

Show Notes:

• OMB Circular A‑123

• New Cyber Strategy

• Proposal for Federal AI Commission

What's on the GovNavigators' Radar:

Mar 17

• AGA Technology & Transformation Summit

Mar 19

• RSM Webinar on AI Governance and Responsible Adoption in Government

Mar 26

• PRAC’s Grantus Fraudus

Mar 27

• ACT-IAC AI Hackathon