Doug Stroock

I am very excited to announce that The New York Community Trust has invested in scalable instructional support for New York City Schools through Project Cafe! Their investment will help ensure that hundreds of New York City teachers have access to AI-driven instructional feedback to develop their practice. Always forward!

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We’re diving into fixing procurement and the reality's of delivering new capability at the "speed of need". For both government teams and contractors, the challenge is always the same: how do you move faster while staying within the guardrails of FAR/DFARS? This should be a great session for anyone frustrated by the current defense acquisition ecosystem.

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Eric Linnenburger breaks down key lessons from “Leadership on the Line” and why real leadership means holding steady in moments of uncertainty. #ProjectCommand #LeadershipOnTheLine #LeadershipDevelopment #AdaptiveLeadership #FireServiceLeadership #PublicSafetyLeadership #LeadingChange #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipLessons #FireOfficers #CommandPresence

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The Department of Defense (DoD), Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), is planning a $120 million IDIQ for Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) & Work-Life Services. This vehicle will provide worldwide professional services supporting federal employees and supervisors, with a focus on improving workforce productivity, work-life balance, and critical incident response. While the competition type has not yet been determined, the solicitation is estimated for release in October 2025, making this the right time to prepare your strategy. #capturemanagement #criticalincidentsupport #dodcontracts #eapopportunity #employeeassistanceprogram #federalcontracting #federalopportunities #globalservicecoverage #govconstrategy #OSTGlobalSolutions #professionalservices #proposalwriting #teamingstrategy #workforceproductivity #worklifeservices

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📍 Washington State I’m genuinely excited to share this. This summer, Embassy is bringing our Civilian Leadership Institute (CLI) to Washington State for the first time, beginning in Bellevue—and this program matters deeply to me. Across the country, civilian professionals in public safety—those working in administrative, analytical, operational, technical, and support roles—carry tremendous responsibility and institutional knowledge. Yet too often, they’re left out of formal leadership development. CLI was built to change that. This program gives agencies an opportunity to: • Invest in the leadership capacity of their civilian professionals • Strengthen organizational culture, trust, and communication • Intentionally develop future supervisors and managers • Send a clear message: leadership isn’t defined by a badge alone For participants—including civilian supervisors, aspiring leaders, and professionals in roles such as records, investigations, training, administration, and dispatch/911—CLI provides space to grow, lead, and be recognized for the impact they already make. For executives and command staff, this is a meaningful opportunity to shape culture from the inside out—by empowering the people who support the mission every day and often behind the scenes. I’m incredibly proud of this program, grateful to our partners in Bellevue, and excited to bring CLI to Washington State. If you’re looking for a way to invest in your civilian workforce and help them truly thrive, this program delivers. 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g9jwEK7p #CivilianLeadershipInstitute #Leadership #CivilianProfessional #LeadershipDevelopment #BuildingCulture #EmbassyConsulting #BellevuePoliceDepartment

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This timely session brings together two of the most experienced acquisition leaders of their generation, Maj. Gen. Cameron Holt (US AF, Ret.), who led all Air Force contracting worldwide, and Lt. Gen. Dave Bassett (US Army, Ret.), who ran the Defense Contract Management Agency overseeing 300,000+ contracts worth more than $7 trillion. Together they will discuss how mission‑focused procurement really works in practice.

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If it is free, YOU are the product*. This and other lessons in #medialiteracy are crucial for our democracy. The Alliance for Decision Education is working to get these kinds of practical things added to our school curriculum. If you're interested, you can find out more in the post below. *More on the opening thought: Once you realize that you are the product, start to ask questions about how an app, website, or channel is selling your eyes to advertisers. Do you stick around because you are outraged or informed? Is the information biased or balanced? Is it accurate and useful? Don't be "the product" on accident. If you are never informed, only "confirmed," choose different sources. Learn more about media literacy for adults by listening to the Alliance for Decision Education podcasts too.

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Subcontracting is an essential part of federal contracting, but many contractors don’t fully understand how to approach it strategically to ensure compliance and achieve successful results. Join Maria Panichelli as she explains key subcontracting concepts from both Prime and Sub perspectives in this webinar presented by Deltek. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gPB7nqWU #Subcontracting #GovernmentContracting #FederalContracting

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The unmanned fight is moving fast! 🚀 What many people are starting to realize is this: Autonomous systems don’t have a lethality problem. They have a connectivity problem. Across multiple discussions recently with operators, industry partners, and program offices, one theme keeps coming up. Drones, loitering munitions, and autonomous systems are advancing rapidly, but operating them reliably in contested environments remains one of the biggest challenges. That’s why efforts like this CSO matter. Opening the door for nontraditional companies to bring new technologies into the fight faster helps accelerate the development of capabilities the Joint Force actually needs in the field. Speed matters. Integration matters. And getting the right technology into the hands of operators matters most. Excited to see what innovations emerge from this pathway. #cUAS #Autonomy #DefenseInnovation #UnmannedSystems #NationalSecurity

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We are proud to support the U.S. Coast Guard's Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) Division (CG-SAR-3) as it assumes the federal lead of the SARSAT program. Through this contract, Harkcon will provide program management, operational support, security, and interagency coordination to sustain and advance both the national SARSAT program and the International COSPAS-SARSAT Program. We are honored to bring our proven expertise to this critical mission, ensuring the program remains strong, resilient, and ready for the future. Read more in the Coast Guard’s announcement: https://lnkd.in/eVKMSzBh #GovCon #SDVOSB #USCG #SARSAT

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Thrilled to share the launch of Purple Sky, LLC, a new joint venture between Leidos and Sky Solutions dedicated to advancing digital modernization for federal health and human services agencies. Purple Sky brings together our mission-scale systems expertise with Sky Solutions’ agile platform development capabilities to drive innovation and deliver modern, secure, and scalable solutions. Together, we’ll help agencies move from legacy systems to AI-driven, cloud-enabled, and automated environments, improving outcomes and citizen services. #DigitalModernization #PowerofPartnership #SmallBusinessSupport Learn more: http://ms.spr.ly/6046sqh40

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In the public sector, the intersection of workforce readiness and mission demand has become increasingly pronounced. As agencies and institutions strive to modernize operations while facing resource constraints, the challenge of aligning skills development with evolving operational needs is more critical than ever. This misalignment poses execution risks that can undermine mission outcomes and public trust. Data indicates that nearly 60% of federal agencies report significant skills gaps within their workforce, particularly in technology and data analytics. These gaps not only hinder the ability to leverage innovative solutions like artificial intelligence but also delay essential modernization efforts. Implementing targeted training and upskilling programs is paramount, yet many organizations still lack the necessary frameworks to identify and bridge these gaps effectively. A data-driven approach to workforce planning is needed to mitigate these risks. Organizations must rigorously assess their current capabilities against future demands, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives. Investments in competency mapping can provide a clear picture of existing skills versus needed skills, enabling leaders to make informed decisions about professional development initiatives. Furthermore, the urgency of succession planning cannot be overstated. With a significant portion of leadership positions expected to transition in the next few years, organizations must cultivate a pipeline of future leaders equipped to navigate both the challenges of change and the complexities of regulatory environments. As we continue to embrace the potential of technological advancements, it is essential not to overlook the human element. Authentic engagement with the workforce and addressing their development needs will drive not only immediate improvements in execution but also long-term success in delivering on our missions. #PublicSector #WorkforcePlanning #HRModernization #AIReadiness

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One of the standout sessions at #UKGAspire featured Bob Lavigna, IPMA-HR SCP and Henry Bartholomay from Opportunity@work who delivered an inspiring discussion on how public sector organizations can expand and diversify their candidate pools through a skills-first strategy. With over 75 million American workers who don’t have a four-year degree but are STARs — Skilled Through Alternative Routes — there is a tremendous opportunity to rethink how we attract, hire, and retain top talent. By focusing on skills rather than credentials, organizations can unlock new pathways to employment, drive equity, and strengthen the workforce with individuals whose real-world experience and potential are too often overlooked. A big thank you to Bob and Henry for shedding light on how the public sector can lead the way in making hiring more inclusive, fair, and effective truly inspiring work! #UKGAspire #SkillsFirst #OpportunityAtWork #PublicSectorInnovation #WorkforceEquity #TalentStrategy #Leadership #STARs #HRTransformation #EmployeeExperience

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New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for personal improvement. The start of a new year is an opportunity for HR teams to focus on priorities that can lead to a more resilient, high-performing federal workforce. Here are five HR resolutions for 2026 to advance agency missions. 1️⃣Close skills gaps. Identify future skills needs and develop targeted training and development plans. 2️⃣Modernize HR IT. Upgrade systems for better data, integration, and efficient service delivery.  3️⃣Engage in succession planning. Create a leadership pipeline to support continuity in any environment. 4️⃣Enhance performance management. Make it fair, transparent, and data-driven, focusing on development and accountability. 5️⃣Improve core processes. Standardize processes for efficiency, focusing on data-driven improvements that shift time and energy from low- to high-value work.

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This one means a lot to me. Over the past year, I designed and facilitated a roundtable series for the Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, bringing together national security practitioners, mental health and psychiatry experts, journalists, and think tank researchers for some of the richest, most cross-disciplinary conversations of my career. Sitting at that intersection, where clinical science meets the lived reality of people doing extraordinarily difficult work in service of this country, is exactly the kind of work I got into this field to do. This issue brief is what came out of those conversations. The core argument: The most common "resilience" interventions we offer those working in national security and intelligence, including wellness trainings, mindset workshops, and coping tools, often make chronic demand more tolerable without making it sustainable. That's not resilience. That's burden-shifting. Lasting readiness requires redesigning systems, not just toughening the people inside them. And while this brief is focused on national security institutions, the argument extends well beyond that world. Most organizations in healthcare, education, nonprofits, and government are running the same play: layering support onto broken systems and calling it resilience. The framework applies anywhere people are expected to absorb what the system should fix. Grateful to every practitioner and expert who brought their candor and experience to these roundtables. This work is better for it. And a sincere thank you to Adrienne Arsht, whose generous support and dedication to enhancing the lives of those who serve in national security made this initiative possible in the first place.

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