2026 GovRAMP Symposium
Monday, March 9, 2026 | 12:30 – 4:30 pm ET
The GovRAMP Symposium convenes senior federal, state, and local leaders to explore how secure innovation, policy, and procurement intersect to advance trusted modernization across government.
Hosted in partnership with Billington CyberSecurity, the half-day program serves as the opening session of the Billington State & Local Cybersecurity Summit, setting the stage for collaboration and framework harmonization as a national security strategy.
- Ronald Reagan Building, Pavillion Room
Choose Your Pathway To Participate
Participation is reserved for public sector leaders and GovRAMP private sector member sponsors dedicated to advancing secure, transparent innovation across government.
Register (Public Sector & Nonprofit)
Federal and state public sector professionals are invited to register to attend. Registration is free and limited to individuals employed by public sector organizations and government institutions only.
Sponsor Inquiry
GovRAMP member organizations in the private sector may participate through sponsorship. Sponsorships are limited and exclusive, offering direct engagement with public sector leaders.
Billington Summit
The GovRAMP Symposium serves as the opening program of the Billington CyberSecurity State & Local Summit. Learn more about Billington’s full agenda and programming driving state and local cybersecurity.
Cyber Harmonization as a National Security Strategy: Unlocking America’s Competitive Edge in AI
This year’s GovRAMP Symposium will explore how cybersecurity policy and framework alignment can accelerate America’s secure adoption of AI—strengthening both innovation and national defense.
12:30 – 1:00 pm ET | Registration Check-In
Check in at the elevators in front of the Pavilion Room, located within the Ronald Reagan Building. For questions or on-site inquiries, please contact Taylor Webster, GovRAMP Marketing Manager.
1:00 – 1:10 pm | Welcome Remarks
J.R. Sloan, President, GovRAMP Board of Directors & CIO, State of Arizona
Framework harmonization is national security in action—it builds trust and unlocks U.S. innovation capacity.
1:10 – 1:40 pm | Guardrails to Green Lights: New Cyber Playbook for the AI Era
A keynote conversation featuring leading federal cyber officials and members of the GovRAMP AI Executive Council. This discussion explores how aligned assurance frameworks can strengthen America’s competitiveness in AI while advancing the National Cyber Strategy.
1:40 – 2:45 pm | Framework Harmonization: Innovation and Security Catalyst
A moderated panel featuring federal, state, and industry leaders discussing how harmonizing NIST, GovRAMP, and related frameworks can create a secure, interoperable innovation base for AI and emerging technologies.
2:45 – 3:10 pm | Networking Break
A dedicated networking break providing opportunities for public and private sector leaders to exchange ideas.
3:10 – 4:10 pm | Achieving Framework Harmonization
An interactive workshop exploring three practical pathways to harmonization—elimination, overlap, and equivalency—to identify shared policy and implementation priorities for state and federal leaders.
4:10 – 4:30 pm | AI, Cyber, and the Regulatory Horizon
A closing keynote from a national technology thought leader examining emerging governance models and the future of AI security in the United States.
5:00 – 6:00 PM | Networking Reception
Co-Hosted by GovRAMP and Billington CyberSecurity
An informal post-program reception offering continued dialogue between public and private sector participants on AI, framework harmonization, and secure innovation.
Speakers
Additional speakers will be announced as confirmations are finalized.
J.R. Sloan
CIO, State of Arizona
President, GovRAMP Board of Directors
J.R. Sloan joined the State of Arizona in 2013 after working in the technology industry for over 20 years in operational and executive-level roles in both private and public organizations. As State CIO, J.R. oversees technology innovation, IT governance, policies, and standards, as well as the delivery and operations of enterprise IT services and programs for ASET. He also serves as Chairman of the State of Arizona Information Technology Authorization Committee (ITAC) which approves and monitors high-cost technology projects statewide.
Focused on digital transformation for the state, J.R. spearheads projects that make a significant difference for Arizona. He led the creation and implementation of Arizona’s Cloud-First Policy which has resulted in the closure of 90 on-premise data centers and the successful migration of over 2,900 applications and has generated more than $10.8 million in recurring cost savings/avoidance. He standardized the development and security for over 130 state agency websites which have increased the number of online services available to Arizonans by 250% in a two-year period and has brought process efficiencies as much as 15x. Completing the rollout of Google Workspace as the enterprise email and calendaring solution to 86 executive branch agencies (40,000+ mailboxes) and now driving the ongoing adoption of the full collaboration capabilities. He also serves as an executive sponsor for key IT initiatives driven by ADOA like Business One Stop and HRIS Modernization.
J.R. works collaboratively with IT leadership across the executive branch agencies to promote key enterprise initiatives, establish statewide IT policies, and identify enterprise opportunities that will yield better efficiencies and economies of scale.
J.R. is certified in Pragmatic Marketing and Product Management. His educational background includes Electrical Engineering at the University of Arizona and Architecture and Environmental Design at Arizona State University.
During his off hours, J.R. enjoys spending time with his four children and first grandchild as well as hiking, sampling Arizona’s local restaurants and participating in ministries and leadership at his church.
Leah McGrath
Executive Director,
GovRAMP
Leah McGrath serves as Executive Director of GovRAMP, the organization formerly known as StateRAMP. McGrath was instrumental in launching the initiative in 2020, working in close collaboration with government and industry leaders to establish its original governance structure and cybersecurity policy framework. She oversaw the organization as it evolved into GovRAMP—a nationally recognized, public-private partnership advancing standardized cybersecurity verification for cloud solutions across the broader government ecosystem.
In recognition of her vision and leadership in strengthening cyber resilience across both the public and private sectors, McGrath was named to NextGov’s 2025 Federal 100 and to Government Technology’s 2023 Top Doers, Dreamers and Drivers list, honoring the individuals driving real impact in the modernization of government technology.
With over two decades of experience at the intersection of government, policy, and innovation, McGrath brings a proven track record in strategic planning, cross-sector collaboration, and digital transformation. Prior to her role with GovRAMP, she served as the first Deputy Mayor of the City of Fishers, Indiana, where she helped lead the city's transformation into a nationally ranked smart city. Her efforts included spearheading Fishers’ first long-range comprehensive plan and launching city-wide modernization initiatives—efforts that contributed to the city being named Money magazine’s #1 Best Place to Live in America in 2017.
Throughout her career, McGrath has remained committed to improving outcomes for citizens through secure, scalable, and forward-thinking technology solutions. Today, she continues to serve as a national voice for supplier assurance, cyber policy alignment, and innovation in the public sector.
Jessica Van Eerde
COO & General Counsel,
GovRAMP
Jessica Van Eerde serves as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel at GovRAMP. With more than a decade of experience navigating the complex intersections of law, procurement, and cybersecurity within State, Local, and Higher Education (SLED) sectors, Jessica plays a critical role in advancing GovRAMP’s mission to strengthen and streamline cybersecurity across the nation.
A strategic operator and trusted advisor, Van Eerde drives execution across key initiatives, ensuring organizational agility and compliance while scaling programs to meet the growing demands of GovRAMP’s diverse member base. Her multidisciplinary background uniquely positions her to navigate regulatory environments, negotiate complex agreements, and lead with both legal and operational foresight. Van Eerde’s leadership reflects a deep commitment to fostering innovation, advancing cybersecurity readiness, and supporting the evolving needs of the public sector in an increasingly interconnected world.
Venue Information
Location:
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Room: Pavilion Room
Check-In:
Check in at the elevators in front of the Pavilion Room. Event staff will be available to assist with directions and registration.
Event Time:
Monday, March 9, 2026
12:30 – 4:30 PM Program
5:00 – 6:00 PM Networking Reception
Travel & Parking:
The Ronald Reagan Building is centrally located in downtown Washington, D.C., with convenient access to the Federal Triangle Metro Station (Blue, Orange, and Silver lines). On-site parking is available in the underground garage, accessible via 13½ Street off Pennsylvania Avenue.
Connect with Our Team
Submit your inquiry to connect with the GovRAMP Team for questions related to registration, sponsorship, or general event information.
In Partnership with Billington CyberSecurity
GovRAMP proudly partners with Billington CyberSecurity to present this program as part of a shared commitment to advancing secure innovation and collaboration across government. The GovRAMP Symposium serves as the opening program of the Billington CyberSecurity State & Local Summit, uniting federal, state, and local leaders to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity posture.