GSA Forms 7-Member Technical Advisory Group to Support FedRAMP

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has established a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) in partnership with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to provide specialized expertise to Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP).

This initiative aims to enrich decision-making regarding the technical, strategic, and operational trajectory of the program.

“The TAG will empower FedRAMP to benefit from the strong technical expertise we have throughout the federal government. This group will help make FedRAMP a smarter and more technology-forward operation that better meets its goal of making it safe and easy for federal agencies to take full advantage of cloud services,” said Eric Mill, GSA’s Executive Director for Cloud Strategy in Technology Transformation Services. 

Comprising federal experts, the TAG offers direct counsel on both public and internal FedRAMP matters, leveraging their pertinent technical experience gained from government roles to inform FedRAMP operations. 

Serving as a complement to the Federal Secure Cloud Advisory Committee, which encompasses representatives from both public and private sectors, the TAG extends advice and guidance upon request by the FedRAMP program and the FedRAMP Board. This collaboration aids FedRAMP in decision-making concerning processes, policies, and other areas where independent technical expertise can enhance outcomes.

The inaugural TAG members are:

• Laura Beaufort, Technical Lead, Federal Election Commission.

• Michael Boyce, Director of Artificial Intelligence Corps (AI Corps), Office of the Chief Information Officer, Department of Homeland Security. 

• Grant Dasher, Architecture Branch Chief, Office of the Technical Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency. 

• Paul Hirsch, Technical Lead, Technology Transformation Services, General Services Administration.

• Elizabeth Schweinsberg, Senior Technical Advisor, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, Department of Health and Human Services. 

• Nicole Thompson, Cybersecurity Engineer, Defense Digital Service, Department of Defense. 

• Brian Turnau, Cloud Authorization Program Manager, Office of the Chief Information Officer, General Services Administration. 

Earlier this year, GSA announced a new seven-member Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) board, which serves as the governing body and replaced the Joint Authorization Board (JAB). 

The board's primary objective is to facilitate a seamless transition from the JAB and oversee ongoing projects. 

Additionally, it aims to establish performance metrics for the program, collaborate with agencies for both joint and single-agency authorizations, and maintain continuous monitoring of FedRAMP-authorized cloud offerings in coordination with FedRAMP.