
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Program Support Center (PSC) provides centralized financial management services to multiple federal agencies, including the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH). A critical component of this support is the Debt Management System (DMS), which enables PSC to track, manage, and collect debts tied to federal grant programs and financial obligations.
Originally developed on legacy infrastructure, DMS had become inflexible, relying on paper-based workflows that introduced inefficiencies, limited visibility, and increased compliance risks. PSC partnered with ASSYST to reimagine DMS as a cloud-native, AI-enabled, secure shared services platform capable of meeting the evolving needs of multiple agencies while delivering consistent, high-quality user experiences.
PSC’s modernization goals were shaped by the following challenges common to legacy federal financial systems:
These multifaceted issues underscore the need for a scalable, secure, and intelligent platform.
ASSYST implemented a comprehensive modernization strategy centered on agile delivery, cloud-native infrastructure, and AI-powered automation:
The modernized DMS platform has delivered a measurable impact:
Sustaining Growth and Innovation
The platform modernization delivered by ASSYST provides PSC with the agility to evolve with future demands. With cloud-native flexibility, AI-enabled automation, and continuous delivery pipelines, PSC is equipped to onboard new debt programs, meet changing regulatory mandates, and deliver greater transparency in debt management.
ASSYST’s solution has empowered PSC with the tools, architecture, and operational model to sustain and scale the DMS platform as a strategic shared service, enabling data-driven decision-making and long-term mission success.

The Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL) leads a vital international exchange program that builds meaningful civic and political relationships with global leaders. These person-to-person connections enhance U.S. national security by fostering mutual understanding, promoting democratic values, and cultivating long-term cooperation with foreign counterparts. COIL’s mission hinges on encouraging global engagement through dialogue, diplomacy, and shared civic experiences.
However, the organization's ability to scale its international outreach and fulfill its national security-oriented mandate was constrained by a legacy public-facing website. Built on an outdated content management system, the platform lacked responsiveness, accessibility, and ease of maintenance, ultimately hindering COIL’s ability to engage effectively with delegates, hosts, and stakeholders worldwide.
To maintain its leadership in international exchange and support its strategic role in advancing American national security interests, COIL needed a modernized digital platform. The legacy website was not only visually outdated but structurally inflexible, limiting the team’s ability to update content, share program impact, and expand its global network of participants and partners. The new platform had to be secure, accessible across devices, intuitively designed, and aligned with federal digital and public diplomacy goals.
ASSYST partnered with COIL to lead a full-scale redesign and migration of OpenWorld.gov. The goal was to deliver a responsive, accessible, secure, and user-centered web platform that supported seamless global outreach and streamlined internal workflows. We began with a comprehensive assessment of the legacy system and conducted a structured migration of content and media assets to a secure and scalable Drupal environment. The new platform was developed using mobile-first, accessible design principles and validated through rigorous integration and user acceptance testing. Notably, the project was delivered two months ahead of schedule, allowing COIL to accelerate its public engagement efforts.
Security and content governance were core pillars of the redesign. The solution incorporated HTTPS enforcement, secure authentication, and role-based access control to safeguard site content and user data. Editorial workflows were implemented to support draft-review-publish cycles, ensuring only authorized users could publish content. ASSYST also provided tailored training to COIL staff, equipping them to manage content updates, monitor analytics, and maintain platform integrity without external support.
The new OpenWorld.gov reflects a Human-Centered Design (HCD) methodology, featuring a user-first interface optimized for seamless experiences across mobile, tablet, and desktop devices. The homepage highlights upcoming programs, stories of impact, and key updates. Content sections, such as “For Delegates” and “Host an Event,” were reorganized to prioritize ease of access. Enhanced search and filter tools now enable users to locate events, grant opportunities, and country-specific information with greater ease and intuitiveness.
The solution delivered by ASSYST offers long-term value in three key areas:
These capabilities position COIL to continually amplify its global mission with agility, consistency, and confidence.
Since launch, COIL’s new website has seen measurable improvements in user engagement, including increased session duration, return visits, and page views. These indicators demonstrate the effectiveness of intuitive design and accessible content in fostering deeper user interaction. The responsive design and enhanced workflows now ensure broader inclusivity and streamlined content management. Most importantly, the platform now serves as a digital ambassador, extending COIL’s diplomatic voice and storytelling capabilities to a global audience. Through this modernization effort, COIL has enhanced its capacity to establish and maintain positive relationships with civic and political leaders, thereby advancing the real-world outcomes of its mission.

The US Army Aviation Center of Excellence’s (USAACE) Mission Command Arts and Sciences Program (MCASP) initiative at Fort Novosel, Alabama, supports the Army’s Mission Command Training Strategy (MCTS) and Mission Command Training Strategy Implementation Plan (MCTSIP). MCASP supports Mission Command training for Professional Military Education (PME) and Initial Military Training (IMT) classes in various Officer, Warrant Officer, and Noncommissioned Officer Courses, in the interest of fostering a highly skilled professional military body.
The USAACE required overarching support for their advanced Army Mission Command System (AMCS) simulation and stimulation training systems. These systems were critical exercises for ensuring MCASP students were fully capable of operating effectively in a combat environment. The ASSYST team provided highly multifaceted IT support services to USAACE’s MCASP at Fort Novosel for almost 11 years, supporting the program’s mission to conduct simulation training and practical exercises, develop advanced Mission Command simulation training systems, and create products for IMT and PME.
ASSYST deployed a team to support the configuration, integration, design, delivery, execution, and maintenance of Army Mission Command System (AMCS) simulation training for IMT and PME. We expertly managed and delivered network support, maintenance, and upgrades for digital Tactical Operations Centers (TOC) Mission Command systems, servers, components, and other simulation and stimulation assets as required to ensure operational AMCS training network support.
Additionally, ASSYST provided comprehensive support for AMCS components tied to the MCASP instruction. We managed the integration, configuration, cybersecurity, and maintenance of various AMCS simulation and stimulation hardware and software platforms. We supported the virtualization of synthetic battlefield environments at designated USAACE Enterprise Classroom Programs (ECPs). Updates to training curriculum, lesson plans, and Programs of Instruction were also regularly reviewed, updated, and certified as needed.
Hands-On Mentoring: In addition to providing support through software and system engineering, ASSYST delivered direct ECP instruction and over-the-shoulder mentor training support to personnel for operations, user maintenance, and training network configuration, which included, but was not limited to, various systems. ASSYST’s MCASP instructors provided the expertise needed to guide students to success.
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: Upon ASSYST’s contract award of the MCASP program, the Tactical Training Network (TTN) was an unaccredited standalone network. Government regulations required that the TTN undergo formal accreditation. During the 11 years we held the contract, we transformed the TTN from being unaccredited to achieving one DOD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP) accreditation and two DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF) accreditations. ASSYST implemented Host-Based SQL Server (HBSS) and applied the necessary Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) associated with it to achieve compliance. After DIACAP was formally discontinued in May 2015 and replaced by the DoD Risk Management Framework (RMF), we transitioned seamlessly to RMF, maintaining full compliance throughout the TTN with updated assessments, documentation, and control implementation.
Our team also designed and implemented the necessary documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to obtain and maintain the network's Authority to Operate (ATO). ASSYST’s team performed testing, system audits, and remediation efforts to ensure that we met Army Portfolio Management System (APMS) and Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Services (eMASS) requirements.
Through a combination of system enhancement and hands-on training support, we empowered MCASP to achieve its desired outcomes more efficiently. ASSYST’s services were crucial to ensuring MCASP students understood how the AMCS supported Army Aviation in decision-making, especially in combat environments, utilizing the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP) and the Rapid Decision-Making Process (RDMP).


As the nation’s authority on health IT standards, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) plays a central role in guiding the exchange of healthcare data across the U.S. healthcare ecosystem. To fulfill this mission, ONC maintains several critical digital resources, including the Interoperability Standards Advisory (ISA), the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI), and the Standards Version Advancement Process (SVAP).
To better support a growing and diverse audience, including health IT developers, clinicians, public health experts, payors, providers, and patients, the ONC launched a modernization effort focused on improving how these resources are accessed and experienced online. The goal was to create a more cohesive, intuitive platform that reflects the full scope of ONC’s interoperability efforts and supports the agency’s broader digital transformation goals. ASSYST played a key role in bringing this vision to life through the design and development of the Interoperability Standards Platform (ISP), which supports the mission.
Built using Drupal, the new ISP homepage offers a central entry point for ISA, USCDI, and SVAP. ASSYST’s work ensured that all three standards resources were more prominently integrated into the platform experience, making it easier for stakeholders to engage with the full spectrum of standards guidance in one accessible location. The updated design delivers a more consistent user experience across the three standards areas while preserving the unique structure and purpose of each resource.
To support its broader modernization initiative, ONC worked with ASSYST to enhance the Interoperability Standards Platform, improving how stakeholders engage with standards information and contribute public feedback through a more accessible and efficient digital experience. ASSYST applied Human-Centered Design (HCD) and User-Centered Design (UCD) principles throughout the effort, using user research, iterative design, and accessibility best practices to ensure the platform met the needs of a wide range of users and aligned with federal digital service goals.
In parallel, ASSYST worked closely with ONC to streamline the public comment submission process. Previously, comments submitted online, often with attachments, had to be manually reviewed and entered into ONC’s Jira system for tracking and analysis. This slowed down the review cycle and limited ONC’s ability to respond quickly to new or evolving input. By enhancing the Drupal interface and integrating it directly with Jira, ASSYST introduced a structured, form-based submission system that significantly reduced manual effort. Public feedback now flows directly into ONC’s backend in a clean, actionable format, often within minutes of submission.
These improvements have helped ONC become more responsive to the community it serves. What once took days to process can now be completed in a fraction of the time. Staff can focus more on analyzing and acting on public input instead of managing it. And stakeholders benefit from a cleaner, more coherent experience when interacting with one of the federal government’s most important standards platforms.
The Interoperability Standards Platform has evolved not only to be more modern but also more mission-aligned, supporting ONC’s goal of creating a connected, interoperable healthcare environment. Through thoughtful design, open-source tools, and practical workflow automation, ASSYST helped ONC turn a complex system into an accessible and efficient one, advancing its digital transformation journey and setting the stage for the next generation of digital health innovation.
On this edition of QikBits, Loren Gray, Army Program Advisor at ASSYST, discusses his journey in public service and ASSYST’s decades-long role in driving secure, AI-enabled modernization across Army and DoD IT systems. | #aifirst #modernization #govtech #DoD #army250





Strategic Consulting and Advisory
Cyber Risk, Resilience and Compliance
Identity and Access Management
All Source Intelligence and Analytics
Energy and Infrastructure Resilience
Law Enforcement IT and Data Integration
Regulatory and Enforcement Data Analytics



Joe Anderson, COO
ASSYST, Inc. | LinkedIn

Christopher David, Program Manager
ASSYST, Inc. | LinkedIn

Eugene Goldlust, Sr. Account Executive
ASSYST, Inc. | LinkedIn

William Earp, General Manager
G14-C, LLC. | LinkedIn
ASSYST’s Homeland & National Security Practice Team brings together seasoned professionals with backgrounds in the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Army, as well as state and local emergency response leadership, and law enforcement and public safety expertise. Our Advisory Council meets quarterly to provide strategic guidance on technology, encompassing AI, C4ISR, advanced intelligence solutions, and cyber resilience, ensuring our offerings remain aligned with evolving mission needs and emerging challenges.


The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, plays a crucial role in promoting health equity and enhancing access to care for underserved and vulnerable communities. Central to HRSA’s digital operations is the Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) platform, a complex, enterprise-grade environment supporting program management, grants administration, compliance, and performance monitoring.
Supporting and evolving the EHBs platform involves a vast, distributed network of internal and external stakeholders. HRSA’s enterprise IT operations span dozens of systems, hundreds of modules, and multiple teams working in tandem. This includes parallel efforts across Development, Maintenance, Operations, and Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) vendors, each using different toolsets, timelines, and goals. The scale and complexity of managing quality assurance and coordination in such a multivendor landscape demanded a shift from traditional, manual approaches to one powered by automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and DevOps integration.
HRSA required a scalable, consistent, and independent IV&V capability to support its growing EHBs platform, which includes enterprise modules, microservices, and system-to-system integrations. Manual testing approaches have struggled to keep pace with the continuous delivery models adopted by various teams. Inconsistent validation processes, fragmented reporting, and siloed tools created duplication of effort and risked missed defects in critical releases.
The lack of centralized oversight and intelligent testing made early defect detection, particularly visual regressions and accessibility issues, very difficult. Furthermore, coordinating validation activities across multiple vendors added complexity and delayed alignment on release readiness.
HRSA needed a unified, intelligent testing solution that could scale across systems and teams, enforce standard practices, accelerate defect resolution, and support its vision for agile, automated DevOps delivery.
ASSYST implemented a centralized, AI-powered Test Harness Platform (THP) purpose-built to meet HRSA’s enterprise validation needs. THP functions as a shared automation and collaboration hub for all development, operations, and IV&V teams. It streamlines test management, execution, monitoring, and reporting through a single, web-based interface.
Key elements of the solution include:
HRSA’s investment in centralized, intelligent test automation has transformed its digital validation processes:
Innovation and Future Readiness
ASSYST continues to evolve THP to support HRSA’s modernization roadmap. New capabilities include intelligent validation for microservices, test automation for data migration efforts, and enhanced support for cloud-native architectures.
By combining AI, automation, and DevOps principles, ASSYST ensures that HRSA remains well-positioned to deliver secure, scalable, and user-centered digital services that support public health programs nationwide.

ASSYST’s innovative AI, such as ComplySyncATO, will be showcased at the upcoming Advancing Federal Innovation Through AI, Agile Acquisition, and Impact-Driven Solutions event (https://keap.page/tty439/engage-fedgov-061325.html) organized by Orange Slices AI.
The event will bring together industry partners and federal agencies to explore the transformative shifts reshaping the public sector landscape, Including Cutting-edge AI, Automation, Data, Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA), and Efficiency solutions, and we're so excited to have them showcase at this event.
Focused on evolving acquisition strategies, innovative contracting approaches, and the integration of artificial intelligence and automation to drive cost efficiency, the event will provide valuable insights into how these advancements align with emerging funding programs and initiatives. ASSYST will highlight how AI-driven solutions can help government agencies overcome today’s challenges, streamline operations, and improve efficiency.
The event will also focus on how federal organizations and industry leaders collaborate to meet emerging needs and deliver measurable impact. It will allow attendees to engage in discussions and build partnerships that drive success.
Event Date/Time:
Friday, June 13, 2025
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Website:
https://keap.page/tty439/engage-fedgov-061325.html
Event Location:
University of Maryland College Park
Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
Let's Connect:


Sterling, VA—ASSYST is proud to announce that ComplySyncATO has been named a 2025 ACCELERATE Award Winner by GOVTECH CONNECTS. The program was recognized as one of the top mission-focused programs in the Federal Government, DoD, and Industry, fast-tracking innovation adoption, enhancing efficiency, and streamlining digital transformation to deliver smart, impactful outcomes.
The ACCELERATE 2025 ( https://www.govtechconnects.com/accelerate/) award ceremony will be held on August 11, 2025, from 2 - 5 PM EDT at the Carahsoft Conference & Collaboration Center in Reston, VA. The event will bring together government and industry leaders to break down barriers, fast-track innovation, and drive high-impact results. Experts will share how they accelerate transformation and deliver real, measurable success through powerful collaborations, actionable strategies, and cutting-edge insights.
The recognition of ComplySyncATO underscores its leadership in automating Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) processes, enabling DoD and Federal Agencies to adopt leading-edge AI solutions securely. ComplySyncATO is specifically designed to fast-track innovation adoption, improve operational efficiency, and bring Agentic AI to security and Cybersecurity compliance teams, ensuring smarter decision-making and mission readiness. This solution transforms how agencies approach security and compliance, helping them stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital and AI landscape.

“We are honored to see ComplySyncATO recognized at this level,” said Joe Anderson, Chief Operating Officer at ASSYST. “This award reflects our shared commitment to securely adopting AI-powered solutions through the ASSYST Green Accelerator. We’re accelerating the adoption of innovation, enhancing efficiency, and empowering security and compliance teams to leverage Agentic AI to deliver smarter, more impactful outcomes.”
ACCELERATE 2025 will culminate in celebrating this year’s award-winning programs, followed by a networking reception.
For more information about the ACCELERATE Summit, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/accelerate-2025-tickets-1247315286599
Visit learn more about ASSYST and our commitment to AI-driven digital transformation for Government Agencies; visit www.assyst.net
Contact:
Ram Prasad, EVP of Business Solutions
media@assyst.net | 703-230-3100
On this episode of ASSYST QikBits, Sr. Account Executive Eugene Goldlust shares how his background in law enforcement and coaching youth hockey informs his approach to federal IT services.
