Reflections from CMMI Capability Creates 2026

By Pamela Egan, Vice President, Quality Programs

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the CMMI Capability Creates 2026 Conference hosted by ISACA in Washington, D.C. The event brought together leaders from government and industry to discuss organizational capability, AI governance, process improvement, and the future of responsible AI adoption.

For GTSC, this conference was particularly meaningful. Our organization was selected as one of only three organizations worldwide to participate in the ISACA CMMI AI Maturity (AIM) Pilot Program alongside IBM and Infosys. Throughout the conference, there was significant interest in how organizations can move beyond AI experimentation and establish governed, scalable, and measurable approaches to AI adoption.

One of my biggest takeaways was that successful AI adoption is not primarily a technology challenge. Across presentations, discussions, and networking sessions, the consistent message was that organizations need strong governance, clear objectives, and disciplined execution to realize meaningful business value from AI. Those principles closely align with the quality, process, and continuous improvement practices that GTSC has long championed.

I was especially proud to see GTSC represented by multiple leaders throughout the conference. Raymond Roberts presented on the value of identifying organizational AI gaps as a path to improvement, while Mehak Nadeem helped facilitate discussions on AI governance and AI maturity challenges organizations are facing today. Their participation demonstrated that GTSC is not simply following industry trends but actively contributing to conversations that are helping shape the future of AI maturity and organizational capability.

Beyond the formal sessions, the conference provided valuable opportunities to connect with professionals who are tackling many of the same challenges we face across government and industry. The discussions reinforced the importance of sharing lessons learned, learning from peers, and continuously evaluating how we improve our organizations.

As I returned to GTSC, I brought back more than conference notes. I returned with new ideas, new connections, and renewed confidence that our focus on quality, governance, and capability development positions us well for the future. As AI continues to evolve, organizations that combine innovation with disciplined management practices will be best positioned to succeed.

I am grateful for the opportunity to represent GTSC at this event and look forward to applying these insights as we continue advancing quality, organizational performance, and responsible AI adoption across our company.