In episode 167 of the Asset Champion podcast, Jon Towers, Policy Director at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, a strategist and advisor to top government officials and institutions, and years of experience serving The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, joins host Mike Petrusky to discuss the significant challenges facing the VA as it manages its vast portfolio of assets, including many aging and outdated facilities. They explore how technology, including AI and worktech solutions, can play a crucial role in helping the federal government optimize its assets and improve efficiency. The modernization of VA facilities must be a priority, so Jon emphasizes the need to configure real estate assets to meet the changing needs of veterans across the country.
Agenda
- Challenges and opportunities in federal asset and facility management
- The Department of Veterans Affairs’ aging infrastructure and modernization needs
- How technology, including AI and work tech, can improve asset management
- Why industry engagement and subject‑matter expertise are essential for government decision‑making
What you need to know: Facility and maintenance takeaways
Takeaway 1: The VA faces a massive asset management challenge
The Department of Veterans Affairs oversees one of the largest and oldest facility portfolios in the federal government, and many of its buildings are outdated or misaligned with modern care delivery. Towers underscores that the mission to care for veterans is universally supported, but the infrastructure behind that mission must evolve.
He stresses the importance of informed decision‑making, noting: “You’ve got to have knowledge on the subject matter for sure. You’ve got to know what tools are out there that can be brought to bear on the issue.”
This knowledge gap is one of the VA’s biggest hurdles as it works to modernize its assets.
Takeaway 2: Technology — especially AI and work tech — is essential to modernization
Modern tools can dramatically improve how federal agencies understand, track, and manage their assets. AI, data platforms, and work tech solutions offer the ability to streamline operations, prioritize investments, and increase efficiency.
Towers points out that modernization isn’t just about new buildings — it’s about smarter systems and better insights. As he puts it, “There might be a more efficient way to do it.”
Technology becomes the bridge between outdated infrastructure and the world‑class care veterans deserve.
Takeaway 3: Government decision‑makers need private‑sector expertise
A central theme of the conversation is the need for deeper collaboration between government leaders and industry professionals. Policymakers often lack specialized asset management experience, and Towers argues that the private sector has a responsibility to help fill that gap.
He emphasizes this directly: “We need to utilize that talent also to inform a lot of these decision makers in government that there may be a better way.”
Industry engagement isn’t optional — it’s foundational to effective modernization.
Takeaway 4: Modernization requires political will and tough choices
Improving the VA’s infrastructure means making difficult decisions about which facilities to upgrade, consolidate, or retire. These choices require both political courage and expert guidance.
Towers highlights that modernization is not just about funding: “It’s not just finding the money, building new facilities, but… there might be a more efficient way to do it.”
He also shares a personal mantra passed down from his mother — a reminder of the resilience required in this work: “Chin up and belly to the wind.”
The path forward demands clarity, courage, and a willingness to rethink long‑standing assumptions.
Maintenance management insights
- The VA’s biggest challenge isn’t just the size of its asset portfolio — it’s the ability to understand it, trust the data behind it, and make informed decisions about modernization and maintenance. As Towers notes, “You’ve got to have knowledge on the subject matter for sure.”
- A lack of consistent asset data and institutional knowledge creates gaps in decision‑making, making it harder for the VA to prioritize repairs, upgrades, or replacements across its aging facilities.
- Technology such as AI, work tech platforms, and modern asset management tools can dramatically improve visibility and efficiency, but they are meant to support — not replace — human expertise. Towers emphasizes that “there may be a better way,” but it requires both tools and talent working together.
- Government leaders increasingly rely on private‑sector professionals to help bridge knowledge gaps. As Towers puts it, “We need to utilize that talent… to inform a lot of these decision makers in government.”
- Modern asset management in the federal space demands political will, expert guidance, and a willingness to rethink long‑standing facility configurations to ensure veterans receive care in safe, modern, and purpose‑built environments.
Do a deep dive into more asset management insights by exploring all Asset Champion Podcast episodes.
