Why OSINT Is the Federal Supply Chain Superpower You’re Overlooking

Federal agencies face no shortage of urgent priorities — but when supply chain vulnerabilities are overlooked, the consequences can be costly and far-reaching. That’s exactly why The Federal Tech Podcast is shining a spotlight on this critical issue.

Podcast host John Gilroy recently sat down with Jason English, Vice President at Babel Street and former Navy intelligence officer, to unpack how open-source intelligence (OSINT) is helping agencies reduce risk, boost transparency, and make smarter, faster decisions in 2025.

Listen to the episode now: Federal Tech Podcast - Episode 216

The real risk isn’t always the loudest one

While federal IT leaders navigate shutdowns, shifting mandates, and digital transformation, it’s easy to miss the importance of monitoring global supply chain health. Jason argues that OSINT— intelligence derived from publicly available data — is one of the most effective, affordable, and underutilized tools available today.

“It’s not just about data anymore,” Jason explained. “It’s about surfacing actionable knowledge before problems escalate.”

The OSINT advantage for federal agencies

From identifying emerging geopolitical conflict to uncovering fraudulent vendors hiding behind shell companies, Jason discussed the tactical and strategic power of open-source data. He emphasized three big advantages:

• Lower cost than classified intelligence
• Greater transparency, so you can “show your work”
• Broad visibility across deep, dark, and multilingual web content

And when John challenged him with the reality of "a billion blogs," Jason doubled down: AI is the secret to turning data overload into clear, multilingual insights — something Babel Street has mastered.

Real-world applications

Whether you're safeguarding national security or overseeing program integrity, OSINT has mission-critical applications, including:

• Supply chain resilience: Spot counterfeit parts, vendor vulnerabilities, and upstream risks early.
• Risk identification and mitigation: Detect indicators of cyber, geopolitical, or insider threats.
• Compliance monitoring: Stay ahead of quality and regulatory lapses before they escalate.
• Reputation management: Monitor public sentiment and social chatter about your agency or programs.

Final thought: Staying focused on the mission

With a career that spans Capitol Hill, carrier strike groups, and sensitive intelligence missions, Jason could have landed anywhere. But as he puts it, “Babel Street lets me stay close to the mission. I still get to support national security with real impact.”

Trust is earned in Jason’s world — and you’ll see why after tuning into this insightful, engaging episode.

Listen to the full episode: federaltechpodcast.com/episode-216

This blog post is based on episode 216 of the Federal Tech Podcast with John Gilroy and guest Jason English from Babel Street.