Eric Ries, author of "The Lean Startup," will be the featured speaker Tuesday at George Mason University's VentureCamp event in Arlington.

Ries will join Arlington resident and former U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra, former U.S. Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra and Melon Power founder Craig Isakow for the one-hour event.

"A Conversation with Eric Ries," according to a news release, will be "a lunchtime conversation about Lean Startup principles and their application to the work of the public sector. From innovation in social policies to science and technology policy, lean startup techniques can support rapid, cost-effective innovation and better policy outcomes for the public sector."

The event starts at noon Tuesday at George Mason University's Founders Hall, 3351 Fairfax Drive in Arlington.

It's free, but registration is required.

The lunchtime conversation is the first of three planned VentureCamp events. The remaining two will take place in November.