The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Pinnacle Awards were announced Oct. 11, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 30.
Next is Cybersecurity Government Executive of the Year finalist Kosta Kalpos, who’s the director of federal civilian government affairs at Splunk. Previously, he served as senior adviser of cybersecurity in the Executive Office of the President. Here, he talks proud current moments, success in his current role and focus areas going forward.
Looking back at your career, what are you most proud of?
Volunteering in Operation Allies Welcome at Marine Corps Base Quantico, whose mission was to support vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked alongside us in Afghanistan for the past two decades, as they safely resettle in the U.S. Coming from a family who immigrated to the U.S. from Greece, it was an honor and the proudest moment in my career to support other families achieve the same American dream.
What has made you successful in your current role?
The people I’ve worked with, equally between federal colleges and contractors supporting the federal government. Also, the value of having a good mentor and paying that forward now in my career. There is a common sense of pride and accomplishment that radiates when good people support a mission, to benefit the greater good.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
Supporting the success of supply chain risk management programs as instructed in Executive Order 14028. Specifically, the key building block in the upcoming requirement of a software bill of materials within federal acquisitions. The EO was a call to action and lays out a timeline to ensure that government buyers can use an SBOM to perform vulnerability or license analysis, evaluate product risk and more quickly, and easily determine if they are at potential risk of a newly discovered vulnerability. Our whole of government effort is now becoming a whole of society solution, thanks to the work CISA is doing to operationalize these efforts across sectors.