The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 25, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 16.
Next is Government Cybersecurity Executive of the Year finalist Mary Wijetunga, who is with the Defense Department’s Joint Operational Medicine Information Systems. Here, she talks key recent achievements, focus areas going forward, overcoming career struggles and more.
What key achievements did you have in 2023?
Receiving fully Authority to Operate (ATO) for JOMIS AIDE MedCOP and implementing in the cloud environment, making it operational and available for the Warfighter.
What has made you successful in your current role?
Two things have made me successful in my current role:
1) My team ⏤ Having exceptionally talented team members who have the same passion to provide the best advantage to our Warfighters and being able to rely on their technical support to get tasks done.
2) Training ⏤ Cyber is constantly evolving and having up to date training available allows me to stay ahead of cyber threats and mitigations.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
My primary focus area moving forward will continue to be cybersecurity; there are many threats to the United States, it is important to protect and mitigate our systems and information.
What was your biggest career struggle and how did you overcome it?
My biggest career struggle is not being included or taken seriously when it comes to my work/cybersecurity environment. I overcome it by not giving up, solidify and share my knowledge/work, and continue contacting individuals until I found team members willing to listen and understand I know what I’m doing.
What’s your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t be afraid to fail, make mistakes, or stand out when it comes to your work; learn to make adjustments and make sure you are providing the best support that you can.