Chris DeRusha
Federal CISO, Office of Management and Budget
Chris DeRusha, former cybersecurity official for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign and Michigan’s cybersecurity chief, was named federal chief information security officer in January 2021.
With experience in both public and private sectors, he led cybersecurity initiatives at Ford Motor Co. and served eight years in federal roles, including positions at the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Homeland Security.
As the lead cybersecurity strategist for the federal government, DeRusha oversees the cybersecurity for over 100 federal agencies. These agencies have a combined IT budget of $87 billion and serve 2.1 million workers.
He also chairs the Federal Acquisition Security Council, an executive branch interagency council responsible for supply chain risk management and is a member of the Technology Modernization Fund Board.
Why Watch
DeRusha’s notable achievements include delivering the first federal plan prioritizing how to spend $12.7 billion on zero trust cybersecurity and successfully advocated for increases in the cybersecurity budget, totaling $1.2 billion in one year and $1.5 billion in another.
As the landscape of cyber threats continues to evolve, leadership from experienced professionals like DeRusha is vital for the U.S. government’s security posture.
DeRusha has stressed the urgency for the U.S. to stay abreast of tech and cybersecurity developments. Throughout his career, he has emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in cybersecurity, the need to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats and the significance of improving federal cybersecurity skills.