Dylan Owen
CISO, Nightwing
Before becoming CISO of Nightwing, Dylan Owen led the company’s managed security services group for three years. During that time, the company expanded its service delivery and capabilities, which customers relied on for their security. Owen’s focus on a culture of delivery excellence attracted new customers and improved the business’s bottom line by streamlining operations and introducing new capabilities.
“Dylan has played a pivotal role in maintaining and enhancing Nightwing’s cybersecurity strategy as we transitioned to an independent company,” said John Xereas, chief information officer at Nightwing. “As our chief information security officer, Dylan has fostered a culture of shared responsibility. He empowers his team and those around him, building trust and helping to ensure that our security remains uncompromised, significantly elevating our capabilities and protecting both our internal operations and the clients we serve.”
Why Watch
As Nightwing transitions to a standalone company, Owen and his team are focused on building a cybersecurity organization that protects against threats and complies with Defense Acquisition Regulation System and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification standards. Prioritizing visibility and monitoring in their cloud-first SaaS and Content Security Policy environments, they ensure proper configuration, multi-factor authentication and entitlement management. They are also developing a Governance, Risk and Compliance framework to support compliance and business growth, while implementing the necessary tools and operational structure to safeguard the company.
“‘No matter where you go, there you are’ is one of my favorite movie quotes from Buckaroo Banzai,” Owen said. “I think this works at multiple levels. For me it’s really about being in the present and attempting to be self-aware which can translate to cyber in terms being cognizant of the impacts to an organization but also, it’s important to help highlight strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement, just as you might in your personal life.”
Fun fact: Owen’s mother is from Honduras, and her family still owns a coffee farm. She could buy coffee in D.C. grocery stores made from beans grown on her family’s farm. Ironically, Owen doesn’t drink coffee.