Kirk McClain
Chief Security Officer, Accenture Federal Services
Kirk McClain’s 2025 achievements include leading a team to deliver stronger industrial security support for client portfolios, improve physical security integration with protection technologies, expand business continuity, crisis management and insider threat capabilities, and set record personnel security throughput ratios with the fastest processing times to date.
The company is aligning with the current administration’s priorities to reduce costs, streamline operations and improve government efficiency by using more client-delivery–experienced resources, rather than only security personnel, in several compliance-focused roles. This approach provides a better understanding of business enablement needs against delivery risk impediments and has streamlined compliance programs, increased approval times and reduced operating costs.
“Kirk’s leadership of our security program is a force multiplier for Accenture Federal Services,” said Gerard F. Amann, Accenture Federal Services chief operating officer. “His subject matter expertise, business acumen, and leadership style combine to effectively align resources to mission, optimize cost, and attract top talent.”
Why Watch
In 2025, McClain’s team will expand its use of automation by applying artificial intelligence to security processing, reviews, analysis and compliance. The goal is to reinvent how the team supports customers, maintains compliance and builds client confidence. With AI, the team expects to improve the timeliness, accuracy and detail of security support, analysis, reporting and metrics.
“What I have told my team is that change is never easy, but in industry it remains necessary to stay on top,” McClain said. “Change provides a break in pattern that we may not have otherwise gotten to organically, and the difference between us and someone else is that we will pursue change as an opportunity, not as a negative.
Fun fact: McClain is vice president of SIGNA Society, a nonpolitical fraternal organization for CIA security professionals. The society provides a community of experienced security personnel for networking, education, social events and support, and connects past, present and future members, as well as their families.