As cybersecurity challenges grow more complex, mission-driven marketing becomes increasingly critical, and leaders like Tom Mahoney are helping shape how GovCon engages with the federal market. As vice president of marketing at Optiv + ClearShark, Mahoney is aligning strategy, innovation and execution to support government customers navigating today’s threat landscape.
Mahoney is a finalist for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards in the Private Company CMO or Marketing Executive of the Year category. The event takes place live June 2.
In this spotlight, he shares insights on his recent achievements, priorities ahead and advice for the next generation of marketing leaders.
What key achievements did you have in 2025/2026?
Over the past year, we successfully launched our first Federal Cybersecurity Executive Summit, a half-day event focused on real-world challenges facing government agencies. Key themes included modernizing security operations to move at machine speed, strengthening identity and access management, and operationalizing AI within a cybersecurity context. The summit brought together leaders from across government and industry for candid discussions on improving national cybersecurity outcomes.
Operationally, we implemented a lead scoring model within our CRM, expanded our contact database by over 7,000 records, and built a fully integrated sales and marketing funnel to improve performance. We were also honored with multiple Partner of the Year awards from key vendors.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the mission?
Our focus is centered on helping federal agencies operationalize AI, accelerate SOC operations to machine speed, and bridge the gap between compliance and true cybersecurity effectiveness. What differentiates our approach is a cybersecurity-first lens, which ensures agencies can meet mission objectives and mandates while maintaining a strong, future-ready security posture.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
For those looking to grow in this field, my advice is to build strong alignment with sales teams. Understanding customer demand signals and shaping solutions around real pain points enable marketers to drive greater impact and serve as strategic partners within their organizations.
What is something about you that most people do not know?
Outside of work, I enjoy reading, hiking, biking, and spending time at the beach. I also used to surf regularly and hope to get back to it in the future.
