WATCH: CISA’s Matt House, MANTECH’s Rick Bruno on CDM’s Shift to Operational Cyber Defense
In this video panel series, WashingtonExec interviews industry and public sector leaders to explore the challenges, innovations and initiatives shaping the government IT landscape. This video was originally recorded on July 1, 2026. In this segment, WashingtonExec’s Amanda Ziadeh sits down with Matt House, acting associate director and capacity building and program manager of Continuous
Nicholas Andersen’s Summer Agenda: Balancing Mission Readiness at CISA, Family & Recharging on the Cape
As acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Nicholas Andersen leads efforts to safeguard the nation’s critical infrastructure and strengthen resilience across government and industry. But even during the summer months, the mission doesn’t slow down. With major events like Freedom 250 and the World Cup, Andersen will spend much of the season
Top Cyber Execs to Watch in 2026: CISA’s Matt House
Matt House Acting Associate Director, Capacity Building and Program Manager, Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation, CISA “Achievements in federal cybersecurity are often quiet wins, marked by each day that systems are secured, threats are detected, and responses are rapid,” said Matt House. His biggest achievement will be leading the team advancing this important behind-the-scenes work and
Pinnacle Award Finalist Niki Lane: ‘Build a Team of Professionals That Has Mutual Trust’
The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2024 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 20, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 21. Next is Niki Lane, acquisition and budget branch chief of capacity building at CISA, and finalist in the Contracts Executive of the Year, Government, category. Here, she talks
Accenture Federal Services Wins $90M CISA Data Analytics Contract
Accenture Federal Services won a $90 million prime contract to provide data analytics and vulnerability research and analysis support to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The company will support CISA’s Cybersecurity Division Vulnerability Management Insights Branch by delivering timely and actionable guidance on risk mitigation strategies to the agency’s partners and stakeholders, the company
CISA’s Lauren Zabierek is On a Mission to Change the Nation’s Approach to Cyber with Secure by Design
April 2024 marks the first anniversary of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Secure by Design initiative. With Secure by Design, CISA aims to work with tech developers to implement security measures early in the software product’s lifecycle to reduce exploitable flaws before they make their way into the end users’ system. The idea is
WATCH: CISA’s Lauren Zabierek on Updated Secure-by-Design Guidelines and What They Mean for Gov’t Partners
WashingtonExec’s Amanda Ziadeh is joined by Lauren Zabierek, senior advisor of the cybersecurity division at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to discuss her work on a secure-by-design cybersecurity approach. It was announced in October that CISA, along with 17 U.S. and international partners, published an update to its secure-by-design principles. Zabierek gives a brief overview
Pinnacle Awards Finalist Lilian Herrera: ‘Failures Serve as Opportunities to Make Changes’
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 Lilian Herrera, mobile cybersecurity shared services manager with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. She is part of the Mobile App Vetting team with CISA, a
Top Cyber Execs to Watch in 2023: CISA’s Jen Easterly
Jen Easterly Director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Jen Easterly was nominated to her position by President Joe Biden in April 2021 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on July 12, 2021. As director, she oversees CISA’s efforts to manage risk to the nation’s cyber and physical infrastructure. Before CISA, Easterly was the head of
Leidos Wins $61.5M CISA Contract Supporting Emergency Responders
Leidos has been awarded the Priority Services Scientific, Engineering, and Technical Assistance prime contract in support of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The contract has a 9-month base period of performance and four 1-year options, with a total value of $61.5 million if all options are exercised. “We are pleased to continue supporting CISA
Kiersten Todt Named CISA’s New Chief of Staff
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has announced Kiersten Todt as its new chief of staff. Todt will spearhead the planning, allocation of resources and development of long-range objectives in support of agency goals, as well as provide strategic vision and direction for CISA’s workforce. She will work closely with CISA Director Jen Easterly. “I
WATCH: CISA’s Former Assistant Director for Cyber Bryan S. Ware Launches Next5 Tech Company
Bryan S. Ware, president of Next5 and former assistant director for cybersecurity for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, sits down with WashingtonExec’s Amanda Ziadeh to discuss his newly launched tech company. But first, he shares the details of his unexpected resignation following the election and what’s in store for
National Security Execs Talk Election Security
The FBI released a video Oct. 6 featuring multiple national security agency leaders discussing their shared commitment to fight any meddling with the 2020 election, including foreign interference and the spread of propaganda on social media. Starting off, FBI Director Christopher Wray said election integrity remains a top priority, and the bureau is working to identify and
GDIT Wins $325M CISA Contract
General Dynamics Information Technology has won a deal to provide priority telecommunications services to the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s Emergency Communications Division. The single-award contract was awarded to CSRA LLC, a managed affiliate of GDIT. It has a potential value of $325 million and includes a base period of one year
Trump Signs Legislation That Creates New Cyber Agency
President Donald Trump on Nov. 16 signed a bill that creates a federal agency that reorganizes a division within the Department of Homeland Security focused defending critical infrastructure from physical and cybersecurity threats. The National Protection and Programs Directorate will be replaced with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to safeguard civilian federal networks and
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