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MISSION CRITICAL
Home
About
  • Leaders
  • Partners
  • Foundational Principles
  • Contact
Education Initiatives
  • SANS Black History Month
Digital Library
Collaborate
More
  • Home
  • About
    • Leaders
    • Partners
    • Foundational Principles
    • Contact
  • Education Initiatives
    • SANS Black History Month
  • Digital Library
  • Collaborate

  • Home
  • About
    • Leaders
    • Partners
    • Foundational Principles
    • Contact
  • Education Initiatives
    • SANS Black History Month
  • Digital Library
  • Collaborate

Mission Critical Leadership

Executive Director Don Davidson

Executive Director for Strategy & Technology

Executive Director for Collaboration & Education

Executive Director for Collaboration & Education

Don brings nearly five decades of public and private sector National  Security expertise to his role as Mission Critical Executive Director.  Most recently, Don served as the Director Cyber-SCRM Programs at  Synopsys, from Feb 2019-Aug 2023. In Jan 2019, Don retired from the  Department of Defense (DoD) with over 44 years of Federal Servi

Don brings nearly five decades of public and private sector National  Security expertise to his role as Mission Critical Executive Director.  Most recently, Don served as the Director Cyber-SCRM Programs at  Synopsys, from Feb 2019-Aug 2023. In Jan 2019, Don retired from the  Department of Defense (DoD) with over 44 years of Federal Service, to  include 11 years active duty in the US Military and 15 years of his DoD  civilian service specifically focused on Supply Chain Risk Management  (SCRM) on Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Staff.  Currently,  Don Davidson is also an independent ICT/Cyber-SCRM consultant / advisor.

  

Don participates in a variety of USG and commercial bi-lateral  and multi-lateral activities. Don is active today with several trade  associations and standards development organizations; developing,  leading, and representing US positions in SAE & IEEE/ISO  standardization processes; he is the co-editor for ISO/IEC 27036-  “Cybersecurity — Supplier Relationships”; he supports annual  COMDEF/IDEEA Conferences; he advises the EU/ ITEMS-led “Global Forum for  a Digital Future” think-tank; he is the SCRM-Fellow at the Institute  for Critical Infrastructure Technology; and currently serves as a member  of the Department of Commerce / Bureau of Industry Security’s  Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC). Don has been  an invited speaker at ISSA Executive Forum, RSA, Black Hat, Global Forum  and other national and international conferences. In 2016, he was  selected to the GovExec and FCW “Federal 100“ and in 2020, he was  profiled as a “Cyber-SCRM Influencer” by Potomac Officer’s Club:  Executive Mosaic.  

Don is a graduate of: 


  • OPM’s Leadership for a Democratic Society (#442) at Federal Executive Institute (FEI) 2018 
  • Defense Leadership & Management Program (DLAMP) May 2008.  
  • LOGTECH at Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC (2007).  
  • OPM’s Executive Leadership 1&2 (2005 Brookings Institute).  


Don  earned a Master of Science (MS) in National Security Strategy (with  concentration in Information Systems Management) from US National  Defense University and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from United  States Military Academy at West Point. 

Executive Director for Collaboration & Education

Executive Director for Collaboration & Education

Executive Director for Collaboration & Education

Joyce served as both the Deputy CIO of Policy & Planning and the Acting CIO of the US Department of Agriculture. She has also held other senior leadership roles within the federal government, Lotus Development Corp, Lawson Software, and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). Prior to joining Mission Critical Leadership, Joyce served as the 

Joyce served as both the Deputy CIO of Policy & Planning and the Acting CIO of the US Department of Agriculture. She has also held other senior leadership roles within the federal government, Lotus Development Corp, Lawson Software, and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). Prior to joining Mission Critical Leadership, Joyce served as the Executive Director for the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) from May 2020 - April 2024.


She has managed multi-billion dollar IT budgets and established or led several data governance and PMO initiatives. She understands how to communicate with and across diverse communities and how to forge relationships that enable those stakeholders to succeed. She regularly uses these skills in both her TEDx talks and publications.


Joyce has a BA from Villanova University and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business. She holds certificates in Emotional Intelligence, Design Thinking, Technology Business Management (TBM) and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). She sits on multiple industry boards and is active in several philanthropies focused on advancing STEM and Data Science education for under-served and underrepresented youth.

Mission Critical Advisory Board

Michael Aisenberg - Former MITRE Principal Cyber Policy Counsel, Center for National Security & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Michael Aisenberg - Former MITRE Principal Cyber Policy Counsel, Center for National Security & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Michael Aisenberg - Former MITRE Principal Cyber Policy Counsel, Center for National Security & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Michael A. Aisenberg is on leave as a Principal Cyber Security Counsel of the MITRE Corp. Previously, Special Assistant and Counselor to the CEO of Electronic Warfare Associates- Information & Infrastructure Technologies, Inc. 2000 to 2007: Director of Corporate Government Relations VeriSign, Inc.1981 to 1997: Digital Equipment Corporatio

Michael A. Aisenberg is on leave as a Principal Cyber Security Counsel of the MITRE Corp. Previously, Special Assistant and Counselor to the CEO of Electronic Warfare Associates- Information & Infrastructure Technologies, Inc. 2000 to 2007: Director of Corporate Government Relations VeriSign, Inc.1981 to 1997: Digital Equipment Corporation'-Washington public policy program director. Member National Conference of Lawyers & Scientists (AAAS). Chair-American Bar Association’s Information Security  Cte, Senior Editor ABA Science/Technology Lawyer journal. B.A. Pennsylvania J.D. UMaine School of Law. District of Columbia Bar, United States Supreme Court, and the Courts of Appeals of the D.C. and Federal Circuits.

Malcolm Harkins - HiddenLayer Chief Security & Trust Officer & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Michael Aisenberg - Former MITRE Principal Cyber Policy Counsel, Center for National Security & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Michael Aisenberg - Former MITRE Principal Cyber Policy Counsel, Center for National Security & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Malcolm Harkins is the Chief Security & Trust Officer at HiddenLayer . He is responsible for enabling client growth with optimal information security infrastructure, systems, policies, and processes. He is also independent board member and advisor to several organizations. He is also an executive coach to CISOs and others in a wide variet

Malcolm Harkins is the Chief Security & Trust Officer at HiddenLayer . He is responsible for enabling client growth with optimal information security infrastructure, systems, policies, and processes. He is also independent board member and advisor to several organizations. He is also an executive coach to CISOs and others in a wide variety of information risk roles. Malcolm engages in a wide variety of peer outreach activities to drive improvements across the world in the understanding of cyber risks and best practices to manage and mitigate those risks. Key areas of focus include the ethics around technology risk, social responsibility, total cost of controls, and driving more industry accountability.


Previously Malcolm was the Chief Security and Trust Officer at Cylance as well as Cymatic. In these roles he reported to the CEO and was responsible for enabling business growth through trusted infrastructure, systems, and business processes.  He had direct organizational responsibility for information risk and security, as well as security and privacy policy. Malcolm was also previously Vice President and Chief Security and Privacy Officer (CSPO) at Intel Corporation.  In that role Malcolm was responsible for managing the risk, controls, privacy, security, and other related compliance activities for all of Intel’s information assets, products, and services.  


Before becoming Intel’s first CSPO he was the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).  Malcolm also held roles in Finance, Procurement, and various business operations.  He has managed IT benchmarking and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance initiatives.  Harkins acted as the profit and loss manager for the Flash Product Group at Intel; was the general manager of Enterprise Capabilities, responsible for the delivery and support of Intel’s Finance and HR systems; and worked in an Intel business venture focusing on e-commerce hosting.


Malcolm previously taught at the CIO institute at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and was an adjunct faculty member at Susquehanna University in 2009.  In 2010, he received the RSA Conference Excellence in the Field of Security Practices Award.  He was recognized by Computerworldas one of the Premier 100 Information Technology Leaders for 2012.  (ISC)2recognized Malcolm in 2012 with the Information Security Leadership Award.  In September 2013, Malcolm was recognized as one of the Top 10 Breakaway Leaders at the Global CISO Executive Summit. In November 2015, he received the Security Advisor Alliance Excellence in Innovation Award. He is a Fellow with the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, a non-partisan think-tank providing on cybersecurity to the House, Senate, and a variety of federal agencies. Malcolm is a sought-after speaker for industry events. He has authored many white papers and in December 2012 published his first book, Managing Risk and Information Security: Protect to Enable®.  He also was a contributing author to Introduction to IT Privacy, published in 2014 by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. The 2nd edition of Malcolm’s book, Managing Risk and Information Security: Protect to Enable®, was recently published in August of 2016. Malcolm has also testified before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the “Promises and Perils of Emerging Technology for Cybersecurity”. He has also testified at the Federal Trade Commission hearings on data security.  
Malcolm is on the board of directors for TrustMAPP, Cyvatar, and the Cyber Risk Alliance. He is also an advisor to the Yahoo, Safebreach, Aware, HiddenLayer, BlackCloak, Immersive Labs, as well as a few other emerging Cybesecurity start-ups.


Malcolm received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California at Irvine and an MBA in finance and accounting from the University of California at Davis.

Itzik Kotler - SafeBreach Chief technology officer & Co-Founder & Mission Critical Advisor, Fellow, & Founding Member

Michael Aisenberg - Former MITRE Principal Cyber Policy Counsel, Center for National Security & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Itzik Kotler - SafeBreach Chief technology officer & Co-Founder & Mission Critical Advisor, Fellow, & Founding Member

Itzik Kotler, a former member of the elite Israel 8200 Intelligence unit, served as CTO of Security Art, and led SOC activities and research for Radware (RDWR). He is a well-known security researcher and a frequent speaker at security conferences.

Robert Metzger

Robert Metzger - Head of Washington Office, Rogers Joseph O'Donnell & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Stanley J. Mierzwa, Ph.D. - Director & Lecturer, Kean Univeristy Center for Cybersecurity, Transformational Learning and External Affairs & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Itzik Kotler - SafeBreach Chief technology officer & Co-Founder & Mission Critical Advisor, Fellow, & Founding Member

 Bob  Metzger heads the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, and chairs the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group. He was a member of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Supply Chain Cybersecurity which received a 2018 SANS Difference Maker Award. He also is co-author of the 2018 MITRE “Deliver Un

 Bob  Metzger heads the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, and chairs the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group. He was a member of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Supply Chain Cybersecurity which received a 2018 SANS Difference Maker Award. He also is co-author of the 2018 MITRE “Deliver Uncompromised” Report which has had continuing influence upon DoD and civilian agency cyber and supply chain security measures. This project won a MITRE “Program Recognition Award.” Also as a Consultant to MITRE, Bob worked on topics that include software assurance, supply chain illumination, contractual methods for supply chain security, cyber insurance, digital asset crimes, and ransomware. After attending Georgetown University Law School, Bob was a Research Fellow at what is now the Belfer Center at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where his field of  concentration was European security. 


Bob’s legal practice includes cyber and related national security matters,  including FOCI, in addition to a wide range of public procurement and  regulatory subjects, for leading aerospace and defense, and information technology companies. Chambers USA 2023 ranked Bob in Band 1 for Government Contracts: Cybersecurity: USA Nationwide and said that  he is “routinely called upon by clients for his expertise in  cybersecurity matters, assisting clients with high-stakes contract  procurements, qui tam litigation, and compliance issues.” He is Vice-Chair of the Information Security Committee and Vice-Chair of the Insurance Technology and Risk Committee of the Science and Technology Section of the American Bar Association. In 2016, Federal Computer Week named  Bob a 2016 “Federal 100” awardee, citing his “ability to integrate  policy, regulation and technology.” Bob is a frequent speaker and author  on national security, cyber, and supply chain topics.

Stanley Mierzwa

Stanley J. Mierzwa, Ph.D. - Director & Lecturer, Kean Univeristy Center for Cybersecurity, Transformational Learning and External Affairs & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Stanley J. Mierzwa, Ph.D. - Director & Lecturer, Kean Univeristy Center for Cybersecurity, Transformational Learning and External Affairs & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Stanley J. Mierzwa, Ph.D. - Director & Lecturer, Kean Univeristy Center for Cybersecurity, Transformational Learning and External Affairs & Mission Critical Advisor & Fellow

Dr. Stanley J. Mierzwa is currently serving as the Director and  Lecturer of the Center for Cybersecurity within Transformational  Learning and External Affairs at Kean University. His academic  background includes a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology from  Fairleigh Dickinson University, M.Sc. Management of Information Systems  fr

Dr. Stanley J. Mierzwa is currently serving as the Director and  Lecturer of the Center for Cybersecurity within Transformational  Learning and External Affairs at Kean University. His academic  background includes a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology from  Fairleigh Dickinson University, M.Sc. Management of Information Systems  from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. Information  Technology from the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Mierzwa's  research interests span cybersecurity risk management, cyber  competencies (especially those surrounding “power skills”), policy,  global public health, and law enforcement technologies. His writing  includes over 25 peer-reviewed journals, conference papers, and book  chapters.  Stan is the Point of Contact (POC) for the universities  National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity  Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) Designation, the NJ InfraGard (FBI Public/Private  Partnership) Higher Education Special Interest Group leader, and a  member of New Jersey State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program  Planning Committee Member. His professional background includes  academia, non-profit (public health), private sector IT leadership, law  enforcement, and cybersecurity roles with substantial global impact. He  has significant international experience, having worked “on the ground”  across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. 

Mission Critical FeLLows

Mark Brown - British Standards Institution (BSI) Global Managing Director, Digital Trust Consulting & Mission Critical Fellow

Mark Brown - British Standards Institution (BSI) Global Managing Director, Digital Trust Consulting & Mission Critical Fellow

Mark Brown - British Standards Institution (BSI) Global Managing Director, Digital Trust Consulting & Mission Critical Fellow

Mark Brown joined BSI in February 2021 with more than 30 years of expertise in cybersecurity, data privacy and business resilience consultancy. He has previously held  global leadership roles across industry and professional services,  including tenures as Global CISO at SABMiller plc, Global CIO/CTO at  Spectris plc, and leadership roles

Mark Brown joined BSI in February 2021 with more than 30 years of expertise in cybersecurity, data privacy and business resilience consultancy. He has previously held  global leadership roles across industry and professional services,  including tenures as Global CISO at SABMiller plc, Global CIO/CTO at  Spectris plc, and leadership roles as a Partner at Wipro Ltd., and Ernst & Young (EY) LLP.  


Mark brings a wealth of knowledge including extensive proficiency on the  Internet of Things (IoT) and the expanding cybersecurity marketplace as organizations grapple with digital transformation and addressing new  technology that brings new business risks. In his role at BSI, Mark  will be focused on expanding the CSIR business globally through current  services and bringing a new global focus on emerging technologies and  risks such as IoT and Operational Technology (OT), increased cloud  adoption, RPA Security, 5G security, and the CISO desire to achieve  central management over the new converged digital arena, positioning  cyber security as a business enabler.  


As the Global Chief Information Security Officer at SABMiller plc, Mark played a significant role in many of their business transformation  programmes (ERP centralization and integration, centralized Procurement  hub and establishment of global and regional shared service centres), IT  outsourcing and vendor management and the role of IT/Information in  acquisitions. During his tenure Mark was recognized internationally by his industry peers and was awarded SC Magazine’s Information Security Person of the Year in 2011.  


Mark is internationally recognized as a leading authority on information resilience with a focus on cybersecurity and data privacy, presenting a focus on the way IT can enable business strategies, empowering not replacing employees.  In recent years, he has spoken at central US and UK government events, interviewed on global and national TV and radio and has had a significant number of thought leadership articles published on his experiences.  


He currently chair’s techUK’s Industry 4.0 Cyber Security committee  advising the UK Government on how businesses can be incentivized to  safely adopt new technologies at minimal risk.   

Michael Clark - Data Scholar, Industry Advisor, Expert in Unlocking Human Potential with Data, & Mission Critical Fellow

Mark Brown - British Standards Institution (BSI) Global Managing Director, Digital Trust Consulting & Mission Critical Fellow

Mark Brown - British Standards Institution (BSI) Global Managing Director, Digital Trust Consulting & Mission Critical Fellow

Michael Clark is a globally recognized data scholar, industry advisor,  and innovation evangelist dedicated to empowering people to unlock their  potential through their own data. He has worked with leading global  companies and has guided future cities by addressing complex digital and  data challenges, envisioning a brighter future.  


In

Michael Clark is a globally recognized data scholar, industry advisor,  and innovation evangelist dedicated to empowering people to unlock their  potential through their own data. He has worked with leading global  companies and has guided future cities by addressing complex digital and  data challenges, envisioning a brighter future.  


In his book, "Data Revolutions: Unlocking Human Potential," Michael  explains how to turn data into a real-world asset to form the foundation  of a new economy. This practical guide helps us prepare for the future  by redefining the ways we work, reshaping our educational systems, and  aligning AI with people. By doing so, we lay the groundwork for both  current and future generations to realize their full potential. 

Neil Coole - British Standards Institution (BSI)Enterprise Partnerships Director & Mission Critical Fellow

Mark Brown - British Standards Institution (BSI) Global Managing Director, Digital Trust Consulting & Mission Critical Fellow

Neil Coole - British Standards Institution (BSI)Enterprise Partnerships Director & Mission Critical Fellow

Neil’s career with BSI spans over 18 years, working across various industry sectors in three different countries. Neil specializes in leveraging industry best practice frameworks, also known  as standards, to help organizations responsible for critical  infrastructure sectors address cybersecurity challenges and enhance  future cyber-resi

Neil’s career with BSI spans over 18 years, working across various industry sectors in three different countries. Neil specializes in leveraging industry best practice frameworks, also known  as standards, to help organizations responsible for critical  infrastructure sectors address cybersecurity challenges and enhance  future cyber-resilience. This involves designing end-to-end programs  that capture data that is used to sustain continuous improvements, by  applying existing standards to mitigate risks, counter threats, and  protect essential systems and services. Additionally, Neil is actively involved in convening industry stakeholders in shaping and  sharing new best practice frameworks to address emerging risks and close  gaps across critical infrastructure systems, processes, and practices.  This collaborative approach is designed to safeguard against evolving  cyber threats and ensure long-term stability in the face of rising  global cybersecurity risks.


As a forward-thinking business leader, I am committed to fostering a  culture of resilience, collaboration, and continuous improvement. I work  closely with teams and stakeholders to understand the unique  cybersecurity risks facing critical infrastructure sectors and to drive  initiatives that enhance protection, preparedness, and adaptability.  Through proactive collaboration we can empower organizations and their  teams in optimizing cybersecurity practices.  

Don Maclean

Don Maclean - Cybersecurity and Compliance Expert & Mission Critical Fellow

Mark Brown - British Standards Institution (BSI) Global Managing Director, Digital Trust Consulting & Mission Critical Fellow

Neil Coole - British Standards Institution (BSI)Enterprise Partnerships Director & Mission Critical Fellow

Don's career in government cybersecurity gives him an insider’s view of  what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to Federal cybersecurity  procurement.  His extensive consulting and government contracting  experience from Program Manager to Chief Cybersecurity Technologist afforded him a boots-on-the-ground perspective into the comp

Don's career in government cybersecurity gives him an insider’s view of  what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to Federal cybersecurity  procurement.  His extensive consulting and government contracting  experience from Program Manager to Chief Cybersecurity Technologist afforded him a boots-on-the-ground perspective into the complexities of  cybersecurity regulations and what it takes to earn the trust of CISO.   


Career Highlights:   

  • Speaker, CMMC Ecosystem Summit, 2023 “Leveraging CMMC for Maximum  Value”  
  • Contributed to the Cybersecurity Solarium Commission Report, a  bipartisan report to Congress and Senate on cybersecurity legislation.  Twenty-six of its recommendations from the Report went into the 2021  National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), making it one of the most  comprehensive and forward-looking pieces of national cybersecurity  legislation in the nation’s history (2021)  
  • Speaker at the Cloud Security Alliance September Conference, 2021  “Zero Trust Frameworks: The Major Approaches”  
  • Peer-reviewed papers on the NIST Risk Management Framework and on  Moving Target Defense, and on which became the Henry Stewart  Publications' most downloaded resource Henry Stewart Publications,  (2020, 2019)  
  • FedScoop 50 Award for Industry Leadership (2018)  
  • Testified before Senate Panel on healthcare cybersecurity (2017) 

Dr. Ron Martin - Capitol Technology University Professor of Practice, CPP, CPOI and Mission Critical Fellow

Dr. Ron Martin - Capitol Technology University Professor of Practice, CPP, CPOI and Mission Critical Fellow

Dr. Ron Martin - Capitol Technology University Professor of Practice, CPP, CPOI and Mission Critical Fellow

Dr. Ron Martin is a Professor of Practice at Capitol Technology University, specializing in the functional areas of Critical Infrastructure, Industrial Control System Security, Identity, Credential, and Access Management.


Dr. Martin maintains professional relationships with a diverse mix of businesses. He serves on the board of directors f

Dr. Ron Martin is a Professor of Practice at Capitol Technology University, specializing in the functional areas of Critical Infrastructure, Industrial Control System Security, Identity, Credential, and Access Management.


Dr. Martin maintains professional relationships with a diverse mix of businesses. He serves on the board of directors for many profit and nonprofit organizations, such as the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) P2887 - Zero Trust Security Working Group (ZTSWG) as Vice Chair. He is a voting member of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group to the International Standards Organization (ISO), which works to develop and articulate the U.S. position by ensuring public and private sector stakeholder involvement. He is also a member of the Cloud Security Alliance Zero-Trust/ Software Defined Perimeter Expert’s Working Group and the Security Industry Association Standards Committee.


Dr. Martin retired from the U.S. Army in 1999. While on active duty, he served as Military Comptroller, Provost Marshal, Security Manager, and a Doctrine Literature Writer and Instructor. He retired from his service with the U.S. Government in 2011. During his Federal Service, he served with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services as Program Director for the development and implementation of their Identity, Credentialing and Access Management (ICAM) Programs. In between his tours of Federal Service, he also served as a civilian police officer in the Commonwealth of Virginia for five years. Dr. Martin was a member of the Federal Identity, Credentialing, and Access Management (FICAM) Roadmap Development Team, providing FICAM Subject Matter Expertise, advice, and assistance to Federal agencies and organizations engaged in Identity Credentialing activities. Dr. Martin is a former member of ASIS International’s Commission on Standards & Guidelines Commission. Recently, he has been designated by the U.S. Department of State as a Fulbright Specialist.

Pete Slade

PETE SLADE - TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY EXPERT & Mission Critical Fellow & Founding Member

Dr. Ron Martin - Capitol Technology University Professor of Practice, CPP, CPOI and Mission Critical Fellow

Dr. Ron Martin - Capitol Technology University Professor of Practice, CPP, CPOI and Mission Critical Fellow

Pete is an accomplished business leader, CTO, and cybersecurity researcher with over 30 years

of experience. He has a rich history of designing and building various software systems for commercial entities and intelligence communities, particularly in the fields of information technology, cybersecurity, behavioral analytics, and machine le

Pete is an accomplished business leader, CTO, and cybersecurity researcher with over 30 years

of experience. He has a rich history of designing and building various software systems for commercial entities and intelligence communities, particularly in the fields of information technology, cybersecurity, behavioral analytics, and machine learning.


A recognized figure in the cybersecurity community, Pete is a frequent speaker at various

industry events, including conferences such as RSA and Black Hat. His presentations cover a

wide range of topics, from cyber defense and national security to AI and entrepreneurship.


Pete's contributions to the Cybersecurity Solarium Commission Report, a collaborative bipartisan effort, were part of the collective insights that shaped the document. This report, which played a significant role in influencing legislation, saw twenty-six of its recommendations

incorporated into the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Pete's involvement in this pivotal work underscores his influence in shaping national cybersecurity policy.


As a patented inventor, Pete's innovative approach in cybersecurity is well recognized. He holds a Fellowship at the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology and is a member of the Forbes Technology Council. His expertise in systems and infrastructure security, combined with his role as a congressional advisor, solidifies his influence and commitment to advancing cybersecurity strategies and policies.


Pete's professional qualifications are evidenced by his certifications as a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), Certified Security Analyst (CSA), and Certified Cyber Security Architect (CCSA). These credentials, coupled with his role

as a congressional advisor, underline his significant expertise and contribution to shaping cybersecurity strategies and policies.

https://peteslade.com

Robert Wood

Robert Wood - Sidekick Security Founder, Former CMS CISO, & Mission Critical Fellow

Dr. Ron Martin - Capitol Technology University Professor of Practice, CPP, CPOI and Mission Critical Fellow

Robert Wood - Sidekick Security Founder, Former CMS CISO, & Mission Critical Fellow

Robert Wood has built and led security programs ranging from Silicon Valley startups to one of the largest U.S. Federal agencies at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Robert bridges the gap as a leader between bold technical vision and the people and culture needed to drive true value outcomes in cybersecurity. 


Upon his depar

Robert Wood has built and led security programs ranging from Silicon Valley startups to one of the largest U.S. Federal agencies at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Robert bridges the gap as a leader between bold technical vision and the people and culture needed to drive true value outcomes in cybersecurity. 


Upon his departure from the Federal Government, Robert launched Sidekick Security to help organizations through their cybersecurity-led digital transformations. 

Are You a Critical Infrastructure security Thought Leader?

Dr. Ron Martin - Capitol Technology University Professor of Practice, CPP, CPOI and Mission Critical Fellow

Robert Wood - Sidekick Security Founder, Former CMS CISO, & Mission Critical Fellow

Mission Critical is seeking collaborative cybersecurity thought leaders who are driven by the goal of improving the security and resilience of US critical infrastructure. If you are an expert from academia, government, or the private sector and would like to participate or contribute to the Digital Library, please contact us to learn more.

Learn more

Mission Critical Team

Calvin Harvey

Calvin Harvey - Administrative Director

Drew Spaniel - Founder and Director of Research

Drew Spaniel - Founder and Director of Research

Calvin Harvey is an outcome-driven professional known for his client focus and keen interest in cybersecurity markets. In 2022, Calvin led business intelligence and development projects for Fortune 500 companies. Always interested in the convergence of geopolitics and technology, Calvin tailored his academic career and work experience tow

Calvin Harvey is an outcome-driven professional known for his client focus and keen interest in cybersecurity markets. In 2022, Calvin led business intelligence and development projects for Fortune 500 companies. Always interested in the convergence of geopolitics and technology, Calvin tailored his academic career and work experience towards providing him a comprehensive understanding of key critical infrastructure stakeholders and emerging topics.


Calvin earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in International Security Studies from Duquesne University. 

Drew Spaniel

Drew Spaniel - Founder and Director of Research

Drew Spaniel - Founder and Director of Research

Drew Spaniel - Founder and Director of Research

Drew Spaniel's passion is translating complex and technical information into actionable non-technical guidance. He has an established record of helping leading cybersecurity executives and organizations develop actionable content that both elevates their brand and improves the resilience of the 16 US critical infrastructure sectors. 


Drew 

Drew Spaniel's passion is translating complex and technical information into actionable non-technical guidance. He has an established record of helping leading cybersecurity executives and organizations develop actionable content that both elevates their brand and improves the resilience of the 16 US critical infrastructure sectors. 


Drew is an expert in critical infrastructure information security, emerging technology, data science, adversarial trends and threat actor profiling, and cybersecurity and privacy legislation and agency initiatives. He has authored over fifty whitepapers, contributed to multiple books, and opined on panels focused on the security and resilience of US critical infrastructure. Prior to founding Mission Critical, Drew served as the Lead Researcher for ICIT from 2015 through 2022.


Drew earned a Master of Science in Information Security, Policy, and Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics from Allegheny College.

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