The CyberSheath team has been a part of what today is known as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) since it was an entirely voluntary initiative in 2008, consisting of eight and then sixteen of the largest prime contractors in the DOD supply chain. At the time progress was slow because this kind of cooperation between DOD and industry was new and breaching unchartered legal ground. Progress was sluggish, participation was voluntary, and we literally shared “threat” information via FedEx as the best we could do until we had the infrastructure in place to do better. So having been in partnership with the DOD for twelve years, first as the global CISO for BAE Systems and now as one of the largest managed CMMC Compliance MSSP’s working with small and mid-sized businesses, I know from experience that the progress made in the last eighteen months is extraordinary. The foundation of partnership between DOD and industry built up over the last decade-plus was crucial. Still, the ultimate accelerant to our collective progress is Ms. Arrington’s unwavering drive to get this done.
When I first heard Ms. Arrington speak at the Professional Services Council in early 2019. She was promoting the idea of independent third-party audits of defense contractors to enforce accountability of supply chain security. I thought it was an idea that would be quickly killed off by the bureaucracy, industry associations, and lobbyists. I stand here eighteen-plus months later in awe of what has been accomplished. As the driving force behind CMMC, Ms. Arrington will be featured as the keynote speaker at CMMC Con 2020 in an extended interview format answering many questions that have yet to be asked in the countless webinars we have all had too much of.
Ms. Katherine “Katie” Arrington is a member of the Senior Executive Serves and serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for Acquisition and Sustainment (CISO(A&S)) to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)). In this position, she serves as the central hub and integrator within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)) to align acquisition and sustainment cyber strategy and efforts to enhance cybersecurity within the Defense Industrial Base.
As the CISO(A&S), Ms. Arrington is responsible to ensure the incorporation of integrated security/cyber efforts within USD(A&S) with the purpose of providing a focused and streamlined governance approach, provide a central coordination point and common compliance standard that serves to synchronize the various existing disparate cybersecurity efforts and standards across the Department and Industry as it relates to Department of Defense acquisition and sustainment efforts.
Ms. Arrington is leading efforts that help ensure a secure Defense Supply Chain through the implementation of Trusted Capital vendors and Supply Chain Risk Management principles, enhance Defense Industrial Base security and resilience, and establish a common cybersecurity standard within Departmental acquisition efforts. She also synchronizes these efforts across the Department, other federal agencies, and works with legislators to ensure Departmental authorities and actions align and support the nation’s security goals.
Before assuming her position as CISO(A&S), Ms. Arrington has an extensive career as a legislator and senior cyber executive in the private industry. Ms. Arrington was a 2018 candidate for the US House of Representatives for South Carolina and served for 2 terms as a South Carolina State Representative. She has extensive experience in cyber strategy, policy, enablement, and implementation across a wide range of business sectors and governmental levels. She has over 15 years of cyber experience acquired through positions at Booz Allen Hamilton, Centuria Corporation, and Dispersive Networks. These positions have given her a unique experience of supporting and work with the government at large, small, and non-traditional contracting firms. Ms. Arrington is married to Robert and resides in Summerville, South Carolina, and a proud parent of three children and grandparent to four grandbabies.
Please join us on November 18th for Ms. Arrington’s keynote and our expert line-up as they engage in conversations focused on DFARS compliance, the threat from China, how cybersecurity impacts the future of doing business with the DOD, and a “how-to” session for small and medium-sized businesses struggling with NIST 800-171 and CMMC. Register Now.