Governance & Risk Management , IT Risk Management , Next-Generation Technologies & Secure Development
Touhill Takes Charge at Carnegie Mellon SEI’s CERT
Ex-Federal CISO Sees New Opportunities for Partnerships, DefenseHe’s been an Air Force general, a CEO and the first federal CISO. Now Gregory Touhill is taking charge as director of the Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute's CERT Division. And he’s bringing all his past experience to bear in a new effort to forge partnerships and protections at the Computer Emergency Response Team.
See Also: 2024 Report: Mapping Cyber Risks from the Outside
In a video interview with Information Security Media Group, Touhill discusses:
- His new mission at CERT;
- The cybersecurity "state of the union";
- CERT’s role in helping defend the nation’s critical infrastructure.
As the new director of the SEI’s world-renowned CERT Division, Touhill leads a diverse group of researchers, software engineers, security analysts and digital intelligence specialists working together to research security vulnerabilities in software products, contribute to long-term changes in networked systems and develop information and training to improve the practice of cybersecurity.
Touhill was appointed by former President Barack Obama to be the first CISO of the United States government. Previously, he served in the Department of Homeland Security as deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications. Before joining the Software Engineering Institute, he was president of Appgate Federal, a provider of cybersecurity products and services to civilian government and defense agencies. Touhill is a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He served as a senior leader of military cybersecurity and information technology programs, culminating as the CIO of the United States Transportation Command. He retired from the Air Force with the rank of brigadier general.