Press Releases

CISOs “Fly In” for NTSC’s Inaugural Capitol Hill Event ​

Wednesday, May 24, 2017


PHOTO: NTSC

(R-L)

Dimitra Kane, Sr. Manager of Enterprise Architecture/IT Governance, Discover Financial Services; Patricia Smith, CISO, Cox Automotive; Kimberly Steele, Associate Director, NTSC; Tim Callahan, Global CISO, Aflac; Pete Chronis, CISO, Turner; Jim McJunkin, CISO, Discover Financial Services; Shawn Tuma, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Partner, Scheef & Stone, LLP; Steve Pugh, CISO, Ionic Security; Joshua Koplik, CISO, InterActive Corp.; Ben Hendricks, Global Managing Partner, IBM Security; Michael Blache, CISO, TaxSlayer; Joseph Lee, CISO, Georgetown University; Larry Williams, President, NTSC & TAG; Robert Ball, Chief Business Development Officer & General Counsel, Ionic Security; Kevin Howarth, NTSC Content Consultant; Kevin Howarth; Patrick Gaul, Executive Director, NTSC


CISOs “Fly In” for NTSC’s Inaugural Capitol Hill Event

ATLANTA, GA (May 24, 2017) Over 20 chief information security officers (CISOs) and senior technology executives from across the nation attended the National Technology Security Coalition’s (NTSC) inaugural DC Fly-In to advocate for cybersecurity priorities on Capitol Hill. Across three days, attendees met with elected officials, government agency executive leaders, and cybersecurity policy experts about policy agendas for 2017.

The NTSC DC Fly-In delegation met with over 20 Congressional representatives and staffers including:

  • Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX): Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and Co-Founder of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus
  • Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI): Co-Founder of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus
  • Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX): Chairman of the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee
  • Rep. Pat Meehan (R-PA): Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Former Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity
  • Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA): Chairman of the Financial Services & General Government Subcommittee, House Committee on Appropriations
  • Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA): Co-Chair of the Cybersecurity Taskforce of the New Democrat Coalition

These meetings focused on cybersecurity policies such as advocating for a single national data breach notification law, providing feedback about the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber Information Sharing and Collaboration Program (CISCP), and cautioning about the difficulties involved with creating laws around encryption.

“Given the increased rate and complexity of cyberattacks, most notably with the recent global WannaCry ransomware attack that infected about 200,000 computers in over 150 countries, cybersecurity remains at the forefront of the U.S. policy agenda,” said NTSC Executive Director, Patrick Gaul. “During our inaugural legislative fly-in, we promoted NTSC as a credible trusted policy advisor on cybersecurity issues and we look forward to maintaining effective working relationships between CISOs and members of Congress to help lawmakers create beneficial cybersecurity policies.”

Often, when cybersecurity legislation, regulations, and policies are debated and enacted, CISOs are rarely given an opportunity to provide feedback. CISOs are not only the chief executive responsible for maintaining the security of their organization’s IT systems but they are also responsible for ensuring their organization complies with all state, federal, and international cybersecurity laws, regulations, and standards. As a result, it’s beneficial for CISOs to provide more input in shaping these laws and so the NTSC will continue to increase the voice and influence of CISOs on the Hill.

“We look forward to further developing and advocating the NTSC’s 2017 policy agenda and remain encouraged by the conversations on Capitol Hill about issues critical to our CISO coalition,” said NTSC President Larry Williams. The CISO coalition is critical to the success and stability of our nation’s commerce and security.”

About the National Technology Security Coalition (NTSC)

The National Technology Security Coalition (NTSC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that serves as the preeminent advocacy voice for CISOs. Through dialogue, education, and government relations, we unite both public and private sector stakeholders around policies that improve national cybersecurity standards and awareness.

To learn more about joining or sponsoring NTSC, visit ntsc.org

Twitter @NTSC_CISO