Navy captain to lead state's cybersecurity effort
A U.S. Navy captain with years of experience in information warfare and cyberspace operations will lead the state's efforts to harden cybersecurity readiness and develop an economy around cybersecurity in Massachusetts.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced the appointment of U.S. Navy Capt. Stephanie Helm as the first director of the MassCyberCenter at the Mass Tech Collaborative at last week's Massachusetts Cybersecurity Forum. Most recently, Helm worked as a consultant and member of the adjunct faculty at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., where she focused her expertise in cyberspace, space and information operations.
"The MassCyberCenter and Cybersecurity Strategy Council were created to ensure the state serves as a valuable partner with businesses, colleges and universities, and the public sector to grow Massachusetts' cybersecurity industry and continue developing a talented workforce," Baker said in a statement. "Captain Helm brings nearly 30 years of experience working in the military and across government institutions to form critical partnerships among leading private sector firms, research universities, major R&D centers, and the entrepreneur community."
As director of the MassCyberCenter, Helm will lead a working group directed by Baker to "assess working relationships and collaboration between public agencies on cybersecurity" and to "identify ways to better protect the Commonwealth's critical assets," his office said.
"The Center will play a central role to help convene discussions within state government, and with our industry and academic partners, helping move forward on a collaborative approach to address the cyber threats we face," Helm said.
Baker called for the creation of the MassCyberCenter last year to bolster the state's cybersecurity readiness and to promote the cybersecurity economy. Research the center commissioned found that there were 9,000 open cybersecurity jobs in Massachusetts last year.
Baker also announced last week that the center's Cybersecurity Strategy Council will be chaired by retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Michael Brown. Brown is the former director for cybersecurity coordination in the National Protection and Programs Directorate of the federal Department of Homeland Security.
The strategy council consists of 19 executives from the cybersecurity world and academia, including University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy, Cybereason CEO Liv Dior, Worcester Polytechnic Institute President Laurie Leshin, Harvard University Vice President Anne Margulies, CyberArk CEO Udi Mokady, UMass Lowell Chancellor Jacqueline Moloney and MassMutual U.S. head Michael Fanning.
"The members that make up the Council show both the level of cybersecurity talent here in Massachusetts, but also the importance of this issue to organizations across the state," Brown said in a statement. "I look forward to working with Captain Helm and the Council to develop programs that keep Massachusetts at the forefront of the global cybersecurity economy."
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments