As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honor and celebrate the remarkable women who have tirelessly advocated for equality and inclusion. Their contributions have paved the way for progress in various fields, including cybersecurity. At CISA, we recognize the importance of diversity in our workforce and the pivotal role women play in shaping the future of national security.
Within cyber, physical, and global security, there is a cadre of pioneering women who have fearlessly championed diversity and inclusion. Bold women like our Vice President, Kamala Harris, U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines; and internationally, women like Lisa Fong, Director of New Zealand’s National Cyber Security Centre, Abigail Bradshaw Head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), and Lindy Cameron, former UK Head of Cybersecurity; and now, a new generation of women’s rights advocates like Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and U.S. soccer champion Megan Rapinoe, national youth poet laurate Amanda Gorman, and Nobel Peace Prize laurate Malala Yousafzai have emerged to carry the torch for women across the globe. Through highlighting their extraordinary contributions, we illuminate the path they have forged towards equal opportunities for all women--including within the world of cybersecurity, technology, and infrastructure protection.
As the Director of CISA, I am honored to lead an agency dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s critical infrastructure. Every day, we work tirelessly to understand, manage, and reduce risk to the cyber and physical infrastructure that Americans rely on. I am inspired every day when I look at the amazing women leading CISA, including our Chief of Staff, Kathryn Coulter Mitchell; Val Cofield, CISA’s Chief Strategy Officer; Alaina Clark, Head of Stakeholder Engagement; Mona Harrington, Head of the National Risk Management Center; Bridget Bean, Chief Integration Officer; and Dr. Elizabeth Kolmstetter, CISA’s very first Chief People Officer. And these are only a few of the women leaders shaping our mission in immeasurable ways for our Nation’s safety and security.
In 2022, I set an ambitious goal and nationwide challenge to have 50% of the cybersecurity workforce made up of women by 2030. While there is still much more work to do, I’m proud to say that we are 38% women at CISA, and we continue to aggressively seek out and hire exceptionally talented women who have revolutionized the way we operate. The value of women’s voices in security have had cascading effects across our organization and, more broadly, our nation.
Within CISA, we are committed to promoting diversity as a fundamental pillar of our organizational ethos. Through the implementation of strategic recruitment initiatives, comprehensive training programs, and ongoing efforts to cultivate a culture of belonging, we endeavor to nurture a workforce that provides the diversity of thinking required to solve our most challenging problems. I encourage you to learn more about CISA’s efforts to promote Women in Cybersecurity, and to share this information widely with the women in your life.
Reflecting on the important contributions of women across history and today, I am inspired by the resilience, courage, and compassion, shaped by unique experiences, that define women’s contributions to not only society, but history. I am committed to leveraging my platform to effect positive change and empower the next generation of women leaders. I recently sat down with Caitlin Sarian, also known as Cybersecurity Girl, to talk about Women in Cyber and how we are working to increase the number of women in the cyber field.
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us honor the achievements of women past, present, and future. Together, we can continue to build a more equitable and inclusive world where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.