Federal Defenders

Watch Eric Goldstein, Rob Joyce, Bryan Vorndran and Major General Joe Hartman discuss federal defenders as part of the Cybersecurity Summit 2021 Day Two presentations. This video is a recording of the livestream held on Wednesday, October 13, 2021. 

The National Cybersecurity Summit is an annual event that brings together cybersecurity and critical infrastructure stakeholders from around the world to hold meaningful conversations and collaborate on how we can protect our physical and cyber infrastructure.

About the Speakers

Moderator: Eric Goldstein, Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Eric Goldstein serves as the Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as of February 19, 2021. In this role, Goldstein leads CISA’s mission of protecting and strengthening the nation’s critical infrastructure against cyber threats.

Rob Joyce, National Security Agency (NSA)

Mr. Rob Joyce is the Director of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Cybersecurity Directorate, which is charged with preventing and eradicating cyber threats to U.S. National Security Systems and critical infrastructure, with a focus on the Defense Industrial Base and weapons' security. 

Mr. Joyce has worked at NSA since 1989, holding various leadership positions within both focus areas of NSA: the cybersecurity and Signals Intelligence mission. 

Prior to his current role, he was the Special US Liaison Officer, London. As the senior NSA cryptologic representative in the United Kingdom (UK), he served as the key interlocutor between NSA and GCHQ, interacting regularly with key UK intelligence and cyber leadership. 

Mr. Joyce has also served as the Senior Advisor for Cybersecurity Strategy to the Director of NSA, following an assignment as Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator at the White House. In this position, he led development of national and international cybersecurity strategy and policy for the United States and oversaw implementation of those policies. He ensured that the federal government was effectively partnering with the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, all branches and levels of government, and other nations.

In addition to the Cybersecurity Coordinator role, Mr. Joyce served as the Acting Deputy Homeland Security Advisor and the Acting Homeland Security Advisor, covering topics well beyond cybersecurity to include terrorism, health security, and disaster response/recovery. 

Mr. Joyce has also served as Chief of Tailored Access Operations (TAO), the NSA mission element that provided tools and expertise in computer network exploitation to deliver foreign intelligence. Prior to becoming Chief of TAO, Mr. Joyce served as Deputy Director of the Information Assurance Directorate (IAD) at NSA, where he led efforts to harden, protect, and defend the Nation's most critical systems. 

Mr. Joyce began his career as an engineer and is a technologist at heart. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Clarkson University and earned a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University. Throughout his career at NSA, he has been the recipient of three Presidential Rank Awards: distinguished (2017), distinguished (2011), and meritorious (2006). He was elevated to the Senior Executive Service in 2001.

Bryan Vorndran, Assistant Director of the FBI's Cyber Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Bryan Vorndran is the Assistant Director of the FBI's Cyber Division. Mr. Vorndran joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 2003. He was first assigned to the Washington Field Office, where he primarily investigated criminal enterprises trafficking cocaine and heroin. In 2008, he spent five months as part of the International Contract Corruption Task Force in Afghanistan. He was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent in 2009 and was assigned to the Counterterrorism Division at Headquarters; he was promoted to Unit Chief in 2012.

In 2013, Mr. Vorndran was named to lead the Washington Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. He was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the cyber and counterintelligence programs at the Baltimore Field Office in 2016. The next year, he was promoted to Chief of the Strategic Operations Section of the Counterterrorism Division at Headquarters.

Mr. Vorndran was named a Deputy Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division in 2018. As a Deputy, Mr. Vorndran oversaw FBI programs intended to help dismantle transnational criminal organizations impacting the United States, combat violent and gang-related violent crimes, and counter crimes against children.

In 2019, Mr. Vorndran was named the Special Agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Office.

Before joining the Bureau, Mr. Vorndran was an engineer for The Procter & Gamble Co. and for Merck & Co. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Lafayette College in 1998 and a Master of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in 2012.

Maj Gen Joe Hartman, Commander, Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF)

Major General William J. Hartman assumed his present duties as Commander, Cyber National Mission Force on August 2019. 

He previously served as the Deputy Commanding General, Joint Force Headquarters Cyber.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, MG Hartman is a Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of South Alabama, where he received his commission through the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps as an Infantry Officer.

MG Hartman served in multiple positions as an Infantry, Military Intelligence, and Cyberspace Operations Officer, with assignments in the United States, Italy, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Turkey. 

MG Hartman has commanded a company, battalion, brigade, and Special Mission Unit, and served as the senior intelligence officer at the battalion and regimental level for the 75th Ranger Regiment, and multiple tours as a SOCOM Joint Task Force S2.

MG Hartman is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course, Air Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Military Science, Senior Service College Fellowship with the CIA, and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School. He holds degrees from the University of South Alabama, Air University, and U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

MG Hartman's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf clusters, the Joint Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, and the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf clusters. He is qualified to wear the Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Combat Action Badge. MG Hartman was designated as a Distinguished Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment in 2007.

MG Hartman and his wife are the proud parents of two children.