Speakers

Shane Barney is the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). In this role, he manages USCIS’s next generation Information Technology Security program responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of USCIS networks, systems, and information, protection from both internal and external threats, as well as the implementation of the information security program and policies for the agency.

Before accepting the CISO position, Shane served as the Deputy ISD Chief and Deputy CISO and served as acting CISO.

Prior to Shane’s roll as ISD Deputy, he was the Chief of the Cyber Intelligence Branch within ISD overseeing the classified operations, communication security, insider threat, and forensic programs for USCIS.

Before joining the federal workforce, he worked as a contractor for USCIS first in the Contracting Office in Vermont and then with the Office of Security and Integrity in Washington, D.C. As a contractor, Shane helping to charter the technical direction for the intelligence and fraud/risk detection missions on the classified networks. He developed analytical tools, data requirements, and system access needs in support of these missions.

Shane holds two Master’s Degrees and a Bachelor Degree all from the University of Vermont.

Paul Cunningham serves as a Chief Technical Advisor – Federal for Information Security at World Wide Technology (WWT). 

In this role, Cunningham advises WWT teammates and partners on the complexity of the Federal Information Security landscape and the driving factors within public sector. He is a staunch promoter of cybersecurity as a business enabler, and empowering cybersecurity leaders to communicate strategy in terms of value to mission and acceptable risk. By examining cybersecurity strategy through these lenses, he assists executives in viewing cybersecurity as an element for success and a pathway for growth.

 Prior to joining WWT, Cunningham worked in leading security roles for numerous leading federal agencies. He mostly recently served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Security for the Department of Veterans Affairs. A Veteran himself, he deployed risk-based, mission-focused principles in VA’s technological delivery of support and services. He has led numerous high-profile initiatives such as securing the Federal Healthcare Marketplace and developing OMB’s High-Value Asset strategy.

Before the VA, Cunningham worked as the Chief Information Security Officer at the Department of Energy and as the Information Assurance Governance Branch Director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A trusted authority, Cunningham has advised the White House, Congress, and numerous departments and agencies on cybersecurity trends and risk management. He has served on several federal-level bodies, including the Federal CISO Council, Committee on National Security Systems, and the Federal Privacy Council.

 Paul is a retired Naval Officer and Aviator who flew over 3000 hours and completed hundreds of missions at sea and across the globe. Paul resides with his wife in southern Maryland and is the proud father of three daughters.

John Dvorak is Chief Technology Officer for the North America Public Sector at Red Hat. He leads a team of experienced Chief Architects and open source thought leaders who focus on the diverse mission requirements of Federal, State, Local, and Education customers. His team helps to shape and communicate the Red Hat technology vision; co-innovates with customers, partners, and associates; and advocates for Public Sector interests within Red Hat and Open Source communities.

Dvorak has spent over 25 years as a technology leader in the Federal Government and industry. He is a former FBI Senior Executive who led efforts in data analytics, enterprise engineering, and software development within the law enforcement and intelligence communities. He began his civil service at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he oversaw network engineering and drove several cybersecurity modernization efforts. Prior to joining Red Hat, he served in Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) roles within the systems integrator community, maintaining a focus on government mission requirements. He maintains active participation in multiple industry and government cooperative forums.