Speakers

Dr. Ryan Donaghy serves as the Acting Executive Assistant Director for the Infrastructure Security Division (ISD) and Acting Assistant Director of the Stakeholder Engagement Division (SED) within the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Agency (CISA).

As the acting ISD Deputy Executive Assistant Director, she leads CISA’s efforts to secure the nation’s critical infrastructure in coordination with government and the private sector. Key areas of focus include vulnerability and risk assessments; securing soft targets and crowded places; training and exercises; and securing high-risk chemical facilities.

As SED’s acting Assistant Director, Ryan leads CISA’s national and international partnerships and stakeholder outreach programs. She coordinates closely with other CISA divisions to ensure stakeholders across industry and government have access to critical infrastructure products, services, and tools to increase their security and resilience. She also provides executive oversight of the implementation of the agency’s role as National Coordinator for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience and collaborates closely with interagency partners to ensure the execution of Sector Risk Management Agency responsibilities. 

Since joining CISA in 2016, Ryan has served in multiple leadership roles, first as the Chief of Metrics and Analysis for the Office of Infrastructure Protection, then as a Senior Data Scientist at the National Risk Management Center, and then as the Deputy Chief for Chemical Security Policy, Rulemaking, and Engagement. She became a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2023, serving as the inaugural Associate Director for Planning and Innovation. As a member of CISA’s leadership team, Ryan represents the agency on a range of topics, to include cyber and physical security, cyber-physical resilience, emerging technology, and risk management. 

Prior to joining CISA, Dr. Donaghy worked as college professor and independent researcher for more than 10 years teaching courses on qualitative and quantitative research approaches, conflict and negotiation, leadership, and organizational communication.

Ryan is a two-time Fulbright Scholar and earned her bachelor’s degree from Muskingum University. Ryan also holds master’s degrees from Arizona State University and Harvard University, and received her doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles. She was recently recognized as one of Homeland Security Today’s “Homeland’s 50 Trailblazers of 2024.”

As a Senior Executive on GAO’s Information Technology and Cybersecurity team, Dave Hinchman oversees government-wide reviews of critical infrastructure cybersecurity, the federal cyber workforce, and cloud computing security. His multi-disciplinary teams primarily focus on emerging cybersecurity issues and how new technologies, including artificial intelligence, are being used by the federal government to better secure the resources vital to the delivery of citizen services. In addition, Dave leads work on IRS’s business systems modernization program, as well as other government-wide IT management and operations issues. He previously managed GAO’s reviews of federal data center optimization and border security technology. Prior to joining GAO in 2002, Dave worked for several private sector firms, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, and served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy. Dave has a master’s degree in business administration from the Eller School of Management at the University of Arizona, and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Vassar College.

Serving as the Executive Director, Leah McGrath has been involved with GovRAMP since its formation. In 2020, she spent countless hours working alongside Steering Committee members to develop GovRAMP’s governance and policy framework. Prior to her work with GovRAMP, McGrath held leadership positions in both the public and private sector, including serving as the first deputy mayor of the City of Fishers, Indiana. During her tenure, Fishers transformed from a town into a smart, vibrant, entrepreneurial city and was named the #1 Best Place to Live in America in 2017 by Money magazine. As deputy mayor, she helped lead modernization efforts and spearheaded city-wide efforts to develop the city’s first long-range, comprehensive plan. McGrath’s 20-year career has been focused on working to improve government outcomes at the state and local level, helping shepherd government into the digital age securely and effectively for the citizens it serves.

Ms. Lara Sayer, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She oversees the budgeting, cost estimating and financial operations of over $250 billion in annual resources that support Department of the Air Force priorities, in accordance with Congressional, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Air Force direction. Additionally, she is responsible for the professional development of over 13,000 military and civilian members of the Air Force financial management community.

Ms. Sayer began her federal career as a DAF Palace Acquire intern. She has more than 27 years of acquisition and financial management experience and has held positions of increased responsibility in the areas of budget execution and formulation, resource management and program control supporting the Air Force, Navy and United States Special Operations Command. She has served as the Comptroller for Commander, Navy Installations Command and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, as the Comptroller for the Office of Naval Research, and as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for USSOCOM. Additionally, she served as Executive Director of the bipartisan legislative commission on PPBE Reform. Her experience spans several appropriations and functional areas, including budget, earned value management, cost and acquisition. Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Sayer was the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison, where she was the department’s primary liaison to congressional members and staff serving on the House and Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees.