Speakers

Paul Blahusch has more than three decades of cyber and IT security experience with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). He serves as the Director of Cybersecurity and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the U.S. Department of Labor in the Office of the Chief Information Officer. In this role, Paul supports the Department’s overall mission by promoting and bolstering enterprise-wide cybersecurity efforts. As CISO, he is responsible for security initiatives within the department, including but not limited to regulatory compliance and oversight, Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) implementation and planning, computer awareness and training, and computer security incident response.

He previously served as the Information Technology Security Officer for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Paul Blahusch holds a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Louis (Lou) Eichenbaum is the Department of the Interior’s Zero Trust Program Manager. Since 2016, Lou for the DOI Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). In his current role, Lou leads all aspects of Zero Trust strategy development and implementation for the Department. Working with all bureaus and offices, along with OCIO leadership, Lou is responsible for meeting federal zero trust architecture (ZTA) strategy and fiscal year deadlines outlined in Executive Order 14028 and OMB Memo 22-09.

Lou brings a wealth of experience to supporting Zero Trust at Interior, having served the Department in multiple IT leadership positions over the past two decades. Lou has previously served as the DOI Acting Chief Information Security Officer and the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer.  Lou also served as the Chief Information Security Officer at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) where he oversaw the BLM Information IT Security Program. He also spent time acting in the Assistant Director of Information Resources role within BLM where he held the responsibility of overseeing the entire BLM IT program. Lou has also been integral to information technology at the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) and the former National Business Center (now the Interior Business Center (IBC).

Jennifer Franks directs the Center for Enhanced Cybersecurity within GAO’s Information Technology and Cybersecurity team. She oversees reviews that primarily focus on emerging cybersecurity issues and assessing an agency’s ability to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its sensitive data and computing infrastructure. Her multi-disciplinary teams actively review agencies’ computer security vulnerabilities across their enterprise-wide computing environment by assessing program management compliance and technical controls recommended for the agencies to follow in accordance with federal guidance and leading practices. In addition, she leads reviews in the areas of IT management and operations, financial management, healthcare and public health IT, data protection, and privacy. 

Jennifer joined GAO in 2006. Jennifer is a Diversity Champion who leads efforts to increase inclusiveness at GAO, and has facilitated numerous Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) courses. Further, she serves as a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.

Jennifer completed the Key Executive Leadership Program at American University, earned a master’s degree in information security policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Hampton University.

Paul Selby currently serves as the Chief Information Security Officer and Deputy, CIO for the United States Department of Energy. In this role, Paul leads cybersecurity operations, strategy, policy, authorization, and assessment efforts supporting agency-wide cyber and information security programs. Paul oversees the cybersecurity programs of the DOE enterprise, comprising a diverse set of missions – from open science research to Power Marketing Administrations. Previously, Paul served as the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for the IRS. In this role Paul was responsible for leading strategic priorities to maximize protection of IRS assets, mitigate risks or operational disruptions and ensure resilience of critical IRS functions and business processes, while maintaining continuous service to both internal and external IRS customers. Paul led an organization of professionals who manage IRS Security Policy, Audit Management, Security Assessments, Cloud Strategy, Incident Response, Configuration Management, Security Services, and Risk Management.

Paul also served as acting Deputy Chief, Facilities Management and Security Services. In this role, Paul led an organization of professionals who delivered a diverse set of facilities and security services to all IRS employees. These services included: physical security and emergency preparedness, logistics, real estate and project management, and environmental and safety services.

Paul has over 25 years of IT experience providing complex networking solutions for U.S. DoD and Civilian agencies. Paul is an officer in the United States Navy Reserves and holds a Master's in Information Systems (Cybersecurity and Information Assurance) from Penn State University and an MBA from Wake Forest University

Richard Breakiron is Commvault’s Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, Americas Public Sector focused on the Federal community. He gained his extensive experience in developing, deploying and operating critical network IT and large data management systems while serving as an officer the Army, senior government civilian with the Army and DISA and U.S. security agencies.

A leader on many major IT program initiatives throughout his career, Richard oversaw the largest Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) effort comprising over $3 billion in IT systems to support a $16 billion transformation of Army infrastructure.  He further led the effort to realign the DoD’s Top-Level Architecture, by building a partnership with the DoD CIO and AFSPACECOM.  While at the Pentagon with HQDA CIO/G-6, he served in leadership roles for strategic initiatives managing an Army-wide IT reform and network modernization effort. 

Richard works alongside his Strategic Initiatives counterpart, Dave DeVries, where they both bring their close to 80 years of collective experience and insights from the DoD and Federal agencies to the states and local government as well as higher education.  Since leaving government service, Mr. Breakiron has held positions as Executive VP, Public sector, root9B, an advanced Cyber security company; Senior Director, Cyber solutions for ViON Corporation; and initiated the standup of Ascolta, LLC, a data analytics subsidiary of ViON, as their General Manager and served on the board of Ascolta.  

Richard and his wife are fortunate to enjoy a great rural life in Aiken, SC. They relax by gardening, do-it-yourself projects, playing tennis, an occasional Top Golf, and are learning sailing and scuba to enjoy their regular travel to SC beaches with their three ‘launched’ children.