Pierre Dickson

PIERRE DICKSON Fairfax, VA- |-www.linkedin.com PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY As a dedicated CISO and Cyber Security Program Lead, I am driven by a vision to fortify organizational resilience through strategic cybersecurity initiatives and risk management. With over 20 years of experience, I am now focused on advancing my expertise in IT security alignment with business objectives and enhancing compliance frameworks. Currently, I lead NIST 800-171 compliance and oversee security projects, ensuring robust incident response and risk management strategies. I am committed to developing skills in cloud security and third-party risk management, leveraging my meticulous and dependable nature. My achievements in leading cybersecurity projects for federal bureaus and managing high-priority tasks have honed my strategic planning capabilities. I am motivated by a passion for creating secure digital environments and fostering a proactive security culture. I invite opportunities to collaborate with forward-thinking organizations to drive innovative cybersecurity solutions. WORK EXPERIENCE MIS2 LLC Wash., DC (Metro) FRACTIONAL CISO | CYBERSECURITY ADVISOR June 2019 - Present • Provide executive-level cybersecurity leadership to law firms and professional services firms as a trusted Fractional CISO. • Guide firms and other organizations in reducing cyber risk and aligning with frameworks such as NIST 800-171, HIPAA, ISO 27001, and NIST 800-53. • Support law firm compliance efforts related to client-mandated security requirements, including data handling, access controls, and audit readiness. • Lead and advise on incident response planning, tabletop exercises, and policy development tailored to legal environments. • Conduct third-party risk assessments and improve vendor due diligence processes in line with client expectations and regulatory demands. • Partner with General Counsel and IT teams to streamline security questionnaires, RFP responses, and client audit requests. WilmerHale LLP Washington, DC CYBER SECURITY PROGRAM LEAD/DEPUTY DIRECTOR Dec 2021 - Feb 2025 ● Directed ISO 27001 compliance efforts, boosting cybersecurity maturity via strategic oversight and cross-department collaboration. ● Championed policy development for ISO standards, securing ongoing compliance and certification achievements. ● Advised leadership on strategic security initiatives, resulting in a boost to incident response effectiveness. ● Mentored security teams to elevate performance and drive improvements in overall security posture. ● Streamlined vulnerability assessments, reducing remediation time by using advanced SIEM tools. ● Led the project to move a group of Partners to Microsoft GCC-H, ensuring compliance with federal government guidance of CUI data and NIST 800-171. Department of Commerce – US Government Washington, DC INFORMATION SECURITY PROJECT LEAD Jul 2019 - Dec 2021 ● Led cybersecurity initiatives across 12 bureaus, achieving FISMA compliance and improving NIST adherence. ● Delivered tailored cybersecurity solutions that boosted operational efficiency across bureaus. ● Entrusted with mission-critical tasks, leveraging strategic planning to deploy solutions that improved security readiness. ● Achieved measurable improvements in security operations, recognized for enhancing cyber hygiene and audit performance. ● Managed third-party risk assessments, consistently reducing vendor risks annually. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Washington, DC SR. CYBER SECURITY LEAD Sep 2018 - Jul 2019 • Directed the Authorization to Operate (ATO) process for critical systems, conducting thorough risk assessments and ensuring compliance with federal standards, including NIST SP 800-53. • Delivered actionable insights to stakeholders, resulting in expedited approvals and enhanced system credibility. • Implemented and continuously refined security controls across multiple systems, ensuring strict adherence to regulatory requirements and internal security policies. Arnold and Porter LLP Washington, DC SECURITY OPERATIONS PROGRAM LEAD Jul 2013 - Aug 2018 • Developed and implemented a comprehensive IT security program that significantly enhanced the firm's ISO 27001aligned risk management framework and regulatory compliance posture. • Worked closely with the CIO and CEO to brief on security risks, recommend strategic mitigations, and gain executive approval for key cybersecurity initiatives. • Introduced robust security policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with industry standards and legal requirements, mitigating vulnerabilities and safeguarding critical assets. • Led all perimeter security operations, proactively identifying and addressing threats to protect firmwide infrastructure and sensitive client data. • Approved and controlled all software installation requests for workstations and the network, ensuring only secure and vetted applications were deployed. • Implemented advanced web filtering solutions, optimizing network bandwidth and ensuring safe browsing for attorneys and staff. EDUCATION • • Washington Adventist University BS, ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT Howard University BS, POLITICAL SCIENCE SKILLS • • • • Security Governance & Compliance: ISO 27001, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, CMMC, Regulatory Compliance, Audit Management Risk & Vendor Management: Risk Management, TPRM, Vendor Assessments, Third-Party Risk, Supply Chain Cybersecurity Operational Security & Response: Incident Response, Vulnerability Management, EDR, SIEM, Security Operations Security Strategy & Policy: Cybersecurity Policy, Strategic Planning, Threat Detection, Security Audits COURSES LAW ENFORCEMENT - Prince George's County Police Academy (Graduated) KEY ACHIEVEMENTS • • • Pioneered Server Infrastructure Modernization at NASA GSFC: Spearheaded the implementation of the first-ever server farm at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, a groundbreaking step in centralizing compute resources, increasing system resilience, and supporting mission-critical scientific and engineering workloads with improved scalability and security. Founded the First Cybersecurity Operations Team on Base: Established and led the base’s first dedicated Cybersecurity Team, setting foundational policies, incident response protocols, and risk management strategies that dramatically enhanced the organization's cyber posture and compliance readiness. Executed a Time-Sensitive Federal Encryption Mandate: Successfully delivered a congressionally-mandated encryption initiative for the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) GSFC-NASA, ensuring full compliance on time and without disruption, thereby safeguarding sensitive data across investigative and oversight systems. • • Implemented an Advanced Extrusion Prevention Program: Designed and deployed a data loss prevention strategy focused on extrusion protection, resulting in a 70% reduction in bandwidth consumption and significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized data exfiltration or insider threats. Contributed to National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) Transition to DCSA: Played a key cybersecurity advisory role in the high-stakes federal effort to transition NBIB operations to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), ensuring secure data handling, continuity of operations, and alignment with DoD security frameworks. PERSONALITY STRENGTHS • • • • Conventional: Adheres to established processes and methods Planful: Structured, meticulous, and achievement-oriented Collaborative: Relationship builder, assertive and equipped to lead Accommodating: Diplomatic and accepting of others' needs Composed: Remains calm under pressure VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Member, Town of La Plata – Board of Appeals • Reviewed and ruled on appeals from local businesses and developers whose applications had been denied under zoning, planning, and municipal code regulations. • Applied statutory and discretionary judgment to ensure fair outcomes while balancing economic development, community standards, and compliance with town ordinances. Member, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking) • Contributed to national cybersecurity policy and digital infrastructure planning for K–12 education, with a focus on risk management and data privacy. • Collaborated with district leaders to implement cybersecurity frameworks and best practices aligned with NIST and FERPA standards. Member, InfraGard (FBI Public-Private Partnership) • Participated in intelligence-sharing initiatives focused on cyber and physical threat prevention across critical infrastructure sectors. • Applied FBI-provided threat intelligence and indicators of compromise (IOCs) to strengthen enterprise cybersecurity posture and incident readiness.