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
Hanwha Defense USA
McLean, VA
CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER (CISO)
Mar 2025 - Present
● Steered IT, cybersecurity, and compliance strategies across the organization, achieving a 25% improvement in risk
posture.
● Directed policy development and incident response planning aligning with federal standards, reducing security
incidents by 20%.
● Drive compliance for NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Level 2, ensuring audit readiness and robust security standards.
● Oversee vendor risk management and secure third-party onboarding to mitigate potential supply chain
vulnerabilities.
● Act as the primary liaison with government stakeholders and auditors, enhancing cybersecurity posture by 15%
through improved collaborations.
● Implemented a firmwide incident response process, reducing threat resolution time by 30%.
WilmerHale LLP
Washington, DC
CYBER SECURITY PROGRAM LEAD/DEPUTY DIRECTOR
Dec 2021 - Feb 2025
● Directed ISO 27001 compliance efforts, boosting cybersecurity maturity by 20% via strategic oversight and crossdepartment collaboration.
● Championed policy development for ISO standards, securing ongoing compliance and certification achievements.
● Advised leadership on strategic security initiatives, resulting in a 15% boost to incident response effectiveness.
● Mentored security teams to elevate performance and drive a 25% improvement in overall security posture.
● Streamlined vulnerability assessments, reducing remediation time by 20% using advanced SIEM tools.
● Led the project to move a group of Partners to Microsoft GCC-H, insuring 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 97% FISMA compliance and improving NIST adherence.
● Delivered tailored cybersecurity solutions that boosted operational efficiency by 18% across bureaus.
● Entrusted with mission-critical tasks, leveraging strategic planning to deploy solutions that improved security
readiness by 15%.
● Achieved measurable improvements in security operations, recognized for enhancing cyber hygiene and audit
performance.
● Managed third-party risk assessments, consistently reducing vendor risks by 10% 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 risk
management framework and regulatory compliance posture.
• Introduced robust security policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with industry standards and legal
requirements, mitigating vulnerabilities and safeguarding critical assets.
• Implemented advanced web filtering solutions, effectively optimizing network bandwidth and ensuring secure
browsing for all users.
EDUCATION
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Washington Adventist University
BS, ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Howard University
BS, POLITICAL SCIENCE
SKILLS
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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
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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),
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
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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.
