Building Cyber Resiliency in Federal Systems

Brian Mazanec is the Deputy Director, Center for Preparedness within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

In Brian’s role as Deputy Director of the Center for Preparedness, he helps lead the office responsible for all aspects of preparation for events such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters, cyber attacks, and intentional attacks with chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) weapons. This work is closely coordinated with other offices within ASPR, as well as other related components within HHS, other U.S. government departments and agencies, and international allies and partners. Brian’s responsibilities include oversight and management of the following component offices: Security, Vetting, and Protection; Data, Analytics & Information Advantage; Critical Infrastructure Protection; Health Care Readiness; Medical Reserve Corps; Planning and Exercises; Continuity; and the Secretary’s Operations Center.

Prior to joining ASPR, Brian served at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), where he was the senior executive responsible for leading the agency’s Strategic Warfare and Intelligence portfolio.  He led and managed numerous teams evaluating a variety of national security programs and activities related to biological and other emerging threats; intelligence community management; security and counterintelligence; sensitive activities and programs; personnel vetting; and space policy and operations. In addition, Brian led GAO’s efforts to establish an Insider Threat Program and other internal security-related initiatives. Prior to GAO, Brian worked on WMD issues at the Defense Intelligence Agency, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters, and the Joint Staff J5 Combating WMD directorate.

Brian received his Ph.D. in Biodefense from George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government and holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Richmond and a M.S. in defense and strategic studies from Missouri State University’s Department of Defense and Strategic Studies. In addition to his work in government, Brian’s teaches graduate level courses at several local universities, and he has authored or co-authored multiple academic books on cyber issues.  He lives in Fairfax, Virginia with his wife and four children

Mr. John K. Porter, III currently serves as the Acting Director of the DODIN Readiness and Security Inspections of the Joint Force Headquarters–Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN). In this position, he serves as the principal advisor to the Commander, JFHQ-DODIN, on the cyberspace security and readiness of the DODIN. This area includes mission-focused, threat-based inspections and assessments of Defensive Cyber Operations – Internal Defense Measures (DCO-IDM) effectiveness across the Department of Defense. He is currently leading a transformation of DOD enterprise cybersecurity inspection, assessment, and audit programs that generate a high-quality understanding of risk factors that strengthen DODIN posture to reduce risk to the DODIN and a feedback loop to improve real-time automated risk capabilities.