Katherine “Katie” Arrington is a member of the Senior Executive Serves and serves as the Chief Information Security Officer for Acquisition and Sustainment (CISO(A&S)) within the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S)). In this position, she serves as the central hub and integrator within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)) to align acquisition and sustainment cyber strategy and efforts to enhance cyber security within the Defense Industrial Base.
As the CISO(A&S), Ms. Arrington is responsible to ensure the incorporation of integrated security/cyber efforts within USD(A&S) with the purpose of providing a focused and streamlined governance approach, provide a central coordination point and common compliance standard that serves to synchronize the various existing disparate cyber security efforts and standards across the Department and Industry as it relates to Department of Defense acquisition and sustainment efforts.
Ms. Arrington is leading efforts that help ensure a secure Defense Supply Chain through the implementation of Trusted Capital vendors and Supply Chain Risk Management principles, enhance Defense Industrial Base security and resilience, and establish a common cyber security standard within Departmental acquisition efforts. She also synchronizes these efforts across the Department, other federal agencies, and works with legislators to ensure Departmental authorities and actions align and support the nation’s security goals.
Before assuming her position as CISO(A&S), Ms. Arrington has an extensive career as a legislator and senior cyber executive in private industry. Ms. Arrington was a 2018 candidate for the US House of Representatives for South Carolina and served for 2 terms as a South Carolina State Representative. She has extensive experience in cyber strategy, policy, enablement and implementation across a wide range of business sectors and governmental levels. She has over 15 years of cyber experience acquired through positions at Booz Allen Hamilton, Centuria Corporation, and Dispersive Networks. These positions have given her a unique experience of supporting and work with the government at large, small, and non-traditional contracting firms.
Ms. Arrington is married to Robert and resides in Summerville, South Carolina and is a proud parent of three children and grandparent to four grandbabies.
