Chris Pashley becomes CISO at ARPA-H to improve cybersecurity

The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has appointed Chris Pashley as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Pashley, previously deputy chief information security officer at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), announced his new role in a LinkedIn post.

ARPA-H, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is dedicated to tackling the world’s toughest health problems through innovative research programs grounded in urgency, excellence, and honesty. The agency aims to accelerate breakthroughs that will enable every American to reach their full health potential, turning the seemingly impossible into the possible and actual.

Pashley’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for ARPA-H as it looks to develop and launch an agency-wide initiative to implement rigorous cybersecurity measures. His extensive experience and proven success in cybersecurity make him an ideal fit for this key role.

Chris Pashley’s background and experience

Prior to joining ARPA-H, Pashley played a key role at CISA, where he supported efforts to strengthen the agency’s internal cybersecurity program. He worked closely with CISA’s CISO and Chief Information Officer to improve the agency’s cybersecurity posture and ensure its systems and data were well protected against the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.

Prior to CISA, Pashley led the Cyber ​​Threat Intelligence (CTI) team within the Security Operations Division of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In this role, he focused on establishing the foundational elements of the CTI team, including its vision, mission, structure, and performance management. He also improved the team’s integration with and support of CBP’s Security Operations Center (SOC) by providing senior leadership with critical updates on cyber threat activity.

Pashley’s move to the government sector in 2017 followed a nearly seven-year stint at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he served as an associate. His work there laid the foundation for his later roles in government cybersecurity and equipped him with the skills and experience needed to navigate the complex and high-risk environment of federal cybersecurity operations.

Pashley’s expertise will be critical in developing and implementing comprehensive cybersecurity measures for ARPA-H. His approach will likely include a combination of proactive threat intelligence, rigorous security protocols, and continuous monitoring to protect the agency’s digital assets.

With his extensive background in cybersecurity and proven leadership, Pashley is well-equipped to help ARPA-H protect its vital research and operations. As the agency continues to push the boundaries of health innovation, robust and strong cybersecurity measures will be critical to ensuring the success and integrity of its groundbreaking work.

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