Virginia sits at the heart of the United States’ cybersecurity ecosystem. Home to major federal agencies, defense contractors, global technology firms, and some of the nation’s most advanced public-sector IT environments, the state plays a critical role in national cyber resilience. Behind this ecosystem are security leaders balancing national security, enterprise risk, public trust, and rapid technological change.
This list highlights seven CISOs operating across government, defense, critical infrastructure, healthcare, and global technology. These are leaders shaping how cybersecurity is executed, governed, and scaled across Virginia and beyond.
Dave Rankin – Chief Information Security Officer, Verisign
Dave Rankin brings more than 30 years of technology leadership experience spanning commercial enterprise, defense, finance, consulting, and global infrastructure operations. A United States Air Force veteran, he was a founding member of the Department of Defense’s first cyber information warfare squadron, focused on protecting U.S. and forward-deployed systems in the Middle East.
At Verisign, Rankin applies a rare blend of deep technical expertise and business-aligned strategy. His international experience includes leading technology teams across all seven continents, serving as CIO of Raytheon UK, designing the security architecture for the Bahamas International Stock Exchange, and implementing Security Operations Centers in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Known as a strong communicator and proven people leader, Rankin has consistently demonstrated the ability to align IT security strategy with core business objectives at a global scale.
David Bakin – Chief Information Security Officer, Peraton
David Bakin serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Peraton, where he plays a central role in modernizing cybersecurity capabilities while enabling the secure adoption of artificial intelligence across the enterprise. Working closely with the CIO and CTO, he helped launch Peraton’s AI Enablement and Governance Board, establishing a structured approach to securely building, deploying, and governing AI technologies.
Bakin’s leadership emphasizes collaboration, discipline, and operational resilience. Under his direction, Peraton modernized its security stack, enhanced threat detection and visibility, reduced attack surface exposure, and improved overall operational efficiency. Recognized by WashingtonExec as a CISO to Watch in 2025, Bakin is known for positioning security as a business enabler while maintaining strong compliance and governance foundations.
Ray Murphy – Customer Security Officer, Microsoft
Ray Murphy is a seasoned cybersecurity executive and trusted advisor to boards and C-suite leaders, specializing in building threat-driven, business-aligned security organizations. Currently serving as a Customer Security Officer at Microsoft, Murphy works closely with customer CISOs, CIOs, and boards to strengthen security posture and align cybersecurity initiatives with long-term business goals.
Previously, Murphy served as Chief Information Security Officer at the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and spent over 15 years at Navy Federal Credit Union, where he led large-scale cybersecurity and fraud programs. His leadership resulted in a 50% reduction in cybersecurity threats, a 33% reduction in fraud losses, and more than $50 million in savings through improved governance and security operations. With experience managing budgets up to $100 million and leading teams of more than 400 professionals, Murphy brings both strategic vision and operational execution to every role.
Michael Dent – Chief Information Security Officer, Fairfax County, Virginia
Michael Dent has served Fairfax County for over two decades, making him one of the most experienced public-sector cybersecurity leaders in the region. Since joining the county in 2002, he has been instrumental in establishing the enterprise-wide IT security mission, developing county-wide security and privacy policies, and building a comprehensive information security program.
Dent advises senior leadership on cybersecurity risk, oversees incident investigations and digital forensics, and leads ongoing vulnerability management and compliance efforts. He is also a founding member of the County’s Architecture Review Board and has served seven terms as chairman of the National Capital Region Council of Governments CISO group. Under his leadership, regional initiatives such as NCRNet and secure CAD-to-CAD data exchange hubs have strengthened cross-jurisdictional collaboration and emergency response capabilities.
Ron Browne – Chief Information Security Officer & Global Vice President, Owens & Minor
Ron Browne is a cybersecurity and technology executive with more than 25 years of experience across Fortune 500 organizations. As CISO and Global Vice President at Owens & Minor, a $10B global healthcare company, he owns the enterprise cybersecurity strategy for a multinational organization supporting critical healthcare supply chains.
Before assuming the CISO role, Browne led global network and infrastructure functions and previously spent a decade at Capital One, where he directed endpoint security, advanced malware defense, and data loss prevention for more than 70,000 endpoints worldwide. His career reflects deep operational expertise, large-scale program ownership, and a strong focus on integrating cybersecurity into enterprise infrastructure and business operations.
Diane Carnohan – Chief Information Security Officer, Virginia Department of Education
Diane Carnohan serves as Chief Information Security Officer for the Virginia Department of Education, where she leads efforts to protect sensitive education data and critical systems across the state. Her career spans more than two decades in information security and IT leadership, with experience across healthcare, social services, and state government.
Before becoming CISO, Carnohan held security analyst and IT leadership roles within the Virginia Department of Social Services, Parallon Business Solutions, and HCA Physician Services. Her background reflects a strong foundation in operational security, risk management, and compliance, skills essential to securing complex public-sector environments that support students, educators, and government stakeholders.
Michael Watson – Chief Information Security Officer & Deputy Chief Information Officer, Virginia Information Technologies Agency
Michael Watson is a cybersecurity and technology leader focused on using innovation to drive practical, real-world outcomes. He believes strongly in blending entrepreneurial thinking with public service and in the power of teamwork to scale impact.
He led the deployment of a Zero Trust security framework, integrating continuous verification and advanced threat detection, and spearheaded the adoption of AI and machine learning to enhance threat detection and response. Watson has also managed over $400 million in technology investments, expanded the security organization by 35% in eighteen months, and integrated enterprise systems into AWS and Microsoft Azure environments. He regularly reports cybersecurity risk and technology strategy to senior executives and government leadership.
Why Virginia’s Cybersecurity Leadership Matters
Virginia’s cybersecurity leaders operate at the intersection of national defense, public trust, enterprise innovation, and critical infrastructure protection. From global technology platforms and healthcare supply chains to state agencies and local governments, the CISOs on this list are shaping how security programs scale, modernize, and deliver real-world impact. As cyber threats continue to evolve, Virginia’s strategic importance, and the influence of its cybersecurity leadership, will only continue to grow.