Virginia’s information technology sector spans managed services, cloud platforms, geospatial consulting, and government-focused technology providers. With federal agencies and defense contractors forming a significant part of the state’s digital ecosystem, cybersecurity leaders here face the dual challenge of protecting enterprise environments while meeting rigorous government compliance requirements.
The professionals below represent cybersecurity leadership helping shape security strategy across Virginia’s IT industry.
James Cooke — Chief Information Security Officer, Geospatial Consulting Group International
James Cooke serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Geospatial Consulting Group International, where he leads cybersecurity strategy for a firm delivering geospatial technology solutions to federal clients. His background includes cloud infrastructure work as an AWS Cloud Practitioner and SharePoint administrator supporting Arlington National Cemetery, giving him a strong foundation in government-facing IT security environments.
Matthew Mella — Chief Information Security Officer, Iron Bow Technologies
Matthew Mella serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Iron Bow Technologies, where he leads enterprise security strategy for a company serving public sector clients. His work includes designing a Zero Trust architecture, implementing SSO solutions, and driving a full transition to a SaaS and PaaS model. He also established an AI Governance council and champions the adoption of generative AI technologies across the organization.
Johann Dettweiler — Chief Information Security Officer, stackArmor
Johann Dettweiler serves as Chief Information Security Officer at stackArmor, a managed cloud services provider focused on federal government environments. He leads SecOps, security engineering, and architecture functions across AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, with a focus on secure cloud design patterns, vulnerability lifecycle governance, and OSCAL-based compliance automation to support federal audit requirements.
George Baker — Chief Information Security Officer, CertiPath
George Baker serves as Chief Information Security Officer at CertiPath, a Reston-based firm specializing in identity and access management solutions for government and aerospace sectors. He brings more than two decades of cybersecurity leadership across organizations including Raytheon, Exostar, and Acuity International, with deep experience in security architecture, professional services, and international cyber programs.
Rob Couey — Chief Information Security Officer, Ridgeline International
Rob Couey serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Ridgeline International, where he built the company’s information security program from the ground up. His work spans SOC, red and blue team operations, threat intelligence, and GRC functions. Before his industry role, Couey held cyber leadership positions at the National Security Agency, U.S. Cyber Command, and the U.S. Navy, and contributed to the development of the DoD Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.
Kaleem Din — Chief Information Security Officer, Creative Information Technology
Kaleem Din serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Creative Information Technology, a Falls Church-based firm serving state agencies, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits. His work spans security and compliance frameworks including NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, CMMC, and FedRAMP, with additional expertise in AI governance aligned to ISO 42001. Din also leads IT service management programs and cloud security initiatives across AWS and Azure environments.
James Gorman — Chief Information Security Officer, BetterWorld Technology
James Gorman serves as Chief Information Security Officer and fractional CTO at BetterWorld Technology, where he provides executive-level cybersecurity and network engineering advisory services. With more than 30 years of experience, his work includes securing payment infrastructure, building data center platforms for SaaS identity providers, and developing security frameworks for 5G networks across cloud and enterprise environments.
Cybersecurity Leadership Across Virginia’s IT Sector
Virginia’s proximity to federal agencies and defense contractors shapes the cybersecurity priorities of its technology firms, where compliance with government frameworks and the protection of sensitive digital infrastructure are central to security operations. The leaders featured here reflect the breadth of that landscape, from geospatial platforms and managed cloud services to AI governance and enterprise security transformation.
The information technology sector is home to a growing number of security leaders protecting the digital infrastructure that federal agencies and enterprises depend on. Explore more CISOs to Watch in the information technology industry.