Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Kelly Hills

Phoenix

Summary

Experienced cybersecurity leader with a strong background in program management, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership. Proven success directing multiple concurrent initiatives and supervising large, diverse teams—including over 80 government personnel. Skilled in strategic planning, virtual collaboration, and driving mission-focused results in dynamic environments. Seeking to contribute as NAME OF THE POSITION, advancing strategic goals and partnerships.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Cyber State Coordinator (Arizona, Region 9)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
06.2024 - Current
  • Company Overview: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Integration and Operations Division (IOD)- HQ, Oakland, CA (Remote) Travel: Statewide 50%
  • Worked directly with the Arizona Secretary of State (SOS) office, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Arizona Department of Homeland Security (AZDOHS), and United States Secret Service (USSS) to collaborate security programs and projects for the entire state of Arizona and municipal organizations.
  • Built regional and local cybersecurity coalitions to promote information sharing on best practices and lessons learned and promote the resilience of the cyber infrastructure throughout Arizona.
  • Developed and promoted collaborative relationships with critical infrastructure owners and operators as well as State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government to reduce risk and threats to infrastructure, educational, enterprise, communications, and control systems.
  • Coordinated cyber incidents for reporting and supported other cybersecurity assessment programs associated with all 16 critical infrastructure sectors.
  • Presented numerous regional local and national conferences, summits, seminars, and symposia relating to cybersecurity initiatives to include keynotes and panel discussions.
  • Performed security reviews, identified gaps in security architecture, and developed security risk management plans for stakeholders.
  • Collaborated with critical infrastructure IT security experts, and managers to support organizational cybersecurity objectives.
  • Interacted regularly with elected officials at the state level by providing updates on activities.
  • Developed and implemented outreach strategies to engage stakeholders in the state.
  • Collaborated with local organizations to identify opportunities for mutual benefit.
  • Responsible for enhanced coordination efforts with CISA stakeholders, including communication with other Federal departments and agencies, DHS, CISA divisions, leadership of SLTT, as well as external industry leaders for situational awareness and response on cyber incidents and events.
  • Participated in cybersecurity partnerships with and across critical infrastructure owners and operators and state, local, tribal, and territorial government levels.
  • Advised senior management on regional trends and analyses.
  • Assisted in identifying, prioritizing, and coordinating the protection of critical cyber defense infrastructure and key resources.
  • Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Integration and Operations Division (IOD)- HQ, Oakland, CA (Remote) Travel: Statewide 50%

Chief, Cybersecurity Engineering and Analysis Branch

Engineer Research and Development Center
06.2023 - 06.2024
  • Company Overview: Information Technology Lab - HQ, Vicksburg, MS (Remote) Travel: 40%
  • Served as chief over 80+ civilians and 100+ contractors (67% remote workforce).
  • Acquired and managed over 10M in funds for Fiscal Year 2023.
  • Maintained close constant communication with customers, team, and leadership to quickly identify and resolve problems to include regular high-level briefings.
  • Briefed DoD agency representatives, SES level leadership, stakeholder, and senior leadership on IT and OT related threats and assessments.
  • Devised program strategies in accordance with established methodologies from conceptualizing ideas to implementing plans and optimizing operations across 6 teams to include offensive and defensive cybersecurity assessment teams, research and development team, and security engineering.
  • Provided critical input to strategic engagement and cybersecurity plans for the laboratory.
  • Information Technology Lab - HQ, Vicksburg, MS (Remote) Travel: 40%

SCA-V Senior Project Lead, Army Appointed SCA-V Lead, and Code 4 Supervisor

Engineer Research and Development Center
11.2016 - 06.2023
  • Company Overview: Information Technology Lab - HQ, Vicksburg, MS (Remote) Travel: Worldwide 40%
  • Served a 2-month acting position as the Cybersecurity Engineering and Analysis Branch Chief during Fiscal Year 2023.
  • Served a 4-month acting position as the Software Engineering and Evaluation Branch Chief in Fiscal Year 2021.
  • Maintained close constant communication with customers, team, and leadership to quickly identify and resolve challenges to include regular high-level briefings.
  • Communicated performance expectations, reviews, and mentorship as Code 4 Supervisor. Hired, trained, and led a team of up to 28 government civilian employees.
  • Fore-casted, scheduled, and monitored project scope, timelines, cost efficiency, and personnel performance over up to 120 projects per year.
  • Spearheaded meetings with team members, leadership, and stakeholders to discuss ongoing, planned and recently completed projects as well as process and program improvements and goals.
  • Kept project teams on-task with proactive control of budgets, schedules, and scopes.
  • Devised program strategies in accordance with established and regulated methodologies from conceptualizing ideas to implementing plans and optimizing operations.
  • Tracked and communicated project status through weekly reports.
  • Conveyed project objectives to internal and external stakeholders and maintained open communication to assess progress against target goals.
  • Developed contingency plans and alternative solutions for projects to include a duration of contract protest and the Covid travel ban to ensure projects completed on time and within budget.
  • Information Technology Lab - HQ, Vicksburg, MS (Remote) Travel: Worldwide 40%

SCA-V Assessor, RMF SME, Alternate SCA-V Lead

U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command
05.2010 - 11.2016
  • Company Overview: Ft. Huachuca, AZ
  • Provided security team leadership and contributed to all assessment activities and engagements.
  • Conducted technical, physical, and personnel security assessments/audits and provided recommendations to management based on vulnerabilities found.
  • Trained staff of over 40 cybersecurity assessors in Risk Management Framework (RMF) process utilizing NIST SP 800-53.
  • Developed and implemented SharePoint collaboration, archiving process and structure, and assessment procedures for the transfer from the DoD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP) to RMF cybersecurity assessment methodologies for the Army and DoD.
  • Served as the Alternate Security Control Assessor – Validator (SCA-V) responsible for the review and approval of all assessor reporting and memo delivered to NETCOM and CIO-G6 of the Army.
  • Ft. Huachuca, AZ

Education

Bachelor of Science - Information Technology

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
09-2023

Skills

  • Cybersecurity assessment
  • Risk management
  • Incident response
  • Information sharing
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Project management
  • Strategic planning
  • Public speaking
  • Collaboration skills
  • Communication skills
  • Government relations
  • Partnership building
  • Training facilitation

Certification

· PMP

· CISSP-ISSEP

· GICSP

· Member of National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS), Capella University

· ISC2 Phoenix Chapter Member

· PMI Member

· Member of Women in Cybersecurity Arizona Chapter (WiCyS)

Timeline

Cyber State Coordinator (Arizona, Region 9)

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
06.2024 - Current

Chief, Cybersecurity Engineering and Analysis Branch

Engineer Research and Development Center
06.2023 - 06.2024

SCA-V Senior Project Lead, Army Appointed SCA-V Lead, and Code 4 Supervisor

Engineer Research and Development Center
11.2016 - 06.2023

SCA-V Assessor, RMF SME, Alternate SCA-V Lead

U.S. Army Information Systems Engineering Command
05.2010 - 11.2016

Bachelor of Science - Information Technology

Arizona State University

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Kelly Hills