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J. David Christensen, CISSP

CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER I CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Fostering business innovation, transformation, agility and viability through dynamic leadership and vision.
Portland, ME, United States

Details

Experience: In my current position, I am in charge of Global Security with divisions in the US and India. I was recruited to build strategies to secure a hybrid cloud environment, enhance enterprise and cloud security architecture, compliance, engineering and operation maturity, supporting rapid growth. I manage a $10M budget. I conceived and executed enterprise and cloud security vision. In more specifics, I leveraged new disruptive technologies and tools to maintain enterprise and cloud security at the pace of innovation while delivering clear business value. I also assessed IS solution performance and costs, clearly communicating benefits and risks to executive leadership. In addition, I built, led, and coached the organization in Security Risk mitigation, business enablement and problem resolution. I identified critical business needs. I also planned and delivered key initiatives, addressing IS cost optimization and long-term scalability as part of enterprise cloud migrations. I developed internal SOC/vSOC capability, enabling 24/7 monitoring, threat hunting and enhanced detection and response. Furthermore, I leveraged disruptive leading edge security controls to address unique challenges of securing cloud and hybrid environments. I also directed adoption of EUBA enhanced Cloud Account, Container, Workload Security and CIEM Platforms, improving observability and time to detect IoC in the cloud from days to hours, addressing novel channel vulnerability. I also spearheaded adoption of micro-segmentation/software defined perimeter and SASE capabilities, implementing IAM driven security controls, reducing friction, enabling digital transformation. I transformed the Enterprise Vulnerability Management Program, leveraging real-time threat intel as well as AI/ML to prioritize risk and threats, providing a sustainable and efficient means of reducing risk exposure. Finally, I increased the budget 5X over by infusing an understanding of risks and the value of security protection.

2021 : Present

PlanSource

Vice President I Chief Information Security Officer

For two fast-paced years, I built strategies, securing current and future system migrations into the cloud, enhancing enterprise and cloud security architecture, engineering and operation maturity, supporting rapid global growth. I also built, led, and coached 50 FTE/contractors in Security Risk mitigation, business enablement and problem resolution. I managed a $20M budget, with divisions in Australia, UK, Brazil, and Germany. I also identified critical business needs, addressing Information Security cost optimization and long-term scalability. I rearchitected SIEM, vastly improving performance, scalability, and reducing costs by $600k. In addition, I negotiated a consumption model for cloud-based server workload protection, saving $240k/year. Notably, I spearheaded early adoption of Zero-Trust and SASE capabilities ahead of the pandemic. Furthermore, I established a vision to incorporate multiple sources of vulnerability data to create a comprehensive and holistic view of risk across different security domains, further improving effectiveness of the program. Last but not least, I supported four M&A initiatives, providing security risk assessments with corresponding mitigations in support of onboarding the new organizations and employees.

2019 : 2021

WEX

Director of Global Information Security Engineering and Operations

In charge of IT, security, enterprise, and software of the service platform. I managed the structure, security controls, programs, and posture deployments. I also managed a team and $10M budget. In addition, I built the entire IT, DevOps, and security organization, growing from 30 to 304 people and from a 1-page document to a compliant security organization, supporting revenue growth 35% year over year. I enabled significant environmental growth with vastly improved scalability, supporting 80% YoY new business growth. Remarkably, I planned and delivered a 6-month, $2M initiative migrating legacy AWS EC2 to VPC. I also leveraged new environment controls, created policies, and introduced an end-to-end ticketing system to drive greenfield SOC 2 compliance initiative with further hardening of policies to support strict NIST 800 Series / FISMA / HIPAA physical / logical compliance requirements. Lastly, I rearchitected environment security to address evolving NIST requirements.

2014 : 2019

Origami Risk LLC

Director of Information Technology I Chief Information Security Officer
Company: PlanSource
Spoken Language: English

About

➥ I am a highly accomplished best-in-breed leader in Chief Information Security Officer / Chief Information Officer driving strategy and exceeding goals for business revenue acceleration. I am a highly experienced and driven leader with a background of identifying emerging challenges and executing strategies that powerfully drive key results while building meaningful relationships. I have a demonstrated history of excelling, redefining, and reenergizing relationships. I have deep management and growth turnaround experience, with keen skills and instincts in a highly competitive marketplace.



➥ My strengths are varied, and I have unique skills in seeing the possible and executing for growth and excellence. I am a collaborative, people-focused leader who develops team members’ highest potential in innovation, communication and execution, leading to vibrant, optimized career paths. In addition, I have a natural ability to forge productive relationships and create long lasting strategic partnerships. I also thrive in high visibility roles, multitasking, maximizing engagement with senior stakeholders and influencing the overall business.



➥I am also a developer of powerful partnerships and collaborations, establishing expectations, communicating vision and escalating performance to maximize effectiveness. Additionally, I am a transformational leader coaching and educating through change and challenges while providing scalable business and solutions to advance in the latest techniques and best practices. I lead through example and inspire through my passion.



EARLY CAREER: VAPORSTREAM • Director of Network Operations, CELLTRAK TECHNOLOGIES, Manager Global Network Operations, MFLUENT LLC, NOVARRA INC., US CELLULAR • SENIOR SYSTEMS ENGINEER