Adele Merritt: ODNI’s CIO Keynotes the 5th Annual CIO Summit

Adele Merritt is the Chief Information Officer for the Office of the Intelligence Community at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. She leads the modernization and enhancement of IT security and cooperation of IC Information Technology Enterprise. 

 

Adele Merritt is a keynote speaker for the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual Chief Information Officer Summit on April 21, 2024. Register here. 

 

Who is Adele Merritt?

 

Dr. Adele Merritt brings more than two decades of experience in technical, analytical, and policy dimensions to her executive role involved in cyber and national security. 

 

Before her appointment as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) in January 2022, she was a program manager at Dreamport, a non-profit technology hub initiated by the U.S. Cyber Command in 2018. The organization drives innovation and strengthens connections among the military, academia, and the private sector. 

 

Throughout her career, Merritt has held significant positions within the government, including the Principal Deputy CIO for Cyber at the Department of Energy as well as Director and Acting Senior Director for Intelligence Programs within the National Security Council during the Obama administration.

 

Adele Merritt’s professional journey began at the National Security Agency, where she worked as an applied research mathematician. 

 

Her academic achievements include earning a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Pace University, New York. She further advanced her education with a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Rhode Island.

 

Catch Adele Merritt at the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit

 

 

WHEN

Wednesday, April 17, 2024
7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Eastern Time Zone

WHERE

Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
5000 Seminary Rd
Alexandria, Virginia2 22311

 

The Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit is where top information officers from the U.S. government and private sector meet. Here, leaders can share new ways to modernize, discuss using new technology, and find creative solutions to improve government services in the digital world. 

 

Adele Merritt is a standout keynote speaker at the 5th Annual CIO Summit because of her rich cybersecurity and national security background. 

 

Serving in roles like the Deputy Chief Information Officer (CIO) for cyber at the Department of Energy and working on intelligence programs for the National Security Council during the Obama administration, Merritt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in protecting the U.S. from cyber threats.

 

Why Attend

 

Attending the Potomac Officers Club’s 5th Annual CIO Summit offers significant advantages for Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and IT leaders. This key event is designed to exchange insights on modernization strategies, leverage emerging technologies, and collaborate on innovative solutions, such as generative AI, to transform the public sector. Register here. 

 

Who Should Attend

 

The 5th Annual CIO Summit invites chief information officers from the U.S. government and the government contracting industry to discuss solutions for transforming the public sector amid the digital age. Attendees for the summit include:

 

• Government CIOs
• Industry CIOs
• Private sector leaders: Beyond CIOs, private sector leaders involved in digital transformation, technology solutions, and innovation are encouraged to attend and share their perspectives against their government counterparts.
• Technology and solution providers: Companies that provide technological solutions and services can network with potential clients and partners.
• Stakeholders in digital modernization: Individuals or entities interested in modernizing government IT infrastructure and services can find the discussions and networking opportunities valuable.

 

Adele Merritt’s Efforts at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence

 

Adele Merritt’s contributions to the ODNI include enhancing the technological capabilities and security posture of the Intelligence Community to face current and future challenges, particularly in the cyber domain. 

 

• Cybersecurity leadership: Adele Merritt recognizes the importance of conducting thorough testing and evaluation of the Intelligence Community’s (IC) systems to ensure a secure cloud infrastructure. This approach is fundamental in safeguarding sensitive data against evolving threats.

 

• Multi-cloud interoperability: With an extensive background in advocating multi-cloud interoperability, Dr. Merritt’s efforts enable the community to harness the strengths of various cloud service providers while simultaneously eliminating cybersecurity risks.

 

• Adoption of zero-trust architecture: Dr. Merritt has been implementing a zero-trust architecture within the IC, marking a paradigm shift in cybersecurity strategies. This initiative aims to bolster network defenses by assuming no entity inside or outside the network is trustworthy and requiring continuous user verification.

 

• Workforce development and diversity: Dr. Merritt has consistently emphasized the significance of cultivating a diverse and skilled workforce. She advocates recruiting individuals from varied backgrounds with requisite skills and experiences to drive innovation and enhance the IC’s capability to address complex challenges.

 

Read more: Top 6 Influential Leaders In The Cybersecurity Space