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Rear Admiral Jason Tama: Sharing His Cyber Command at the 2024 Cyber Summit

Rear Admiral Jason Tama: Sharing His Cyber Command at the 2024 Cyber Summit

Rear Admiral Jason Tama is the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command and the Former Senior Director of the National Security Council at The White House. He spent over two decades in the U.S. Coast Guard, which he leverages to make strides in an era where cyber plays a crucial role in the federal government.

Catch him share this expertise as the afternoon keynote speaker at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit on June 6, 2024.

Who is Rear Admiral Jason Tama?

Captain Jason Tama speaking as he relieves Captain Zeita Merchant as the Commander of Coast Guard Sector New York.

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class John Hightower/ U.S. Coast Guard/ DVIDS

Jason Tama entered the service as an Operations Officer at the Coast Guard Cutter MARIPOSA in 1995, shortly after graduating with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy that same year.

In 1999, Mr. Tama joined the Coast Guard Office of Budget & Programs, where he served in increasing roles for 11 years. This experience catapulted him to the Chief of the Prevention Department at the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, a role he held from 2011 to 2014.

Jason Tama continued serving in management roles for various Coast Guard offices, including the Office of Budget and Program Analysis, Sector New York, and the Port of New York and New Jersey. He has been in the Coast Guard since he started his career, except for a few months from 2014 to 2015 when he served as a Federal Executive Fellow at The Brookings Institution.

In May 2021, Jason Tama became the Deputy Senior Director of the National Security Council at The White House. After over half a year, he became the office’s Senior Director from November 2022 to April 2023.

After his two-year stint at The White House, Rear Admiral Jason Tama rejoined the U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command as the Commander.

Read more: Top 6 Influential Leaders in the Cybersecurity Space

Rear Admiral Jason Tama, Afternoon Keynote Speaker at the 2024 Cyber Summit

Rear Admiral Jason Tama will deliver the afternoon keynote address at the 2024 Cyber Summit on June 6, 2024. He will center his discussions around his cybersecurity initiatives under his management of the U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command.

David McKeown will join Rear Admiral Jason Tama as a keynote speaker. A few of the topics they will cover include CMMC, zero trust, supply chain security, cyber resilience, secure information sharing, and more.

The 2024 Cyber Summit

Banner of the 2024 Cyber Summit
  • When: June 6, 2024 (7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m./ ET)
  • Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, 1250 S Hayes St., Arlington, VA 22202

The 2024 Cyber Summit will promote conversations on the impact of the ever-expanding cyber sector in the federal government. The event is pivotal in ushering in an era where cyber is increasingly important to unlock capabilities, drive efficiency, and catalyze digital transformation.

Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Cyber Summit.

RDML Jason Tama’s Notable Contributions

Jason Tama being presented with a Good Samaritan award

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Hunter Medley/ U.S. Coast Guard/ DVIDS

RDML Jason Tama’s rise as the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command is a culmination of various operational experiences in the Coast Guard.

Before heading the U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command, then-Captain Jason Tama oversaw the Port of New York & New Jersey and the Port of Albany. His area of responsibility at Sector New York covered over 6,000 square miles.

Previously, he managed approximately 700 active duty personnel, 75 civilian employees, 300 reservists, and 2000 Auxiliary members. His command encompassed seven cutters, three small boat stations, and two aids to navigation teams.

In a span of over two decades, Jason Tama played significant roles, notably as the Naval Architect and Marine Salvage Engineer at the Marine Safety Center and the Budget Coordinator in the Office of Budget and Programs.

In these assignments, Mr. Tama handled and formulated over $11 billion in annual budget requests to the Department of Homeland Security, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and Congress.

RDML Jason Tama’s Contributions Outside of the Military

While Rear Admiral Jason Tama spent the majority of his career in the U.S. Coast Guard, his contributions surpass his military roles. During his time at the Brookings Institution, he spearheaded extensive research on emerging threats to the nation’s Military-Industrial Complex.

RDML Tama’s work focused on foreign policy, national security, cybersecurity, technological innovation, defense acquisitions, and alternative marine fuels. His groundbreaking research bridges the gap in the technological innovations of the national security landscape.

Outside his management leadership roles, he is an MIT Sloan Fellow, Brookings Institution Federal Executive Fellow, Marshall Memorial Fellow, and White House Fellows National Finalist.

Related article: Cybersecurity Commanders: 10 Influential Leaders Defending the Digital Realm

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