Cybersecurity Spring 2021 Capstone Project Showcase

Judges

Danielle Desalu is an experienced security professional with experience in customer-facing sales, delivery and product management roles. Currently, Danielle is the director of customer experience product management security where she leads the global development of security service offers and customer success programs. she plays a key role in supporting a growth area of Cisco’s business transformation from hardware to software and recurring revenue streams. Formerly she served as the global security services practice manager at Cisco where she led delivery in the creation, deployment and migration of security services for enterprise customers. As a trusted advisor, Danielle has successfully led customers through development of security strategies that include risk management, technology enablement, governance and compliance, resulting in an increased security posture for their organizations.

Danielle is a 20+ year Cisco veteran with a demonstrated track record of building strong technical teams to drive customer engagements, architect solutions and grow customer revenues. Formerly as a security engagement manager in the threat response, intelligence and development organization at Cisco she was responsible for leading teams through the strategy and implementation of security requirements that were built into the development lifecycle of Cisco products.  

Outside of the office, Danielle has a strong passion for inspiring young girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). She is a Girls Scout troop leader and a Junior First Lego League (Jr. FLL) co-facilitator where she works to expose elementary and middle school girls to exciting careers with engineering and science. danielle also serves on the board of trustees at the Highland School in Warrenton, VA.

Danielle holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer and systems engineering from Rensselaer and has several career certifications including (Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP). She has received the National Women of Color STEM Rising Star Award, the Modern Day Technology Leader Award of Black Engineer of the Year Conference and was awarded the 2018 ITSMF Mentor of the Year award. She is a graduate of Cisco’s SE Transitions & Leadership Development Program, ITSMF’s Executive Protégé Program and ITSMF’s Executive Academy Program-2020 cohort.

Aaron Hughes is group vice president and CISO at Albertsons Companies. In this role he is responsible for enabling the business and securing the infrastructure, digital assets, and payments for a network of over 2200 supermarkets operating under 20 brands across the United States serving 30 million customers per week and driving $60B in annual revenue. Previously he was vice president for information security and deputy CISO at Capital One where he led the team providing security services across all of the Capital One lines of business to include card, financial services, commercial and retail banking as well enterprise IT, digital products, and data initiatives. Mr. Hughes is also the former deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy where, as the senior DoD cybersecurity official, he was the primary interface with the broader US government, Congress, the public, and foreign governments for all defense related cyber policy matters. His office was responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of cyber policies, strategies, operations, and plans for the Department of Defense.

Prior to his appointment with the Department of Defense, Mr. Hughes was the vice president of intelligence community support at the strategic investment firm In-Q-Tel. In this role, he led the company’s engagement with the intelligence community and assisted in the prioritization of investment decisions and technology identification for In-Q-Tel’s partners.

In addition to his full-time employment, Mr. Hughes is a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve currently serving as a senior advisor to the commander of USCYBERCOM.

He is active in leading diversity & inclusion initiatives having served as the accountable executive at Capital One for the black in tech business resource group, focusing on enhancing the development, recruitment, and advocacy for black associates in the technology organization. Aaron is a frequent contributor and speaker in a variety of forums focused on national security, cyber, and diversity/inclusion/belonging. He received his BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia, MS in telecommunications and computers from George Washington University, and MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Rich Mason is a 20+ year veteran of technology titans such as AT&T, Lucent Technologies’ Bell Labs, and Honeywell International and possesses deep expertise in the fields of cybersecurity, physical security, and enterprise resilience. His last corporate post was as Honeywell’s global vice president and chief security officer (CSO). Prior to that, he held the role of enterprise chief information security officer (CISO). Honeywell is a Fortune 100 conglomerate with a market cap in excess of $140B and supporting over 110,000 employees in 120 countries. Honeywell Global Security, a converged unit within Honeywell that provided cyber, physical, product, and classified security services, achieved a number 1 global ranking in the industrial and manufacturing sector during his tenure (Security Magazine, Security 500 Report).

A graduate of Honeywell’s elite Executive Development Program, Rich now leads a private practice based in Virginia, where he combines this unique experience, a Honeywell Operating System (HOS) and Six Sigma mindset, and a relentless focus on innovation and security as business enablers. His evidence-led approach enables startups, venture capital firms and corporate boards to challenge assumptions, positively disrupt markets and digitally transform businesses.

Mason is a former member of the Secret Service’s New York Electronic Crimes Task Force, a graduate of the FBI’s Executive Academy, and a retired member of the FBI’s National Security Business Alliance Council (NSBAC) and Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC).

Mason received his criminal justice bachelor’s degree with honor from Michigan State University with a specialization in security management. He continues to support his alma mater through his active role in MSU’s Axia Institute, focusing on supply chain security innovation and value-chain optimization.