Alexis Wales has been named Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at GitHub according to an announcement on her LinkedIn profile, further solidifying her leadership role in the tech industry’s cybersecurity space. Prior to stepping into the CISO role, Wales held several high-profile positions at GitHub, including Deputy Chief Security Officer, Vice President of Security Operations, and Senior Director of the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), where she led efforts to strengthen the company’s cybersecurity defenses.
Before joining GitHub, Wales had a distinguished career in the U.S. government, particularly in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). At CISA, she served as Associate Director for Threat Hunting, where she was instrumental in developing strategies to detect and mitigate advanced cyber threats. Her tenure at DHS spanned over a decade, where she held various roles such as Deputy Associate Director for Threat Hunting, Branch Chief of Federal Network Resilience, and Program Manager for Infrastructure Security. In these positions, Wales led multi-billion-dollar cybersecurity programs focused on securing critical infrastructure and federal networks.
Wales’ diverse background in cybersecurity, threat intelligence, and information technology transformation has made her a respected leader in the industry. Her experience in managing large-scale cyber programs ensures that GitHub’s security operations remain sustainable and effective in addressing evolving cyber threats.
Wales holds an M.A. in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University and a dual B.A. in History and Anthropology from Brandeis University. She has also completed executive leadership and senior acquisition management programs at the Harvard Kennedy School and Homeland Security Acquisitions Institute, along with certifications in program management, information security, contracting, and Lean Six Sigma.