After more than 19 years of dedicated service at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a pivotal role in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Brandon Wales is set to leave the agency. CISA Director Jen Easterly announced the news, emphasizing Wales’ significant contributions to national security.
“Brandon has guided CISA through some of the most serious threats facing our Nation,” Easterly stated. “From Sunburst to the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline to the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Agency and the Department have looked to Brandon time and again for his leadership and deep expertise. With more than 20 years of federal service, including more than 19 at the Department, he was here before we were CISA and expertly helped shape the Agency into what we are today. While we’re going to miss Brandon greatly, we’ve been planning for his departure together and are prepared to execute a seamless transition. Bridget Bean will take over as Executive Director in August, transitioning from her current role as Assistant Director for Integrated Operations. With more than three decades of federal government service, Bridget brings extraordinary leadership and experience to the role, which will involve a dedicated focus on operationalizing a fully unified and cohesive team. We thank Brandon for all he has done for CISA and the Nation and thank Bridget for stepping into this critical role.”
Wales’ tenure at DHS is marked by numerous high-stakes roles and accomplishments. As CISA’s first Executive Director, he has been instrumental in shaping the agency’s operations and long-term strategy. His leadership was crucial during critical incidents, including the SolarWinds Orion Supply Chain Attacks, Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities, and the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack.
In February 2022, Wales was appointed as the lead for the Federal Government’s domestic preparedness and response to the Russian-Ukraine crisis. He established and led an interagency Unified Coordination Group to ensure unity of effort and coordinated closely with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials, as well as private sector representatives.
Wales also served as the Acting Director of CISA from November 2020 through July 2021, where he oversaw efforts to defend civilian networks and manage systemic risks to national critical functions. His tenure saw the agency through multiple cyber threats while completing its reorganization following the passage of the CISA Act of 2018.
Prior to his roles at CISA, Wales held several key positions within DHS, including Director of the DHS Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis (OCIA) and Director of the Homeland Infrastructure Threat and Risk Analysis Center (HITRAC). His deep understanding of the Department’s operations and his strategic acumen have been invaluable assets to DHS.
Wales’ contributions have been recognized with the Presidential Rank Award and he was a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. His career began as a national security aide to United States Senator Jon Kyl and a Senior Associate at a Washington-based foreign policy and national security think-tank.
Bridget Bean will succeed Wales as Executive Director of CISA in August. Bean, currently the Assistant Director for Integrated Operations, brings over three decades of federal government service to the role.
Wales’ departure marks the end of a significant era for CISA, but his legacy of strengthening national cybersecurity infrastructure will endure. As the agency moves forward, it will build on the robust foundation he helped establish.