Brian Harrell has joined FirstEnergy as Chief Security Officer, taking on responsibility for the company’s cybersecurity and physical security operations across one of the nation’s largest electric utility systems.
Harrell’s role includes oversight of both information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) security, along with broader risk and resilience efforts.
Harrell brings extensive experience in critical infrastructure protection from both government and industry. He was appointed in 2018 as the sixth Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he led national efforts to strengthen the security and resilience of physical and cyber infrastructure. During that time, he also became the first Assistant Director—now Executive Assistant Director—for Infrastructure Security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), helping shape the agency’s early strategy and partnerships.
Before returning to the private sector, Harrell also served in senior roles focused on electric sector security, including leadership positions at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, where he directed critical infrastructure protection programs and led development of the GridEx cybersecurity exercise for utilities.
Most recently, he served as Vice President and Chief Security Officer at Avangrid, overseeing cybersecurity, privacy, physical security, and resilience programs. He also founded The Cutlass Security Group, advising organizations on risk reduction and national security issues.
A former U.S. Marine, Harrell continues to serve on advisory bodies including the Transportation Security Administration’s Security Advisory Committee and has contributed to energy security discussions through the Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee.
Harrell is also a member of the Homeland Security Today Editorial Board and a recipient of HSToday’s 2025 Holiday Hero Award.
(AI was used in part to facilitate this article.)
