The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has appointed Karen Evans as its new Executive Assistant Director (EAD) for Cybersecurity, positioning her as a key leader in strengthening the nation’s cyber defenses. With an extensive background in government IT modernization, cybersecurity strategy, and critical infrastructure protection, Evans brings decades of experience in federal cyber policy and operations to her new role.
Evans most recently served as a senior advisor within CISA’s cybersecurity division. Before joining CISA, she was Managing Director at the Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI), a nonprofit dedicated to improving cybersecurity resilience among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
She also co-founded SafeGov, an advisory firm that worked with U.S. government agencies on secure cloud computing strategies, helping federal organizations navigate cloud adoption and cybersecurity challenges.
Her federal service includes senior leadership positions at both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Energy (DOE). Evans served as DHS Chief Information Officer (CIO) from June 2020 to January 2021, overseeing IT modernization efforts, cybersecurity strategy, and technology investments across DHS components. Prior to that, she was DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response from 2018 to 2020, where she played a pivotal role in securing critical energy infrastructure and mitigating cyber threats to the nation’s power grid.
Evans holds a PhD in Business Administration, a Master of Arts in Public History, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from West Virginia University. She is also an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.
The leadership transition at CISA is occurring amid broader changes in the federal cybersecurity landscape, with key positions still awaiting confirmation. A CISA Director has yet to be named, though former DOE cybersecurity officials Sean Plankey and Nick Andersen are considered top contenders for the role, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has continued to appoint key figures to national cybersecurity leadership roles. Among the latest moves, former RNC official Sean Cairncross has been nominated for the National Cyber Director position, and Alexei Bulazel has been appointed Senior Director for Cyber at the National Security Council.
