AUSTIN JAMES SALAZAR
Fairfax,VA
Summary
Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI), Department of Defense (DOD)
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
BRANCH CYBER OPS MANAGER & DEPUTY PROGRAM MANAGER
Leidos (Army C5ISR)
Adelphi, MD
08.2021 - Current
- Manages and leads all aspects of Security Operations for Army's Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) center's 24/7 Cyber Security Service Provider (CSSP)
- Manages and leads team of ~200 contract personnel across 5 CONUS locations to deliver services for 850+ unique DOD organizations, monitoring >2M identities between on-premise and cloud environments
- Designed and executed holistic security operations assessment and program gap analysis, detailing recommendations for executive leadership to justify additional resourcing; realized increase of ~15M/yr (40% increase of original contract ceiling).
- Led a multi-year effort to transition customer from a legacy government off the shelf (GOTS) intrusion detection system (IDS) to a modernized commercial solution, significantly reducing cost whilst increasing visibility .
- Created complex workflows within Jira to automate customer onboarding (site initiation/alignment) efforts, reducing average time to align customers to cybersecurity services by 50%
- Designed and implemented employee retention strategy, taking annual employee attrition from 15% to below 2% annually
- Obtained highest possible rating (far exceeds expectations) in annual performance reviews for five consecutive years
CYBERSECURITY MANAGER
Agile Defense (DARPA)
Arlington, Virginia
03.2020 - 07.2021
- Managed and led all facets of 24/7 security operations at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), to include monitoring of ARPANET Internet Access Points (IAPs) and Cloud Access Points (CAPs)
- Developed >50 customized cybersecurity dashboards, alerts, and queries for subordinate team members and leaders
- Spearheaded security automation efforts for DARPA, creating custom integrations for tools which did not previously exist
- Evaluated and implemented tools to improve visibility based on shortcomings identified in technical assessments (such as MITRE ATT&CK)
- Implemented cyber-deception tools and created deception campaigns designed to lure Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) and Insider Threats alike
- Collaborated with DARPA performers to propose and deliver unique cybersecurity solutions to novel/non-standard IT systems without compromising program agility
CSP LEAD / DPM
Leidos (DHS)
Washington, DC
10.2019 - 05.2020
- Planned and executed the DHS ESOC cyber transformation effort, establishing > 20 cybersecurity standard operating procedures to modernize all aspects of DHS security operations (vulnerability management, security assessments, attack sensing and warning, endpoint security monitoring, quality assurance, and service delivery.
- Obtained highest-possible performance evaluations for CY20: Far Exceeds Expectations
CSSP LEAD / SOC MANAGER
Leidos (DTRA)
Ft. Belvoir, VA
06.2018 - 09.2019
- Led all aspects of Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) 24x7 Cyber Security Service Provider (CSSP) operations
- Led CSSP Cybersecurity Service Provider (CSSP) Evaluator Scoring Metrics (ESM) audit; achieving and exceeding on 35 of 37 metric-areas and ranking top 5% of all DOD CSSPs
- Created and delivered high-quality threat briefings, for senior leadership (flag officer and SES)
- Designed custom case management solution to track all Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) cybersecurity incidents
- Obtained highest-possible performance evaluation for CY19: Far Exceeds Expectations
DEPUTY IV&V TEAM LEAD
Lockheed Martin & Leidos (DTRA)
Ft. Belvoir, VA
08.2015 - 06.2018
- Led and performed >25 Risk Management Framework (RMF) security assessments for Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (DTRA) Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Team.
- Obtained highest-possible performance evaluations for CY17 and CY18: Far Exceeds Expectations
CYBER SECURITY ENGINEER
Lynxnet (US ARMY)
Ft. Belvoir, VA
04.2015 - 08.2015
- Performed security assessments for US ARMY customers, designing solutions to reduce program risks within in accordance with NIST 800-53 guidelines.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY OFFICER
NetCentrics (USCG)
Alexandria, VA
04.2014 - 04.2015
- Led first United States Coast Guard Risk Management Framework (RMF) migration for USCG's Enterprise SIPRNET Enclave
INFORMATION ASSURANCE ANALYST
NCI (USMC)
Quantico, VA
09.2013 - 04.2014
- Provided direct support to Marine Corps Certifying Authority (CA) and performed >35 risk-assessments, reviewing Assessment and Authorization (A&A) documentation to inform Executive Leadership's authorization determinations.
INFORMATION SECURITY SPECIALIST
ICS (US NAVY)
Fredrick, MD
10.2012 - 04.2013
- Conducted security, vulnerability and risk assessments, advised and created reports on risk and security deficiencies.
INFORMATION ASSURANCE SPECIALIST
General Dynamics & FTI (US NAVY)
Pax River NAS, MD
10.2011 - 10.2012
- Provided DOD Information Assurance Certification and Accreditation Process (DIACAP) support to Naval Air (NAVAIR) System Command Echelon II Certification Authority
CYBER SYSTEMS OPERATIONS
Air National Guard
Various Locations, US
08.2010 - 06.2014
- Used DOD Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) to secure/harden both Windows and Linux servers.
- Maintained stability, integrity and efficient operation of USAFNG information systems
Education
B.S. Cybersecurity And Information Assurance - In Progress
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UTSkills
- Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills
- Principled Security Leadership
- 24/7 Security Operations
- Cyber Security Risk Management
- Security Orchestration and Automation
- Security Architecture & Engineering
- Incident Response and Incident Handling
- Cyber Security Assessments (Blue, Red, and Purple-Teaming)
- Implementing Effective Security Awareness Campaigns
- Service Delivery
- Business Development
- Wide-range of Cyber Security Tools Expertise
Certification
- Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) - (ISC)² ID: 445613
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) - EC-Council ID: ECC51396666455
- ITIL Foundations (ITIL-F) - AXELOS ID: 9980042715694429
Timeline
BRANCH CYBER OPS MANAGER & DEPUTY PROGRAM MANAGER
Leidos (Army C5ISR)
08.2021 - Current
CYBERSECURITY MANAGER
Agile Defense (DARPA)
03.2020 - 07.2021
CSP LEAD / DPM
Leidos (DHS)
10.2019 - 05.2020
CSSP LEAD / SOC MANAGER
Leidos (DTRA)
06.2018 - 09.2019
DEPUTY IV&V TEAM LEAD
Lockheed Martin & Leidos (DTRA)
08.2015 - 06.2018
CYBER SECURITY ENGINEER
Lynxnet (US ARMY)
04.2015 - 08.2015
INFORMATION SYSTEMS SECURITY OFFICER
NetCentrics (USCG)
04.2014 - 04.2015
INFORMATION ASSURANCE ANALYST
NCI (USMC)
09.2013 - 04.2014
INFORMATION SECURITY SPECIALIST
ICS (US NAVY)
10.2012 - 04.2013
INFORMATION ASSURANCE SPECIALIST
General Dynamics & FTI (US NAVY)
10.2011 - 10.2012
CYBER SYSTEMS OPERATIONS
Air National Guard
08.2010 - 06.2014
B.S. Cybersecurity And Information Assurance - In Progress
Western Governors University