Benjamin Raji
Silver Spring,MD
Summary
Accomplished cybersecurity operations and program management leader with a proven track record at CISA and the FBI, delivering measurable results in dynamic, high-stakes environments. Known for expertise in cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement, effectively aligning technical teams with executive leadership. Skilled in fostering strategic partnerships and developing scalable systems that enhance mission outcomes. Holds an active TS/SCI clearance.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Operations Coordinator/Action Officer
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Arlington, VA
07.2024 - Current
- Coordinated cross-functional CISA operations to mitigate significant cyber risks and counter nation-state-level threats, driving timely risk mitigation and information sharing across the U.S
- Briefed over 800 participants, including domestic and international partners, during daily internal operational meetings
- Averted potential security incidents across the federal civilian executive branch amid a global, advanced exploitation campaign by mitigating critical zero-day vulnerabilities days before public disclosure.
- Streamlined rapid cyber coordination processes to bolster federal defense and optimize leadership insight
Senior Agency Portfolio Manager
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Arlington, VA
11.2022 - 07.2024
- Facilitated emergency protocols to shield federal civilian executive branch agencies from advanced persistent threats; leveraged established department and agency relationships to validate critical cybersecurity guidance.
- Served as interim Section Chief, leading multiple teams while maintaining core responsibilities, managing mission-critical projects, and planning multi-year strategic initiatives for organizational alignment.
- Coordinated a multi-agency emergency leadership meeting with the U.S. Federal CISO to address a critical zero-day vulnerability within federal infrastructure. Managed a quick-turn data call across 30 federal agencies to uncover unknown compromises and vulnerabilities and provided actionable insights to senior leaders, earning praise from the Executive Office of the President (EOP).
- Revamped a database of over 3,000 federal cybersecurity contacts, enabling streamlined communication with more than 100 federal agencies during normal and heightened operations.
Management and Program Analyst
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Washington, DC
12.2017 - 11.2022
- Drafted the FBI's Enterprise Cybersecurity Strategy, aligning enterprise cybersecurity objectives with organizational goals
- Redesigned and matured the FBI's enterprise phishing awareness program, reducing enterprise-wide risks through monthly campaigns and live training sessions for over 50,000 users.
- Coordinated the FBI's response to high-profile exploited vulnerabilities (e.g., SolarWinds, Log4j), developing data collection frameworks and leading cybersecurity reporting efforts to the FBI Director, DOJ, and CISA.
- Boosted critical vulnerability response efficiency, developing IT Business Intelligence initiatives for the OCIO.
- Coordinated annual FBI Cybersecurity Tabletop Exercise, enhancing cross-agency collaboration.
- Created and managed a cybersecurity communications team, delivering enterprise-wide campaigns and training to enhance awareness and engagement.
- Established quarterly Incident Response and Cybersecurity Leadership Councils, enabling senior executives to tackle enterprise cybersecurity challenges.
- Received multiple awards for innovative approaches to vulnerability tracking and cybersecurity communications.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH05.2017
Skills
- Multidisciplinary leadership and strategic thinking
- Operational leadership and execution
- Process design, innovation, and scalability
- Leadership and team development
- Executive and operational communication
- Data-driven insights and reporting
- Collaborative stakeholder engagement
- Cross-functional collaboration and crisis management
Certification
Project Management Professional (PMP) - Issued Nov 2023
Accomplishments
- Team of the Quarter, 2023: For exceptional response to a broad Advanced Persistent Threat campaign within the federal government.
- On-the-Spot Award, 2023: For significant operational process improvements that equipped CISA and EOP/OMB leadership with granular insights into critical vulnerabilities within the federal infrastructure.
- Citation for Special Achievement, 2020: Increased Leave Bank hours for FBI employees by 317%.
Volunteer Experience
Union Church, Flowers Campus, Springdale, MD (Jan 2022 - Mar 2024):
- Founding Production Director: Directed and scaled audio, video, and lighting production operations for a mobile church campus, building a self-sustaining team of 30+ volunteers that delivered seamless worship experiences for over 1,000 attendees weekly.
Jesus House Baltimore, Emerge (Young Adult Ministry), Baltimore, MD (May 2018 - Sep 2019)
- Small Groups Director: Increased small group participation by 500%.
- Founding Digital & Analytics Director: Designed and launched an integrated mobile app and website platform, enhancing engagement and accessibility for weekly worship experiences, events, and resources.
- Founding Creative Director: Recruited, developed, and coordinated creative teams to oversee multimedia, communications, stage design, and performing arts for weekly worship experiences and events. Recognized with an award for exceeding expectations as Founding Creative Director at the inaugural Emerge volunteer awards.
Technical Proficiency, Training, & Clearance
- Excel, SharePoint, Jira, Confluence, Power BI
- SANS Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership (GSTRT Candidate)
- TS/SCI (Active since 2017)
Affiliations
Recording artist and music producer; poet and writer; former seminary student: basketball athlete; volunteer lighting operator; video gamer; hopeful Knicks fan
References
References available upon request.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Operations Coordinator/Action Officer
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
07.2024 - Current
Senior Agency Portfolio Manager
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
11.2022 - 07.2024
Management and Program Analyst
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
12.2017 - 11.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Kenyon College
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