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Marci McCarthy
Director of External Engagements
office of the Secretary of War, Chief Information Officer
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Mrs. Marci McCarthy was appointed by the President as the Director of External Engagements for the Department of War CIO on April 6, 2026. In this role she is responsible for shaping CIO strategic communications and leading engagement with industry, international allies, and other key partners — advancing the technology and cyber defense innovation ecosystem in alignment with the DoW CIO’s vision and the Arsenal of Freedom.
Prior to joining the DoW CIO, Mrs. McCarthy served as the Director of Public Affairs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Appointed by President Trump, she served as the agency’s national spokesperson and oversaw CISA’s media engagement and external communications efforts to support the protection of the nation’s critical infrastructure. Drawing on her extensive background in cybersecurity, executive engagement, political leadership, national media, and public-private partnerships, she played a key role in translating complex cyber and infrastructure risks into clear, actionable messaging for national audiences.
Before entering government service, Mrs. McCarthy was the Principal of M2 Cyber Advisory. She was also the CEO and President of T.E.N., where she pioneered innovative executive engagement and thought leadership initiatives within the cybersecurity sector. In this role, she spearheaded the Information Security Executive® (ISE®) Program Series, recognized as North America’s premier recognition and networking initiative for security professionals.
With extensive experience across the private sector, Mrs. McCarthy has served on the Board of Directors of Spirion, Cyversity, and TechBridge helping these organizations to stay at the leading edge of IT and Cyber community. During her career she has also Chaired the National Technology Security Coalition’s (NTSC) Advisory Council and was on the Board of Advisors for Avnos.
Mrs. McCarthy is a recognized political leader, serving for three terms as the Chair of the DeKalb Republican Party. McCarthy also served on numerous task forces and boards with the Georgia Republican Party (GAGOP), as well as a National Delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2020 and 2024.
McCarthy actively supports education and workforce development initiatives. She serves on Culverhouse Cyber Executive Board of Advisors at the University of Alabama, the Advisory Board for the Evidence Based Cybersecurity Research (EBCS) Group at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and is a past member of the Atlanta Girls’ School Board of Trustees. She founded the Marci McCarthy Cybersecurity Certification Scholarship Program, which supports women and minority students entering the cybersecurity field.
McCarthy’s professional and political leadership have earned her numerous accolades, including a Congressional Citation declaring March 13th as “Marci McCarthy Day” in 2012 and recognition as one of the IFSEC as a Global Security and Fire Influencer s and IT Security Panet as one of their Top Women Entrepreneurs in Cybersecurity. In 2022, the Georgia State Senate issued a proclamation honoring her leadership in advancing cybersecurity efforts across the state.
Mrs. McCarthy is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Babson College where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing.
As of May 6, 2026