Dennis P. Gilbert, Jr. has 35 years of leadership experience in cybersecurity, technology, strategic planning and risk management across both the private and public sectors. He is the Founder and CEO of Vector9 Consultants, LLC, a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) that provides strategic cybersecurity guidance for critical infrastructure entities at greatest risk. To stay a step ahead of cyber threats, Vector9 assists entities with innovative solutions to prioritize and protect key IT and Operational Technology (OT) assets, create and execute sophisticated risk management strategies, and develop cyber talent. He is also serving on multiple boards for a variety of small and large cybersecurity-focused businesses.
Between 2014 and 2022, Dennis was the Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the two largest energy/utility companies in the U.S. (Duke Energy (Fortune #126) and Exelon Corporation (Fortune #92)). Prior to these two CISO roles, he served as the Senior Advisor for Cybersecurity to the Department of Defense’s Chief Information Officer. In 2005, Dennis retired from the USAF, where he held key leadership positions in national-priority programs in cybersecurity, information warfare, satellite communications, and electronic warfare. Dennis received a master’s degree in systems management from the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree