Mike Steinmetz joined the cabinet of Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo in April of 2017 as the state’s first Cyber Security Officer; quickly thereafter assuming the duties as the governor’s Senior Advisor for Homeland Security. His diverse professional background includes twenty-five years’ service within the Department of Defense, with his final posting having been embedded inside the US intelligence community. Mike spent over twelve and one half years in the private sector serving in various positions inside the international aerospace defense arena where he worked on numerous cyber and cybersecurity capabilities, solutions, and international cyber business strategy. Most recently Mike spent over two years at National Grid working on the digital security challenges facing critical infrastructure. He served concurrently as both the Global Director for Strategy & Planning and as National Grid’s Global Director Governance & Compliance both located within the Global Digital Risk & Security Division.
Mike’s Military experience includes 25 years in the US Navy. His Navy career included activity as a Navy pilot, two NATO staff officer tours and senior government positions directing global computer network operations. His final duties within the US Military involved the global planning & delivery of special non-kinetic effects. Those duties led to his designation in early 2003 as the Deputy Chief of Staff for a new cyber organization embedded within the National Security Agency reporting to both the Director NSA and the Commander US Strategic Command.
Upon transitioning to the private sector in 2004, Mike joined a global aerospace defense company where he developed and implemented successful cyber business growth strategies for the United States, United Kingdom, and Australian government market arenas; eventually moving to Australia to grow the company footprint there. Upon returning to the US he launched and directed the sales of a US line of Australian secure communications products, and a line of US cybersecurity and biometric/bio-intelligence products. Mike concluded his work in aerospace defense as a Chief Cyber Architect for the Advanced Cyber Technology Center, focusing on advanced cyber capabilities for the US government and its close allies.
Mike is an Oxford University, Oxford Martin School Associate, serving as a member of the school’s Global Cyber Security Capacity Centre: Expert Advisory Panel. Mike also serves on the advisory board of the Boston College, Woods College for Advancing Studies, Masters of Science Degree in Cybersecurity Policy & Governance where he also serves as an adjunct professor. He is an invited speaker to the London Cityforum where he helped establish its first annual cybersecurity conference and chaired its 9th annual conference in 2017. Mike is a committee member of the US Department of Homeland Security Classified National Information Security Program for State, Local, Tribal, and Private Sector Policy Advisory Committee. He supports domestic and international initiatives at the Atlantic Council led by Frank Kramer and supports cybersecurity initiatives for critical infrastructure at the MIT Slone School.
Mike is a decorated combat veteran and a distinguished graduate of the National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
