Host - Dave Summitt

Dave’s experience includes nearly forty years in information technology for both the federal and private sectors.  Initially he focused predominantly in information systems, network and engineering operations. The last fifteen years has been developing security teams and implementing strong cyber security management programs. He has held security roles within national healthcare organizations and the Department of Defense (DoD). Within the DoD, his positions included the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Technical Representative for a major missile defense program, security data custodian, Information Systems Security Officer, Data and Configuration Manager and Change Control Chairman. After leaving a 21-year federal career with the DoD he ventured into consulting eventually moving into senior leadership roles as a Chief Information Security Officer and now back into consulting and advising.

Dave earned his undergraduate degree in Information Systems Management from the University of South Florida and his master’s degree in Information Assurance with a Digital Forensics concentration from Norwich University. He maintains the Computer Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO), HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP) and is currently a member of the Florida FBI/InfraGard group and the Florida Electronic Crimes Task Force.

Dave is a Fellow with the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT), America’s Cybersecurity Think Tank whose mission is to cultivate a cybersecurity renaissance that will improve the resiliency of our Nation’s 16 critical infrastructure sectors. Dave also served as an Advisory Board member for the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, and for the cybersecurity education program for Marchman Technical College, and the Pasco-Hernando Community College. In addition,  Dave is also a former member of the Forbes Technology Council.

During his most recent role as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Dave was recognized as one of the “Hospital and Health System CISOs to Know” by Becker’s Hospital Review each year from 2018 through 2020.   Other awards include 2017 ISE Southeast Executive of the Year Finalist, 2017 ISE Southeast People’s Choice Award, a 2019 ISE Southeast Executive of the Year Nominee and the 2019 EC-Council’s International CISO of the Year. His work at creating a Threat Analysis Center earned 2021 accolades from CSOnline as one of their annual CSO50 awards for innovative cyber projects.

Dave has also had the honor of providing testimony before the U.S. Congress concerning security implications to healthcare operations due to phone spoofing and robocalls. He was later appointed by the FCC as Chairperson for the 2020 Hospital Robocall Protection Group, a working group directed by Congress to assist in making recommendations for combating robocalls and phone spams.

Dave speaks at various cyber security events throughout the country on topics ranging from building security teams, raising cyber awareness, and providing advisory work in risk management to performing cyber assessments. Presently, he is the founder or Alpha Omega Advisors and co-owner of Cyber Risk Advisors, both located in Florida.