Ryan Donaghy returns to CISA as first chief operating officer

Ryan Donaghy returned to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as its first chief operating officer after leaving the agency last fall. She previously held acting director roles in two CISA divisions and later moved to the Transportation Security Administration in October. In the COO role, she serves as principal advisor to senior leadership on agency operations, business functions, financial and acquisition management, policy development, and interagency efforts aligned with strategic goals. The role includes ensuring efforts reflect the director’s priorities and comply with applicable laws and regulations, while strengthening coordination across enterprise programs and the Department of Homeland Security. Donaghy has led multiple CISA assignments, including metrics and analysis, data science, and chemical security policy and rulemaking. CISA units have faced restructuring amid staffing reductions, program reviews, and broader shakeups tied to federal cybersecurity and infrastructure security scaling efforts, including a proposed net budget reduction for fiscal year 2027.

"As COO, Ryan will serve as the principal advisor to CISA's Senior Leadership on agency operations, business functions, financial and acquisition management, policy development, and interagency efforts supporting our strategic goals, the agency said in a LinkedIn post. She will help ensure these efforts reflect the Director's priorities and comply with applicable laws and regulations, while strengthening coordination across enterprise programs and DHS."

"Donaghy has held several leadership assignments in the cyberdefense agency, including chief of metrics and analysis within the Office of Infrastructure Protection, senior data scientist in the National Risk Management Center and deputy chief for chemical security policy, rulemaking and engagement."

"Several of CISA's units have been targeted for restructuring amid sweeping Trump-era cuts and reorganization efforts at the agency. CISA has faced staffing reductions, program reviews and broader shakeups as the administration moves to scale back parts of the federal cybersecurity and infrastructure security apparatus."

"The White House is seeking to reduce the agency's budget by a net amount of $360 million for the 2027 fiscal year."

Read at Nextgov.com