Speaker - Dr Ryan Donaghy

Dr Ryan Donaghy

Chief Operating Officer
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
United States of America

Biography

Dr. Ryan Donaghy is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA).

As CISA’s first COO, Dr. Donaghy serves as the principal advisor to CISA’s Senior Leadership on agency operations, business functions, financial and acquisition management, policy development, and interagency efforts that support CISA’s strategic goals. She is also responsible for ensuring these efforts reflect the Director's priorities and are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In this role, she maintains coordination and continuity across enterprise programs by working closely with DHS headquarters and senior leaders throughout the department to develop plans for programs, services, and products.

Since joining CISA in 2016, Dr. Donaghy has served in multiple leadership roles, supporting CISA’s critical infrastructure, partnership, and cybersecurity missions. She became a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2023, serving as the inaugural Associate Director for Planning and Innovation. As a member of CISA’s leadership team, she represents the agency on a range of topics, to include cyber and physical security, cyber-physical resilience, emerging technology, and risk management.

Prior to joining CISA, Dr. Donaghy worked as college professor for more than a decade. Ryan is a two-time Fulbright Scholar and earned her bachelor’s degree from Muskingum University. She holds master’s degrees from Arizona State University and Harvard University, and received her doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles. In 2024, she was recognized as one of Homeland Security Today’s “Homeland’s 50 Trailblazers.