Diane Miller is the director of InfoSec Operations and Identity Management at Northrop Grumman and director, Global Cyber Education and Workforce Development Programs for the company. 

As director, Infosec Operations and Identity Management, Ms. Miller ensures effective operational leadership of the Information Security function for Northrop Grumman’s Global Network and leads all aspects of both assured identity and identity provisioning for the company’s employees and business partners. 

As director, Global Cyber Education and Workforce Development Programs, Ms. Miller is the focal point for the corporation’s global cybersecurity education, outreach and workforce development initiatives. She leads the Northrop Grumman Foundation’s role as presenting sponsor of CyberPatriot, the National Youth Cyber Education program created by the Air Force Association, and manages the company’s role - in partnership with Cyber Security Challenge UK - to run CyberCenturion, the UK’s first team-based cyber competition for 12 – 18-year olds. She also leads the company’s role in CyberArabia, a cyber competition and training session for students across Saudi universities. Ms. Miller is a nationally recognized speaker on the need to educate and develop a diverse highly-talented cyber workforce. She is active in numerous federal and state/local boards, academic institutions and not-for-profit entities and participates in several public-private partnerships to advance global STEM and cyber workforce initiatives. 

Previously, Ms. Miller was the group director of Programs for the Enterprise Infrastructure group of Northrop Grumman’s Information Technology sector. In this role, Ms. Miller increased stakeholder value through excellent program performance. She was responsible for establishing the processes, methods and tools that enable quantitative management and successful execution of our complex programs. She was also responsible for ensuring alignment of program management capabilities with current and future business needs. 

Ms. Miller has more than 30 years of experience in the development of client solutions through the application of information technologies. Ms. Miller is an experienced leader in organizational change and strategic improvement using key initiatives such as Program Management Body of Knowledge (PM BOK), Mission Assurance, Lean Six Sigma, CMMI Level 5, AS9100 and ISO 9001:2000. 

Prior to joining Northrop Grumman in 1985, Ms. Miller was a senior systems analyst at McDonnell Douglas, serving as engineering-manufacturing interface for automated electrical system engineering and production and as lead for numerous process improvement initiatives. 

Ms. Miller is a member of the Advisory Board for the IEEE Software Technology Conference, a member of the Association of Information Technology Professionals, and a founding member of the National Software Council. For 12 years, she served on the Editorial Board of the Northrop Grumman Corporation Technology Review Journal. She is a member of the President’s Strategy Development Council for California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, the National Visiting Committee for the National Science Foundation’s National CyberWatch Center and CyberWatch West, and a member of the Education and Workforce Development Working Group at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor of science degree in information systems from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She is a Certified Computing Professional (CCP), conferred by the Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals, and is a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt. 

Presentation Abstract:

Finding qualified talent to address the cyber workforce shortage is a struggle for many organizations - and the gap continues to widen.  To close the gap, we need to start considering pathways to get students into cyber security – now and in the future.  Diversity and trust are critical to achieving this goal.  First, we need students with a variety of academic backgrounds, various levels of education and training, and an abundance of assorted strengths, assets and talents.  Paths to careers in cyber are similar to cybersecurity: often dynamic with few direct paths and success being a result of collaboration, communication and the ability to think beyond the norm.  Second, all business domains depend on cyber professionals they can trust to protect and maintain their systems and information.  We need to encourage students to behave ethically, responsibly, and safely in cyberspace such that their behaviors afford them the opportunity to pursue a career where they can feel good about making a difference every day to protect our nation’s citizens, economy, and way of life. Diane will address these challenges and offer ideas to assist professionals, academic professionals and students in navigating the dynamics of education and workforce preparation in the cybersecurity field.