ABSTRACT
The digitalization of our modern societies, particularly NATO nations, is providing unparalleled advantages of convenience, speed, safety, and efficiency. The same technologies are improving our national security, but also create vulnerabilities as we have seen in nation-wide cyber attacks on Estonia and Ukraine as a tool of warfare. All NATO nations are vulnerable to various degrees. Protecting the software and systems that facilitate this revolution is becoming increasingly difficult due to the complexity of modern software and the interoperability of our national security systems, both within NATO nations and among NATO nations. Hence the very same technologies that keep us safe are becoming increasingly vulnerable from state and criminal “hackers” employing a variety of tools and techniques. Keeping ahead of state and criminal hackers and preventing a cyber “Pearl Harbor” is today’s challenge; irradicating cyber in-security is essential for the future of our digital societies.
BIOGRAPHY
Kevin J. Scheid has served the federal government for over 30 years in a number of progressively senior positions at the White House, Intelligence Community, and the Department of Defense. In November, 2016, Mr. Scheid was selected by the 28 nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to serve as General Manager, NATO Communications and Information Agency, effective 1 July 2017.
For the past two years, Scheid was on assignment from DOD to the MITRE Corporation as the special advisor to the CEO and President. He led a corporate-wide project to expand MITRE’s international engagements with US allies and partner nations. MITRE is a not-for-profit corporation that provides strategic and technical support to the US Department of Defense and other agencies throughout the Federal government.
From 2009 to 2013, Scheid was seconded to NATO as the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency. He simultaneously held the positions of DGM, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Acquisitions. Based in The Hague, Mr. Scheid oversaw C4ISR capability development programs and major acquisitions for NATO Commands, Headquarters, Agencies and its 28 member nations.
Prior to NATO, Scheid served as the Deputy Comptroller for the Department of Defense (2006 to 2009). He supported the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and the Deputy Secretary with advice and analysis on funding for defense activities including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, major defense acquisitions, intelligence programs, and effectiveness of the budget processes.
Prior to joining the Department of Defense (1996 to 2006), Mr Scheid served in the Office of the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He performed oversight and made recommendations to the DCI on a variety of intelligence agencies including the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. During this period (2003-2005), Scheid was the senior advisor to the independent US “9-11 Commission,” leading a team of investigators in a review of the performance of United States Intelligence in the years prior to the terrorist attacks, and worked with the Commission on reforms of United States Intelligence.
Scheid began his career at the White House Office of Management and Budget as a budget examiner overseeing the programs of the Department of Commerce (1985 to 1988) and the Central Intelligence Agency (1988 to 1996).
Scheid earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and European Studies (1982); and a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs (1985); both from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a mountaineering enthusiast having climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mt. Elbrus in Russia and made a first attempt to summit Denali in Alaska, USA (May 2016). He was born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.
