James_Sept-Oct_2025_web - Flipbook - Page 69
erving our country
is a special calling
and today I am
living that belief
as the Director of
Public Affairs for
the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). As
the agency’s lead spokesperson,
I have the privilege of telling our
story of how we protect our homeland in cyberspace. That means
safeguarding our nation’s critical
infrastructure— the essential systems so vital that their disruption
would have a major impact on our
security, economy, and safety. This
includes our power grid, transportation systems, our water systems,
the financial sector, telecommunications networks and even our
national treasures from monuments
and historic sites to safeguarding
the technology that powers major
events like FIFA World Cup.
As U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi
Noem recently said, “cybersecurity
is national security.” When we protect these systems, we’re defending America’s strength, prosperity
and way of life.
This role is more than a job, it’s
a front-row seat to history in the
making. Recommended by former
U.S. Sen. David Perdue who is now
our ambassador to China, I was
appointed by President Donald
J. Trump and embarked on my
mission in early June after being
sworn in to office by Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar.
I am incredibly proud to serve in
this capacity, as President Trump’s
commitment to national security
and infrastructure resilience is unwavering, and under the leadership
of Secretary Noem, that vision is
being executed with strength, clarity, and purpose. She brings a bold,
principled approach to homeland
security. And I am grateful for her
trust and confidence in my ability
in the direction of help lead CISA’s
public affairs efforts during this
critical time.
What makes this journey even
more meaningful is that I carry
my love for Georgia with me every
step of the way. While I am not a
Georgia native, it’s the place I’ve
chosen to call home, and it’s where
my heart truly lives. I grew up in
western Massachusetts and later
attended Babson College in Wellesley, where I developed my passions
for leadership, entrepreneurism,
and technology.
I officially became a Georgia
Peach in 1994 after a legendary
Snowmageddon left me stranded
in my car for six hours in Boston.
It was a wild welcome, but one
that bonded me to the state in a
way only fellow Georgians will
truly appreciate. It was my loving
and adoring husband Robert of 25
years, a proud Atlanta native, who
introduced me to the spirit of the
city and the strength of its people.
Together, Robert and I have built
a life grounded in service, community, and purpose. We share that
life with our three wonderful dogs,
who live full-time in Georgia but
have made a few memorable visits
to Washington, D.C., to keep me
company and remind me of the
love and home waiting for me just a
quick flight away.
One of the most powerful moments I’ve experienced in this role
happened right in our home state.
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta during the FIFA Club
World Cup. There, I saw firsthand
the incredible work CISA and the
Department of Homeland Security were doing to secure a global
event on American soil. Watching
our teams coordinate with local
law enforcement, stadium officials,
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