U.S. Senate Confirms NSI Cyber & Tech Security Council Member Kirsten Davies
as Chief Information Officer of the Department of War
December 19, 2025
Communications and Media Team
National Security Institute
Arlington, VA – National Security Institute Cyber & Tech Center’s (CTC) Cyber & Tech Security Council member, Kirsten Davies, has been confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Department of War.
As CIO, Davies will oversee one of the largest and most complex information technology enterprises in the world, with responsibility for Department-wide cybersecurity strategy, enterprise IT modernization, data governance, and the integration of emerging technologies across the military services and defense agencies.
Davies brings extensive experience at the intersection of cybersecurity, enterprise technology, and national security. Through her service as the former Chief Information Security Office (CISO) for Unilever; former CISO at Estée Lauder Companies, MD; former CSO of Barclays Africa Group; and former Deputy Global CISO at Hewlett Packard Enterpriwes and Simens, and as a serving member of the CTC’s Cyber & Tech Security Council, she has contributed to NSI’s mission of finding real-world solutions to the biggest challenges facing our nation by supporting discussions on cyber risk, technology governance, and the strategic challenges facing U.S. national security institutions in an increasingly contested digital environment.
“Ms. Davies is a proven leader with deep experience navigating complex cyber and technology challenges at the highest levels,” said Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute. “At a critical moment for U.S. national security, we are confident that her leadership and expertise will enable her to excel in this role and help strengthen the Department of War’s technological and cyber foundations.”
Ms. Davies’ confirmation comes at a pivotal moment for the Department of War as it works to modernize legacy systems, strengthen cyber resilience, and maintain a technological edge against sophisticated adversaries.
About the National Security Institute:
The National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development. NSI incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing our intelligence, national security, technology, innovation, and cybersecurity communities.
About the NSI Cyber & Tech Center:
The NSI Cyber and Technology Center (CTC) advances American technology leadership and engages policymakers on issues at the intersection of technology and national security. Its mission is to promote American technology leadership through expert dialogue, policymaker engagement, and cutting-edge research. NSI CTC is part of the National Security Institute (NSI), which serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development.
About the Antonin Scalia Law School:
The Antonin Scalia Law School was founded in 1972 as the International School of Law in Washington, DC. In 1979 it merged with George Mason Law School and was named after the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. The school is located in Arlington, VA, and is ranked #31 (tied) nationally by US News and #3 (tied) among all law schools in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The school offers JD, LLM, and JM degrees and is home to five nationally acclaimed centers, including the Law & Economics Center, the National Security Institute and the NSI Cyber & Tech Center, and the first-in-the-nation Cyber, Intelligence, and National Security LLM program.
About George Mason University:
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., George Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. George Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.