Former CISA Director Jen Easterly has been named CEO of RSA Conference LLC, taking the helm of the organization and its flagship annual cybersecurity event, RSAC, the group announced today.
RSAC said Easterly will lead the conference’s aggressive global expansion strategy, particularly as the worlds of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence continue to rapidly converge. The RSAC Conference formally separated from its original parent company, RSA Security, in 2022 and rebranded as RSAC in 2023.
Easterly stepped down from her role at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) about a year ago during the transition to the second Trump administration. Since her departure, CISA has grappled with staffing reductions, employee turnover, a polygraph-testing dispute, and a leadership gap—her intended successor, Sean Plankey, has not yet been confirmed and was renominated earlier this week.
Jen Easterly Takes the Lead as RSAC Enters a New Era of AI–Security Convergence
In today’s announcement, RSAC emphasized that Easterly is assuming leadership at a pivotal point “as AI and cybersecurity rapidly converge to reshape every part of the global technology ecosystem.”
As CEO, Easterly will oversee the full RSAC portfolio, which includes:
- The annual cybersecurity conference in San Francisco
- International events and programs
- The Innovation Sandbox competition spotlighting rising cybersecurity startups
- A growing professional membership platform
- Education and training initiatives
- Efforts focused on AI security, secure-by-design software development, and expanded global cooperation
“RSAC is more than a conference—it’s the heart of the global cybersecurity community,” Easterly said. She noted that cybersecurity and AI are now inseparable and that RSAC must serve as a trusted venue for bringing together experts, innovators, and policymakers who will shape the next decade.
She added, “I’m honored to lead RSAC into its next chapter—expanding our global presence, strengthening our innovation ecosystem, and working with partners worldwide to build a future where technology is truly secure by design.”
RSAC Broadens Its Mission Beyond the Annual Conference
In a LinkedIn post, Easterly elaborated on her vision, citing RSAC’s 35-year history as a gathering place for defenders, technologists, researchers, policymakers, and builders.
She highlighted RSAC’s recent rebranding and expanded mandate, noting that the organization is evolving into a year‑round hub for continuous learning and collaboration, rather than limiting itself to one major annual event in San Francisco. RSAC aims to center its growth around high-quality content, expert insights, and programs that support the global cybersecurity community.
Easterly, a West Point graduate and military veteran, brings more than three decades of experience to the role—including senior leadership posts at the National Security Agency, where she helped stand up U.S. Cyber Command, and as a technology executive at Morgan Stanley. RSAC described her as “one of the most influential global voices on secure-by-design technology, AI‑driven cyber risk reduction, and resilient digital infrastructure.”
Hugh Thompson, RSAC’s Executive Chairman and longtime chair of its Program Committee, said Easterly is stepping in at a critical time. “There has never been a more important moment for the cybersecurity and AI communities to unite,” he said, adding that the upcoming 2026 conference is expected to be the most impactful in the organization’s history.
RSAC 2026: A Global Gathering
The RSAC 2026 Conference is scheduled for March 23–26 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Organizers anticipate more than 40,000 attendees from around the world.
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