Richard Paradis is a highly accomplished Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, renowned for his strategic leadership, technical expertise, and unwavering commitment to protecting organizational assets. He has successfully led large-scale cybersecurity programs that align security strategies with business objectives, mitigate cyber risks, and respond to evolving threats. Richard’s leadership spans both the public and private sectors, with deep expertise in risk management, infrastructure protection, regulatory compliance, and incident response.

Richard began his career as a cybersecurity analyst, advancing through various technical and leadership roles to ultimately become CISO. He is recognized for driving transformative initiatives that have had a significant business impact. Key accomplishments include reducing vulnerabilities by 95%, consolidating 3,500 applications into 120, saving $175K annually, and increasing stakeholder confidence by 90%. Under his leadership, a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy increased security maturity by 30%, reduced cyber-attacks by 85%, and cut compliance infractions by 95%. Additionally, his creation of a security compliance program educated over 200 employees on ISO/IEC 27001, resulting in a 40% increase in client trust.

As CISO, Richard also implemented a Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) program aligned with NIST frameworks, reducing risk-prone configurations by 30% and improving compliance audit scores by 60%. His leadership in incident response cut response times by 50%, increased resolution effectiveness by 70%, and saved the organization $2 million annually. Richard’s financial stewardship was evident in his management of a $2 million security budget, driving $300K in annual savings while enhancing the overall security framework.

Richard’s technical expertise was first developed during his service in the U.S. Army, where he received advanced training in cybersecurity at the Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE). This experience not only instilled a disciplined approach to problem-solving but also sharpened his technical and strategic skills in information security and risk management. Richard has since led cybersecurity operations across diverse global regions—including the U.S., Asia-Pacific, and EMEA—securing critical infrastructure and sensitive data in high-pressure environments.

In the private sector, Richard founded and scaled two security businesses, generating over $100 million in new revenue and driving significant business growth. He developed a cloud-based risk and compliance solution aligned with NIST 800-171 and CIS benchmarks, reducing cloud-related risks by 65% and cutting manual audit hours by 75%. Richard also led the implementation of a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) program, decreasing data leaks and unauthorized transfers by 60%, and mitigating potential data breach exposure by $1M. He designed a cloud security health management service that integrated identity and access management (IAM) with data encryption, reducing security incidents by 35% and improving uptime by 20%. Additionally, Richard established a vendor security program that boosted vendor compliance by 85%, reduced breach risks by 50%, and expanded partner-related data sharing, driving further business growth.

Beyond his organizational achievements, Richard is a passionate mentor and leader, having cultivated the careers of numerous junior security professionals. Under his leadership, internal promotions within the security team increased by 25%, and retention rates improved by 95%. He also developed a security certifier training program that qualified 45 engineers in threat modeling and compliance, improving team effectiveness by 75% and reducing project delays by 30%.

Richard is also a skilled communicator, adept at translating complex technical concepts into actionable insights for both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders. His ability to present security risks and initiatives to executive teams has been pivotal in securing the resources necessary for critical projects. As a recognized thought leader, Richard is frequently invited to speak at industry conferences and seminars, sharing his insights on cybersecurity trends, risk management, and the evolving cyber threat landscape.

In closing, Richard Paradis combines military precision, technical mastery, and strategic foresight to drive transformative cybersecurity initiatives and safeguard organizations from evolving cyber threats. As a leader, mentor, and innovator, he is dedicated to advancing the cybersecurity field and ensuring the resilience of critical infrastructures.

Character

Richard is unwavering in his commitment to safeguarding organizational assets and upholding the highest ethical standards in cybersecurity.

Knowledge

With deep expertise across multiple cybersecurity disciplines and a commitment to continuous professional development, Richard leverages his extensive experience in both the public and private sectors to provide valuable thought leadership.

Strategic

He approaches cybersecurity challenges with a disciplined, strategic mindset, ensuring security initiatives are aligned with accomplishing business objectives and outcomes.

Communication

Richard excels at translating complex technical concepts into actionable insights for both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring alignment and clarity across the organization.

Educational Highlights

ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

ISACA Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

EC-Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO)

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Cybersecurity, University of Maryland Global Campus