CyberSmart 2026 – The Two Edges of AI’s Sword

Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & Executive Programs, Americas Federal Sector

Richard Breakiron is Commvault’s Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives and Executive programs, Americas Federal Sector. He works with key industry associations and Federal government leaders focusing on strategic solutions for delivering actionable insight within a globally integrated data management capability. His deep experience in senior Cybersecurity positions in the DoD allow him to holistically present Commvault’s Cyber Readiness strategy incorporating AI and machine learning. Richard strong speaking skills allows him to weave in firsthand use cases of government security compliance and personnel challenges and their continual struggle to modernize their legacy technology.

Richard’s significant accomplishments within the DoD result from his lifetime mentor’s description of having a catalytic effect in leading change. His portfolio of career IT and Leadership experience includes the developing, deploying, and operating significant network and IT program efforts across the Army and the DoD ranging from the Alternate National Military Command Center, Associate Professor at the USMA, to the Pentagon, where he managed the IT synchronization of the largest BRAC in US history over $3 billion IT spend of the total $15 billion program; building the partnership with Army, AF, DoD CIO, and DISA that led to the Joint Regional Security Stack (JRSS) and Multi-Protocol Label Switch (MPLS). This last program totally set the stage for modernizing the DoD’s approach to an Enterprise approach to network security and putting in the foundation for Software Defined Networks and Zero Trust architecture.

Mr. Breakiron is known for his charismatic approach to forging strong partnerships, coalitions and building trust across the DoD and Federal and State government and maintains that characteristic now with industry. Mr. Breakiron’s broad experience positioned him spearhead the successful attainment of FedRAMP High Authorized for Commvault Cloud for Government SaaS solution.

Before assuming his senior executive position at Commvault, Mr. Breakiron was VP, Public Sector, root9B, an advanced Cyber security company delivering unique and focused Cyber solutions to the DoD, US Cyber Command and the intelligence agencies. Prior to that Richard served as the Senior Director, Cyber Solutions for ViON Corporation, prior to being promoted to General Manager and board member during the standup of Ascolta, LLC, a data analytics subsidiary of ViON. While in federal government he served as the JRSS Program Manager at DISA, the Chief Integration Officer and Director Strategic Initiatives Group, managing the integration of Army-wide IT strategy and network modernization efforts, to include strategic messaging to the Army and Congress on IT reform and modernization on behalf of the CIO/G6 in the Pentagon.