Identity Governance and Zero Trust – Best Practices for a Multi-Cloud Environment (E198) | Podcast

Today’s modern network has placed identity management in the forefront to manage a plethora of landscapes – on and off prem, public and private, hybrid, and the new kid on the block, alt-clouds.

This week on Feds At The Edge, we explore how the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is leading the charge in modern identity management, once a backwater concept, to center stage, with its ambitious program, Thunderdome.

Chris Pymm, Portfolio Manager, Zero Trust & Division Chief for ID7 at DISA, shares how Thunderdome spans 50 sites and 12,000 users, automating identity controls to outpace threats like lateral movement. We also hear from Quest Software Public Sector cybersecurity expert Chris Roberts, who breaks identity management down to its core: know the user, know the device, know the behavior.

Tune in on your favorite podcasting platform today to hear how DISA is redefining identity for today’s distributed networks—and what your agency can take from their playbook.

To view this webinar: Identity Governance and Zero Trust: Best Practices for a Multi-Cloud Environment.

Featured Speakers:

Chris Pymm

Portfolio Manager, Zero Trust & Division Chief for ID7

Chris Pymm is the Portfolio Manager (PM) for the Zero Trust Program including DISA’s implementation of Zero Trust Network access, Thunderdome. He also serves as the Division Chief (DC) for ID7 in the PEO Cyber Directorate at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) at Fort Meade, MD. DISA is a combat support agency that provides, operates, and assures command and control, information sharing capabilities, and a globally accessible enterprise information infrastructure in direct support to joint warfighters, National level leaders, and other mission and coalition partners across the full spectrum of operations. As the Portfolio Manager for Thunderdome, Chris manages all the budgetary, programmatic and capability choices for this premier portfolio in the DISA PEO Cyber Directorate with Zero Trust impact across the entire Department of Defense. (DOD)

Chris joined the Cyber Directorate as the PM/DC in January of 2023 where he directly manages the Portfolio of Zero Trust enabling technologies including Thunderdome. This includes all personnel, budgetary decisions, capability roadmap decisions and DOD integration of this critical initiative. Zero Trust is the premier service offering for the Department of Defense to protect critical mission systems across the world. His prior experience in leadership includes Executive level support for both the Deputy Director for the Enterprise Integration and Innovation Center (EIIC) and the Deputy Director of Emerging Technology. These positions enabled senior level leadership experience in personnel, finances, programmatic and innovation choices for DISA and frequently the Department of Defense (DOD) at large. Prior assignments include managing multiple Divisions for the Cyber Directorate for DISA. Chris was competitively selected by DISA leadership to attend the Eisenhower School, National Defense University (NDU) completing the program in June of 2018. Prior assignments include opportunities to manage in multiple branches over (6) years for DISA spanning the entire scope of operations. His prior branch management experience includes Cyber Situational Awareness, Service Delivery, Operations and UNIX system Administration.

Before joining DISA in 2010, Chris was the program manager for an Information Technology (IT) support contract that provided IT services for the 25,000 personnel at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. His team was responsible for every facet of that support including desktop, server, application, and Information Security support. This contract exceeded 75 million dollars across the FYDP.

From 1993 to 2003, Chris served in the United States Air Force (USAF) where he was fortunate to support several critical weapon systems including the Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) computer system and cryptographic support for the early warning radar system for Iceland.

Chris has over 30 years of Information Technology management experience in several emerging technologies including Big Data, Analytics, and Identity Management. Chris received his bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Maryland University College in 2004 and his Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from NDU in 2018.

Portfolio Manager, Zero Trust
& Division Chief for ID7, DISA

Chris Roberts

Director, Federal Sales Engineering

Chris Roberts is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience in the industry, having held various engineering and sales roles at market-leading companies such as Microsoft, Dell, and Quest Software. Currently, he serves as the Director of Federal Sales Engineering at Quest Software Public Sector Inc., where he leads a multi-disciplinary team of IT professionals. Their mission is to support governmental agencies with comprehensive software solutions around Zero Trust, securing Active Directory against unwanted intrusions, managing privileged access, and providing advanced recovery and governance tools.

Previously, as a Senior Solution Architect at Quest Software, Chris focused on building and delivering innovative solutions for IT operations in enterprise customer environments. His expertise lies in modernizing legacy workloads and specializing in performance analytics for large-scale applications in both private and public cloud spaces. At Microsoft Corporation, Chris held roles as an Architectural Engineer and Principal Technology Specialist. He was instrumental in driving the introduction of technologies considered the standard in enterprise IT today while driving customer sales and success programs, delivering comprehensive technology roadmaps, and leading competitive opportunity management.

Chris studied Computer Science and Marketing at the University of Maryland and Andrews University. His specialties include public speaking, enterprise software architecture, virtualization, cloud analytics, identity management, and technology management, among others. His track record of success, combined with his extensive knowledge and skills, make him a credible voice in the technology industry focused on solving challenges within the federal government.

Director, Federal Sales Engineering,
Quest Software Public Sector, Inc.

Michael Kennedy

Moderator & Contributing Editor

Michael Kennedy retired in May 2017 from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). He had an extensive career in the Federal Government, with leadership responsibilities leading to numerous national level roles at the Senior Executive Service level since April 2006. He served in many positions within the ODNI beginning in its first year of operation and culminating in his final assignment as the Deputy Program Manager for Technology and Standards for the Program Manager – Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE), within the ODNI.

Mr. Kennedy has left an indelible mark of professional accomplishment and Leadership across a broad spectrum of complex issues, most notably in the development of innovative technology solutions and transformative outcomes for the Intelligence Community (IC) during 42 years of total government service in IT and other leadership roles:

Deputy Program Manager for Technology & Standards, ODNI (Nov 2011 – May 2017)
Director, INTELINK, ODNI (July 2008 – Nov 2011)
Chief, Information and Technology, ODNI (April 2006 – July 2008)
Chief, Networks & Operations – Plans, Policy, & Resource; National Air & Space Intelligence Center (April 2003 – April 2006)
Chief, Intelligence Systems Division, U.S. Southern Command (Feb 2000 – April 2003)
Chief, Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems (DoDIIS), System Integration Management Office, U.S. Central Command (March 1995 – Feb 2000)
Head of Customer Support & Dep COTR, Supercomputer Center; Deputy Chief – Communications and Networks, Naval Oceanographic Office (Oct 1989 – Feb 1995)
Retired U.S. Navy Captain with over 30 years combined active and reserve duty (1975 – 2009)

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