As practice leader, Cruz helps clients assess, design and build effective security programs focusing on threat intelligence, defensive posture, proactive cyber management, security validation, incident response and incident preparedness.
Cruz, based in the Sacramento area, held numerous leadership and executive roles in the public and private sectors before joining Mandiant. Before taking her current position, she was director of Advisory Services for KPMG U.S.
Cruz’s previous positions in California state government include leadership and executive roles with the Department of General Services (IT acquisitions), the Victim Compensation Board (chief information officer and chief deputy executive officer), and the California Department of Technology’s Office of Information Security (senior adviser to the state chief information security officer).
In the private sector, in addition to her role with KPMG, Cruz’s previous roles include CIO, vice president and senior VP with companies including VeriFone, Aspect Communications, Wine.com and Openwave Systems.
“We are thrilled to have Kathy join the Google and Mandiant team,” Jon Ford, head of Mandiant State, Local and Education Consulting Services, told Industry Insider — California. “Kathy has an outstanding track record in both Silicon Valley as a CIO as well as working in California state government for 10 years. She is a transformational cybersecurity leader helping our clients become more resilient to attacks.”
Cruz also participates in industry conferences, most recently as a panelist at the Los Angeles Digital Government Summit, presented last month by Government Technology, sister publication to Industry Insider — California.*
In addition, she is the recipient of the Silicon Valley YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) Award; is a past board member of the Gentle Barn Foundation, headquartered in Santa Clarita; was a past board member of the Career Action Center in San Jose; and a former member of Golden Gate University School of Technology and Industry Executive Advisory Board. She previously served as an ensign in the California State Guard, Cyber Operations Detachment.
*Government Technology and Industry Insider — California are part of e.Republic.
