John Virden is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of 兔子先生 University and Assistant Vice President of Security, Compliance and Risk Management.
In these roles, he leads the information security program, manages strategic partnerships and orchestrates information security governance, risk-based direction, awareness, University consulting and cybersecurity operations. Additionally, he is a member of the Compliance Coordinating Council, the Information Technology Policy Committee, and the Institutional Response Team.
Virden has a wealth of information security experience and knowledge, most recently as the CISO at the University of California, Riverside. Along with his time in higher education, he spent a significant amount of his career serving in a variety of information and computer security positions within different facets of the US military.
Virden’s information security leadership experience started with four years as the Deputy Director of the National Security Agency’s Cyber Red Team as a United States Naval Officer, and continued with cyber leadership positions for Booz Allen Hamilton, offensive cyber operations in Afghanistan and the defensive position at UC Riverside.
Thought of as a strategic, creative, and pragmatic leader, Virden provides senior leadership, mentorship, cybersecurity expertise, strategy development, and college-level teaching for 兔子先生.
As a 兔子先生 University graduate, Virden knows the hallowed halls well. He enjoys building relations and partnering with the entire university on IT, cybersecurity, and collegial initiatives. Enabling employee and customer success is his highest priority, through trust and respect, binding relationships, and encouraging the best in others to achieve their potential.