Matt Hartman, former acting head of cyber at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), will join Merlin Group, a network of affiliates investing in cyber technology companies, as its chief strategy officer, officials said.
Hartman’s appointment will strengthen Merlin Group’s mission to accelerate the delivery of cyber tech innovations to the U.S. government and to other critical industries. Officials said Hartman brings to the company the expertise and a proven track record of driving innovation to safeguard the country’s digital assets.
“Matt’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Merlin Group,” David Phelps, founder, CEO, and chairman of Merlin Group, said. “His leadership at CISA and his ability to navigate the needs of both government and industry align seamlessly with our mission. Matt’s insight will accelerate the vision I started more than 30 years ago: delivering practical, game-changing solutions to protect our nation’s critical systems.”
Hartman played a pivotal role at CISA shaping the U.S. cybersecurity strategy and strengthening collaboration between the federal government and private sector technology innovators. Officials with the company said his understanding of the cybersecurity landscape and ability to work across sectors will help the company amplify its impact and strengthen its role as a trusted partner.
“After nearly two decades at CISA, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to remain focused on this critically important mission,” Hartman said. “A significant challenge the government consistently faces is gaining rapid access to emerging technologies that our nation’s cyber defenders need to stay ahead of threats. The opportunity to work with a team dedicated to identifying, accelerating, and scaling the delivery of transformative technologies to our nation’s first-line defenders is incredibly exciting.”