Biography

SUMMARY

Adam Mayer is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over two decades of experience in IT and cybersecurity, including more than twelve years in managerial and leadership roles. As a Virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO), he has successfully guided organizations in developing robust cybersecurity strategies that align security frameworks with business objectives. His expertise spans penetration testing, risk assessments, compliance program management, and incident response, ensuring resilience against evolving cyber threats. Adam’s leadership extends to managing high-performing cybersecurity teams, advising executive leadership, and delivering strategic guidance on risk mitigation. Holding CISSP and OSCP certifications, along with a Master of Science in IT and Software Engineering, he blends deep technical acumen with business-oriented security solutions. His ability to bridge technical security measures with executive-level decision-making has positioned him as a trusted cybersecurity leader across both public and private sectors.

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS

University of Maryland University College
M.S., Information Technology & Software Engineering, 2013

Juniata College
B.S., Computer Science & Information Technology, 2005

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

EXPERIENCE

Leadership & Strategic Cybersecurity Expertise:

• Cyber Security Director / vCISO (FirusCyber, 2018 – Present) Acts as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, developing and implementing comprehensive cybersecurity policies, conducting risk assessments, and aligning security with business objectives. Serves as a third-party security validator for contracts, ensuring the integrity and resilience of systems through rigorous evaluations.

• Information Security Program Manager (Surefox Consulting, LLC, 2019 – Present) – Leads a remote team responsible for digital threat monitoring and response, ensuring proactive identification of online threats. Oversees penetration testing, security software selection, and contract negotiations to optimize cybersecurity posture.

• Cyber Security Manager (DarkMatter, LLC, 2016 – 2018) – Managed a team of 20 cybersecurity analysts, overseeing incident response, threat monitoring, and organizational security training. Conducted penetration tests on critical infrastructure, including IT SCADA systems for power generation companies.

• Manager of Software Security Evaluation Team (Cyberpoint International, LLC, 2011 – 2015) – Led a test team in designing and managing an automated test lab for cybersecurity tool integration and regression testing. Directed evaluations of CNO (Computer Network Operations) software products and assessed their effectiveness against commercial security solutions.

• Deputy Division Chief / Global Network Exploitation Analyst (NSA, 2005 – 2011) – Led a team of 25 networking professionals across three locations, monitoring technical expertise, mentoring staff, and ensuring alignment with mission objectives. Developed automation scripts for intelligence collection, conducted network analysis, and provided strategic cybersecurity recommendations.

Technical & Security Operations:

• Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Assessments – Conducted extensive security assessments using industry-standard tools like Metasploit, Nmap, Nessus, and Burp Suite.

• Incident Response & Threat Intelligence – Investigated and mitigated malware infections, ransomware attacks, and data breaches for multiple organizations.

• Security Compliance & Risk Management – Implemented cybersecurity frameworks (NIST, ISO) to ensure compliance and safeguard critical assets.