Kurt John was a nonresident senior fellow at the Cyber Statecraft Initiative under the Atlantic Council’s the Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab). and chief cybersecurity officer at Siemens USA. At Siemens USA, John is responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and governance of cybersecurity strategy in the United States—the company’s largest market. He also oversees the coordination of cybersecurity initiatives for the enterprise’s products, solutions, services, and infrastructure utilized to deliver value to Siemens USA’s customers. John also serves as a member of the Siemens Cybersecurity Board to address global challenges and evaluate actions to secure new cybersecurity opportunities.

Named as one of the most influential people in security in 2020 by Security Magazine, John is a recognized and respected expert in cybersecurity. He has shared his expertise with various organizations across multiple industries. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and was recently appointed to the Virginia Governor’s Innovation Partnership Authority. 

Throughout his career, he is most proud of driving and implementing a collaborative culture that prioritizes proximity to customers and responsiveness to needs. He credits his success in the industry to his keen interest in creating strong cross-functional teamwork across business units. He emphasizes having an eye to the future, strategizing how to navigate technological and ethical challenges. John is a proponent of engaging sections of the workforce that are uniquely positioned to help address the cybersecurity skills gap.