Former CISA Director Jen Easterly will become CEO of RSA Conference LLC and its flagship annual cybersecurity conference, RSAC announced today.
Easterly will guide RSAC’s ambitious growth plans amid the growing convergence of AI and cybersecurity, the organization said. RSAC Conference became independent from security vendor RSA in 2022 and rebranded as RSAC last year.
Easterly left CISA, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, amid the transition to the second Trump Administration a year ago. Since Easterly’s departure, the agency has faced staff cuts and departures, a polygraph controversy, and her would-be successor, Sean Plankey, has yet to be confirmed and was renominated for the role earlier this week.
Jen Easterly Takes Over RSAC as AI and Security Converge
In a press release today, RSAC said Easterly takes over at an important moment, “as AI and cybersecurity rapidly converge to reshape every aspect of the global technology ecosystem.”
As CEO, Easterly will provide direction for RSAC’s portfolio, which includes its annual cybersecurity conference in San Francisco; international programming; the Innovation Sandbox contest that recognizes emerging cybersecurity startups; a growing professional membership program; education initiatives; and programs aimed at improving AI security, secure software development, and global collaboration.
“RSAC is not just a conference—it’s the home of the global cybersecurity community,” Easterly said in a statement. “We’re at a pivotal moment where cybersecurity and AI have become inseparable, and the world needs a trusted platform to bring together the people, ideas, and technologies that will shape the next decade. I’m honored to lead RSAC into its next chapter—expanding our international reach, strengthening our innovation ecosystem, and working with partners around the world to help build a future where technology is truly secure by design.”
RSAC Expands Beyond Annual Conference
Easterly expanded on her comments in a LinkedIn post, writing that “For 35 years, RSAC has been the place where defenders, practitioners, innovators, researchers, policymakers, founders, and engineers come together to understand what’s happening today…and to build what comes next.”
She referenced RSAC’s rebranding and expanded mission, noting that “as of last year, our borders are not confined to the flagship event in San Francisco. We are building RSAC to become a year-round hub for continuous learning and collaboration for the global cybersecurity community, revolving around our world-class content and unique insights.”
The West Point graduate and military veteran brings more than thirty years of experience to her new role, which also includes senior positions at the National Security Agency (NSA)—where she helped build the U.S. Cyber Command—and as a senior technology leader at Morgan Stanley. “Easterly is one of the most influential global voices on secure-by-design technology, AI as a force for reducing cyber risk, and the transformation of digital infrastructure through resilience and innovation,” RSAC said.
Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman of RSAC and longtime Program Committee Chairman of the RSAC Conference, stated that “there has never been a more important time for the cybersecurity and AI communities to come together. I am thrilled to partner with Jen, the team at RSAC, and our community, as we bring the world together for our 35th annual flagship event in March. Over the years some of the most important conversations in cybersecurity have happened at RSAC and I believe our 2026 conference will be the most impactful event we’ve ever had.”
RSAC 2026 Conference will take place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco March 23-26 and is expected to attract more than 40,000 attendees from around the world.
