Michael A. Echols (Mike) is the author of the 2020 book Secure Cyber Life: The Government is Not Coming to Save You. He is also CEO Max Cybersecurity LLC. Mike currently facilitates the APTA Control and Communications Security Working Group producing OT Standards and Recommended Practices for transit and is leading efforts to building a community resilience eco-system.
Mike previously spent 10 years in critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity leadership at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). At DHS, Mike was the Director of the Government Industry Planning and Management Branch and a Director Stakeholder Engagement and Cyber Infrastructure Resilience component. He was Chairman of the Communications Sector GCC (one of 16 critical sectors), and the Network Security Information Exchange consisting of cybersecurity experts from Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Mike served as the U.S. Representative to the NATO Civil Communications Policy Committee (CCPC) in Brussels and led proceedings of a Presidential advisory committee (President’s NSTAC) as the DFO. Mike was also point person for the rollout of Presidential Executive Order 13691 for President Obama’s cyber threat information sharing initiatives and was in leadership at Kennedy Center based IACI.
Mike founded Max Cybersecurity LLC (dba Max Services), located in Washington DC. Max Cybersecurity provides national security and cybersecurity management. In 2018, Max Services provided quality assurance for all power restoration activities across Puerto Rico following hurricane Maria for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The company has also supported DHS CISA on 5G efforts and is currently build a “better” cyber assessment tool under contract with FTA for small transit agencies.
Mike is a graduate of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative – Harvard Kennedy School of Public Health and the Federal Executive Institute. He holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Science in Biotechnology, a Graduate Certificate in Technology Management from University of Maryland University College. His Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice is from the University of Maryland.