Essye B. Miller

Essye B. Miller served as the Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Department of Defense from 2018 until her retirement in 2020. Essye is a recognized leader with over 35 years of Federal and Department of Defense (DoD) experience driving cross-cutting information technology and business transformation initiatives. As the Principal Deputy CIO, Essye was responsible for all matters pertaining to information management, cybersecurity and digital transformation. During this time, she was key to the development of the DoD Digital Modernization and Cloud strategies; establishment of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and shifting DoD from compliance-based to risk-managed cybersecurity posture. Prior to this role, Essye was the DoD Chief Information Security Officer, the senior official for all policy and governance matters related to DoD’s $8B Cybersecurity program. Essye was named the Acting DoD Chief Information Officer by the Secretary of Defense in 2017, leading the organization through a critical political transition. Essye earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Talladega College, a Master of Business Administration Degree from Troy State University and a Master of Strategic Studies from Air University in Montgomery, Alabama. In May 2021, Talladega College conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Science upon Essye. She has been awarded numerous medals and commendations throughout her career. Essye and her husband, Michael, have one son and live in Lorton, Virginia.