Matt Carlson

Matt Carlson has a diverse work experience in the field of cybersecurity and compliance. Matt is currently working at NW Natural as the Cybersecurity and Compliance Director, a role they started in August 2021. Prior to this, they held the position of Senior Manager for Security and IT Compliance at NW Natural from 2016 to 2021. Matt also served as the Cyber Security Manager at NW Natural from 2015 to 2016.

Before joining NW Natural, Matt worked at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services as the Chief Information Security Officer from May 2014 to August 2015. During their time there, they managed a federated governance model that supported various lines of business and ensured compliance with regulations due to the sensitive nature of the data they handled.

Matt's experience also includes working at Leidos/SAIC as a Security Assessment Manager from October 2011 to April 2014, and at SAIC as a Technical Lead and Information Security Analyst from December 2008 to October 2011.

Matt started their career at Mutual of Enumclaw, where they held various roles including Senior Security Architect, Security Architect (IT Auditor), and Intern from 2004 to 2008.

Matt's work experience extends further back to their time in the U.S. Navy, where they served as a LAN Admin/FT2(SS) from June 1997 to September 2002. During their tenure in the Navy, they managed the non-tactical LAN aboard the USS Connecticut and operated weapons systems.Overall, Matt Carlson brings a wealth of expertise in cybersecurity and compliance from their various roles in both the private and public sectors.

Matt Carlson has a diverse education history with a strong focus on information technology and management. Matt earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in IT and Administrative Management from Central Washington University between 2002 and 2004. Later, they pursued a Master of Science (MS) degree in Information Assurance from Norwich University, completing it from 2006 to 2008. Matt also attended the University of Maryland from 2009 to 2011, where they obtained an Executive MBA.

In addition to their formal education, Matt has several certifications that demonstrate their expertise in various areas. Matt earned the following certifications:

- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) from Microsoft in 2000

- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from (ISC)² in 2005

- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) from ISACA in 2006

- Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) v3 Foundation from EXIN in 2008

- Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP) from (ISC)² in 2008

- Certified Information Systems Security Manager (CISM) from ISACA in 2009

- Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) from ISACA in 2010

- Archer Certified Administrator 5.x from RSA Security in 2011

- Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute in 2012

- Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) from ISACA in 2013

- HCISPP from (ISC)² in 2014

- ITIL Practitioner from AXELOS Global Best Practice in 2018

- ITIL Service Strategy (ITIL-SS) from AXELOS Global Best Practice in 2020

- RLF (Regional Leadership Forum) from the Society for Information Management in 2022

- Unconscious Bias from LinkedIn in 2022

These certifications indicate Matt's continuous professional development and their commitment to staying up-to-date with industry standards and best practices.