Sonu Shankar named principal deputy CIO at Defense Department

DefenseScoop reports that Sonu Shankar, a cybersecurity industry veteran, has been appointed as the principal deputy CIO at the Defense Department, a role he officially assumed on Aug. 24.

Shankar previously served as a strategic advisor to Pentagon leadership through the Business Operators for National Defense (BOND) initiative, which aims to leverage industry expertise to improve the Pentagon's acquisition system. His background includes nearly two decades in the private sector at companies like Phosphorus Cybersecurity, Arctic Wolf, Box, and Cisco. In his new position, Shankar will focus on advancing the Defense Department's IT, cybersecurity, and digital modernization efforts.

His appointment comes at a critical time, following the recent suspension of Phase 2 requirements for the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program due to concerns about its impact on the defense industrial base. A CMMC Reform Task Force is currently reviewing the program, having received over 1,110 responses to a request for information from industry.

Source: DefenseScoop