Fixing the Talent Shortage: CyberSecurity Talent Initiative – Alexander Niejelow – CSP #21

Alexander Niejelow is senior vice president for cybersecurity coordination and advocacy. In this capacity, Mr. Niejelow is responsible for coordinating cybersecurity matters across Mastercard’s business units and departments, as well as the company’s global safety and security advocacy efforts.

Mr. Niejelow previously served as senior vice president of public policy and data protection since joining the Mastercard in February 2016. In this Role, Mr. Niejelow was responsible for policy efforts in the areas of cybersecurity and global data management, while also leading the company’s industry partnerships on technology policy issues.

Prior to joining Mastercard, Mr. Niejelow was director of cybersecurity policy on the National Security Council at the White House, where he focused on efforts to advance the Administration’s cybersecurity, technology, and trade policy priorities. He also served as chief of staff to the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, where he helped coordinate the U.S. Government’s intellectual property policy and enforcement strategies beginning in 2012.

Before joining the White House, Mr. Niejelow was counselor and senior advisor to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Department of Homeland Security from 2010 to 2012. In this role, Mr. Niejelow advised the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner on matters of international trade policy and operations and worked extensively on agency initiatives aimed at trade facilitation, U.S. economic competitiveness and global supply chain security.

From 2008 until joining the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Niejelow worked in the litigation department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.

Mr. Niejelow holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Duke University.