Karen S. Evans

Karen S. Evans is the Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security. In this role she guides CISA’s cybersecurity efforts as the national coordinator for critical infrastructure security and resilience.  

Evans formerly served as the first Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Following U.S. Senate confirmation in August 2018, she was sworn in on September 4, 2018, and provided strategic direction, leadership and management to address emerging threats while improving energy infrastructure security and supporting the DOE national security mission. From March 2020 through January 20, 2021, Evans served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

Prior to being named Assistant Secretary at DOE, Evans was the national director of the U.S. Cyber Challenge, a public-private partnership focused on building the cyber workforce. 

A dedicated public servant, Evans served as the Administrator for the Office of Electronic Government and Information Technology at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) during the George W. Bush administration. At OMB, she oversaw nearly $71 billion in annual IT funds, including implementation of IT throughout the federal government. She also held positions with the National Park Service, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Justice. 

Evans co-founded SafeGov, which advised United States government entities on cloud computing and previously served as the Managing Director of the Cyber Readiness Institute. 

Evans holds a PhD in Business Administration, a Master of Arts in Public History, and a Bachelor of science in Chemistry from West Virginia University. She is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.