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RTI selects Dennis Pickett as new vice president, information security (CISO)

Seasoned CISO to develop new global cybersecurity strategy 


RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — To remain resilient against cybersecurity threats, RTI International, an independent scientific research institute, has selected Dennis Pickett to join its leadership team as the new chief information security officer (CISO). Pickett will report to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer Jorge Elguera.

Pickett will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining RTI’s information and data security. He will provide cybersecurity guidance and oversight to the institute, develop and implement a new global cybersecurity strategy, and lead initiatives such as data loss prevention (DLP) and network access control (NAC). He will also select and deploy security measures to ensure compliance, address vulnerabilities and defend against breaches.

“Dennis brings a wealth of client experience and knowledge that align with RTI’s mission and global operations,” said Elguera. “His leadership will be instrumental in building and developing our new cybersecurity model that will allow us to leverage the cloud in an agile and cost-efficient way.”

Pickett joins RTI from Westat, where he served as the vice president and CISO since 2012. He has 28 years of experience in IT and security leadership, including more than two decades delivering infrastructure and security strategy, engineering and compliance solutions. Pickett brings extensive expertise in both federal contracting and commercial arenas.

“I’m honored to join RTI’s talented workforce,” said Pickett. “I’m looking forward to working together to ensure our cybersecurity practices are innovative, forward-thinking, and effectively support our science and research, while maintaining the trust of our clients and those who rely on us to protect their information.”

Pickett has published his work as a co-author in the peer-reviewed security publication ISACA Journal. He has served as an adjunct professor at Montgomery College’s Information Technology Institute, where he taught IT classes on cybersecurity, cloud computing and networking. Pickett earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University. 
 

Dennis Pickett
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Jorge Elguera Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer
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RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems. 

For more information, visit www.rti.org.