Karen Laughton
About Karen Laughton
Karen Laughton is the Vice President of Compliance Advisory Services at Coalfire, bringing over 14 years of experience in security assessments and compliance. She has held various leadership roles in cybersecurity and risk management across multiple organizations and is actively involved in community service.
Current Role at Coalfire
Karen Laughton serves as the Vice President of Compliance Advisory Services at Coalfire, a position she has held since 2021. In this role, she provides management, leadership, and guidance to the security compliance team. She is recognized as a subject matter expert, contributing to business development efforts within the organization.
Previous Experience at Coalfire
Karen Laughton has held multiple positions at Coalfire. She worked as the Director of Cyber Risk Advisory from 2017 to 2020 and served as the Vice President of FedRAMP Assurance Services for a brief period in 2020. Additionally, she was the Managing Principal for FedRAMP & Assurance Services from 2019 to 2020. Her tenure at Coalfire has provided her with extensive experience in security compliance and risk management.
Professional Background
Karen Laughton has over 14 years of experience in the field of security assessments and authorizations. Her career includes roles at Veris Group, LLC, DMI, G&B Solutions Inc, and Unisys. At Veris Group, she progressed from Associate to Manager of Security Consulting. Her earlier roles involved risk management and security analysis, contributing to her comprehensive understanding of compliance and security protocols.
Education and Certifications
Karen Laughton earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech, where she studied Psychology. She holds industry certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), which validate her expertise in information security and auditing.
Community Involvement
Karen Laughton is active in community service, having served a five-year term on the board of the Isabella Santos Foundation, which supports pediatric cancer initiatives. She is also involved with the National Charity League and the Young Men's Service League, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and philanthropy.