Dave Howard
About Dave Howard
Dave Howard serves as the Executive Director of Cybersecurity Operations at ECS, where he leads a team of over 60 cybersecurity professionals and manages various aspects of security engineering and threat intelligence. His extensive background includes roles at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Transportation Security Administration, along with military service in the U.S. Army.
Current Role at ECS
Dave Howard serves as the Executive Director of Cybersecurity Operations at ECS since 2023. In this role, he manages all aspects of security engineering, monitoring, cyber threat intelligence, red team operations, and vulnerability management for Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) clients and the ECS enterprise. He leads a team of over 60 cybersecurity professionals, fostering a culture of innovation and vigilance within the organization. Additionally, he provides strategic cybersecurity advisement to C-suite and Board-level members, advocating for cybersecurity as a cornerstone of organizational resilience.
Previous Experience in Cybersecurity
Before joining ECS, Dave Howard held multiple significant roles at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). He worked as a Senior Cyber Intelligence Analyst for 10 months in 2017, followed by a position as Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst and Team Lead from 2017 to 2019. He then served as Deputy Section Chief for Adversary Analysis from 2019 to 2021. His experience at CISA equipped him with extensive knowledge in cyber threat intelligence and adversary analysis.
Military Background
Dave Howard served in the U.S. Army as a Section Leader and Non-Commissioned Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division from 2004 to 2010. This six-year tenure in Fayetteville, North Carolina, provided him with foundational leadership skills and operational experience that have influenced his subsequent career in cybersecurity.
Educational Qualifications
Dave Howard earned a Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance from The George Washington University, studying from 2017 to 2019. Prior to that, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Law, & Society with a minor in Intelligence Analysis at George Mason University from 2010 to 2013. His educational background supports his expertise in cybersecurity and intelligence analysis.
Contributions to Cybersecurity Thought Leadership
At ECS, Dave Howard is involved in cybersecurity thought leadership, contributing insights on emerging threats and guiding risk management strategies. He has authored articles on spear-phishing attacks and utilizes Elastic's capabilities to optimize Security Operations. His role as Director of the Cyber Threat Analysis Center further emphasizes his commitment to advancing cybersecurity practices.