TechNet Cyber 2026

Ryan McArthur
Special Advisor for Capability Development and Operational Excellence
Office of the Secretary of War, Chief Information Officer


Ryan McArthur was appointed in April 2026 as the Special Advisor to the CIO for Capability Development and Operational Excellence. With a deep background across the OCIO portfolio, he will provide critical counsel on emerging technologies and guide our most complex technical initiatives. Ryan is an expert in defense modernization, intelligence operations, and mission-critical technical solutions, with leadership experience spanning two decades across the public and private sectors. Prior to his current appointment, he spent time in the commercial sector as the Global Public Sector Chief Technology Officer for Defense and Intelligence at Zscaler. Leveraging this industry experience, he bridged the gap between commercial innovation and national security, translating emerging technologies into decisive operational outcomes and spearheading the adoption of next-generation security architectures across complex defense and intelligence environments. His distinguished public service in the Department of War (DoW) includes leading the $9B Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) at DISA, serving as a strategic technical advisor to both the OCIO and the United States Marine Corps (USMC). During his tenure advising the DoW CIO, he drove enterprise-wide modernization by spearheading the deployment of Bring Your Own Approved Device (BYOAD), Defense Enterprise Office Solutions (DEOS), FLOW 3, and foundational capabilities for the Zero Trust Office. Similarly, in his advisory role to the USMC, he successfully guided the implementation of critical infrastructure and security overhauls, including the Joint Regional Security Stacks (JRSS), Office 365, MPLS network modernization, and Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM). Across these roles, his execution of complex cloud and Zero Trust initiatives directly enhanced the operational readiness, security, and tactical edge of defense, intelligence, and international partners. A decorated, retired Army Signal Chief Warrant Officer and OEF veteran, Ryan is a multi-year Federal 100 and Defense/CyberScoop50 honoree, recognized with the DoD CIO Award and DISA Exceptional Civilian Service Medal.

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