Host: David Spark
Host, Founder, and Executive Producer | CISO Series
David Spark (@dspark) is the founder and executive producer of the CISO Series, a media network for cybersecurity professionals. He also co-hosts many of the CISO Series shows. Spark is a veteran tech journalist who’s appeared in many media outlets such as eWEEK, Wired News, Forbes, PCWorld, Clearchannel, and TechTV (formerly ZDTV). Outside of tech and security, Spark squandered over a dozen years working as a touring stand-up comedian, a San Francisco tour guide, and a comedy writer for The Second City in Chicago.
Guest: Amy Steagall
Chief Information Security Officer | Stanford University IT
Amy Steagall is the Chief Information Security Officer at Stanford University overseeing Stanford’s efforts to protect its computing and information assets and to comply with information-related laws, regulations, and policies.
Prior to joining the Stanford team in 2020, Amy retired from the United States Air Force after 25 years of distinguished and honorable service. Throughout her career, she led large organizations and teams, culminating in her role at the Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber at NSA Texas. There she steered cyber mission teams operating in complex security environments and specializing in offensive and defensive cyberspace operations.
Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Management and Policy from the University of Maryland.
Guest: Michael Tran Duff
Chief Information Security and Data Privacy Officer | Harvard University IT
Michael completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science and physics at MIT. While there, he founded an electronic medical records company and later served as Chief Technology Officer of the acquiring organization. Michael then devoted a year to teaching undergraduate and graduate computer science courses as a Visiting Instructor at Miami University in Ohio before relocating to Silicon Valley, where he led the information security program at SRI International in Menlo Park for the next 11 years. Michael joined Stanford University in 2012 and ascended to the Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer role in 2013, adding the Chief Privacy Officer role in 2018. After 10 years at Stanford, Michael was appointed as Harvard University's Chief Information Security and Data Privacy Officer in 2022, where he leads digital accessibility in addition to the university's pioneering PrivSec program. Today, Michael serves on several advisory boards, providing cybersecurity and privacy expertise.
