Jane Edwards 
Merlin Group has appointed Matt Hartman, most recently deputy executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as chief strategy officer.
Accelerating Delivery of Cyber Tech to US Government
In his new role, Hartman will support Merlin Group’s efforts to advance the delivery of cyber technologies to the U.S. government and critical industries, the company said Wednesday.
Hartman’s “leadership at CISA and his ability to navigate the needs of both government and industry align seamlessly with our mission. Matt’s insight will accelerate the vision I started more than 30 years ago: delivering practical, game-changing solutions to protect our nation’s critical systems,” said David Phelps, founder, CEO and chairman of Merlin Group.
Merlin Group is a network of affiliates that invests in and scales cyber tech companies.
“After nearly two decades at CISA, I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to remain focused on this critically important mission,” said Hartman.
“A significant challenge the government consistently faces is gaining rapid access to emerging technologies that our nation’s cyber defenders need to stay ahead of threats. The opportunity to work with a team dedicated to identifying, accelerating, and scaling the delivery of transformative technologies to our nation’s first-line defenders is incredibly exciting,” he added.
Who Is Matt Hartman?
During his tenure at the Department of Homeland Security’s CISA, Hartman played a key role in shaping the U.S. cybersecurity strategy and strengthening collaboration between the federal government and the private sector.
His nearly 20-year career at CISA included various leadership positions, including acting executive assistant director for cybersecurity, associate director for the agency’s cybersecurity services portfolio, director of Federal Network Resilience, cybersecurity counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security and director of strategy coordination and management.
The seasoned cybersecurity executive also served as CISA’s senior representative to cyber-focused interagency bodies, including the Technology Modernization Fund Board and the Federal Acquisition Security Council.
Earlier in his career, Hartman served as a management consultant at Blackstone Technology Group and program analyst at Lockheed Martin, according to his LinkedIn profile.
