Jan 15, 2026 - Technology

Former CISA leader Jen Easterly takes helm of RSAC

Sam Sabin

Jen Easterly, then-director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, speaking on a stage with a microphone. — Photo: F. Carter Smith/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Jen Easterly, the head of the nation's top cyber agency during the Biden administration, will now head up the RSAC Conference, one of the world's biggest gatherings of cyber professionals.

Why it matters: Easterly has gathered quite a following as a public speaker, startup adviser and cybersecurity intelligence official in her decades of service. That energy will breathe new life into the decades-old gathering.

What they're saying: "RSAC is not just a conference — it's the home of the global cybersecurity community," Easterly said in a statement.

"We're at a pivotal moment where cybersecurity and AI have become inseparable, and the world needs a trusted platform to bring together the people, ideas, and technologies that will shape the next decade."

Between the lines: RSAC is best known for its weeklong conference in San Francisco. This year's is expected to attract more than 40,000 attendees, the group said Thursday.

But RSAC, which spun out of the RSA company in 2022, also offers a year-round membership for cyber professionals and hosts several startup competitions.

What's next: Easterly will focus on expanding RSAC's international presence, strengthening membership and education initiatives, and driving programs around emerging issues such as AI security and secure software development during her tenure.

Go deeper: AI makes it easier for anyone to become a cybercriminal, top official says

Add Axios on Google

Former CISA leader Jen Easterly takes helm of RSAC

What to read next