Robert J. KelleyRigsby

My career in information technology and cybersecurity began in the U.S. Navy, where I worked in several technical and leadership positions supporting critical information systems and networks. During my military service, I gained hands-on experience with cybersecurity, network administration, system security, vulnerability management, and technical troubleshooting while working in environments where system availability and security were essential to the mission. Those experiences gave me a strong technical foundation while also teaching me the importance of leadership, communication, documentation, and remaining adaptable when solving complex problems.

After leaving the Navy, I continued building my career across government contracting, defense, and federal environments. My experience has included server and systems administration, project management, cybersecurity management, technical advising, and information assurance. I have worked with technologies and environments including AWS cloud infrastructure, VMware, Linux and Windows systems, network infrastructure, vulnerability scanning, security monitoring, and classified information systems. Over time, my career has increasingly focused on the Risk Management Framework (RMF), system authorization, security controls, continuous monitoring, and ensuring that cybersecurity requirements are incorporated into systems without preventing them from accomplishing their mission.

Today, I work as an Information Assurance Engineer supporting multiple systems with individual Authorizations to Operate across cloud, virtualized, and physical environments. My responsibilities include developing and maintaining RMF documentation, evaluating security controls, supporting system authorization efforts, coordinating with technical teams, and helping translate cybersecurity requirements into practical solutions. I also enjoy mentoring less-experienced team members and sharing the knowledge I have gained throughout my career.

Education has remained an important part of my professional development because technology and cybersecurity never stop changing. I have continued my formal education while working full time and have supplemented that education through professional certifications and hands-on experience. My long-term goal is to continue advancing into higher-level cybersecurity and technical leadership positions while expanding my knowledge of cloud computing, security engineering, and information assurance. I view cybersecurity as more than simply meeting compliance requirements; it is about understanding how a system operates, identifying where risk exists, and finding practical ways to protect the system while still allowing the organization and its users to accomplish their mission.