SummaryCybersecurity Strategy and Resilience for High-Consequence Environments
Advising senior leaders on cyber risk, critical infrastructure, and crisis response — across U.S. and European contexts.
I work at the intersection of cybersecurity strategy, critical infrastructure resilience, and executive decision-making. Over two decades I have advised senior government leaders, shaped national policy, and led large-scale coordination efforts at the national level.AboutMark Peters is a cybersecurity strategist and advisor with over 20 years of experience advising senior leaders on cyber risk, crisis response, and complex operating environments. Based in southern Germany, he brings a transatlantic perspective and operates across U.S. and European contexts, with conversational German (B2) and a commitment to full professional fluency.Mark specializes in helping organizations translate cyber risk into executive decision-making — particularly in environments where technical, operational, and geopolitical factors intersect.He most recently served as technical lead and primary author for the U.S. National Cyber Incident Response Plan at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), leading a 170-member multi-sector working group spanning 60+ federal, state, and private sector organizations to strengthen national preparedness for high-impact cyber incidents. His work included close engagement with the White House, senior agency leadership, and international partners.Earlier in his career, Mark held senior roles at MITRE supporting the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense, and served as a Congressional staffer advising on cybersecurity and homeland security policy.Areas of focus:Cybersecurity strategy, risk, and resilienceCritical infrastructure protection and continuityIncident response and crisis leadershipCyber policy and regulatory strategy (including NIS2, DORA, and U.S. federal frameworks)Public-private coordination and stakeholder alignmentTransatlantic and geopolitical cyber risk
Credentials:CISSPMS, Computer Science — Auburn UniversityBS, Computer Engineering — Auburn UniversityBrookings LEGIS Congressional Fellow (2020)
Currently exploring executive advisory and board opportunities at the intersection of cyber risk, resilience, and geopolitical security, with availability from September 2026.Publications & ResearchEight Recommendations for Congress to Improve Federal Cybersecurity
MITRE — Mark Peters, David Powner, Chris Folk — October 2021
This paper identifies eight ways that Congress can act to improve federal cybersecurity practices and meet advanced threats posed by China, Russia, ransomware gangs, and other nation-state and criminal actors. Read the paper →Gray Zone Cyber Conflict: Issues and Implications for Homeland Security
MITRE — Mark Peters (lead author) — 2017
An early examination of political conflict in cyberspace that exceeds espionage but falls short of open warfare — analyzing the threat landscape and mitigation options available to the Department of Homeland Security. Download PDF →Opinion & CommentaryClosing the Gap on Cyber Policy by Focusing on FISMA
Nextgov — Mark Peters and Dave Powner — June 2022
An argument for aligning proposed FISMA reform legislation with White House cybersecurity priorities, including codifying zero-trust principles and simplifying agency oversight. Read on Nextgov →Electronic Voting Infrastructure Must Become More Resilient Against Attacks
The Hill — Mark Peters — November 2017
A call to move beyond perimeter security for election systems and build resilience capable of delivering accurate results even after a successful intrusion. Read on The Hill →Selected ProjectsU.S. National Cyber Incident Response Plan (NCIRP)
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — 2024–2025
As technical lead and primary author, led development of the updated U.S. government framework for responding to nationally significant cyber incidents, coordinating a 170-member multi-sector working group spanning 60+ federal, state, and private sector organizations. Engaged directly with the White House and international partners throughout the process.Presidential Policy Directive 41 and National Cyber Incident Response Plan (2016)
MITRE / Department of Homeland Security — 2014–2016
Contributed to the development of Presidential Policy Directive 41 on U.S. Cyber Incident Coordination — the foundational policy framework for national response to significant cyber incidents — and played a key role in the development of the accompanying National Cyber Incident Response Plan.ContactI'm currently exploring advisory and board opportunities, and I'm always open to conversations about cybersecurity strategy, policy, and resilience. Feel free to reach out directly.