Chuck Kesler

IANS Faculty

Expertise

  • Security Leadership & CISO Effectiveness
  • Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)
  • Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM)
  • AI Transformation for Cybersecurity Programs
  • Security for Cloud Native Companies

Profile

Chuck Kesler is a veteran cybersecurity executive with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations build practical, business-focused security programs. As a longtime CISO and trusted advisor, Chuck partners with executive teams and boards to reduce cyber risk, strengthen governance, and enable business growth. His experience spans high-growth SaaS, healthcare, higher education, and consulting, bringing a balanced perspective that combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution. Whether serving as a fractional vCISO, advising on security strategy, or mentoring security leaders, Chuck helps organizations make informed, risk-based decisions that improve resilience without slowing innovation.

Expertise

  • Security Leadership & CISO Effectiveness
  • Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC)
  • Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM)
  • AI Transformation for Cybersecurity Programs
  • Security for Cloud Native Companies

Qualifications

Achievements & Contributions
  • 2022 North Carolina CISO of the Year (awarded by the NC Tech Association) 
  • Primary Organizer of BSides RDU
  • Chair of NC State University Computer Science Department Strategic Advisory Board
  • RSAC Program Committee Member
Certifications & Credentials
  • Chief Information Security Officer Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
  • Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)
  • Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)

Portal Publications