Chief Information Security Officer
Cyber Security

Christopher Lowe was named Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in September, 2012.  In his role, he serves as the Associate CIO leading both the Security Operations Center, and the Compliance and Program Oversight office.

Mr. Lowe joined the Office of the CIO in 2009 as the Associate CIO for Security Operations.  He provides executive leadership in security operations, compliance, architecture, and risk management, and is responsible for securing USDA networks and systems by collecting, analyzing, integrating and sharing information among the USDA component services. Mr. Lowe coordinates cyber-security situational awareness, resources, and reporting for USDA organizations and personnel in order to protect USDA programs, information and assets.

Prior to OCIO, he was the Senior Agency Information Security Officer and the Associate CIO for Infrastructure and Operations at USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).   He joined FSIS in late 2005, before which he spent eighteen years in international federal IT consulting, most recently as a security engineer with Booz Allen Hamilton.

Mr. Lowe received a B.A. in International Studies from Wheeling Jesuit University.  He also holds current professional credentials in both information security (Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and as a Project Management Professional (PMP).