EXPERT ON:
◉ Leadership Development◉ AI Governance & Enterprise Risk Leadership◉ Cybersecurity Strategy for Executives & Boards◉ Strategic Decision-Making in High-Stakes Environments ◉ Leading in the Age of AI, Automation & Cyber
EXPERIENCE:
◉ Former Senior Cybersecurity Executive, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – 30+ years leading enterprise security, risk strategy, and mission-critical operations across federal and military environments.◉ AI Governance & Enterprise Risk Strategist – Developer of executive frameworks for managing AI risk, cloud transformation, identity-first security, and cybersecurity accountability at scale.◉ Education & Workforce Architect – Director of Education Innovation & Workforce Initiatives and Founder & CEO of CertifyIT Training Solutions, preparing the next generation of AI-aware cybersecurity and enterprise leaders.
Dr. Derek A. Smith is a nationally recognized AI governance strategist, former senior cybersecurity executive at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Doctor of Strategic Leadership specializing in executive decision-making during technological disruption.
With more than 30 years of experience across federal, military, and academic leadership, Dr. Smith has operated in environments where cyber risk, national security, and enterprise accountability intersect. He has led high-stakes security programs protecting critical systems and advising senior leaders on enterprise risk strategy in complex operational settings.
Today, Dr. Smith serves as Director of Cybersecurity Programs and as professor at Virginia University of Science & Technology and is Founder & CEO of CertifyIT Training Solutions, where he designs executive-level programs focused on AI governance, cybersecurity strategy, and workforce modernization.
His expertise centers on how leaders—not just technologists—must evolve to manage artificial intelligence risk, cloud and identity transformation, and enterprise cyber resilience. He regularly speaks to executive audiences, boards, cybersecurity leaders, and public-sector decision-makers on the realities of securing organizations in an AI-driven world.
A Doctor of Strategic Leadership, Dr. Smith integrates leadership theory, behavioral decision science, and real-world operational experience. His presentations challenge executives to think beyond compliance and technology—focusing instead on accountability, risk ownership, and decisive leadership under pressure.