LMI selects former senior Air Force leader to head cyber practice

LMI announced on February 25 that it has hired Rick Lipsey to expand its cyber-related work, drawing on his extensive, expert leadership in military cybersecurity. Lipsey accepted the executive role to help the not-for-profit government consultancy meet a pressing public sector need to operationalize cybersecurity.

Lipsey is keen on leveraging LMI’s substantial, bias-free management and analytical capabilities in the cyber realm.

“While some excellent companies are focused on improving the technology or providing cyber intelligence, we bring applied knowledge and mission savvy vital to improving operations,” said Lipsey, who joined LMI as Senior Strategic Cyber Lead following an impressive career which culminated as Vice Commander of 24th Air Force, a component of United States Cyber Command, based in San Antonio. “We offer the executive or government manager clarity and actionable insights regarding how cyber considerations impact the organization’s mission and how it functions.

“Decisions about how to integrate technology and mitigate cyber threats are fundamentally operational exercises that require leadership engagement and mission focus to ensure success,” said Lipsey. “LMI has impressive depth and breadth to help organizations work through this risk management calculus and create options to optimize effectiveness, reduce costs, and improve resilience.”

Lipsey points to LMI’s track record of helping the public sector understand risk, asset, and policy management in challenging budget and mission conditions.

“As organizations become more aware of the implications of cyber capabilities on their mission, they are asking themselves how much expertise they need in house, and how they hire, train, and retain these experts,” Lipsey said. “There are questions about how to best manage the development of mission systems, information technology (IT) systems, and infrastructure to account for cyber-related threats. How do we ensure our sources of supply haven’t been compromised? How much money should we be spending on this problem? These are all areas where LMI’s deep experience in workforce development, enterprise architecture, supply chain management, resource management, and risk management can be invaluable in helping clients safeguard their mission in an uncertain world.”

Lipsey brings a long history of bridging the divide between operations and technology, including multiple command tours, establishment of the Department of Defense’s first combatant command network warfare center, overseeing Air Force cyber support operations in Southwest Asia, and leading the Air Force’s effort to integrate diverse weapons systems in a complex operating environment.

Lipsey holds several master’s degrees, including a dual degree in management and procurement from Webster University and a degree in strategic studies from the Air War College. He is the author of Network Warfare Operations: Unleashing the Potential, a discussion on how information technology has changed how we conduct warfare, published by the United States Air Force Center for Strategy and Technology. He coordinates regular government and industry technology engagements as the Vice President of Programs for the Alamo chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) and also provides advice on military cyber issues for the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.

Source: LMI