Michael Dransfield

Subject Matter Expert

National Security Agency

Michael Dransfield is currently serving as a subject matter expert in NSA’s Capabilities Directorate, focusing on all aspects of cyber defense for industrial control systems as they are used to monitor and control critical infrastructure. He began his NSA career as a Communications Security Vulnerability Analyst, where he was awarded an NSA Chief Scientist Fellowship and spent a year at Carnegie Mellon University’s Computer Engineering Department. Upon returning to NSA, he focused on developing computer security assurance techniques. He also worked at the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA) Center for Communications Research (CCR) in LaJolla, CA, and served in several vulnerability analyst positions, including the Software Security Lead on IAD’s Technical Review Board. He helped pioneer the creation of IAD’s Control Systems Division to address the insecurities in automated systems monitoring and controlling critical infrastructures. Mr. Dransfield holds a B.A. in secondary education, with a focus on mathematics, and an M.S. in applied mathematics, both from West Virginia University