CURRENT POSITION
Ms. Holly Baroody assumed her current position as Executive Director (EXDIR), United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) on December 4, 2022. In this role, she supports the Commander in leading the Cyber Mission Force to direct, synchronize, and coordinate cyberspace operations. She leads strategic initiatives to advance CYBERCOM's capabilities, talent management, and partnerships.
BACKGROUND
Ms. Baroody has 20+ years of experience in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) through both military and civilian service. She served in the United States Navy (USN) from 2002 - 2009 as a Cryptologic Technician, with her first duty station in Yakima, Washington serving as a signals analyst with the National Security Agency (NSA). In 2005, she became a plank owner within the Navy's newly established Cryptologic Technical Networks (CTN) field, and subsequently went on to serve on NSA's Red Team as an operator conducting simulated adversary computer network operations in support of NSA's cybersecurity mission. She joined NSA as a civilian in 2009 and, through a variety of technical and leadership assignments within NSA's Computer Network Operations (CNO) and predecessor organizations, gained a broad and deep perspective of NSA's computer network exploitation operations supporting NSA's foreign intelligence and cybersecurity missions. She served as an executive assistant to NSA's Assistant Deputy Director for Operations from 2016 to 2017 where she gained a broader strategic and operations view of NSA and its partners, then re-joined the CNO in 2017 to lead CNO's newly established Joint Cyber Product Group (JCPG) to support USCYBERCOM's offensive cyber operations efforts and NSA's cybersecurity counter-cyber threat requirements. Prior to assuming her current position as USCYBERCOM Executive Director (EXDIR), Ms. Baroody served on a Joint Duty Assignment (JDA) as the Deputy to the Commander of the Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) in USCYBERCOM from 2021 - 2022, where she supported the CNMF Commander in leading a 2000+ person organization with an Enterprise footprint to plan, direct, and synchronize full spectrum cyberspace operations to Defend the Nation from foreign adversary cyber threats.
EDUCATION
Ms. Baroody holds an undergraduate degree in Information Technology (IT) Management from the American Military University, and a graduate degree in Cybersecurity Technology from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
Ms. Baroody strives to embody the servant style of leadership and believes in empowering individuals and teams toward clear strategic goals, enabling innovation, and building bridges across interagency, industry, academia, and international partners to achieve common objectives in support of our Nation's security and defense. She invests in the growth of others, actively coaching and mentoring junior and mid-level personnel as they navigate their careers.
PERSONAL
Ms. Baroody lives in Ellicott City, MD with her husband Michael and their two children. She is an avid reader and enjoys walks with her family.