Eric L. Harris Jr. is a retired U.S. Army officer and seasoned cybersecurity expert with extensive experience across military and federal sectors, holding pivotal roles such as Director of Cybersecurity Operations and his current role as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Specializing in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), Security Program Implementation, and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Eric has led significant cybersecurity initiatives and mentored future professionals through his thought leadership, blog, and speaking engagements. A passionate advocate for cybersecurity education, he inspires young minds and promotes early career exploration. Eric, who holds CISSP, CGRC, and ITIL certifications, will launch SecureMinds, LLC. in 2025 to provide specialized cybersecurity solutions to small businesses. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from South Carolina State University and an M.S. in Information Management from Syracuse University.