Modern CISO Network: Board Book

With an exceptional track record in leading cybersecurity initiatives at organizations from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to the U.S. government, Merritt Baer uses her unique blend of public and private sector expertise to help organizations navigate complex security challenges at scale.

As Field CISO at Lacework, Merritt works with customer CISOs and industry executives to raise the water level of their security. During her five years at AWS, Merritt Baer played a key role in AWS Security's core team, the Office of the CISO. She not only strengthened AWS's own security but also communicated with top customer executives to gather their feedback to help shape the company's product development.

Merritt's ability to make things happen is highlighted by her success in securing over $2 billion in AWS contract negotiations in just one year. Her experience spans all three branches of the U.S. Government, giving her a broad understanding of security protocols and practices. Merritt has served as the Lead Cyber Advisor to the Federal Communications Commission, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Beyond government, Merritt also started her own consulting business. Merritt is a skilled speaker and has hosted her own security show, "SecurityLIVE!". She regularly shares her insights on tech topics like cloud computing, AI/ML, and the future of the internet. Her insights have been published in Forbes, The Baltimore Sun, and The Daily Beast, and other publications. Her academic work has appeared in several journals including UPenn and UVA.

Merritt is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College. She is admitted to the Bars of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Supreme Court. She has been a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a National Security Fellow at the Center for New American Security, and a Cyber Fellow at the East-West Institute. She is founder of women’s tech expert network Tech & Roses; serves on the Miami-Dade College Business Industry Leadership Team, has served as Adjunct Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Maryland and Penn State Law School; is a mother, and was an amateur boxer.