Issue: Spring 2026

From the Spring 2026 Issue

Stewards of Mission Risk: The Evolving Role of the Authorizing Officials (AO)

Author(s):

Bobbie Stempfley, Vice President | Dell Technologies , Former CIO, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)

Dr. Ray A. Letteer, DSc, Former Director of Operations Risk Assessment, Office of the DoD Chief Information Officer, Former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Authorizing Official (AO), United States Marine Corps

Henry J. Sienkiewicz, Adjunct Faculty | Georgetown and George Washington Universities, Former CIO, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)

Introduction In a harsh misrepresentation, organizational Authorizing Officials (AO) are often thought of as an obstacle or simply a bureaucratic signature – a roadblock to progress. Reality intrudes. Reality should intrude. The

From the Spring 2026 Issue

Implementing CMMC in CNC-Based DIB Machine Shops: The Convergence of NQA-1 and Cybersecurity Governance Following the Segmented Cyber-Quality Integration Model

Author(s):

Greg Isaak Voykhansky, J.D., Ph.D., Founder CEO, To Your Success Education (TYSED), LLC.

The Problem: Regulatory Convergence Without Architectural Alignment CNC-based shops serving commercial nuclear and government defense sectors encounter converging regulations when naval nuclear propulsion is involved. Contracts often warn that part failure could