Jeff Watts joined RPI with over 40 years of support to the Department of Defense (DoD). He began his IT/Cybersecurity career in 1982 supporting DoD contractors working in the aerospace field. During this time, Jeff worked in many positions on the Space Shuttle project at Vandenberg AFB, CA. In 1988, he joined the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Warfare Technician, modifying and creating custom RADAR emitter databases, developing computer-based training for Combat Systems, and spent four years as an instructor, earning the Master Training Specialist designation. After leaving active duty in 1998, he moved to Virginia where he worked for contractors supporting Inova Medical Group administering a 450-node Novell/NT network. 

In 2000, Jeff began supporting the DoD in various positions starting at Marine Corps Network Operations and Security Command (MCNOSC) in support of the Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) and moving on to Certification and Accreditation (C&A) and then the Cyber Solutions team. He conducted vulnerability assessments, supported areas of Information Architecture (IA) risk management, and drafted policies for the secure use of WiFi, Firewalls, VPNs, and remote access.

Jeff has experience in all aspects of the Assessment and Authorization (A&A) process, particularly supporting customers in securing and accrediting Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT). Jeff has been selected to present at many conferences to include National Security Agency (NSA) sponsored Joint Wireless Working Group, Federal Computing Weekly Homeland Security, AFCEA East and West, NSA Red Team/Blue Team Symposium, United States Marine Corps (USMC) IA Conference, DoD Cyber Crime Conference and most recently the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) sponsored Industrial Control Systems Joint Working Group (ICSJWG).

Jeff is the chief designer and architect of RPI’s unique accredited solution. Jeff’s approach to the challenges of managing and maintaining disparate industrial control systems/operational technology (ICS/OT) devices across an Installation, has earned a “Type” Authority to Operate/Authority to Connect for all ICS/OT. Jeff is now leading RPI’s efforts in the areas of R&D for new technologies like IOT, 5G, and Cloud integration of IOT sensors to support critical infrastructure and Cybersecurity.