PERSON: Richard Spires

Resilient Network Systems

Chief Executive Officer

Richard specializes in senior-level operations and information technology for large-scale corporations, IT product companies, and US Federal Government entities.

Mr. Spires was appointed and served as the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chief Information Officer (CIO) from August 2009 till May 2013. In this capacity, Mr. Spires was responsible for the strategy and operations of the department’s annual $5.6 billion investment in Information Technology (IT). Mr. Spires also served as the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Government CIO Council and the Co-Chairman of the Committee for National Security Systems (CNSS), the committee that sets standards for the US Government’s classified systems.

Mr. Spires held a number of positions at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from 2004 through 2008, including serving as the Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support. Prior to becoming Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Spires served as the IRS’ CIO, with overall strategic and operational responsibility for a $2 billion budget and a 7,000-person Modernization and Information Technology Services organization.

From 2000 through 2003, Mr. Spires served as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Director of Mantas, Inc., a software company that provides business intelligence solutions to the financial services industry. In helping to establish Mantas, Mr. Spires successfully led efforts to raise $29 million in venture funding. Prior to Mantas, Mr. Spires spent more than 16 years serving in a number of technical and managerial positions at SRA International.

Mr. Spires received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.A. in Mathematical Sciences from the University of Cincinnati, where he was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2006. He also holds a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the George Washington University.