Dr. Chris Golden

Industry Workforce Development

Chief Information Security Officer

Chris Golden, PhD, is a highly accomplished Chief Information Security Officer with extensive experience in cybersecurity and information technology. He specializes in Security Compliance Requirements for highly regulated industries and has a proven track record of building and leading security programs and teams from the ground up.

As a Senior Client Advisor for Industry Workforce Development, he leads the teams direction in the Department of Defense efforts and works closely with clients guiding them from assessments to compliance.

Currently he also serves as the inaugural CISO at React Health, Chris has transformed the organization’s cybersecurity landscape, overseeing a $10 million annual budget and leading a geographically diverse team. He has significantly improved internal security metrics, developed comprehensive security strategies, and maintained strong communication with executive leadership and regulatory bodies.

Chris held prominent roles at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, where he led a team of 22 full-time employees and managed a $6 million budget. His strategic leadership efforts resulted in significant improvements in vendor risk management, security compliance, and risk assessment processes. Chris also served on the CMMC-AB Board of Directors (now the Cyber AB), contributing to the development of a unified cybersecurity framework for the US Department of Defense. His diverse background includes strategic planning for critical infrastructure at the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) and a distinguished military career as a Colonel in the US Air Force.