Paul Connelly, NACD.DC®, is a career information security and technology leader who built the first cybersecurity programs at two of the world’s highest risk organizations: the White House and HCA Healthcare.

Connelly began his career as an information security analyst at the National Security Agency and then spent nine years as the information security officer at the White House Communications Agency, serving under three presidents. He then built and led a cybersecurity audit and consulting practice and became a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (known as PwC).

Connelly’s expertise in building robust security programs continued at HCA Healthcare, where he served as chief information security officer (CISO) for more than 20 years.

Forty members of his teams have become CISOs, and Connelly now continues to develop future leaders as a professor teaching cybersecurity and technology courses at Belmont University. He also serves as an independent director for Fortified Health Security and Dismas House Inc. and is active in technology and cyber education with NACD.