Craig Hayn

As the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Craig Hayn leads the Cybersecurity Branch at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). His team oversees a vast and intricate network that includes over 9,000 staff, 15,000 devices, cloud-based solutions, IoT, scientific instruments, and user endpoints. These resources serve both the NCI Bethesda and the NCI’s Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) in Frederick, Maryland.

In his pivotal role, Craig ensures robust cyber governance, compliance, and risk management for NCI’s expansive and diverse IT environment, data, and personnel. This critical work supports the NCI’s essential research and administrative missions.

Craig’s IT career began at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Facility (now a wildlife refuge) in Golden, Colorado. In 1993, he joined SAIC near Frederick, Maryland, supporting the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Since 2001, he’s focused on cybersecurity, working with Booz Allen Hamilton on PKI, infrastructure, and FISMA compliance for agencies like the FDA and NIH. In 2007, he dedicated his work to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), becoming their Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO) in 2019 and ultimately their Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in 2022.

Born in Hawaii to Navy parents, Craig grew up in Colorado. He prioritizes clear communication, even on complex technical security topics. He credits this to his upbringing, where compassion, empathy, and understanding different perspectives were valued.