AttackIQ Appointed Dave Mihelcic as Federal Field CTO
The former DISA chief technology officer will oversee federal cybersecurity programs for the company.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in People
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AttackIQ has appointed Dave Mihelcic as its field chief technology officer for federal operations. Mihelcic previously served as the chief technology officer for the Defense Information Systems Agency.
Why it matters
Federal agencies are currently working to evolve their defensive models to effectively counter adversaries that utilize automation and artificial intelligence in cyber attacks.
Dave Mihelcic will manage the DISA enterprise Adversarial Exposure Validation program following his appointment. His role involves coordinating across Defense Agencies, Military Services, and Combatant Commands.
The players
Dave Mihelcic
He is the newly appointed field chief technology officer for federal operations at AttackIQ and a former chief technology officer for the Defense Information Systems Agency.
AttackIQ
This is a cybersecurity company that provides an enterprise Adversarial Exposure Validation platform currently used by federal agencies.
Defense Information Systems Agency
This is a combat support agency of the United States Department of Defense that provides information technology and communications support to the federal government.
The details
Mihelcic is tasked with working alongside federal leaders to translate complex mission requirements into operational continuous threat exposure management (CTEM) programs. His goal is to assist federal agencies in modernizing their cyber defense operations through the company's platform.
Timeline
AttackIQ announced the appointment of Dave Mihelcic on September 22, 2026.
Market Landscape
This move signals a deepening integration between private cybersecurity vendors and the federal government, mirroring the industry shift toward the DoD Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification framework. AttackIQ is positioning itself to gain greater market share by aligning its leadership with personnel who have deep experience navigating complex defense procurement cycles.
While this appointment primarily impacts federal defense operations, it reflects a shift in how government agencies procure automated security tools. Clients of similar defense-contracting firms may see increased focus on automated, AI-driven security standards in future government service contracts.
The takeaway
As adversaries increasingly leverage artificial intelligence, federal agencies are shifting toward proactive exposure validation programs. This transition highlights the necessity for ongoing modernization in public-sector cyber defense infrastructure.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership changes, visit our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Intelligence Community News.
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Should federal government agencies transition from periodic cyber security audits to continuous, automated threat testing?
