Category: Thought Leader
Name: Dominic Nessi
Title: Senior Technology Adviser
Company: Burns Engineering
Why nominated: For more than a decade, Dominic Nessi has been a leader in the airport cybersecurity world, distinguishing himself as the deputy director for information technology Los Angeles World Airports where he and his team picked up numerous awards as one of the most advanced security operation centers (SOC) at any airport in the world.
Profile: Dominic Nessi has been a leader in the airport cybersecurity world for more than a decade, sharpening his skills as the deputy director for information technology at Los Angeles World Airports, where he and his staff picked up several awards for cybersecurity and implemented one of the most advanced airport security operation centers (SOC), often used as a model at facilities worldwide.
As the chairperson of the ACI World Cybersecurity Taskforce, Nessi has has strived to raise awareness of cybersecurity issues at airports, speaking at more than 16 international conferences, and teaching cybersecurity seminars around the globe. He has served on the ISC(2) North American Advisory Board and participated in Harvard University's inaugural seminar on Cybersecurity. He teaches cybersecurity seminars at locations throughout the world.
Nessi hosts a collaboration website for his students to continue to interact on cybersecurity issues. He also leaves a lasting impact on the organizations where he has worked and on colleagues. “Dom Nessi was my direct supervisor while he was the Chief Information Officer at the U.S. National Park Service from 2001-2007,” said Kim Martinez, identity management specialist, National Park Service. “Under his leadership, the NPS built its first cybersecurity program and became a leader in cybersecurity in the Department of the Interior. I believe he was one of the first federal CIO's to receive the CISSP designation. Ten years later, the positive impact of his management and accomplishments are still felt at the NPS.”
What colleagues say: ”Mr. Nessi has been instrumental in elevating the topic of cybersecurity in the airport environment throughout the world. As the chairperson of ACI World's cybersecurity task force, he has worked diligently with ACI World to help ensure that the world's airports are safe from cybersecurity threats. His efforts on the ACI IT Cybersecurity Benchmarking Tool have made that application an outstanding tool for airports to use in their efforts to develop and maintain a acceptable cybersecurity program.”
- Serge Yonke, ACI World, chair, ACI World IT Standing Committee
