Shauna Briley protects Army systems while training new cybersecurity talent

Shauna Briley, a Risk Management Lead at Chenega Analytic Business Solutions in Huntsville, supports Army Materiel Command cybersecurity work while mentoring teams through risk management and compliance. She is also using her own experience to open a pathway into tech for homeless adults through her Homeless to High Tech program.

Why it matters: - Shauna Briley’s work sits at the intersection of national security, workforce development and second chances. - Her role supports U.S. Army cybersecurity and risk management efforts that help protect critical systems. - Her mentoring and community program aim to widen access to cybersecurity careers for people who have faced homelessness.

What happened: - Briley works as a Risk Management Lead at Chenega Analytic Business Solutions in Huntsville, Alabama. - She serves as an RMF Team Lead supporting Army Materiel Command. - She was recognized in the Influential Women 2026 edition representing Huntsville. - She founded Homeless to High Tech, a program that teaches cybersecurity skills to homeless adults as a path to stable careers.

The details: - Briley holds the Certified Information Security Manager credential from ISACA. - She has earned six cybersecurity certifications. - Her specialties include risk management, IT infrastructure and cybersecurity. - She leads teams through the full Risk Management Framework lifecycle, including system categorization, control selection, security assessments and authorization packaging. - She also advises leadership on risk analysis, incident response and continuous monitoring. - Her career in information technology spans about three decades. - She began in military service as a software analyst before moving into network administration and later senior IT roles. - In 2013, an internship with the Missile Defense Agency led to her formal certification in cybersecurity leadership. - She has held multiple Information System Security Officer roles across Army commands. - She helped units move from legacy DIACAP protocols to the Risk Management Framework. - She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Resource Management from Troy University. - Briley says her career has been shaped by hard work, dedication and refusing to let obstacles block her goals. - Her advice to young women entering cybersecurity is to learn the trade, keep seeking knowledge and build deep expertise. - She says mastery and confidence make it harder for others to dismiss them.

Between the lines: - Briley’s article, “Beyond the Firewalls,” describes the bias she faced as a Black woman in defense contracting. - She wrote that she was often the only woman or person of color in the room. - She described having her ideas overlooked until a male colleague repeated them. - She also described having her authority questioned more often than her peers’. - Rather than rely on complaints, Briley used technical results to build credibility. - She points to CISM and CASP+ certifications, successful authorization packages and compliance reports as evidence of her work. - She says burnout is a real operational risk because a demoralized team cannot secure a network. - Her management style emphasizes empathy, inclusion and recognition of team accomplishments. - She says she learned to treat setbacks as data, not failure, and to keep moving forward.

What's next: - Briley remains focused on supporting the Army’s risk management, cybersecurity and IT infrastructure needs. - She continues mentoring others and building opportunities through community involvement. - Her work suggests the cybersecurity talent pipeline can expand when technical training is paired with practical support and encouragement.

The bottom line: - Briley is protecting Army systems while trying to make cybersecurity more accessible to people who are often left out of the field. - Her career blends mission-critical technical work with a broader push for inclusion and workforce growth. - More information is available in her Influential Women profile.