Alissa Jay Abdullah
Alissa Jay Abdullah | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Savannah State University (B.Sc. Mathematics), George Washington University (M.Sc. Telecommunications and Computer Networks), Capella University (Ph.D. Information Technology Management) |
| Occupation(s) | Information security executive, scholar, adjunct professor, podcast host |
| Years active | –present |
| Known for | Deputy Chief Security Officer at Mastercard, Board of Directors member at Smartsheet |
Alissa Jay Abdullah is a prominent American executive and scholar in information security, currently holding the position of Deputy Chief Security Officer at Mastercard. In this capacity, she directs enterprise-wide security initiatives aimed at safeguarding the company's information resources. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Smartsheet.
Educational background
Alissa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Savannah State University. She further obtained a master's degree specializing in Telecommunications and Computer Networks from George Washington University, followed by a Ph.D. in Information Technology Management awarded by Capella University.
Career
Her professional journey started as a cryptologic mathematician with the U.S. Department of Defense. She later moved into leadership roles within the private sector, including serving as deputy chief technology officer at Lockheed Martin and associate vice president for enterprise solutions at Catapult Technology. During her tenure as chief information security officer at Stryker Corporation, she managed global information security operations and implemented standards for product security.
Between 2012 and 2015, Alissa held the role of deputy chief information officer for the Executive Office under the 44th U.S. President, where she played a key role in modernizing White House IT infrastructure through cloud adoption, virtualization projects, and cybersecurity strategy development. Subsequently, she acted as chief information security officer at Xerox, overseeing enterprise risk management related to information security.
In parallel with her executive positions, Alissa has contributed as an adjunct professor teaching subjects such as statistics, algebra, IT, and leadership at institutions including the University of Maryland, American Public University, South University, University of Phoenix, American Sentinel University, Kaplan University, and College of Southern Maryland. She is also the host of Cybercrime Magazine's Mastering Cyber and CISO 500 podcasts and holds the role of Vice Chairman at BITS, the technology policy division of the Bank Policy Institute. In 2021, she joined the board of directors for Smartsheet.
Mastercard
Since joining Mastercard in 2019 as deputy chief security officer, Alissa has led the Emerging Corporate Security Solutions team. Her responsibilities include protecting Mastercard’s information assets and enhancing the organization’s overall security strategy and posture by implementing modern frameworks such as zero-trust security.
Recognition
Alissa’s contributions have been widely acknowledged within the industry. In 2021, she was recognized among “67 Powerful Black Women CEOs and Executives in Corporate America.” More recently, in 2024, she was highlighted in Women Know Cyber: 150 Fascinating Females Fighting Cybercrime and named one of the Top 30 Cybersecurity Influencers to Follow.