Former federal CISO DeRusha joins Google Cloud

Former federal Chief Information Security Officer Chris DeRusha has joined Google Cloud to serve as its global public sector compliance director, the company announced Tuesday.

DeRusha “will focus on the expansion of Google Cloud’s growing suite of innovative products and services — across AI, cloud computing, security — to the public sector, both domestically and internationally,” said the company. He started June 17, a company spokesperson told Nextgov/FCW.

DeRusha served in the federal CISO role since his appointment in early 2021 and stepped down from the position last month. At the time, he also served as deputy national cyber director for federal cybersecurity in the Office of the National Cyber Director. During his time as federal cyber chief, DeRusha spearheaded multiple cyber initiatives including the federal zero trust strategy and expanded software security efforts.

He will report to Jeanette Manfra, Google Cloud’s global director of security and compliance. 

“As adoption of cloud solutions are expanding to meet new challenges … Chris’s unparalleled experience designing and implementing cutting-edge security and critical infrastructure programs in both the private and public sectors will be invaluable to our Google Cloud team and our global public sector customers,” Manfra said in a statement.

Before joining OMB in 2021, DeRusha worked as the CISO for President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, and before that he worked as the chief security officer for the state of Michigan. DeRusha has also previously worked in industry, in addition to holding government positions at the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Homeland Security. 

He won Fed 100 honors in 2023, largely for his work implementing governmentwide cybersecurity directives.