Meet Robert Giesler

Defense Science Board Co-Chair for Congressional-mandated Future of Cyber Warfare Task Force & US Army Veteran

Robert J. Giesler has over 45 years of experience in national security specializing in strategy development, policy, and senior management. He currently is a policy and strategy consultant for several companies, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab and multiple US agencies.  He also serves on the Board of Advisors to several US corporations.  He recently was nominated for the Defense Science Board and co-chairs a Congressional-mandated Future of Cyber Warfare Task Force.  He has been a non-resident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council since 2021.  

He previously served as the Director, Strategy Coordination, Office of the Secretary of Defense from December 2017 to December 2019.  As Director, he designed and managed a prototype multi-agency national program responding directly to National Security Strategy objectives.  

He served as Chief, Strategy and Plans, DoD Strategic Capabilities Office between 2012 and 2016.  In that capacity, he focused on developing innovative capabilities to enhance deterrence, crisis management, and warfighting include cyber, intelligence, Special Forces, and information management solutions.   

Between 2008 and 2012, he was the Senior Vice President for Cyber Programs, SAIC.  At SAIC, he was responsible for developing corporate-wide strategies, programs, inorganic growth, and investments in all facets of the cyber domain.  

Prior to coming to SAIC, Mr. Giesler was a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service and served as the Director, Information Operations and Strategic Studies in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and, earlier, as the Director for a Defense Department Special Mission Unit.  

Mr. Giesler is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the Defense Intelligence College Post-Graduate Intelligence Program. Among his awards are:  The Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.