James A. Walters, CISSP, CCSP, SSCP, CC
President 2024
James Walters is a technologist with over 25 years’ experience. James is currently the Chief Information Systems Officer (CISO) for Chesterfield County IT. Previous to this role James worked at Northrop Grumman Corporation as an Enterprise Services Operation Manager supporting managed IT services for the Virginia Information Technologies Agency and the Virginia executive branch agencies.
James is well-versed in cybersecurity, networking, systems administration and field services operations. He has held increasingly higher information technology roles in support of commercial, state and local government customers.
James' experience includes certifications and training from vendors such as; Cisco, CompTIA, DRII, Dell, EMC, EXIN, HDI, HP, ITIL, ISACA, ISC2, Microsoft and VMware. James completed information security management training from the University of California, Irvine in 2012.
James has been involved with CompTIA as a subject matter expert since 2016 for both the CompTIA Security+, Cyber Security Analyst+ and CASP+ exams. James maintains the A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, CySA+, CASP+, Cloud+ and Project+ CompTIA certifications.
James lives in Chesterfield County, Virginia with his spouse Shea and has two grown daughters.
James holds the ISC2 CISSP, CCSP, SSCP, and CC certifications.
Tanya M. Nacey, CISSP
Vice-President 2024
For the past 5 years, Tayna has engaged the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Cybersecurity contractor with SAIC, and senior leader supporting the Commonwealth of Virginia IT Agency. I am currently Chief Security Architect managing Security Architects and Cyber Analysts responsible for ensuring Supplier services remain compliant as they adapt to meet evolving Commonwealth business requirements. Together, my teams provide information security governance and oversight of all enterprise services provided to Commonwealth agencies, across dozens of Suppliers.
She has 12 years of experience in VA state government as an IT Manager, Security Engineer, and Information Security Officer for a state Agency. She worked with teams to build secure consumer services and systems, and identifying cost reducing measures through evaluation of controls, thereby enabling business areas to operate securely. She remains a key contact to facilitate conversations with Agency Leadership about enterprise security strategies to safeguard information assets and ensuring compliance with Federal, state, and local regulations.
In her career and personal life, she looks for opportunities to volunteer her time and resources to enrich experiences for people starting out in Cybersecurity. She is a licensed ISC2® CISSP, and ITIL4 practitioner, and current ISC2 RVA chapter member. She is looking forward to more volunteering for the Center for Cyber Safety & Education community outreach in Richmond VA, and as a member of Women in Cybersecurity [WiCyS]. She is also blessed to be a Virginia Public Sector Leader II Program 2017-2018 graduate, and occasional speaker to new Commonwealth Agency cohorts, as well as a DBHDS System Leadership Program 2016-2017 graduate, and occasional speaker to new Agency Leaders. She has acquired her B.S. in IT Information Systems and Security, enjoys learning about new technologies and how to secure them, and is working on becoming Cloud certified.
Before she moved to Virginia, she lived in California and worked as a Home Loan Underwriter and Certified Paralegal. It may not surprise you to know it was an easy transition into risk-based security management. She is passionate about Cyber education and volunteering in my community contributing where she can. She is an avid lover of animals, and the outdoors, where I enjoying camping, running, paddle boarding, hiking, mountain biking, and yoga with my family and friends. Here husband works to enable the aging population to remain in their homes in later years, by providing customized and affordable home modification solutions. her son is an entrepreneur who started four companies before the age of 30, refining, maintaining, and growing two of them. Her cat, Amelia spends her time glued to her whenever she is home [if she is not sleeping], and her other children by Marriage are enjoying successful lives working as an Environmental Engineer, and a Mechanical Engineer.
Tayna holds the ISC2 CISSP certification.
Nick Kuriger, CISSP, CCSP
Treasurer 2024
Nick Kuriger is a 24-year information technology professional with most of that time in a leadership or professorial role. He has directed IT departments in the non-profit, commercial construction, business services and government sectors always having a role in cybersecurity. Currently he is the Director of Information Technology and the Information Security Officer for the Virginia State Bar. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor of Information Technology for Brightpoint Community College and Community College Workforce Alliance teaching cybersecurity and cloud computing subjects. He holds over 75 certifications in cybersecurity and IT including (ISC2)’s CISSP and CCSP.
Prior to going into Information technology, Mr. Kuriger served in the U.S Navy and Virginia Army National Guard as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. He is continues his service as an NCO with the Virginia Defense Force’s 31ST Cyber Battalion as well as with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary as a Cyber Auxiliarist. His military decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (2 Awards), Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Award (2 Awards) and various campaign medals.
Mr. Kuriger currently lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife Allyson and three children.
Nick holds the ISC2 CISSP and CCSP certification.
David Leonard, CISSP, CCSP
Secretary 2024
Born in Richmond Virginia, David lived in several cities around the United States before eventually returning to be closer with family. His love of knowing how things work led him originally to study economics and obtain a Bachelor of Science from George Mason University. His knack for computers caused him to switch gears, returning to school to pursue a Bachelor of Science in computer science, graduating with the highest honors from ECPI.
Right after graduation he worked as an Incident Responder for General Electric responsible for start to finish analysis of security incidents generated by some 400,000 users and one million endpoints across the globe. He currently works at another Fortune 500 company and has also worked as lead SOC analyst at a bank, an analyst for an MSSP, and product developer for a DC-based startup. He lives in Richmond with his bearded dragons and two cats. As well as several other industry certifications, David became a full ISC2 CISSP in 2023.
Brianna Lehnert, CISSP
Membership-Chair 2024
Brianna Lehnert achieved CISSP in 2021 and have recently moved to Charlottesville, VA. She lived the last 6 years in England building up IT Infrastructure and heading the IT department for the National Institute of Agricultural Botany. Her key projects in this role included introduction of two factor authentication and gaining the Cyber Essentials Plus certification (the UK government benchmark for private corporation information security, validated by a third party) for the company for the first time.
She has worked in IT for 9 years, including positions supporting the FDA and USMC
Her hobbies include sewing historic garments and gardening when she can. She has a playful 3 year old daughter and giggling 4 month old son keep her husband and her very busy.
Brianna holds the ISC2 CISSP certification.