Samuel Alva serves as the Cybersecurity Advisor for region IIV. As a CSA, Samuel contributes to the development of the national risk picture by assisting with the identification, assessment, monitoring, and minimizing of risk to critical infrastructure. Samuel engages as a physical and cyber technical security advisor with Federal, State, local, tribal and territorial government mission partners and members of the private sector stakeholder communities. CSAs serve as the link to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) infrastructure protection resources; coordinate security and resiliency assessments, training, and provide a vital link for information sharing in steady-state and during incident response.

Prior to DHS, Samuel worked in the civilian sector as director of business development and weapons and tactics. His roles in included developing new and continuing business in the State of Kansas. He also conducted numerous risk and vulnerability assessments to include physical and cyber infrastructure analysis. Samuel has expertise in Operational Technology (OT) to include industrial control systems, surveillance systems, access control systems, intrusion detection systems (IDS) and advanced sensor technology. Samuel also assisted in developing the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency first cyber-physical systems curriculum. Samuel also is a co-author for Interagency Security Committee First Security Convergence: Achieving Integrated Security guide. Samuel also taught cyber-physical system fundamentals at Wichita States University, it’s a first of its kind, bridging the gap between cyber and physical security.

Samuel is also a retired member of the Kansas Air National Guard, with over 21 years of service. Samuel served many roles in Air Force and Kansas Air National Guard to include Security Forces Team Member, Phoenix Raven Team Member, and a Member of 177th Information Aggressor Squadron. As a Phoenix Raven, Samuel helped detect, deter and counter threats to AMC aircraft by performing close-in aircraft security, advising aircrews on force protection measures. The 177th Information Aggressor Squadron is an NSA-certified Red Team unit, responsible for conducting full-spectrum threat assessments to identify and mitigate physical and network vulnerabilities for participating Department of Defense units.

Samuel has earned an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice from the Community College of the Air Force, Associate of Applied Science in Information Systems Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Security Management from Southwestern College, and a Master of Arts degree in Security Administration from Southwestern College.