CISO Leadership, Trust & Non-Negotiables with Dan Lohrmann

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole welcomes a true cybersecurity trailblazer: Dan Lohrmann. With a career that spans the NSA, Lockheed Martin, the State of Michigan, and now Presidio, Dan brings a rare depth of experience in both government and the private sector. As the first Chief Security Officer for an entire U.S. state and now a Field CISO advising public sector clients across the country, Dan shares practical wisdom and compelling stories about navigating the evolving CISO landscape.

Together, Dr. Cole and Dan explore what it takes to build lasting trust as a security leader, the importance of strengthening your personal brand, and how to overcome barriers when leadership resists public visibility. Dan emphasizes the power of public speaking, blogging, and storytelling—not just to elevate your own profile, but to position cybersecurity as a strategic business enabler.

They also dive into the value of setting clear non-negotiables when evaluating job opportunities, the role of culture and leadership alignment in long-term success, and tactical advice for those trying to land their first CISO role. Whether you’re in government, the private sector, or somewhere in between, this episode is a masterclass in influence, resilience, and leadership at the highest level.























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Show Notes:
1:00 - Introduction to the Episode & Guest
3:00 - Importance of Personal Branding
5:00 - Overcoming Visibility Resistance
10:00 - Non-Negotiables When Evaluating Roles
13:00 - How Dan Landed His First CISO Role
15:00 - Lessons from Creating a Role and Breaking In
17:00 - Practical Advice: Paths to Becoming a CISO
20:00 - Top Three Overlooked CISO Skills
25:00 - The Five Relationship Scorecard
28:00 - Rise of the Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
31:00- Final Advice: Take More Risks










About Dr. Eric Cole
Eric Cole, DPS., is an industry-recognized security expert with over 20 years of hands-on experience in consulting, training, and public speaking. As the founder and CEO of Secure Anchor Consulting, Dr. Cole focuses on helping customers prevent security breaches, detect network intrusions, and respond to advanced threats. In addition, he is a sought-after expert witness and a 2014 inductee to the Info Security Hall of Fame.

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