OKLAHOMA CITY- “Today, we face the largest IT blackout in history, caused not by a cyber attack or malicious actor, but by human error. This outage has impacted communities and 911 operators, and what we can assume at this time, caused billion dollar losses across the global economy – starkly highlighting the fragility of our interconnected world. 

While today’s events could not have been prevented with a single solution, any set of systems that have the potential to cause massive societal impact in the event of failure—such as the 9/11 communication outages for first responders—must have right-sized regulations that protect human life and ensure economic stability. 

Presently, the critical infrastructure and financial sectors have requirements that ensure the classification of systems that could be single points of failure, yet misclassification and outdated regulations persist. In many cases, existing regulations are not properly tailored to specific industries. This issue is compounded by the fact that governing bodies struggle to keep pace with rapid technological change — leading to a disconnect in understanding the underlying technology, its dependencies, capabilities, cost of implementation, and workforce limitations.

This gap between our regulatory landscape and the demands of the rapid advancement of technology impacting society are widening. To address today’s critical challenges, we need leaders who have expertise in technology, enabling Congress to effectively collaborate with the private sector to drive solutions. The technology we use today, which fits in a device smaller than a deck of cards, has the potential to disrupt critical infrastructure like our electric grid. To safeguard our future, we need elected leaders who not only grasp the gravity of this technological reality but also have the expertise to address and mitigate these risks effectively.

With 15 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, I bring a deep insight into complex technological issues. If elected, I will be the most credentialed cybersecurity lawmaker in U.S. history. My leadership transcends partisan divides, focusing on practical solutions. By bridging the gap between technology and policy, I will address workforce development, AI regulation, and trust in government. My candidacy represents a path toward bipartisan cooperation to confront our nation’s complex challenges.”