Liesyl Franz is senior policy advisor in the Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues at the U.S. Department of State. There, she joins the team coordinating international engagement and policy as laid out in the U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace issued by President Obama in May 2011 particularly working on cyber issues with Europe, contributing to Internet governance issues and processes, and engaging with the private sector on the various cyber issues of multi-stakeholder concern.
Previously, she was vice president for cybersecurity and global public policy at TechAmerica, working with industry and government leaders on such issues as cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection and Internet governance. Liesyl joined TechAmerica from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where she served as deputy director for outreach and awareness and director for international affairs and public policy at the National Cyber Security Division (NCSD). She led programs in the areas of global affairs, public policy, communications and messaging as well as stakeholder outreach, building international partnerships, managing National Cyber Security Awareness Month events, and coordinating public relations for key events, such as the Cyber Storm National Cyber Exercise and various conferences.
Prior to her service at DHS, Liesyl was director for global government affairs at EDS Corporation working on cybersecurity, privacy, financial services, and trade issues, and she worked with the Coalition of Service Industries where she managed industry’s participation and input into services trade negotiations in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Liesyl has received a Department of State Meritorious Honor Award for recognition of her work and was recognized by the Women’s High Tech Coalition with the Women in Cyber Security Award for her contribution to public-private partnerships and international collaboration in cyber security. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Texas at Austin and an MA from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.