CenturyLink Cybersecurity Executive to Keynote 9th SWFL Technology Awards Dinner

Dave Mahon presents
“Cybersecurity - Best practices and proactive strategies
to mitigate threats”

R. David (Dave) Mahon, chief security officer, CenturyLink, Inc. and former supervisory special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations will be the keynote speaker at the 9th annual Technology Awards presented by the Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership (RTP).


Mahon’s presentation will be “Cybersecurity - Best practices and proactive strategies to mitigate threats.” The awards dinner is May 17, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza at Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers.

The RTP produces the only technology awards event in southwest Florida and recognizes businesses and professionals with awards for Innovention, Transformation, Women in Technology and Partnership. CenturyLink is the Pinnacle sponsor of the RTP and the Premier sponsors are Hertz, eMaint and 21st Century Oncology. Tickets are available at www.swfrtp.org until May 12.

Mahon’s presentation centers on understanding that breaches will occur and how security executives must work with senior leaders and boards of directors to assess value, measure costs, and identify risk to then properly architect and implement a comprehensive security program. Topics will include perspective from a board of directors, balancing threats versus compliance, dealing with ever increasing regulatory and litigation actions and how to develop a cyber risk management strategy.

Mahon was appointed chief security officer for CenturyLink, Inc. in April 2011. He is responsible for enterprise wide security strategy, information security, cyber defense, critical infrastructure protection, physical security, network fraud and abuse, industrial security, international travel security, threat intelligence, workplace violence prevention, executive protection, investigations, and liaison with the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Council (NSTAC), National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC), as well as federal and state law enforcement and homeland security agencies.

Before the merger with CenturyLink, Inc., Mahon was the vice president of corporate security for Qwest Communications International, Inc., from August 2006 until March 2011 and responsible for similar corporate security programs that he is currently responsible for at CenturyLink, Inc.

Prior to his corporate security positions, Mahon was a supervisory special agent with the FBI and responsible for investigating violations of federal statutes in which the Internet, computer systems and networks were exploited as the targets of terrorist organizations, foreign government sponsored intelligence operations or criminal activities. During his career with the FBI, he also managed programs related to white collar crime, crisis management, critical infrastructure protection and violent crime.

Mahon received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Scranton. He holds numerous certifications from the FBI and the Kellogg School of Management.

He is a member of the U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council, International Security Management Association, Telecommunications Security Association, Domestic Security Advisory Council, and Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI.