Leadership in cybersecurity demands not just technical expertise but strategic foresight, operational resilience, and a people-first mindset. One such leader constantly embodying these qualities is Douglas Lemott Jr., a seasoned executive with more than three decades of cybersecurity, IT, and national defense experience spanning across both public and private sectors.
Lemott has a track record of excellence from both the U.S. Marine Corps as well as multiple Fortune 500 companies. He now serves as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Analysis and Resilience Center for Systemic Risk (ARC). ARC is an organization focused on identifying and mitigating systemic threats to U.S. economic and national security infrastructure.
A Distinguished Career in Service and Security
Douglas Lemott Jr. began his professional journey in the United States Marine Corps, serving with distinction for 27 years. His career was marked by leadership roles that ranged from tactical operations to enterprise-level IT and cybersecurity strategy.
Among his most notable achievements was his leadership of the Marine Corps Cyberspace Operations Group (MCCOG). In this role, he was responsible for the security and defense of the Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN), which supported over 300,000 users. He also led the Network Operations Center, as well as the Security Operations Center. In this position, he oversees efforts to protect critical systems from persistent cyber threats.
In his final active-duty role, Lemott was charged with executing CIO and CISO functions for the Marine Corps. This is where he supported the Marine Corps Authorizing Official. These responsibilities laid the foundation for his post-military career, seamlessly bridging the gap between national defense and enterprise cybersecurity.
Transition to the Private Sector
Following his military retirement, Douglas Lemott Jr. transitioned to the private sector. This is where he applied his leadership and strategic skills in complex cybersecurity environments. At VMware, he served as Director of Security and Compliance for the government, education, and healthcare (GEH) sectors. He led compliance efforts aligned with frameworks such as FedRAMP, FIPS, and HIPAA, all while helping corporate and business units achieve cybersecurity readiness.
Later, Lemont became Vice President of Security Operations and Deputy CISO at SAP National Security Services (SAP NS2). In this position, Lemott established and led a comprehensive cybersecurity program that protected applications, infrastructure, and global cloud platforms. His portfolio included overseeing secure multi-tenant cloud environments that supported SAP platform products worldwide.
Leadership at ARC
Now at ARC, Lemott leads secure technology initiatives that enhance member collaboration in combating systemic risk to critical economic and national systems. His current role as CISO is deeply strategic. He is responsible for developing infrastructure that supports secure data sharing and risk resilience among key stakeholders. He also focuses on designing systems that comply with regulatory and operational security standards, while also maintaining flexibility to adapt to an evolving threat environment.
Mentorship Rooted in Experience
For Lemott, mentorship is not an obligation, but an integral part of leadership. Throughout his career, he has been shaped by mentors who emphasized trust, clarity of intent, and strategic patience. In the Marine Corps, an early mentor instilled in him the value of intent-based leadership, emphasizing the “why” behind every mission.
In the private sector, a former CISO taught him that cybersecurity is not about achieving perfection but about building resilience. These lessons continue to shape how he mentors the next generation of cybersecurity leaders.
His approach to mentorship is grounded in both practicality and transparency. He encourages emerging leaders to evolve from problem solvers to problem definers. “In both military operations and cybersecurity, success often depends less on having the right answers and more on asking the right questions,” Lemott explains.
He gives mentees the freedom to take on stretch assignments, paired with the support needed to navigate uncertainty. He also shares his setbacks, emphasizing that authentic leadership is built on self-awareness, adaptability, and reflection.
Adapting Mentorship Across Sectors
Lemott’s mentoring style has evolved. In the Marine Corps, his mentorship leaned on structure and accountability. In the private sector, especially within multidisciplinary cybersecurity teams, it has become more nuanced.
He now mentors with a greater emphasis on emotional intelligence, curiosity, and listening. “In cybersecurity, where ambiguity is the norm, it’s critical to guide people through it rather than try to eliminate it,” he says.
He focuses on helping professionals build their confidence in navigating ambiguity, supporting their growth in real-time scenarios where clear-cut answers are rarely available. The result is a mentorship approach that values both clarity and flexibility. This has become a model well-suited to today’s dynamic threat landscape.
Influences That Continue to Shape Leadership
A piece of advice that transformed Lemott’s approach to decision-making came during a national security assignment. “Speed is important, but clarity is critical.” This principle helped him shift from reactive decision-making to intentional leadership.
He now emphasizes understanding the context before acting. This is whether in a national security mission or a corporate cyber response. By pausing to clarify roles, assumptions, and outcomes, Lemott fosters more thoughtful and impactful decisions.
Identifying and Growing Talent
In both the Marine Corps and the private sector, Lemott has developed a keen eye for identifying leadership potential. He believes that emerging leaders don’t always stand out immediately. “Often, it’s the ones with quiet ownership, curiosity, and a willingness to tackle complexity who are best positioned to grow,” he notes.
Once identified, these individuals are offered real-world opportunities. Not just extra tasks, but stretch roles that offer both challenge and visibility. Lemott encourages his mentees to brief executives, lead initiatives, and be part of strategic conversations. This eventually helps them build the confidence and context they’ll need in senior roles.
He also emphasizes a feedback-rich environment. “I don’t just ask, ‘How did you perform?’ I ask, ‘What did you learn?’” This question signals his belief in learning as the true metric of leadership development.
The Value of Ongoing Mentorship
Douglas Lemott Jr. doesn’t just give mentorship; he actively maintains relationships with his own mentors. As his career has progressed, he’s shifted from mentee to peer by engaging in mutual dialogue and shared learning. These relationships help keep his leadership grounded in the values and perspectives that have shaped his career.
“Even as responsibilities grow, the most valuable lessons often come from those who knew you earlier in your journey,” he reflects. He makes it a point to reach out regularly. Sometimes, just to share insights, ask for perspective, or even reflect on a new challenge.
A Legacy of Leadership Through Others
Looking back, Lemott finds the most fulfillment not in personal achievements, but in the successes of those he’s mentored. “The greatest reward is seeing someone you coached take on a tough challenge and lead with confidence and integrity,” he shares. Whether it’s a junior Marine or a first-time manager in a corporate setting, he takes pride in cultivating leaders who pay it forward.
For Douglas Lemott Jr., leadership is not a destination. It’s a continuous process of learning, mentoring, and adapting. From safeguarding national systems to building cybersecurity teams across industries, his career is a model of strategic foresight, humility, and enduring service.