Rich Neely
Executive VP and General Manager of Operations, Intelligence, and Services
Major General (ret.) Rich Neely is the Executive Vice President and General Manager for Operations, Intelligence, and Services (OIS) at the Center for Internet Security® (CIS®). Reporting to the President and CEO, he directs the strategy, performance, and financial stewardship of CIS’s operational portfolio, delivering critical cybersecurity services to U.S. State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) governments. In this role, he oversees the organizations that operate the Multi-State and Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centers® (MS-ISAC® and EI-ISAC®), directing a diverse suite of products and services designed to harden nationwide cyber resilience through strategic technology partnerships and member-focused initiatives.
Neely concluded his distinguished military career as the 40th Adjutant General of Illinois, serving on the Governor's cabinet and commanding both the Illinois Army and Air National Guard with a formation exceeding 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen. As an Air Force Master Cyber Officer, he holds the distinction of being the first Adjutant General in the nation with cyber expertise. During his tenure at the Pentagon, Neely served as the Air National Guard's Chief Information Officer (CIO), overseeing enterprise network operations across 90 Wings, and responsible for all deployable communications units, Cyber and Space Operational units bringing deep operational experience across the Air, Intelligence, Space, Communications, and Cyber domains. He also served as the National Guard's Chief of Current Operations (J33), functioning as the principal point of contact for all National Guard Domestic Operations, Defense Support to Civil Authorities, and crisis management coordination with federal interagency partners across all 54 states and territories.
His career reflects a consistent record of leadership in high-stakes environments. Neely established the first Illinois National Guard Election Protection team in 2018 to support local election authorities and directed military planning for the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago — one of the largest National Special Security Events conducted outside the National Capital Region. These efforts underscore his enduring commitment to both national security and the protection of democratic institutions.
Following his military retirement and prior to joining CIS, Neely served as a program advisor at George Mason University, focusing on cybersecurity; Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT); and disruptive technologies. Concurrently, he served on the boards of several organizations. He is widely recognized as a national leader at the intersection of cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, emergency management, and national security, and he is a sought-after speaker before prominent audiences including U.S. Northern Command, the National Governors Association, and the Armed Forces Policy Board. He has delivered international keynote addresses before the Association of Business Service Leaders in Poland.
Neely holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Science in Information Leadership/CIO as well as holds several professional certifications. His highest military decoration includes the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal. He also received the Polish Commander's Cross with Silver Star Order of Merit awarded from the President of Poland and the Distinguished Service Medal (Illinois) awarded by the Governor of Illinois.
