QuSecure appoints Garfield Jones to drive quantum security shift

QuSecure has appointed Garfield Jones as Senior Vice President, Research and Technology Strategy, broadening its leadership team as it pursues further growth in quantum-safe security technologies for public and private sector clients. Jones joins after holding a senior strategic technology role at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, where he coordinated post-quantum cryptography initiatives for the US federal government.

Federal expertise

Jones brings substantial experience from his time at CISA, where he led efforts in developing technology strategies and shaping national policy for post-quantum cryptography. His work included advising multiple federal agencies on preparing for advances in quantum computing and the associated impact on cyber risk. Jones consulted on guidance that contributed to executive branch initiatives aiming to strengthen national cybersecurity infrastructure and promote technological innovation.

At CISA, he collaborated with organisations such as the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the National Cyber Director to manage tasks outlined in recent executive orders and federal memos. He also held the role of Deputy Programme Manager for the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation Programmeme, overseeing systems engineering and architecture for federal information systems. Jones's prior defence sector roles include work for intelligence agencies such as the Office of Naval Intelligence and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

Academic and technical background

Jones holds a Doctor of Engineering degree with a focus on machine learning and artificial intelligence. He is active in academia, holding teaching positions at Morgan State University and the University of Maryland, and has contributed to research in systems engineering. In 2023, Jones was awarded a patent for technology related to cyber threat detection in electronic documents, and he has filed another application for a cyber physical human system modelling method.

During his military career, he served in the Army Reserves for more than two decades, including roles as an Information Systems Warrant Officer, working on defence IT systems and operational architecture. His experience spans both civilian and defence cyber domains, covering the development and deployment of secure systems in high-security environments.

Sector partnerships

QuSecure's client list currently includes military branches, telecommunications firms, energy providers, financial institutions and global cloud services operators. The company has recently secured further financing, increasing its Series A funding to USD $28 million. QuSecure states that it has the largest number of crypto-agility deployments worldwide, providing software designed to help customers adapt encryption schemes as new cryptographic risks emerge.

Product advancement

The company has launched its latest PQC platform, QuProtect R3, which is designed to aid enterprises in the transition to post-quantum encryption standards. The platform is accessible through various channel partners. QuSecure's focus is on enabling clients to detect cryptographic vulnerabilities and enhance organisational defences in anticipation of future advancements in quantum computing.

"With the onset of quantum computing and evolving threats, organizations need to start preparing for post-quantum cryptography, yet conventional cryptographic algorithms are not enough," said Jones. "As the pioneer in cryptographic agility, QuSecure is providing organizations with the most advanced protection so that they can see their vulnerabilities and protect against threats. I am excited to join the team and look forward to expanding our footprint as we help organizations maintain cryptographic hygiene at scale."

Rebecca Krauthamer, Chief Executive Officer at QuSecure, said: "Garfield's deep expertise and proven track record are critical to our growth plans. His experience in working with government agencies as they shift to post-quantum cryptography is invaluable. I am thrilled to welcome Garfield to QuSecure and look forward to working together as we continue to develop first-mover solutions that enable organizations to quickly and seamlessly remediate cryptographic risk and enhance zero-trust security."