Key Takeaways
- The Chertoff Group has added three new senior advisers: Michael Johnson, Sammy Migues, and John Steven
- The new appointees bring extensive experience in cybersecurity, technical advisory, and government positions
- The additions aim to strengthen the firm’s cybersecurity and technical advisory capabilities
- The new senior advisers will support client efforts in areas such as software security, risk and governance models, compliance, and digital transformation
- The appointments follow a series of additions to the advisory board in 2025, including Mark Koumans, Phil Horvitz, and James Smith
Introduction to The Chertoff Group’s New Appointees
The Chertoff Group, a global security and growth advisory firm, has announced the addition of three new senior advisers to its team. Michael Johnson, Sammy Migues, and John Steven bring a wealth of experience in cybersecurity, technical advisory, and government positions, which will strengthen the firm’s capabilities in these areas. The new appointees will support client efforts in addressing complex cybersecurity challenges and provide expert guidance on software security, risk and governance models, compliance, and digital transformation. According to Michael Chertoff, executive chairman of The Chertoff Group, the collective expertise of the new senior advisers will help clients solve hard problems in the cybersecurity domain.
Who Is Michael Johnson?
Michael Johnson is a seasoned cybersecurity professional with a strong background in both the private sector and government. He previously served as the chief information security officer at Meta Financial Technologies and held multiple senior leadership roles at Capital One. Johnson has also held key government positions, including chief information officer at the Department of Energy and assistant director for intelligence programs and national security systems at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. His experience also includes serving as chief scientist for the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence & Analysis and deputy associate director of national intelligence for information sharing at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Johnson began his career with 13 years at Sandia National Laboratories and five years at Hewlett-Packard, demonstrating his deep understanding of the technical aspects of cybersecurity.
Who Is Sammy Migues?
Sammy Migues is another notable addition to The Chertoff Group’s team of senior advisers. In his new role, Migues will support client cybersecurity efforts covering software security, risk and governance models, compliance, threat modeling, supply chain security, and digital transformation. He is known for developing the Building Security In Maturity Model, a framework that helps organizations assess and improve their software security practices. Migues has a strong background in the private sector, having served as a principal scientist at Synopsys and Cigital, as well as vice president of knowledge management at Cybertrust and chief scientist at iDEFENSE. His expertise in software security and risk management will be invaluable to The Chertoff Group’s clients.
Who Is John Steven?
John Steven is a software and cloud security expert with extensive knowledge of threat modeling, architectural risk analysis, and software-defined security governance and automation. He serves as an adviser to multiple cybersecurity companies, including BoostSecurity.io, ThreatModeler Software, and Security Tinkerers, and is the founding principal of Aedify Security. Steven has a strong track record in the industry, having previously served as chief technology officer at Concourse Labs, ZeroNorth, and Codiscope. He spent over 18 years at Cigital, progressing from senior consultant to internal CTO and senior director. Steven’s expertise in software and cloud security will help The Chertoff Group’s clients navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity threats and develop effective strategies to mitigate them.
Recent Board Appointments
The addition of Michael Johnson, Sammy Migues, and John Steven to The Chertoff Group’s team of senior advisers follows a series of appointments to the advisory board in 2025. In September, Mark Koumans, Phil Horvitz, and James Smith were appointed, while Troy Miller, Eric Leckey, and Jim Williams joined in July. Ron Rowe was appointed in June, and Nathan Sales, Jay Humphlett, and John Mulligan joined in April. These appointments demonstrate The Chertoff Group’s commitment to expanding its expertise and capabilities in cybersecurity and technical advisory services. The firm’s growing team of senior advisers will enable it to provide more comprehensive and effective support to its clients in addressing the evolving threats and challenges in the cybersecurity domain.
