Jennifer R. Franks

Jennifer R. Franks is the director of the Center for Enhanced Cybersecurity within GAO’s IT and cybersecurity team, where she oversees reviews that focus on emerging cybersecurity issues and assessing an agency’s ability to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its sensitive data and computing infrastructure. Her multidisciplinary teams actively review agencies’ computer security vulnerabilities across their enterprise-wide computing environment by assessing program management compliance and recommended technical controls in accordance with federal guidance and leading practices. She also leads reviews in IT management and operations, financial management, data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a certified facilitator of agency new hire and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility courses. Ms. Franks holds a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Hampton University and a master’s degree in information security policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University.