Karlen knows that for organizations navigating today’s threat landscape, technology leadership is not just about systems—it is about resilience. With more than twenty years of IT and cybersecurity experience, Karlen serves as a trusted technology advisor, helping organizations manage risk, respond to incidents, and strengthen their security posture.
While his foundation is built on deep cybersecurity and program leadership expertise, Karlen’s true value lies in guiding executives through high-stakes decisions. As a former cybersecurity incident commander, he has led senior leadership through complex incidents, balancing business impact, risk mitigation, and operational continuity. He has also led global teams of program managers, engineers, and consultants responsible for implementation, training, optimization, and ongoing operations.
Areas of Impact:
- Cybersecurity Leadership: Incident response, risk mitigation, and executive-level security guidance.
- Technology Advisory: Strategic IT planning, security architecture, and operational resilience.
- Interim Leadership: Serving as interim CIO/CISO to provide stability and direction during periods of change.
Karlen holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University and an MBA from The University of Texas. He is a Project Management Professional, GIAC Certified Incident Handler, and ITIL v3 Expert, and is affiliated with ISACA and (ISC)². He brings this multidisciplinary expertise to organizations across construction, energy, manufacturing, private equity, real estate, and technology to help them operate securely and confidently.
