About the Director, Independent Verification and Validation
Michael P. Ashworth
Director, Independent Verification and Validation
Director, Independent Verification and Validation
Mr. Michael Ashworth joined the Department of Interior's Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) as the Director for Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) in January 2011. As the Director, Mr. Ashworth leads a division whose mission it is to enhance oversight and accountability in all facets of the Department's information technology (IT) program. Additionally, IV&V provides subject matter expertise on the establishment and testing of internal controls over information technology processes.
Mr. Ashworth first joined the Department in February 2006 as the Department's Enterprise Services Network (ESN) Security Manager. As the ESN Security Manager, he served as the senior expert and consultant on matters pertaining to the security of information and information systems supporting Interior's assets. Mr. Ashworth also served with the Department's Inspector General's Office as the Director, Information Security Division (ISD). As the Director, he led information security evaluations, including the annual evaluation conducted under the Federal Information Security Management Act. As the Director, ISD, Mr. Ashworth won the coveted Inspector General's Award for Excellence for his groundbreaking work on the need to consolidate and realign the Department's IT program.
Prior to joining the Department of the Interior, Mr. Ashworth was the Director, IT Security and Compliance for Nextel Communications, a Fortune 200 telecommunications and wireless data company headquartered in Reston, VA. Prior to his career at Nextel, he spent more than 12 years with the United States Air Force where he served as Special Agent, Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
Mr. Ashworth holds a Master of Education degree, a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Education, and an Associate degree in Criminal Justice. Most recently, he graduated from Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX. While attending Wayland, he was on the President's List for academic achievement and graduated with a 4.0 grade point average.
Mr. Ashworth maintains several professional certifications, including: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP), Information Systems Security Management Professional (ISSMP), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise Information Technology (CGEIT), and Certified Information System Auditor (CISA).
In his professional career, he has lived in Newmarket, U.K., Western Texas, Southern Florida, and Northern Virginia.