Alumni Spotlight: Priscille Guthrie

Class of 1984

Degree:

Masters of Business Administration

Current Role:

Director of a Research Firm

Priscilla Guthrie joined the Institute for Defense Analyses as the ITSD Fellow after serving as the Special Command Advisor, Cyber Security/Information Technology/Information Assurance for U.S. Cyber Command. Prior to that, she was a VP at ViaSat, Inc. In 2009, she was confirmed by the Senate as the Intelligence Community Chief Information Officer. Prior to that, she was the Director of the Information Technology and Systems Division at IDA and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Deputy Chief Information Officer).Before moving to the Pentagon, Priscilla was a VP of TRW Inc. where she worked in, and led business units in defense/intelligence, automotive and information technology. Priscilla supports various advisory groups for the Department of Defense, primarily in the areas of cybersecurity and information technology, including the USSTRATCOM Strategic Advisory Group and the Defense Science Board, and several outside advisory boards including Penn State’s Outreach and Online Advisory Board, and the Society of Distinguished Alumni executive board. Locally, she supports the Falls Church City Habitat Restoration Team. She has a B.S.E.E. from the Pennsylvania State University and an M.B.A. from Marymount College. 

What advice do you have for current students? 

Avail yourself of the amazing resources the University provides – particularly the people. You may not know how you’ll use it, but I’ll bet you’ll be surprised at how many times you suddenly see how things fit together and realize the value of what you learned.