Keith Jones

Mr. Jones is the Founder, President, and CEO of The Edgewater Group DC, a firm that provides advisory and consultation services to both industry partners and the federal government. The primary mission of The Edgewater Group DC is to assist small, mid-sized, and minority-owned businesses with strategic acquisitions across the federal government, while also offering comprehensive advisory services to major industry partners in both the federal and private sectors. Under his leadership, the firm has become a trusted advisor, known for its strategic insights and commitment to fostering growth and innovation.

Mr. Jones was appointed by President Biden as a Day One Appointee, serving as Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Department of State from January 20, 2020, through 2022. His career as a political appointee and career DHS Senior Executive (SES) exemplifies his steadfast dedication to public service, leadership, and the recognition of our Nation’s most valuable asset—its people. He is a distinguished former federal senior executive with over 39 years of experience in high-impact roles. He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2008.

Mr. Jones serves as a Consultant Advisor to industry leaders. As a proven leader, innovator, strategist, and mentor/coach supporting the Homeland Security Mission since its inception in 2003, Mr. Jones has championed enterprise efforts across the U.S. Department of State, USCIS, and DHS. He brings a wealth of expertise in IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, mobility, cloud computing, data centers, national security, and acquisition. Additionally, he has successfully implemented proven methodologies across various departments and agencies, supporting the adoption of cybersecurity, modern technologies, and methodologies, while fostering significant workforce cultural shifts.

During his tenure as a political appointee, Mr. Jones had oversight of the State Department CIO’s $1.3 billion IT operational budget and managed a $3.5 billion global IT portfolio, servicing a 90,000-person workforce operating in over 200 countries and 294 embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions around the world. His leadership ensured the efficient allocation of resources and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies to enhance the Department’s operational capabilities. He also played a pivotal role in overseeing USCIS’s $950 million IT budget, driving initiatives that improved service delivery and operational efficiency.

In his role as Chief Information Officer (A) and Principal Deputy Chief Information Officer for USCIS, Mr. Jones managed agency-wide CIO initiatives from acquisition todelivery, overseeing an annual budget of $1.1 billion and executing a $1.3 billion budget for service delivery to over 25,000 customers. He also served in the capacity of Southeast Regional Director at USCIS, supporting agency field offices and providing oversight and guidance, as well as administering the Oath of Allegiance to new American citizens.

As Deputy Executive Director of the DHS Headquarters Information Technology Services Office, Mr. Jones managed department-wide infrastructure services with an annual budget of $800 million, delivering services to approximately 8,500 headquarters customers. His primary focus was on integrating, consolidating, and transforming component infrastructures into a unified, world-class system to support the demands of over 250,000 DHS employees, while leading a diverse workforce of program executives and staff.

Prior to his headquarters appointment, Mr. Jones served as Deputy Chief Information Officer at DHS U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and held various leadership positions dating back to the former Immigration and Naturalization Service.

In addition to his professional achievements, Mr. Jones is dedicated to mentoring and coaching federal executives and staff across the U.S. federal government, as well as in the private sector. His guidance has been instrumental in developing the next generation of leaders, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of modern IT and cybersecurity landscapes.

Mr. Jones’s extensive experience and strategic vision have made him a respected figure in the field of IT and cybersecurity. His contributions have not only advanced the missions of the organizations he has served but have also had a lasting impact on the broader federal IT community.