TechNet Cyber 2026

Alex Hornberger
Chief Engineer, Zero Trust Portfolio
Defense Information Systems Agency


Alex Hornberger is the chief engineer for the Zero Trust Portfolio for the Defense Information Systems Agency’s PEO Cyber. In this position, he spearheads the integration of Zero Trust architecture across DISA, the Fourth Estate, and other Department of Defense components. Prior to joining DISA, Hornberger was the DISA team lead for the August Shell Enterprise, where he focused on delivering real-time operational awareness through big data capabilities to a diverse user base. Prior to that, he led impactful programs such as the Joint Regional Security Stack, classified mobility initiatives, and the development of security technical implementation guides. Hornberger focuses on harnessing machine learning to enable real-time capability deployment. His vision for Thunderdome centers on providing an immediate, dynamic response to access requests, security incidents, and other critical operational events. Hornberger is a graduate and undergraduate professor at Towson University, where he teaches computer science and cybersecurity.

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