Katherine E. Sutton serves as the Assistant Secretary of War for Cyber Policy and the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of War. In these roles, she establishes and oversees the Department of War’s cyberspace policy, strategy, and operations including integration with national cyberspace policy and guidance.  She also provides guidance and oversight on DOW cyberspace activities as they relate to foreign cyberspace threats, international cooperation, and implementation of DOW cyberspace strategy and plans, including those related to cyberspace forces, capabilities, and their employment. As the PCA to SecWar, she exercises authority, direction, and control with respect to administration and support of U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM).

Prior to her appointment as Assistant Secretary, Ms. Sutton served as the Chief Technology Advisor to the Commander and Director of Pentagon Operations at United States Cyber Command. She advised the Commander on engineering strategies and policies related to key strategic initiatives, workforce management, capability development, acquisition, and budget control, ensuring alignment with broader strategic objectives.

Previously, Ms. Sutton served on the Senate Armed Services Committee as a Professional Staff Member, leading the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and managing the spectrum, emerging technology, and science and technology portfolios. She also served on the House Armed Services Committee's Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, focusing on cyber, information technology/cloud, and National Security Agency portfolios.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Sutton spent 15 years at Sandia National Laboratories, working on information assurance, cybersecurity, and non-proliferation projects. Her roles included managing a cybersecurity research and development team and serving as a Congressional Fellow to the House Armed Services Committee. She also served as a technical advisor detailed to the National Nuclear Security Administration for Space-Based Nuclear Detonation Detection. Additionally, she held several technical and leadership roles on the Global Burst Detector Satellite and Nuclear Weapons Use Control Systems programs.

Ms. Sutton is a recipient of the Joint Staff Joint Civilian Service Commendation Medal, the Military Cyber Professionals Association Gold Order of Thor Medal and the Secretary of Energy Achievement Award. She graduated with highest honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and holds a Master of Science from Stanford University in Electrical Engineering. She is active in the Military Cyber Professionals Association and the Capital Dog Training Club.