Rizwan Jan is a seasoned technology executive with over two decades of experience in planning, developing, delivering, and monitoring technical solutions for Fortune 500 companies and not-for-profit organizations. As the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at The CNA Corporation, Rizwan leads the organization’s IT strategy, ensuring the delivery of all information and technology capabilities required for CNA’s mission.
Prior to joining CNA, Rizwan served as the CIO and Chief Information Security Officer for the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF), where he guided the development and implementation of an information security program. He also led a digital transformation of IT service delivery through workflow automation and engagement growth.
Rizwan’s career includes roles at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he led the Incident Response team to detect, prevent, and respond to cybersecurity incidents. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration in Finance from Frostburg State University and various technical professional certifications, including CISSP and CTPRP.
Rizwan is an active member of several advisory boards and committees, including the Capital CIO, IQPC – Enterprise Digitalization, and the Cyber Security Tribe. He is also an FBI Citizens Academy member.
From Art to IT – The ArtITst
Rizwan’s professional journey has had its share of unexpected turns, but growth has always been a central theme. Initially, he wasn’t even considering a career in IT. He was passionate about art and architecture and wanted to pursue that path. However, his parents encouraged him to explore other options, which led him to Frostburg State University in Maryland, where he earned a degree in finance. But after graduation, he quickly realized that finance wasn’t the right fit for him.
Rizwan’s career began in IT with a help desk role, then moved to desktop support. Over time, he worked his way up, and now he serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at CNA. Throughout his journey, Rizwan has focused on growth—not just through technology, but by cultivating meaningful relationships. That has turned out to be his true passion.
A major influence on his journey has been Rizwan’s father, who is blind. Growing up, he watched his father navigate the world with incredible determination and resilience. His ability to face challenges every day without letting them hold him back was a powerful motivator for Rizwan. His example instilled in him a deep sense of purpose and the drive to always push himself to be better. He taught Rizwan to never settle for less, to overcome obstacles, and to always find solutions—no matter how tough the situation. That mindset has guided him throughout his career, especially in the fast-evolving world of IT and cybersecurity. His strength continues to inspire Rizwan to strive for excellence in both his professional and personal life.
The Organization Working for Security
The CNA Corporation is an independent, nonprofit research and analysis organization dedicated to safeguarding the nation’s security for over 80 years. It provides critical support to leaders facing complex challenges, utilizing a scientific, real-world approach to data. Its expertise spans military and domestic issues, with the CNA focusing on military matters and the Institute for Public Research addressing national and community challenges.
The team is made up of a diverse group of specialists—including mathematicians, engineers, physicists, chemists, economists, and experts in international relations, homeland security, public health, and data science—who collaborate to solve some of the nation’s most pressing problems.
CNA’s mission is rooted in delivering exceptional research that meets these challenges, always striving to stay at the forefront of change and progress. Throughout its history, the organization has remained steadfast in its commitment to excellence, continually adapting to new tools and technologies. As a leading organization in research and analysis for national security, the quality and rigor of its work are essential to its reputation. “We adhere to strict regulations governing IT infrastructure and security, including NISPOM and DCSA standards, ensuring the highest levels of security and compliance in everything we do,” says Rizwan.
An Exciting and Challenging Role
What motivated Rizwan to join CNA was the opportunity to be part of an organization with such a strong legacy in national security and analysis, and to play a key role in its digital transformation. The chance to shift how we view and use technology—moving away from seeing IT as just a support function and instead recognizing it as a driver of innovation, growth, and value—was incredibly exciting. As CIO, Rizwan has already tackled the challenge of making IT a strategic partner within the business, and he’s proud to say that they’re now in year three of their roadmap.
What excites Rizwan most about his role is the ability to influence how technology has reshaped the organization. The challenge of aligning IT with business objectives and driving a mindset shift to see technology as an enabler, not just an expense, is both exciting and rewarding. There’s a massive opportunity to use IT not just to support the current structure, but to actively shape future opportunities, improve efficiencies, and unlock new ways of delivering value to the clients. The idea of proactively anticipating trends, instead of simply reacting to them, and pushing boundaries is what motivates him every day.
Looking ahead, Rizwan shares that the challenges continue to evolve. One of the key areas they’re focusing on is continuing to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their capabilities, particularly in automating research analysis. AI will help CNA scale its operations, improve accuracy, and speed up decision-making. By automating certain aspects of research and analysis, it can unlock deeper insights and create more innovative solutions for its clients, ultimately driving greater efficiency and value.
“These advancements will be crucial as we continue to stay ahead of the curve and remain at the forefront of technological transformation. The real trick is not just being aware of these advancements but understanding how to prioritize them based on our strategic objectives, market needs, and opportunities. We need to focus on the technologies that can best support our mission and goals, ensuring that we make the right investments at the right time,” shares Rizwan.
Ensuring a Safe World
Ensuring the safety and security of the nation through research and analysis is at the core of everything at CNA. The organization takes a comprehensive, systems-based approach, looking at every element—people, processes, missions, and environments—to understand how they intersect and impact the broader system. This allows CNA to tackle complex national security challenges by addressing policy, management, operations, and technical issues in a way that is both thorough and strategic.
What sets CNA apart is its collaborative, interdisciplinary approach. Its teams bring together a
diverse range of backgrounds and expertise, which sparks creativity and allows it to consider problems from every angle. Whether it’s through scientific rigor or applying quantitative techniques, it approaches each challenge with a commitment to thorough analysis and robust, evidence-based solutions.
“We work closely with clients to gain a deep understanding of their needs and goals. This collaboration ensures that our research is not only insightful but directly relevant to the challenges they face. Once we’ve gathered data and developed our analysis, our clients take independent decisions that drive real, meaningful change. This hands-on approach ensures that our research directly contributes to strengthening national security, helping our clients navigate complex challenges and keep the nation safe,” shares Rizwan.
Key Collaborations
CNA collaborates closely with other government agencies to tackle national security challenges. It leverages its strong partnerships for example, with the Navy and Marines to facilitate seamless information sharing and decision-making. These relationships allow it to access critical data, align its efforts with broader national security objectives, and ensure that its analysis is grounded in real insights from key stakeholders. By working together with partners, CNA can address complex security issues more effectively, ensuring that its research is not only relevant but actionable. Its collaborative approach enables it to provide actionable solutions and strategic guidance that support the safety and security of the nation.
Fueling an Innovative Mindset
Innovation and creativity aren’t just buzzwords at CNA but the driving force behind everything they do. They’re laser-focused on investing in their most valuable asset: their people. “We believe that when you empower employees with the right tools, skills, and opportunities, they don’t just perform—they thrive and spark groundbreaking ideas that fuel the future,” says Rizwan.
CNA’s approach is simple: continuous learning is the secret ingredient. It has doubled down on upskilling initiatives that put its teams ahead of the tech curve, arming them with cutting-edge expertise in areas like cloud computing, AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity. This isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about creating a culture where curiosity and collaboration thrive. Employees are encouraged to push boundaries, explore new technologies, and share their insights, which fuels innovation across the organization.
“The results speak for themselves: employee engagement has skyrocketed, and we’ve built a workforce that’s agile, forward-thinking, and ready to tackle any challenge. By investing in our people, we’ve created a powerful feedback loop where innovation feeds innovation, and that’s how we position ourselves to lead in an ever-evolving, competitive landscape. At CNA, we’re not just keeping up with the times—we’re shaping them,” states Rizwan.
Significant Projects
One of the projects Rizwan is most proud of under his leadership at CNA is spearheading the development of its proprietary Large Language Model (LLM), Morse Code. As the first Federally Funded Research Development Center (FFRDC) to implement an LLM governance framework and strategy, Morse Code is not just a technological leap forward; it’s a bold statement of CNA’s commitment to both data security and relentless innovation. Named in tribute to its founder, this cutting-edge model was crafted to streamline operations, ignite innovation, and safeguard sensitive information—all while pushing it to stay ahead in a competitive landscape.
“The impact of Morse Code has been nothing short of transformative. By automating routine tasks, we’ve liberated our employees to focus on higher-value, mission-critical projects that drive real change. Plus, it’s slashed our reliance on pricey third-party AI tools, saving CNA a cool $300,000 to $400,000 annually. And the cherry on top? We completed the project under budget, optimized labor hours, and made more efficient use of Azure, further reducing costs,” shares Rizwan.
Leading this initiative has positioned CNA as a trailblazer in technology, ensuring it is not just keeping pace with industry trends but shaping them. Beyond the financial wins, Morse Code has ramped up its operational resilience, giving it the agility and confidence to take on whatever challenges the future throws its way. This achievement, says Rizwan, isn’t just about numbers—it’s about setting the stage for long-term success while making sure we stay secure, innovative, and a step ahead.
Secure Innovations for the Future
Balancing innovation with security is non-negotiable at CNA, especially with rising cyber threats. With Morse Code, its proprietary Large Language Model, CNA has proven that cutting-edge technology can go hand-in-hand with robust security. From the start, it built a solid governance framework that prioritizes data protection while optimizing efficiency.
“Security isn’t just a layer—it’s baked into every innovation we pursue. We continuously adapt our protocols to stay ahead of emerging threats, ensuring that as we push boundaries, we’re always protecting our critical assets. This approach lets us stay at the forefront of tech while keeping our data safe and sound,” states Rizwan.
The future of cybersecurity, believes Rizwan, will see a greater emphasis on automation and artificial intelligence, alongside a more integrated approach to security across all systems and industries. CNA will continue to lead in its space by staying ahead of these trends, leveraging its deep expertise and cutting-edge technologies to provide innovative solutions that protect sensitive data and critical infrastructure.
In addition to maintaining its leadership, CNA will also play a pivotal role in supporting other FFRDCs. By sharing its knowledge, collaborating on best practices, and advancing collective technology and cybersecurity efforts, it’ll ensure that the broader community benefits from its expertise.
The Vision and Goals Ahead
In the next five years, Rizwan’s vision is to elevate the quality and speed of CNA’s research by fully harnessing next-gen technologies. The goal is to provide highly accurate, automated, and efficient insights that enable its sponsors and partners—such as the Navy and the Department of Justice (DOJ)—to make faster, more informed decisions that directly benefit U.S. national security.
“To achieve this, we’re diving into cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and real-time data analytics, supercharging our research processes. These innovations will help us streamline operations, cut through the noise, and deliver actionable intelligence at an accelerated pace. By prioritizing automation and efficiency, we’ll ensure that our work empowers our government partners to act faster, smarter, and more decisively in safeguarding national security,” concludes Rizwan.
