Karen Jackson is the president of Apogee Strategic Partners, a Virginia consultancy helping companies and organizations address their most daunting challenges in cyber security, autonomous systems, and smart communities.  Ms. Jackson formerly served as the Secretary of Technology for the Commonwealth. She also served as the Commonwealth’s Deputy Secretary of Technology.

Ms. Jackson served as a senior advisor to Governors Kaine, McDonnell and McAuliffe on technology matters including innovation, data analytics, telecommunications, cybersecurity, unmanned systems and smart communities.

As Secretary, was responsible for overseeing the Commonwealth’s IT infrastructure, developing and advancing policy, programs, and legislative to facilitate innovation, entrepreneurship, technology development, and adoption.

Ms. Jackson has been actively engaged in the federal policy initiatives including the development of the National Broadband Plan. She received a 2009 IP3 award from Public Knowledge for her work in information policy, and was named to Government Technology’s 2010 list of the top 25 Doers, Dreamers, and Drivers. In 2015, she was named to The Governing Institute Women in Government Leadership Program Class, and in 2016 was named as one of State Scoops’ GoldenGov State Executives of the Year.  In 2017, Ms. Jackson was named as one of State Scoop’s Top Women in Technology and she and Governor Terry McAuliffe were jointly recognized as 2017 Difference Makers in Cyber Security by the SANS Institute.  Her office also received an excellence in Government award from the Southwestern Virginia Technology Council.

Ms. Jackson serves on a number of Boards including the Advisory Board of the Apex Systems Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Virginia Tech, the Advisory Board of Sera Brynn (cyber audit and assessment firm), and the Board of Directors for Sweet Briar College.

She holds a bachelor’s of science in business management from Christopher Newport University and a masters of business administration from The College of William and Mary.