About me
Gretchen Bliss is the Cybersecurity Program Director at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and Secretary of the Board for the Space ISAC. Previously, she served as Space ISAC Secretary from 2022–2026. In these roles, she works to strengthen collaboration across the cyber and space ecosystem, advancing sector-wide resilience through shared intelligence, preparedness, and response. At UCCS, Ms. Bliss leads efforts to expand cybersecurity education across all six colleges. Under her leadership, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Business, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, School of Education, and School of Public Affairs have launched cybersecurity programs, concentrations, or certificates. Over the past five years, she led the development and implementation of the UCCS POWER Cybersecurity Strategy (Partnership, Outreach, Workforce, Education, and Research), positioning UCCS as a key contributor to Colorado’s cybersecurity workforce pipeline. Ms. Bliss also teaches the UCCS Gateway Seminar Cybersecurity: Fact, Fun, and Fiction (Fall 2024–present), an interactive, non-technical course designed to demystify cybersecurity, challenge common myths, and introduce students to cybersecurity principles and career pathways within an inclusive, exploratory learning environment. Previously, she served as Cybersecurity Director at Pikes Peak State College for five years and spent 25 years in the intelligence community, most recently as NORAD Deputy Senior Analyst and Chief of Plans, supporting U.S. government efforts in cyber, information operations, and computer network defense and attack.
