By Suzanne Hensell, OPACE

On March 17, 2022, Administrator Paul Kiecker recognized Chief Information Security Officer Marvin Lykes for Operational Excellence by awarding him an FSIS Operational Excellence coin for continued efforts to remedy connectivity issues in the field. Said Kiecker, “Your efforts to ensure our frontline employees have the tools necessary to do their job have not gone unnoticed. Providing reliable connectivity in industrial settings, which is a common issue for establishments, is no small feat. Poor connectivity creates barriers for employees to use equipment, wastes time and money and frustrates employees.” Kiecker continued, “I appreciate your continued efforts to remedy these problems for our in-plant team. Keep up the great work!”

Lykes has been with FSIS for 16 years and works in USDA’s headquarters building in Washington, D.C. During his tenure, he has worked as a system engineer, as the head of the Cybersecurity Branch, as the chief technology officer and most recently as the chief information security officer. Said Lykes, “The job has been quite satisfying. While providing information technology assistance, I enjoy interacting with FSIS customers and learning about the various food safety processes that contribute to protecting public health.”

Lykes acknowledges that ensuring information security is a team effort, and he appreciates the support of Associate Chief Information Officer Carl Mayes and Principal Deputy Assistant Chief Information Officer Elamin Osman; colleagues Sandra Minor, Troy Wright and Ali Usman; and the entire team at the Security Compliance and Infrastructure Operations Center.

Said Lykes, “As a senior leader in FSIS OCIO, I have found that having a team of competent, committed and team-oriented subject matter experts achieves the required outcomes while making the work enjoyable. It’s gratifying to be acknowledged for a job well done.”