Episode 23 | On the Move

Building a Safer Automotive Industry: Jennifer Tisdale’s Cybersecurity Journey

Jennifer Tisdale
CEO, GRIMM

Jennifer Tisdale (@NextJenMobility)  is the CEO at GRIMM , a cyber research firm headquartered in Michigan. Jennifer is a cyber-economics strategist recognized for building cybersecurity strategies and programs for industry, government, and academia. Her expertise has been concentrated on the security of connected, Cyber-Physical Systems, and technologies, and her portfolio includes expertise in Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), Smart Cities development and planning, Critical Infrastructure, and Advanced Transportation Mobility with a concentration in Connected & Automated Vehicles, Aerospace, and the securing of manned/unmanned military platforms. Previously, Jennifer was recognized for holding the first “mobility” job in the United States, serving as the Cyber-Mobility program strategist for the State of Michigan. Jennifer’s work created the foundation for Michigan’s economic strategy to band together automotive, defense, and aerospace industries with embedded systems cybersecurity, charting a new economic development path for the state. Prior to her time at GRIMM, Jennifer was charged with Cybersecurity R&D for Product Development at Mazda North America. She was the first OEM to voluntarily bring a research vehicle to the Car Hacking Village at DefCon. In 2018 Jennifer was voted one of SC Magazine’s “Women to Watch” in Cybersecurity and in 2022 ranked as one of the “Top 25 Leaders Transforming Manufacturing” by SME. Jennifer advocates for increased diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry. She values partnerships and the need to build trust in an industry rooted in zero-trust models. She actively volunteers with several non-profit and government organizations and works with K12 school districts, encouraging students to embrace cybersecurity education for embedded systems.

Jennifer resides in metro Detroit with her family.

Affiliations:
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), National, Washington D.C., Security
Systems Engineering Sub-Committee, 2021-Present
• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Michigan Chapter, Board Member –
Cybersecurity Director, 2017-Present
• Advanced Manufacturing HUB (AMHUB), World Economic Forum, Cyber
Manufacturing (Industry 4.0), 2020-2022
• SME, Smart Manufacturing Executive Committee, 2021-2022
• Policy Advisor, State of Michigan, Office of Future Mobility & Electrification, State of
Michigan, 2021-2023