CESER Leadership
Lili Colon
Acting Director
With more than 20 years of experience, Lili Colon has a deep understanding of how quickly the threat landscape changes and what is needed to best secure and protect the U.S. energy supply from all threats. She helps drive the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) mission to strengthen the security and resilience of U.S. energy infrastructure from cyber, physical, and natural hazard risks and disruptions by leveraging critical expertise across both public and private sectors.
Lili guides the department and its programs towards success with an emphasis on multi-disciplinary collaboration among agency partners, industry, academia, and education. Her background in operations and cyber, physical, and communications domains is rooted in her commitment to excellence and ensures a critical eye is kept on the horizon.
Most recently, Lili served as the Deputy Associate Director for the Integrated Operations Division within the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). In this role, she worked to minimize the impact to our Nation’s Critical Infrastructure by establishing operational and leadership support within the Agency’s 24/7 Operation Center. Lili also served as the deputy co-chair to the COMM-ISAC and supported CISA’s operational processes in response to Emergency Support Functions #2: “Communication” and #14: “Cross-sector Business and Infrastructure” responsibilities under the National Response Framework.
Previously, Lili served as the Chief for Strategic Planning and Resource Management for the Cybersecurity Division within CISA. Ther work was integral in managing strategy, policy coordination, integrating program planning, and performance of a $1.2B annual budget. Furthermore, she was responsible for maturing the Division’s annual operating plans and long-term strategy to achieve national cybersecurity objectives. This required Lili to establish multiple agency strategic policy development planning efforts and coordinate engagements to support the Department of Homeland Security’s broader mission to increase resilience in our Nation’s Critical Infrastructure and reduce exposure to cyber risks.
Throughout her career, Lili has honed her expertise through various Information Technology/Cybersecurity Positions in the government and private sectors relating to the Certification and Accreditation Process, Cybersecurity Curriculum Manager, Information Assurance, Cyber Strategic Planning, and Security Policy Development.
Her role at CESER clarifies the Office’s vison for how our Nation can secure its energy infrastructure now and in the future.
Mara Winn
Deputy Director, Preparedness, Policy, and Risk Analysis
Mara Winn is the Deputy Director for the Preparedness, Policy, and Risk Analysis (PPRA) division of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). In this role, Winn leads the division in supporting energy sector security and resilience through strong, two-way coordination and communication with the Department of Energy‘s (DOE) government and industry partners.
Prior to joining the DOE, Winn was the Associate Director for Planning and Coordination at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) National Risk Management Center. She oversaw planning and collaboration activities focused on addressing the Nation's highest priority critical infrastructure risks, originating from cyber-attacks and other hazards. Winn has more than twenty years of experience in all stages of acquisition management, systems engineering, project management, and product development life cycles from analysis through implementation and closeout. She has led teams across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the areas of risk management, radiological and nuclear detection, transportation security, and immigration, as well as in medical device development in the private sector.
Winn received a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Smith College and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College, and is a graduate of the DHS Senior Executive Services Candidate Development Program. Winn also holds a Certificate in Project Management from Boston University, is a certified Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP), and holds several technical certifications.
Ken Buell
Deputy Director, Response and Restoration
Ken Buell is the Deputy Director for Response and Restoration at the U.S Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER). In this role, he leads CESER’s emergency response team and ensures the capability to effectively and efficiently respond to all hazards impacting or potentially impacting energy systems. He also serves as the lead for Emergency Support Function (ESF) #12 under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Response Framework.
Prior to joining the Department, Buell was the Director of Measurement and Reporting at the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Infrastructure Protection, where he led Congressionally-mandated reporting on the state of national critical infrastructure. Additionally, he led the development of the office’s performance metrics, creation of a Quarterly Program Review, and the development of the 2012-2016 Strategic Plan.
Buell is a 30-year veteran of the United States Navy, where he served as a combat search and rescue helicopter pilot, Navigator of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, and faculty at the National Defense University.
Thomas McGarry
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Petroleum Reserves
Thomas McGarry is currently employed at the U.S. Department of Energy, holding the position of (Acting) Deputy Director for the Office of Petroleum Reserves. Throughout his career at the Department of Energy, Tom has fulfilled various roles, including Director of Operations and Readiness for the Office of Petroleum Reserves as well as General Engineer for the Office of Planning and Engineering. With a rich background spanning 40 years, Tom has amassed extensive expertise in petroleum management, encompassing diverse areas such as bulk terminal management, engineering design of bulk fuel terminals, and logistical support for the U.S. Navy’s global petroleum needs. Tom obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from North Georgia College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Virginia Tech, where his studies focused on Derivatives Management.