The sky’s the limit for Netta Squires ’12 ’19, who was recently named Cybersecurity Woman of the Year by the Cybersecurity Association at its ninth annual awards. This recognition is the latest in a long line of honors celebrating her diverse and distinguished career as a public safety professional, attorney, and educator specializing in cybersecurity, emergency management, and public policy.
In the Beginning
Hailing from Israel, Squires began her college education there before moving to the United States for work.
“Emergency management has always been my passion and my field,” she explained.
In the United States, she supported emergency management efforts with the American Red Cross, DC’s Community Emergency Response Team, and served as an Emergency Management Coordinator for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund — experiences that deepened her commitment to the profession.
“When I found out that there is an actual [emergency management] discipline to learn at UMGC, I thought, this is amazing,” she said. “That is what got me hooked.”
Shifting Gears
Squires completed her bachelor’s degree in emergency management at UMGC, but she didn’t stop there. Her growing interest in policy and law inspired her to pursue her Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School, where she focused on disaster law.
“When I left law school, I went to work for the Center for Health and Homeland Security,” she said, where she supported Montgomery County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and earned her Certified Emergency Manager designation from the International Association of Emergency Management. This work led her to a new passion: cyber.
“I realized that all the 0's and 1's were out to attack us — and that’s not something people were ready for back then,” she recalled.
To formally strengthen her technical foundation, Squires returned to the University System of Maryland, earning a Master of Science in cybersecurity law and policy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and a Graduate Certificate in cybersecurity technology from UMGC. She also completed a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School to further enhance her leadership skills.
An Entrepreneurial Spirit
Armed with a rare blend of legal, policy, and technical expertise, Squires became Maryland’s first governor-appointed director leading statewide initiatives to protect critical infrastructure and foster collaboration among local governments.
She created the Maryland Local Cybersecurity Collaborative, the first forum of its kind bringing together Maryland’s counties, municipalities, public school systems, water utilities, and other critical infrastructure partners. Squires also led Maryland’s state cybersecurity efforts, expanding services to the state’s “target-rich, cyber-poor” communities.
During this time, Squires also served as an Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center Executive Committee member, where she continued advocating for state services and strategies at the national level.
After several years in public service, she decided to build something of her own and launched her cybersecurity and crisis management firm, Open District Solutions. This allowed her full attention and dedication helping communities strengthen their resilience.
“Now I get to do all the things I love and still spend time with my kids,” she said.
Through Open District Solutions, Squires and her team work closely with local governments, state agencies, and national organizations to address cybersecurity, emergency management, and critical infrastructure protection challenges.
Supporting Women in Cyber
Relationships are at the heart of Squires’ work, and she encourages women interested in cybersecurity to lean into their networks and reach out to other women who are already established in the profession.
“There are so few of us in the field,” she said,. “We are constantly looking for other women to bring up and support.”
She also urges aspiring professionals not to self-select out of opportunities.
“You’d be surprised how many skills are transferable,” she said. “Cyber isn’t just technology — it’s governance, coordination, risk, finance, project management, and so many things that have nothing to do with 0’s and 1’s.”
Sharing Her Expertise
A lifelong learner, Squires also loves to teach. Since 2019, she's served as an adjunct faculty member at UMGC, where she teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in both the Emergency Management and Cybersecurity Technology departments.
“It’s great to be able to teach the next generation how these two fields converge — and why they are so critical to each other,” she noted.
Squires is also an adjunct professor at the Mid-Atlantic Center for Emergency Management & Public Safety. She also serves on the advisory board for Billington CyberSecurity and co-chairs the Maryland Emergency Management Association’s Legislative Committee, among other volunteer commitments.
Finding Fulfillment
As a busy mother of three, Squires values the flexibility that running her own business provides — but she’s quick to say that being a mom is her most important role.
When she’s not teaching or advising, Squires is an active volunteer in her community — juggling Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, soccer teams, PTA projects, and other local initiatives.
“I love what I do,” she said. “I’ve found the sweet spot — doing what I love and hopefully adding value.”
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