Dr. Leanne Pelzer

Biography

LeAnne Pelzer is a seasoned cybersecurity expert with extensive experience in cyber risk management and resilience consulting. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Cyber Risk Management Consulting at Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42, a role she has held since 2024. In her previous position as Consulting Director for eight months, she led efforts to assist Global 2000 and Fortune 500 clients in understanding their risk landscape and strengthening their cybersecurity posture. Pelzer has been instrumental in developing Palo Alto Networks’ Cyber Risk Assessment and Cybersecurity Program Development service offerings, serving as the Global Service Lead in these areas. Her expertise spans Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC), vCISO Advisory Services, and Expert Witness/Litigation Support. Before joining Palo Alto Networks, she worked as a Principal Consultant at Crypsis, which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks in August 2020. Over her career, she spent four years and five months at Deloitte, where she held roles as Senior Consultant and Consultant, specializing in cybersecurity risk services. Pelzer began her career in roles focusing on geographic information systems support at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. She has emerged as a thought leader in the cybersecurity field, speaking at renowned conferences such as BlackHat, authoring articles for Dark Reading, and appearing in a Unit 42 advertisement for Square. Her professional journey exemplifies tenacity, strategic thinking, and a commitment to excellence in cybersecurity, and she continues to shape the industry through mentorship, advisory services, and thought leadership.

Research Interests