Forescout Adds Cyber Powerhouses to Advisory Board Amid Rising Critical Infrastructure Threats

Forescout Technologies is fortifying its strategic posture with heavyweight reinforcements. The cybersecurity company announced the appointment of three high-caliber leaders—retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Robert J. Skinner, Zero Trust visionary Dr. Chase Cunningham, and enterprise security veteran Michael Cunningham—to its Board of Advisors. The move signals a calculated shift as Forescout deepens its grip on the growing convergence of IT, OT, IoT, and medical device security.

In an era where digital risk has evolved from boardroom topic to battlefield terrain, Forescout is leaning hard into experience forged on the frontlines—military, commercial, and policy alike.

From Battlefield Networks to Boardroom Strategy

Robert Skinner’s inclusion brings military-grade cyber oversight to the table. As the former Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and Commander of Joint Force Headquarters-DoDIN, Skinner had command over the U.S. military’s digital backbone—a sprawling multi-billion-dollar infrastructure serving the most sensitive federal missions. His decades-long career culminated in operational control of nearly 20,000 personnel charged with defending the nation’s most mission-critical systems.

Dr. Zero Trust Joins the Fold

Cybersecurity insiders know Dr. Chase Cunningham by another name: “Dr. Zero Trust.” A former Forrester analyst and author of the Zero Trust eXtended (ZTX) framework, Cunningham helped propel Zero Trust from industry buzzword to federal mandate. His advisory role with the Department of Defense and international allies places him at the epicenter of global cybersecurity policy. Now, he’s bringing that strategic lens to Forescout’s platform, which increasingly serves high-risk, high-regulation sectors from healthcare to defense.

Enterprise DNA Meets Industrial Security

Meanwhile, Michael Cunningham rounds out the trio with executive chops sharpened in the Fortune 500 trenches. The former CISO of Graphic Packaging International and security lead at The Home Depot and First Data (now Fiserv) has seen firsthand the complex balancing act between business growth and cyber resilience. With industrial companies facing a surge in ransomware and supply chain threats, his dual fluency in boardroom strategy and technical risk will be key as Forescout expands deeper into OT and manufacturing verticals.

A Strategic Turn for a Fractured Landscape

Forescout’s move comes as attacks on operational technology and medical IoT surge. According to recent industry data, OT-targeted malware jumped by over 40% last year, while healthcare infrastructure continues to grapple with rising breaches of connected medical devices. The company’s platform, which already spans asset discovery, threat detection, and network segmentation, is being positioned as a linchpin for securing increasingly blurred IT/OT environments.

“Cybersecurity is no longer about isolated incidents or theoretical risks; it’s about protecting the real-world systems that power our daily lives,” said Barry Mainz, CEO of Forescout. “Dr. Chase Cunningham, Michael Cunningham, and Robert Skinner have each shaped the front lines of cybersecurity, whether in defense, enterprise strategy, or Zero Trust. Their experience will be invaluable as we guide global organizations through today’s complex risk landscape and drive forward a more resilient future for critical infrastructure.”

More Than Just Advisors

While advisory board announcements often feel ceremonial, this one reflects more than optics. It’s a calculated investment in thought leadership with operational muscle—one that positions Forescout not just as a product vendor, but as a strategic partner for entities that can’t afford failure.

With seasoned warfighters, policy shapers, and enterprise guardians at its flank, Forescout appears to be building more than just a security platform. It’s building a coalition for modern cyber resilience.