DoD Cyber Veteran to Lead By Light’s Integrated Security Strategy

MCLEAN, Va. – March 03, 2026 – By Light Professional IT Services has made a significant strategic move to bolster its cybersecurity leadership, appointing longtime Department of Defense (DoD) cyber executive Jeffrey R. Jones as its new Executive Vice President of Cyber. The appointment signals a focused effort by the defense contractor to unify its diverse cyber capabilities into a single, cohesive platform for national security clients.

Jones, a retired Senior Executive from the DoD with nearly three decades of experience, will now spearhead By Light's cyber division, driving strategy and execution. His mission is to synchronize the company's initiatives in cyber training, operations, and infrastructure to create what the company is terming an “integrated cyber readiness platform” for the DoD, federal agencies, and allied nations.

A Career Forged in National Cyber Defense

Jeffrey R. Jones brings a deep reservoir of operational and strategic experience from the highest echelons of U.S. cyber defense. His extensive career includes pivotal leadership roles that have shaped the nation's approach to cybersecurity and network warfare. He served as the Deputy to the Commanding General of U.S. Army Cyber Command, an organization at the forefront of the Army's global cyberspace operations. Additionally, he held the position of Vice Director for the Joint Staff J6, where he helped guide command, control, communications, and computer systems across the entire joint force.

Perhaps most critically, Jones was the Executive Director of Joint Force Headquarters–Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ–DODIN). In this role, he was instrumental in leading the global defense and modernization of the DoD's vast and vital information network, the digital backbone for all U.S. military operations. A retired Army Reserve Military Intelligence Officer with master's degrees from the U.S. Army War College and James Madison University, Jones possesses a rare combination of intelligence, operational, and technical expertise.

“I've spent my career operating at the intersection of cyber, intelligence, and national security, and By Light is where those capabilities come together at real scale,” said Jones in a statement. “The opportunity here is to unify cyber training, operations, and infrastructure into an integrated platform that accelerates readiness and protects mission execution. That's a unique position in this market, and I'm excited to build it with this team.”

Building the Integrated Cyber Readiness Platform

Jones's vision of an “integrated platform” is not just a buzzword; it aligns directly with a major push within the Pentagon for more holistic and interoperable defense systems. The concept involves moving away from siloed tools and toward a unified ecosystem that combines realistic training, live operational defense, and resilient infrastructure. This approach is designed to ensure that cyber warriors are trained in environments that mirror the complex realities they face, and that the tools they use are seamlessly integrated for rapid threat detection and response.

By Light is already well-positioned with key components for such a platform. Its flagship CyberCENTS® (Cyberoperations Enhanced Network and Training Simulators) product provides a sophisticated, government-certified cyber range for training and exercises. On the operational front, the company is the prime contractor for the DoD's Cloud-Based Internet Isolation (CBII) platform, which creates a virtual “air gap” to protect networks from web-based threats. By Light's subsidiary, Cole Engineering Services Inc., also recently secured a massive $957.74 million contract to develop a next-generation cyber training system for the U.S. Army, a key component of the future Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE).

Jones's task will be to weave these disparate but powerful threads into a single, cohesive fabric. This strategy mirrors the DoD's own “Fulcrum” initiative, which calls for interoperable, scalable, and secure platforms to drive modernization and support joint warfighting capabilities.

Shifting the Competitive Landscape

The appointment of a high-profile figure like Jones is a clear signal of By Light’s ambitions in the fiercely competitive federal cybersecurity market, a sector projected to grow from over $15 billion to more than $20 billion annually by 2027. By Light competes against large defense primes like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, as well as specialized IT firms such as Leidos and Peraton, all vying for a piece of the expanding federal budget.

In this environment, expertise and certifications are critical differentiators. By Light recently achieved a company-wide Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2, a stringent new requirement for defense contractors. This certification, combined with Jones's unparalleled insider knowledge of DoD requirements and procurement processes, gives the company a significant competitive advantage. His leadership will be crucial in navigating the complexities of federal contracting and positioning By Light's solutions to meet the government's evolving demands for Zero Trust Architecture and enhanced supply chain security.

By Light CEO Bob Donahue underscored the strategic importance of the hire. “Jeff's deep operational experience and strategic vision will be pivotal as we expand and elevate our cybersecurity and training capabilities to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving threat environment,” Donahue stated. “Under his leadership, we will scale advanced capabilities, drive transformative innovation, and cement By Light's position as the defense industry's most complete cyber partner.”

For a private equity-backed firm like By Light, which was acquired by Sagewind Capital in 2017, success is measured not in stock price but in contract wins and market share. Jones's appointment is a calculated investment in the intellectual and strategic capital needed to secure major government programs and deliver on the promise of creating a truly integrated defense platform for the digital age.