Securing Mars Rovers and Space Stations with NASA's Former CIO Renee Wynn
Tue Feb 03 2026
What happens when your security perimeter extends to Mars—and MFA isn't an option?
In this episode of the Security Cocktail Hour, we sit down with Renee Wynn, former CIO of NASA, to explore what cybersecurity looks like when traditional frameworks simply don't apply.
Renee Wynn managed IT for some of humanity's most critical infrastructure: Mars rovers, the James Webb Space Telescope, the International Space Station. We cover the unique challenges of cybersecurity in the aerospace, defense and space fields—and what those constraints teach us about security thinking more broadly.
Early in the discussion, Renee emphasizes: "We always have to make sure we don't have a failure of imagination when we're looking at these risk-based decisions." This is the kind of mindset shift that shapes great security leaders. We also explore how she navigated government oversight, built trust with federal auditors, and led through constraints that forced her to rethink everything.
Whether you work in government, private sector, or dream of expanding your security career into new industries—this conversation will broaden how you think about what's possible.
00:00 Introduction & The Coolest Resume in Cybersecurity
00:51 No Multi-Factor Authentication on Mars: Securing Assets Beyond Earth
02:54 Navigating Oversight: How to Build Trust With Government Auditors
15:00 Failure of Imagination: Rethinking Risk Assessment in Extreme Environments
35:00 Leadership Lessons: Thinking Bigger in Security
Website: https://securitycocktailhour.com
Newsletter: https://securitycocktailhour.com/newsletter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/security-cocktail-hour
Twitter/X: @SecCocktailHour
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What happens when your security perimeter extends to Mars—and MFA isn't an option? In this episode of the Security Cocktail Hour, we sit down with Renee Wynn, former CIO of NASA, to explore what cybersecurity looks like when traditional frameworks simply don't apply. Renee Wynn managed IT for some of humanity's most critical infrastructure: Mars rovers, the James Webb Space Telescope, the International Space Station. We cover the unique challenges of cybersecurity in the aerospace, defense and space fields—and what those constraints teach us about security thinking more broadly. Early in the discussion, Renee emphasizes: "We always have to make sure we don't have a failure of imagination when we're looking at these risk-based decisions." This is the kind of mindset shift that shapes great security leaders. We also explore how she navigated government oversight, built trust with federal auditors, and led through constraints that forced her to rethink everything. Whether you work in government, private sector, or dream of expanding your security career into new industries—this conversation will broaden how you think about what's possible. 00:00 Introduction & The Coolest Resume in Cybersecurity 00:51 No Multi-Factor Authentication on Mars: Securing Assets Beyond Earth 02:54 Navigating Oversight: How to Build Trust With Government Auditors 15:00 Failure of Imagination: Rethinking Risk Assessment in Extreme Environments 35:00 Leadership Lessons: Thinking Bigger in Security Website: https://securitycocktailhour.com Newsletter: https://securitycocktailhour.com/newsletter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/security-cocktail-hour Twitter/X: @SecCocktailHour Enjoyed this episode? Follow us and share with colleagues who'll enjoy honest discussions among security professionals.