Lesley H. Bernys, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Executive Director of the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center, Linthicum, Maryland. He leads DC3 in providing innovative capabilities and services, including digital and multimedia forensics, vulnerability disclosure, cyber training, technical solutions and analysis. He leads cooperation with law enforcement, cybersecurity and national security partners globally. DC3 is a Federal Cyber Center, and a Field Operating Agency aligned with the Department of the Air Force Inspector General.
A career civil servant and Special Agent, Mr. Bernys joined the Air Force Office of Special Investigations in 2003 upon graduating from the University of Tampa. Mr. Bernys has directed and led law enforcement and counterintelligence investigations and operations at every Air Force level. He has served as a Special Agent in Charge, Deputy Director of the AFOSI Office of Special Projects, the Command Counterintelligence Coordinating Authority at U.S. Cyber Command, and a Defense Legislative Fellow in the U.S. Senate. Prior to his appointment to the Senior Executive Service, Mr. Bernys served as AFOSI’s Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Technology Services and Solutions. In that capacity, he was responsible for leading enterprise Information Technology operations valued at $200 million supporting 3,500 AFOSI employees at over 300 locations worldwide.
EDUCATION
2003 Bachelor of Science, Criminology, University of Tampa, Fla.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Master of Arts, Homeland Security, American Military University, Charles Town, W. Va.
2014 Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (by correspondence)
2017 Legislative Operations, Government Affairs Institute, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2019 Air Force Organizational Leader Course, Office of Personnel Management, Bethesda, Md.
2021 Strategy and Policy Development Certificate, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2022 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2022 Cyber Studies Certificate, College of Information and Cyberspace, NDU, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2023 Defense Senior Leader Development Program, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Arlington, Va.
2023 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. October 2003–January 2006, Special Agent, General Crimes & Counterintelligence, Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 419, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
2. January 2006–October 2010, Lead Security Advisor to the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
3. October 2010–November 2013, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, AFOSI Detachment 340, MacDill AFB, Fla.
4. November 2013–July 2016, Special Agent in Charge, AFOSI Detachment 334, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
5. July 2016–December 2017, Defense Legislative Fellow with State Department developmental rotation, U.S. Senate, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
6. December 2017–August 2018, Special Assistant to the Executive Director for Force Development, Headquarters AFOSI, Quantico, Va.
7. August 2018–October 2019, Career Field Manager & Special Advisor to the Executive Director, Headquarters AFOSI, Quantico, Va.
8. October 2019–December 2020, Director of Operations, AFOSI Office of Special Projects, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
9. March 2020–September 2020, Director, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Unauthorized Disclosure Task Force, Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. December 2020–August 2021, Deputy Director, AFOSI Office of Special Projects, JB Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
11. August 2021–June 2022, Student and Space Industry Fellow, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. June 2022–May 2023, Command Counterintelligence Coordinating Authority, U.S. Cyber Command, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
13. May 2023–December 2024, Chief Information Office & Director, IT Services & Solutions, Headquarters AFOSI, Quantico, Va.
14. December 2024–present, Executive Director, DoD Cyber Crime Center, Linthicum, Md.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Association—Outstanding Civilian Program Manager of the Year
Air Force Office of Special Investigations Command Senior Civilian of the Year
AFOSI Team of the Year
Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Air and Space Meritorious Civilian Service Award (x5)
Air and Space Exemplary Civilian Service Award
(Current as of January 2025)