FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Appointment strengthens compliance leadership at ISI as defense contractors navigate Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and an evolving federal cybersecurity landscape
RESTON, Va., July 23, 2026. ISI, a provider of cybersecurity compliance and IT solutions for the defense industrial base, today announced the appointment of Ketan Patel, MBA, Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), as Senior Vice President, Compliance. In this role, Patel joins ISI's compliance leadership team, helping guide compliance strategy and support defense contractors navigating CMMC and other federal regulatory requirements.
"Ketan's experience building enterprise compliance programs across some of the most heavily regulated industries in the country makes him a tremendous addition to our compliance team," said David Lawrence, ISI Chief Executive Officer. "As CMMC enforcement accelerates and our clients' needs grow more complex, we're continuing to invest in the depth and expertise of our compliance practice, and Ketan is a perfect fit for where we're headed."
Patel brings more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience in IT compliance, enterprise risk management, and regulatory strategy across banking, retail, fintech, and consulting environments, including senior compliance and risk leadership roles at Capital One, Flowers Foods, Robinhood, and PwC. He joins ISI most recently from Apex Systems, where he served as Vice President of IT Compliance and built an enterprise compliance program that achieved ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, and CMMC certifications, while strengthening Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) IT general controls (ITGC) across U.S. and Mexico operations.
“Compliance isn't about checking boxes. It's about building trust through strong governance, resilient cybersecurity, and processes that become part of how an organization operates every day," said Patel. "I'm excited to join ISI at such an important time for the defense industrial base, and I look forward to working alongside our clients and the team here to help organizations build compliance programs that withstand real scrutiny and position them for long-term success in the federal marketplace.”
Patel's appointment comes as CMMC enforcement accelerates across the Department of Defense contractor base, and as related frameworks, such as the General Services Administration's cybersecurity requirements, continue to evolve. ISI continues to expand its compliance leadership team to support contractors through gap assessments, System Security Plan development, and third-party assessment readiness.
Patel holds a Master of Business Administration in International Business and Health Service Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, both from George Washington University. He is a CISA and holds additional certifications in ITIL 4 Foundation and Agile project management.
To learn more about ISI and its security and compliance services for defense contractors, visit www.ISIDefense.com.
About ISI
ISI is a leading provider of security and compliance services to Defense Industrial Base contractors. We specialize in helping businesses achieve and maintain compliance with the National Industrial Security Operating Manual (NISPOM) and CMMC, successfully submit Facility Security Clearance packages, and implement security controls to meet evolving requirements. Our expert guidance, hands-on support, and technology solutions are trusted by more than 900 clients across the U.S. Defense Industrial Base.
Megan Quinn
mquinn@isidefense.com
(571) 438‑9967
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