On behalf of Cisco, I am proud to announce the promotions of Gary DePreta to the role of Senior Vice President of U.S. Public Sector Sales and Mike Witzman to Senior Director of U.S. Public Sector Solutions Engineering. These strategic promotions come at a transformative time for Cisco as we reinforce our commitment to our Public Sector customers. Gary and Mike will head a team of over 900 leaders, sales people, and solutions engineers focused on the discovery of business and mission requirements, and the design of secure, intelligent platforms. Congratulations, Gary and Mike. I am confident in the great work you’ll continue to deliver for our Public Sector customers.
As an 18-year veteran of Cisco, Gary DePreta brings an extensive background in the Public Sector with a deep understanding of customers’ mission-critical objectives. Leveraging his expertise in government, technology, and innovation, he is well-positioned to facilitate the development and deployment of cutting-edge technology platforms that support the Public Sector’s digital transformation.
Additionally, Gary brings a remarkable 30-year tenure in the IT industry and has led virtually all Public Sector verticals throughout his career, including State & Local Government, Education, Healthcare, National Security, Department of Defense, Federal Civilian Agencies, and the Defense Industrial Base. His extensive leadership experience, coupled with prior roles at Splunk, International Network Services, and IBM, make him an ideal candidate. Gary is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, having honorably served from 1983 to 1987.
Mike Witzman is also a Cisco veteran of 23 years, known for his genuine love for technology and innovation. His active engagement with customer and partner executives and passion for the solutions engineering organization sets a dynamic example for his team. As a respected mentor and coach, Mike is a steadfast advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion within the company.
His journey at Cisco has spanned multiple theaters, including Global Enterprise, US Commercial, and most recently, the State, Local, and Education (SLED) verticals, in solutions engineering. As an Enterprise Systems Engineer, he earned the prestigious CCIE #6907 certification in Routing and Switching (Emeritus). His deep involvement with the SLED customer communities over the past six years has been instrumental in the Public Sector engineering team’s evolution.
Previously, Mike served as a Communications Officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1994 to 1998, where he worked with the Air Force Communications Agency (AFCA) and interfaced with DISA, adds to his incredible experience and understanding of the Public Sector’s unique needs.
Congratulations, Mike and Gary! We are fortunate to have you leading our US Public Sector team.
Big congratulations to both of you. Well deserved.