Some partnerships are born out of convenience, others from chance. But for Theresa Payton, Bridget O’Connor, and Melissa O’Leary, the synergy that led to Fortalice Solutions began in the high-pressure world of the White House. Their collective decision to found a cybersecurity firm was born out of deep respect, forward-thinking ideas, and a mutual determination to protect digital frontiers at every level.
Their story serves as both an inspiration and a testament to what is possible when trailblazing women combine expertise with a shared vision.
Converging Paths in the White House
Theresa Payton, a renowned cybersecurity expert, made history by becoming the first female Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the White House. During her time, she championed a comprehensive digital transformation agenda that guided the Bush Administration to manage operations entirely online, a historic shift that included the first 100% all-digital budget and photography processes. Most notably, Payton established the White House’s first dedicated 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC)—an achievement that raised the bar for cybersecurity across government institutions. Her emphasis on anticipating cyber threats rather than simply reacting to them would soon become a hallmark of the Fortalice approach.
Meanwhile, Bridget O’Connor worked her way from a modest staff assistant role to serving as the Special Assistant to the President for White House Management. While her responsibilities largely focused on operational oversight, it was Bridget’s willingness to embrace evolving technology that made her an asset during these transitional years. She played a direct role in recruiting Theresa, recognizing that fresh eyes on digital infrastructure would be key to managing emerging security challenges. Bridget’s effectiveness lay in her uncanny ability to unify teams under high stakes; ensuring staff, processes, and systems ran seamlessly often meant anticipating problems before they could escalate.
Melissa O’Leary joined the White House as an intern and ended her tenure as the Chief Advisor to the Director of the Office of Administration. Melissa was essential in creating strategic cybersecurity initiatives that emphasized understanding human behavior alongside technical vulnerabilities. Her knack for analyzing how cybercriminals think and helped shape a roadmap that prioritized detection and prevention in equal measure. She believed—and still does—that forging a secure environment requires looking beyond isolated systems to consider the ecosystem in which threats arise.
The Birth of Fortalice Solutions
For all three women, the White House experience ignited a new sense of purpose. Theresa saw a chance to bring top-tier security expertise to clients outside government walls. She started bridging public and private sector insights that aimed to deliver services that balanced rigor and adaptability. In 2008, that vision materialized as Fortalice Solutions. The firm’s guiding principle was to protect what matters most by combining comprehensive technical solutions with an unwavering commitment to client education and partnership.
Women Innovators in the Tech Space
It’s not every day you see a cybersecurity firm launched by women who’ve tackled challenges at the highest level of government. Yet for Theresa, Bridget, and Melissa, being the exception rather than the rule became a springboard for innovation. They recognized that while sleek products and software platforms are crucial, so is a human-centered approach—where collaboration, dialogue, and adaptability drive tangible outcomes. This ethos has propelled Fortalice to become an industry leader and demonstrated that “cutting-edge” isn’t always about advanced technology but how you integrate that technology into real-world settings.
The Fortalice Difference
One of Fortalice’s defining features is its repertoire of software-enabled services, designed to cover every angle of cybersecurity. They begin with strategic risk assessments—tailored through their FortifiedCISO™ program—to develop a structured roadmap that aligns with each client’s budget, operations, and culture. As Payton often notes, “No two organizations face exactly the same threats,” so it’s essential to adapt.
Offensive cybersecurity operations form another pillar. Their teams perform penetration tests to highlight vulnerabilities, conduct application assessments to spot weak links before criminals do, and stage red team simulations to test how well defenders respond to realistic adversarial tactics. This is where Melissa’s passion for examining cybercriminal behaviors shines. She dissects how bad actors adapt, and Fortalice ensures their clients are always two steps ahead.
For executives and high-profile individuals, the “Cyber Bodyguard™” service marries human intelligence with digital monitoring across the surface web, deep web, and dark web. Instead of simply flagging suspicious activity, Fortalice follows through with tailored mitigation strategies, which start from removing sensitive information leaked online to isolating and neutralizing malicious campaigns before reputational damage takes hold.
Beyond the Binary
Cybersecurity’s reach, from global elections to personal finances, makes strong leadership absolutely vital. Women like Theresa Payton, Bridget O’Connor, and Melissa O’Leary are proving what can be achieved when sharp minds lead in a space often dominated by male voices. Their approach, which combines serious technical expertise with policy smarts and a focus on people in management, has been key in evolving how organizations approach cyber threats. Their work at The White House and Fortalice demonstrates how this blend of collaborative leadership can drive business success and, more importantly, push forward new ways of reinventing both security and leadership itself.
Published by Stephanie M.
