About Michael

---

Michael Owens for Mayor of Mableton  

Born to hard-working parents, Michael has lived in Mableton with his two children since 2008. His mother, late father, and other family members have called Mableton home since the mid-1990's. 

During the first Gulf War, while still in high school, Michael picked up the phone and called the United States Marine Corps recruiting office, to begin his career in national security, public service, and his journey to becoming a third-generation, veteran. 

Michael served eight years in the Marine Corps on active and reserve duty with training in communications, engineering, and counter-terrorism after attending recruit training at Parris Island and Officers Candidate School in Quantico, Va. After completing his tour of duty and an undergraduate degree in technology, Michael launched his cybersecurity career. He led technology and data protection projects in over 100 countries in industries including finance, healthcare, government, and airline, before launching his own business.

As an internationally renowned expert in cybersecurity, Michael has held leadership roles at some of the largest companies in the world responsible for tackling critical cybersecurity, data privacy, and technology issues.  In 2017, after two Russian cybersecurity attacks left more than 225,000 Ukrainians without power, Michael was selected as one of the top 16 cybersecurity experts and policymakers from around the world to be featured speakers and advisors at the inaugural Global Cybersecurity Summit in Kyiv, Ukraine. In 2018, after the largest Cybersecurity breach in history, Equifax recruited Michael to help transform the Global Security team as their U.S. Information Security Officer. In 2021 and 2022, Michael was named one of the Global Top 100 Leaders in Information Security.

Throughout his career, Michael has been driven by public service and been a leader in his community. In 2013, Michael launched the South Cobb Voter Empowerment Project to inform and empower citizens across South Cobb by connecting them to the issues and people that affect local issues the most. From 2016 to 2019, Michael served as the innovative, ground-breaking Chairman of the Democratic Party of Cobb County.  During that time Michael also served on the board of the South Cobb Council of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.

When not coaching his son's basketball team or attending a robotics competition with his daughter, Michael enjoys visiting pre-Columbian ruins, playing tennis and basketball, and watching Jeopardy.