C Spire, SVP CISO

Conrad Bell is C Spire's Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, bringing more than 25 years of expertise in information technology and cybersecurity. Bell joined C Spire in 2016 as Principal Security Architect and rose to become the company's first Chief Information Security Officer, building its cybersecurity program from the ground up. Today he leads the company's security strategy end to end, aligning security initiatives with business objectives at both the tactical and strategic levels. Bell's career spans leadership and technical roles across the government and private sectors. He served seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps (1991–1998), laying the foundation for a career defined by discipline, leadership, and technical excellence. He has since held positions of increasing responsibility —including lead technical architect at the University of North Texas, senior network security engineer with General Dynamics, senior network engineer and team lead with Northrop Grumman, and supervisory IT specialist and chief technical advisor for the 26th Network Operations Squadron at Maxwell Air Force Base–Gunter Annex, Alabama, where he helped direct a 213-person organization supporting a $7.9B global Department of Defense network. Across these roles, he built deep expertise in developing security policy, hardening configurations, and securing complex infrastructure. Bell is the author of Life as a CISO: Strategic Leadership in Cybersecurity — Aligning Security Initiatives with Business Goals. In 2025, he was selected to attend the FBI CISO Academy, and in 2026 he was named a finalist for the Tennessee CISO ORBIE Awards, recognizing excellence in security leadership. He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science and a master's degree in information assurance, and maintains several highly regarded industry certifications, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). Bell is active in industry and academic governance. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Memphis IT Council, where he contributes to the organization's mission of establishing the Memphis region as a center of excellence for information technology, and advises on technology education through the Industrial Advisory Board for Troy University's ABET-accredited Computer Science program and the Computer Information Technology Advisory Board at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Committed to his community, Bell also serves on the Board of Directors of Valiant Cross Academy in Montgomery, Alabama, providing oversight and strategic planning in support of the school's mission.