Rob Arnold is a strategist, author, and principal consultant at Acorn Pass, where he helps leaders and organizations make better decisions under uncertainty.
His work spans government, enterprise, startups, standards development, and creative expression — anchored in frameworks and thinking tools that bridge rigorous analysis with actionable strategy.
Experience That Meets Complexity
With decades of leadership across public service, enterprise strategy, and consulting, Rob brings a uniquely cross-sector perspective to complex challenges.
He served as Senior Advisor for Cybersecurity and Risk Management at the National Risk Management Center (part of CISA, U.S. Department of Homeland Security), where he helped establish the first National Critical Functions Risk Register — a foundational coordination and prioritization tool that informs federal leadership risk objectives.
Before that, he was CEO of Threat Sketch, a data and analytics firm focused on large-scale cyber risk management solutions. Rob has also represented organizations before Congress on cybersecurity matters and participated in major national and industry forums, bringing grounded insight to policy makers and practitioners alike.
Frameworks & Tools That Bridge Insight and Decision
Rob is the creator of the UC2 (Uniform Confidence/Certainty Estimation) framework, a rigorous approach to disentangling confidence from certainty in risk estimation. UC2 informs tools like the Risk Ruler, Lean Chasm strategy model, and extensions to risk scoring domains like CVSS and AIVSS — helping teams align judgment, communicate risk, and navigate uncertainty.
His work is both intellectually grounded and practically oriented, designed to support leaders and teams in real decision contexts rather than abstract theory.
Author, Speaker, and Thought Partner
Rob is the author of Cybersecurity: A Business Solution, a practical guide that helps executives and risk professionals align cybersecurity strategy with real organizational needs. His work has been referenced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and recognized in industry publications as a valuable resource for practitioners and leaders.
He is also a seasoned speaker, having presented on risk, strategy, and decision frameworks at national conferences, standards forums, and in media engagements.
Cybersecurity: A Business Solution
Featured Frameworks
- • UC2 Framework
- • Risk Ruler
- • Lean Chasm
- • CVSS Extensions
Creative and Venture Work
Beyond consulting and frameworks, Rob is engaged in creative and entrepreneurial initiatives that reflect his broad interests:
- Lean Chasm — A strategic model for startup growth and market adoption.
- Startup GTM & Funnel Templates — Practical tools for founders and marketers.
- Callibros — A clean energy venture focused on advancing green hydrogen solutions.
- Outrage Management Framework — Tools for understanding and navigating complex emotional dynamics.
- Olive-Pie — A children's book that connects narrative with emotional understanding.
Testimony: Cybersecurity U.S. Congress
Professional Credentials
- Graduate credentials in Information Security — East Carolina University
- Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) — ISACA
- Extensive experience advising government, enterprise, and startup leaders
Connect With Rob
Interested in working together?
I partner with leaders, teams, and decision makers to turn complexity into clarity and uncertainty into strategic action.