BY Staff
In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, true leadership requires far more than technical expertise. It demands vision, deep-rooted faith, and an unwavering commitment to lifting others up as you climb. For Gary Eppinger, a celebrated executive with over 30 years of experience traversing the healthcare, retail, and transportation sectors, building a resilient corporate infrastructure has always gone hand-in-hand with building up people.
From steering global data security organizations at Fortune 100 companies to navigating the complex tech landscapes of major transportation networks, Eppinger has redefined what it means to be a modern tech champion. Currently leading information security and technology infrastructure as the Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at CSX Corporation, Gary proves daily that true success isn’t just about keeping the tracks secure—it’s about driving authentic value for the community, organization, and family.
A Foundation Rooted in Faith and Safety
Growing up in Cleveland, Gary’s fascination with trains started early. He fondly recalls childhood days spent with a fishing pole in hand, occasionally chasing after slow-moving freight trains—until his mother stepped in.
“When my mom, my first safety manager, found out, she quickly put a stop to that,” Eppinger laughingly recalls. “Safety first when it comes to the trains.”
While his parents channeled that early energy away from physical train-hopping, they deeply nurtured his innate talent for math and science. This guidance eventually led him to Campbell University, where his passion for technology truly sparked. It wasn’t always a smooth ride—Gary recalls struggling through an intense early computer class until a professor challenged his perspective, handing him a magazine detailing the vast future of tech careers. In that moment, a lightbulb went off. He was hooked.
That early lessons in resilience formed the backbone of a career grounded in forward-looking execution. When dealing with massive corporate transformations, cloud migrations, and high-stakes risk management, Gary leans into a powerful inner compass:
“Faith is something you believe in even when you cannot see all of the steps or know how successful the end result will be,” Eppinger asserts. “You will put together your business case, designs, budgets, and contingency plans, but you still do not know how successful or accepted the change will be. You are leaning on faith and experience.”
Raising the Bar: Cybersecurity on Steroids
Before bringing his expertise to the rail industry, Gary spent over seven years as the Global CISO for Carnival Corporation, managing data protection for the world’s largest cruise line. Overseeing moving vessels across the globe taught him how to translate strict technical architecture into everyday business strategy, managing what he playfully called “cybersecurity on steroids.”
Whether he’s guarding major consumer data or modernizing infrastructure with hybrid cloud frameworks, Gary has always recognized that the human element is the most vital asset to protect. Under his watch, tech education isn’t just dry compliance training; it’s personalized. His teams make it a point to teach employees how to secure their personal credit cards during holiday shopping rushes and how to guide their children through the challenges of modern social media and cyberbullying. For Gary, care doesn’t stop at the office door.
Mentorship: The Ultimate Definition of Success
Despite a highly decorated career—including a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama and being ranked 24th in ExecRank’s “Top Security Executive Rankings”—Gary measures his legacy through the achievements of the people he leads.
The proud father of four outstanding children, Gary’s dedication to mentoring the next generation shines brightest through his relationship with his eldest son, Gary II, who followed his father’s footsteps into the computer science field and works as a Security Engineering Manager.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Leaders
Rather than shielding his knowledge, Eppinger’s philanthropic approach to professional development focuses on equipping young leaders with a holistic understanding of business strategy, risk, and leadership psychology. His mentorship philosophy encourages individuals to step outside of their comfort zones, build cross-functional depth, and lead with high emotional intelligence. For Eppinger, a leader’s ultimate legacy is not measured by systems secured or revenue generated, but by the trajectory and success of the people they have helped empower.
Eppinger has long believed that no one builds a meaningful career alone. Within the corporate arena and through his work with professional associations, he has dedicated countless hours to mentoring aspiring professionals, particularly those from underrepresented communities in the technology and cybersecurity sectors.
For Gary, leadership is a symbiotic circle of continuous learning and mutual empowerment:
Lifting While Climbing: Success means helping, supporting, and mentoring others to achieve their own milestones.
The Power of Connection: Partnering with the younger workforce to understand how today’s generation thinks, adapts, and innovates.
Ethical Drive: True success dictates that you cannot run over or take advantage of others on your journey to the top.
“The growth of employees and teams is my most significant professional accomplishment,” says Eppinger. By blending high-performance tech with an authentic heart for human potential, Gary Eppinger continues to pave a secure, inspiring path for the next generation of digital leaders.
Global Impact: Building Sustainable Capabilities in Africa
As Eppinger steps into his advisory phase his humanitarian vision is scaling internationally. He speaks passionately about spearheading initiatives to support resilient systems, infrastructure modernization, and technology leadership development across the African continent as the CEO of a new formed company “Eppinger Board & Cyber Advisory LLC”.
This global outreach is not a departure from his cybersecurity career; it is its natural evolution. Eppinger recognizes that in an interconnected world, true security requires sustainable infrastructure. His international philanthropic goals focus on:
• Bridging the Digital Divide: Collaborating with local organizations to bring digital literacy and cybersecurity education to developing communities.
• Modernizing Critical Infrastructure: Offering strategic guidance to ensure that essential community, healthcare, and educational systems are secure and built to last.
• Cultivating Local Talent: Establishing frameworks that allow African technology professionals to develop specialized skills, ensuring they can lead their own institutions into the future.
A Legacy of Trust
Ultimately, Gary Eppinger’s story is a powerful reminder that the traits required to protect global supply chains and critical infrastructure—calmness under pressure, strategic foresight, and unwavering integrity—are the exact same traits required to drive meaningful social change.
Whether he is advising a corporate board on enterprise risk, mentoring a young professional navigating the tech industry, or building secure, sustainable capabilities in communities worldwide, the mission remains entirely consistent: Lead with integrity, put people first, and build trust that endures.
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