About Seventeen Sierra

Seventeen Sierra was founded on a unique principle: that the most resilient and innovative systems are built at the intersection of deep operational experience and emerging technology. The firm's identity is shaped by a career at the forefront of federal technology and a core philosophy of strategic, impactful action.

The Ethos: The Story of 17S

The name <strong>seventeen sierra</strong> is a direct tribute to the Air Force Specialty Code <strong>17S</strong>—the Cyberspace Effects Operations Officer. These officers are elite specialists at the forefront of modern warfare, tasked with planning, commanding, and executing the nation's most critical offensive and defensive cyber missions. They are the warfighters of the digital domain, entrusted with operating sophisticated "cyber weapon systems" to achieve strategic impact.

The founder's connection to this ethos is deep-rooted. She was directly involved in establishing one of the very first Program Management Offices (PMOs) for these pioneering systems, giving her a front-row seat to the birth of these groundbreaking capabilities.

That experience—witnessing the immense responsibility, the pioneering spirit, and the focus on tangible results—inspired the three core principles of seventeen sierra:

  • Strategic Action

    Moving beyond checklists to deliver solutions that have a real, measurable impact.

  • Pioneering Solutions

    Embracing innovation and connecting disparate ideas to solve the problems of tomorrow.

  • Unwavering Focus

    A dutiful and detail-oriented dedication to achieving the mission.

Abstract image of swirling, fluid-like lines in gold and dark green, representing the flow of strategic systems and information.
Professional headshot of Alyssa Feola, Founder of Seventeen Sierra.

The Founder: Alyssa Feola

Seventeen Sierra is led by its founder, Alyssa Feola, a retired federal cybersecurity leader and CISSP-certified expert with over 15 years of experience architecting security strategy and driving innovation across the U.S. government and private sector.

Her career was forged during a decade of <strong>civil service with the U.S. Air Force</strong>, where she moved from managing enterprise-level risk to serving as a <strong>Cybersecurity Policy Advisor at the Pentagon</strong>. There, she was a main contributor to the "ATO in a Day" strategy, which cut authorization timelines by 50% by focusing on measurable security outcomes over compliance checklists.

Throughout her career, Alyssa has been a driving force for innovation. She stood up and led the original <strong>Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) Working Group</strong> for the Air Force and authored white papers that influenced the government-wide adoption of biometrics and passkeys for <strong>Zero Trust Architecture</strong>. Her work coordinating "Hack the Air Force" events and her leadership on interagency panels have solidified her reputation as a forward-thinking expert.

Transitioning to her next chapter in civilian service, she became a <strong>Senior Cybersecurity Advisor at the General Services Administration (GSA)</strong>. At GSA, she led a policy initiative to achieve 100% FedRAMP compliance for 24 SaaS authorizations and designed secure software development workflows that were adopted across multiple business units.

Today, Alyssa applies this wealth of real-world experience to her partners at seventeen sierra. She provides the strategic insights and deep technical expertise gained from a career spent not just navigating, but actively shaping federal cybersecurity and technology policy.

Career Journey

10+ Years

Civil Service & Cybersecurity Policy Advisor

U.S. Air Force, The Pentagon

Managed enterprise-level risk and was a main contributor to the "ATO in a Day" strategy, cutting authorization timelines by 50%.

Innovation Driven

Cybersecurity Innovator & C-SCRM Lead

Federal Government

Established the first Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) Working Group and influenced government-wide adoption of Zero Trust principles.

Next Chapter

Senior Cybersecurity Advisor

General Services Administration (GSA)

Led a policy initiative for 100% FedRAMP compliance and designed secure software development workflows adopted across business units.

Present Day

Founder & Strategic Advisor

Seventeen Sierra

Applying real-world experience to provide strategic insights and deep technical expertise to partners.