Penny McKenzie

Penny McKenzie, Cyber Security Engineer, National Security Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Penny McKenzie
Cyber Security Engineer, National Security Directorate
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 

Penny McKenzie is a Cybersecurity Engineer at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), specializing in securing the Internet of Things (IoT). She designed and established PNNL’s first Internet of Things Common Operating Environment (IoTCOE), a platform that delivers customized cybersecurity solutions throughout the IoT/Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) lifecycle. IoTCOE tackles chemical, physical, and cybersecurity challenges by integrating visual analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning algorithms, and its incorporation with 5G equips researchers to address both current and future cybersecurity challenges.

As the Program Director for the Cyber Halo Innovation Research Program (CHIRP), Penny collaborates with Space Systems Command, the acquisition arm of the U.S. Space Force, to cultivate the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. She has extensive experience in program development, recruitment, and mentorship, fostering pathways for early-career interns and students to explore diverse disciplines, including IoT network development, robotics, AI/ML, and operational technology forensics.

Penny’s expertise spans network monitoring and intrusion detection for Industrial Control Systems (ICS), forensic analysis, IoT cybersecurity, policy development, and the convergence of cyber and physical security. Her current research focuses on IoT incident response, risk management frameworks, network monitoring protocols, cyber-physical security for federal facilities, AI/ML, and cybersecurity talent recruitment. She is passionate about mentorship, encouraging interns to explore their interests, take ownership, and grow into leadership roles.

Penny’s contributions support entities such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security. She also holds a Joint Appointment at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she collaborates with the engineering department to develop IoT solutions for critical infrastructure and mentors’ students in pursuit of cybersecurity careers.

View Penny McKenzie's PNNL Profile