Deidre Melton, CFE, CIA, CISA, CISM, CDPSE, CRISC, CRMA, CIG, CIGI
Deputy Chief Operating Officer & Associate Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management (CRO)
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Deidre Melton is a transformative leader at the intersection of enterprise risk management, strategic operations, and cybersecurity governance. As the Associate Vice President for Enterprise Risk Management and Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Florida A&M University, Deidre oversees institution-wide risk intelligence, leads major operational initiatives, and advises executive leadership on driving institutional resilience through data-informed decision-making and strategic alignment.

With more than 20 years of experience in public sector auditing, IT risk, and higher education leadership, Deidre has pioneered efforts in digital transformation, founded the State University System of Florida ERM Consortium, and implemented frameworks that embed risk-awareness into the core of university strategy. Her forward-thinking approach has elevated FAMU’s national profile in risk governance and operational excellence.

A passionate advocate for empowering women in technology and leadership, Deidre serves as the U.S. Ambassador for ISACA’s Global SheLeadsTech program and Vice President of the ISACA Tallahassee Chapter. She holds nine professional certifications across cybersecurity, audit, and risk, and is widely respected for building resilient systems that drive innovation, equity, and long-term impact.