Keith R. Pierson

About Keith R. Pierson

I build and lead enterprise operational resilience programs that keep financial institutions running when things go wrong.With 20 years of Air Force service, including commanding emergency operations at a Space Force installation and overseeing $3.8B in mission-critical continuity, I brought that same discipline to financial services. At BankUnited, I own the enterprise BCM and operational resilience framework across all three lines of defense, advising C-suite leadership on crisis response, third-party risk, and technology resilience.I hold both the MBCP and CBCP from DRI International, the highest credentials in the field along with AWS Cloud Practitioner certification and an active focus on AI risk governance, including control frameworks for AI-enabled third-party vendors and audit traceability for automated workflows.Outside of work, I serve as Deputy Director of the DRI International Foundation Veterans Outreach Program, connecting transitioning service members with careers in business continuity.If you\'re building or maturing a resilience program at a larger institution or advisory firm, let\'s connect.

Experience

1. Operational Resilience Lead

   BankUnited

   May 2022 — Present · Miami, FL, US

   I lead enterprise Business Continuity and Operational Resilience at a $35B publicly traded regional bank, with accountability spanning all three lines of defense and direct advisory access to C-suite and senior risk leadership.My work covers the full resilience lifecycle from business impact analysis and third-party vendor risk to cloud-based disaster recovery on AWS, crisis management, and regulatory examination support under FFIEC and OCC frameworks.A few things I focus on that most BCM roles don\'t:AI and automation risk in continuity planning, including control frameworks for AI-enabled third-party vendors, audit traceability for automated decision workflows, and scenario exercises for non-traditional failure modes like model drift and data pipeline disruption.I also design and facilitate executive tabletop exercises, lead the enterprise Mass Notification System during active incidents, and translate complex technical failure scenarios into board-level business impact narratives.Certifications: MBCP, CBCP, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS AI Practitioner (in progress)

Education

• Purdue Global

  Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), International Business

  2014 — 2015

• Community College of the Air Force

  Associate's degree, Instructor of Technology and Military Science

  2011 — 2012

• Ashford University

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Organizational Management

  2018 — 2020

• Community College of the Air Force

  Vehicle Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies

  2011 — 2012