Mary Ann Davidson — Oracle’s Chief Security Officer

A veteran cybersecurity leader who directed Oracle’s Software Security Assurance and Secure Development Lifecycle for decades.

Updated: August 20, 2025

Mary Ann Davidson, Oracle Chief Security Officer

Source: NDTV Profit / Oracle website (public profile image)

Introduction

mary ann davidson served as Oracle’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) for nearly four decades. She was responsible for shaping the company’s Software Security Assurance programs and Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL), helping Oracle set global standards in product security and vulnerability management.

Educational Background

Davidson holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Earlier in her career, she served in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps, where she received the Navy Achievement Medal.

Career at Oracle

Joining Oracle in 1988, Davidson moved into the product security division and became the architect of Oracle’s product security policies. She led secure coding practices, vulnerability assessment programs, and overall product security strategy.

Key Contributions

Established Oracle’s Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL) and Software Security Assurance programs.
Represented Oracle in government and industry security committees.
Advocated for cybersecurity best practices across the software industry.

2015 Controversy

In 2015, a blog post authored by Davidson sparked controversy in the security research community. The post, which criticized reverse engineering and security disclosures, was widely criticized and later removed by Oracle. The incident fueled debate on vulnerability disclosure and researcher collaboration.

Why She Matters

In a global software giant like Oracle, the CSO role is not only about technical security but also about trust and product reliability. Davidson’s long tenure left a lasting mark on Oracle’s security culture, making her one of the most recognizable women leaders in cybersecurity.

Summary (TL;DR)

Mary Ann Davidson — Longtime Chief Security Officer at Oracle.
Education: University of Virginia (B.S.), Wharton School (MBA), and service in the U.S. Navy.
Architect of Oracle’s Secure Development Lifecycle and product security programs.
Faced a major industry controversy in 2015 over a blog post on reverse engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is Mary Ann Davidson?

Mary Ann Davidson is the former Chief Security Officer of Oracle, where she worked for nearly 40 years. She led the company’s cybersecurity programs and helped develop global security standards.

What is Mary Ann Davidson known for?

She is best known for establishing Oracle’s Secure Development Lifecycle and Software Security Assurance programs, as well as being a leading voice for cybersecurity in the tech industry.

What was the 2015 blog post controversy?

In 2015, Davidson published a blog post criticizing reverse engineering and vulnerability disclosure. The post sparked backlash among security researchers and was later removed by Oracle.

Why is Mary Ann Davidson important in cybersecurity?

Davidson’s leadership at Oracle shaped industry-wide cybersecurity practices. She was one of the highest-ranking women in cybersecurity, influencing both corporate security culture and global security policies.

Sources

Oracle Executive Bio — Mary Ann Davidson
NDTV Profit, Livemint, Economic Times (coverage of her career and exit)
Wikipedia public profile
Wired, Ars Technica — reporting on the 2015 controversy