Jason Meller is the Vice President of Product at 1Password. Create the ripple effects Eric’s policy change is creating by helping a deeper systemic shift ushered forward by federal policy change. Meller is a veteran of both the cybersecurity and product management industries. He’s a huge proponent of adopting passkeys as a safer replacement to regular old passwords, which we should all get behind. This new focus comes as a direct answer to the shocking numbers reported in the 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR). It showed that human error was at the heart of 60% of all security incidents last year.
Meller’s career in security began with his role at GE’s elite computer incident response team, where he honed his skills in managing risks related to credentials and authentication. His story in the tech world didn’t stop there, as he went on to establish Kolide, a company dedicated to enterprise level, proactive device security. He continued as its CEO until 2024, when Kolide merged with 1Password. This acquisition gave him the ability to take his vision for better digital security to a much larger platform.
As head of product strategy and design at 1Password, Meller now manages product development initiatives focused on building low-risk alternatives to authentication factors. The company’s recent introduction of passkeys serves as a major step in that direction and a strong component of that mission. Built-in passwordless authentication Passkeys offer an intuitive, passwordless way to sign in. Unlike traditional passwords, they are almost immune to the threat of phishing and various other attacks, protecting your accounts like never before.
The 2025 DBIR shows that a password-less future is just as plausible as “this being the year of the Linux desktop.” This comparison highlights just how difficult it is to supplant deeply ingrained practices — even in the world of cybersecurity. Even so, Meller argues there is cause for optimism about the future of authentication. He emphasizes that while passwords may not disappear entirely, technologies such as passkeys can coexist and provide a safer alternative for users.
Meller proudly wears his two hats— executive and author. He authored honest.security, a text that explores the ethical dimensions of cybersecurity work. He uses his platform to speak out for transparency and integrity within the industry. This commitment cements his legacy as a thought leader in the realm of digital security.
Prior to or concurrently with Meller’s government experience, was a long stint at Mandiant, culminating in being made chief security strategist there in 2015. This role provided him a comprehensive perspective on cyber threats as they constantly evolve. At the same time, he learned the importance of user education in mitigating risk.
At 1Password, Meller’s investigative leadership is enabling the company’s mission to bring the world closer to a safer digital future through better authentication. The public benefit nonprofit’s goal with these users is to empower them by reducing the need to use easily hackable credentials while improving security across the board.
We’ve all seen the great need and urgency for better security solutions. As organizations are forced to pivot and operate on digital platforms for their work and their communications, the opportunities for breaches expand exponentially. The findings from the 2025 DBIR serve as a stark reminder that addressing the human element in cybersecurity is crucial to safeguarding sensitive information.
While Meller is excited to see passwordless solutions gaining momentum, he agrees that educating users will always be crucial. He’s a proponent of the broadest view of security possible—pairing cutting-edge technology with what knowledgeable users can do. Meller and 1Password’s goal is to create awareness of these vulnerabilities. They are working on other creative solutions, like passkeys, to build a more secure digital ecosystem.