I got into cyber – I was initially exposed to cyber and security-related studies in college, but I became really involved in the space as an FBI Agent. So many investigations had a cyber nexus – white collar crime, terrorism, criminal enterprises – cyber touched nearly everything by the 1990s and early 2000s. I eventually led the Computer Intrusion Unit at FBI Headquarters, then climbed up the cyber ranks to my final position as Executive Assistant Director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch where I had oversight for every cyber investigation the FBI was running. Moving to a cybersecurity firm in the private sector post-retirement was a natural segue for me and cyberattacks – particularly those conducted by nation-states – have only gotten stronger and more prevalent in the past twelve years since I’ve been at CrowdStrike. 

For me, a positive cyber mindset is – acknowledging that cyber incidents are now a part of the business landscape, understanding that preparing for such incidents is part of responsible risk management and recognizing that there is no panacea when it comes to cyber. With this mindset, security and IT teams, the C suite and boards of directors can plan accordingly, preparing a multi-pronged approach to tackle cyber risks that includes people, processes and technology. Once an organization shifts to this type of mindset, they will be more adequately prepared to take on today’s sophisticated cyber actors. 

The experience that set me up for success was – My 20+ years in the FBI set me up for success in the private sector with CrowdStrike. When I left the Bureau as an Executive Assistant Director, I was overseeing half of the FBI’s investigative operations, including all FBI criminal and cyber investigations worldwide, international operations, victim services, and incident response work. Our mission was to keep organizations safe from the attacks that threaten democracy itself. The threats, and that mission, both remain the same in public and private industries. At CrowdStrike, our ultimate goal is to stop breaches and keep our customers safe.  

The quote I live by is – “One Team, One Fight.” It’s been a mantra throughout my life, and I think it cuts to the core of service and what the true mission of my career has been. I’m proud that it is now also a popular saying at CrowdStrike as well.  

My recommended read is – The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything, by Stephen M.R. Covey. 

One thing I’m particularly proud of is – my continuing work to protect the U.S. electoral system. In 2018, I catalyzed a partnership between CrowdStrike and the Center for Internet Security (CIS) ahead of the midterms that ultimately led to endpoint augmentation for the ALBERT protection system ahead of the 2020 elections. I also served as a key point of contact for Federal government partners and led a proactive outreach campaign, providing guidance and resources to election-specific and election-related customers. This work continues today, as education of the public is key to prevent attacks and misinformation/disinformation campaigns from adversaries on a global scale. We must stay vigilant to properly ensure the cybersecurity of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.