After Chris reduced his successful and decorated ten-year, full-time law enforcement career to part-time in 1996, he moved into a successful private sector cybersecurity career. Chris earned his Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Technology, his Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and his Master's Degree in Cybercrime. Chris graduated Cum Laude. Chris holds multiple certifications including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Computer Forensic Technician (CCFT), Certified Computer Examiner (CCE), GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT), Certified Cybercrime Examiner (CCCE) and is a Georgia Cyber Safety Initiative Instructor (GaCSI). Chris has held several executive level security positions in his private sector career across several large, Atlanta based companies subsequently building and maturing their cybersecurity programs.
Chris combines and utilizes his unique hybrid of experience and training in criminal intelligence, cyber threat intelligence, specialized technologies, executive management, and law enforcement to build award-winning and effective cybersecurity programs and to protect companies’ most valuable trade secrets and sensitive customer and employee data. Chris has built several large cybersecurity programs from the ground up and has experience across many verticals, including retail, financial, energy, government, gaming, healthcare, and sports entertainment. Chris created and managed the first information security program for the Georgia Lottery Corporation between 2009 -2011 and was voted 85th Top Ranking CISO in the United States in 2012 by ExecuRank. Chris created the first Cyber Executive Protection Programs uniquely combining his technical, investigative, executive protection and executive cyber security management expertise into highly effective cyber executive protection programs. Chris also has experience as a Managing Principal for one of the largest and respected global cyber security consulting firms where he advised Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) globally on facets of their job duties, how to effectively report to their Board of Directors, and how to create, implement and mature effective cyber security programs. Chris has been nominated several times for the T.E.N. ISE Security Executive of the Year award.
Chris has previously served as a Board of Directors member with the National Technology Security Coalition (NTSC) as well as several other governing body roles within cyber security-focused organizations including Evanta and has spoken at major security events and conferences including Secure World, FBI InfraGard, HTCIA, and the CISO Summit. Chris also enjoys contributing to the tradecraft by writing articles on cybersecurity and has been featured in publications including Security Current, CSO Online, and PenTest Magazine. Chris has participated as a guest speaker in the Evanta Leadership Development Academy and was featured as an Evanta “Breakaway Leadership Profile” spotlight in 2016. Chris is a charter member of the International Association of Cyber and Economic Crime Professionals through the National White Collar Crime Center (‘NW3C’).
Chris has experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and is an experienced and seasoned penetration tester, computer forensics/e-discovery, intelligence, and incident response specialist. Chris still commits a significant amount of his free time working as a certified and sworn active reserve police investigator and is attached as an affiliate member of a statewide task force with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation performing investigations, and special operations to arrest and convict criminals who prey on and exploit children. Chris also volunteers and helps educate the community by teaching parents and children about cyber safety and is certified as a GaCSI Instructor under the Georgia Cyber Safety Initiative program. Chris has extensive physical security and executive protection experience, is SWAT qualified, and served for years on an advanced tactical team with a Georgia law enforcement agency.
