Matt Devost is a technologist, entrepreneur, and international security expert specializing in cybersecurity, counterterrorism, critical infrastructure protection, intelligence, and risk management issues. Matt is an active investor and advisor, working with several companies including as a Board Director at Flashpoint Intelligence , Transparency Global, and MissionLink.

Matt is currently the CEO & Co-Founder of OODA LLC, a global strategic advisory firm with deep DNA in global security, technology, and intelligence issues. OODA helps clients identify, manage, and respond to global risks and uncertainties while exploring emerging opportunities and developing robust and adaptive strategies for the future. He also serves as the Managing Director of DEV Group LLC and operates the Hack Factory start-up studio and growth lab in Reston, VA.

Matt is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University teaching cybersecurity and business risk for the School of International and Public Affairs and is on the Board of Directors for MissionLink, a non-profit trade association and exclusive network that includes decision makers, government leaders, top founders and over 500 CEOs from across the US who are using and building the most cutting-edge mission-critical capabilities. For over a decade, he has served on the Black Hat Review Board, helping to shape the agenda for the world’s largest cybersecurity conference.

Previously, Matt was the EVP for Strategy and Operations at Tulco Holdings. At Tulco, he was responsible for identifying acquisition targets and the data science and technology strategy that was be implemented to grow the company post-acquisition. He also led Tulco Labs, a 15 person data science and artificial intelligence team that was utilized to drive value with the Tulco Holdings portfolio companies including Figs (NYSE:FIGS), Roadrunner, and Acrisure.

Prior to Tulco, Matt joined Accenture as a Managing Director following their 2015 acquisition of the global cybersecurity consultancy FusionX LLC where he had served as President & CEO since 2010. As a Founder of FusionX, Matt helped an international clientele identify and manage dynamic threats in complex operational environments. During his tenure at Accenture, Matt led the Global Cyber Defense practice responsible for Accenture’s cloud, mobile, infrastructure, network, endpoint, incident response, threat intelligence, threat hunting, vulnerability management, IOT/IIOT, and red teaming offerings.

Matt was an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University for fourteen years teaching the flagship graduate course entitled “Information Warfare and Security”, and was a Founding Director of the Cyberconflict Studies Association. He was also appointed as a special government advisor to counsel the U.S. Department of Defense leadership on a variety of security issues from 2010-2013.

Matt has also served as the Chief Operations Officer for iSIGHT Partners, a global risk identification and mitigation company, where he managed a full-time staff of 80 personnel with offices in Dallas, Washington DC, China, India, Europe, and South America. Matt was responsible for all business operations including directly managing iSIGHT’s global threat intelligence, vulnerability, and assessment practices.

Matt was a founder of the Terrorism Research Center, Inc. (TRC) in 1996, where he served as President and CEO until November 2008. As founder and President, he oversaw all research, analysis, intelligence, assessment, and training programs including the development of the renowned “Mirror Image” training program, the Responder Knowledge Base, and the Terrorism Early Warning Group program which established local intel fusion centers in 56 high-threat U.S. cities.

In 2006, E.P. Investments acquired TRC and in 2007 Matt became the President of Total Intelligence Solutions (TIS) and directly managed three subsidiary companies including TRC.

Previously, Matt was the Director of Operations for Professional Services at Counterpane Internet Security. At Counterpane, Matt led a team of technical information security consultants providing vulnerability assessments and information security consulting services to international corporations and governments. he had performed the same function as Director of Operations for Security Design International, Inc, which was acquired by Counterpane Internet Security.

Prior to joining SDII, he was a founding employee and Director of Intelligence Analysis for iDefense, where he led an analytical team identifying infrastructure threats, vulnerabilities and incidents for Fortune 500 and government clients including Microsoft and Citibank.

Matt started his professional career as a Senior INFOSEC Engineer at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where he provided support on Information Operations and its related subsets to the Department of Defense Community to include the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Joint Staff and unified Commands, the President’s Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of the Manager – National Communication System, and numerous other defense, intelligence, and law enforcement entities. Matt also developed and directed the first Coalition Vulnerability Assessment Team (CVAT), which conducted vulnerability assessments of coalition-classified networks during military exercises.

Matt has been researching the impact of information technology on national security since 1993. As a graduate fellow, he conducted research on national security and information warfare that culminated into a widely published 1995 thesis entitled “National Security in the Information Age.”

Matt has appeared on CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, FoxNews, NPR, CBS News, BBC television, NWCN, Australian television and hundreds of other domestic and international radio and television programs as an expert on terrorism and cybersecurity and has lectured or published for the National Defense University, the United States Intelligence and Law Enforcement Communities, the Swedish, Australian, Japanese, and New Zealand governments, Georgetown University, American University, George Washington University, and a number of popular press books – magazines, academic journals and over 400 international conferences.

He has co-written or authored chapters for several books including Counterterrorism: Bridging Operations and Theory, Cyberadversary Characterization, Addressing Cyber Instability, Threats in the Age of Obama, Information Warfare Vol. 2, Sun Tzu Art of War in Information Warfare, and was the technical editor for Hacking a Terror Network and best selling author David Ignatius’ book The Director. He also is also credited in the Michael Mann movie Blackhat.

In 2004, Matt was appointed to the Defense Science Board Task Force on Critical Homeland Infrastructure Protection to provide advice to the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Matt served as a Senior Advisor to the Airline Pilots Association National Security Committee and is an member of the Los Angeles Terrorism Early Warning Group.

Matt holds a B.A. degree from St. Michael’s College and a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Vermont.