Rob is currently the Federal Chief Technology Officer at Fortify Software. In this capacity, he represents Fortify’s technology leadership to Government, Systems Integrator and Critical Infrastructure organizations seeking to address their Software Security Assurance challenges.
Rob brings a unique perspective to his role at Fortify. After 10 years in the US Navy managing computing infrastructures, communications and cryptography, he adopted a core belief in using technology to improve human challenges. He experienced that it could be applied to a strong defense, as well as to opening lines of communication during crisis situations.
His transition to the private sector focused on both early stage startups as well as large established vendors including IBM, Microsoft and Oracle; companies that offered solutions in the fields of security, communications, visualization and situational awareness to organizations with complex missions, challenging physical environments, and a critical need to improve their operational stance.
Rob caught the humanitarian bug during the national and international disasters of 2004 and 2005, when he coordinated Microsoft efforts to use technology after hurricane Katrina, the Asian Tsunami, and Pakistan earthquake to help Defense and NGO organizations manage displaced populations, triage health requirements, direct needed supplies, and restore general communications to the affected regions.
He believes that protecting information at the application level is the last line of defense in a never-ending cyber threat that is increasing in both sophistication and harm to the international community
Rob studied mathematics and computer science at the US Naval Academy.