Dr. Eric Cole

Dr. Cole is a 30-year cybersecurity industry expert on a mission to simplify complex technology and make the digital world safe for businesses, individuals and families. An advisor and consultant to former President Barack Obama, Bill Gates and other high-profile clients, Dr. Cole has deep and varied expertise that extends to both the public and private sectors, including the federal government and large corporate enterprises. He is routinely called upon to serve as an expert witness in IP litigation, criminal and civil cases, and cybersecurity breaches.

Additionally, Dr. Cole is helping to educate and equip the next generation of information-security leaders as a former adjunct professor and guest lecturer at Georgetown University, New York Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, University of California at Berkeley, and Purdue University; author of eight textbooks; and creator of a bestselling course on cybersecurity (through which he has trained more than 65,000 people), as well as other training courses and certification programs.

Dr. Cole got his start working with the Central Intelligence Agency as a professional hacker. After eight years with the CIA, where he rose to the position of program manager / technical director for the Internet Program Team with the Office of Technical Services, Dr. Cole moved from offense to defense, leaving government to join the private sector. For the next 15 years, he held top positions—including chief technology officer and chief scientist—at companies such as Lockheed Martin, McAfee and the Syntex Group, Inc.

In 2005, Dr. Cole launched Secure Anchor Consulting, where he serves Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, international organizations and the federal government. Through his consulting work, Dr. Cole provides a broad range of services, including security assessments, cybersecurity training, executive-awareness training, expert-witness testimony and keynote speaking. Dr. Cole fervently believes that cyberattacks are preventable, but companies are making cyber too complex. He is a proponent of greater regulation, arguing that we’re getting advice from the people who failed us—the technology companies—and have come to an inflection point that requires us to hold these companies accountable.

Highly recognized in his field, Dr. Cole has served on several prestigious committees, including the Commission on Cyber Security for the 44th President, the Purdue University Executive Advisory Board and SME for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Dr. Cole received his doctorate in network security from Pace University. He also holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from New York Institute of Technology, where he was recognized as the sole recipient of the Harry Schure Graduate Memorial Award. In 2014, Dr. Cole was admitted into the Infosecurity Hall of Fame.