Shift5 hires NSA, Energy cyber vet as research chief

Shift5, a cybersecurity company focused on operational technology, has hired nearly four-decade federal government veteran Alexander Gates as chief research officer.

Arlington, Virginia-headquartered Shift5 has tasked Gates with overseeing its threat research portfolio, product security strategy and knowledge management efforts.

Gates will also be responsible for the design of Shift5’s threat intelligence apparatus for helping defense and transportation customers in particular secure their OT systems, the company said Wednesday.

His military and civil service career included helping the National Security Agency build its Threat Operations Center focused on identifying emerging cyber threats, creating a lab focused on situational awareness and leadership over technical security teams.

While at the Energy Department, he was the lead adviser on cyberspace to the secretary and led the office focused on cybersecurity. He created and implement efforts to defend the grid through information sharing.

“Not many have been on the ground-floor of creating the standards of critical infrastructure cybersecurity, and are positioned to guide the next phase of cutting edge defense,” Shift5 CEO and co-founder Josh Lospinoso said in a release.

Gates routinely interacted with the private sector on cybersecurity matters. He also represented NSA and Energy at the White House and Director of National Intelligence, Defense Department and to numerous congressional committees including those dealing with intelligence and critical infrastructure.