At Threat.Technology we track over 100,000 infosec, cyber security, military and cyber startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top California, United States based COO’ operating in the Cyber Security space. If you think a COO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on [email protected].
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Spencer Punter
Partner, COO and CFO of DCVC
Spencer has over two decades of experience in Silicon Valley, starting as an investment banker and then becoming a venture capitalist, an entrepreneur, a manager of a venture capital fund of funds, and eventually a CFO/COO of venture-backed enterprise SaaS companies. He brings this diverse skill set to Data Collective where, as COO, he works on the internal operations of the firm and, as an operating partner, he assists the current portfolio with fund raising, FP&A, and M&A. Immediately prior to joining Data Collective, he was COO/CFO of Appcelerator, the maker of the leading cross-platform mobile application development suite, which was acquired by Axway. He has worked in various roles from Associate to General Partner at firms such as Morgan Stanley, Integral Capital Partners, Bowman Capital, Bay Partners, and Capital Dynamics.
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About DCVC: DCVC backs entrepreneurs using Deep Tech to solve problems and multiply the benefits of capitalism for everyone while reducing its cost.
Stepan Ilyin
Co-Founder & COO of Wallarm
Stepan is a co-founder of Wallarm, Y Combinator-backed company, which provides AI-driven security for modern applications and APIs.
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About Wallarm: End-to-end API Security for the Modern Teams
John Prausa
Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Mission Solutions of SRI International
John Prausa became chief operating officer (COO) of SRI International in 2015, responsible for all activities in support of research and development operations including Contracting and Procurement; Human Resources; Security Operations; and Facilities, Property and Logistics. Prausa is also Vice President of Mission Solutions, which delivers technology and services in support U.S. government deployed systems. The division comprises two programs: Instrumentation and Simulation (I&S) and Intelligence and Information Systems (I2S). The I&S Program provides a full spectrum of support to clients in the military test and training and homeland defense communities, including technology R&D, system prototyping, instrumentation production, training exercise field support, and depot maintenance. I2S supports Army, Joint, and Coalition Operations software for electronic warfare (EW) and target sensing systems (TSS), including infrastructure and personnel for ground and air survivability systems. The program also enhances multi-spectral EW system capabilities through automated development, testing and distribution software tools. Prausa previously led SRI’s Engineering and Systems Group, at the time the largest R&D group at SRI, with staff distributed at fifteen regional offices and numerous operating locations. In that role, he directed 800 staff members conducting R&D, deployment and support of technologies and systems in ionospheric and space research, radar and remote sensing, signal processing and algorithm development, signals and electronic intelligence, test and training systems, wireless communications, robotics and autonomous systems, imaging technology and systems, force protection and situation awareness, and product development. Prausa has a B.A. in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley, and has done graduate course work in systems analysis at Stanford University.
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About SRI International: SRI International is a nonprofit, independent research center serving government and industry.
Christie Kim
COO of Persona
Christie Kim serves as the Chief Operations Manager at Persona.
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About Persona: Persona is an identity platform that helps business verify customer identities that brings trust to online interactions.
Tarun Desikan
COO & Co-founder of Banyan Security
Tarun Desikan has extensive experience in product strategy and business execution from nimble startups to global corporations. He was most recently VP of Product at Moovweb, where he help build a leading PaaS for mobile development, migrating 100s of enterprises to modern infrastructure in the Public Cloud. Prior to Moovweb, he was a strategy consultant at the BCG focused on marketing & sales initiatives for Global-1000 IT companies. Tarun was also an early engineer at Infinera (Nasdaq: INFN), developing networking products. Tarun holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from BITS, Pilani, India, and an MSEE and MBA from Stanford University.
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About Banyan Security: Banyan Security provides a zero trust network access platform for hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
Kerry Williams
Chief Operating Officer of Experian
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About Experian: Experian unlocks the power of data to create opportunities for consumers, businesses, and society.
Maxwell Blumenfeld
Co-Founder & COO of SentiLink
Maxwell Blumenfeld is a Co-Founder at SentiLink. He was a Data Scientist, Fraud Strategy Lead at Affirm, Inc., and Lead Associate at Novantas. Mr. Blumenfeld graduated from the University of Chicago with a bachelor of arts in Mathematics and Economics.
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About SentiLink: SentiLink is an identity verification technology company that helps in detecting and blocking synthetic identities.
Tiffany To
Chief Operating Officer/CRO of ForAllSecure
Tiffany To is the Chief Operating Officer at [ForAllSecure](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/forallsecure), a security startup named to MIT’s 50 Smartest Companies of 2017 and winner of the DARPA Cyber Grand Challenge, the first automated hacking competition. Previously, she was part of the early teams of several infrastructure startups, launching them out of stealth mode in roles that included VP of Marketing at [Cohesity](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/cohesity), VP of Product Mgmt and Marketing at [Coho Data](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/coho-data#/entity) and Director of Marketing at [Nutanix](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/nutanix#/entity). To was also a Group Product Manager at VMware and held roles at Intel and SGI. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in computer systems engineering from [Stanford University](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/stanford-university) and MBA from [Haas Business School at the University of California, Berkeley](https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/haas-business-school-at-university-of-california-berkeley#/entity).
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About ForAllSecure: ForAllSecure is a software company that provides autonomous application security solutions for continuous security.
Keith McDonnell
Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel of Trillium Secure
Keith McDonnell has over twenty-five years experience at multinational companies in the fields of consumer products, software and semiconductors as a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. He has a MBA from University of Southern California and JD from John Marshall Law School. Keith has lived in Asia, Europe and the United States. He is fluent in English and Mandarin.
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About Kasle, Trillium, Trillium Secure: Trillium provides in-vehicle cybersecurity protection for connected vehicles.
Paul Lanzi
Co-Founder & COO of Remediant
Paul Lanzi is the co-founder and COO of Remediant.
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About Remediant: Remediant provides enterprises with Privileged Access Management (PAM) software to help them protect their accounts from misuse and abuse.
Maureen Blando
President & COO of Mobile Helix
Maureen oversees the company’s business operations. Maureen’s focus is on our customers and on building a company in which employees thrive and can contribute at the top of their capabilities. Immediately prior to Mobile Helix, Maureen was in strategic sales at Coverity, Inc., developing new business with top 10 software and internet companies. Earlier, Maureen was VP of Worldwide Sales at Lightspeed Logic, a semiconductor IP provider. In her 12 years at Mitsubishi Electronics Semiconductor Division, Maureen’s roles included both AVP of Sales and of Marketing. Maureen has an MA and BA from the University of West Georgia.
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About Mobile Helix: Wiith LINK, attorneys & knowledge professionals work from anywhere. Compare, annotate, edit, email documents using a single encrypted app.
Michael Brenner
CFO & COO of Qylur Intelligent Systems
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About Qylur Intelligent Systems: Qylur is an intelligent systems company using its IIoT and AI platforms to transform entry security and guest experience for public venues.
Brad Eisenstein
Chief Operating Officer of AllDigital
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About AllDigital: AllDigital is a leading provider of premium digital broadcasting solutions to devices.
Robert Almond
COO of FullArmor
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About FullArmor: FullArmor Corporation is a leading edge cloud services development firm.
Robert Almond
COO of FullArmor
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About FullArmor: FullArmor Corporation is a leading edge cloud services development firm.
Everett Young
Co-Founder and COO of Secberus
Co-Founder at Secberus
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About iCHAMPSPORTS Inc, Secberus: Secberus is the only CSPM that provides a policy-first, CARTA-driven approach to enterprise cloud security & compliance.
Tom Snyder
Co-founder , COO & CFO of Xantrion
Tom manages Xantrion’s consulting team and finances. He has architected dozens of business computer networks. He developed our client focused Complete Care service, which provides unlimited support and a guarantee of satisfaction at a fixed monthly cost. He also pioneered internal policies such as open book financial reporting and profit sharing, which resulted in a high level of team member retention and satsifaction. Prior to founding Xantrion, Tom was Director of Consulting for an I.T. consulting firm. He also worked as a management consultant for McKinsey and CFO of CoForge. Prior to that, he was an operations manager for Chevron. Tom has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin.
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About Xantrion: Xantrion specializes in outsourced managed IT services and cybersecurity for mid-sized companies in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Anton Aksenov
COO of LevelNet
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About LevelNet: Network of collective information security. Revolutionary peer to peer cyber protection network growing stronger with every new member.
Ray Potter
COO, Founder of SafeLogic
Ray Potter is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at SafeLogic, the provider of CryptoComply, a FIPS 140-2 validated, OpenSSL-compatible software library for mobile and server platforms. Prior to founding SafeLogic, Ray founded Apex Assurance Group, a security certification consulting group delivering expertise in achieving FIPS 140 and Common Criteria certifications. Ray Grew top-line revenue at 47% CAGR with 75% net profit margin. Before Apex, Ray built and ran the security assurance program at Cisco systems. Ray began his career at Ernst & Young Consulting, where he built requirements and designs for n-tier web architectures and built prototypes for an early mobile ecommerce ordering system. Ray is Managing Partner of Live Wire Venture Partners, which provides angel investments to startups in the technology, security, and biotech space. Ray earned his B.S. degree in Computer Science from James Madison University.
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About SafeLogic: Incumbent-crushing mobile, server, cloud, and IoT encryption built for regulatory compliance
Derek Distenfield
Co-founder and COO of GSD Venture Studios
Derek Distenfield is the COO, CFO, and Co-founder of GSD Venture Studios. For over 15 years, he has blazed high impact careers in startups, corporate, and nonprofit organizations. Most recently, he launched and subsequently sold Cult Following, a successful growth marketing and brand building agency. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for 360 Payments, driving the people, processes, technology, marketing & finance for a $2 billion payments company. As the growth strategist behind Bunker Labs USA, he transformed a nonprofit serving veteran entrepreneurs into a premier national brand. He also ignited immediate growth in a highly regulated industry as CEO of NextGenJustice, a social enterprise startup that served as an alternative to traditional legal venues. As a founding visionary and chief evangelist, he developed a product that grew its consumer base 50% 17 of 18 months in business. Derek has been a keynote speaker at the Military Defense and Veterans Opportunities Summit, One Spark Innovation Conference, and International Conference on Business Incubation. He is also a mentor and startup business advisor for GrowthX, Google Pioneer Accelerator, and LifeFlip Media as well as a columnist for Forbes and a college lecturer at Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Derek Distenfield is passionate about breaking barriers, leading innovation, and inspiring people to believe they can achieve. Known for bringing revolutionary new ideas to organizations that deliver explosive growth and for being efficient with limited resources, Derek’s high tolerance for ambiguity and complexity makes him an invaluable source of inspiration and advice for growth-oriented startups and founders. At GSD, Derek is the operational mastermind who brings a variety of resources together to best serve each portfolio company. Derek lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two children, and travels frequently to Russia to work with GSD’s international client base.
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About GSD Venture Studios, Varwin: Venture studio specializing in helping resilient entrepreneurs #GoGlobal
Mohammad Sadjadpour
COO & Co-founder of Militus
29 year Boeing veteran with expertise in business strategy, international business, system integration, program management, and complex systems modeling & simulation. Retired as the Director of Business Development for Cyber Security Solutions. Attended Northrop Institute of Technology, Cal. State Univ. LA, and USC earning BS/MS/EME degrees respectively in Mechanical Engineering, MBA from Pepperdine Univ., and Information Security Technical Studies Certification from Cal. Poly Pomona.
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About Militus: Militus is a cyber security company that provides an advanced cyber and network security solutions for government and commercial sectors.
Jerome Becquart
COO and CISO of Axiad
Jerome Becquart is the COO and CISO at Axiad.
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About Axiad: Axiad IDS is a Trusted Identity solutions provider for enterprise, government and financial organizations.
Travis Adlman
COO/CFO of NodeSource
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About NodeSource: Building products focused on Node.js security and performance for the Enterprise.
Robert Levine
COO & Global Business Development of Uniken
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About Uniken: Customer-first, security platform that empowers transformative engagement with your customers, while taking fraud to zero
