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Matthew Olsen    

Former Director of NCTC, Cybersecurity Firm Leader, National Security Analyst

For more than a decade, Matthew Olsen has been at the forefront of the United States' national security efforts and has played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s response to terrorism, cybersecurity, and surveillance. As the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Olsen was central to the nation’s defense against a complex and expansive terrorism threat. During his tenure, he was responsible for keeping senior leaders, including the President and the National Security Council, informed of threats and coordinated efforts to identify and disrupt terrorist plots. His leadership was instrumental during several terror attacks, including the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the 2012 assault in Benghazi, Libya.

Currently, Olsen helps lead a cybersecurity technology firm, providing an engaging and candid look at some of the most significant and far-reaching challenges facing the country. With his extensive background in national security, Olsen offers a discerning and compelling perspective on security challenges, sharing his insights on crisis navigation and leadership. He discusses evolving threats and developing hotspots around the world today, emphasizing the considerations American businesses should take to protect against the complex challenge of cybersecurity.

Accolades for Olsen's service are notable. President Obama has stated that "every American is safer because of his service." Additionally, Congressman Mike Rogers, former Republican Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, remarked, “There are no doubt many, many people alive in the United States and around the world today because of Matt Olsen’s service and persistent dedication.” Olsen is recognized for being a straight shooter and was the first senior official in 2012 to publicly define the Benghazi attack as an act of terrorism. He also warned Congress about the growing threat of Americans joining al-Qaeda.

In previous roles, Olsen served as the General Counsel and Chief Legal Advisor at the National Security Agency and held an official position at the Department of Justice. He led the government's review of detainees at Guantanamo and played a significant role in enhancing the government's cybersecurity measures and conducting intelligence operations against foreign terrorist targets while upholding the rule of law and protecting civil liberties. For 12 years, Olsen worked as a federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia, tackling cases against violent gang members, terrorists, and white-collar criminals. He was the inaugural director of the United States Attorneys Office’s National Security Division in 2004, later becoming the acting director and also served as special counsel to the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In academia and media, Olsen is a lecturer at Harvard Law School and a National Security Analyst for ABC News. His educational background includes degrees from the University of Virginia and Harvard Law School. His contributions to national security and legal education continue to influence both fields significantly.

Speech Topics

The Demands of Crisis Leadership

Over the course of his career in government, Olsen has served in leadership roles in tackling some of the most urgent and challenging security issues facing the nation. His work has included responding to cyber attacks on critical infrastructure networks, combating terrorist threats inside the United States, addressing the ongoing controversy over government surveillance, and reviewing the status of detainees at Guantanamo. Olsen has provided thoughtful and principled leadership on these issues, helping to forge effective responses and solutions that emphasize collaboration across organizations and overcoming bureaucratic silos, while balancing competing values and interests. He conveys his discerning views on leadership in demanding, high-performing organizations and his hard-earned lessons and insights on leadership in the midst of a crisis.

The Dynamic Threat of Terrorism

With the rapid rise of new terrorist groups like the Islamic State, the ongoing threat from al-Qaeda, and the impact of homegrown terrorist cells, terrorism remains an urgent concern for the nation. The terrorism landscape is more complex than ever, as the recent attacks in Europe have demonstrated and as terrorist groups have multiplied and expanded. Networks of terrorist operatives pursue a range of lethal objectives both inside and outside of national borders and reach across continents from South Asia to the Middle East and from North Africa to Europe. Over the past few years, terrorists have attacked a natural gas installation in Algeria, killed U.S. government personnel in Libya, and bombed the Boston Marathon – all underscoring the dynamic and persistent threats to U.S. citizens and to our interests around the world. With his deep experience, Olsen shares his keen understanding of terrorism and the ways the government and the private sector can work together to counter these threats and enhance our security.

Cyber Attacks and our Nation’s Security

Cyber attacks have emerged as a leading threat to our national security. In the coming years, our adversaries will hone their skills and the scope and scale of the threats will escalate. Companies will need to develop a sophisticated understanding of the nature of these global challenges, the government’s role in defending cyber space, and the steps they can take to secure their networks and information. As a leading government official at NSA and the Justice Department, Olsen has worked on the inside on these challenges, and he now helps lead a cyber security technology firm. Olsen brings an astute understanding of the myriad threats to companies in cyber space and the government’s capabilities and limitations in this domain, as well as ways companies can enhance their cyber security.

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