Cyber Security Awareness Podcast

Key Points: 

• Data protection, network security, and Cyber Security Awareness Month
• Progress made by U.S. corporations/municipalities to better prepare and defend themselves against cyber-attacks  
• Election security and disinformation campaigns designed to undermine the confidence in our electoral system
• By volume, China conducts the most disinformation attacks
• Nation states including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea and the great power competition
• Rising China: cyber, AI/machine learning, quantum computing, and threats to critical infrastructure
• Global risks to data and implementation of 5G
• Recidivist Russia: cyber capabilities and their desire to be viewed as a global superpower 
  Russia has the most sophisticated cyber capabilities  
• Revolutionary Iran: U.S. financial sector viewed as the center of power and likelihood of a more destructive cyber-attack
• U.S. policy towards cyber-attacks against our interests
• Cyber criminals and digital currencies
• Risk to global supply chains 

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Vincent R. Stewart is an Academy Securities’ Advisory Board Member. 

Lieutenant General Stewart served in the United States Marine Corps for over 35 years. He most recently served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command. Prior to this assignment, Lieutenant General Stewart served as the 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. A native of Chicago, Illinois, by way of Kingston, Jamaica, Lieutenant General Stewart graduated from Western Illinois University, earning his commission in 1981. He has served as an armor officer and subsequently as a signal’s intelligence and intelligence officer, commanding at every level. Lieutenant General Stewart earned master’s degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. and in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. 

Lieutenant General Stewart’s military decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit with one gold star; the Bronze Star; the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star; the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, with two gold stars; the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon; the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal; and various unit awards. 

Peter Tchir is head of Macro Strategy at Academy Securities. He has 25 years in the industry focusing on fixed income. He has traded and structured products ranging from complex transactions, junk bonds, liquid CDS indices, and ETFs. This background helps bring a unique frame of reference to his market strategies and analysis. It helps him focus on what is relevant for the here and now for investors and issuers. He has worked closely with a wide range of investors and portfolio managers since he established TF Market Advisors as an independent firm in 2010. He is regularly quoted in the media for his views on the macro outlook and fixed income strategies. His expertise provides insight into risk, identifying opportunities on a global macro basis, with an emphasis on fixed income. As the Head of Macro Strategy, Peter communicates these opportunities and approaches effectively to customers. Peter received a B.S. in mathematics and computer sciences from the University of Waterloo and an MBA with distinction from Vanderbilt University, where he also won the Matt Wiggington Leadership Award for outstanding performance in finance.