Alissa Starzak

Alissa Starzak is vice president, deputy chief legal officer, and global head of public policy at Cloudflare, a web performance and cybersecurity company. In this role, she oversees Cloudflare’s global engagement with governments, manages sustainability and social responsibility initiatives, and leads the trust and safety team, focusing on internet security and digital policy advocacy. Starzak guides Cloudflare’s responses to challenges in cybersecurity, content moderation, and the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.

Before joining Cloudflare, Starzak held senior national security roles across the U.S. government. She served as the 21st general counsel of the Department of the Army, acting as chief legal advisor to the secretary of the Army and managing complex legal and policy issues. Her previous positions include deputy general counsel for legislation at the Department of Defense, counsel to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and assistant general counsel at the Central Intelligence Agency. Starzak’s background in legislative and intelligence matters, combined with experience in private legal practice and a federal appellate clerkship, provides a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between law, technology, and national security.

Starzak is a frequent public speaker at forums such as Aspen Ideas Festival and SXSW, offering insights on cybersecurity, internet governance, and public policy. In addition to her corporate and public sector roles, she serves as vice chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board and has participated in federal transition teams. Starzak’s career demonstrates a sustained commitment to advancing security, transparency, and responsible innovation in the digital age.