Theresa Payton

Theresa Payton is recognized in the cybersecurity and technology sectors for her role as the first female White House chief information officer under President George W. Bush. During her tenure, Payton led technology and operations supporting the administration's digital transformation initiatives, including the implementation of an all-digital budget and photography system. She established the first dedicated 24/7 Security Operations Center at the White House, setting standards for cybersecurity frameworks and advancing secure digital transformation within government institutions. Prior to her White House service, Payton spent 16 years in the U.S. banking sector, holding leadership positions at Wachovia and Bank of America.

After her government service, Payton transitioned to the private sector, co-founding Dark3, a cybersecurity product company, and Fortalice Solutions, a cybersecurity consulting firm. As CEO of Fortalice Solutions, Payton leads a team specializing in digital intelligence, cybersecurity strategy, and threat mitigation for organizations, including Fortune 500 companies. She is recognized as an AI strategist and cybersecurity expert, advising boards, CEOs, and technology leaders on artificial intelligence, digital risk management, and privacy protection.

Payton is the author of several books, including "Manipulated: Inside the Cyberwar to Hijack Elections and Distort the Truth," "Privacy in the Age of Big Data," and "Protecting Your Internet Identity." "Manipulated" explores digital deception and cyber manipulation impacting election integrity and personal security. Payton was named a William J. Clinton Distinguished Lecturer by the Clinton School of Public Service.

Her work has been acknowledged with honors such as inclusion in Security Magazine's "Top 25 Most Influential People in Security," the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award, and recognition as the Woman Cybersecurity Leader of the Year. She is a U.S. patent holder and has been featured in the book "100 Fascinating Women Fighting Cybercrime." Award Magazine named her among the "Top 50 Women in Tech." Payton also served as head of intelligence on CBS's reality series "Hunted." She is a frequent guest on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox Business, and Fox News, and has been featured on CBS News, CNN, NBC News, and MSNBC, where she discusses cybersecurity, privacy, and digital risk topics for broad audiences.