The people behind the summit
Organized by practitioners, for practitioners, spanning special operations, intelligence, cybersecurity, media, and world-class event operations.
Founders & leadership
Co-Founder · Lobo Institute
Co-founder of the Whitefish Security Summit and the Lobo Institute. Retired 20+ year Navy SEAL officer, ending his career as Commanding Officer of Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Squadron 2.
At the pinnacle of a career as CO of this elite unit, he was responsible for the research and development of technology and tactics for SEALs to use against the nation's hardest problems, with responsibility spanning the Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. By galvanizing over 1,100 personnel combined with collection technology he provided a security blanket against extremism for the international community. Olly is a member of the Board of Directors for Grassroots Reconciliation Group, a nonprofit to help rehabilitate child soldiers.
Olly graduated from the Naval Academy in 1999 and went straight to BUD/S SEAL training. Out of 144 students who entered his training class, he was one of only 10 who finished.
Co-Founder · Lobo Institute
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, retired CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer, and U.S. Marine. Distinguished Military Fellow at the Middle East Institute and ABC News National Security Analyst.
As the DASD, he was responsible for defense policy for 15 countries and represented the Department of Defense on national policy in that area. He is on the board of directors for Grassroots Reconciliation Group, co-founder of End Child Soldiering, and co-creator of the documentary "My Star in the Sky," which portrays the true story of two child soldiers in the Lord's Resistance Army.
Mick volunteers for the Third Option Foundation and various veterans organizations. He is a leading proponent of the U.S. military officially incorporating the philosophy of Stoicism into its ethical and resiliency efforts, and is on the board of advisors for Plato's Academy in Athens, Greece.
Co-Founder · COO, Lobo Institute
Chief Operating Officer of the Lobo Institute and co-founder of the Whitefish Security Summit. U.S. Army special operations veteran with 18+ years of experience, the top 0.016% of eligible U.S. service members.
An international operations leader and entrepreneur with a strong focus on high-risk security, and a trainer and developer of peak human performance. His experience includes high-risk operations in time-constrained environments requiring sound decision-making under ever-changing conditions, with leadership responsibilities that routinely included strategic-level messaging to U.S. Senators, Generals, foreign dignitaries, and congressional delegations.
Founder & Summit Director
Internationally known cybersecurity adviser, author, and researcher since 2006. Founder of Suits & Spooks and the Whitefish Security Summit. Author of Inside Cyber Warfare (O'Reilly), now in its third edition.
Jeffrey invented REDACT, the world's first global R&D database and search engine to help companies identify which intellectual property is of value to foreign governments, and is founder and director of Q16 PBC, a Delaware public benefit corporation dedicated to independent, public-interest measurement of the trajectory toward advanced AI.
He has provided cyber intelligence briefings to the CIA's Open Source Center, the DIA, the FBI, and the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Study Group. He is a frequent lecturer at the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology and the U.S. Army War College, served as a technical peer reviewer for Tallinn 2.0, and is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.
Partnerships · communications · operations
Events & Project Management
Project and relationship management professional spanning luxury events, real estate, and construction. Owner/Lead Event Coordinator of Wild Vagabond Events since 2016.
At InnSpace, she managed 2–5 hospitality properties simultaneously for brands including Hilton, IHG, and Best Western, overseeing a $5 million resource-allocation responsibility. At the Yellowstone Club, she served as liaison between clients, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams on luxury residential development. She currently serves as Project & Strategic Relationship Manager at Vytal.
Innovation Ecosystems & Catalytic Capital
Eric is the Founding Director of the Wachholz Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Flathead Valley Community College, where he serves as Northwest Montana's front door to the innovation economy, hosting the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Montana Industry Exchange and connecting regional founders to defense, dual-use, and commercial growth pathways.
He is the founder of Last Best Fund, a catalytic capital fund for Montana and Mountain West founders, and of Cairn, an AI-enabled warm-introduction platform for entrepreneur support organizations.
A twenty-year operator and founder spanning medical devices, supply chain, and social impact, including one successful exit, he holds an MBA from Colorado State University and completed a postgraduate innovation and design fellowship at MIT. For WSS, he develops strategic partnerships and sponsorships and serves as summit moderator.
Research & Geopolitical Risk
Consultant, researcher, and journalist with two decades at the intersection of national security, technology, and geopolitics.
He covered the global defense industry, the Pentagon, and Congress at Inside Defense, Defense News, and Military.com's Defense Tech before covering cybersecurity and national security at Foreign Policy. He later served as managing editor of Just Security and interim COO at OCCRP in Sarajevo. His writing has appeared in the Boston Globe, Slate, Newsweek, and other outlets. He advises clients on geopolitical risk and research into foreign malign influence and online influence operations.
Founder & CEO, House of Skye
Founder, CEO & Creative Director of House of Skye™, leveraging content commerce and proprietary technology to build engagement and trust with one of the world's most valued consumer bases: women.
House of Skye™ has secured several patents covering artificial intelligence, technology, and design utility. Skye has secured significant investment and strategic partnerships including a multi-level partnership with McClatchy, and advises tech and data companies including Gossamer Biosciences, Nuda Foods, Vibely, and VMD Ventures. Forbes, Bloomberg, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, and Elle have featured her entrepreneurial and creative achievements.
Communications & External Relations
Designs communications, external relations, and partnership strategies for institutions operating under pressure; advises former senior U.S. intelligence and diplomatic leaders.
Over two decades, her work has spanned conflict-affected and politically sensitive regions, from Haiti to the Persian Gulf, including COVID vaccine communications with CDC Africa, advocacy for ethno-religious minorities, and pro bono transition coaching for retiring senior military leaders. Grounded in firsthand experience with disaster response and contested governance, she knows what holds up under pressure, and what doesn't.
Event Security & Sponsorships
Security executive representing firms led by Tier One operators, with a major focus on event security; world-leading sponsorship executive for prestigious events and athletes.
Mr. Cecil has served, and continues to serve, on the development teams for three ISO world standards covering event security, sustainability, and event sustainability.
