Lou Garcia

​

Retired Air Force Master Sergeant Lou Garcia has over 18 years of experience in cybersecurity providing threat perspectives, developing and training cyber exercises, executing enterprise vulnerability assessments, delivering defensive and offensive network solutions, and conducting operational test and evaluation of cyber products including traditional and airborne platform systems.  With over 31 years of experience in the information technology industry, Lou has a firm understanding of operational network architectures, network security design and implementation, and operational experience in the execution, administration, and management of enterprise enclaves.

With operational experience in both Federal and Commercial sectors, Lou has conducted onsite and remote assessment support to help identify improvement opportunities, develop tailored educational material for security professionals, and provided virtual chief information security officer support services to domestic and international clients.  As an information assurance manager and engineer for both the Air Force and Army, he leveraged his operational experience to provide in-depth assessments on the administrative, technical, and physical security controls as applied to software, services, and enclave and computing environments.  His evaluations, recommendations, and reports have increased security awareness and integration of best practices into multi-billion dollar projects. Notable accomplishments include: conducting assessments on ground and airborne platforms; contributions to the Air Force Tactics Techniques, and Procedures publication; course development for the Network Tacticians Course which would be later contribute to the official Undergraduate Network Warfighter Training program for the Air Force; hand-selection as a subject matter expert to help modernize the Air Force’s cyber career fields; field observations and recommendation reports used in congressional funding decisions; cloud transition expertise migrating an entire business from on-premises reliance including domain, mobile device management, and device deployment services; and managing multiple network enterprise environments and personnel.

Lou currently serves as the Head of Cyber Security for Clear Channel Outdoor where he manages the organization's cybersecurity program including developing and socializing policies, facilitating and participating in internal and external regulatory and compliance audits, and partnering with stakeholders, customers, and senior leadership to securely, efficiently, and prudently apply effective security controls in the protection of organizational resources. He manages a Strategic Security Operations Center (S-SOC) consisting of cybersecurity engineers, analysts, and governance, risk, and compliance personnel focused on aligning security strategies and controls with business interests. The team works with a Tactical SOC (T-SOC) unit to ensure that the business maintains 24x7 coverage influenced by S-SOC guidance allowing the team focus on strategic objectives with career development implications. 

​

Lou Garcia's academic background includes a BS in Information Technology with a concentration in Security (Summa Cum Laude).  He also holds the ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), EC Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO), EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (E|CIH), and CompTIA Security+ with Continuing Education (CE) certifications.  Additional training includes GIAC Security Essentials Course (GSEC), Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT), Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-103T00).