Faculty Directory

Gary is a Senior Advisor to the global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman. He previously served as the Chief Information Security Officer for AIG, where he led the company’s global cybersecurity risk management program and partnered closely with the Executive Leadership Team to shape enterprise security strategy.  In addition to his work with IANS, Gary provides CISO‑level advisory support to HiddenLayer, a cybersecurity company focused on protecting artificial intelligence and machine learning systems.  Before joining AIG, Gary was Senior Vice President and the first Chief Security Officer at USAA. In that role, he built and led a comprehensive security organization encompassing Information Security, Fraud Operations, Privacy, Business Continuation, Physical Security, and Corporate Investigations. Earlier in his career, Gary spent time with Deloitte’s federal practice following a 25‑year career as an officer in the United States Air Force. His military assignments included a wide range of leadership and staff roles in various technology areas including telecommunications, satellite communications, deployed network operations, and cybersecurity.

• Board and Executive Communications
• Management & Leadership
• Security Strategy
• Crisis Response
• Cyber Risk Management

• Successful 25-year Air Force career in the IT/cyber career field, retiring at rank of Colonel
• Former Chief Security Officer for USAA, a financial services company focused on military community
• Former Chairman, Internet Security Alliance (ISA) Board of Directors and key contributor to multiple editions of NACD Handbook “Cyber Risk Oversight” authored by ISA
• Air Force Cyberspace Operations Hall of Fame, inducted 2016
• Regular contributor and speaker in a variety of forums, security podcasts, and media publications.
• Board member for two non-profits:  Fisher House Inc. and National Cybersecurity Center (NCC)
• Military Transition Mentor with American Corporate Partners (ACP)

• BA, Mathematics – The Citadel
• MS, Management Information Systems – University of Arizona
• MS, National Resourcing Strategy – National Defense University
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) – (ISC)2
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) – ACFE
• Cybersecurity Risk Oversight Certificate - NACD
• FBI Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Academy
• Executive Development Program for Security Executives – Wharton School of Business

Besides church and hospice volunteer activities, Gary is an avid BMW motorcycle rider who enjoys long rides that end up on twisty mountain roads.

Gary McAlum, IANS Faculty member since 2021, provides clients with deep domain-level expertise in board & executive communications, management & leadership, security strategy, crisis response, and cyber risk management.