JT Kostman

In December 2019, Dr. JT Kostman and Brian Gallagher – the co-founders of ProtectedBy.AI – were meeting with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to discuss SmartChain: an AI-enabled Blockchain-based capability their team developed to help the government address its unique and considerable supply-chain management challenges.

Just two days prior to the meeting, news came out about the SolarWinds cyberattack; an unprecedented digital assault that impacted thousands of companies around the world and nearly every U.S. government agency, including DHS and all its entities.

In a bit of cyber-serendipity that has forever changed the world of digital security, within hours of the assault the idea occurred to JT for how to prevent the Solar Winds assault – and, indeed, all intrusion-based malware attacks.

Presented in lieu of the scheduled agenda at DHS, CodeLock™ received a stunning endorsement from their Science & Technology and Senior Leadership teams, who said:

Dr. Kostman has been recognized by his peers, the press, and professional associations as one of the world's leading experts in Applied Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Computing. A highly sought-after speaker, writer and advisor, JT has earned a reputation for his ability to demystify frontier technologies, and for developing practical, actionable, cost-efficient data solutions.

In the public sector, JT has hunted terrorists for U.S. Intelligence Agencies, tracked criminal networks for the FBI, advised on analytic strategies for the Department of Defense and led social media analysis for the 2012 Obama Campaign. In his earlier life, he served as a paramedic, police officer, deep-sea rescue diver and as a team leader with the U.S. Army Special Forces.

In the corporate sector, JT led the development of industry-changing solutions while serving as Chief Data Officer for Time Inc., Chief Data Scientist for Samsung and as an advisor to organizations ranging from tech startups to the Fortune 500.

In the financial sector, JT has guided substantial investments in frontier technologies while serving as a Board Member of a PE/VC fund and as an advisor to numerous hedge funds, family offices, and institutional investors.

In the marketplace of ideas, JT has become one of the most prolific, prescient, and valued voices on the near-term impact of AI and frontier technologies. The keynotes, presentations, press interviews, posts, and articles he has shared with audiences around the world have contributed to making him a go-to expert for organizations including The National Association of Corporate Directors, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, U.S. Government Agencies and dozens of others.