Robert L. Kierstead

Robert L. Kierstead has extensive experience in corporate investigations, security consulting, and protective services. Robert L. currently holds the position of Senior Director of Corporate Investigations at Sallie Mae, where they are responsible for conducting various investigations, including those related to cybersecurity and internal matters. Prior to this role, they served as the Director of Corporate Investigations, demonstrating their leadership skills and expertise in this field.

Before joining Sallie Mae, Robert worked as a Special Agent for the U.S. Secret Service. During their time there, they held various positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as the Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) of the Seattle District. Robert L. was also responsible for managing the Seattle Electronic Task Force and leading high-impact cybercrime investigations. Throughout their Secret Service career, Robert achieved exceptional results in transnational cybercrime investigations and provided executive leadership to multiple agency offices.

Additionally, Robert has experience working as an advisor and consultant, where they provided security consulting services to private companies and pro bono consultations to non-profit organizations. Robert L. also served as the Director of Protective Services for Howard Schultz, former chairman and CEO of Starbucks, where they directed security operations and provided elite protective services during a national book tour and high-profile public schedule.

With a background in both law enforcement and corporate investigations, Robert brings a wealth of expertise and leadership to their current role at Sallie Mae.

Robert L. Kierstead has a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Security Studies with a focus on Homeland Security and Defense from the Naval Postgraduate School. Robert L. also holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections from Arizona State University. Additionally, they completed the U.S. Secret Service/Johns Hopkins University Executive Development Program at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Furthermore, Robert has a Master of Science (MS) degree in Management from The Johns Hopkins University. Robert L. is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP®) obtained from ASIS International in 2022. In addition, they hold a certification as a Certified Threat Intelligence Specialist (CTIS-I) from the Center for Threat Intelligence.