Chad currently serves as a Lead Information Security Advisor on the Cyber Supply Chain Assessment Team located in the Phoenix office. Prior to his current role at USAA, Chad served as a Principal Cybersecurity Architect for Honeywell Aerospace where he designed and implemented a robust security architecture for products integrated throughout the commercial airline industry and NASA.

Chad retired from the Marine Corps in November 2018 as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 where he served in the Signals Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Cyberspace Operations field. His career included time as an Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems Engineer and Computer Network Exploitation (CNE) Officer where he specialized in communications security and exploitation. Throughout his time in the Corps, Chad had the unique opportunity to serve at the National Security Agency / Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (MARFORCYBER).

Chad holds an M.S. in Cybersecurity from Liberty University and holds a B.S. in Information and Computer Science focused in Networking and Security Engineering from Park University.

Chad holds the following certifications: Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP); Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE); Certified in Risk and Information Systems Controls (CRISC); Certified Regulatory Vendor Program Manager (CRVPM®) Level III; Certified Third-Party Risk Professional (CTPRP); Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) V11; Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA); and CompTIA’s A+, Network+, and Security+.

Chad continues to serve the military as a Cyber Auxiliarist for the Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary (Cyber Aux) program, which is a volunteer organization aimed at increasing Marine Corps cyberspace readiness.

Chad has a passion for lifelong education, teaching, mentoring, and leadership development. Chad is an active volunteer in his local community and church. Chad's wife, Mary, is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served for 10 years. They have two daughters and an awesome German Shepherd.

You can connect more with Chad at www.chadfreese.com.