Peter Watts is the Head of Insider Risk & Cyber Intelligence at a Fortune 100 energy company. He is responsible for programs to protect people, assets, and intellectual property from insider threats through prevention, detection, and fast response. Mr. Watts also heads the company’s cyber intelligence program, driving down strategic cyber risk through threat intelligence and leveraging innovative technology to solve the toughest security challenges. Before joining the energy industry, Mr. Watts was a senior government executive with nearly 17 years of service. His most recent assignment was at the White House National Security Council, where he was Director for Cybersecurity Policy.
In this capacity, Mr. Watts oversaw U.S. government strategy and response to cyber adversaries targeting the U.S. for ransom, espionage, or destructive attack. He was critical to ensuring America developed capabilities to defend itself and hold adversaries accountable. Before the NSC, Mr. Watts was part of the U.S. intelligence community. He specialized in cyber operations, counterterrorism, and counterproliferation during six assignments overseas and in the Washington, D.C. area. He is a graduate of Stanford University, where he earned his Master’s degree in Organizational Behavior and Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.