I work at the intersection of cyber defense, AI safety, and emerging risk, where the threats are converging and the playbooks are still being written.

My career has taken me from the Marine Corps to NSA, U.S. Cyber Command, the U.S. House of Representatives, Mandiant, and Netflix. Across every role, one throughline: understanding adversaries, building high-trust teams, and translating complex problems into strategies leaders can act on.

Today, I advise organizations, governments, and research institutions on AI governance, agentic threat preparedness, and unifying safety and security into a single discipline. I contribute to global standards efforts including the EU AI Act (via OWASP AI) and lead executive education on cybersecurity and AI strategy at SANS.

If you’re navigating the future of AI risk or security strategy, let’s connect.

Chris Cochran

As a U.S. Marine who spent years working alongside special operations teams, I learned that different missions require radically different mindsets.

Everybody loves the Navy SEAL archetype: aggressive, adaptive, and masters of improvisation.

But if you deploy AI agents with that mindset, you are inviting disaster. AI doesn’t have the judgment to improvise. When it tries, it makes mistakes.

In high-stakes business environments, you don't need the "bang" of chaos; you need the "whisper" of control. You need more of a Delta Force methodology.

In my latest article, I break down why AI requires more determinism, and less heroism, and introduce CONTROL for governing agentic AI.

Read the full strategy below. 👇

Field CISO & VP, AI Security @ SANS | Bridging Cyber Defense and Frontier AI Risk | Ex-NSA, Netflix, Mandiant | US Marine Veteran

Let me set the tone clearly: This is not a debate about which group is "better." Both are elite. Both accomplish the impossible. As a US Marine, I res

Open article: Why You Need to Manage AI Agents Like Delta Force, Not Navy SEALs by Chris Cochran • 4 min read

Why You Need to Manage AI Agents Like Delta Force, Not Navy SEALs

What is your current view of AI in cybersecurity? I bet its a mixed bag. 

Foster Nethercott wants to hear directly from you. 

Make your voice heard. 

Just want the TLDR? Rob T. Lee and Foster will be hosting a livestream July 15th to cover the insights. 

Links to both in the comments. 

SANS Institute

Platform9

Sales Business Development

Revelstoke Security

-Exceeded Q2 (154%) & Q3 (143%) quota
-Individually Sourced 23.4% Sales Revenue (Outbound)
-Lead and helped developed onboarding & training program for the SDR team
-Negotiated and optimized sales team tech stack (Outreach, Gong, and ZoomInfo)

SDR Manager

Sounding Board, Inc

I successfully built out an SDR function from the ground up, that helped generate $25M+ in opportunity pipeline and $5M+ in Closed Won ARR

• Built out SDR Comp Plans that Successfully Aligned with Sales Team & Company Business Needs

Aptos Solar Technology

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, we meet inspiration and innovation every day. Our team passionately creates advanced solar technologies that push the boundaries when it comes to performance, aesthetics, and costs. We are committed to providing our customers with cutting edge technology and quality at a competitive price.

Account Executive

Treasure Data

Senior Business Development Manager

Versa Networks

Versa is unique among software-defined networking vendors, providing an end-to-end solution that both simplifies and secures the WAN/branch office network. Based completely on software, Versa’s Cloud IP Platform delivers a broad set of capabilities for building agile and secure enterprise networks, as well as highly efficient managed service offerings.  Versa removes the complexity out of networking and security infrastructure.

Viptela

Viptela provides Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) technology that allows global companies to build carrier agnostic, policy-controlled and cost-effective WANs. Viptela has been deployed at thousands of sites by more than 15 Fortune-500 enterprises; and major carriers including Verizon and Singtel deliver managed SD-WAN services using Viptela. The company has been named a Gartner Cool Vendor and a Next Billion Dollar Startup by Forbes in 2015. Viptela is backed by Sequoia Capital and headquartered in San Jose, CA. Follow us on Twitter @viptela.

Senior SDR Manager

VeloCloud, Now part of VMware

VeloCloud is a pioneer in Cloud-Delivered WAN. VeloCloud dramatically simplifies the WAN by delivering virtualized services from the cloud to branch offices and mobile users everywhere. VeloCloud services deliver enterprise grade performance, visibility and control over both Internet and private networks, combining the economy of the Internet with the flexibility of the cloud. 

VeloCloud’s culture is focused on learning fast in an environment built on trust. We encourage diversity in thought and action and celebrate the myriad of hobbies and interests that our employees pursue. We are looking for passionate people to join our team. Come Learn with Us™. 

Visit www.velocloud.com and follow on Twitter @VeloCloud

Talari (Acquired by Oracle)

Business Development Rep for Talari Networks #1 revenue growth and earnings team. Strategic and resourceful innate ability to establish and foster key partnerships both with internal and external customers in order to maximize customer satisfaction as well as bottom line growth.

- Talari Networks #1 Revenue Producing Business Rep.
- Build the pipeline for the Regional Sales Managers
- Initiating new sales opportunities by generating qualified appointments for the Regional Sales Teams
- Managed & nurtured accounts through the sales process and have helped to grow my regions and sales teams to be part of Talari Networks "Best" revenue producing quarter to date.

BDR Manager

Talari WAN Virtualization solutions bring Internet economics to corporate WANs by transforming broadband
and other affordable Internet links to deliver business-class reliability and performance predictability at
consumer prices.

As a Business Development Specialist, I conduct research on potential clients and reach out to firms, setting up meetings for the Territory Manager(s) to help drive the bottom-line & build the pipeline for Talari.

Team Lead, Inside Sales Rep – West & Central USA at Talari Networks

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the World's largest professional networking site with over 80 million professionals and growing at a pace of 3 million new members per month.

People join LinkedIn to build their personal brand and we empower our members with a multitude of free and premium tools all designed to boost their careers and expand their opportunities. 

- Qualify and develop inbound sales leads and respond to product inquiries.

- Drive attendance for marketing campaigns and events for Fortune 100 and 500 companies.

- Cold calling prospects regarding our LinkedIn Corporate Solution recruiting and marketing products.

- Work with upper level managers and directors to design region specific outbound sales campaigns.

- Schedule demonstrations between Sales Representatives and potential customers.

Senior Sales Development Specialist

Accomplished and integrity-driven professional offering over 20+ years of business success with a proven track record of success in sales, customer service, developing and strengthening partner relationships, and project management for Fortune 1000 companies worldwide. Recognized as a team leader with strengths lying in my ability to form strong relationships, credibility, and loyalty with customers through superior professionalism, excellent communication skills, and integrity.

Account Management, Inside Sales, Lead Gen and Marketing experience at emerging high tech companies.

Account representative for US territories, working with the Regional Sales Manager to develop leads & close deals.

Specialties: * Significant success in penetrating new markets and territories 
* Ability to effectively manage the complete sales cycle process from education to closing 
* Self starter and results driven sales professional with a proven record of success 
* Strong team player and proven ability to communicate effectively with diverse personalities 
* Strong customer service and exceptional personal relationship building skills

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The Battle

Chris Cochran

Chuong 🐅 Pham 🚀

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taplio

The Battle

Chris Cochran

Chuong 🐅 Pham 🚀

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Chris Cochran's LinkedIn Performance

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