Meet Our
LeaderShip
Chris Bullock (Chief Executive Officer –Managing Member)
Chris Bullock is CEO & Managing Member of Cyber Investigations & Intelligence Agency (CI2A). After Chris reduced his successful and decorated ten-year, full-time law enforcement career to part-time in 1996, he moved into a successful private sector cybersecurity career. Chris earned his Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Technology, his Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and his Master's Degree in Cybercrime... Chris graduated Cum Laude. Chris holds multiple certifications including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Computer Forensic Technician (CCFT), Certified Computer Examiner (CCE), GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT), Certified Cybercrime Examiner (CCCE) and is a Georgia Cyber Safety Initiative Instructor (GaCSI). Chris has held several executive level security positions in his private sector career across several large, Atlanta based companies subsequently building and maturing their cybersecurity programs.
Chris combines and utilizes his unique hybrid of experience and training in criminal intelligence, cyber threat intelligence, specialized technologies, executive management, and law enforcement to build award-winning and effective cybersecurity programs and to protect companies’ most valuable trade secrets and sensitive customer and employee data. Chris has built several large cybersecurity programs from the ground up and has experience across many verticals, including retail, financial, energy, government, gaming, healthcare, and sports entertainment. Chris created and managed the first information security program for the Georgia Lottery Corporation between 2009 -2011 and was voted 85th Top Ranking CISO in the United States in 2012 by ExecuRank. Chris created the first Cyber Executive Protection Programs uniquely combining his technical, investigative, executive protection and executive cyber security management expertise into highly effective cyber executive protection programs. Chris also has experience as a Managing Principal for one of the largest and respected global cyber security consulting firms where he advised Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) globally on facets of their job duties, how to effectively report to their Board of Directors, and how to create, implement and mature effective cyber security programs. Chris has been nominated several times for the T.E.N. ISE Security Executive of the Year award.
Chris has previously served as a Board of Directors member with the National Technology Security Coalition (NTSC) as well as several other governing body roles within cyber security-focused organizations including Evanta and has spoken at major security events and conferences including Secure World, FBI InfraGard, HTCIA, and the CISO Summit. Chris also enjoys contributing to the tradecraft by writing articles on cybersecurity and has been featured in publications including Security Current, CSO Online, and PenTest Magazine. Chris has participated as a guest speaker in the Evanta Leadership Development Academy and was featured as an Evanta “Breakaway Leadership Profile” spotlight in 2016. Chris is a charter member of the International Association of Cyber and Economic Crime Professionals through the National White Collar Crime Center (‘NW3C’).
Chris has experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and is an experienced and seasoned penetration tester, computer forensics/e-discovery, intelligence, and incident response specialist. Chris still commits a significant amount of his free time working as a certified and sworn active reserve police investigator and is attached as an affiliate member of a statewide task force with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation performing investigations, and special operations to arrest and convict criminals who prey on and exploit children. Chris also volunteers and helps educate the community by teaching parents and children about cyber safety and is certified as a GaCSI Instructor under the Georgia Cyber Safety Initiative program. Chris has extensive physical security and executive protection experience, is SWAT qualified, and served for years on an advanced tactical team with a Georgia law enforcement agency.
Ashley Ferguson (President – Managing Member)
Ashley Ferguson is President & Managing Member of Cyber Investigations & Intelligence Agency (CI2A). Ashley brings
over two decades of risk management, compliance, privacy, and security experience to CI2A across the fields of
information technology, oil and gas, utilities, financial services, healthcare, retail, legal and entertainment... Ashley utilizes
her unique multi-industry combination of risk management, compliance, security, privacy, and business resilience
experience to help her peers and clients to build effective and risk appropriate security programs that result in
compliance, but are not driven by compliance. Ashley has helped numerous clients to not only create effective programs,
but also learn how to effectively communicate with their Board of Directors, gain the support of their executive peers,
and build confidence within their teams.
Prior to CI2A, Ashley was the Global Director of Advisory Services including the Executive Advisory, Governance, Risk &
Compliance (GRC) and the Security Architecture & Design (SDA) practices at Dell SecureWorks. In this role, Ashley was
responsible for the strategic direction, vision, and alignment of these practices globally and the founder of the Executive
Advisory Center, Advisory CISO and Executive & Board Advisory service portfolios.
Prior to Dell SecureWorks, Ashley spent almost six years leading the IT Risk Management and Security program at
Energen Corporation. In this role, Ashley was responsible for all IT Security, Access Provisioning, Change Management,
Quality Assurance, Data Loss Prevention, Data Privacy, Business Continuity, Risk Management and Compliance for
Energen Corporation and all subsidiaries. While at Energen, Ashley served as a part of the American Gas Association’s
Cybersecurity Strategy Force, assisting the Department of Energy in the development of the NIST Cybersecurity
Implementation Guidance for the Energy Sector. Prior to Energen, Ashley was the Vice President and Manager of
Business Continuity at BBVA Compass and an IT auditor and controls specialist for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Ernst
& Young, LLP.
Ashley received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama Culverhouse School of
Accountancy and a Master’s in Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University with a concentration in
Management Information Systems. Ashley is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified in Risk and
Information Systems Control (CRISC), and is a Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE).
Ashley has been an avid speaker and contributor to the Evanta executive programs across multiple regions, including
serving as Co-Chair of the Evanta Charlotte CXO Summits, past Governing Body Member for the Evanta Atlanta CISO
Summits and as a CISO contributor to the Professional Development Academy. Ashley has also served as a past judge and
co-Master of Ceremonies for the Information Security Executive (ISE) Southeast Awards, speaker at Dell EMC World, RSA,
Goldman Sachs CTO Conferences and was the feature speaker in the Security in the Boardroom Webcast series.
Ashley serves on numerous industry and non-profit boards and is currently Chairman of the Board of the University of
Alabama Culverhouse Cyber Executive Board of Advisors and Chairman of the SCS Education Foundation Board. Ashley
was the 2013 Information Security Executive (ISE) Southeast People’s Choice Winner, a top eight finalist for the 2013
Southeast Executive of the Year, and a nominee for 2013 Information Security Executive North America Executive of the
Year. Ashley has been featured in various publications, including the October 2015 issue of the ISSA Journal’s Women in
Security.
Gerald Becknell (Senior Vice President, Executive Protection / Physical Security OPSEC Services)
Jerry began his law enforcement career in 1973 as a Police Officer with the second largest department in Georgia at the time. While serving undercover during his first year on the department he arrested and successfully prosecuted over 20 top level heroin dealers. He was selected from over 200 officers as Police Officer of the Quarter in 1976 and was runner-up for Police Office of the year. . He was also selected to serve as U.S. Presidential Candidate Jimmy Carter's personal uniformed police escort officer during his campaign trip to Columbus, Georgia.... completion of his Master of Science Degree in Cybercrime at the University of South Florida where he holds a GPA of 4.0. Chris holds multiple certifications including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Computer Forensic Technician (CCFT), Certified Computer Examiner (CCE), GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT), Certified Cybercrime Examiner (CCCE) and is a Georgia Cyber Safety Initiative Instructor (GaCSI). Chris has held several executive level security positions in his private sector career across several large, Atlanta based companies subsequently building and maturing their cybersecurity programs.
Chris combines and utilizes his unique hybrid of experience and training in criminal intelligence, cyber threat intelligence, specialized technologies, executive management, and law enforcement to build award-winning and effective cybersecurity programs and to protect companies’ most valuable trade secrets and sensitive customer and employee data. Chris has built several large cybersecurity programs from the ground up and has experience across many verticals, including retail, financial, energy, government, gaming, healthcare, and sports entertainment. Chris created and managed the first information security program for the Georgia Lottery Corporation between 2009 -2011 and was voted 85th Top Ranking CISO in the United States in 2012 by ExecuRank. Chris created the first Cyber Executive Protection Programs uniquely combining his technical, investigative, executive protection and executive cyber security management expertise into highly effective cyber executive protection programs. Chris also has experience as a Managing Principal for one of the largest and respected global cyber security consulting firms where he advised Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) globally on facets of their job duties, how to effectively report to their Board of Directors, and how to create, implement and mature effective cyber security programs. Chris has been nominated several times for the T.E.N. ISE Security Executive of the Year award.
Chris has previously served as a Board of Directors member with the National Technology Security Coalition (NTSC) as well as several other governing body roles within cyber security-focused organizations including Evanta and has spoken at major security events and conferences including Secure World, FBI InfraGard, HTCIA, and the CISO Summit. Chris also enjoys contributing to the tradecraft by writing articles on cybersecurity and has been featured in publications including Security Current, CSO Online, and PenTest Magazine. Chris has participated as a guest speaker in the Evanta Leadership Development Academy and was featured as an Evanta “Breakaway Leadership Profile” spotlight in 2016. Chris is a charter member of the International Association of Cyber and Economic Crime Professionals through the National White Collar Crime Center (‘NW3C’).
Chris has experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and is an experienced and seasoned penetration tester, computer forensics/e-discovery, intelligence, and incident response specialist. Chris still commits a significant amount of his free time working as a certified and sworn active reserve police investigator and is attached as an affiliate member of a statewide task force with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation performing investigations, and special operations to arrest and convict criminals who prey on and exploit children. Chris also volunteers and helps educate the community by teaching parents and children about cyber safety and is certified as a GaCSI Instructor under the Georgia Cyber Safety Initiative program. Chris has extensive physical security and executive protection experience, is SWAT qualified, and served for years on an advanced tactical team with a Georgia law enforcement agency.
