Robert Saghafi

INTRODUCTION

I build data and AI security products and programs that regulated enterprises can actually trust and utilize — not as an afterthought, but architected into every layer from the start.

I am Robert Saghafi — a cybersecurity and data/AI security product and program leader with 17+ years delivering secure, governed, and production-ready systems across global financial services and aviation. I operate at the intersection of three disciplines most candidates treat separately: Security, Data, and AI.

I specialize in translating complex regulatory, security, and data requirements into shipped products, measurable outcomes, and scalable delivery frameworks — having held VP-level ownership for enterprise data protection, AI governance, and security architecture at scale across Northern Trust, USAA, Wells Fargo, American Airlines, and IBM.

I don't just define requirements. I build the actual controls, ship the products, and deliver the programs — at scale, in production, in highly regulated environments.

WHAT I DO

Data & AI Security Product and Program Leadership I define and own product strategy and roadmaps for enterprise data and AI security platforms — incorporating LLM security controls, agentic AI guardrails, privacy engineering requirements, and regulatory mandates (NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act, ISO 42001, DORA) into delivery-ready product features and implementable control frameworks. I translate regulatory pressure into shipped controls, not blockers.

AI Security & Governance I architect and publish sovereign AI and agentic security frameworks addressing prompt injection, data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and model manipulation vectors — with integrated AI observability guardrails for continuous monitoring, auditability, and compliance. I design governance programs aligned with NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001, and EU AI Act, enabling compliant AI adoption at enterprise scale.

Data Protection & Privacy Engineering I build defensible data protection strategies spanning DSPM, DLP, data classification, and sensitive data lifecycle governance across multi-cloud ecosystems — embedding privacy engineering controls directly into data pipelines as structural design, not overlays. Delivered 100% on-schedule remediation of critical data risks across 30K+ users and 7 global business units at Northern Trust.

Zero Trust Architecture & Cloud Security I architect and deliver Zero Trust roadmaps across AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI — embedding security-by-design and continuous verification into SDLC and cloud adoption, improving enterprise control adherence by 60% and measurably reducing cloud security exposure across regulated environments.

Executive Advisory & Board Reporting I partner with CISOs, Boards of Directors, and executive teams to translate technical AI and cyber risks into measurable business outcomes — producing board-level reporting and data-driven portfolio insights that directly influence strategic security investment and risk prioritization decisions.

INNOVATION AND RESEARCH

I hold a pending patent related to sensor-fusion data integrity for autonomous systems — reflecting my broader focus on trustworthy autonomy, resilient system design, and the governance of AI systems operating in safety-critical environments.

I am currently completing an M.S. in Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Expected 2026), deepening my expertise in autonomous system architecture, UAS security, and sensor fusion — directly informing my approach to agentic AI security and governance.

BEYOND CYBERSECURITY

I contribute to open-source avionics and autonomous flight projects, including PX4, and actively explore emerging technologies at the intersection of aerospace, fintech, and secure autonomy. My aviation background — rooted in a B.S. in Professional Aviation Management and reinforced by ongoing graduate engineering study — gives me a systems-level perspective on safety-critical AI deployment that few cybersecurity practitioners bring to the table.

LET'S CONNECT

I partner with organizations that want security and governance to accelerate AI adoption — not block it.

Whether you are building a data and AI security product, navigating Shadow AI risks, standing up an enterprise AI governance program, scaling a Zero Trust architecture, or seeking a senior product, program, or advisory leader who understands all three layers of the data-AI-security stack simultaneously — I welcome the conversation.