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Bob Clinton
Fractional CTO, CISO & Strategic Advisor
Veteran technology leader and advisor with a proven track record growing results-oriented organizations. With decades of experience as a trusted advisor, I specialize in navigating organizations through technology evolutions. A veteran leader and former CISO who bridges the gap between technical "how" and business "why," I translate sophisticated capabilities in AI, Cybersecurity, and Cloud technology into tangible, green-lit business outcomes.
About
I specialize in helping growth-stage companies establish strong technical foundations and security practices from day one. My background spans full-stack development, hybrid cloud, infrastructure, AI/ML and security.
Throughout my career, I've led engineering teams through rapid scaling, managed major initiatives, and implemented comprehensive security frameworks. I'm passionate about mentoring founders, fostering collaborative team cultures, and translating technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders.
When I'm not defending the world from emerging threats, you'll find me mentoring the next generation of security leaders, delivering workshops, or exploring the latest technologies.
Experience
Advisor in Residence
spARK Labs by ARK Invest | 2026 – Present
Strategic Advisor for founders in Ark Invest's Disruptive Innovation Themes: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Energy Storage, Digital Assets, and Multiomics. Provide technical and strategic guidance to early-stage companies, helping them develop and refine their products and business models.
Field CTO, Cyber, AI & Strategy
Driven Tech, Inc | 2024 – 2026
Field CTO/CISO and Principal Architect shaping strategy for pervasive security, intelligent apps, and AI-driven transformation. Directed cross-functional pursuit teams leading to 2X ARR growth; lead customer threat modeling and AI security workshops.
Senior Solutions Advisor
Red River | 2020 – 2024
Served as a trusted advisor to executives, conducting comprehensive threat modeling, compliance assessments, and M&A due diligence. Led national pursuit teams and built multi-level relationships across IT and business leadership.
Senior Client Solutions Advisor / Major Accounts
Optiv Inc | 2017 – 2020
Managed strategic accounts and advised CISOs on cybersecurity strategy, application security, and cloud adoption. Led complex client initiatives and oversaw client development for major financial and media institutions.
Advanced Solutions Architect / Solutions Engineering Manager
Comm Solutions (Acquired by Optiv) | 2008 – 2017
Built and scaled sales and engineering teams in Mobility, Cybersecurity, and App Delivery, serving as a key equity stakeholder. Led the architecture and delivery of high-availability, secure platforms for enterprise and regulated clients.
Chief Information Security Officer
Sacred Heart Healthcare System | 2004 – 2008
Oversaw enterprise infrastructure as HIPAA Security Officer, directing governance, policy development, disaster recovery, and internal audit programs. Modernized network and data center architecture to meet evolving security compliance requirements.
Sergeant, Combat Engineer / Marksmanship Instructor
United States Marine Corps | 1996 – 2000
Provided global operational leadership with experience in planning and executing complex operations. Supervised and trained U.S. and foreign military and intelligence community personnel.
Skills & Expertise
Leadership
- • Executive Advisory
- • Technical Strategy
- • Chief Information Security Officer
- • Go to Market
Cybersecurity
- • App and AI Security
- • Governance, Risk & Compliance
- • Security Operations
- • Security Architecture
Technology
- • Agentic AI
- • Hybrid Cloud
- • Full-Stack Development
- • Applied Intelligence
Verticals
- • Start Ups & Tech
- • Healthcare
- • Financial Services
- • Enterprise