Fortinet has announced the addition of Admiral James Stavridis, USN, (Ret), PhD to the company’s Board of Directors, adding further global cybersecurity collaboration insights and depth of expertise to the Board.
Jim Stavridis attended the US Naval Academy at Annapolis and earned a PhD in international relations from The Fletcher School at Tufts, and spent 37 years in the Navy, rising to the rank of 4-star Admiral. Among his many commands were four years as the 16th Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, leading the NATO Alliance in global operations and responsibilities included cybersecurity. He was the longest serving Combatant Commander in recent US history. In the course of his career in the Navy, he served as senior military assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense. He led the Navy’s premier operational think tank for innovation, Deep Blue.
Following his military career, Admiral Stavridis (Ret) served for five years as the 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. While Dean at Tufts, he created a blended Master’s degree in cyber and international relations for the university. He is a nationally recognised cybersecurity expert and routinely teaches on cyber challenges and offers insights via speaking appearances. He is currently managing director and vice chairman, global affairs of The Carlyle Group and is chair of the Board of Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation.
Admiral James Stavridis, USN, (Ret), PhD, said, “Fortinet continues to have an exciting record of growth and innovation. From its inception, Fortinet leadership has demonstrated its commitment to innovation, aligning with my own experience and continued interest in cybersecurity innovation. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team as a member of the Board of Directors and being a part of the company’s continued innovation and exciting growth trajectory.”
