Rich Smith

Offensive R&D // Innovation Leadership

Experience

Offensive R&D — Mindgard

Oct 2025 – Present · Boston, MA

AI security research at Mindgard, spun out of a decade of AI security research at Lancaster University. Securing AI models, agents, and applications across the AI lifecycle.

Chief Security Officer — Crash Override

Mar 2023 – Jun 2025 · New York, NY

Founding executive team member. Built security and compliance strategy from zero. Oversaw Engineering and SRE teams across the US, UK, and Greece. R&D on product security, SDLC, AI applications, and vulnerability research.

CTO / Co-Founder — Superlunar

Feb 2022 – Mar 2023 · New York, NY

Co-founded 16-person R&D studio backed by Winklevoss Capital. Led development of a Rust-based EVM blockchain introspection platform. Allocated $2M+ to support Bitcoin core developers and open-source initiatives. Team merged back into Gemini after 2022 market downturn.

Head of Gemini Labs — Gemini

Mar 2020 – Feb 2022 · New York, NY

Established Gemini’s inaugural R&D program at the request of Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. Research on decentralized identity (DIDs, Verifiable Credentials). Built risk evaluation tools for crypto asset listing decisions.

Senior Director, Duo Labs — Cisco

Aug 2018 – Mar 2020 · Ann Arbor, MI

Led R&D for zero trust, authentication, and identity products post-Duo Security acquisition. Contributed to the Continuous Access Evaluation Protocol (CAEP) at the OpenID Foundation. Integrated Duo Labs into Cisco’s Security Business Group. Multiple patents filed.

Head of Duo Labs — Duo Security

Aug 2016 – Jul 2018 · Ann Arbor, MI

Rebooted and expanded the Duo Labs research program, growing the team from 5 to 22. Patents in security, authentication, and networking.

Director of Security — Etsy

Mar 2013 – Aug 2016 · New York, NY

Directed security, privacy, and compliance. Built a security program supporting continuous delivery DevOps. Part of the IPO leadership team, overseeing all security and compliance for Etsy’s Nasdaq listing.

CEO / Co-Founder — Syndis

Jan 2012 – Mar 2013 · Reykjavik, IS

Co-founded Icelandic security consultancy. Developed Goal Oriented Attack services. Continued as Strategic Advisor and Board Member through 2021 (acquired by Origo HF). Also established subsidiary Adversary.io (acquired by Secure Code Warrior, 2020).

Head of Offensive Services — Kyrus Tech

Apr 2011 – Mar 2013 · Sterling, VA

Led consulting services division. Contributed to early Carbon Black product code. Established consulting arm in Reykjavik that became Syndis.

Vice President — Morgan Stanley

Mar 2010 – Apr 2011 · New York, NY

Led global team of 20+ incident responders across six locations. Cyber security subject matter expert. Led preparedness initiatives during the Occupy Wall Street protests.

Senior Researcher & Principal Consultant — Immunity, Inc

Oct 2008 – Mar 2010 · Miami Beach, FL

Core development and product management of the CANVAS exploitation platform. Research on attack platforms and post-exploitation frameworks.

Master Researcher — HP Labs

May 2003 – Sep 2008 · Bristol, UK

Research Lead in Offensive Technologies and Threats. Led offensive security research for HP’s Systems Security Lab. Advised HP-CERT on threat and exploitation. Patents in network attack simulation and worm mitigation.

Education

MSc Computer and Information Systems Security — Royal Holloway, University of London

BSc Chemistry — University of Exeter