Global investigations firm Nardello & Co. is pleased to announce the arrival of Austin P. Berglas as Managing Director and Head of Cyber Operations, based in New York.

Berglas brings to the firm more than two decades of government experience, including as a special agent and head of the FBI New York’s Cyber Branch, where he oversaw all national security and criminal cyber investigations, and as a captain in the United States Army. He joins after serving as Global Head of Professional Services at BlueVoyant, an international cybersecurity company he co-founded in 2017, where he led all proactive services, offensive operations, and incident response.

“We welcome Austin as part of our strategic expansion in response to growing demand for proactive cybersecurity consulting services,” said Nardello & Co. CEO Sabina Menschel. “Clients in the US and globally will benefit from Austin’s background and experience in threat mitigation and prevention, at a time when cyber threats are escalating in both complexity and impact across every sector.”

“Austin provides an ideal complement to our strong cyber and digital investigations expertise,” said Wendy Wu, Head of Nardello & Co.’s Digital Investigations & Cyber Risk practice and a former prosecutor. “Among his areas of focus will be helping companies proactively manage AI’s significant impact on the transformation of security operations.”

Berglas’ accomplishments during sixteen years with the FBI include dismantling the Blackshades organization and effecting the seizure of numerous TOR-based sites, including Silk Road and Silk Road 2.0. He led the investigation into the computer network attack against JPMorgan Chase and established the Financial Cyber Crimes Task Force, the FBI’s first joint effort with the New York City Police Department and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to combat cyber threats and high-technology crimes. He also worked in the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters and oversaw the New York Office’s Special Operations/Cyber Division, leading over 400 employees in the largest technical and physical surveillance operation in the FBI and coordinating the Special Events and Crisis Management Programs, which include SWAT, Evidence Response, Underwater Search and Recovery, and Rapid Deployment.

Certified as an expert witness in child exploitation, Berglas has also served as an expert witness on threat actor capability, identity theft, and deep web and dark web activity.

“I am proud to join a firm that has established such an outstanding reputation and developed deep industry expertise,” said Berglas. “I look forward to helping Nardello & Co. enhance its ability to address the growing digital threats our clients face every day.”

Berglas earned a BS in Geology from Dickinson College and holds an executive certificate in Navigating Strategic Change from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He is an original member of the board of directors of threat intelligence firm DarkWebIQ and a member of the Forbes Technology Council. He is also a frequent public speaker and cybersecurity commentator.

About Nardello & Co.

Ranked as the pre-eminent US investigative firm by Chambers and Partners for the past seven years and called the “gold standard,” Nardello & Co. employs experienced professionals around the globe who handle a broad range of matters, including civil and white collar criminal litigation and arbitration support, due diligence, anti-corruption and fraud investigations, asset tracing, activist defense, political risk and strategic intelligence, digital investigations and cyber defense, monitorships and independent investigations, and compliance consulting.

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