Donnie Wendt, D.Sc, CISSP
Adjunct Lecturer of Cybersecurity
Dr. Donnie Wendt is a results-driven cybersecurity expert dedicated to driving advancements in the field. With over 30 years of experience in information technology, he has honed his expertise across various sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, and military. A recognized thought leader, Donnie is a sought-after speaker on securing machine learning, generative AI, and security automation. He actively contributes to industry initiatives and previously led the FS-ISAC Working Group on combating AI threats.
Donnie currently serves as a Virtual Chief AI Officer (VCAIO) at Whiteglove AI, where he leads clients in adopting secure and responsible AI solutions aligned with organizational objectives. Previously, Donnie was a Principal Security Researcher for Mastercard, where he researched the latest security technologies, products, services, and innovations to drive the company’s long-range security roadmap. Donnie’s hands-on experience includes engineering security controls and monitoring solutions, including database activity monitoring, application control and allowlisting, sensitive data protection, file integrity monitoring, intrusion detection and prevention, and security event monitoring. His contributions have been instrumental in architecting robust security solutions to safeguard critical assets.
Donnie began his IT career as a software developer in the Marine Corps (USMC), where he developed critical systems to manage the logistics for USMC deployments. After leaving the USMC, he continued as a software developer and architect in the defense industry, designing and developing systems to support USMC recruitment. His experience also includes seven years as a network engineer, call center architect, and software development manager in telecommunications. Donnie holds a Doctorate of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity from Colorado Technical University. His doctoral research centered on security automation and active cyber defense within the financial services industry. He also earned a Master of Science in Cybersecurity with a concentration in Intelligence from Utica University and a BA in Business Administration from Webster University, maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout his academic career.