The Albers Executive Speaker Series features Tom McAndrew, CEO of Coalfire, a leading cybersecurity firm for the 2025-26 season. Register to attend his talk on 1/27, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at Seattle University. The event is free and open to the public.

Tom McAndrew is the Chief Executive Officer of Coalfire one of the most trusted names in cybersecurity and compliance. Over the past 20 years, Tom has averaged over 25% growth annually and led the company from a small start-up serving banks and local government to a global firm solving the hardest cybersecurity challenges of more than 5,000 organizations. 

As an entrepreneur, he has returned more than $1Billion in returns to venture capitalists, private equity firms, and employees. He has raised capital from leading global investors including Baird, Carlyle, Apax, Blackstone, and Blackrock, 

Tom brings a distinctive operator’s perspective to leadership with more than 25 years as an officer in the United States Navy. He has deployed three times to the middle east. He was part of Operational Enduring Freedom, the initial surge into Afghanistan after 9/11, as well as Operations Allies Refuge, the evacuation in 2021. As a Navy Captain he specialized in space systems, information warfare, surface warfare, unmanned systems, and artificial intelligence. 

In addition to his role as CEO, Tom is an active investor and advisor to technology and cybersecurity companies and a frequent speaker on leadership, scaling companies, and the evolving cyber threat landscape. He also founded Gold Star Gamers, a charity which helps children who have lost a parent in the military find hope and healing through e-sports and online gaming. 

About Coalfire 

Coalfire is a leading cybersecurity firm that helps companies manage cyber risk and navigate complex regulatory environments and protect confidential data. Coalfire has scaled from a specialized consultancy into a market-leading technology-enabled cybersecurity company. Coalfire is one of the global leaders in penetration testing, secure cloud engineering, and cybersecurity audit, serving enterprises, government agencies, startups, and small businesses. Coalfire operates at the intersection of security, regulation, and thought leadership—where decisions carry real-world consequences and trust matters most. 

About the Albers Executive Speaker Series 

Since 2002, the Albers School of Business and Economics has organized the Albers Executive Speaker Series, live panels featuring top business leaders from the Puget Sound Area. Guests talk about a topic of their choice and respond to questions from a panel and the audience. The Speaker Series is yet another way Albers is committed to build student connections with the Seattle business community. 

The Albers Executive Speaker Series is free and open to the public. Register to save your seat, submit questions for the speaker and to be emailed any updates on the event. 

About the Albers School of Business and Economics 

Located in the heart of Seattle, the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University is one of the premier business schools in the Northwest United States. Small class sizes and low student-to-faculty ratios ensure that a student is never just a number. Students benefit from the school’s deep business connections through mentorships, internships, and employment opportunities. Finally, Albers is distinct for its nearly 80-year legacy in championing the responsibility of business to create a better society.