FTI Consulting Hires Former FBI Official Justin Vallese
The firm appoints the veteran agent to lead cybersecurity operations from its Los Angeles office.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in People
Live Poll
Is now a good time for organizations to invest more in internal cybersecurity expertise?
FTI Consulting has appointed long-time Federal Bureau of Investigation veteran Justin Vallese as a Managing Director within its Cybersecurity practice. Based in Los Angeles, Vallese will focus on advising clients on cyber incident response and investigations.
Why it matters
This leadership addition bolsters the firm's technical expertise by leveraging Vallese's two decades of federal investigative experience. His role involves translating complex technical findings into actionable response strategies for corporate clients.
FTI Consulting operates with a workforce of over 8,100 employees globally. The firm reported $3.8 billion in total revenue for the 2025 fiscal year.
The players
Justin Vallese
He is a former Federal Bureau of Investigation agent who spent more than two decades at the agency before joining FTI Consulting.
FTI Consulting
It is a global business advisory firm that provides services related to corporate finance, economic consulting, and forensic investigations.
The details
Vallese brings extensive experience from his tenure as a Program Manager for the FBI's Cyberhood Watch initiative, which involved 700 professionals and executives. He maintains GIAC Certified Incident Handler and GIAC Security Essentials credentials and serves on the GIAC Advisory Board.
Timeline
FTI Consulting reported having over 8,100 employees as of June 30, 2026.
The appointment of Justin Vallese was officially announced on October 28, 2026.
Market Landscape
This appointment reflects the ongoing industry trend of private consulting firms integrating former federal law enforcement expertise into their cybersecurity practices. By adding senior agents to their rosters, these firms remain competitive in the high-stakes market for corporate incident response.
Clients of the firm can expect more robust incident response strategies backed by direct experience from the federal sector. The presence of a seasoned expert in the Los Angeles office provides local companies with specialized access to complex threat mitigation tactics.
The takeaway
The transition of federal agents into private consultancy underscores the increasing complexity of modern digital threats for businesses. Executives should evaluate their own cyber response readiness by ensuring their firms have direct access to professional incident handlers.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership changes, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
Live Poll
Is now a good time for organizations to invest more in internal cybersecurity expertise?
