Former FBI Cyber Incident Response Leader Justin Vallese Joins FTI Consulting’s Cybersecurity Practice

FTI Consulting (FCN) appointed Justin Vallese as a Managing Director in its Cybersecurity practice within the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment.

Rhea-AI Summary

FTI Consulting (FCN) appointed Justin Vallese as a Managing Director in its Cybersecurity practice within the Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment.

Based in Los Angeles, Vallese joins after more than two decades with the FBI. His role will include helping clients respond to and investigate cyber incidents and translating technical findings into response strategies. Most recently, he managed the FBI’s Cyberhood Watch initiative in Los Angeles, a threat intelligence-sharing program connecting more than 700 information security professionals and executives.

Key Figures

FBI experience: More than two decades Program participants: More than 700

FBI experience

More than two decades

Vallese's experience before joining FTI Consulting

Program participants

More than 700

Cyberhood Watch information security professionals and executives

Key Terms

incident response, cyber threat intelligence, digital forensics, cyber attribution

4 terms

incident response technical

"experience in incident response, cyber threat intelligence"

Incident response is the organized process a company uses to detect, investigate, contain and recover from a security breach, data loss, operational outage or other urgent problem. For investors, it shows how quickly a firm can limit financial and reputational damage, restore normal operations and meet legal or disclosure duties — like an emergency crew that protects a building’s value and occupants when a fire breaks out.

cyber threat intelligence technical

"incident response, cyber threat intelligence and national security investigations"

Cyber threat intelligence is organized information about hacking methods, attackers, and vulnerabilities that helps organizations anticipate and defend against online attacks. For investors, it acts like a neighborhood watch or weather forecast for a company’s digital safety: strong intelligence can reduce the chance of costly breaches, unexpected downtime, fines, or reputational damage, while weak intelligence raises the risk profile and can affect a company’s valuation and operating costs.

digital forensics technical

"threat intelligence, digital forensics, cyber attribution"

Digital forensics is the process of collecting, preserving and analyzing electronic evidence from computers, phones or networks to understand what happened during a breach, fraud or other cyber incident. Think of it as a detective examining a crime scene but for digital devices; it helps pinpoint the cause, scope and timeline of an event. Investors care because findings affect a company’s legal exposure, repair costs, regulatory penalties and public trust, all of which can change the value of an investment.

cyber attribution technical

"digital forensics, cyber attribution and public-private information sharing"

The process of determining which individual, group, organization, or state is responsible for a cyber incident by collecting and analyzing technical evidence (like malware code, internet traffic logs, and attack infrastructure), behavioral patterns (tactics, techniques and procedures), and intelligence sources (human or signals intelligence). Attribution combines multiple types of evidence and judgments, and often carries uncertainty because attackers can hide, reuse tools, or create false leads; formal attribution may be qualified, provisional, or reached by government agencies after corroborating classified and open sources.

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Former FBI cyber investigator brings more than two decades of experience in incident response, cyber threat intelligence and national security investigations

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the appointment of Justin Vallese as a Managing Director in the Cybersecurity practice within the firm’s Forensic and Litigation Consulting segment.

Mr. Vallese, who is based in Los Angeles, joins FTI Consulting following more than two decades with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), where he investigated complex cybercrime and national security matters and advised corporate executives, legal counsel, communications leaders and government agencies on cyber threats and incident response.

In his role at FTI Consulting, Mr. Vallese will help clients respond to and investigate significant cyber incidents. Drawing on his experience in threat intelligence, digital forensics, cyber attribution and public-private information sharing, he will advise organizations on how to translate technical findings into practical response strategies and strengthen their resilience against sophisticated threat actors.

“Organizations confronting a cyber incident need advisors who can quickly interpret technical evidence, understand the threat actor and help leadership make informed decisions under pressure,” said Anthony J. Ferrante, Global Head of the Cybersecurity practice at FTI Consulting. “Justin’s investigative experience, technical depth and ability to communicate complex intelligence to executives will strengthen the support we provide to clients facing their most consequential cybersecurity challenges.”

Most recently, Mr. Vallese served as Program Manager for the FBI’s Cyberhood Watch initiative in Los Angeles, a cyber threat intelligence-sharing program connecting more than 700 information security professionals and executives. In that role, he advised participating organizations on cyber risk and incident response, led incident escalations, and translated investigative and intelligence findings into actionable guidance.

During his FBI career, Mr. Vallese investigated sophisticated cyber actors and significant incidents involving ransomware, theft of digital assets, supply-chain compromises, botnets and the theft of sensitive information. His work included more than a decade investigating nation-state threat actors and international cybercrime networks. He also served as a Supervisory Special Agent, leading multidisciplinary teams responding to high-profile computer network breaches and advising business leaders on law enforcement engagement and continuity considerations.

Added Mr. Vallese, “Organizations are operating in a threat environment where technical evidence, business risk and executive decision-making are closely connected. As artificial intelligence expands both the scale and sophistication of cyber threats, I look forward to working with my new colleagues at FTI Consulting to help clients understand sophisticated cyber threats, navigate critical incidents and turn intelligence into decisive action.”

Mr. Vallese holds the GIAC Certified Incident Handler and GIAC Security Essentials certifications and is a member of the GIAC Advisory Board. His professional honors include the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Cyber Investigation, the United States Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, the United States Secret Service Director’s Impact Award and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence National Meritorious Unit Award.

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organizations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees located in 32 countries and territories as of June 30, 2026. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. The Company generated $3.8 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2025. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

FTI Consulting, Inc.
555 12^th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
+1.202.312.9100

Investor Contact:
Mollie Hawkes
+1.617.747.1791
mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com

Media Contact:
Nick Emmons
+1.617.510.1676
nick.emmons@fticonsulting.com