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Michael Locasto
Chief Technology Officer at Narf Industries
Professional Background
Michael Locasto is an esteemed research principal investigator with over 15 years of extensive experience in the dynamic and intricate field of cybersecurity. His professional journey is marked by a strong commitment to leading high-value and innovative cybersecurity research initiatives funded by both government and industry sectors. Michael has successfully managed a large and diverse research portfolio in the past five years, focusing on pivotal areas such as securing the power grid, Internet of Things (IoT), supply chain security, complex document formats, and sophisticated software designs. In his role, he not only leads diverse teams but also ensures effective collaboration between researchers and domain-specific experts in universities and subcontractors, promoting an environment of knowledge sharing and innovation.
Michael’s leadership style is characterized by his passion for creating a focused and intellectually stimulating environment, enabling his colleagues and teams to develop their skills and capabilities. This fostering of a collaborative and growth-oriented work culture has facilitated the achievement of significant outcomes for clients while supporting the professional maturity of his team members.
Education and Achievements
Michael Locasto's educational background is as impressive as his professional credentials. He pursued extensive studies at Columbia University in New York City, where he earned both his Ph.D. and M.Sc., solidifying his foundation in computer science and cybersecurity. Prior to his time at Columbia, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree at The College of New Jersey. This rigorous academic background has equipped him with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to excel in the fast-evolving fields of cybersecurity and computer science.
Michael's professional experience is further strengthened by his notable roles in various prestigious organizations. Most recently, he has served as the Chief Technology Officer at Narf Industries, where he plays a critical role in shaping the company’s technological direction and cybersecurity strategies. Before this, he was a Principal Computer Scientist at SRI International, where he contributed significantly to advancing cybersecurity technologies and protocols.
His tenure at SRI International includes being a Senior Computer Scientist, where he further honed his expertise in secure systems and innovative research methodologies. Michael also has a strong academic background, having served as an Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, where he mentored and inspired the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Additionally, he has held positions as a Research Assistant Professor at George Mason University and as an ISTS Research Fellow at Dartmouth College, further demonstrating his versatility and commitment to advancing knowledge in cybersecurity.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Michael Locasto has accomplished numerous achievements that underscore his expertise and influence in the field of cybersecurity. His ability to manage large research portfolios effectively while pursuing innovative solutions to complex cybersecurity issues is a testament to his strategic vision and leadership capabilities. Key areas of focus in his research portfolio reflect pressing concerns in today’s digital landscape, including the security of critical infrastructure such as the power grid, IoT devices that have become ubiquitous in daily life, and the intricacies of supply chain security—a critical aspect as organizations seek to protect their intellectual property and operational continuity.
Michael’s collaborative approach is a hallmark of his leadership style, bringing together researchers from various backgrounds and domain-specific expertise to tackle challenges with a comprehensive, well-rounded perspective. This collaborative spirit extends beyond just internal teams and includes strategic partnerships with academic institutions and industry players, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for innovation.
In addition to his role in leading significant research initiatives, Michael has a strong commitment to the professional development of his colleagues and team members. He actively promotes an environment that values continuous learning and skills development, ensuring that his teams are not only effective in their current projects but are also prepared for future challenges in the cybersecurity landscape.
As the field of cybersecurity continues to evolve, Michael Locasto remains at the forefront, driving research, innovation, and development efforts that enhance security measures across a variety of critical domains. His contributions are instrumental in shaping safer digital environments and advancing the capabilities of organizations to combat cyber threats effectively.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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- Reminders and Notes: Helps you remember important details about contacts
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- Nexus AI: An AI navigator that helps you derive insights from your network, such as finding contacts who have been to specific places or work at particular companies
Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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