Walter Lefmann is currently Director of Security at CTC Trading Group LLC, a capital markets trading firm. That role has included Information Security, Physical Security and Life Safety, Privacy, and BCP/DR.

He has been practicing cybersecurity with varying focus for his entire professional career. The balance has shifted back and forth over time between technology engineering/operations and security over the years, which has led to a well-balanced business-focused approach to security.

The professional journey to CTC came by way Goldman Sachs, Hull Trading Company, and Motorola; from an early career as an experimental physicist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. Walter holds a PhD, MPhil, and MA in Physics from Columbia University, and a BS in Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology.

While at Columbia University, Walter also served for five years as a volunteer NYC Auxiliary Police Officer and Sergeant. The experience of working closely with the public sector to serve and improve the community was tremendously rewarding, and has shaped a lifelong respect for the dedicated people who face the challenges of that service!

Walter participates in many professional and public/private outreach organizations, including FBI InfraGard (currently serving as a Chicago Chapter board member), US Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force, Chicago FIRST, FS-ISAC, the National Technology Security Coalition, and ASIS, and is one of the founders of the ChiBrrCon security conference.

Walter received the Infragard North Central Region “Meeting the Challenge” award for 2022, and the 2022 “Chicago CISO of the Year” award in the MIDCAP category.

Outside of work, Walter is an avid scuba diver (even diving in Lake Michigan … yes, it’s COLD!), sings tenor in the Harper Festival Chorus community group, and dances with his wife whenever he can.

Christopher Smith

Christopher Smith