B.S., Electrical Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Technology, New York

Gregory A. Porpora has more than earned his engineering stripes in the ever growing, ever crucial field of Cybersecurity.

As a Distinguished Engineer and the Chief Architect, Cyber Security, World Wide IBM Global Government Industries, he provides pre- and post-sales technical leadership, innovative solutions, architectural design, deployment support, and builds the Global Business Services Security practice while driving innovation through new IP development.

With his main areas of focus in Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence, Social Analytics and Digital Transformation — with specific emphasis on the application of advanced machine- deep learning — Mr. Porpora’s responsibilities are regarded as a $800M global business opportunity for the IBM Corporation. He continues to drive requirements between GBS and other IBM Business Units (including Cognitive, Research, Systems, Blockchain, Security and IBM Cloud) and works across IBM developing new innovations in the areas of Cyber and AI in support of existing and future clients. 

Having worked at IBM for almost thirty years, Mr. Porpora has held technical positions in multiple business units leading the design of complex solutions for customers ranging from banking, electronics, manufacturing, health care, communications, Department of Defense, Law Enforcement and Intelligence agencies.

From 1991 to 1996 he was the Global Business Services associate partner assigned to Latin America and supported the company’s business interests in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, and Peru while being based in Mexico City. In this role, Mr. Porpora trained IBM Latin America personnel in the tradecraft of IT consulting as well as assisted in the establishment of consulting practices, identification and closure of business, services delivery and go-to-market business strategy. He developed strong and lasting business relationships in his target markets and grew IBM business and services delivery capability while leveraging his Hispanic background and upbringing. 

For over a decade, Mr. Porpora has been IBM’s leading driver and engineer in the practical application of Machine Learning (ML) and Augmented Intelligence (AI)-based techniques (via numerous patents (9), prototypes and customer solutions) in the detection of low observable network-based attacks such as DNS Tunneling detection, Fast fluxing and Domain Generated Algorithms (DGA) as well as attacks by polymorphic and metamorphic malware. His work has made him one of the company’s most experienced and valued cyberwarriors at a time when attacks on our nation’s IT infrastructure have been steadily become more dangerous.

One of Mr. Porpora’s most significant accomplishments was the discovery and characterization of significant exposures to all classes of IT macro and micro infrastructure including Quantum Computing to attacks by polymorphic and metamorphic malware designed to take down physical infrastructure (micro-architecture-based attacks on hardware). Disturbingly, these types of attacks are currently undetectable by state-of-the-art Anti-Virus solutions and his findings have been verified and are being addressed at the highest levels of IBM Security as well as the US Government Intelligence agencies. 

Mr. Porpora is the author of numerous technical publications and is a much in demand speaker on the issues of cybersecurity. He has earned numerous accolades within IBM, including a 100% Award in 2010, a First Plateau Award in 2017, and his attainment of Distinguished Engineer status earlier this year. He has multiple patent filings in process for the employment of  advanced machine learning for Cyber Botnet activity detection and behavior modeling of Human Activity. He has been a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) since 2016 and has been a member of the IEEE, Naval Engineers and the Society of Naval Engineers since 1990. 

Born in the Bronx to a Puerto Rican mother and an Italian-American father, Mr. Porpora grew up in Huntington, Long Island, but spent every summer at his grandfather’s farm in Quebradillas Puerto Rico learning to milk cows, raise chicken, goats and pigs as well as cut sugar cane. An active Boy Scout as an adolescent, he was also a star member of his high school track team.

Upon graduation from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute of NY with a BSEE, Mr. Porpora joined the US Navy as an Engineering Duty Officer severing tours in Maine, Norfolk, San Diego, Hawaii, and Washington DC. While on active duty, he was assigned to Naval Sea Systems Command and Space Warfare in the design and testing of Naval weapon and C4ISR systems. 

After leaving active duty and joining IBM, Mr. Porpora served as a U.S. Navy Reserve Engineering Duty Officer with the rank of Captain and earned numerous military awards before retirement in 2010. Besides his military service, he has been an active member of his Connecticut community where his service activities include a role as assistant scout master and merit badge counselor with a Scout Troop in New Fairfield CT, service as an active member of his Church, being elected and serving as a member of the New Fairfield Planning Board commission for over 6 years, and his current position as deputy commander of the New Fairfield Veterans Association.