The New Face of Executive Protection: Responding to Political, Cyber, and Social Threats
May 14, 2026
1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT / 10:00 AM PT / 6:00 PM GMT
Duration: 1 hour
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A certificate of attendance will be offered.
Summary
The landscape of executive protection has shifted dramatically as political volatility, cyber exposure, and social-driven risks converge to create a more complex threat environment than ever before. Traditional models, centered on physical security and predictable travel patterns, are no longer sufficient. Today’s protectors must navigate an ecosystem in which online influence campaigns can escalate into real-world confrontations, cyber breaches can expose private itineraries in seconds, and social tensions can rapidly mobilize individuals or groups against high-profile figures.
Executives, public officials, and corporate leaders face unprecedented scrutiny fueled by polarized political climates, decentralized media, and the viral speed of digital communication. Threats are now multidirectional: a data leak can trigger stalking behavior; a public remark can lead to coordinated harassment; and geopolitical shifts can instantly alter personal risk profiles.
As a result, executive protection programs are increasingly intelligence-driven, integrating cyber hygiene, behavioral assessment, and social media monitoring with physical security fundamentals. Cross-functional coordination—between security teams, legal, HR, communications, and IT—has become essential. The new face of executive protection emphasizes adaptability, early detection, and a blend of physical and digital resilience to safeguard individuals whose exposure is broader and more dynamic than ever.
Discussion Topics
- How political polarization reshapes personal risk profiles
- Integrating cyber intelligence into traditional protective operations
- Managing social-media-driven threats and public-facing vulnerabilities
- Building cross-department coordination for holistic executive protection
Speakers
Fred Burton
Executive Director of Protective Intelligence
Ontic
Fred Burton is one of the world’s foremost authorities on protective intelligence, security, and counterterrorism. As an advisor at Ontic, he provides security strategies and best practices to physical security leaders at major corporations, advising on how to optimize their security programs, streamline protective intelligence initiatives, and keep their people safe.
Burton is a former State Department counterterrorism deputy chief and special agent who orchestrated the 1995 arrest of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Burton also conducted the debriefings of the U.S. hostages held in Lebanon. He investigated the plane crash that killed President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, the American ambassador, and a U.S. Army general in 1988. Burton, instrumental in the development of the State Dept.’s Rewards for Justice Program to target terrorists like Yousef and Osama Bin Laden, also investigated the assassination of Israeli President Rabin; the killing of Rabbi Meir Kahane; the al-Qaeda New York City bombing plots; the Libyan-backed terrorist attacks on American diplomats in Sana’a and Khartoum; and countless other terrorist attacks and threats around the globe.
In 2008, Burton was appointed to the Texas Border Security Council by Gov. Rick Perry and served as the assistant director of intelligence and counterterrorism for the Texas Department of Public Safety. Burton is the author of the bestselling memoir Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent (Random House, 2008); Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent’s Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice (Palgrave, 2011); and the New York Times bestseller Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi, which he co-authored with Samuel M. Katz (St. Martin’s Press, 2013). He also co-authored Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah’s War Against America with Samuel M. Katz (Random House/Penguin/Berkeley) in 2018. Two of his books have been optioned to Hollywood and one is currently in development by a major studio.
Caleb Gilbert
President
White Glove Protection Group
Caleb is the President of White Glove Protection Group and brings with him over two decades of full-time experience in Executive Protection. His Global expertise spans over 51 countries and nearly every region of the United States. Caleb’s career has been marked by highly demanding assignments, including the creation of multiple teams (from the ground up) Director roles for Fortune 200 companies and Private Family Offices. Caleb’s operational experience includes Close Protection roles for A-List celebrities, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and Fortune 200 corporate protection teams. This diverse clientele has allowed him to develop a comprehensive skill set, covering all facets of Protection & Protective Intelligence.
Caleb’s approach to Executive Protection (EP) transcends the conventional job description, embodying it as a lifestyle rather than merely a career path. His dedication to the craft is evident in his continuous efforts to enhance and refine the art of protection. Since 2015, Caleb has been an active volunteer with the ASIS Executive Protection Community, where he is currently the Vice Chair and contributes significantly to initiatives aimed at Women in Protection, Mentorship and EP Leadership Development for the EP community.
Kasia Hanson
VP of Strategic Partnerships
Alcatraz
Kasia a global security and AI leader passionate about modernizing how organizations protect people, places, and data. With a career built at the intersection of technology, partnerships, and purpose.
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