SSA ADAM LAWSON

Abstract
SSA Adam Lawson from the FBI Cincinnati field office will present the FBI's perspective on cyber threats
impacting private industry. Topics discussed will include the impact and losses due to cyber-crime, the evolving
cyber threat landscape, most successful initial intrusion vectors impacting victims, and cyber threat actor tactics
and behaviors reported to the FBI. Additionally, the presentation will cover how the FBI uses information provided
by private industry, what to expect from the FBI during an incident, and what the FBI does not do.

Biography:

Bio
SAA Adam Lawson entered on duty as a Special Agent with the FBI in March 2010 and was assigned the
Pittsburgh Field Office where he investigated Counterintelligence and Cyber matters. During that time, he also
served on FBI Pittsburgh’s SWAT team.
In 2018, Mr. Lawson was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent for the FBI’s Cyber Division, Major Cyber
Crimes Unit. During his time in the Major Cyber Crimes Unit, Mr. Lawson oversaw cyber-criminal investigations
of various FBI field offices and all FBI ransomware investigations. In 2019, Mr. Lawson was selected to serve as
the Cyber supervisor for the Cincinnati Field Office and reported to the division in January of 2020.
As the Cincinnati Cyber supervisor, Mr. Lawson is responsible for overseeing all criminal and national security
computer intrusion investigations affecting the southern district of Ohio. Mr. Lawson is also responsible for
Cincinnati’s computer forensics (CART) program, as well as the Computer Scientist and Data Analyst programs.
Prior to his FBI career, Mr. Lawson served for 8 years as an enlisted member of the United States Air Force. Mr.
Lawson served as an intelligence analyst focusing on foreign military capabilities, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
operations, and Middle Eastern affairs. Mr. Lawson served one tour in Baghdad, Iraq during that time. Mr. Lawson
received his bachelor's degree in International Studies with a Minor in the Study of the Islamic World in 2009
from the University of Illinois.