Asha Rangappa

Asha Rangappa is a leading voice in cyber security, known for her rare combination of field experience, academic depth, and sharp public insight. A former FBI Special Agent specialising in counterintelligence, Asha now serves as a Senior Lecturer and Assistant Dean of Admissions at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs. Her expertise in cyber threats, disinformation campaigns, and foreign influence operations has made her one of the most sought-after speakers on national and digital security. With a legal background and a career spanning law enforcement, education, and media, Asha helps audiences understand not just how cyber threats work—but why they matter.

Asha began her government service in the FBI’s New York Division, where she investigated national security threats tied to foreign intelligence services. She was trained in electronic surveillance, counterintelligence operations, and the use of cyber tools in espionage. Working on classified investigations, she gained first-hand experience in how foreign adversaries exploit technology to influence politics, disrupt institutions, and compromise infrastructure. This frontline knowledge laid the foundation for her academic focus on information warfare and cyber ethics. After leaving the FBI, Asha held several leadership positions at Yale Law School before moving into her current role at Yale Jackson.

In parallel with her academic work, Asha has become a trusted commentator on cyber and legal issues. She was a Legal and National Security Analyst for CNN for five years and currently contributes to ABC News. She is also an Editor at Just Security and frequently writes for The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. Asha’s work has helped shape public understanding of how online disinformation, AI manipulation, and even everyday lapses in digital hygiene can have profound geopolitical consequences. Her selection as a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project and a 2022 Fellow in the International Career Advancement Program reflects her leadership in the field.

As a keynote speaker, Asha brings clarity and urgency to the fast-moving world of cyber security. Her sessions unpack real-world threats—like how a default password on a smart device can become a gateway to critical infrastructure attacks – and offer actionable insights for leaders, teams, and individuals. With a clear, engaging style rooted in lived experience and academic rigour, Asha helps organisations understand why cyber security isn’t just an IT issue, but a strategic and ethical imperative.