Former NSA now Founder & CTO Breaks Cybersecurity Down: Satellites to Manufacturing

Podcast: Industrial Cybersecurity Insider
Episode: Former NSA now Founder & CTO Breaks Cybersecurity Down: Satellites to Manufacturing
Pub date: 2026-02-10

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Dino sits down with Dick Wilkinson, CTO and co-founder of Proof Labs, to explore the intersection of space technology and industrial cybersecurity.

Dick shares his 20-year journey in the U.S. Army with the National Security Agency, transitioning from signals intelligence to becoming a CISO for critical infrastructure organizations, including New Mexico's Supreme Court and the Albuquerque water authority.

The conversation dives deep into the challenges of securing satellite systems with onboard intrusion detection and the persistent gap between IT and OT security teams. We also explore why the "castle wall" perimeter security model is dangerously outdated.

Dick reveals how AI is lowering the barrier to entry for both attackers and defenders, and discusses the real-world applications of satellite communications in oil and gas operations.

He also introduces a revolutionary physical layer-one air gap device called Goldilock Secure, which could transform how we protect remote industrial assets.

This episode is essential listening for CISOs, CTOs, and security leaders looking to understand emerging threats in space-based infrastructure and practical solutions for securing distributed industrial environments.

Chapters:

1. (00:00:00) - Dick's Journey: From NSA to Space Cybersecurity
2. (00:04:32) - What is Proof Labs and Why Space Security Matters
3. (00:08:15) - Satellites as OT Assets: Oil, Gas, and Critical Infrastructure
4. (00:12:47) - How Onboard Intrusion Detection Works in Spacecraft
5. (00:16:23) - The Castle Wall Problem: Moving Beyond Perimeter Security
6. (00:19:41) - IT vs OT: Bridging the Gap in Manufacturing Cybersecurity
7. (00:24:18) - AI's Impact: Lowering the Barrier for Attackers and Defenders
8. (00:27:35) - The Visibility Challenge: Why Most Plants Don't Know Their Assets
9. (00:30:12) - Goldilock Firebreak: A Physical Air Gap Device That Changes Everything
10. (00:35:20) - Real-World Applications for Remote Industrial Asset Protection

Links And Resources:

1. Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
2. Dick Wilkinson on LinkedIn
3. Proof Labs Website
4. Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
5. Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
6. BW Design Group Cybersecurity
7. Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
8. Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

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