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Symmatrics announced on Oct. 22, 2026, that Andrew Hallman has joined its Strategic Advisory Board. Hallman is a former senior CIA and ODNI official and currently works at Leidos; the announcement does not specify his duties, compensation or a timetable for his advisory work.
Symmatrics has appointed Andrew Hallman, a former senior official at the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, to its Strategic Advisory Board, the company announced Oct. 22, 2026. Hallman, now a vice president and strategic account executive for the Intelligence Community at Leidos, brings more than three decades of intelligence and security experience to the cybersecurity company as it develops products based on one-time-pad encryption.
Symmatrics said Hallman previously served as Deputy Director of the CIA for Digital Innovation from 2015 to 2019, where he established and led one of the agency’s directorates. From 2019 to 2020, he served as principal executive at ODNI, performing the duties of Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence and helping oversee the U.S. Intelligence Community, according to the announcement.
The company develops cybersecurity products using One-Time Pad Symmetric Key (OTPSK) encryption. Symmatrics describes its technology as designed to protect data and communications from AI-driven attacks and potential threats associated with quantum computing. Those are the company’s descriptions of its products; the announcement did not provide independent testing results, customer deployments or comparative performance data.
Hallman’s role is advisory, rather than an announced operational position at Symmatrics. The company did not outline specific responsibilities or projects for him. Its announcement also did not state the terms of his appointment or whether his Leidos role will change. Hallman currently holds the Leidos position of vice president and strategic account executive for the Intelligence Community, according to Symmatrics.
An Adviser With Intelligence Experience
Hallman’s appointment gives Symmatrics access to an adviser with senior experience in U.S. intelligence organizations, at a time when the company is positioning its products for government, defense and other high-risk customers. His background includes leadership in digital innovation at the CIA and a senior post at ODNI, experience relevant to the security priorities Symmatrics says it is addressing.
For potential buyers and partners, the appointment may indicate an effort to strengthen the company’s national-security expertise and credibility. It does not, by itself, establish that government agencies have adopted or evaluated Symmatrics products, or that Hallman’s appointment reflects an endorsement by the CIA, ODNI or Leidos. The announcement identifies him as an individual adviser and does not describe any agency relationship.
The broader issue is the security of sensitive data as organizations prepare for evolving cyber risks and the possibility that future quantum computers could affect some widely used encryption methods. Symmatrics says its OTPSK approach addresses those concerns. The announcement offers no technical evidence to assess that claim, so the appointment is a corporate development, not independent validation of the technology.
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Hallman’s CIA and ODNI Roles
Hallman’s past government service spans two senior roles described in the company’s announcement. At the CIA, he led the Digital Innovation directorate from 2015 to 2019. At ODNI, he served from 2019 to 2020 as principal executive, performing the duties of the principal deputy director of national intelligence. Symmatrics said he also served as a principal adviser to the president on intelligence issues during that period.
He has since taken a role at Leidos, Inc., a contractor that provides services to government customers. Symmatrics identifies his current title as vice president and strategic account executive for the Intelligence Community. The company’s stated business spans national security, defense, financial services, health care and critical infrastructure, and it says its products use patented technologies and a system it calls “Continuously Expiring Trust.” No further technical detail about that system was included in the appointment announcement.
“Andrew’s experience leading the nation’s most critical intelligence and security initiatives makes him a valuable addition to our advisory board.”
— Walter Raquet, Symmatrics chairman and CEO
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Details of the Advisory Role
The announcement does not say what Hallman will do on the board, how often it will meet, how long his appointment lasts or whether he will receive compensation. It also does not identify any specific product, customer or government program he will advise on.
Symmatrics’ statements about resisting AI-driven attacks and quantum-related threats are company claims. The announcement provides no independent assessment, test results, deployment figures or customer references that would allow readers to evaluate the products’ effectiveness. It is also unclear whether Hallman’s appointment has any connection to his current work at Leidos; no such connection was described.
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Company’s Next Security Milestones
Symmatrics said it is continuing to develop cybersecurity products based on OTPSK encryption and is seeking to serve organizations in government, defense and other high-risk sectors. The appointment announcement did not set a date for Hallman to begin specific advisory work or identify a product launch, pilot outcome or other next milestone.
Readers seeking evidence of the company’s approach will need further disclosures, such as technical documentation, independent evaluations or details of customer deployments. Any later announcement about Hallman’s responsibilities or Symmatrics’ products would clarify how the appointment translates into the company’s work.
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Key Questions
Who is Andrew Hallman?
Andrew Hallman is a former senior CIA and ODNI official. Symmatrics says he has more than 30 years of intelligence and security experience and currently serves as a vice president and strategic account executive for the Intelligence Community at Leidos.
What is Hallman’s new role?
Hallman has joined Symmatrics’ Strategic Advisory Board. The company has not specified his duties, appointment term or compensation.
What does Symmatrics make?
Symmatrics says it is developing cybersecurity products using One-Time Pad Symmetric Key encryption to protect data and communications. Claims about the products’ resistance to AI-driven and quantum-related threats have not been independently substantiated in the announcement.
Does the appointment mean the CIA or Leidos endorses Symmatrics?
No such endorsement was announced. Hallman’s appointment is described as an individual advisory role, and the company did not say that the CIA, ODNI or Leidos is backing or adopting its products.
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