CHARLES FINFROCK Speaker • Trainer • Consultant
Privacy | Surveillance Capitalism | Cryptocurrency | Scam and Fraud Prevention | National Security
About
Charles Finfrock is the founder of Vigilance, an intelligence and security firm he established in 2018 after a 25-year career spanning national security, intelligence, counterintelligence, law enforcement, security operations, anti-money laundering, and supply chain security. At Vigilance, he leads a team of former intelligence officers, federal law enforcement professionals, and special operations veterans who deliver discreet, solutions-focused support to corporations, executives, and high-profile individuals.
Before founding Vigilance, Charles served as a senior manager at Tesla, where he built and led the company’s Insider Threat Program and Global Information Security Investigations. He directed multiple high-profile investigations involving nation-state actors and internal threats attempting to steal intellectual property and trade secrets. His work resulted in the detection, disruption, and mitigation of significant risks, leading to arrests, civil actions, and employee terminations.
Prior to transitioning to the private sector, Charles spent 18 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a Senior Operations Officer. He lived and worked across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, specializing in the collection of foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, and covert action operations conducted at the direction of the President.
Charles began his national security career at the National Air Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he served as an Intelligence Analyst focusing on the Chinese Air Force and China’s strategic military and foreign policy. He holds a B.A. from Wittenberg University with dual majors in Political Science and East Asian Studies, concentrating on Chinese military studies, foreign policy, and Mandarin. He was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and served as Student Senate President while lettering in varsity football and track.
Before attending university, Charles served in the U.S. Navy as a Criminal Investigator, where he gained foundational experience in law enforcement investigations, force protection, physical security, and anti-terrorism operations in Manama, Bahrain.
He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), a Certified Bitcoin Professional (CBP), and a Certified Professional Coach (CPC). In addition to English, he speaks and reads Persian with business proficiency and has basic proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.
