Jeff Valdes is a strategic transformation and enterprise risk executive with more than 25 years of experience leading complex operational, technology, and governance initiatives across financial services, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, defense, and public sector environments. He is recognized for bringing calm, disciplined leadership to high-pressure situations while helping organizations modernize operations, strengthen resilience, and translate strategic priorities into measurable execution. His approach blends operational rigor, data-driven decision making, and a mission-first mindset shaped through both corporate leadership and military service.

Jeff has led enterprise-wide governance, risk management, and strategic transformation efforts for organizations navigating rapid change, regulatory complexity, and evolving technology demands. His work spans enterprise risk management, business continuity, cybersecurity operations, operational governance, IT modernization, and strategic program delivery. He is frequently engaged when organizations need to align operational execution with long-term resilience – bringing structure, accountability, and cross-functional coordination to initiatives that require both strategic vision and executional precision.

Most recently, Jeff served in leadership roles at USAA, where he specialized in strategic change delivery governance and enterprise operational oversight within the banking organization. During his tenure, he helped architect data-driven reporting and governance capabilities that provided leadership with real-time strategic visibility and operational insight. He also led initiatives focused on product governance, compliance oversight, and operational efficiency, helping accelerate delivery while strengthening organizational controls and resilience.

Prior to USAA, Jeff spent more than six years at Rackspace in a series of senior leadership roles spanning enterprise risk management, cybersecurity threat intelligence, government solutions strategy, customer risk management, and large-scale operational transformation. As Global Head of Corporate Enterprise Risk Management & Business Continuity, he led the development of Rackspace’s global enterprise risk and resiliency program, reporting directly to executive leadership and regularly briefing the board and audit committee on enterprise risk posture and operational readiness. He also led major crisis preparedness initiatives, global risk aggregation efforts, and successful certification programs for Rackspace’s cloud environment.

Jeff additionally led Rackspace’s Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Exchange Program, partnering with major global technology organizations to establish collaborative cyber intelligence-sharing capabilities focused on combating malicious activity across the cloud ecosystem. In another leadership role, he developed and executed go-to-market and operational strategies for state and local government, education, and transportation sectors, helping drive measurable revenue growth while strengthening the company’s public sector positioning.

Earlier in his career, Jeff held consulting roles at Deloitte and Booz Allen Hamilton, where he supported Department of Defense clients on classified IT governance, operational transformation, and enterprise modernization programs. His consulting experience established a strong foundation in navigating highly regulated, mission-critical environments requiring precision, coordination, and disciplined execution.

Jeff’s leadership philosophy is deeply influenced by his service as a Naval Aviator and officer in the United States Navy and Navy Reserve. Over nearly a decade of active aviation service and continued reserve leadership, he accumulated nearly 2,000 flight hours while leading complex maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, and operational missions across global deployments. His experience as a pilot, instructor, and operational leader continues to shape his steady, decisive leadership style and his ability to perform effectively in dynamic, high-consequence environments.

Today, Jeff is the Founder and Principal of Green Deck Consulting, where he advises organizations on enterprise strategy, operational modernization, governance, and risk management initiatives designed to create clarity in complex operating environments.

He holds a Master of Arts in Information Technology Management with an emphasis in Cybersecurity from Webster University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Cedarville University. Jeff is also a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) and has completed executive leadership studies through Harvard Business School.

Green Deck Consulting, Founder and Principal

United States Navy, Reserve Naval Officer and Strategic Operations Leader

USAA, Bank Strategic Change Delivery Governance and Operations Leader

Rackspace

Head of Customer Risk Management, United States Service Delivery

Head of State and Local Government and Education (SLED) Solutions and Strategy

Head of Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence Exchange Program

Global Head of Corporate Enterprise Risk Management, Business Continuity, and Resiliency

Senior Technical Project Manager

Booz Allen Hamilton, Associate – Department of Defense IT Governance and Transformation

Deloitte, Consultant – Department of Defense IT Governance and Transformation

Webster University, Master of Arts (MA), Information Technology Management with emphasis in Cybersecurity

Cedarville University, Bachelor of Arts (BA), Business Administration and Marketing

Harvard Business School, Leadership Essentials Program

Incident Command System 800, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Incident Command System 200, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Incident Command System 100, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Operational Risk Management Certificate, American Bankers Association

Instrument Rating, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Commercial Rotary Wing Aircraft Pilot, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Commercial Single-Engine Fixed-Wing Pilot (Land), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

CloudU Certified, Rackspace Cloud University

Azure Sales Fundamentals, Microsoft

Certified Naval Flight Instructor (TH-57), United States Navy

Certified Risk & Business Continuity Professional, DRI International (Disaster Recovery Institute)

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Lean Six Sigma Institute

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC), Volunteer

InfraGard, Member

Naval Helicopter Association (NHA), Member

San Antonio Food Bank, Volunteer

Soldier’s Angels, Volunteer