Blake Hodges

Deputy Chief Information Security Officer Albemarle Corporation

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

About

Cybersecurity Strategist | Risk Management Expert | Business-Enabler Experienced cybersecurity leader with a proven track record of aligning security initiatives to business goals, enabling growth while protecting critical assets. My expertise spans threat detection, risk mitigation, and compliance, allowing me to deliver enterprise-wide strategies that safeguard operations, streamline processes, and enhance resilience. I specialize in building scalable, future-focused security programs that integrate seamlessly into dynamic environments. Key Competencies Strategic Security Leadership: Designing programs that reduce risks while empowering operational agility. Risk Management & Compliance: Navigating complex regulatory landscapes, ensuring adherence to frameworks like NIST. Threat Detection & Response: Leveraging automation to proactively identify and mitigate risks. Cloud & SaaS Security: Securing cloud environments, managing SaaS platforms, and deploying scalable WAF/CDN solutions. Team Building & Collaboration: Leading high-performing teams and fostering cross-functional partnerships. Notable Achievements Reduced security operations costs by 46% through automation, enhancing efficiency and response times. Implemented DMARC at fortune 500 mitigating phishing risks with advanced email security solutions, influencing key HR and Legal decisions. Optimized cloud security with SDLC, WAF/CDN deployments, improving bandwidth use and securing contractor access. Delivered actionable threat intelligence to address brand risks, domain takedowns, and advanced threat hunting. Partnered with global teams to navigate international data privacy regulations, ensuring compliance. Leadership Vision I am a people-first leader, driven to guide talented individuals toward meaningful, purpose-driven work that delivers significant business value. By fostering collaboration and leveraging automation, I create agile, low-friction security solutions that reduce noise and empower businesses to operate securely and efficiently. My focus is on building programs that enable growth, innovation, and resilience while protecting what matters most.

Experience

  • Albemarle Corporation (Full-time · 7 yrs 6 mos)
    • Deputy Chief Information Security Officer
      May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos

    • IT Security Director
      Dec 2022 - May 2025 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    • IT Security Manager
      Jul 2020 - Dec 2022 · 2 yrs 6 mos

      Manage protective technologies at The Albemarle Corporation.

  • United States Army Reserve (8 yrs 1 mo)
    • Cyber Operation Specialist
      Jan 2019 - Dec 2021 · 3 yrs

    • Signal Support Specialist
      Dec 2013 - Jan 2019 · 5 yrs 2 mos

      Signal support systems specialists are primarily responsible for working with battlefield signal support systems and terminal devices. This equipment needs to consistently work in order for the Army to direct the movement of its troops.

  • Security and Information Technology Specialist at TWR
    Dec 2016 - Jan 2019 · 2 yrs 2 mos

    Consulted the IT Director on matters of information security and perform tasks associated with Security Administration such as setting up firewalls & other networking devices.

  • Messaging Analyst at BAE Systems Applied Intelligence
    Oct 2015 - Dec 2016 · 1 yr 3 mos

    Supporting critical messaging systems for admins and end users while maintaining high level data security and compliance standards. Messaging platforms include Microsoft's Exchange 2010-2013, UNIX mail servers and cloud platform services.

  • Intern/Consultant at ProMAS Technology Works
    May 2015 - Oct 2015 · 6 mos

    IT Consulting Technical Implementations Inside Sales Calls Troubleshooting