Greater Seattle Area
Chris Hills is a security and critical infrastructure leader specializing in data center security, cyber-physical resilience, and mission-critical infrastructure strategy. Known for a collaborative, servant leadership approach, Chris works closely with architects, engineers, consultants, operators, and enterprise stakeholders to develop practical, resilient security solutions aligned with operational and business objectives. With extensive experience supporting hyperscale data centers, enterprise technology campuses, and complex infrastructure projects, Chris has built a reputation as a trusted advisor who bridges physical security, operational technology, infrastructure governance, and enterprise risk management. His leadership style emphasizes teamwork, mentorship, and strong cross-functional collaboration across technical, operational, and executive environments. Chris is widely recognized within the Architecture, Consulting, and Engineering (ACE) community for his expertise in security design integration, Division 28 specifications, and infrastructure-focused A&E engagement. His experience spans the full data center lifecycle, including site selection, layered security architecture, commissioning, operational resilience, utility risk, and integrated “grid-to-rack” security strategies supporting modern AI and high-availability environments. Throughout his career, Chris has contributed to projects involving hyperscale data centers, secure technology campuses, enterprise security operations, and high-security environments requiring scalable and operationally aligned protection strategies. His work focuses on aligning security strategy with resilience, scalability, operational continuity, and real-world infrastructure demands. Chris holds the DCIS, CPP, CISM, CPD, CCSK, CRMP, and CSM certifications, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective that aligns security, governance, engineering, and business risk into practical infrastructure solutions. He is the author of Data Center Security: The Blueprint for Resilient Infrastructure and The ACE Alliance: Navigating the Art of Selling to Architects, Consultants, and Engineers. He also publishes Data Center Security News, where he writes about AI infrastructure, operational resilience, critical infrastructure protection, and the convergence of physical and cyber security.
Lead North American Architecture, Consulting, and Engineering (ACE) engagement for critical infrastructure and mission-critical security programs across the United States and Canada. Serve as a strategic advisor to architects, consulting engineers, hyperscale operators, enterprise clients, and security design professionals on integrated physical security and infrastructure resilience. Influence early-stage design and security strategy for hyperscale data centers, federal facilities, healthcare systems, higher education campuses, and large commercial developments. Partner with AEC stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle to align security architecture with operational risk, compliance requirements, and business continuity objectives. Provide expertise in enterprise video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, perimeter protection, emergency communications, and cyber-physical security integration. Support layered, defense-in-depth security strategies for critical infrastructure and high-availability environments. Leverage deep expertise in CSI MasterFormat Division 28 to support security specifications, technology standards, and infrastructure design frameworks across hundreds of enterprise and critical infrastructure projects. Help project teams balance security effectiveness, architectural intent, scalability, and operational performance. Represent Bosch at national architecture, engineering, security, and critical infrastructure forums while delivering thought leadership on hyperscale data center security, infrastructure resilience, and the convergence of physical and cyber risk management. Build trusted relationships across the AEC ecosystem through consultative engagement, technical collaboration, and industry leadership.
Served as Senior Security Solutions leader for North America at Identiv / Hirsch, supporting the design and deployment of advanced access control and physical security systems for federal facilities, mission-critical infrastructure, and high-security environments. Specialized in secure physical access solutions aligned with FICAM, HSPD-12, and NIST 800-53 requirements. Partnered with federal integrators, consultants, architects, engineers, and enterprise end users to modernize legacy security infrastructure while aligning physical security with evolving cybersecurity and compliance mandates. Supported projects involving federal campuses, SCIF environments, data centers, and other high-assurance facilities requiring resilient, scalable, and compliant security architectures. Leveraged deep expertise in layered security design, enterprise access control, and Division 28 specifications to support secure system integration and infrastructure protection strategies. Advised stakeholders on risk mitigation, PIV-enabled access control, controller-based architectures, and operational security requirements across complex enterprise and government environments. Applied extensive mission-critical infrastructure experience, including early consulting work supporting Microsoft campus security initiatives, to help organizations strengthen resilience, compliance, and operational security within sensitive and high-availability environments.
Led North American Architecture, Engineering, and Consulting (A&E) engagement and Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) initiatives for Pelco and Avigilon focused on mission-critical infrastructure, including data centers, government facilities, healthcare systems, higher education campuses, and large commercial environments. Partnered with architects, engineers, consultants, and enterprise stakeholders to integrate risk-informed physical security strategies into project lifecycles from concept through construction. Provided expertise in enterprise video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, and emergency communications systems aligned with operational resilience and infrastructure protection objectives. Leveraged deep expertise in CSI MasterFormat Division 28 to support technical specifications, security standards, and compliant infrastructure design across complex enterprise and critical infrastructure projects. Influenced early-stage design decisions and long-term specification strategies supporting scalable, resilient, and future-ready security environments. Directed consultant engagement initiatives, CEU-accredited education programs, and national advisory boards to strengthen relationships within the AEC community and promote security integration best practices. Collaborated with engineering, product management, and field operations teams to deliver technically sound and operationally aligned security solutions across North America.
Served as President of Rack Controls, leading a consulting firm focused on securing mission-critical infrastructure and high-value data center environments across North America. Specialized in physical security strategy, infrastructure resilience, compliance, and operational risk management for enterprise and hyperscale environments. Provided end-to-end security consulting services including risk assessments, security architecture, access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, and integrated physical security design for high-availability facilities. Supported both greenfield and brownfield projects involving enterprise data centers, colocation facilities, and critical infrastructure environments. Applied extensive experience supporting Microsoft’s early data center and laboratory environments, helping establish layered physical security strategies for some of the foundational facilities within the modern cloud ecosystem. Partnered closely with architects, engineers, consultants, and construction teams to integrate scalable security solutions into complex infrastructure projects. Developed custom CSI MasterFormat Division 28 specifications and security design standards aligned with Uptime Institute guidance, NIST frameworks, and enterprise governance requirements. Built a reputation as a trusted advisor bridging security strategy, technical execution, and operational realities within the data center and AEC communities.